In fact, when the battle reached this stage and the offensive went so smoothly, even Harada himself found it a bit incredible. Although he spoke resolutely when he returned to Guancun, he was actually worried in his heart that he had fallen into the Eighth Route Army's trick.
Especially the cunning Kong Jie.
The more in-depth he got to know Harada, the more he felt that he was shrewd, cunning, and far-sighted.
In terms of military command, Harada dared not say anything, but in terms of business, he believed that he had no rival among the entire imperial officers.
Until I bumped into Kong Jie.
From the time Kong Wuwan rose to fame, to the rapid growth of a team, the construction and development of the base area was in full swing, and business teams from all walks of life were almost spread across North and Central China. Even senior Japanese officers like Harada became Kong Jie's private business partners
partner.
Even Harada had to admit that he couldn't beat Kong Jie in a fight.
In business, he is no match for Kong Jie either.
This made Harada worry that, as Guancun said, he had fallen into the traps set for him by Kong Jie step by step.
But good news from the front came frequently.
A large number of Eighth Route Army defensive positions were quickly breached, including a large number of heavy machine guns and Jin-made mountain artillery that the Eighth Route Army had no time to take away during its hasty retreat, all of which were captured by Harada's men.
In order to make sure that the Eighth Route Army was really caught off guard by their sneak attack, this led to their defeat.
Harada personally rushed to the frontline combat troops to inspect the large number of captured heavy machine guns and mountain artillery that originally belonged to the Eighth Route Army.
Until he actually saw the piles of heavy machine guns that were almost piled up, including the Maxim heavy machine gun, the 24-year-old heavy machine gun of the Republic of China, and the three-section heavy machine gun and other types of heavy machine guns commonly used by the Eighth Route Army, Harada had doubts in his heart.
This dissuaded me a lot.
Putting piles of seizures, Harada, who was quite smug, said proudly: "After this battle, our 35th Division became famous in one battle. I want to let those bastards who stand behind us and say that we only do business and enrich our own pockets, do well."
Look, we are not only a division that can do business and make money, but we are also a division that can fight tough battles!"
The Japanese chief of staff on the side echoed: "General, you are wise! General, we have captured mountains of all kinds of equipment. In addition, we captured a large number of warehouses abandoned by the Eighth Route Army along the way and seized a considerable amount of supplies."
If nothing unexpected happens, the Eighth Route Army must have suffered heavy losses.
The loss of these supplies will most likely cause major problems in their logistics. I think this is the perfect opportunity for our army to pursue victory!"
"No hurry, no hurry!" Harada said calmly like a fisherman sitting firmly on a fishing platform.
Until that afternoon, a letter from the Eighth Route Army arrived.
Harada asked Harada to open the letter. The letter was written in Chinese and accompanied by Japanese. It seemed to be a letter written by Kong Jie himself. In the letter, Harada was scolded for not being benevolent and righteous, and even using the guise of doing business to sneak attack on Dai County and launch a military campaign.
attack!
"General, Kong Jie is very angry about this and said that he will never do business cooperation with us again in the future!"
In this regard, the old Japanese Harada did not take it seriously and said: "There are no permanent friends or permanent enemies in this world, there are only eternal interests.
We and the Eighth Route Army are mortal enemies, but we can still do business, but we each get what we need.
Don't look at the anger Kong Jie is showing at the moment. When he looks back, he will still not delay doing business with us.
This is the essence of a businessman!
In addition, this letter completely dispelled my doubts.
I am basically convinced now that the Eighth Route Army did not expect that we would take the opportunity to make a sneak attack, and we were caught off guard.
Okay, notify the frontline troops and continue to advance towards the predetermined target!
In addition, the order is conveyed to the headquarters, which means that our division is advancing smoothly, has achieved many great victories, and is waiting for reinforcements from other directions to launch the final attack."
"Hi!"
…
The successive victories of the 35th Division led by Harada indeed greatly promoted the Japanese military advance against Datong and Zhangjiakou.
The old Japanese soldiers such as Junroku Hata and Okabe of the Japanese Army Command were pleasantly surprised and immediately mobilized their troops according to the plan.
Soon after, the Japanese 106th, 26th, and 101st Divisions set out from Guoxian County and launched an attack on the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army guarding Xinkou according to the preplan.
Under fierce fighting between the two sides.
With the help of the fully prepared heavy artillery unit, the Japanese army used powerful artillery as a means of attack, and the Eighth Route Army's defenses were completely defeated one after another.
The continuous victories made the Japanese offensive forces expand more and more fiercely, and a large number of artillery shells were fired at the Eighth Route Army's defenses as if they were free of charge.
The Japanese commander who led the team was very ambitious. After a large number of enemy positions were conquered, he even captured a considerable number of equipment and weapons that the Eighth Route Army troops had to evacuate in a hurry without having time to take away, including many heavy machine guns and even mountain cannons.
This made the Japanese army more and more confident, and it felt like they were back to the time a few years ago.
The Eighth Route Army was still the same vulnerable beggar team with scarce ammunition and backward equipment.
Just as the attack continues.
As the intelligence from the front came one after another, the Japanese commander could not help frowning and cursing: "These damn Eighth Route Army are really cunning. With such a large number of fortification groups and anti-tank trenches everywhere, our army's battlefield
The vehicle troops could not be deployed at all.
Although the troops were under fierce artillery fire, they could only attack the enemy layer by layer like peeling an onion. If this continued, ammunition would be lost very quickly.
It looks like we need to contact the logistics department and ship a few more batches of ammunition."
Fortunately, not long after, as the 106th, 101st and 26th Divisions attacked the Xinkou stronghold, news came from the Harada Division that they had successfully captured Dai County and Mingbao Airport, and were cooperating with the 120th Division troops from behind.
Attack from the side.
The Japanese commander was overjoyed when he heard the news.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! After Okabe, an old Japanese soldier who was stationed at the Japanese Army’s North China Headquarters in Peiping, received the intelligence from the front line, he also beamed: “Xiaoxi, in this way, the 120th Eighth Route Army in the direction of Xinkou
The main force of the division was completely controlled in place by our army's two-pronged attack, unable to move.
The mobile unit can quickly launch operations!"
Orders were issued quickly, and the mobile combat forces Okabe mentioned were actually several mechanized divisions of the Japanese army.
Including the 3rd Tank Division of the Kuroda Garrison in Mongolia; the 101st Division temporarily strengthened by mechanized troops from the Central China Expeditionary Army and the 12th Army; and the 14th Division led by the elite of the Kwantung Army, the old Japanese Inoue.
If there are more, the Japanese army will not be able to mobilize them for a while.
But in Okabe's view, the three mechanized combat divisions were only used to deal with Datong and Zhangjiakou, which was enough.
After the order was issued, part of the Japanese conventional infantry continued to storm the Xinkou area to contain the main combat force of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army.
Then, the mobile force mainly composed of the 101st Mechanized Combat Division, with the cooperation of the specially strengthened heavy artillery brigade and the independent tank regiment, took the lead in detouring from Xinkou to join the 35th Division led by Harada, and quickly moved northward.
, then bypassed Shuozhou and attacked Datong directly.
At the same time, the main force of the Japanese troops stationed in Mongolia gathered with the First Division in Yanqing County and launched an attack on the outskirts of Zhangjiakou.
The Niudao Manchu Division specially sent by the Kwantung Army launched a pincer offensive from Jingyi County, Baoding, assisted by the 27th Division from Tianjin.
The Shijiazhuang Iinuma garrison regiment is responsible for maintaining the rear route and guarding against the return operations of the Eighth Route Army troops.
Everything was prepared quickly. The Japanese army wanted to conquer Datong and Zhangjiakou in one fell swoop while the elite Iron Triangle Army of the Eighth Route Army was still holding an autumn competition in the base area.
The order from the Japanese Army General Headquarters in Peiping was quickly transmitted to the 14th Division Headquarters in Inoue, where the entire army was on standby.
Knowing that the Harada Division's offensive was going smoothly, the 106th and 26th Divisions attacking in the direction of Xinkou also achieved successive victories and captured a large number of enemy positions.
Inoue couldn't sit still. As the representative of the Kwantung Army, the elite of the imperial army, these second-rate combat troops in the Kwantung can fight so well. If he can't fight well, it will be a big shame.
It's the day.
As the weather in Sanjin turned cold and the cold snap suddenly arrived, a heavy snowfall was beyond everyone's expectations. It fell one after another on this thick and vast land, as if to use this coldness to soothe the chill caused by the war.
Looking at the falling snow, Inoue estimated that at this rate, thick snow would accumulate on the ground in less than a day.
Once the snow is too deep, it will definitely greatly slow down the mobility of mobile units.
He realized that time was not waiting for me and immediately issued the order.
The main force of the 14th Division of the Kwantung Army set out that night, braving the flying snowflakes, taking advantage of the cover of the Eighth Route Army reconnaissance aircraft in the dark, and using the large number of mechanized vehicles attached to the mechanized combat division to quickly mobilize the elite main force and go straight to the west of Yangyuan.
Huashaoying.
I have to say that this old devil Inoue does have two skills.
The 14th Division of the Kwantung Army is worthy of being the elite of the Japanese army. The soldiers are well-trained. Various mechanized combat vehicles cooperate with the cavalry and infantry in tacit cooperation, and they can move quickly and efficiently.
Around ten o'clock in the evening.
The main force of the 14th Division of the Kwantung Army, which braved the snowy night, launched an attack on Huashao Camp with a thunderous offensive. Almost effortlessly, it broke through multiple defensive fortifications deployed by the Eighth Route Army on the outside and captured Huashao Camp in one fell swoop.
In one warehouse after another, massive amounts of food and supplies were accumulated, all of which were captured by the 14th Division when the Eighth Route Army was defeated in a hurry and had no time to move.
Some of the retreating Eighth Route Army troops were unable to take away or destroy even some heavy machine guns and artillery pieces.
Looking at the large amount of equipment and weapons piled up in the warehouse, Lieutenant General Inoue who came over couldn't help but have a hint of ridicule on his lips.
What he heard most these days was what the imperial officers in North China and even Central China said about how great the Eighth Route Army troops in the Taihang area were, and how rampant the Eighth Route Army in Shanxi was.
But judging from the actual situation... "Tubal Road is still vulnerable to Tubal Road, but that's all. It can be seen that the military quality of the imperial troops in this pass is really disappointing!"
He attributed all this to the ineffective fighting of the imperial troops in North and Central China.
"Your Majesty Commander, what are our next steps?"
Inoue looked at the map in front of him and placed his finger on the Yangyuan area to the west of Huashao Camp: "There is news from the direction of Guangling and Yu County. The Eighth Route Army is fighting to the death. The resistance is extremely fierce. Our army wants to win in a short time."
It may not be realistic to capture Guangling and Yuxian and advance towards Datong.
Pass my order and the main force will continue to advance westward and go straight to Yangyuan!"
His words were full of confidence: "After conquering Yangyuan, our army can attack Guangling and Yuxian from the back and side at any time, and remove these two nails in one fell swoop."
"Hi!"
At this point, Inoue, an old Japanese soldier, was full of confidence. Soon after he led the main mechanized combat force of the 14th Division to rapidly advance westward.
The old devil actually feinted again and made a special arrangement: "Leave 1/10 of the troops to continue marching westward and launch an attack from the east gate of Yangyuan to attract the attention of the Eighth Route Army. The rest of the main force quickly detoured from the north and followed the path leading to Yangyuan.
Raid on railway lines."
Inoue is very confident in this judgment.
"After our army made a surprise attack and captured Huashao Camp, the Eighth Route Army stationed in Yangyuan will definitely receive the news and learn that our army is advancing westward. They will definitely deploy their main defense forces on the east side of Yangyuan.
I will take the opportunity to make a detour to the north and attack Yangyuan directly from the north. I will surely conquer Yangyuan in one fell swoop!"
And everything was just as Inoue had speculated.
After part of the troops of the 14th Division launched a fierce attack on the east gate of Yangyuan, the two sides immediately started a fierce battle.
Then, under the leadership of the old Japanese Inoue, the main combat force of the 14th Division detoured back to the north of Yangyuan and took the opportunity to launch a surprise attack along the railway line.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! The initial progress was very smooth, and the Eighth Route Army troops who resisted along the way were caught off guard, and all were defeated in embarrassment.
Inoue became more and more arrogant, "Our army went to Yangyuan on a snowy night to completely cut off the connection between Datong and Zhangjiakou, and then cooperated with various combat troops to conquer Datong and Zhangjiakou in one fell swoop. If things go well, we might be able to send our troops south and completely wipe out the situation."
The Iron Triangle Base Area of the Eighth Route Army!"
At night, the sky is filled with snowflakes flying.
Around two o'clock in the morning.
Inoue led the main force of the mechanized combat force of the 14th Division and went south along the north-bound railway line of Yangyuan.
According to Inoue's idea, he quickly appeared on the north side of Yangyuan with a mobile combat force, and then launched a surprise attack, which would surely catch the Eighth Route Army defenders in Yangyuan by surprise.
The only thing that makes Inoue feel regretful is that this time he came here for what the imperial officers in central and northern China boasted about being the elite of the Eighth Route Army's Iron Triangle Helmets.
However, the opponent who took the lead in fighting was not the Eighth Route Army's steel-helmeted soldiers at all.
According to the intelligence, the main force of the Eighth Route Army's steel helmets seems to be holding a competition in the Iron Triangle base area!
This could not help but make the confident old Japanese Inoue think about it: "It would be great if we faced the helmeted soldiers of the Eighth Route Army in this battle. It would be better if it was the elite of the Iron Triangle of the Eighth Route Army stationed in Yangyuan.
mean!"
"beat!"
Boom——
The sudden sound of artillery completely broke the dead silence in the north-facing area of Yangyuan under the snowy night.
Kong Jie arranged the armored force directly under the headquarters, the first heavy artillery brigade directly under the headquarters - composed of Soviet-made 122, 152, 203 howitzers, the first field force in the Iron Triangle Experimental Zone - the main force of the original team, including the heavy armor regiment, the first heavy artillery regiment, etc.
.
I have been waiting for a long time in the north of Yangyuan County near the railway line.
Just waiting for the troops of the 14th Division of the Kwantung Army to fall into their pockets.