Hebei is different from Shanxi. Historically, Hebei was located in a plain, which was very conducive to the actions of the Japanese mechanized troops. Therefore, although the anti-Japanese soldiers and civilians never stopped resisting after the fall, overall the anti-Japanese forces here were much weaker than those in Shanxi.
The power of the Japanese army here was much stronger than in Shanxi. This strength was not only reflected in its military strength, but also in its control of local areas. Therefore, although resistance from the military and civilians came one after another, it never formed a large-scale wave.
This is also the reason why the first reaction of the Japanese frontline troops when they saw the oncoming tanks was not to immediately prepare for war, but to mistook them for friendly forces and cursed.
It's not that the quality of the Japanese troops in Hebei is low, it's just a subconscious reaction after staying in a comfortable environment for a long time.
Now when Takehiko Iwase heard that the front troops had been ambushed, his first reaction was that the front troops had encountered a small group of guerrillas. He was about to curse, but then he thought of something and his whole body trembled, and his sleepiness immediately disappeared.
"What did you just say, there was a fierce battle?"
"Yes, your Excellency, division commander, the frontline troops reported that they encountered a Chinese chariot unit, and the two sides are engaged in a fierce battle."
"Chariot troops...could it be that the Fifth China Army is here?"
When he thought of this, Takehiko Iwase almost jumped up.
The National Army's Fifth Armored Corps is the only fully-organized armored force in China. In last year's Battle of Kunlun Pass, this armored force commanded by Du Yuming gave the Japanese a blow.
The 21st Brigade of the Fifth Division was almost completely wiped out in this battle. This battle also established the reputation of the Fifth Army as the "Iron Horse Army".
And that battle was really not conducive to fighting in the mountains, which was not conducive to the performance of tanks, let alone in plain areas like Hebei.
When he thought of the 108th Division suddenly encountering the charge of a swarm of tanks in a torrent of steel on the endless plain without cover, Iwase Takehiko felt that it became much more difficult to breathe.
"wrong!"
Takehiko Iwase suddenly thought of something. The Fifth Army was China's ace division and Chiang's heartthrob. It would not be easily used without an important battle. Moreover, this army was still being repaired in Nanning some time ago. How could it be unknown?
Came to Hebei without knowing it?
"Mikawa-kun, what is the size of the Chinese chariot force? How many chariots did they dispatch?"
"Your Excellency, the division commander, Major Watanabe reported that there were four Chinese tanks that encountered them. It is not clear whether there are any large troops behind them."
"Four chariots?"
Takehiko Iwase pondered for a moment, then he opened the door and got out of the car, and said to the staff officer: "Immediately order the 222nd Regiment to speed up and be sure to arrive as soon as possible to support the vanguard.
Also, you should immediately send a report to the Commander, requesting him to send planes to support us. As long as we have the support of planes, we don't have to be afraid even if we encounter Chinese tanks.
In addition, I will send a report to Lieutenant General Morioka Gao of the 16th Division, inform him of the situation here, and ask him to move closer to us as soon as possible. That's all, send my order immediately."
The staff officer took out a notebook and pencil and wrote down the order, then handed the notebook over. Takehiko Iwase took the notebook and signed his name and handed it to him again. The staff officer took the notebook and left quickly.
After the staff left, Takehiko Iwase was still a little confused, "That's not right... The Fifth China Army is far away in Nanning, so where did the chariot troops that appeared here come from?"
Not to mention that when Takehiko Iwase was puzzled by this sudden appearance of armored troops, the follow-up troops of the armored battalion also rushed to the battlefield.
As soon as Li Changan arrived at the battlefield, he saw a scene that shocked him. A Bobcat reconnaissance tank was leaning in the middle of the road, with its left track dragged out for several meters. On both sides of it, three tanks were in full swing.
The shape protected it in the middle, and in front of the tank hundreds of Japanese soldiers were swarming towards the Lynx tank.
The reason why this tank has not been swallowed up by the crowd is because the other three tanks stopped the Japanese army hundreds of meters away with intensive fire regardless of losses.
Compared with the countless Japanese troops swarming in, the four Lynx tanks were like a few lonely boats in the sea and could be killed by the huge waves at any time.
Seeing this scene, Li Changan was so angry that he yelled on the radio, "Shi Shouzhong, you bastard... didn't you tell them to retreat a long time ago? Why haven't you left yet?"
"Sir...it's not that we don't want to leave, but car No. 0032 was damaged and can't walk anymore. We can't leave our brothers and run away, otherwise you won't kill us when we get back." The second lieutenant's anxious voice came over the radio.
sound.
When the Liantai Militia was first established, Gao Hongming set a rule for everyone not to abandon or give up.
On the battlefield, if anyone dares to abandon his comrades or friendly forces and retreat to escape for his life, even if he can escape at the time, he will be severely punished by military law after the war.
"Shi Shouzhong, don't you fucking make excuses for your incompetence. If you hadn't ordered the retreat in time just now, how could the tank be damaged?" Li Changan didn't have the slightest sympathy. The Bobcat tank has always been known for its maneuverability. If it weren't for
The opponent loves to fight, so how could he be injured by a group of light infantry, putting him in a dilemma.
Seeing the situation on the battlefield, Li Changan also cursed secretly.
The Japanese commander on the opposite side was so cunning. He saw that his side would not abandon the injured tank, so he ordered the firepower to focus on that tank. Countless bullets crackled the armor of the Lynx and caused sparks to fly everywhere.
The members couldn't get out at all. The Japanese commander on the opposite side wanted to hold them back until their large force arrived.
"Sir, you don't need to worry about us. We were accidentally injured by the Japanese during the battle. We cannot let the entire battalion of brothers sacrifice for us."
"Sir, please leave quickly and don't worry about us!"
"Sir, if you don't give the order to retreat, we brothers would rather commit suicide here than drag down our brothers."
Listening to the noisy sound of Tank No. 0032 coming from the earphones, Li Changan felt dizzy and cursed angrily: "Shut up, all of you!"
Li Chang'an really hated the fact that iron cannot be transformed into steel. He made a rough estimate and found that the number of Japanese soldiers in front of him was only six to seven hundred. He could completely defeat these Japanese troops in a short period of time.
He connected the radio to the general channel. "Everyone listened to my order. The first anti-aircraft company deployed the air defense array, the second anti-aircraft company flattened its muzzles to suppress the Japanese troops, the first, second and third tank companies all launched a charge, and the infantry company dismounted and accompanied the tank charge."
Remember, we only have twenty minutes. After twenty minutes, we must all retreat no matter what, do you understand?"