"The Eighth Route Army is indeed equipped with advanced radar."
Listening to the staff report, Umezu Yoshijiro took a deep breath with gloomy eyes.
Because the Japanese ordnance department ignored the importance of radar, the Japanese navy suffered heavy losses in the Pacific battlefield.
At this time, the Japanese ordnance department was making amends and studying radar technology.
But so far, the radar products produced by the Japanese ordnance department have very poor performance.
Umezu Yoshijiro was somewhat fortunate that the Kwantung Army aviation unit was not sent to support the North China Front in its operations.
Otherwise, the Kwantung Army aviation unit may suffer heavy losses.
But Umezu Yoshijiro couldn't be happy. There is a Chinese idiom that says the lips are dead and the teeth are cold. At present, the North China Front Army is almost completely wiped out. The next strategic target of the main force of the Eighth Route Army must be Manchuria and the Kwantung Army.
And they are now facing the attack from the main force of the Eighth Route Army.
The Eighth Route Army's 200,000 troops, hundreds of heavy artillery pieces and hundreds of heavy tanks, are approaching Tianjin.
If one of them fails, the main force of the Kwantung Army may also be defeated in North China.
With a solemn expression, Umezu Yoshijiro personally drafted a telegram and handed it to communications staff officer Akamatsu Jun: "Akamatsu-kun, please immediately send this telegram to your base camp, Prime Minister Tojo."
"Hi."
Lieutenant Colonel Akamatsu Jun suddenly lowered his head, holding the telegram in his hand, turned around and left quickly.
Looking at the back of Lieutenant Colonel Akamatsu leaving, Umezu Mijiro sighed deeply.
This is a telegram requesting tactical guidance.
There are currently 10 Japanese divisions and 2 brigades in Tianjin, with a total strength of nearly 200,000.
but!
The three divisions from the mainland had been fighting fiercely in Tianjin for several days, but they had no fighting power anymore.
The 7 divisions and 2 brigades brought by Umezu Yoshijiro are already tired divisions, and half of their peak combat effectiveness is considered good.
Although the Eighth Route Army's troops were also very tired, the Eighth Route Army had just won a great victory and its morale was at a time when it was strong.
In addition, the Eighth Route Army's weapons and troops were superior, and it was impossible for Tianjin to defend it.
Therefore, in addition to reporting truthfully to Hideki Tojo, Umezu Yoshijiro also requested the withdrawal of troops.
At this point, the Japanese army could only be forced to abandon this rich and strategic location in North China.
…
New Regiment Frontline Headquarters.
Li Yunlong was sitting in a Willys Jeep, marching with the large army.
As the main force of the North China Front Army was eaten up by the New Regiment and the main force of the Central Hebei Military Region, almost the entire Hebei Province was recovered by the Eighth Route Army.
Li Yunlong, wearing a black leather jacket and a pair of sunglasses, stood up from the passenger seat of the jeep.
He used his binoculars to look at the marching team behind him, and saw countless trucks pulling various mountain cannons and howitzers, and the trucks were filled with soldiers from the new regiment loaded with live ammunition.
Directly in front were nearly 200 tanks from the new heavy tank battalion. These tanks formed a line of nearly 2 kilometers on the road.
In addition to oil drums hanging on the body of the tank, there were also soldiers sitting with grass rings on their heads holding various weapons.
On both sides of the road, a new regiment of infantry soldiers was marching.
In the sky, a new group of fighters and reconnaissance bombers passed by.
Sitting back on the co-pilot, Captain Li looked extremely satisfied.
A team's fighting will and combat effectiveness can be seen from the marching state.
As the troops of the new regiment marched, they were filled with a chilling aura. Just by looking at them, one could tell that this troop was definitely an elite force that had fought in hundreds of battles.
Among the troops in Asia right now, only the Japanese Army's Type A Division can achieve such momentum.
After consuming the main force of the North China Front, Li Yunlong listened to the report from the flying brigade that the main force of the Kwantung Army had arrived in Tianjin.
Therefore, Li Yunlong ordered the troops to assemble according to their organizational structure and prepare to attack Tianjin.
According to reconnaissance and intelligence, the number of Kwantung Army troops entering the Pass was only over 100,000. Adding in the three Japanese divisions from the mainland, the total Japanese strength did not exceed 200,000 at most.
As for the Eighth Route Army, the New First Regiment, the Independent Regiment, the New Second Regiment and the main force of the Jizhong Military Region totaled about 300,000 people.
Coupled with the 100,000 main reserve force sent by the headquarters, the total force is about 400,000.
At the same time, Li Yunlong had given orders to Ding Wei, and the main force of the new second regiment was also moving towards Tianjin.
400,000 versus 200,000, I have the advantage.
"Captain, the Independent Flying Squadron just sent a telegram. It is the Japanese reconnaissance planes that entered North China. There are about 20 of them. All of them have been killed by the Independent Flying Squadron."
The jeep stopped, and Wang Dehou jumped out of a telecommunications reconnaissance vehicle and reported to Li Yunlong.
One of the telecommunications detection vehicles has a high-power reconnaissance radio station that can detect radio signals within a radius of several hundred kilometers and determine its approximate location.
This requires a professional telegraph operator, but the headquarters has long sent an expert in this field to the New Regiment. She is a lesbian and is very good at monitoring.
Li Yunlong nodded, indicating that he understood.
Since the Japanese reconnaissance planes came quite a lot and flew in scattered directions, the march of the New Regiment and the General Reserve Force had already been seen by the Japanese reconnaissance planes.
But the problem is not big. With more than 200,000 troops marching on the plains, it is difficult to cover up.
"This little devil is very cautious. He only dares to send reconnaissance planes, not fighter jets or bombers."
Li Yunlong's tone was a little regretful.
If enough Japanese fighter jets and bombers come, he can make a fortune.
At present, Boss Chen's planes have been delivered, and the New Regiment has established three new flying groups, 200 new pilots, and more than 150 new fighters, bombers, transport aircraft, and reconnaissance aircraft.
Air support capabilities have been greatly enhanced.
"I guess the Japanese are looking for the North China Front."
Wang Dehou smiled slightly.
Thinking of the scuffle a few days ago, Wang Dehou couldn't help but sigh.
At that time, the organization of the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army was completely in disarray. The platoon could not find the company, the company could not find the battalion, and the soldiers would attack the Japanese whenever they saw them.
However, the Japanese organization is even more chaotic. The squadron cannot find the squadron, the squadron cannot find the brigade, the brigade cannot find the regiment, the regiment cannot find the division, and the division cannot find the headquarters.
Even the organization of the Japanese squad was disrupted.
After a melee, the main Japanese force of the North China Front was completely wiped out.
Of course, the New Regiment and the Jizhong Military Region also paid some costs, but the costs were within an acceptable range.
Moreover, after the organization was disrupted, it took a lot of time to restore the army's organization, and some troops and soldiers still have not returned to the army.
In other words, the Eighth Route Army only dared to fight like this because of its strong organizational strength.
If it were the national army and they dared to disrupt the organization and fight against the Japanese, the army would be disbanded immediately.
After all, every soldier has an independent mind. Unifying the thoughts of so many soldiers is enough to show how powerful the political commissars, instructors and instructors of the Eighth Route Army are.
"Have you not found those two old devils, Okamura Neji and Arisu Seizan?"
Li Yunlong changed the subject.
Wang Dehou shook his head.
"not yet!"
"The final news from Deputy Commander Ma is that our cavalry unit has captured several Japanese cavalry alive, and they don't know where Okamura Neji has gone."
"As soon as our plane arrived, hundreds of Japanese cavalrymen, including Okamura and the commanders of each division, all scattered and fled."
"But what is certain is that Okamura and the division commanders of the North China Front must be among that cavalry unit."
Two days passed, and the cavalry units of the New Regiment and the Independent Regiment launched a blanket search in the bombing area and even the coastal area.
However, Okamura was still not found, and even Okamura's body was not found.
However, it has been confirmed that Lieutenant General Tanaka Kuichi, commander of the 21st Division of the North China Front, Lieutenant General Harada Kumayoshi, commander of the 35th Division, and Major General Shunsaburo Umagakura, commander of the 11th Composite Brigade, have been killed.
After a pause, Wang Dehou added: "Perhaps Okamura and Seizo Arimo were beaten to pieces by our 20mm aircraft cannon, or blown to ashes by aerial bombs."
Li Yunlong nodded: "It's not impossible."
The power of the 20mm aerial artillery shells can turn even military horses into pieces of meat, let alone Japanese soldiers.
Not to mention the power of aerial bombs, and the Saber fighters carried napalm bombs, which could directly burn the Japanese and Japanese Toyoma to ashes.
The area where the plane bombed happened to be a flat area, and there were not many woods nearby.
Of course, the Japanese cavalry did not gather together to bombard the new regiment's aircraft, but dispersed and fled.
From the moment they heard the sound of the plane to the time it flew over the enemy's head, the enemy had time to react.
By the time the plane flew over the heads of the Japanese cavalry, the Japanese cavalry had already dispersed, so the new group of aircraft could only kill most of the Japanese cavalry at most, but not all of them.
There are definitely some Japanese who slipped through the net, but very few.
Wang Dehou continued to report: "However, our reconnaissance planes have been ambushing and conducting reconnaissance on the coastline for the past two days, and no Japanese transport ships have been found. Our interrogation radio has also been turned on. The high-power radio of the North China Front has not been turned on."
"Forget it!" Li Yunlong waved his hand and said, "Don't worry about this anymore!"
"Now that the main force of the North China Front has been killed, it would be best if that old devil Okamura is dead."
"Even if the old devil is not dead, he has become a polished commander. Neither Hideji Tojo nor Locust can spare him."
"Order the troops to speed up their march, and let's go fight the Kwantung Army."
Wang Dehou: "Yes!"
…
at the same time.
Japanese country.
Tokyo.
Prime Minister's Office.
"Nani? The North China Front Army was defeated? The whereabouts of General Okamura, the commander of the North China Front Army, are unknown?"
After listening to the staff report, Tojo stood up suddenly, an expression of disbelief gradually creeping onto his face.
The news came so suddenly that Hideji Tojo's heart beat a few beats slower at this time.
More than 200,000 Imperial Army troops and tens of thousands of tons of combat materials were invested, and this is the outcome?
Tojo Eiji found it difficult to accept this result for a while.
Didn't he already give the order to retreat?
Why was the North China Front still defeated?
General Okamura's whereabouts are unknown? Did Okamura lead his troops to surrender to the Eighth Route Army?
Okamura Neiji is a loser. There have long been rumors that Okamura Neiji is a senior spy of the Eighth Route Army lurking in the North China Front.
Tojo's intestines were almost filled with regret. He should have asked Okamura Neji to have a caesarean section to apologize!
A waste like Okamura can only lead the locust army to defeat the battle.
For this defeat of the North China Front, someone must take the blame, and the first person to take the blame must be Okamura.
But if Okamura died in battle, then Hideji Tojo would be the one to take the blame. The failure of this battle was simply too serious.
"How many troops did the North China Front lose?" Neji Okamura asked in a deep voice with a gloomy face.
At the beginning of the battle, the North China Front had 12 divisions and 3 brigades, with a total strength of approximately 200,000.
"It's not clear yet!"
"General Umezu Yoshijiro sent a telegram saying that the main force of the North China Front Army has been wiped out by the China Army..."
The major general staff officer who reported the report paused. He really couldn't think of words to describe it, so he had to use the word "annihilate":
"At this time, hundreds of thousands of the main force of the Eighth Route Army are approaching Tianjin, preparing to attack the Kwantung Army and the three divisions heading to North China. General Umezu Yoshijiro requested tactical guidance!"
The corners of Tojo Eiji's mouth suddenly twitched a few times.
The Eighth Route Army went too far, eating up the main force of the North China Front Army. Does it still want to eat the main force of the Kwantung Army?
But Tojo Hideji had no choice. The main force of the 11th Army was defeated in the Xuzhou area. The Kwantung Army's main force of hundreds of thousands, which had been marching for half a month in a hurry, was probably no match for the Eighth Route Army.
If the main force of the Kwantung Army is killed, Manchuria will definitely not be saved.
Manchuria is the rear area of the Japanese army. There are a large number of Japanese arsenals and airports there. If Manchuria is lost, the cabinet headed by him will surely fall.
"Immediately call back General Umezu Yoshijiro and order them to find out the losses of the North China Front as soon as possible."
Tojo Eiji took a deep breath and said in a deep voice:
"Then order the Kwantung Army, the 43rd Division, the 46th Division and the 47th Division to immediately move into Manchuria, but heavy troops must be stationed at Shanhaiguan, and the Eighth Route Army troops must not be allowed to leave the customs!"
"Hi."
The staff officer suddenly lowered his head and turned to leave.
"idiot!"
After the staff left, Tojo Hideji couldn't bear it any longer. He pulled out the general's sword from the knife rest and slashed wildly with the sword. Several blue and white porcelain vases and the chess table were all chopped to pieces.
Although the defeat of the North China Front Army could not shake the foundation of the Japanese Army.
But this defeat was undoubtedly a huge blow to Japan, both militarily and politically.
And those people on the Eighth Route Army have won battles, and they like to publicize them all over the world, and they want everyone in the world to know.
Thinking of this, Tojo Hideji had a headache.
In addition, after suffering such a huge defeat, how should I explain to His Majesty Tianlocust?
…
As the order from the Japanese base camp was issued.
The main force of the Kwantung Army, the 43rd Division, the 46th Division and the 47th Division, quickly fled towards Tangshan before the North China Front's missed fish could reach Tianjin.
The Eighth Route Army reconnaissance plane quickly discovered this situation.
Immediately, fighter jets and bombers were dispatched to conduct indiscriminate bombing on the Japanese marching team.
It was not until after dark that the bombing of the Japanese stopped.
The Japanese in Lu Province also escaped on transport ships from the coast. After the Japanese escaped, the Eighth Route Army took only a few days to regain the North China Plain west of Shanhaiguan.
From then on, the Central Plains and the North China Plain became the territory of the Eighth Route Army, with an area of more than 1 million square kilometers and a population of more than 100 million.
Coupled with the business gains from this battle, the Eighth Route Army is about to usher in the fastest growing period in history.
…
(PS: Please give me a guaranteed monthly pass.)
This chapter has been completed!