Seeing the worried expressions on the faces of his subordinates, Major General Tsuda directly analyzed: "The Eighth Route Army active in Yangquan plus their main first detachment has a total strength of 10,000 people. In the two nights of fighting, we did lose a lot.
Small. But the losses of the Eighth Route Army will definitely be indispensable. I believe in the combat effectiveness of my subordinates!"
"Based on the ratio of casualties in our battles with the Eighth Route Army, even if the Eighth Route Army elites were attacking us and we lost 2,500 imperial troops, the Eighth Route Army would have lost at least 5,000 people. If it were replaced by other Eighth Route Army or
For other local troops in China, our 2,500 elites may cause them losses of 10,000 people!"
"So, there are at most 5,000 Eighth Route Army troops in Shouyang County!"
"As long as the number of imperial troops in the reinforcements exceeds two infantry brigades, Tubal Road will not be able to do anything to us!"
The chief of staff replied with a look of helplessness: "But, Your Excellency, General, now we don't need to mention two infantry brigades, even a complete infantry brigades!"
Major General Tsuda looked gloomy and did not speak. He stared at the map for a full minute and then called back: "Send a telegram to the military headquarters immediately to report our situation and request combat guidance!"
"Request the military headquarters to dispatch at least two regiments of the Don't Love You Brigade and two regiments of the Imperial Army to march urgently to reinforce the county seat!"
At the headquarters of the First Army of the Japanese North China Front in Taiyuan City, the commander, Lieutenant General Shinozuka Yoshio, is resting.
Suddenly, a rapid knock on the door broke his sweet dream.
"Come in!" Shinozuka Yoshio frowned and shouted to the door, then sat up from the bed.
Soon, the chief of staff, Major General Tanaka, appeared in front of Yoshio Shinozuka with a face full of apologies.
"Your Excellency, Commander, Major General Tsuda of the Fourth Mixed Brigade sent an urgent message! Pingding Shouyang County was attacked by the main force of the Eighth Route Army. Since the Fourth Mixed Brigade has insufficient strength, Taiyuan City is requested to send at least two infantry brigades for reinforcements!"
"Major General Tsuda is sure that the one attacking Shouyang is the most powerful first detachment of the Eighth Route Army!"
"I think this is a great opportunity for us to eliminate this elite Eighth Route Army and severely damage the Eighth Route Army!"
For Lieutenant General Shinozuka Yoshio, the two infantry brigades would not even frown in normal times.
But it's different now. Don't think of yourself as the commander of the First Army, because the troops are scattered in nearly a hundred surrounding counties. The only mobile units that can be mobilized immediately are your own guard brigade and the independent ninth brigade.
As far as the imperial army is concerned, the total strength does not exceed 10,000.
Now, all of a sudden, I have to withdraw two thousand men from the mobile force of less than ten thousand. No one would hesitate.
"Go to the war room first! By the way, summarize all the battle messages sent to the military headquarters by the Fourth Mixed Brigade in the past two days. I want to see them!" Shinozuka Yoshio did not answer immediately, but frowned and ordered.
Yoshio Shinozuka was worthy of being the lieutenant general commander of the First Army. He soon extracted an idea from more than a dozen telegrams.
"The Eighth Route Army that attacked the Fourth Mixed Brigade was very cunning and knew that it was no match for Major General Tsuda in a head-on confrontation. Then they took advantage of Tsuda's underestimation and lack of attention to the enemy and consumed his troops bit by bit." Lieutenant General Yoshio Shinozuka analyzed with a frown!
"By the time Major General Tsuda reacts, his Fourth Mixed Brigade has lost more than 2,000 people and is directly in a dangerous situation with no troops to send!"
"If we don't send troops to reinforce, Pingding County will definitely be lost. As long as the Eighth Route Army still has the strength, they can occupy a county in one night, reduce the scope of Major General Tsuda's activities in Yangquan bit by bit, and finally occupy Yangquan!"
"Unless Major General Tsuda directly abandons all the counties around Yangquan and concentrates all his troops in Yangquan City, there is no other way to defend Yangquan!"
"However, if this happens, all the counties around Yangquan will be controlled by the Eighth Route Army."
"With the strength and means of the Eighth Route Army, it won't take long for these counties to become Eighth Route Army base areas. If done well, tens of thousands of troops can be drawn from these counties. By then, if we want to occupy these counties, we will
Difficulties abound!”
"Also, once Tubal Road takes control of these counties, even if Yangquan is still under our control. With Tubal Road's methods, it will definitely compress the living space of the Fourth Mixed Brigade in Yangquan step by step, and then squeeze out the Fourth Mixed Brigade.
Come out of Yangquan!"
"Your Majesty General, what about us?" the chief of staff asked with a frown.
"Because Ono despised the Eighth Route Army, he lost troops and generals, and now he is almost losing his territory. We must not make the same mistake!"
"Also, Yangquan and surrounding counties must not be controlled by Tubal Road. Otherwise, the east gate of Taiyuan City will be completely exposed to Tubal Road's soldiers. By then, Taiyuan City will never have peace!"
"Your Excellency, Commander, is wise. I will immediately arrange troops to reinforce Shouyang County!" Chief of Staff Major General Tian Zhong said with a flattering look, and then prepared to arrange the troops.
Lieutenant General Shinozuka Yoshio immediately shouted: "Wait a minute, Major General Tsuda made the mistake of underestimating the enemy and lost troops and generals. We must not make the same mistake again."
"In addition to two infantry brigades and two regiments of the Imperial Association Army, the reinforcements also strengthened two mountain artillery squadrons, a tank squadron, and a cavalry squadron. They were commanded by Colonel Yuan Yuan, chief of staff of the 9th Independent Mixed Brigade, to reinforce Shouyang County.
!”
The Arsenal Guard Regiment and the Independent Brigade have been lurking outside Taiyuan City for two days.
Except for patrols and warnings, other troops are required to stay put and cannot light fires.
Fortunately, the weather is not very cold yet, otherwise the cold might cause a large number of non-combat casualties to the troops.
But even so, during the two days of arduous waiting, the morale of the troops was weakening little by little, and they began to become a little restless.
After a long day of waiting, although Cheng Xiao was very tired, he didn't feel sleepy at all.
At twelve o'clock in the evening, we were still guarding the temporary headquarters set up in a tent.
"Lao Cheng, go to sleep! I'm here to guard the place. Do you want you to be on duty here tomorrow during the day?" Wang Ping reminded him again when he saw Chen Xiao's dark circles under his eyes.
"I'll wait!" Cheng Xiao shook his head and refused.
"The first detachment attacked Shouyang tonight, and the fourth mixed brigade in Yangquan suffered another loss of troops. If nothing else, the Japanese from Taiyuan City are likely to move out tonight!"
As soon as they finished speaking, the sound of rapid footsteps reached their ears.
Chief of Staff Yang Xiong walked in with excitement on his face.
"The regiment commander, the brigade commander, and the scouts monitoring the east gate sent back a telegram. The puppet army of more than 5,000 days with tanks and artillery has just left the east gate and is marching towards Shouyang for reinforcements!"
"Okay! Lao Cheng, the opportunity we have been waiting for has finally arrived. As long as the Japanese and puppet troops leave Taiyuan City, this operation will be off to a good start!" Wang Ping shouted with excitement, his face that had been tense for several days finally showed.
A long-lost smile.
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