Chapter 816: Okamura Neji: Let’s see who has the better teeth!
"Hiss, hiss..."
The deputy chief of staff took a breath and said: "The Eighth Route Army in Yi Zhong has always been a large organization..."
"The three main regiments have at least 6,000 elites... plus one regiment of artillery and several cavalry companies, the total strength is at least 7,500."
"If the street fighting inferred by the commander really exists, and the central sweep force loses another brigade, their total strength will be reduced sharply to less than 7,000 people, which is not as many as the Eighth Route Army gathered in Chenjiazhuang..."
"That's the hinterland of the Yi Zhong Base. The Eighth Route Army is more familiar with the terrain than we are, and they also have the advantage in strength."
"Excluding the air force advantage, our artillery advantage is not great. If the two sides really want to fight a decisive battle in Chenjiazhuang, it is indeed dangerous to sweep the troops in the middle, and we have to guard against it."
Neji Okamura raised his eyebrows and began to give orders: "Contact the aviation force immediately."
"Immediately conduct low-altitude reconnaissance around Chenjiazhuang. Every place must be detected, especially valleys, woods, and nooks and crannies where people may be hiding!"
"Intelligence personnel and scouts operating around Chenjiazhuang must cooperate with the action and report immediately if they find large groups of Eighth Route Army troops!"
The deputy chief of staff hesitated and reminded: "Your Excellency, Commander..."
"What do you mean by large forces?"
"Even troops of the above size report, the headquarters counts the number of Eighth Route Army found by aviation and intelligence personnel. The more detailed the better."
"I'll make arrangements now..." After hearing this, the deputy chief of staff ran to the telecommunications room to prepare to send a telegram to the relevant troops.
"Wait a minute!" Neji Okamura stopped the deputy chief of staff who was about to leave.
"I also need to send a telegram to Sakuragi-kun!"
"In the next attack, try to avoid street fighting with the Eighth Route Army in Yizhong. While it is daytime, the aviation force can be dispatched to make more use of our army's artillery advantage."
"The worst that can happen is that Chenjiazhuang will be razed to the ground... hurry up, otherwise it will be too late!"
"Hai..." After hearing this, the deputy chief of staff hurried to the telecommunications room.
As a result, he returned to the war room in less than ten minutes, his face even more solemn than before...
"Is it still too late?" Neji Okamura asked immediately, fearing that his worst fears would become reality.
The deputy chief of staff lowered his head and replied: "Lieutenant General Sakuragi just sent a telegram!"
"Their second attack against Chenjiazhuang also failed."
"It started very smoothly. The attacking troops were unstoppable. In just half an hour, they broke through three lines of defense outside Chenjiazhuang and entered Chenjiazhuang..."
"As a result, the remnants of the Eighth Route Army used the houses, barricades, shooting holes, and tunnel fortifications in Chenjiazhuang to engage in street fighting with our army."
"The attacking troops were caught off guard and suffered heavy losses. They had to withdraw from Chenjiazhuang and use artillery fire to level the buildings in the village before attacking..."
Okamura Neiji decisively interrupted: "How many people did the Sakuragi Division lose in the street fighting..."
"More than two squadrons, nearly five hundred people..." the deputy chief of staff answered with his head lowered.
"Baga..." Neji Okamura was angry.
Facing the Eighth Route Army in Yizhong, I had been cautious enough, but in the end, I still caught them time and time again, losing troops and generals.
Staring at the sand table with an angry look on his face, he ordered: "Remind Sakuragi-kun again, you must increase your firepower output..."
"First use artillery shells and aerial bombs to level Chenjiazhuang, so that the Eighth Route Army in Yinzhong will lose the battlefield for street fighting with us, then let the infantry assault clear all the tunnel entrances and exits in Chenjiazhuang, and finally use blasting to destroy all the tunnel fortifications in Chenjiazhuang."
"Let Yingmu-kun not think about retaliating with tooth, and after occupying Chenjiazhuang, use the tunnel fortifications to attack the Eighth Route Army."
"The Chenjiazhuang tunnel was built by the Eighth Route Army. They are more familiar with the direction of the tunnel and the locations of various orders than we are. They may have built many secret tunnels."
"After the troops captured Chenjiazhuang, they had limited time. They would not be able to fully grasp the tunnel fortifications there in a hurry."
"As long as there is a secret passage not discovered by us, it may bring a devastating blow to the troops defending Chenjiazhuang."
"If the troops want to hold Chenjiazhuang, cut off the Eighth Route Army's retreat route in the wing, and gather together to annihilate it, they must eliminate all risks."
"At the same time, let them strengthen their vigilance to prevent the Eighth Route Army from encircling them..."
"Send another telegram to the two sweep forces on the left and right..."
"The central mopping up troops have reached Chenjiazhuang and will soon be able to cut off the retreat of the Eighth Route Army in Yizhong."
"Please speed up their attack and drive the Eighth Route Army they are fighting to Chenjiazhuang as soon as possible. After joining the central mopping up troops, they can wipe out all the Eighth Route Army blocked there!"
"What if the middle mopping up troops really have an accident in Chenjiazhuang?"
"The mopping up troops on the left and right sides will rush over as soon as possible, and the mopping up troops on the middle route will be able to get out of danger as soon as possible. Killing two birds with one stone..."
Just as the deputy chief of staff was about to take the order and leave, he saw the communications staff member hurried towards Gangmura Neji with a very solemn look on his face.
"Your Excellency, Commander...an urgent call from the aviation force..."
"There are indeed signs of a large number of Eighth Route Army activities around Chenjiazhuang... The exact number of people is still under further investigation."
"Judging from the movement direction of the Eighth Route Army, it seems that they really want to encircle the middle road and mop up the troops..."
Okamura Neiji punched the table in front of him and said angrily: "I'm just saying that the battle of the middle route mopping up troops to attack Chenjiazhuang is so familiar..."
"It turns out that the Yizhong Eighth Route Army really intends to repeat its old tricks!"
"First use offensive and defensive battles to consume a large amount of troops in the middle, and then gather all the main forces to besiege them..."
“What a big appetite!”
"Everyone in the war is picking on the weak...the Eighth Route Army in the Wing went in the opposite direction, and just focused on our army's most powerful middle mopping up force..."
"They are indeed an opponent who doesn't play by common sense."
"But our central mopping up force is not something they can eat if they want."
After saying that, he turned to Deputy Chief of Staff Hou who was stunned on the spot and said: "What are you doing here? Hurry up and give the order..."
"By the way, forward the information about the Eighth Route Army encircling them, and ask Yingmu-kun to immediately send scouts to find out how many Eighth Route Army troops are hidden in the Chenjiazhuang area!"
"Let them reach Chenjiazhuang as soon as possible, prepare to defend and wait for reinforcements, and at the same time drag the Eighth Route Army besieging them to Chenjiazhuang."
"Wait until the two sweeping forces from the left and right reach the battlefield, then gather together and annihilate them."
"The Eighth Route Army wants to cut off one of our fingers, force us to retreat, and end the sweep."
"We want to gather heavy troops and eliminate them in Chenjiazhuang. Who can have the last laugh depends on who has better teeth."
Having said this, an idea came to Neji Okamura's mind, and he suddenly gave an order to the combat staff aside.
"There are two regiments stationed in Baoding. Although it can ensure the safety of the headquarters, it is too wasteful. Order the Yamaguchi Regiment to replenish ammunition immediately and be on standby at the station to be ready to reinforce the battlefield at any time!"
