The losses of the three-way mopping up troops were all apparent. What worried Okamura Neiji the most was the Duer Regiment, the reinforced regiment with the strongest combat effectiveness among the Eighth Route Army in the Wing.
Before the sweep began, this unit mysteriously disappeared from its station, and even the sixteen field artillery pieces of the field artillery battalion were missing.
Intelligence agents and scouts searched for them for three days in a row, but there was no trace of them.
If this elite suddenly appeared on any battlefield where the three sweep forces on the left, center and right were located, it would disrupt the battlefield situation, wipe out the advantages of a certain sweep force, and even put them in crisis.
Seeing the deputy chief of staff walking over in a hurry, as if he had something important to report, he immediately asked the question he was most concerned about: "Have you found the Duer Regiment?"
The deputy chief of staff shook his head: "The left-wing sweep forces are in urgent need of news. They have lost another infantry brigade in Wangdu County. It is suspected that the Duer Regiment, which disappeared from the Yizhong base, is hiding in Wangdu City..."
With that, he handed the telegram to Okamura Neiji and continued to report: "It said that when the troops attacked Wangdu County again, the Eighth Route Army in the city suddenly launched a counterattack. The opponent's combat effectiveness was very strong and well-equipped. In a few minutes, the attacking troops were reduced to a pot of porridge."
"Kawasaki-kun originally planned to send troops into the city immediately to reinforce the third brigade, but the Eighth Route Army did not send troops to seize the city, cutting off the connection between inside and outside the county and preventing them from sending troops into the city."
"Kawazaki-kun and Lieutenant Colonel Cun Shang suspect that this is a conspiracy arranged by the Eighth Route Army."
"They want to use the third brigade as bait to attract Kawasaki-kun to send troops into the city and force the mopping up troops to fight them in a large-scale street battle."
"The Duer Regiment has more than 3,000 elites, and the Wangdu Garrison Regiment has more than 2,000 elites. The total strength exceeds 5,000."
"There are only two large teams left in the left sweep force, and the strength is limited."
"Once they lose artillery support and aviation support and fall into street fighting with the Eighth Route Army in Wangdu County, they will definitely lose."
"In order to avoid expanding losses, we did not send troops into the city..."
"As a result, it only took the Eighth Route Army more than 20 minutes to eliminate the third brigade, which further proves the conclusion that the Eighth Route Army arranged an ambush in Wangdu City."
"Otherwise, the small number of troops in the Wangdu Garrison Regiment will never have the strength to fight continuously and eat up two brigades of our army."
Okamura Neji got angry after hearing this, and immediately showed a hateful expression and cursed: "Baga, Kawasaki-kun is confused..."
The deputy chief of staff thought that the commander was dissatisfied with the heavy casualties of the troops sweeping up the left flank, so he quickly comforted him: "Commander, please calm down..."
"Although the left sweep force once again lost an infantry brigade, their main force is still there..."
"Shut up, do you think I'm angry because of this?" Okamura Neji cursed rudely.
"Since they already suspected that the Duer Group was hiding in Wangdu County, why not seize the opportunity to force them out and drag them into street fighting in Wangdu County."
"As long as the Duer Regiment and the Wangdu Defense Regiment can be wiped out in Wangdu County, it will still be worthwhile even if all the left-wing mopping up troops are used up."
"Kawasaki-kun can't even settle this account. Do you think I shouldn't be angry..."
"He was too narrow-minded and had no overall perspective. He was afraid that the Baoding garrison would be wiped out during the sweep. He always wanted to preserve his strength and did not dare to use his full strength. This was the reason why he lost the opportunity to annihilate the Second Independent Regiment."
"Ah..." The deputy chief of staff was stunned by Okamura Neji's words.
He just thought that Major General Kawasaki saved the main force of the mopping up force on the left because of his caution, but he did not expect that the mopping up force missed the opportunity to completely annihilate the Second Regiment.
Listening to Okamura Neiji's analysis, he also felt that Major General Kawasaki's decision was too impulsive and he only cared about himself and ignored the overall situation.
But now that the matter had come to this, he could only think of a way to remedy the situation, and immediately asked: "Your Excellency, Commander, how about I send a telegram to Mr. Kawasaki now, and before it gets dark, immediately send troops into the city, force the Duer Regiment out, and kill them
If we drag it inside Wangdu City, we might be able to make some repairs."
Okamura Neji nodded: "That's the only way it can be. Then why are you still hanging around here? Why don't you hurry up and send a telegram?"
"If the Duer Regiment is really in Wangdu City, as long as Lord Kawasaki can hold them back and annihilate them together, no matter how many people the Baoding garrison loses, the front army will replenish them."
"Send another telegram to Mr. Fujita and ask them to assemble immediately and be on standby to be ready to reinforce Wangdu County at any time."
"If the Duer Regiment is really in Wangdu and fighting with the left mopping up troops, they will send troops immediately."
After saying that, Okamura Neji turned his attention to the sand table, the solemn expression on his face disappeared, and he seemed to have seen the hope of defeating the Eighth Route Army in Yizhong.
…………
Outside Wangdu City, Major General Kawasaki was pacing back and forth at the headquarters, considering the next action plan for the troops.
Wangdu County was right in front of him, but he was afraid that there would be a trap in the city and the troops at hand would be wiped out by the Eighth Route Army, so he never had the courage to send troops into the city again.
The second and third brigades have already encountered accidents. If something happens to the remaining two brigades, the troops sweeping up the left flank will turn into a piece of fat and be swallowed up by the Eighth Route Army at any time.
"General..." Lieutenant Colonel Cun Shang walked over with a serious face.
"Aviation report: The Eighth Route Army that wiped out the third brigade suddenly disappeared from the battlefield, which was similar to what was seen at the city observation post. I suspected that they had gone underground again. Artillery fire coverage and aircraft bombing would probably not hurt them. They could only rely on
The infantry fought with them in street battles."
"It will be dark in less than three hours. Please make up your mind as soon as possible whether the troops should continue to attack Wangdu County."
Major General Kawasaki waved his hand to indicate that he knew, and then returned to the map, staring at the city defense map on the ammunition box without saying a word for a long time.
The four walls of Wangdu have been occupied by himself, and the houses in the city have been razed to the ground by artillery fire. However, the inner city cannot be captured. Major General Kawasaki has never been so frustrated as he is today.
The operator suddenly stood up from his chair and walked quickly to Major General Kawasaki with the telegram in hand: "General, your Excellency, the Commander, has an urgent message."
Major General Kawasaki received the telegram respectfully. The aggrieved expression on his face was replaced by shame and anger as soon as he saw it. He slapped his head suddenly and said: "Bageya Road, I am so stupid, I actually sent the other two mopping up troops to
forget."
While handing the telegram to Lieutenant Colonel Cun Shang, he ordered: "All the remaining mountain artillery and field artillery from the mopping up troops will be strengthened by the 4th and 5th brigades. They will immediately enter the city and besiege the Eighth Route Army inside."
"If they want to start a street fight, just fight with them. There's nothing to be afraid of."
Lieutenant Colonel Cun Shang happened to read the contents of the telegram and said with a look of realization: "Your Excellency, Commander, you can see far. We almost made a big mistake. Fortunately, it's not dark yet, otherwise the Eighth Route Army in the city might slip under our noses at any time."
Walk."
"I'll make arrangements now..."
"I suggest that the Imperial Alliance Army also be arranged to enter the city. Although their combat effectiveness is not very good, they can help the Imperial Army disperse the firepower and troops of the Eighth Route Army and reduce the offensive pressure on the Fourth and Fifth Brigades."
Twenty minutes later, more than 2,000 puppet troops entered the county from the four city gates at the same time. They attacked steadily and gradually moved toward the Eighth Route Army assembly area to encircle them.
Major General Kawasaki made a desperate move and climbed directly to the top of the city, overlooking the entire battlefield from a high position.
In order to report the war situation to Okamura Neji as soon as possible, he even moved the radio station to the top of the city.
In the telescope, more than 700 Japanese puppet troops were slowly advancing in battle formation, and soon they advanced two to three hundred meters.
But the imagined battle has not occurred. As of now, not a single gunshot has been heard in the city.
"Could it be that the Eighth Route Army that was guarding Wangdu County was well fed and well-fed and had withdrawn..." A bold idea suddenly came to Major General Kawasaki's mind.
But he quickly shook his head and rejected this inference.
The total strength of the Wangdu Garrison Regiment and the Du Second Regiment was 5,000. They lost two to three thousand men in the two street battles, and they still had two to three thousand men.
There are aviation troops in the sky watching, and cavalry on the ground patrolling and guarding everywhere. With such a large force evacuating Wangdu County, no matter how concealed it is, it is impossible to do it quietly.
The only explanation is that the Eighth Route Army was hiding in the tunnels inside the city and did not want to fight the siege troops.
Or they are biding their time.
After the siege troops were dispersed, they suddenly emerged from the tunnels to catch them by surprise, thereby consuming the siege troops' strength.
Major General Kawasaki had already suffered two heavy losses at the hands of Li Yunlong, losing two infantry brigades. He was immediately trembling with fright and quickly ordered: "Tell all the attacking troops that the Eighth Route Army may have overweighted the tunnels and let them destroy them when they attack."
All the tunnel entrances and exits found will suffocate the enemy to death underground."
"The troops must also strengthen their vigilance to prevent the Eighth Route Army from suddenly drilling out of tunnels around them and raiding them."
Twenty minutes later, the four siege troops met at the ground headquarters of the Wangdu Defense Regiment.
Until now, they have not been attacked and have not seen an Eighth Route Army soldier.
The entrance and exit of the tunnel were heavily bombed, but there was not a single Eighth Route Army soldier inside.
"Could it be that the Eighth Route Army that was guarding the capital really has to withdraw..." This thought came to Major General Kawasaki's mind again.
Although he wanted to reject this inference in his heart, he could not think of any reason to reject it in the face of the facts.
"The commander of the brigade, your Excellency, sent an urgent message to ask if we have forced out the main force of the Second Regiment, and if the middle-route sweep force should immediately send troops to reinforce us." The operator came over again to report.
Lieutenant Colonel Cun Shang saw Major General Kawasaki's embarrassment and entanglement, so he had to ask for orders on the battlefield: "General, I despise my position and go to the city to take a look in person."
"It's impossible for so many Eighth Route Army troops to disappear out of thin air. I will definitely find their traces."
If you deposit Lieutenant Colonel, he will leave quickly and return quickly.
When I left Chengtou, I was full of confidence and felt that I would be able to solve the problem.
When he returned to the city, he was dejected, as if he was a different person. He lowered his head and was embarrassed to report: "General, I have let you down with my humble position."
"There are only corpses of the Imperial Army in the city, not the Eighth Route Army. We didn't even find any of their corpses."
"The weapons and ammunition equipped by the second and third brigades have also been lost..."
"Some troops went deep into the tunnel to investigate from the entrance of the tunnel they found, but they were all attacked by the Eighth Route Army. They went in and never came out again. I had to order the engineers to blast it, and then the Eighth Route Army hiding in the tunnel withdrew."
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