The officers from the original First Army Headquarters naturally knew about the new weapons equipped with large speakers on the Eighth Route Army.
However, during the Eighth Route Attack, almost all the information had been burned.
Most of the new batch of officers in the headquarters were transferred from the mainland and did not know about this yet.
"Can this thing destroy reinforced concrete turrets and bunkers?"
"Isn't it a homemade cannon made by the Eighth Route Army?"
Hanatani, chief of staff of the First Army, was skeptical.
Reinforced concrete turrets and bunkers are very strong, and are definitely not comparable to masonry bunkers and turrets.
And this kind of seemingly crude weapon can destroy reinforced concrete turrets and bunkers?
"This weapon is very powerful."
The speaker was Major General Masao Miyazaki, the deputy chief of staff. His eyes were sinister and his face was gloomy.
The officers looked at him, and Masao Miyazaki continued: "At Baozi Mountain, the troops of the New Regiment used this weapon. In just one encounter, all my tank squadrons were destroyed by this weapon."
At first, Masao Miyazaki used an artillery scope to observe the battlefield, so he could see it more clearly.
That kind of weapon is so powerful that it can explode into a large area, comparable to the power of a 10mm howitzer.
Kazuki Yamamoto then said: "In the Zaoyi battle a year ago, the 17th Tank Regiment of the Mongolian Army went south for reinforcements and was ambushed by the New Regiment of the Eighth Route Army at Hulugou on the Tongpu Highway. More than 0 tanks were used by the entire army.
According to the post-war investigation, the new regiment used exactly this kind of large trumpet weapon."
Among them, the Japanese officers who didn't know the inside story couldn't help but take a breath of cold air.
A chariot regiment on the Chinese battlefield, which could be said to be capable of walking sideways, was actually completely annihilated?
It's so outrageous.
Now the Japanese officers finally believed that the power of the loudspeaker weapon used by the Eighth Route Army was indeed terrifying.
Looking at Yamamoto Kazuki, Hanatani said reproachfully:
"The Eighth Route Army has such powerful weapons, why didn't Mr. Yamamoto tell him earlier?"
"If I had known this, there would have been no need to spend money building fortifications of bunkers and gun towers around the New Regiment bandit area."
"Now not only has the imperial army lost more than a thousand people, but it may also lead to the failure of the blockade of the new regiment."
As soon as these words came out, Yoshio Iwamatsu also looked at Kazuki Yamamoto, his eyes somewhat dissatisfied.
When Yamamoto Kazuki came up with the drawings, not only was he not praised, but he might have become the scapegoat.
But Yamamoto Kazuki's tone did not fluctuate at all: "Before this, I did not expect that this weapon was so powerful that it could penetrate reinforced concrete fortifications."
Lieutenant General Shimizu suddenly spoke: "What if the movement of the 36th Division last night was the work of a 10mm howitzer?"
He still didn't quite believe that such a simple-looking thing could destroy a solid reinforced concrete fortification, comparable to a 10mm howitzer?
You must know that a 10mm howitzer requires 8 artillerymen and a lot of logistics to be effective.
And this thing can be played by up to two people.
Yoshio Iwamatsu said solemnly: "Whether it is a 10-meter howitzer or a large trumpet weapon, what is needed now is countermeasures, countermeasures."
On the words "countermeasures", his voice rose and his tone was coldly emphasized.
At present, the main forces of the First Army include the 33rd Division, the 36th Division, the 37th Division, the 41st Division, the 14th Brigade, the 18th Brigade, the 3rd Brigade, etc.
The 1st and 3rd Divisions directly under the North China Front and the 4th Cavalry Brigade of the Mongolian Army have left Shanxi.
However, Momoyo Naganomura of the Guards Division and Hideyoshi Kusuyama, commander of the 37th Division, were dismissed due to combat defeats.
The division headquarters of the Guards Division was withdrawn to Japan, and the 37th Guards Division and the 37th Division were combined. The remaining forces of the two divisions were combined to form the new 37th Division. The division commander was Adachi 23rd
, currently stationed in Yangquan.
Currently, the 41st Division and the 1st Cavalry Brigade of the Mongolian Army are stationed in Taiyuan.
The 33rd Division is still stationed in the Zhongtiao Mountain area to prevent the Central Army from crossing the Yellow River north to retake Zhongtiao Mountain.
The 36th Division blocked the new regiment in northwest Shanxi.
The 14th Brigade and the 18th Brigade were on guard against the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi along the Baijin Line.
The First Army seemed to have a lot of troops, but Yoshio Iwamatsu felt that the troops were not enough.
Thinking of Li Yunlong, Iwamatsu Yoshio had a headache.
Just to defend against Li Yunlong's new regiment, an entire division of the First Army had to be mobilized.
It would be fine if he could prevent it, but the key was that it was impossible to prevent him. Yoshio Iwamatsu felt as uncomfortable as swallowing a fly.
"General!"
Yamamoto Kazuki said solemnly: "Now that things have happened, either the 36th Division must shrink its defenses or build stronger permanent defenses!"
Hanatani snorted coldly and said: "Yamamoto-kun said it is light and easy. How much building materials are needed for such a large area?"
"I suggest." Then, Hua Guzheng said with a stern look, "The 41st Division, the 1st Cavalry Brigade, immediately launch a raid on the bandit area of the New Regiment, and cooperate with the 36th Division to completely eliminate the New Regiment!"
"I don't believe that two elite divisions of the imperial army, plus a cavalry brigade, cannot wipe out the more than 10,000 people of the new regiment."
"Even if they can't be wiped out all of them, they can still be severely damaged, making them unable to make waves in a short period of time."
Hua Gu is a brave and foolhardy person.
When he planned the September 18th Incident with Doihara Kenji, Itagaki Seishiro, and Ishihara Kanji, he was judged to have failed.
Nowadays, Itagaki and others are all at the rank of lieutenant general at worst, and he is still just a major general with no real power.
"Have you ever thought about it, Mr. Huagu?" Qingshui said politely: "The 41st Division and the 1st Cavalry Brigade have just gone to northwest Shanxi, and the main force of the 100,000 Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi will immediately go north to attack Taiyuan. The 14th Brigade and the
The 18th Brigade may not be able to withstand the 100,000 main force of the Eighth Route Army, and by then we will have to follow in the footsteps of Lieutenant General Yoshio Shinozuka."
"Besides, we don't have enough supplies to clear out the new regiment's base area."
Qingshui Rules added another sentence.
"Then according to General Qingshui, what should we do?"
Hua Guzheng did not refute, but asked in a deep voice.
Because he knew that Qingshui Rules was telling the truth. This was the genius of the Eighth Route Army Headquarters. It could be said to be a conspiracy.
Regardless of whether the First Army attacks southeastern Shanxi or northwest Shanxi, the Eighth Route Army in the other direction can threaten Taiyuan.
Now we can only increase troops and mobilize supplies to launch a raid on the Eighth Route Army base areas, and it is impossible to increase troops and mobilize supplies in a short time.
"The 36th Division cannot shrink its defenses and can only follow Yamamoto-kun's method and build stronger fortifications!"
Qing Shui said politely: "Because once the 36th Division shrinks its defenses, it will be invaded by a new group in the county. At that time, no supplies can enter the county unless airdropped, but the airdropped supplies are not enough to maintain the 36th Division."
36th Division, when the 36th Division becomes extremely weak, the new regiment will be able to annihilate the 36th Division without any effort!"
Following Qing Shui's regular thoughts, the expressions of all the officers changed.
They all know that Li Yunlong is like an old wolf with bared teeth. If the 36th Division shrinks into the county, there is a high probability that the situation will develop in the direction stated by Qingshui's rules.
If that really happens, things will go terribly wrong.
Yoshio Iwamatsu took a deep breath and said in a solemn voice: "Build a stronger fortress around the new regiment base area!"
Not just a third of the fortifications were destroyed overnight.
The new regiment has only arrived in northwestern Shanxi for more than a month, and there are already thousands more people.
The speed at which the Eighth Route Army developed its forces really frightened Yoshio Iwamatsu.
And this commander was Li Yunlong, who was notorious to the Japanese army.
According to intelligence, when the new regiment first arrived in northwestern Shanxi, there were only a few thousand people, but now there are more than 10,000 people, which has doubled.
If we let it continue to develop, what's the point?
Although building a stronger fortress will cost a lot of steel and concrete materials, it can still be built by concentrating the resources of the entire North China and gritting one's teeth.
"Hi!" All the Japanese officers nodded in unison.
…
The time soon came to midnight.
The new regiment launched another attack on the Japanese blockade at night.
Those who were building turrets were building turrets, those who were building blockhouses were building blockhouses, and those who were filling trenches were filling trenches. All the units of the new regiment were very busy.
The Japanese did not dare to shrink their troops and retreat to the county town.
Just as Qingshui's rules say, once the troops are reduced, the 36th Division will be massacred by the new regiment and trapped in the county.
In fact, in the later stages of the Anti-Japanese War, many county towns and strongholds were captured by the Eighth Route Army.
Some Japanese were so hungry that they could only trade weapons and ammunition with the Eighth Route Army for food.
But if we don't shrink our troops, we will have no choice but to be passively beaten in bunkers and gun towers.
The Japanese slept during the day and stayed up at night to guard against sneak attacks by the Eighth Route Army. They also placed booby traps and hidden sentries around the bunkers and gun towers.
However, in the face of absolute strength, all fancy methods are in vain.
After fierce fighting in the middle of the night, the new regiment took down more than 70 Japanese bunkers and Japanese artillery towers.
After two consecutive nights of sneak attacks, Li Yunlong ordered a halt. On the one hand, he let all the troops rest and recuperate, sum up combat experience, and on the other hand, he waited to see how the Japanese would react.
If the Japanese don't take some measures, the new regiment will take down the remaining bunkers and gun towers and kill the Japanese.
Another 1,000 Japs were killed overnight. The 36th Division lost almost one regiment, leaving the combat force with almost only one regiment more strength.
The new regiment has more than 10,000 people, and has great advantages in strength and weapons and equipment.
However, Li Yunlong did not want to attack the city yet. There were still more than 10,000 people in the 36th Division, and the cost of street fighting was too high.
"In last night's battle, 76 of our troops died and 167 were injured, including 48 seriously injured."
At the regiment headquarters, Wang Dehou reported to Li Yunlong.
This time the Japanese were somewhat prepared, and they destroyed fewer bunkers and gun towers. The casualties of the new regiment were slightly higher than those on the first night.
However, for the New Regiment with more than 10,000 people, the 400 casualties in two nights of fighting were just a scratch. The 36th Division suffered more than 1,000 casualties in two nights, which was a bit of a scratch.
Li Yunlong nodded: "After two nights of fighting, the combat effectiveness of the new recruits in each division will be qualitatively improved!"
"Yes!" said Zhao Gang on the side, "Actual combat is the best training!"
After a pause, Zhao Gang asked: "Do the weapons and ammunition earned this time need to be handed over to the headquarters?"