"Very good, I like your confidence!" the commander-in-chief praised without hesitation.
Then he stared at the deputy commander and ordered: "Since Wang Ping is ready, let's start the counterattack from our side?"
"Tell that old Japs Okamura Neji that our Eighth Route Army is no longer what it used to be. Unlike a few years ago, when we could only passively counter-mopping up against them, we now have the ability to proactively attack!"
"I also want to see what the old devil Neji Okamura looks like in a few days!" the deputy commander replied with a smile on his face.
Two days later, at twelve o'clock in the evening, the headquarters of the Japanese North China Front in Peiping was still brightly lit, with more than a dozen staff officers coming in and out, sending in a steady stream of intelligence and battle conditions.
Next to the huge combat sand table, several staff officers were also very busy, constantly physically displaying intelligence and battle conditions on the sand table for the commander's reference.
"Bage Ya Road, how could the situation change so quickly!"
"The imperial army clearly had an absolute advantage in the daytime battle. As long as there is another day tomorrow, the imperial army can capture the headquarters of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei base area under the cover of aviation."
"Who can tell us where the Eighth Route Army that is attacking us came from?"
The chief of staff next to him hesitated and reminded: "Commander, the frontline troops report that the Eighth Route Army's offensive is becoming more and more fierce, and it also uses mountain artillery and large-caliber mortars. The casualties of the troops are very heavy. So far, at least the losses have been
The strength of an infantry brigade!"
Okamura Neiji scolded with a stern face: "Bage Ya Road, the Eighth Route Army is going to completely wipe out our attacking troops!"
"Is it possible to break out of the encirclement, or are there troops nearby that can immediately reinforce them!"
"No!" the chief of staff replied, shaking his head.
"They have penetrated too far into the Eighth Route Army base area. The nearest reinforcements are nearly 80 kilometers away. They will definitely not be able to arrive before dark!"
Okamura Neji gritted his teeth and continued to ask: "Is it possible to break through?"
"It's difficult!" replied the chief of staff.
"There are too many Eighth Route Army troops gathered around them, and they have been surrounded. If we break through rashly, we will turn from defense to offense, and the troops will suffer greater casualties and losses!"
"Then just defend!" Okamura Neji replied bravely.
"Order them to hold their position until dawn!"
"Contact the aviation force. As long as there are conditions for takeoff, the aviation force will be dispatched to reinforce the battlefield immediately!"
As soon as one staff officer entered the war room, another staff officer rushed in hastily.
"Your Excellency, Commander, our troops attacking the Taihang Base Area of the Eighth Route Army were attacked and are now surrounded!"
"The Eighth Route Army has dispatched large-caliber heavy artillery. The troops have suffered heavy casualties and are preparing to break out!"
Before Neji Okamura could speak with a sullen face, another communications staff member rushed in with a telegram in his hand: "Your Excellency, Commander, our logistics supply Yangquan near the Taihang base of the Eighth Route Army has been attacked. The Eighth Route Army has dispatched at least one division, and there are also
There are mountain artillery and heavy artillery, and the firepower is very powerful!"
"The Yangquan garrison reported that the Yangquan city wall had been blown down by the Eighth Route Army's heavy artillery, and the troops suffered heavy casualties."
"The Eighth Route Army's offensive troops have entered Yangquan, and the garrison is engaging in street fighting with them. Let us be prepared to miss Yangquan!"
At this time, the deputy chief of staff who had just left walked in directly, his face was very ugly, and he was also a little panicked!
"Your Excellency, Commander, the Shijiazhuang garrison reported that a large number of Eighth Route Army troops have appeared near Shijiazhuang, and many outlying strongholds have been attacked!"
"The Eighth Route Army attacking them seems to be equipped with heavy artillery..."
"The strength currently exposed exceeds one division!"
Okamura Neji was no longer calm, strode to the sand table, and found Shijiazhuang on the sand table!
Soon, a very bold guess came out of Okamura Neji's mind. His face turned pale, and then he shouted: "I understand, the target of the Eighth Route Army's sudden counterattack is Shijiazhuang!"
"They plan to attack Shijiazhuang!" the chief of staff was shocked and asked with a look of disbelief!
"It's not impossible!" Okamura Neji replied calmly.
"If I remember correctly, the Eighth Route Army's military parade will begin in less than ten days!"
"Military parades can indeed show strength, but the real thing that shows strength is the military record!"
"If the Eighth Route Army can capture the important town of Shijiazhuang and cooperate with the military parade they are preparing to conduct, then the Eighth Route Army's purpose of flexing its muscles will be completely achieved. Everyone knows that today's Eighth Route Army is no longer what it used to be..."
The chief of staff, who had been staring at the map, suddenly spoke.
"Commander, this is really possible!"
"Look at Yangquan, which happens to be stuck between Taiyuan and Shijiazhuang. It is an important material transfer station between the two places. Once captured by the Eighth Route Army, the Imperial Army in Shanxi will not be able to reinforce Shijiazhuang!"
"Also, in order to attack the Eighth Route Army's Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei base area and Jizhong base area, we have already mobilized all the garrison troops around Shijiazhuang!"
"The Eighth Route Army must have taken a fancy to the lack of troops around Shijiazhuang, and then decided to attack Shijiazhuang and show its strong combat effectiveness by taking Shijiazhuang!"
The chief of staff's analysis made Okamura Neiji even more convinced of his judgment just now.
Frowning, he stared at the chief of staff and asked, "How long can Shijiazhuang be defended?"
"There will definitely be no problem in three days!" the chief of staff replied confidently.
"Although there are not many troops stationed in Shijiazhuang, the city defenses are very strong. Moreover, there are a large number of overseas Chinese stationed in the city, and at least two thousand overseas Chinese can be armed to assist the troops in defense!"
"Although the Eighth Route Army has heavy artillery, the number is certainly not large."
"As soon as daybreak comes, we send planes to blow up those artillery pieces, and the Eighth Route Army can only use the old method of attacking Shijiazhuang through attrition!"
"When the time comes, we will be even more certain to defend Shijiazhuang!"
Okamura Neji shook his head and replied: "It's not as easy as you think!"
"Ordinary mountain and field artillery are treasures in the hands of the Eighth Route Army, let alone heavy artillery!"
"Even if our planes pass by at dawn, it will not be so easy to destroy those artillery pieces!"
"So, if you want to defend Shijiazhuang, you must rely on external forces!"
"Send a telegram to Taiyuan immediately and ask them to deploy a mixed brigade unit to quickly move eastward to reinforce Shijiazhuang!"
"Yangquan must be protected. After dawn, planes will be sent to reinforce Yangquan. Even if Yangquan is occupied by the Eighth Route Army, it must be taken back by me!"
"The mopping up troops that entered the Eighth Route Army base area retreated across the board under the cover of the aviation force after dawn."
"This time, I will kill the Eighth Route Army that attacked Shijiazhuang and teach them a lesson!"
The new book "The Iron-Blooded Warrior of the Anti-Japanese War" has been uploaded. It is updated twice a day. I hope you will add it to your collection!
The second update is delivered today! Please subscribe! Please collect! Please vote monthly! Please reward!
