Although he already somewhat agreed in his heart, Yan Xishan still sneered on the surface, "Since the Chief of Staff is so confident about China's war situation, what are you doing here? Is it because you are too free and want to chat with me?"
"Of course not." Naosaburo Okabe said sternly: "The original intention of the Japanese Empire in entering China was to establish the Imperial Paradise and realize His Majesty the Emperor's ideal of a **** circle. The previous occupation of Taiyuan was just a last resort.
I can assure you here that as long as the Eighth Route Army in Shanxi is eliminated, the Imperial Japanese Army will immediately withdraw from Taiyuan, no need to say anything!"
Yan Xishan has been playing tricks with people all his life, and of course he will not be so naive and care about Naosaburo Okabe's words. However, since Naosaburo Okabe came here on his own initiative today, he naturally wanted something from him.
He waved his hand impatiently, "Chief of Staff Okabe, don't tell the old man these lies to children. I don't have time to listen to your nonsense. If you don't have anything else to do, please do it."
Seeing Yan Xishan's helpless look, Naosaburo Okabe felt a sense of powerlessness in his heart. This Yan Xishan is worthy of being a roly-poly who has dominated Chinese politics for decades.
I can't hide it from him.
Just when he felt at a loss what to do, Kazuki Yamamoto, who was sitting next to him, spoke: "Mr. Yan, can I say a few words?"
Yan Xishan waved his hand: "Of course, old man, I'm not so overbearing that I won't let anyone talk."
"In that case, I'll tell you straight away."
Yamamoto Kazuki said straightforwardly: "Mr. Yan, we have only one purpose for coming here this time, and that is to hope that you will not send troops to support the Eighth Route Army during this period, whether it is direct troops or indirect material support.
If you keep admonishing and support the Eighth Route Army overtly and covertly, I can guarantee that after the Eighth Route Army's Hundred Regiments War is over, the Imperial Army will give up dealing with the Eighth Route Army and the Central Army, and instead go all out to destroy your Shanxi-Sui Army. I hope you will take care of yourself.
"
Naosaburo Okabe frowned, what did Kazuki Yamamoto do? Why did he speak so straightforwardly, without any particular strategy?
Yan Xishan narrowed his eyes, "Are you threatening the old man?"
"You're right, I'm threatening you."
Kazuki Yamamoto seemed not to know that as long as the old man in front of him gave an order, more than a dozen guards at the door would rush in and beat him and Naosaburo Okabe into a hornet's nest, speaking word for word.
"You should know that the Imperial Army has this strength. Although Shanxi is still in a stalemate now, that is only because the Imperial Army has used its main force to deal with the Central Army in the direction of Hunan, and is temporarily unable to improve the security of Shanxi.
But if you don’t know how to praise and are still stubborn, then don’t blame us for mobilizing a large army to deal with your Shanxi-Sui Army first. Moreover, I never believe that Mr. Yan’s remaining Shanxi-Sui Army of more than 100,000 people is a big one.
The opponents of the Japanese Imperial Army, I hope the old man will think twice."
It can be said that Yamamoto Kazuki's words were not tactful at all, but were full of violence and coercion. But what is strange is that Yan Xishan did not become angry, but fell into deep thought.
In fact, Yamamoto Kazuki's move really hit Yan Xishan's Achilles' heel.
Yan Xishan is naturally shrewd, but his shortcoming is that he has a soft personality and always worries about gains and losses when encountering problems. Chairman Chiang Kai-shek of Chongqing once had a vivid metaphor for him. This guy even held a sword when fighting.
When stabbing someone else, you have to think about the angle from which to stab and how much force to use.
To put it bluntly, this kind of character means that you can take the hard and not the soft.
This is why Naosaburo Okabe was unmoved just now when he spoke so earnestly that his words were worn out, but Kazuki Yamamoto made a naked threat as soon as he opened his mouth, which actually made his expression serious.
However, Yan Xishan is also an old man. Although he is very worried in his heart, he will not show it on the surface. He only said lightly: "Colonel Yamamoto, if you Japanese have the ability to eat my Jinsui Army, you would have already
Just eat it, why wait until today."
As soon as Yan Xishan's words came out of his mouth, Yamamoto Kazuki immediately concluded that the person opposite him was a little timid.
He laughed and said, "Even a child wouldn't believe it if the Imperial Army did not defeat the Jinsui Army. Otherwise, your Taiyuan would not have been occupied by the Imperial Army.
Just as Chief of Staff Okabe said, the reason why we did not eliminate you is not because we lack strength, but because our efforts are not proportional to our rewards. There is no need for us to take chestnuts from the Eighth Route Army and the Central Arms.
But if the Jinsui Army is determined to go against the Imperial Army, that's another matter."
Looking at Yamamoto Kazuki's sneer face, Yan Xishan frowned.
Did Yamamoto Kazuki lie?
No, he was right. Even though there are still more than 100,000 people in the Jinsui Army, if the Japanese really want to send a large army to encircle and suppress them regardless, the Jinsui Army will not be able to resist it anyway.
That is to say, today's Shanxi is a mixture of the Central Army, the Shanxi-Sui Army, the Eighth Route Army, the Japanese Army, and countless bandits from all over the country, forming an intricate relationship.
Among these forces, the Japanese army is undoubtedly the largest, but it is also the most hated. On weekdays, the Jinsui Army, the Eighth Route Army and the Central Army do not deal with each other, but once they encounter the Japanese army, they will immediately
The guns are unanimous, and this is the reason why the situation in Shanxi can be maintained.
Now Yamamoto actually said that he would first put down the Central Army and the Eighth Route Army, and then take the lead in dealing with the Shanxi-Sui Army. This is a big problem.
Yan Xishan also thought that this might be Yamamoto trying to scare him, but it might also be true, but Yan Xishan didn't dare to bet.
After thinking for a long time, Yan Xishan finally sighed: "I can promise you, but you must also promise me a few things..."
…………
Your Excellency, Commander, since last night, all 13 of our strongholds on the Yuliao Highway, including Xiaolingdi Stronghold, Guantou, and Pushang, have been captured by the Eighth Route Army. It can be said that the entire Yuliao Highway has now completely fallen into the control of the Eighth Route Army.
among.
Since Chief of Staff Naosaburo Okabe was away, Operations Staff Officer Masako Sakai was responsible for explaining.
Yoshio Shinozuka suppressed his anger: "So, the Yuliao Highway that the Imperial Army worked so hard to build has now fallen into the hands of the Eighth Route Army?"
"I'm afraid that's the case, Your Excellency, Commander." Sakai Zhenghu said bravely, "And the worst thing is that the Eighth Route Army is still launching attacks on Yushe County and Liao County. There are at least two to thirty-eighth Route Army generals.
The two county towns are completely surrounded."
"They are all a bunch of trash." Shinozuka Yoshio said with a livid face: "Where are the reinforcements, have they been sent out?"
"I have ordered nearby counties and strongholds to mobilize troops to assist them. However, the troops that can be mobilized in a hurry are very limited. To completely relieve the siege, at least one brigade or more of troops will be needed, but all this will take time."
"Which army is closest to Yushe County now?"
"Your Excellency, this is the 41st Division undergoing repairs at Niangziguan."
"Forty-one Division?"
Shinozuka Yoshio raised his eyebrows. The 41st Division and the Liantai Militia were seriously injured in the Battle of Qixiaguan. Logically speaking, they need to be transferred back to the mainland for repairs. However, now that the First Army's original strength is tight, Shinozuka Yoshio
How can men be willing to let them return to their homeland?
It was easy to get back home, but it was difficult to get them to come here again. He knew very well how pretentious the masters in the base camp were.
"Are there any other troops?"
"As for the other troops, only the ninth brigade in Xinkou is left, but it will take at least four or five days to get from Xinkou to Yushe County."
"Four or five days...are you kidding me? The combined garrison forces in Yushe County and Liao County are less than two brigades. How can they withstand the attack of tens of thousands of Eighth Route Army troops?" Yoshio Shinozuka's eyes were filled with tears.
The anger almost ignited Sakai Masako.
"But your Excellency, Commander, our troops have not yet been assembled, and the Eighth Route Army has always been elusive. We really can't mobilize enough troops." Sakai Masako almost cried.
On average, there are more than 100,000 troops in Shanxi every day, which sounds like a lot, but most of them are scattered in hundreds of counties and major strongholds.
Even if there are still a few organized divisions and brigades that have not been broken up, these troops still have to be stationed at important passes and cities such as Taiyuan, Niangziguan, Xinkou, etc. It is not easy to mobilize them. If Jinsui
The Army and the Central Army took advantage of the opportunity to mobilize troops to launch attacks on these cities and important passes. They didn't even have time to cry, and the entire situation in Shanxi might collapse in an instant.
"It's really hard for me!" This is what Masako Sakai is saying now. Now he really admires his immediate boss, Chief of Staff Naosaburo Okabe, for how he has clearly arranged the various units stationed in Shanxi over the years.
In vain?
Yoshio Shinozuka also knew that the questions raised were beyond the capabilities of Major Masako Sakai. He sighed lightly. If Naosaburo Okabe were here, he would definitely give him the most reasonable suggestions as soon as possible.
Already?
"Forget it... Since there are no troop mobilizations, we can only dispatch the 41st Division."
Sakai Masako was slightly surprised, "The supplementary troops of the 41st Division have not arrived yet. Is it too risky to send them out now?"
Shinozuka Yoshio's face darkened, "Although the 41st Division suffered heavy losses some time ago, at least the three infantry regiments are still standing. It should be no problem for them to deploy five full brigades to reinforce Yushe County, right?
"
"Of course, it's okay, but..." Sakai Masahiro didn't know what to say. In the last battle at Qixiaguan, the 41st Division lost more than 10,000 men and horses, and only a team of more than 18,000 people remained.
With less than 7,000 soldiers, if five more infantry brigades are deployed, there may not be many people left in the 41st Division.
Although I was very reluctant to do this, I didn't dare to disobey the commander's order even if I gave Major Sakai Masako two courages, so he went down obediently and sent a telegram to the 41st Division.
Lieutenant General Yukio Koizumi, the commander of the 41st Division, has been relieved of his duties and was escorted back to the mainland by two military policemen from the base camp. The new commander of the division has not yet taken office. The work of the division is left to the chief of staff.
Colonel Ogihara Toda is temporarily in charge.
After receiving the telegram, Ogiwara Toda was so angry that he uttered more than a dozen curse words on his face. The 41st Division was already in such misery, and the commander was still unwilling to let them go!
In desperation, he could only summon the three infantry captains. When several of them looked at the telegram sent from the headquarters, their faces were as ugly as if their parents had died.
They wanted to refuse, but they didn't have the courage. The ship transporting Commander Koizumi Yukio back to his country was still drifting on the sea. They didn't want to end up like Koizumi Yukio.
The group thought for a long time, and finally the captain of the 67th Regiment, Ota Ryuji, came up with an idea: "Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, I don't think it's better to do this. We will listen to the headquarters and allocate all the remaining troops of the division to form a new army."
The infantry brigade rushes to support Yushe County."
The captain of the 133rd Regiment rolled his eyes: "You are right. These men and horses are the only remaining seeds of the 41st Division. If they are all destroyed, what will be left of the 41st Division? Or do you plan to be alone?
Rebuild the 41st Division?"
Although the captain of the 134th regiment did not speak, judging from the expression on his face, he was also on the side of the captain of the 133rd regiment.
Seeing the appearance of the three captains, Ogiwara Toda became very angry. Just when he was about to slam the table, Ota Ryuji continued: "Don't worry, we can still send troops on time, but how long will it take to walk on the road?"
, How to fight the Eighth Route Army after encountering it is our business, what do you think?"
"Eh..." When the two captains heard this, it seemed like a good idea. Is this what the Chinese often say about work but not effort?
Ohta Ryūji wanted to reprimand this behavior, but he also knew in his heart that this was the best way to preserve the seeds of the 41st Division, and finally acquiesced.
After the simple meeting, they decided to detach five infantry brigades, led by Ota Takashi personally to reinforce Yushe County. As a result, the last essence of the 41st Division was also transferred and headed towards Yushe County...
At this time, the city of Yushe County had been surrounded by more than 10,000 regiments of the 386th Brigade. The city wall that the Japanese had originally placed high hopes on was reduced to rubble by twelve M40 self-propelled artillery pieces from the 1st Artillery Battalion.
It stands to reason that what the 386th Brigade has to do now is to rush into the county town. There is less than one brigade of Japanese troops and one battalion of puppet troops in the county town, which cannot stop the 386th Brigade for one round.
But at this time, Brigadier Chen ordered the troops to stop attacking, and only sent out small groups of troops to harass, but strictly prohibited the troops from attacking the city.
"Old Chen, do you think the Japanese will fall into the trap?" Political Commissar Wang asked Brigadier Chen, who was staring at the map.
"I feel at least 70% sure." Brigadier Chen said.
Political Commissar Wang nodded. For soldiers, battlefield conditions change rapidly, and nothing is absolute. Generally speaking, a plan is worth doing if it has a 60% chance, and 70% is already quite certain.
"Yes, we have already dropped the bait, it just depends on whether the Japanese will take the bait."
He said with some emotion: "Old Chen, have you noticed that in the past, it was already great that we could recover a county town, but in the later period, we actually didn't take a county town seriously and dared to
Have you come to play around and call for reinforcements?"