"Excluding the troops left behind in northwest Shanxi, the main force we can assemble in northwest Shanxi this time and the troops capable of attacking the Japanese include nearly 60,000 infantrymen."

"Our two regiments have more than 110 tanks, and there are also two tank regiments from the headquarters with 100 tanks. This time we have more than 200 tanks for the attack."

"Including the two heavy artillery regiments allocated by the headquarters, we have more than 300 heavy artillery pieces with a caliber of 105 mm or above."

"In addition, there are more than 30,000 militia logistics troops, more than 1,000 trucks responsible for transportation, and about 3,000 mules and horses involved in logistics transportation."

"The ammunition prepared is 150,000 tons, and the grain prepared is 60 million kilograms."

"By the way, there are also 20 fighters and 20 bombers from the 1st Flying Regiment directly under the headquarters, as well as 5 transport aircraft and 5 reconnaissance aircraft, which will be stationed at Datong Airport to provide us with air support."

"Also, during the battle, we can apply to the commander-in-chief Li Yunlong for airdrop supplies from the big boss at any time."

"The total strength of the combat troops is approximately 80,000, and together with the militia and logistics troops, the total strength exceeds 100,000."

"In addition, there are more than 100,000 ordinary people who have expressed their willingness to transport supplies to our Eighth Route Army."

After listening to the chief of staff's report, the senior officers of the Independent Regiment and the New Second Regiment who attended the meeting all had smiles on their faces.

Fighting spirit high.

There are more than 200 tanks, more than 300 heavy artillery, and a flight group of 50 aircraft for air support, sufficient ammunition, food and logistical supplies, and air support that can be called at any time.

Just listening to it makes people feel full of fighting spirit.

Ding Wei stared at the map. Although his eyes and expression were calm, he couldn't help but feel happy in his heart.

Ding Wei thought to himself.

To use the words of that boy Li Yunlong, labor and capital have never fought such a rich war.

Compared with Li Yunlong and Kong Jie, Ding Wei already had a junior high school education before joining the army, had a solid foundation in military theory, strong intelligence and investigation capabilities, and a forward-looking strategic vision.

"When will the two artillery regiments and two tank regiments from the headquarters arrive in Datong?"

Seeing that Ding Wei didn't speak, Kong Jie looked at the chief of staff of the New Second Regiment and asked.

"I received the latest telegram from the frontline headquarters in the morning. The headquarters' two artillery regiments and two tank regiments have completed their assembly and are fully prepared. They can be loaded immediately."

The chief of staff looked at Kong Jie and replied:

"At noon the day after tomorrow at the latest, these two artillery regiments and two tank regiments can be transported by train and reach Datong along the Beitong-Pu Railway."

At present, the entire Tongpu Railway is under the control of the Eighth Route Army.

Of course, it is faster to transport artillery regiments and tank regiments by train.

The Eighth Route Army had air superiority, so even if the Japanese got information about the artillery regiment and tank regiment's transportation, they would not be able to send planes to bomb the Eighth Route Army's columns.

"Captain Ding, when will we start attacking the Japanese?"

Shen Quan, the second battalion commander of the Independent Regiment who is good at playing dirty tricks, sounded eager to try, and the other battalion commanders also looked expectantly.

"After the troops are assembled and the command issues orders."

Ding Wei looked fiercely and said:

"Tell the officers and soldiers below not to worry, the Japanese can't escape."

"In this battle, the mission goal of our Eighth Route Army is to kill 200,000 little Japs!"

"yes!"

A group of high-ranking military officers suddenly agreed.

…

at the same time.

Yangquan.

New Regiment, Frontline General Headquarters.

With the new regiment's combat supplies, pre-war mobilization and other pre-war preparations completed, Li Yunlong issued the order to assemble the troops.

The 150,000 main troops of the new regiment were transported by road and railway and first assembled in Yangquan.

Then they went to the Jingxing area in batches to start a battle with the Japanese who were defending Shimen City.

Li Yunlong's frontline headquarters also arrived in the Yangquan area.

"The news that we are going to attack cannot be concealed from the enemy. Maybe the enemy has already made preparations."

Li Yunlong pointed at the map and said to the senior officials who came to the meeting, including the deputy leaders.

"Although our Eighth Route Army did not deliberately publicize this large-scale offensive operation, we did not launch a surprise attack. The Japs' intelligence capabilities are not weak, and they should have received the intelligence long ago."

"And the Japanese know that we will definitely attack North China."

Zhao Gang followed Li Yunlong's words and briefly analyzed the current situation.

The Japanese vigorously increased troops and combat supplies to North China. It can be seen that the Japanese have been preparing for the Eighth Route Army's attack for a long time.

Wang Dehouhui reports:

"According to intelligence, the Japanese have deployed three Japanese divisions in the Zhengding area of ​​Shimen City, namely the 11th Division, the 40th Division and the 56th Division."

"According to the situation reported by the scouts, these three Japanese divisions have built a large number of fortifications, dug tunnels, and constructed ultra-wide anti-tank trenches on the roads leading from Jingxing County to Shimen City and Zhengding County."

"Some anti-tank cones were even built with concrete and heavily defended."

When Li Yunlong heard this, he nodded with a half-smile: "The Japs are still doing the same thing, there's nothing new about it. It seems that Okamura Neji can't do anything fancy anymore."

Tunnel fortifications can be used to hide troops, and anti-tank cones and anti-tank trenches can block tanks.

But it’s a pity…

On the plain terrain, the Eighth Route Army's heavy artillery, aircraft and tanks, and the Xiaomi and rifles designed to deal with the Japanese.

Zhang Dabiao looked at Li Yunlong with sharp eyes and said: "Captain, we still have to be on guard against small tricks by the Japanese. For example, the Japanese send out small groups of troops to attack our logistics supply lines. This is the specialty of Yamamoto Kazuki, and now Yamamoto is fooled."

The deputy chief of staff of the North China Front will definitely not give up his special skills."

"That makes sense." Li Yunlong nodded and said, "That Japs Yamamoto still has some skills. The task of protecting the logistics supply line will be left to the brother troops in the Jizhong Military Region."

"Taking a step back, even if the Japanese can cut off our supply lines, can't we still call for airdrops of supplies?"

"That's true." Zhang Dabiao smiled and nodded with a happy expression. Boss Chen's large transport plane was probably already hungry and thirsty.

Li Yunlong stared at the map, smiled slightly, and said: "What I am thinking about now is how to completely annihilate the Japanese 11th Division, 40th Division and 56th Division."

"Total annihilation?"

A group of senior officials from the New Group, including Zhang Dabiao, Wei Dayong and Lu Yingjun, suddenly became interested.

…
Chapter completed!