Futami Akizaburo and Nakayama Sadake on the side also changed their expressions.
The attacking divisions were bombarded by heavy artillery groups and aircraft groups?
How can this be?
Didn’t the Eighth Route Army already run out of ammunition and food?
How could there still be heavy artillery shells?
Then there is only one explanation, it is a trap by the Eighth Route Army.
In these days, the Japanese army used the puppet troops as cannon fodder for attacks, consuming the ammunition of the Eighth Route Army, and achieved immediate results.
The Eighth Route Army's ammunition was reduced visibly. The Locust Alliance suffered more than 40,000 casualties, while the Locust Army suffered very few casualties.
It can be said that Hengshan Yong's tactics greatly consumed the ammunition of the Eighth Route Army.
Everything went smoothly in the Japanese attack last night. Under the cover of powerful artillery fire, the Japanese army successfully captured the Eighth Route Army's position.
But now, the Eighth Route Army's heavy artillery is shelling the attacking locust army?
There is only one explanation for all this.
The locust army fell into a trap.
but!
What makes Yokoyama Isamu, Nakayama Sadake and Futami Akisaburo puzzled is.
It is clear that the Eighth Route Army has sufficient heavy artillery shells, as well as bullets, grenades and other ammunition. Under the cover of aerial firepower and in frontal combat, the Japanese 11th Army can never be an opponent of the Eighth Route Army.
It was clearly possible to defeat the Japanese 11th Army with a frontal attack.
Yet they still engage in these conspiracies.
Didn't the Eighth Route Army take off their pants and fart? Isn't it unnecessary?
The Japanese also knew that the Eighth Route Army was cunning, but it was precisely because of this idea that Yokoyama Isamu and Zhongshan Zadawu relaxed their vigilance and ordered the frontline troops to boldly attack.
Now the Eighth Route Army will do nothing if it doesn't take action. If it does, the consequences will be disastrous.
Thinking of this, Yokoyama Yong's face instantly turned pale.
He finally understood Okamura Neji's difficulties.
It’s not that the Locust Army is incompetent, it’s that the Eighth Route Army is too cunning!
The Eighth Route Army, equipped with heavy artillery, tanks and aircraft, not only became more cunning, but also more vicious and difficult to deal with.
Yokoyama Isamu had not yet had time to issue a retreat order.
"General."
A staff officer rushed in again, his tone even more urgent:
"The Communications Department has just received news that a large number of main forces of the Eighth Route Army have appeared around the offensive troops of the 13th Division, 6th Division and 4th Division. The offensive troops have been surrounded by Eighth Route Army infantry and tank troops!"
"Nani?"
Yokoyama Isamu's voice suddenly rose, and his expression became more horrified.
The Eighth Route Army not only dispatched a large amount of artillery firepower and aircraft to bomb indiscriminately, but also used infantry and tank troops to encircle the area.
This is for total annihilation!
Yokoyama Isamu asked in a gloomy voice: "How much artillery firepower did the Eighth Route Army use? How many infantry did it use? How many aircraft and tanks did it use?"
"This... is not clear yet." The staff officer lowered his head and said.
Not long after the Eighth Route Army started its mass bombardment, the attacking Japanese were in the chaos of being bombed, shelled, and surrounded. In the panic, they could only ask for tactical guidance from their superiors. How could they have the ability to count the enemy's firepower and troop strength?
"Order, all attacking troops retreat immediately!"
"Order the reserve teams of each division, the 3rd Division, and the 42nd Division to immediately set out to respond!"
Yokoyama Isamu issued the order without hesitation and mobilized the reserve team.
The general reserves of the headquarters are the 3rd and 42nd Divisions, as well as the 14th and 18th Brigades guarding the perimeter of the headquarters.
Participating in this attack were the combat units of the main Class A divisions, and each division also had its own reserve and logistics units.
"Order all artillery regiments..."
When he said this, Yokoyama Isamu hesitated.
After these days of defense, all artillery units have been dispersed and hidden artillery positions have been constructed.
Some smaller artillery bombardments can also be carried out during the day to provide artillery fire support to the infantry.
However, at this time, the area where the Japanese division's offensive troops had reached was beyond the fire support range of each artillery group.
The Eighth Route Army's artillery positions were obviously still some distance away from the positions of the Japanese divisions' attacking troops.
As a result, the Japanese artillery could not reach the Eighth Route Army's artillery positions, or even the Eighth Route Army's infantry and tank units.
If you want artillery firepower to support the infantry of various Japanese divisions, you can only order the artillery positions to move forward.
but!
It was broad daylight, and each artillery regiment was exposed to the Eighth Route Army's aircraft and would definitely become a living target.
These artillery regiments, especially the heavy artillery regiment, were Yokoyama's heart and soul, and Yokoyama could not bear to part with them.
"Order all artillery regiments to be on standby!"
After a pause, Yokoyama Isamu did not send out artillery troops just like last time.
"Hi."
The communications staff officer turned around and walked quickly outside to convey orders to each division.
Looking at the back of the communications staff officer leaving, Isamu Yokoyama looked extremely solemn.
Since the Eighth Route Army deliberately pretended to be in need of ammunition.
Then what is certain is that the Eighth Route Army must have sufficient ammunition.
Although the total strength of the 11th Army reaches 150,000, it was previously equipped with aircraft and is now equipped with various heavy weapons such as tanks, armored vehicles, mountain artillery and heavy artillery. It is a large field army with strategic offensive capabilities.
The existence of the 11th Army was formed for the purpose of attacking Changsha and attacking mountain cities.
Compared with the National Army, the Japanese 11th Army does not have an advantage in strength, but the equipment of the Japanese 11th Army is luxurious, and the quality of its individual soldiers is several grades higher than that of the National Army soldiers.
but.
The equipment of the Eighth Route Army opposite was more luxurious than that of the 11th Army, and the equipment gap between the two sides was wider than the gap between the Japanese army and the Chinese army.
and.
The commanders of the Eighth Route Army were more cunning and vicious than the commanders of the National Army, and their tactics were more flexible and changeable.
The Eighth Route Army's infantry firepower was stronger than that of the Japanese army, and its individual soldiers were also very capable.
The Eighth Route Army had been preparing for so long, so it was impossible for its attacking troops to easily break out of the encirclement.
Yokoyama Isamu felt a lot of pressure.
…
Yokoyama Isamu's prediction was correct.
The Japanese attacking troops numbered about 60,000, and they were all the main combat troops of the A-type divisions.
At this time, the 60,000-strong Japanese army was being bombarded by 1,000 artillery pieces from the Eighth Route Army.
As the infantry and tanks of the Eighth Route Army surrounded them, tank guns and mortars also joined in the bombardment against the Japanese, and the Eighth Route Army's firepower suddenly increased a lot.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! At this time, the Japanese's retreat was also cut off by the Eighth Route Army cavalry and armored forces.
"The tanks are in front, the infantry is behind, let's go up and harvest the corn!"
After 20 minutes of full-speed artillery bombardment, as soon as the sound of artillery stopped, the front-line commanders of various units of the Eighth Route Army calmly issued the order to attack.
Not giving the Japanese any time to breathe.
Even the 203mm heavy howitzer and Katyusha rocket launcher were used.
Even the B25 medium bomber cannot kill all the Japanese.
In the end, tanks and infantry are still needed to finish the battle.
At the same time, the division headquarters also arranged troops for reinforcements to prevent the Japanese reinforcements from picking up the Japanese in the encirclement.
The Eighth Route Army, which was overwhelming and covering the mountains and plains, under the guidance of tanks, was approaching the Japanese encirclement from all directions. Even the Japanese soldiers who were as strong as the Class A Division could not help but look despairing when they saw this scene.
Intense gunshots rang out without any interruption, most of them coming from the Eighth Route Army.
The sound of Japanese gunfire was very loud.
The Japanese, who had just been wiped out by heavy artillery and aerial bombs, no longer had much firepower.
On the Taierzhuang battlefield.
The Japanese 6th Division and the 34th Division, with a total of more than 20,000 people, were bombarded by Eighth Route Army aircraft, hundreds of artillery pieces, and hundreds of mortars for 20 minutes.
The infantry and tanks of the Eighth Route Army quickly approached.
The Japanese brigade commander quickly requested tactical guidance.
The Japanese division headquarters were thrown into panic.
The Japanese's response troops arrived, but the Eighth Route Army's reinforcement troops had also entered their designated positions.
With the heavy artillery firepower of the Eighth Route Army and air support.
As expected, the Japanese response troops were subjected to intensive shelling and aerial bombardment, and retreated in disgrace.
News of the failed response reached the headquarters of the Japanese 4th Division.
"Nani?"
The sixth Lieutenant General Sekihara shook his body and almost fainted, his voice was horrified.
Miscalculated!
I originally thought it would be a smooth battle, but I didn't expect it to be an unprecedented tough battle.
All along, the 4th Division's primary tactic has been to preserve its strength.
A vegetable against the wind is like a rat, and against the wind is as strong as a tiger.
The 4th Division escaped so many battles that suffered huge losses. Other Class A divisions had several waves of new recruits, but the 4th Division suffered the least losses.
But this time, he couldn't escape.
In this battle, in order to fight a turnaround, show the valor of the 4th Division, not be a disgrace to the Imperial Army, and gain great military exploits, Sekigahara Roku sent the entire main force of the four combat regiments, more than 16,000 people.
Unexpectedly, they fell into the trap of the Eighth Route Army, and all these troops were surrounded by the Eighth Route Army.
He sent reserve units such as the cavalry regiment and baggage regiment, as well as a brigade from the 3rd Division to respond.
However, they were hit by heavy artillery fire from the Eighth Route Army, and the responding troops also suffered heavy losses.
If the responding troops had not withdrawn quickly, the responding troops would have suffered heavy losses.
"Send the order, the division headquarters and all units of the 4th Division immediately move to the south of Xuzhou City!" Sekihara Roku flashed his eyes slightly and gave the order.
As the division commander of the 4th Division, Sekihara Roku's tactical vision is unmatched by ordinary people.
He knew very well that there was no hope of rescuing the surrounded troops now.
When the main force of the Eighth Route Army eliminates the locust army in the encirclement, it will definitely pursue the victory.
The 11th Army will most likely be completely defeated by then, so Sekigahara Roku is prepared to grab the bucket and run away in advance.
"Hi."
The chief of staff on the side lowered his head.
The news that the attacking Japanese troops were divided and surrounded, and that the responding troops were repulsed, was quickly transmitted to the 11th Army Headquarters.
"idiot!"
The furious Yokoyama Isamu immediately drew out the Lieutenant General's sword with a clatter and cut the Eight Immortals Table in front of him into two pieces.
"Your Majesty Commander, what should we do now?"
Deputy Chief of Staff Futami Akisaburo asked in a deep voice.
Now that the war situation has developed to this point, the situation is greatly unfavorable to the 11th Army.
Not only the attacking troops, but the entire 11th Army may have to be wiped out.
What was attacking were the main elites of almost all combat units of the Japanese 11th Army. After this battle, the 11th Army almost lost its ability to attack the Eighth Route Army.
With the remaining troops, it was impossible to stop the Eighth Route Army's heavy artillery and tanks.
After all, there are no anti-tank fortifications or advantageous terrain in the Xuzhou area that can withstand the Eighth Route Army's attack.
Even if there were, it would be difficult to block.
"Order."
Hengshan Yong made a decisive decision and chose to cut off his wrist as a strong man:
"All the remaining troops quickly moved into Suzhou, and the 3rd Division and the 18th Brigade were responsible for breaking up the rear."
Isamu Yokoyama planned to run away with the bucket.