More than 2,600 people from the New Regiment and Battalion, led by Zhang Dabiao, arrived at Dongcai Village in Yangqu area.
Around the village, there are several hills.
Just when the Japanese combat staff reported the location of the Eighth Route Army's avant-garde battalion to the commander of the Fifth Division.
The reconnaissance company commander of the first battalion was also reporting to Zhang Dabiao on the situation of the Japanese.
"Battal Commander, we are only about 7 kilometers away from the Japanese's forward position."
"According to information shared by scouts and reconnaissance planes, the Japanese have built many tunnels and fortifications in this area."
"Our scouts have dispersed and are always paying attention to the situation of the Japanese."
Zhang Dabiao nodded, his eyes lowered, staring at the map on the table at the headquarters.
At this time, they were only nearly 30 kilometers away from Taiyuan City. If they marched in a hurry, they could arrive in about half a day.
However, on the road more than 20 kilometers away from Taiyuan City, the Japanese deployed two divisions and several lines of defense.
Zhang Dabiao knew exactly what the Japs were up to. Didn't they just want to imitate the tactics of the Eighth Route Army and kill a large number of the Eighth Route Army's effective forces?
In Dagu Town and Lijia Town, the New Regiment used tunnel tactics and killed more than half of the Japanese 10th Division.
The instructor of the first battalion looked at Zhang Dabiao and said eagerly: "Batalion Commander, we are only 7 kilometers away from the Japanese position. Do you want to set up the mountain cannon and fire at the Japanese position to provoke?"
The First Battalion Mountain Artillery Company, equipped with 12 M1A1 75mm mountain guns, was also brought over.
Moreover, Li Yunlong also temporarily added 4 mountain cannons to the first battalion, for a total of 16 mountain cannons.
The artillery firepower is very strong, and the shells carry 3 bases.
After firing the shells, you can send a telegram to Li Yunlong to apply for airdrop supplies.
Zhang Dabiao looked at the map carefully and calmly analyzed the situation between ourselves and the enemy.
The first battalion's combat mission this time was to draw out the Japanese fifth division to besiege the first battalion.
Then the cavalry, tank troops, and part of the infantry of the new regiment quickly circled behind the Fifth Division in vehicles, cutting off the Japanese Fifth Division's retreat.
Wait for the main force to arrive and wipe out the fifth division in one fell swoop.
This is the central blooming tactic.
The key to this battle is whether the first battalion can lead the fifth division. After leading the fifth division, the Japanese must also feel that they have a chance to annihilate the first battalion.
Otherwise, the Japanese are not fools. If they know that they cannot annihilate a battalion in a short period of time, they will immediately retreat into defensive positions.
"I think it's feasible to bombard the Japanese positions at night!"
Zhang Dabiao looked solemn and his eyes were sharp:
"But don't worry yet. Let the soldiers seize a few hills around Dongcai Village, send away the people in the village, and then start working slowly after dinner."
It's just getting dark right now, so it's not appropriate to act immediately.
During the day, because they were afraid of a Japanese sneak attack, the scouts searched cautiously and moved forward, so the troops moved very slowly. They only advanced 30 kilometers in a whole day.
Although the first battalion is to attract the Japanese to sneak attack.
But the premise is that the first battalion must occupy favorable terrain. The difference in strength between the two sides is too large, and the first battalion must occupy the advantage of the terrain in order to block the Japanese attack.
In fact, the hills to the west are bigger and higher, making it easier to defend against enemy attacks.
However, we must also give the Japanese some hope of wiping out a whole battalion, otherwise the Japanese may not attack.
"yes!"
The instructor turned around and went to give the order.
…
Taiyuan.
Japanese First Army Headquarters.
"A vanguard unit of the Eighth Route Army is only seven kilometers away from the forward position of the Fifth Division?"
The commander of the First Army, Yoshio Iwamatsu, held the phone in one hand and sounded surprised after listening to the report from the commander of the Fifth Division, Matsui Tataro.
A lone unit of the Eighth Route Army went deep into the city. This was a bit abnormal and not like the Eighth Route Army's style.
The headquarters of the First Army and the headquarters of each division and regiment have connected telephone lines to facilitate timely communication between the headquarters and the headquarters of each division and regiment.
"Yes!" Matsui Tataro continued, "This Eighth Route Army vanguard unit is still about 50 kilometers away from its main force."
"Your Excellency, Commander, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Please authorize our Fifth Division to sneak attack this Eighth Route Army vanguard force at night."
"Destroy them!"
Iwamatsu Yoshio's expression changed and he asked: "How many troops does this Eighth Route Army unit have and what is its equipment?"
Matsui Tataro replied: "This Eighth Route Army has about 2,500 troops and is equipped with more than 10 75mm mountain cannons and a new rifle of unknown model."
"There are so few troops?"
Yoshio Iwamatsu sounded even more surprised. He thought that this Eighth Route Army vanguard force had at least about 10,000 people.
However, the 2,500-strong Eighth Route Army unit, equipped with more than 10 mountain cannons and new rifles, was undoubtedly Li Yunlong's unit. Only Li Yunlong's unit was so wealthy.
Iwamatsu Yoshio thought carefully and said: "Matsui-kun, there is an old Chinese saying that when things go awry, there will be monsters. Your division should not act rashly. I will first ask the North China Front Army Headquarters for instructions."
"Okay! Your Majesty Commander, I'm waiting for your good news."
After finishing speaking, Matsui Tataro hung up the phone with a snap.
Listening to the sharp blind tone coming from the phone, Yoshio Iwamatsu quickly took the phone away from his hand.
Yoshio Iwamatsu frowned slightly, Matsui Tairo didn't take me, the commander of the First Army, seriously!
Who in the First Army dared to hang up on him so rudely?
However, the military situation was urgent, so Yoshio Iwamatsu didn't care too much and hung up the phone with a snap.
Then Yoshio Iwamatsu personally drafted a telegram and asked the communications department of the First Army to send it to the North China Front Army Headquarters.
…
It didn't take long.
The North China Front Army Headquarters received a secret telegram from the commander of the First Army, Yoshio Iwamatsu.
"The Eighth Route Army's vanguard force of about 2,500 people arrived at a position 7 kilometers away from the forward position of the Fifth Division. The Eighth Route Army and the vanguard force are 50 kilometers apart?"
"The commander of the Fifth Division requested to take the initiative to eliminate this Eighth Route Army?"
In Iron Lion Alley, inside the Japanese military headquarters, the expression and tone of Neji Okamura who received the secret message were as surprised as Yoshio Iwamatsu.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Then, Okamura Neji looked at Tanabe Moritake and Arisu Seizo, and asked: "Tanabe-kun, Arisu-kun, what do you think?"
The two of them looked at each other in thought at first.
Then Tanabe Moritake took the lead and said: "General, in my opinion, this matter is a bit fishy, and I'm afraid there is fraud. I suggest that the Fifth Division should not attack."
"Your Excellency, General, this must have been done deliberately by Li Yunlong, who deliberately sent an advance guard to lure the Locust Army into attack."
Youmo Jingsan said: "But I think this may also be an opportunity for the Locust Army."
Okamura Neji's expression changed.
Youmo Jingsan continued: "Li Yunlong's tactics are mostly to send an advance guard to test the Locust Army. If the Locust Army attacks, the main force of the Eighth Route Army will immediately rush to bite the Locust Army. If the Locust Army does not attack, then the Eighth Route Army will
There is no loss.”
"If the Locust Army can completely annihilate this vanguard force of the Eighth Route Army and win the first battle, it will have a very positive impact on the entire Taiyuan and Zhengtai Railway."
"Not only can it avenge General Naosaburo Okabe, but it can also improve the morale of the Shanxi Locust Army."
"The general can also give an explanation at the base camp."
"What if the Locust Army fails to destroy this Eighth Route Army vanguard?" Tanabe Shengwu frowned slightly. There was a boy like Mo Jingsan who always opposed him, which made him feel very unhappy.
"It doesn't matter if the Eighth Route Army is not wiped out." Youmo Jingsan smiled slightly and said, "The Fifth Division can withdraw to its defensive position at any time."
"The main force of the Eighth Route Army is 50 kilometers away from its vanguard. It's a day's march. Can the main force of the Eighth Route Army still fly over?"
"The ratio between the Fifth Division and the vanguard of the Eighth Route Army is 10 to 1. Is it possible that the Eighth Route Army cannot be eliminated in one day?"
With Mo Jingsan's fighting ability against the fifth division, he is still very confident.
Although the combat effectiveness of the Fifth Division is no longer as good as that of the Fifth Division in 1937, a skinny camel is bigger than a horse. Even the current Fifth Division's combat effectiveness ranks high among Class A divisions.
.
However, the Fifth Division was temporarily transferred from the battlefield in Southeast Asia to Shanxi in North China, and a lot of heavy equipment was not transported, so its combat effectiveness was somewhat reduced.
Okamura Neiji nodded, his expression full of murderous intent, and his tone was stern: "Order the Fifth Division to sneak attack this vanguard camp in the middle of the night and destroy them!"
What really moved Neji Okamura was Sue Seizo's words, "Let the general give an explanation at the base camp."
The current North China Front Army has not fought a victorious battle for a long time.
Many generals were killed inexplicably. Even the generals sent from the base camp could not take up their posts, and the generals from North China could not leave.
Moreover, after Li Yunlong killed the Japanese general, he also liked to invent coded telegrams, which he could not hide.
The morale of the Japanese soldiers on the North China Front is very low now, and they need a victory to boost their morale.
Moreover, Okamura Neiji also needs a victory to regain the trust of Tojo Hideji and Tenchu.
"Hi!"
Tanabe Moritake and Yumo Seisan both bowed their heads.
Now that Okamura Neji has made his decision, Tanabe Moritake has no choice but to obey his orders.
…
"Boom boom boom..."
"Boom boom boom..."
A violent explosion wave rose up on the Japanese army's position, and the explosion fire gave off a dazzling light at night.
The electric lights inside the headquarters of the 5th Division flickered, and the aftermath of the shell explosion caused dust to continue to fall downwards.
The commander of the 5th Division, Matsui Tataro, was leaning on the Lieutenant General's sword and sat motionless on the bench, his expression and eyes filled with murderous intent.
Ding ding ding——
The phone rang, and Chief of Staff Hamajima Yanlang hurried over and picked up the phone: "Moxi Moxi..."
"Hi!"
Hamajima Yanlang suddenly lowered his head:
"Your Excellency, Commander, I will convey the order to the division commander right now."
After hanging up the phone, Hamajima Yanro walked quickly to Matsui Tataro, lowered his head and reported: "Your Excellency, division commander, Lieutenant General Iwamatsu, commander of the First Army, just called, and the commander of the North China Front, General Okamura Neiji, ordered
Our fifth division attacked the Eighth Route Army vanguard camp at night and destroyed this Eighth Route Army unit."
"Yoshi!"
Matsui Tataro suddenly stood up, drew out the lieutenant general's sword, and cut the table in front of him into two pieces with a fierce tone:
"Order all combat units to assemble immediately!"
The 2,500-man vanguard force of the Eighth Route Military Region dared to shell the positions of the Fifth Division.
