Seeing the downed Japanese plane, the soldiers of the machine gun battalion and the air defense battalion suddenly cheered.
The commander of the air defense battalion, He Jie, also grinned and felt happy.
He was originally the battalion commander of the machine gun battalion. He had long commanded the machine gun battalion to fight against Japanese aircraft and had rich experience in air defense.
Therefore, after Li Yunlong established the air defense battalion, he directly appointed He Jie as the battalion commander of the air defense battalion. The former deputy battalion commander of the machine gun battalion was promoted to the battalion commander of the machine gun battalion.
The Japanese reconnaissance plane flew over for the first time from an altitude of 1,000 meters. He Jie remained calm and did not give the order to fire.
Although it was within the range of the anti-aircraft gun, at this height, the soldiers of the air defense battalion operated the 37mm anti-aircraft gun in actual combat for the first time.
He Jie was not sure whether he could shoot down the Japanese plane.
The 10mm howitzer was placed on the side of the road without any concealment, acting as a bait to attract Japanese reconnaissance planes.
The Japanese pilot was indeed fooled and lowered his altitude and flew down towards the 10mm heavy gun.
To He Jie's expectation, the Japanese reconnaissance plane did not swoop down to blast heavy artillery, but rather lowered its altitude to see more clearly.
However, when the Japanese reconnaissance aircraft descended to an altitude of 1,000 meters, the 0mm machine gun and 37mm anti-aircraft gun were completely within reach.
The Japanese reconnaissance plane was on guard, but not much. The moment the Japanese plane pulled up, He Jie decisively gave the order to fire.
It only took a few seconds to shoot down the Japanese reconnaissance plane.
He Jie admitted that he was gambling, but he was right.
If the Japanese reconnaissance plane did not turn back, the opportunity to shoot it down would be missed.
Seeing the downed Japanese plane, the attacking soldiers' morale was immediately boosted. Taking advantage of the smoke bombs to obscure the sight of the Japanese machine gunners, they covered the flamethrowers and came to the front of the Japanese artillery tower.
Two fire dragons made of napalm sprayed into the gun tower, and the screams of the Japanese were heard.
Soon, another group of Japs were roasted, and the gun tower was captured by a new regiment of soldiers.
In the field of view of the telescope, I watched the Japanese reconnaissance plane be shot down and the gun towers were successfully taken down. The attacking soldiers suffered very few casualties.
Commander Li showed a satisfied smile: "Well done, pass on my order and continue to attack forward."
So far, everything has gone as planned and developed according to the predetermined plan.
It was even smoother than expected.
In Li Yunlong's battle plan, it would take at least a whole day to dismantle these thickened gun towers and bunkers.
Now it seems that even these thickened bunkers and gun towers that the Japanese spent a lot of effort to build are vulnerable to a single blow.
It was the interspersed encirclement of small groups of troops that not only surrounded the Japanese, but also implemented the concealment of battlefield information.
Li Yunlong looked toward the sky in the southeastern direction of Shanxi.
At this time, the main army led by the division commander and brigade commander should have already begun to take action, right?
There is also the Central Army on the south bank of the Yellow River, which is expected to start crossing the river. This time it can be regarded as creating an opportunity for the Eighth Route Army to recapture Zhongtiao Mountain.
I'll give you a chance, it's up to you whether you succeed or not.
…
Baijin Line.
The Eighth Route Army's marching team marched on the road with no end in sight.
38 big cover, Type 92 heavy machine gun, Crooked light machine gun, Czech light machine gun, Maxim heavy machine gun, Civilian 4 heavy machine gun, and even Bazooka and M large-caliber heavy machine guns, mountain cannons, howitzers and anti-aircraft guns
Equal weight firepower.
Although the equipment of the troops is relatively complex, some soldiers also carry machetes on their backs.
But except for the artillerymen, almost every soldier was equipped with a gun and a row of grenades hanging from his waist.
Ammunition is sufficient and logistics are guaranteed.
"Report to division commander, urgent call!"
Commander Liu was standing on a hill, looking at the map and observing the terrain.
This is an old habit of the teacher. Whenever he goes to a place, he is used to looking at the terrain there.
A war operations staff officer trotted over with a telegram in his hand.
"Read it!" the teacher said without looking back.
"Yes!" the combat staff officer picked up the telegram and read out, "The main forces of the Japanese 14th Brigade and 18th Brigade have been transferred from the Baijin Line to Taiyuan."
It looks like there is a brigade, but in fact there are only three regiments.
Because during the Japanese army's spring raids on the base areas in southeastern Shanxi, the 36th Regiment of the Japanese 14th Brigade was wiped out by the boss himself.
The Japanese army added some more troops and changed the designation of the 14th Brigade to the 14th Composite Brigade.
Including the two regiments of the 18th Brigade, the total strength is about 10,000, stationed along the Baijin Line.
This time, the division commander's mission was to march north along the Baijin Line to threaten Taiyuan, bringing a total force of 60,000 people, including 4 artillery regiments and several 10mm heavy artillery.
Including the militia transport team responsible for logistics, the total strength reached 80,000.
In addition, the brigade commander led the main force of the 386th Brigade and the Taiyue Military Region, about 30,000 people, and headed north along the Yuliao Highway to threaten the Zhengtai Road.
The 386th Brigade has four artillery regiments, two artillery regiments are directly under the brigade headquarters, and the other two artillery regiments are located in Ding Wei and Kong Jie in northwest Shanxi.
However, the 386th Brigade, equipped with one heavy artillery, dozens of 10-mm howitzers, and dozens of 7mm mountain guns, had no problem dealing with the 37th Division.
Another 10,000-odd main force of the Eighth Route Army guarded the home.
In addition, troops from other military regions will also launch some operations against the Japanese to coordinate the main summer offensive of the 19th Division.
The Japanese army deployed two brigades on the Baijin Line and built some defensive lines. The large army could not advance covertly like last time.
Therefore, the division commander directly ordered the troops to march along the main body during the day.
The main thing is deterrence.
This time the division commander led the main force north to attack Taiyuan. When the fake is true, the true is also false, and when the true is false, the false is also true. It can be true or false.
"It slipped away so quickly?"
The division commander pushed up his glasses and sounded slightly disappointed. He still wanted to attack the defense lines of the two Japanese brigades.
The four artillery regiments fired dozens of volleys at the Japanese defense line, allowing the Japanese to have a taste of being bombarded and feel the fear of insufficient firepower.
As for the artillery shells...as long as you can get it from Li Yunlong, will there still be a shortage of artillery shells?
Just then, there was a buzzing sound in the sky, and the Japanese plane arrived.
"Chief, the Japanese plane is coming, take cover quickly!"
The guard on the side said quickly.
The division commander raised his telescope and looked in the direction of the roar. When he saw just one plane, he said, "Why are you panicking? Send the order and set up the anti-aircraft guns and machine guns. Once the Japanese plane approaches, fire immediately!"
"Yes!" The combat staff officer immediately picked up the walkie-talkie and called the order.
As the order was issued, the soldiers of the machine gun unit and the air defense unit immediately got things started.
However, the Japanese reconnaissance plane also knew that the Eighth Route Army had anti-aircraft firepower. It flew high and far and did not dare to get close. It circled in the sky for a few times and then flew away.
After the Japanese reconnaissance plane left, the large force continued to advance, and soon encountered the Japanese defense line.
However, since the main force of the Japs had been transferred away, leaving only a small number of Japs and puppet troops, it didn't take long for the Eighth Route Army to break through the position.
…
The Japanese pilot immediately reported what he saw to the communications room of the North China Front Army Headquarters.
The communications room of the North China Front Army Headquarters conveyed the situation to the communications room of the First Army Headquarters.
Taiyuan, First Army Headquarters.
"Your Excellency, Commander!" the communications staff officer quickly walked up to Yoshio Iwamatsu and reported immediately, "I have just received information from the communications room of the North China Front that reconnaissance planes have discovered the main force of the Eighth Route Army on both Baijin Road and Yuliao Highway.
Going north along the road, the main force of the Eighth Route Army on the Baijin Line is no less than 10,000 people, and the main force of the Eighth Route Army on the Yuliao Highway is no less than 30,000 people."
Iwamatsu Yoshio suddenly turned his head and said in a deep voice: "The main force of the Eighth Route Army has indeed gone north!"
Although I had already guessed that the main force of the Eighth Route Army would go north to attack Taiyuan and Zhengtai Railway.
But after hearing the news, the Japanese officers were still shocked.
It has only been a month since the last Eighth Route Army made a big move. The Eighth Route Army actually dared to organize such a large offensive. Does Tubal Road have such strong logistics?
Is this a bluff, or do you want to kill the First Army in one wave?
All the Japanese officers were frightened, and they were very frightened. The last time the Eighth Route Army went north, they really captured Taiyuan. The Eighth Route Army did not play tricks, they really dared to do it.
The headquarters of the First Army fell into silence and silence, and no one spoke for a while.
First, they received intelligence that the Central Army and the Eighth Route Army were about to move, and then Li Yunlong began to jump out to stir up trouble, and then the main force of the Eighth Route Army was indeed dispatched.
Needless to say, the Central Army in Henan Province on the south bank of the Yellow River will probably start taking action.
Taking a breath, Yoshio Iwamatsu asked: "Is the Chinese Army going to have a decisive battle with the First Army of the Imperial Japanese Army?"
Miyazaki Masao and Hanatani Masao were at a loss for words, and all the combat staff did not dare to speak. The current development of the situation was somewhat unexpected.
Miyazaki Masao looked at communications staff officer Takeo Nakamura and asked in a deep voice: "Nakamura-kun, why is there only information about southeastern Shanxi and no information about northwestern Shanxi?"
Nakamura Takeo immediately reported: "The reconnaissance plane heading to northwest Shanxi discovered that many Eighth Route Army troops were encircling the blockade. The observers reported that they suspected that the Eighth Route Army was equipped with large-caliber heavy artillery. The reconnaissance plane lowered its altitude to take pictures. Then the reconnaissance plane lost contact with the North China Front Army's communications room.
The contact was probably shot down by the Eighth Route Army."
"Nani?" Iwamatsu Yoshio suddenly turned his head and said in a deep voice: "What did you say? Large-caliber heavy artillery?"
Next to them, Hanatani Masaru and Miyazaki Masao also cast incredibly shocked looks.
Equipped with large-caliber heavy artillery? This is simply unimaginable. The entire Japanese First Army is not equipped with large-caliber heavy artillery. The largest caliber is 10 mm.
It is no secret that the Eighth Route Army is equipped with 10mm howitzers. When attacking Taiyuan, the main artillery used by the Eighth Route Army was the 10mm howitzer.
The large-caliber heavy artillery mentioned here is probably a heavy artillery with a larger caliber than 10 mm, such as 10 mm.
"Maybe the observers saw it wrong." Hua Guzheng said doubtfully, "Li Yunlong's troops have been under the blockade of the 36th Division. Where did they get the large-caliber heavy artillery?"
"What Mr. Hanatani said makes sense." Miyazaki Masao agreed, "Maybe the observers regarded the 10-mm howitzer as a large-caliber heavy artillery."
Taking a deep breath, Yoshio Iwamatsu said: "Whether the observers are wrong or not, immediately convey this situation to the 36th Division and order Lieutenant General Iseki Ren to strengthen the 36th Division's defense!"
"Hi!" Nakamura Takeo paused, turned around and walked out with his feet together.
