Originally, despite the devil's madness, the "human missiles" were still as unstoppable as the Eighth Route Army's "high fire".
Because when a fighter plane implements an interception, it must get close to the target and shoot it down.
The Eighth Route Army's "high fire" used proximity fuses to cause fighters to be taken away by a wave of "high fire"... exchanging one "high fire" for a Japanese fighter plane and a pilot was a good deal no matter how you calculated it.
The Japs' missiles were "human-operated" and they could detonate themselves when the Eighth Route Army fighter planes approached.
The problem is...the Eighth Route Army's air-to-air missiles can shoot it down hundreds of meters away, but the Japanese's "self-detonation" will not work.
For the Eighth Route Army, it was obviously cost-effective to use an air-to-air missile to shoot down the Japanese "human-operated missile."
Okamura Neiji continued: "But if it is launched at night... it is impossible for our pilots to see through the camouflage of the launcher in the dark and accurately hit the target!"
Shinta Kono nodded in agreement.
This is the shortcoming of "man-operated missiles". Because it is "man-operated", it must be able to see the target, otherwise it will not know where to explode.
It would be fine if the target was the Eighth Route Army's steel factory and airport.
The steel plant is located in an open area, and the airport is also very large. As long as you identify the steel plant and look in the right direction, it will not be difficult to find it as long as there is some moonlight.
But if the target is a few launchers hidden in the forest... then even the elite lookouts won't be able to detect it!
Elite lookouts do exist in the Japanese, but they are just the navy. In order to detect enemy ships as soon as possible, the Japanese navy trains a group of soldiers with good eyesight and gives them the best food, so that they can see many things at night.
Accurately identify enemy ships even from long distances.
It’s just that the Japanese didn’t expect that radar would soon be available in the world and would be widely used in the military.
Okamura Neiji continued: "However, we cannot ignore these launchers. Because their range exceeds two hundred kilometers, if the steel plant is used as the starting point and the launch is at night..."
As he spoke, Okamura Neji started with the steel plant and drew a distance eastward.
Kono Shinta looked along the area drawn by Okamura Neji, and was surprised to find that many train stations, warehouses, and even Taiyuan were within its attack range.
Okamura Neiji said: "The problem in Taiyuan is not big. The Eighth Route Army's missiles are not manned and do not have much accuracy. It is difficult for them to accurately bomb our military headquarters or strategically important places. The problem is that these train stations and railway lines...
"
Okamura Neiji tapped his fingers on the map and continued with a worried look: "You know, our army is at a critical moment to attack the stubborn army. A large number of military supplies are moving south along the railway line to support the front line.
The army's offensive. If the railway line or railway station is bombed and the railway line is interrupted, this will be fatal to our army's entire combat plan!"
Shinta Kono was a little speechless. He originally thought this was just a random move by the Eighth Route Army, but he didn't expect it to have so many tricks up its sleeve. It even seized on the weakness of the Imperial Army, which meant that if it was attacked, it would be saved.
But now...
The air force cannot be dispatched hastily, and "human-guided missiles" cannot hit it.
After these two options are eliminated, there is only one option, which is to send ground troops to occupy it.
"We need to take back the steel plant!" Okamura Neiji sighed: "It is too important to us. As long as we take it back and push the Eighth Route Army's defense line back, even if they deploy 'high fire',
It will also be difficult to threaten our army’s supply line because the distance is too far!”
Thinking of this, Okamura Neiji no longer hesitated. He ordered: "Order the 59th Division to prepare for the attack!"
"yes!"
Obviously, Okamura Neji is overthinking this.
But Wang Xuexin just wants Okamura Neji to "think too much".
This is not to blame Okamura Neiji, because in this case, the enemy should be treated as having "high fire" anyway... Who dares to bet that the enemy does not have "high fire"?
If the bet fails, it may be a total loss for the Japanese.
Wang Xuexin quickly received the information.
The information was handed over by Chen Songyong.
In places outside the Northeast, such as Shanxi, Taiyuan and even Peiping, because the Japanese have never truly and completely controlled these places, it is not difficult to obtain information.
To be precise, we cannot say "it is not difficult", but once the Japanese make any changes, as long as the puppet troops are involved or the people see it, the Eighth Route Army will know it immediately within a few hours.
Chen Songyong reported with surprise and joy: "Captain, I just got the news that the Japanese 59th Division has mobilized to the front again. There seems to be signs of attack!"
Wang Xuexin just said "hmm" simply.
Chen Songyong felt a little strange when he saw Wang Xuexin's reaction. Wasn't the regiment leader waiting day and night for the Japanese to attack? Why did the Japanese actually attack, but he had this expression?
Wang Xuexin's next sentence left Chen Songyong stunned.
Wang Xuexin said: "Okamura Neji was indeed fooled!"
Chen Songyong didn't understand it for a long time after hearing this.
Is this the leader's plan?
Why didn't his staff who was the regiment leader know about it?
Chen Songyong thought about it again and vaguely felt that this might be related to the "high fire" launcher.
Then use this as a breakthrough point to think carefully before thinking about it.
At this time, Chen Songyong couldn't help but secretly admire Wang Xuexin... With this simple action, he could do something that is almost impossible for ordinary people to do.
Especially as a staff officer, I didn't know anything about it when the regiment leader raised suspicions. It was only then that I understood the cause and effect of the matter.
If one day I become an enemy with the regiment leader on the battlefield...
Chen Songyong secretly rejoiced: Fortunately it wasn't, so he never had to think about this problem.
Wang Xuexin immediately issued several orders in succession:
"Transfer the tank battalion to the steel plant immediately and do a good job of camouflage and protection!"
"Order the Independent Regiment, New First Regiment and New Second Regiment to prepare for battle, especially to reserve ammunition!"
"Order the rest of the main force to prepare for defense!"
Needless to say, there are several other orders, which are all preparations for the Japanese attack.
The first order was to move the tanks to the steel plant overnight, which was a bit risky.
Because the steel plant is likely to be the focus of the Japanese attack, especially since there is an airport there.
When the time comes, the Japanese bombers and artillery will blast the area indiscriminately, fearing that the tanks in the steel plant will also be blown up.
But Wang Xuexin is very confident in this.
Because he believed that the Japanese wanted to recapture the steel plant rather than retaking a ruin... The steel plant was also a very important place for the Japanese. They would rather send troops into the steel plant to fight with the Eighth Route Army in street battles than use artillery fire to bombard them!
At that time, it will be time for the Eighth Route Army to counterattack.