Yoshikawa Saki's order had its own reasons. He had heard that Major General Kaoru Iwata mentioned the tactic of using tanks and cavalry to defeat enemy half-track vehicles.
Therefore, Yoshikawa Saki is thinking:
It is indeed possible for the two wings of the Eighth Route Army to break through the iron and stone troops' defense line and surround the iron and stone troops, but what if the tactics of tanks and cavalry can defeat the half-tracks of the Eighth Route Army?
Moreover, if the Eighth Route Army only breaks through on two wings without the cover of the infantry in the middle, does it mean that Major General Kaoru Iwata's tanks and cavalry have an additional chance of winning?
As long as the Iron-Blooded Forces can win, then the main force of the Iron-Stone Forces will not be in danger of being surrounded. In the end, he, Saki Yoshikawa, will not use the Iron-Stone Forces as cannon fodder, right?
What's more, the 39th Division will provide cover for him!
Objectively speaking, Yoshikawa Saki's idea is correct, but this is actually a bet on the life and death of the Iron and Stone Forces: once Major General Kaoru Iwata's tactics do not have the expected effect, then the Iron and Stone Forces will have the main force of the Eighth Route Army in front of them and the Eighth Route Army behind them.
Mechanized troops...not to mention other things, just the machine gun on the half-track car can make the iron and stone troops unable to retreat and escape.
At that time, the Iron and Stone troops had only two options: either surrender, or die under the gun of the Eighth Route Army.
Nan Boyan didn't want to take a gamble, but he was just a colonel and had no capital to object.
The only one among the Iron and Stone Forces who could veto this order was Major General Kaoru Iwata, the commander of the Iron Blood Force (Cavalry Brigade). His military rank was even the same as that of Yoshikawa Saki. Although he was Yoshikawa Saki's subordinate, his words still held great weight.
However, this was the time for Major General Kaoru Iwata to show off his talents and verify whether his idea was correct.
Therefore, when Saki Yoshikawa called Major General Kaoru Iwata and asked: "I am going to send the mechanized troops of the Eighth Route Army over, are you ready to fight?"
Major General Kaoru Iwata didn't think much and immediately stepped forward and answered: "Yes! My men and I are ready to attack at any time!"
"Very good!" Yoshikawa Saki replied with satisfaction: "I will order my troops to provide cover for you. You try to clear the front as much as possible!"
"Yes!" Major General Kaoru Iwata replied: "Thank you, Your Excellency, for providing me with this opportunity!"
So it was decided that Nan Boyan, the head of the Liaison Department, had his ideas simply ignored.
Yoshikawa Saki immediately mobilized the anti-tank artillery of the 39th Division and concentrated them on the forefront of both wings of the 39th Division.
The Type 97 anti-tank gun has a range of two kilometers. Although it is difficult to hit at this distance, it also means that the enemy cannot approach the defense line. By then, combined with Major General Kaoru Iwata's tanks and cavalry, it will be possible to counterattack in turn.
The mechanized troops of the Eighth Route Army formed a semi-encirclement!
After making these preparations, Yoshikawa Saki ordered the iron and stone troops to release their defenses on both wings...
At this time, Li Yunlong was unaware of this series of Japanese arrangements. The Eighth Route Army was launching a fierce attack on the defense lines of the Japanese iron and stone troops in waves.
To put it bluntly, the combat effectiveness of the Iron and Stone Army is quite good. Even though its artillery has been completely suppressed by the Eighth Route Army and even the artillery of the 39th Division was blown up into the sky, it has not panicked and is still guarding its troops in an orderly manner.
Line of defense.
There were even a few times when the Eighth Route Army rushed into the Japanese defense lines and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with them, but in the end they were beaten back by the iron and stone troops.
This is not to say that the Iron Stone Army's stabbing skills or close combat skills are better than those of the Eighth Route Army, but that the Iron Stone Army adopts a flexible defense tactic... When the Eighth Route Army rushed into its trenches to fight hand-to-hand, they did not hold on to the defense line wave after wave.
Rush up and compete with the Eighth Route Army for the defensive line.
If we fight like this, the Iron and Stone Forces will definitely not be able to defeat the Eighth Route Army.
Because the Eighth Route Army had an absolute advantage in terms of military strength, even one-on-one consumption could completely drain the iron and stone troops to death.
What Tieshi's troops did was to abandon the breached defense line as soon as possible and strengthen the flanks, that is, its defense line spread to both sides like divided water to allow the Eighth Route Army to rush in, and then immediately launched a counterattack... At this time Tieshi's troops
The troops surrounded the Eighth Route Army that rushed into the defense line from three sides, forming a strength and firepower advantage in local areas.
This made the Eighth Route Army's attacks feel like hitting cotton again and again. It was hit with little force, but bounced back with some force.
Even Li Yunlong was shouting: "Damn it, this iron and stone army has a lot of trouble!"
When Li Yunlong said this, there was a cold light in his eyes. Anyone who knew him well knew that Li Yunlong had murderous intentions.
Li Yunlong thought this way in his heart: What a fool... They are so good at fighting because they killed many brothers from the Anti-Union Army. If they are allowed to go back alive, I don’t know how many comrades will be sacrificed at their hands in the future.
Here, we must not let the tiger go back to the mountain this time, if we want to fight, we will fight it all!
Therefore, Li Yunlong ordered a fierce attack on both wings.
Because the two wings were covered by half-track vehicles, the Eighth Route Army clearly had the upper hand. The half-track vehicles were a good bunker wherever they went... The Japanese had almost no equipment that could penetrate the half-track vehicles except for artillery fire.
The reason why I say "almost" is because the Japanese 39th Division still has Type 97 anti-tank guns, which is no secret to the Eighth Route Army.
Moreover, the half-track vehicle can also cover the infantry slowly approaching the enemy's defense line, and the machine gun on it blocks the enemy's firepower from a high position, even if the enemy hides in the trench, it will be of no avail.
The reason why the attack could not be taken for a long time was firstly because it took a while to cross three anti-tank trenches, and secondly because Li Yunlong hoped to defeat the iron and stone troops and then chase them into the 39th Division's defense line...
This was Li Yunlong's plan before, but he didn't expect that the iron and stone troops in front of him were quite capable of fighting. They suffered a large number of casualties on both wings but still managed to hold on without retreating even half a step.
Just when Li Yunlong frowned, he suddenly heard the signal soldier's report: "Commander, the enemy's two wings have retreated!"
"Retreat?" Li Yunlong was a little surprised.
According to the current situation, the enemy's two wings should not retreat. They have enough strength to continue to increase troops on both wings.
So at this time Li Yunlong hesitated.
But there is no way to continue fighting like this. If we can go around from the flank and attack its rear, it is possible to completely defeat the Iron Stone troops and achieve the previously planned strategy.
Therefore, Li Yunlong gave the order: "Order the troops to break through from both wings. But you have to worry about what tricks the enemy will play, so don't rush in!"
"yes!"
Li Yunlong's order was a reminder to Zhang Dabiao, the commander on the front line.
At this time, Zhang Dabiao was in high spirits. As soon as he saw an opening in the Japanese defense line, he waved his hand and rushed forward with his troops.
At this time, Li Yunlong's order came down, which made Zhang Dabiao think: This iron and stone army is indeed not simple, and there may be something behind it!