In the mountains of China, Yuanyoshi Honggang and the warriors under his command were making a final struggle for the last glimmer of life. Liu Tuanzuo also mobilized an army of nearly 400 people to lay a dragnet.
In Shijiazhuang, an important town in Hebei Province, which is dozens of kilometers away, although it has just dawned, the lights in the headquarters of the 20th Division are already bright.
The operational staff officers sent telegrams to various units based on the oral military orders of Bunzaburo Kawagishi who was standing in front of the map. Today is the day when the 20th Division attacks the Niangziguan area in eastern Shanxi, China.
On the Xinkou side, the 5th Division led by Itagaki Seishiro and its associated troops totaling more than 80,000 people have begun a tough battle with the hundreds of thousands of Chinese troops stationed there.
The warlord in Shanxi, China, had an unexpectedly large number of artillery. Not only did he have seven or eight regiments of mountain artillery, but he also had 150 heavy artillery. Although their heavy artillery did not dare to be brought to the battlefield at will because of the deterrence of the Imperial Air Force in the sky, they used night artillery fire to attack
It also dealt a big blow to the Imperial Army.
Lieutenant General Xiang Yueqingji, commander of the Northern China Expeditionary Force and commander of the First Army, has issued military orders to the 50,000-strong army on the western front, led by the 20th Division, ordering them to pursue the Chinese army fleeing south at full speed and capture Niangzi.
The pass was approaching Taiyuan, a large city in Shanxi, China, to relieve the pressure on Itagaki Seishiro's tribe. They faced a Chinese garrison that was nearly twice their size and artillery that was no less powerful than the imperial artillery.
"Where did the caller ID of the 77th Regiment Captain Kotogashi go?" Kawagishi Bunzaburo asked as his eyes wandered over the huge combat map.
"The 77th Regiment has arrived at Jingxing. After investigation, it was found that the Chinese have about one regiment of troops defending in the direction of Jingxing, and about one regiment of troops in the direction of Snowflake Mountain in Jingxing County, firmly controlling the shot leading to Niangziguan in China.
Railway." The division chief of staff on one side, Kimura Hisashi Colonel, replied hurriedly and respectfully.
"Oh? Kitura-kun, what do you think of the Chinese people's arrangement?" Kawagishi Bunzaburo's eyes stopped at the location of Jingxing County and Snowflake Mountain, which were only a few miles away on the map, and he asked seemingly casually.
"Hi! In my opinion, it is a lie that the Chinese are defending Jingxing County, but it is true that they are delaying the construction of fortifications for their Snowflake Mountain defensive position. They confront our army with a regiment of more than 2,000 troops, but they are only the main defense afterwards.
The position is just to buy time. Their purpose is to use the dangerous Snowflake Mountain as a basis to block our army in front of Niangzi Pass. Even if it cannot be resisted, it can delay time, and then use Niangzi Pass as the main defense line to establish command in China.
The official's intention is to use this layer-by-layer resistance method to buy enough time for the Xinkou side." Jiucun Jiuzang said eloquently.
Bunzaburo Kawagishi looked back at himself, the newly appointed chief of staff of the division last year, with a slight smile on his face and a trace of satisfaction on his face.
As an academic officer who was parachuted into the 20th Division as chief of staff, Kushimura Kushiro had excellent grades when studying at the Army Noncommissioned Officer School. He was even more impressive when he was recommended by the Army Lieutenant to study at the Imperial Army University.
Ranked second among the 59 students in the same period, he went to Europe, the United States and other countries for study and inspection in the name of Royal Gift. Although his resume did not have any achievements, it was definitely a halo.
However, the Chief of Staff, who had just been promoted to Colonel and was not a major general like other division chiefs of staff, did not have the arrogance of ordinary academic officers. While maintaining sufficient respect for the superior officer, he could also make very appropriate suggestions.
suggestions.
Undoubtedly, for Bunzaburo Kawagishi, who is fond of being arbitrary and arbitrary, having such a chief of staff will save him a lot of worry.
Of course, for the Japanese army, because the military position of the chief of staff is often much lower than that of the division commander, even a major general has almost no restrictions on the lieutenant general-level division commander, and he is basically a messenger. .Slightly weaker, even the major general brigade commander below the division did not pay attention to the chief of staff of the division at the same level.
That's not to mention Kushimura Kushiro, who is just a colonel. His military position is the same as that of most captains. He is not like Sun Tzu against the famously strong Bunzaburo Kawagishi. How can he still be in the 20th Division? Can you survive?
"Kushimura-kun is indeed the most outstanding graduate of the Imperial Army University. Your analysis is correct. The China commander just hopes to delay our army's attack, trying to buy time for the China army in northern Shanxi to resist the attack of the Imperial Fifth Division. Protect Shanxi." Bunzaburo Kawagishi nodded. "So what do you think our 20th Division should do, Kitura-kun? Don't worry, Kitura-kun, but just say it's okay."
"The commander of China is really a little ridiculous. Although Snowflake Mountain can hold the Zhengtai Railway line, can they hold the road six miles away? Our army can divide into two groups and attack the stubborn Chinese army in Snowflake Mountain along the way. Completely open up the Shota Line, and the other road goes straight to Niangzi Pass. Both Niangzi Pass and Snowflake Mountain are made of stone mountains, making it extremely difficult to build fortifications. Although the terrain is dangerous, under the artillery fire of our imperial army, all the Chinese people All our efforts will be in vain." Kushimura Kushiro glanced at the gloomy face of his immediate boss, and after thinking for a moment, his face was filled with pride.
Indeed, the 20th Division, which had more than a dozen aircraft to assist and 12 105-caliber howitzers, was proud of itself. In just one day, they destroyed the defensive positions of nearly four divisions of Chinese defenders along the Hutuo River defense line in Shijiazhuang.
"Youxi, then according to what Chucunjun said, order the 77th Regiment Li Dengxing to launch a full-scale attack on the Chinese defenders in Jingxing County at 6 o'clock in the morning. After defeating the Chinese defenders, our army will defend the station. The baggage will be transported by rail to Jingxing, where all combat force supplies will be collected. At the same time, the 79th Regiment and 80th Regiment of the 40th Brigade will each send an infantry brigade to attack Snowflake Mountain, and the division will send a field artillery unit. The brigade supported its Snowflake Mountain operation, and the Imperial Air Force would also send bombers to support it. The 77th Regiment and the 78th Regiment attacked Niangziguan via the road. The remaining combat troops of the artillery regiment directly under the division subsequently arrived to support the 77th Regiment and the 78th Regiment. The 78th Regiment is in operation." Kawagishi Bunzaburo casually recounted the military order.
"Hi!" Kuzo Kimura quickly stood at attention and recorded.
"Have Minamoto Yoshihiro Koko and his special attack team sent their investigation information?" Kawagishi Bunzaburo suddenly asked.
"Two days ago, before they entered the Niangziguan area, they sent information about Jingxing's defenders. The division headquarters communication radio station called them several times but there was no response. It may be that they did not turn on the field radio in order not to expose their target," Ji Cunjiu said. Zang replied.
"Baga, you are a bunch of useless guys. They delayed the military plane like this. Didn't you know that our army was about to launch an attack!" A trace of anger flashed across Kawagishi Bunzaburo's face.
"Order the 28th Cavalry Regiment directly under the division to, after successfully capturing Jingxing County, search and advance towards the Niangziguan area at the fastest marching speed, conduct reconnaissance on the deployment of the Chinese defenders, and report to the division headquarters in case of encountering a battle. ....." After calming down his anger, Bunzaburo Kawagishi quickly made another plan, paused for a moment, and continued: "Act with the camera."
"Hi!" Kuzo Kimura agreed without hesitation.
At this moment, the arrogance of everyone in the 20th Division was clearly on display.
The cavalry regiment of a Japanese permanent division is different from an independently organized cavalry regiment. It only has more than 400 people and is organized into four cavalry squadrons. Their role in the division is only to serve as a mobility
There is only an extremely powerful reconnaissance force.
But facing the Chinese Niangziguan defense area with tens of thousands of troops gathered, the somewhat arrogant Japanese lieutenant general division commander actually issued an order to fight independently, and the somewhat cautious chief of staff did not hesitate.
is executed.
It can be seen that the extremely smooth war in the Pingjin area of China in the past three months has inflated their self-confidence to what extent.
Also, for any commander, a brigade of thousands of people can pursue an opponent's brigade of more than 4,000 people, and an infantry regiment of more than 3,000 people can launch an attack on an opponent's division of nearly 10,000 people.
Who wouldn’t swell when it grows?
Especially for the Japanese, who have begun to consider themselves the number one army in the world, the expansion is boundless.
Minamoto no Yoshihiro Gang, who is called a useless guy, didn't know that it was his caution that, although his five subordinates did not immediately become fish in the net of Liu Tuanzuo who had already cast his fishing net, it would make them
Another proud Imperial Cavalry of the 20th Division was sent into the abyss.
Compared with the extremely arrogant Japanese infantry, only nobles can ride the Japanese cavalry, which is a model of arrogance.
They looked at the dregs of the infantry, which were composed of farmers and fishermen. Their nostrils were pointed upward, and their snorting was as thick as the horses they were sitting on.