Chapter 573 Dont give the Japanese a chance to breathe!
After only thinking for a moment, Okamura Neji made up his mind to continue fighting this battle.
Withdrawing troops at this time would not be done halfway.
More than 100,000 troops and 3 battle supplies were dispatched, but they retreated in the middle of the battle. Only a few pieces of the Eighth Route Army in northwest Shanxi were injured. How could Neji Okamura survive in the future?
How to face His Majesty Tian Locust and Prime Minister Tojo?
Youmo Jingsan asked tentatively: "Commander, do you mean... to end this mopping up operation?"
"Of course it can't end!"
Okamura Neiji said decisively: "At this point, the Locust Army still has a chance of winning!"
Youmo Jingsan's expression changed and he asked: "Commander, please give me some instructions!"
Okamura Neiji said: "Judging from the current battle situation, the mopping up operation plan in northwestern Shanxi has not been leaked. The reason why the attack did not go smoothly is because the assessment of the three regiments of the Eighth Route in northwestern Shanxi was insufficient. The Eighth Route was large-scale
Tunnel tactics were used, thickened bunkers were built, and intelligence from the Heavy Artillery Regiment and the 3rd Infantry Regiment was leaked."
Okamura Neji almost said the last sentence through gritted teeth.
No matter how careful they were, the 3rd Heavy Artillery Regiment and the 3rd Infantry Regiment were still completely annihilated by the Eighth Route Army, and 30 heavy artillery pieces were destroyed.
Even the Locust knew about this.
This time, the North China Front Army was greatly embarrassed. Okamura Neji often felt that his face was burning, it was simply humiliating.
】
Youmo Jingsan said in an extremely surprised tone: "The Eighth Route Army did not receive any information from the Locust Army about its battle plan in northwest Shanxi?"
"Um?"
"Does anyone think that the Eighth Route Army should receive information about the battle plan in northwest Shanxi?"
Okamura Neji, who was already suspicious, heard Sue Seizan's words. His face sank slightly and his eyes narrowed slightly!
When Okamura Neji heard Sue Seizan's words, it sounded like he had sent information to the Eighth Route Army, but the Eighth Route Army had not received it?
"Your Excellency, Commander, what I mean is that we can get information about the fishing plan of the Eighth Route Company, General Miyano, and even the heavy artillery convoy. Why can't we get the mopping up operation plan in northwest Shanxi?"
Yusue Seizan hurriedly explained, regretting that he had just said the wrong thing. If Okamura Neji cared about it, just by saying this, he would have to go to the special high school to drink tea.
However, contrary to Sue Seizan's expectations, Okamura Neji didn't care too much.
Okamura Neiji continued: "Put aside the intelligence matters for now. Let's continue the topic just now. Now the new regiment has launched a counterattack against the 10th Division. As long as the 10th Division can hold the defense line, the Locust Army will return.
There is a chance of winning!”
"But the problem now is." Youmo said worriedly, "I'm afraid that the 10th Division can't stop the new regiment's attack."
"Five days!" Neji Okamura looked at the map and said with certainty, "The 10th Division only needs to hold on for five days. The other four second-line divisions will definitely be able to form an encirclement situation against the new regiment!"
After a pause, Okamura Neiji gave another firm order: "Arima-kun, immediately order the 11th Independent Infantry Regiment of the 6th Division to defend Datong, and reinforce the 10th Division as quickly as possible!"
The 11th Independent Infantry Regiment was originally a reserve unit left by Okamura Neji for the 10th Division, but I didn't expect it to be used so soon.
At this time, Okamura Neiji has no cards to play. It depends on whether the 10th Division can block the new regiment's counterattack after the 11th Independent Infantry Regiment is added to the 10th Division.
Youmo Jingsan was stunned for a moment. Your Excellency, the Commander, was making a desperate move. Even the 11th Independent Infantry Regiment guarding the Datong Material Warehouse had to be transferred to northwest Shanxi. However, he could only nodded helplessly: "Hi!"
If there is only one remnant of the 3rd Brigade left in Datong.
The Eighth Route Army that ambushed the heavy artillery convoy in Miaoergou took advantage of the departure of the 11th Independent Infantry Regiment to besiege Datong, which would put Datong and the supplies hoarded in Datong in danger.
Youmo Seishi drafted a telegram, handed it to Okamura Neiji for signature, and immediately asked the Ministry of Communications to send out the contents of the telegram.
Watching Yusue Seizan leave, Okamura Neji turned around and stared at the map on the wall.
The old devil felt the pressure.
The Mongolian Army Garrison also belongs to the North China Front and mainly fights against Fu Zuoyi's Sui Army. The 1st Cavalry Brigade belonging to the Mongolian Army Garrison is still in Taiyuan, so the Mongolian Army Garrison cannot spare many troops to reinforce the battlefield in northwest Shanxi.
Fu Zuoyi was an extremely difficult person and had always had a good relationship with the Eighth Route Army. The Sui Army under his command was known as the Seven and a Half Route Army.
Too many troops have been transferred from the Mongolian Army. Fu Zuoyi will definitely seize the opportunity to launch an offensive against the Mongolian Army. At that time, the situation will be even worse.
If the situation is not conducive to the Locust Army, then Yan Xishan's Jinsui Army and Wei Lihuang's Central Army are likely to attack the Locust Army.
The main force of the Eighth Route Army of the 19th Division in southeastern Shanxi has more than 100,000 troops in the Taigu, Qixian and Yangquan areas. If a war breaks out in central Shanxi at this time, the First Army will probably be defeated.
It's all this damn Li Yunlong's fault!
If it weren't for Li Yunlong and his new group, how could the situation in North China have deteriorated to such an extent?
Even if the 10th Division and four second-line divisions are dispatched, will it still be difficult to eliminate Li Yunlong?
How many locust troops must be dispatched to defeat the new group and kill Li Yunlong?
Okamura Neiji vowed that one day he would cut off Li Yunlong’s head and put it on his desk as a specimen!
…
The battle between the New Regiment and the Japanese 10th Division continued until early morning.
During this period, the soldiers of the New Regiment captured Japanese positions many times and voluntarily withdrew from their positions many times.
This night was the most difficult night for the infantry regiment and puppet troops of the 10th Division since the attack.
In the past, it was the Japanese troops who were attacking, but this night, the attack and defense were in different positions.
The New Regiment's offensive was several times more intense than the Japanese and puppet troops imagined. There were no tunnels to protect the infantry, and the heavy artillery and high-explosive grenades of the New Regiment simply could not be withstood by the civil fortifications and trenches.
In the repeated battles for position.
Although the position was still in the hands of the Japanese and puppet troops, the Japanese and puppet troops suffered heavy casualties.
Because once the Japanese and puppet troops enter the position, they will immediately be attacked by artillery groups.
As the sky grew brighter, the new regiment stopped their offensive, and the battlefield fell into a deathly silence. Soldiers don't like silence.
Because the silence on the battlefield heralded greater danger, both the Japanese and the puppet troops knew that the new regiment must be preparing a more ferocious attack.
Heyuan County.
Ishikawa Jiro and Tanabe Moritake looked at the casualty figures submitted by each brigade and regiment, and fell into deep thought.
Both of them knew that the Eighth Route Army's offensive on the first day would be fierce, but they did not expect it to be so violent.
Just from the fighting from 1 o'clock last night to early morning, the Japanese army's various regiments lost more than 1,600 troops, the puppet army lost more than 1,000 troops, and the total casualties exceeded 600.
"The main reason is that the artillery firepower of the Eighth Route Army is very fierce."
Chief of Staff Ryoichi Asada said: "Whether it is a squad or a squadron of the Locust Army entering the position, they will be immediately attacked by the Eighth Route Artillery Group. After the bombardment is over, the Eighth Route Tanks will carry out precise artillery fire on the Locust Army's firepower points.
The infantrymen of the Eighth Route Army took the opportunity to occupy the position, and when the Locust Army reinforcements arrived, the Infantrymen of the Eighth Route Army withdrew from the position and called for artillery reinforcements again. This cycle caused a large number of casualties to the Locust Army!"
"idiot!"
Ishikawa Jiro suddenly shouted angrily, picked up the teacup on the table, and threw it to the ground angrily.
The teacup suddenly broke into pieces with a clanking sound, and the tea spilled all over the floor.
In just a midnight battle, the Locust Army soldiers suffered so many casualties. In a few more nights, wouldn't the 10th Division be completely wiped out?
Tanabe Moritake was also speechless. He had been on the battlefield for half his life and had never seen such shameless tactics as the Eighth Route Army.
Occupying a position but not holding it, instead voluntarily giving up and calling for artillery support?
Tanabe Moritake looked at Asada Ryoichi and asked: "How many tunnels did the engineering regiment dig around the thickened bunkers and gun towers?"
Now if the 10th Division wants to defend against the New Regiment's attack, it can only rely on the New Regiment's tunnel tactics.
For the 10th Division, there was nothing that could be done about it. The Eighth Route New Regiment did not have much entanglement with the 10th Division, and there were even very few hand-to-hand combats. Once they found difficulties in advancing, they immediately called for artillery fire coverage.
There seemed to be no end to the artillery shells, plowing up the positions of the Japanese and puppet troops over and over again, making it impossible for even the rats, snakes and insects in the ground to survive.
Asada Liangyi said: "The 10th Engineer Regiment has dug some tunnels and built civil fortifications around more than 30 thickened bunkers and gun towers. However, these tunnels are still relatively shallow and need to continue to be dug."
The Japanese engineer regiment also suffered losses in the battles of the past few days.
However, the Japanese's 10th Engineer Regiment was of high quality, and they did dig some tunnels through overnight soil work.
"Order!"
"The soldiers on the first line of defense retreated in full. On the second line of defense, all the engineers immediately gave up the dug tunnels and continued to dig tunnels around the bunker along the road!"
Tanabe Moritake ordered Ishikawa Jiro. He knew very well that if he continued to struggle at the first line of defense, the 10th Division would suffer even greater casualties.
Now the Engineer Regiment has dug some tunnels. Even if they are relatively shallow, they will eventually allow the infantry to avoid artillery shells from all directions.
Ishikawa Jiro looked at Asada Ryoichi, who suddenly said: "Hi!"
…
After dawn, news about the Japanese positions was also transmitted to the new regiment headquarters.
Knowing that the Japanese were also digging tunnels, Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang were a little lucky. Fortunately, they attacked early. Otherwise, they would have been in trouble if they had to dig the tunnels before attacking.
Li Yunlong guessed that the Japanese engineers would definitely continue to dig tunnels in the second line of defense.
Therefore, Li Yunlong ordered the soldiers to take a short rest and continue the all-out attack on the 10th Division without giving the Japanese a chance to breathe!