Chapter 787 Okamura: I just want to make them suffer
Chapter 787 Okamura: I just want them to suffer (first update)
Author: 574981
Chapter 787 Okamura: I just want them to suffer (first update)
Ten minutes later, the Japanese offensive force successfully captured Zhangjiachong.
The troops were never attacked from beginning to end.
This scene made Lieutenant General Sakuragi even more certain that the artillery fire coverage just now was effective. The tunnel battle of the Eighth Route Army in Yi Zhong was just like that. At the same time, a picture of using artillery to deal with the tunnels emerged in his mind.
"Division Commander..."
The captain of the offensive force ran to Lieutenant General Sakuragi with a smile on his face.
"The artillery fire coverage just now was effective... We found many tunnel entrances and exits on the battlefield, all of which were blown up by artillery shells."
"Fortunately, the troops retreated in time during the last round of attack. If the Eighth Route Army had used all the tunnel entrances and exits, and the attacking troops had not withdrawn from the battlefield, the casualties of the attacking troops would have been greater, and the tank troops would have lost more tanks."
"But we didn't find a single Eighth Route Army soldier on the ground, not even a single Eighth Route Army soldier's body."
"The humble official suspected that they entered the tunnel in advance to avoid artillery fire. As a result, the entrance and exit of the tunnel were bombed. They were all buried underground and could not get out."
"How about we wait until they are suffocated to death, then send people to dig out one or two tunnel entrances and exits and enter the tunnels to confirm how many Eighth Route Army troops we have destroyed in this battle."
Lieutenant General Sakuragi shook his head again: "No need..."
"Although there is no shortage of time in the big sweep, there is not enough time to waste on cleaning up the results of the battle."
"We must not only unite the left and right mopping up forces to attack the Eighth Route Army in the center of the wing, but also seize Chenjiazhuang and block the Eighth Route Army's retreat. We will not waste time if we can."
"Leave an infantry squadron to occupy Zhangjiachong, and then catch up with the main force after confirming the battle. This will not waste time." The captain suggested again.
Lieutenant General Sakuragi continued to shake his head: "No..."
"Before dispatching the troops, Your Excellency the Commander repeatedly stated that when entering the base area in the wing, no matter what accident occurs, the troops must not be hastily divided."
"Although we successfully captured Zhangjiachong, no one can guarantee that there are no other Eighth Route Army troops around."
"In case the main force leaves and the other Eighth Route Army troops return to Zhangjiachong, there will probably be an accident for the remaining troops."
"As long as we successfully seize Chenjiazhuang, block the Eighth Route Army's access to the mountains, and then combine the left and right sweep forces to sweep through the Yizhong base area, since the Eighth Route Army outside the mountains will be wiped out by us sooner or later."
"Then there is no need to put certain troops at risk just to count the results."
…………
At the Baoding Garrison Headquarters, Okamura Neji was staring at the map nervously.
The three red arrows representing the three-way mopping up troops are clearly marked on it. It is clear at a glance where the troops have attacked and whether they have been blocked.
"Your Excellency, Commander..." The communications staff officer ran all the way to Okamura Neji.
"Lieutenant General Sakuragi of the middle route mopping up force received an urgent message. They were blocked by the Eighth Route Army in Zhangjiachong."
"The enemy has built a large number of tunnel fortifications in Zhangjiachong. Our army's first attack has been repelled, with the loss of one infantry squadron and three tanks."
"The battle between the two sides happened so quickly..." Neji Okamura didn't even turn his head, staring at the red arrow on the map representing the mopping up troops in the middle with a serious expression on his face.
"fair enough."
"Let the Kwantung Army experience the power of tunnel warfare as soon as possible and suffer some losses."
"In the next battle, they will know how powerful tunnel warfare is, and they will not dare to underestimate the enemy again."
"Otherwise they will definitely suffer a big loss at the hands of the Yi Zhong Eighth Route Army."
"Report..." A combat staff officer hurried over to report.
"Your Excellency Commander..."
"The mopping up troops on the left road were attacked by the Eighth Route Army. The enemy hid in the tunnels, attacked without warning, and then retreated after being attacked. The attacking troops suffered heavy losses."
"At present, the mopping up troops are destroying the Eighth Route Army tunnels through artillery fire and gradually advancing."
After a while, the news of the attack on the right-wing mopping up troops also reached Okamura Neji's ears.
The combat staff immediately drew three blue arcs in front of the three arrows representing the mopping up troops, representing the Eighth Route Army's blocking troops.
The deputy chief of staff on the side suddenly reminded: "Your Excellency, Commander."
"I have studied the Yizhong Tunnel in my humble position."
"Ordinary tunnels are dug five meters deep underground, and some important tunnels are dug directly to a depth of eight or nine meters underground. They are criss-crossed with entrances and exits everywhere."
"It's difficult to completely destroy it with artillery alone. Should we contact the aviation force and send some planes over to reinforce the mopping up troops?"
Okamura Neji shook his head: "No..."
"I just want to make these arrogant soldiers suffer some losses in front of the tunnel."
"We can bear a small loss now. When we suffer another loss in the decisive battle with the Yizhong Eighth Route Army, the loss will not be a few hundred Kwantung Army, but thousands or tens of thousands of Kwantung Army."
"The mopping up troops didn't take the initiative to ask us for air support."
"We also don't proactively provide them with air support."
The deputy chief of staff immediately showed an expression of approval.
To this day, he still remembers how arrogant and arrogant these Kwantung Army officers were during the last combat meeting.
He didn't take his own reminder about the Eighth Route Army's tunnel warfare seriously at all.
There are also many people who directly show disdain, thinking that the reason why tunnel warfare is so powerful is because the North China Front Army blew it up in order to evade responsibility.
Since these people don't believe their own reminders, insist on going their own way, and even humiliate themselves at the meeting, let them suffer a loss for once.
"Your Excellency Commander..."
The communications staff officer came over to Okamura Neji again, with a smile on his face than before. He hurriedly reported before Okamura Neji could speak.
"An urgent message from the commander of the central mopping up force Sakuragi Division."
"They successfully broke through the Eighth Route Army's Zhangjiachong blocking position."
"The Eighth Route Army defending Zhangjiachong were all buried in the tunnel."
"The troops successfully occupied the Zhangjiachong ground blocking position and are quickly passing through Zhangjiachong and heading straight into Lijiazhuang."
"How could it be so fast?" the deputy chief of staff was confused by the good news and asked with disbelief on his face.
Okamura Neji is also confused.
During the last raid on the Eighth Route Army in Yizhong, the tunnel fortifications built by the Eighth Route Army were completely immune to artillery fire.
Even if artillery fire coverage successfully destroys part of the tunnel entrances and exits, the Eighth Route Army can continue to attack the attacking troops through the remaining tunnel entrances and exits.
At this moment, the Kwantung Army destroyed all the entrances and exits of the tunnel with only one round of artillery fire, buried all the Eighth Route Army underground, and took the blocking position.
If the telegram hadn't clearly stated this, Okamura Neji would have thought he had heard a big joke.
Could it be that the artillery of the Kwantung Army had help from Amaterasu, so the shells they fired had eyes and hit the tunnel entrances and exits.
The artillery unit of the North China Front did not have the help of Amaterasu when it fired, and could only destroy some of the tunnel entrances and exits.
Okamura Neji shook his head decisively and threw this unrealistic idea behind him.
He frowned again and fell into deep thought, analyzing the possible reasons.
Before he could figure it out, another communications officer came running towards him with a smile on his face.
The first update is delivered today, please order it all!
