Headquarters of the First Army of the North China Front.
"General."
"The approximate number of casualties of the First Army has been calculated."
In the commander's office, intelligence staff officer Takeo Anteng held a folder and reported to Yoshio Shinozuka.
"Read it!" Yoshio Shinozuka frowned.
Although the Japanese army claimed that the Hundred Regiment Campaign launched by the Eighth Route Army, the Japanese army only suffered more than 200 casualties.
However, as the commander of the First Army, he knew clearly that the location of the First Army was in a mess, and the Eighth Route Army was destroying railways and roads everywhere.
Even the two county towns of Liao County and Yushe, which were in the hinterland of the Eighth Route Army base area, were recaptured by the Eighth Route Army, and the situation was already very bad.
The situation in other areas of North China is not much better than that of the First Army.
Commander Tada Shun, who proposed and implemented the cage tactic, was severely criticized by the base camp. If he cannot effectively counterattack the Eighth Route Army, Commander Tada Shun may be at risk of stepping down...
I am afraid that as the commander of the First Army, I am also in trouble.
"The Fourth Brigade suffered more than 5,500 casualties and more than 300 wounded."
"More than 800 people of the Ninth Brigade were killed and more than 500 were injured."
"The Third Brigade suffered more than 1,300 casualties and more than 500 wounded."
"The 37th Division suffered more than 3,100 casualties and more than 100 wounded."
"..."
Sitting on the office chair, Yoshio Shinozuka listened to Takeo Iteng reporting the number of casualties, his old face gradually turning black.
The casualties were much greater than he imagined.
Among them, the fourth brigade suffered the most casualties. Not only were the defenders of the fourth brigade defending the section from Shouyang to Niangziguan on Zhengtai Road, but also the defenders of Shouyang County, Yangquan City, Liaoxian County, and Yushe County.
Although the Fourth Brigade was transferred to the Central China battlefield with more than a thousand troops, it was no different from the total army annihilation.
The next largest casualty was the 225th Regiment of the 37th Division. If the soldiers hadn't fought tooth and nail to keep the regiment flag, the 225th Regiment's designation might have been cancelled.
The number of casualties in the First Army alone was more than 10,000, not including wounded soldiers.
The First Army has never suffered such a heavy loss.
It's simply a shame and a shame.
Taking a deep breath, Yoshio Shinozuka gradually regained his composure and waved his hand, signaling Takeo Andeng to leave.
Takeo Andeng closed the folder, nodded to Yoshio Shinozuka, and walked out quickly.
After a moment of silence, he turned to look at Chief of Staff Kusuyama Hideyoshi: "Kusuyama-kun, how are you doing with your staff's 'Central Blooming' combat plan?"
"The combat plan is basically complete, but there are still some details that need to be perfected."
Kusuyama Hideyoshi's tone was calm. He had just heard the casualty figures of the First Army. They were both expected and unexpected.
It was expected that the number of casualties of the First Army would be large, but what was unexpected was that the casualties were so large.
With a look on his face, Yoshio Shinozuka asked: "What details still need to be perfected?"
Kusuyama Hideyoshi said.
"The plan of the General Staff is to deploy heavy troops in the four directions of Heshun and Liao County, Baijin Line, Xiangyuan and Wuxiang, and Handan Chang Road."
"Once the bait enters the Eighth Route Bandit Area and attracts the siege of the Eighth Route Army's main force, the Fourth Route Army will immediately dispatch to intercept the Eighth Route Army's main force from the east and west and attack from the north and south."
"There are still three questions."
"The first is that the First Army has insufficient strength and is in urgent need of additional troops. If it cannot replenish its troops, it will need at least one brigade reinforcement from the front army."
"The second is the insufficient preparation of supplies. Since the communication lines were severely damaged by the Eighth Route Army, it will take time to prepare military supplies for the raids."
"Third, the commander who will be used as bait and the specific troop strength are still waiting to be determined by the commander."
Yoshio Shinozuka nodded and said, "I can ask Commander Tada for support on the first and second points."
"The third point..."
"Does Yamamoto-kun recommend a suitable candidate?"
As he spoke, Yoshio Shinozuka turned his attention to Kazuki Yamamoto, who had been silent.
"General, with all due respect."
Kazuki Yamamoto still had a cold and paralyzed face, and his tone did not fluctuate at all: "This battle plan is simply terrible."
"Oh?" Yoshio Shinozuka said in surprise, "Yamamoto-kun, tell me what you think!"
Yamamoto Kazuki said: "Judging from the failure of the two large-scale offensives launched by the Eighth Route Army and the cage tactics."
"This group of mud-legged idiots already has the strength to eat up an entire regiment of the Imperial Army in a short period of time."
"Is the general really willing to use a regiment of soldiers as bait?"
"Yamamoto-kun is trying to increase the prestige of the Eighth Route Army and destroy the morale of the Imperial Army!" Kusuyama Hideyoshi snorted. Yamamoto Kazuki objected to his central flowering tactics, so he naturally wanted to refute.
"Chief of Staff, I am just stating the facts." Yamamoto Kazuki said, "The fact that the 225th Regiment was almost destroyed is a good proof."
Kusuyama Hideyoshi said: "I admit that the fighting ability of these mud-legged people is beyond our imagination."
"However, the main reason for the defeat of the 225th Regiment was that it was attacked by the Eighth Route Army in the middle of the night and suffered a large-scale artillery attack by the Eighth Route Army."
"If it were a frontal battle, the 225th Regiment would definitely be able to penetrate the Eighth Route Army's base area."
"The decoy troops only need to occupy a mountain in the bandit area, defend it according to the danger, and lead the Eight Route Army to besiege it."
"As long as we can hold on for one day, our peripheral troops will be able to encircle the main force of the Eighth Route Army."
"The four armies can surround the Eighth Route Army in a small area, and the main force of the Eighth Route Army can only be eliminated."
"Moreover, the Eighth Route Army has launched two large-scale offensives and is already exhausted. My suggestion is to launch a retaliatory raid on the Eighth Route bandit areas as soon as possible without waiting for the Eighth Route Army to rest."
After hearing Kusuyama Hideyoshi's plan, Shinozuka Yoshio couldn't help but nod his head frequently.
Kazuki Yamamoto disagreed and said: "Your Excellency the Chief of Staff's idea is too wishful thinking."
Kusuyama Hideyoshi snorted coldly: "If you don't like my central flowering strategy, then why don't you tell me what clever tricks Yamamoto-kun has?"
At this time, Kusuyama Hideyoshi suppressed his anger and wanted to curse.
If Yamamoto Kazuki hadn't been the popular person in front of Shinozuka Yoshio, he would have slapped him away.
A big leftist actually opposes himself three times. I don't know what to say. Who gave you the courage?
Shinozuka Yoshio also looked at Yamamoto Kazuki, with a look of expectation on his face.
Yamamoto Kazuki said solemnly:
"In my opinion, before each brigade and division launches a sweep, our special team will enter the Eighth Route Bandit area, launch a fatal blow to the Eighth Route Army headquarters, and destroy its headquarters."
"The communication methods of the Eighth Route Army are very backward. Radios are only assigned to the brigade level, and communication at the regiment level can only rely on telephone lines or communication soldiers on horseback."
"As long as the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army can be destroyed, the Eighth Route Army in the bandit areas of southeastern Shanxi will be trapped in a leaderless situation, fighting on their own."
"At this time, the brigades and divisions will launch mopping up operations again, and it will be a high probability event that the main force of the Eighth Route Army will eventually be completely wiped out by our First Army."
"Does Yamamoto-kun know the specific location of the Eighth Route Headquarters?" Kusuyama Hideyoshi asked with a sneer.
"It depends on whether the intelligence department can find the location of the Eighth Route Headquarters." Yamamoto Kazuki said.
Kusuyama Hideyoshi sneered: "Yamamoto-kun can't even find a channel for Li Yunlong's assistance, let alone talk about the location of the Eighth Route Headquarters?"
"Besides, the location of the Eighth Route Army headquarters is always changing, even if the intelligence department can pinpoint the location of the Eighth Route Army headquarters."
"When Yamamoto-kun led the special team to arrive, the Eighth Route Headquarters had fled to nowhere."
"It is more reliable to behead Yan Xishan, the headquarters of China's Second War Zone, than to behead the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army."
"The failure of Operation Daxia Bay is a good proof."
"Yamamoto-kun's idea is too wishful thinking."
The last two sentences were written by Kusuyama Hideyoshi in reply to Yamamoto Kazuki's words.
Yamamoto Kazuki said no more. It was obvious that the commander was more optimistic about Kusuyama Hideyoshi's plan. No matter how much he said, it would be useless.
At this moment, communications staff officer Toshimatsu Kasai walked in quickly and said to Yoshio Shinozuka: "General, Commander Tada wants to speak to you!"
"I'll be there right away."
Yoshio Shinozuka suddenly stood up and straightened his appearance.
Walking to the door, he turned back and said to Kusuyama Hideyoshi: "Kusuyama-kun, continue to improve your central blooming operation plan, and make sure it is foolproof."
"Hi!" Kusuyama Hideyoshi paused quickly.
After Shinozuka Yoshio left, Kusuyama Hideyoshi glanced at Yamamoto Kazuki proudly.
Yamamoto Kazuki was too lazy to talk nonsense with him, and nodded slightly to Kusuyama Hideyoshi, then walked out with his command saber on his shoulder expressionlessly.
…
Independent Regiment, Yangcun.
"Captain, hehe... our county brigade has fought five battles during this period and won all of them."
"Killed more than 140 Japanese soldiers, more than 200 puppet troops, and destroyed 1 small stronghold and 3 gun towers."
"By the way, I also helped the decisive column in a blocking attack and defeated the Japanese reinforcements from Wuxiang County who rushed to aid Yushe County."
In the inner room of the regiment headquarters, Chen Dagu, captain of the county brigade, reported to Li Yunlong with a smile on his face.
"You've done a good job," Li Yunlong said in surprise, "You've won five battles in less than a month?"
Li Yunlong would not be surprised at all if Chen Dugu led the 3rd Battalion to win five battles in a month.
But the county brigade was a group of militiamen with very weak combat effectiveness, incomparable to the main force of the new regiment.
Chen Dugu said: "Although the quality of the individual soldiers in our county brigade is not very good, we are well equipped and have sufficient ammunition."
"After these several battles, the overall combat effectiveness of our county brigade has been qualitatively improved."
"Moreover, the county brigade now has more than 1,000 people. In addition to the ammunition that needs support from the regiment, we can also steal food from the Japanese and traitors."
In addition to weapons and equipment, the more than 20 company and platoon-level officers also played a big role.
Li Yunlong handed over 19 mountain artillery pieces to the division headquarters and asked for more than 20 company and platoon officers from the brigade commander, all of which were given to Chen Dugu.
Li Yunlong nodded, looking satisfied: "Okay, your boy has now lived the life of a regiment leader."
"I'm living the life of a regiment commander." Chen Dugu said with a smile, "Captain, aren't you going to live the life of a brigade commander?"
After laughing, Li Yunlong said: "I will give you Militia No. 800 again."
"You can rest assured that the weapons and ammunition will be sufficient. In addition, I will provide you with 6 more large-caliber heavy machine guns."
"The Japs' raids are about to begin. Your county brigade will not continue to recruit troops recently. Your recent tasks are mainly to enhance the combat effectiveness of the militia."
After delivering 30 tons of medicines back to Yangcun that day, Li Yunlong eagerly tried the M2 large-caliber heavy machine gun.
The power and rate of fire are both great.
If the Maxim heavy machine gun hits someone, it will leave a bloody hole.
Then this large-caliber heavy machine gun can definitely cut a person in half.
It can also be used against Japanese trucks and tanks, and its air defense is even better than the Maxim's.
Li Yunlong kept 60 large-caliber heavy machine guns for himself, and the remaining 120 large-caliber heavy machine guns and more than 1,100 guns and ammunition were all handed over to the brigade headquarters in exchange for No. 800 militiamen.
"Yes!" Chen Dugu looked slightly happy and said, "Captain!"