The Japs from four second-line divisions of the Japanese army withdrew their troops from northwestern Shanxi.
The 23rd and 25th Divisions withdrew to Taiyuan, and the 21st and 35th Divisions withdrew to Datong.
The 10th Division also withdrew from Baozi Mountain to Taiyuan, preparing to return to the outside of the pass.
This time, the Kwantung Army's 10th Division, 23rd Division and 25th Division all suffered relatively heavy losses and needed to return to the outside of the Kwantung Army to rest and recuperate.
For example, the 23rd and 25th Divisions are both second-line divisions, and their strength is relatively easy to replenish.
The 10th Division is a Category A division and has lost more than two-thirds of its combat personnel. It is difficult to replenish combat personnel and it is difficult to recover in a short period of time.
After the Japs left, the New First Regiment, the Independent Regiment and the New Second Regiment that had retreated to the Hengshan area, as well as the common people within the jurisdiction of the New First Regiment, returned to their base areas one after another.
The people in the areas under the jurisdiction of the New Second Regiment and the Independent Regiment who had retreated to northern Shaanxi gradually began to cross the river back to northwest Shanxi.
In Ping'an, Anhua and Heyuan counties, the Japanese simply did not dare to garrison troops.
Because the commander of the North China Front, Okamura Neiji, knew very well that even if a second-line division was stationed in Ping'an, Anhua and Heyuan counties, it would only be to deliver food to Li Yunlong and the new regiment.
The 36th Division is an example.
Unless one or two fully armored divisions are mobilized, the new regiment will be severely damaged.
In the county town of the New Second Regiment and the Independent Regiment defense area, the Japanese troops were stationed.
Taiyuan.
First Army Headquarters.
Looking at the real battle report casualty data sent by the North China Front, Commander Yoshio Iwamatsu fell into deep thought.
On the side, Chief of Staff Hanatani Masaru, Deputy Chief of Staff Masao Miyazaki and Major General Kazuki Yamamoto also had the same expression as Yoshio Iwamatsu.
The army of 120,000 Locust Army and Locust Alliance Army actually fought with more than 30,000 people, resulting in a casualty figure of 60,000 to 150,000.
It's totally off the mark.
The total strength of the Japanese and puppet troops and the Eighth Route Army was almost 4 to 1, and the total casualties were also 4 to 1.
Everyone's face looked a little ugly. Due to the confidentiality of the North China Front Army, they only knew the real casualty data now.
Yoshio Iwamatsu looked at Masa Hanatani, Masao Miyazaki and Kazuki Yamamoto.
He asked in a deep voice: "What do you guys think?"
"Your Excellency, Commander!" Hua Guzheng said in a deep voice, "This is not good news for our First Army!"
"Of course I know!" Iwamatsu Yoshio said, "I mean, how should our First Army deal with the Eighth Route Army in northwest Shanxi next?"
The North China Front Army Headquarters organized the attack on five divisions and 20,000 puppet troops in northwestern Shanxi, either from the Kwantung Army or directly under the North China Front Army.
This time, the losses of the attacking troops were so heavy, but the three regiments of the Northwestern Shanxi Eighth Route Army were not harmed.
With Li Yunlong's vengeful character, he will definitely vent his anger on the First Army, and I'm afraid the First Army will have a hard time by then.
Given the combat power of the New Regiment, which can fight hard and even defeat the 10th Division, the First Army may not even be able to defeat two fully-equipped divisions.
Miyazaki Masao narrowed his eyes and said: "Your Majesty Commander, how about taking advantage of the fact that the sweep of northwest Shanxi has just ended, when the new regiment should have fallen into a period of weakness, and let the 37th Division and the 41st Division attack the new regiment?
"
"With the combat effectiveness of the 37th Division and the 41st Division, even if Li Yunlong and the New Regiment are completely eliminated, their vitality will be damaged."
"So that it will not pose a threat to the First Army in a short period of time!"
The Japanese did not know that although the New Regiment defeated the 10th Division, the New Regiment still maintained a strong combat capability.
The North China Front Army Headquarters only gave the total number of casualties of the Eighth Route Army.
Several old Japanese soldiers thought that the new regiment had suffered at least several thousand casualties.
Hua Guzheng snorted coldly and retorted: "The 37th Division and the 41st Division are going to attack the New Regiment. The Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi will kill a carbine and attack Yangquan and Taiyuan. What will we do then? What will the First Army do?
More than 100,000 Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi?"
Miyazaki Masao said: "We can apply to Commander Okamura to allow the 21st and 35th Divisions directly under the Front Army to station in Taiyuan and Yangquan to resist the attack of the Eighth Route Army in Southeast Shanxi."
Hua Guzheng retorted again: "The 21st Division and the 35th Division suffered nearly 10,000 casualties. They have been fighting fiercely in northwestern Shanxi for more than half a month. How much combat power do they still have? Can they stop the attack of more than 100,000 people in southeastern Shanxi?
?”
"Why can't we stop the attack of the Eighth Route Army from Southeast Shanxi?" Masao Miyazaki said without any sign of weakness, "The commander ordered to build so many thickened reinforced concrete bunkers and gun towers around Taiyuan. As long as the Eighth Route Army from Southeast Shanxi dares to come, the locust army will
It will definitely cause the Eighth Route Army to suffer heavy losses."
Hua Guzheng said coldly: "The thickened bunkers and artillery towers in northwestern Shanxi have proven that they are completely useless against the Eighth Route Army's attack!"
"Thickening the bunkers and gun towers may not be of much use to the New Regiment, but it will definitely be useful to the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi!" Masao Miyazaki angrily yelled, "Hanagani-kun, are you questioning the commander?"
"Miyazaki-kun, you..."
Hanatani glared at Masao Miyazaki fiercely, and then looked at Yoshio Iwamatsu guiltily.
He couldn't refute this, because to refute would be to question the commander.
Masao Miyazaki, with his rank of major general, dared to confront him as the chief of staff even though he was only the deputy chief of staff. The two often quarreled in combat meetings until they became red-faced and thick-necked.
Commander Yoshio Iwamatsu did not stop him, as if he was enjoying the atmosphere.
"Yamamoto-kun, what do you think?" Yoshio Iwamatsu looked at Kazuki Yamamoto, who had been silent, and asked.
Although Yamamoto Kazuki doesn't know much about the ways of the world, he is very capable and always has his own unique insights.
This is also the reason why the previous commander Yoshio Shinozuka re-appointed Kazuki Yamamoto.
Even though Yoshio Shinozuka had doubts about Kazuki Yamamoto due to intelligence leaks, Yoshio Shinozuka later continued to choose to re-employ Kazuki Yamamoto.
Yamamoto Kazuki still had a cold and resolute expression, his eyes were sharp, and he said without any fluctuation in his tone:
"Your Excellency, Commander, the 10th Division, 23rd Division and 25th Division are about to return to Manchuria."
"At this time, the 37th Division and the 41st Division went to attack the Northwestern Shanxi Eighth Route Army."
"I'm afraid the deputy commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army Headquarters is going to burst out laughing."
Yoshio Iwamatsu asked: "What's the reason?"
Yamamoto Kazuki said: "The reason is very simple. The 37th Division and the 41st Division are definitely no match for the three regiments of the Eighth Route Army in Northwestern Shanxi. What's more, the 237th Regiment of the 41st Division is already attacking the new regiment.
The summary was crippled."
"If I were the deputy commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army headquarters, I would definitely concentrate my forces to attack Taiyuan."
"Let the three regiments of the Eighth Route Army of Northwestern Shanxi go south and seize Taiyuan, the provincial capital."
"At that time, I am afraid that only by allowing the 10th Division, 23rd Division and 25th Division to return to Shanxi can we solve the siege of Taiyuan."
"And the First Army will inevitably suffer heavy losses in this battle."
"Next, Li Yunlong will be able to do whatever he wants in Shanxi with the help of his heavy artillery and tank troops..."
After listening to Kazuki Yamamoto's analysis, Yoshio Iwamatsu couldn't help but take a breath.
To be honest, Iwamatsu Yoshio was indeed very moved when he heard what Miyazaki Masao said just now.
It is true that Li Yunlong and the New Regiment pose too great a threat to the First Army. Coupled with the main force of the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi, the First Army is now walking on thin ice.
But if we really do what Masao Miyazaki said, the First Army will probably end up with heavy losses.
After a year or two, I am afraid that the First Army will eventually be wiped out by the Eighth Route Army.
Miyazaki Masao said: "Yamamoto-kun, this won't work, and that won't work, so what do you think we should do?"
Yamamoto Kazuki said solemnly: "My suggestion is to solve the problem from the root!"
"Solve the problem fundamentally?"
Everyone was stunned.
"That's right!" Yamamoto Kazuki said, "The reason why the Eighth Route Army has developed so fast is mainly due to two aspects. On the one hand, it is their policy to closely unite the Chinese people, and on the other hand, it is Li Yunlong's aid channel."
"According to intelligence, the reason why the arsenal on Tuba Road in southeastern Shanxi has developed so quickly is because of the machinery and equipment provided by Li Yunlong's aid channel."
"As long as we start from these two aspects, destroy the relationship between the Eighth Route Army and the Chinese people, and cut off their aid channels, the Eighth Route Army will have nothing to fear."
Hanatani snorted coldly and said: "What Yamamoto-kun said is simple, how easy is it to destroy the relationship between the Eighth Route Army and the common people in China? As for cutting off Li Yunlong's aid channels, not to mention, the empire's intelligence department has been investigating for almost a year, and there are no traces of it.
No information has been received.”
Iwamatsu Yoshio glanced at Hanagani Masaru, and then looked at Yamamoto Kazuki: "Yamamoto-kun, you must have a plan in mind, right?"
Yamamoto Kazuki said: "There is a plan, but it is not mature yet."
"Yoshi!" Yoshio Iwamatsu nodded, and then looked at Masao Hanatani and Masao Miyazaki, "Please Hanatani-kun and Miyazaki-kun please go out for a while. I want to talk to Yamamoto-kun in detail."
Hanatani Masao and Miyazaki Masao were helpless, but they could only bow their heads, cheered, and then walked out without liking each other.
…
at the same time.
Northwest Shanxi.
Zhaojiayu, Houshan Shooting Range.
Since the village in Zhaojiayu had not yet been rebuilt, Li Yunlong still set up the regiment headquarters in Dagu Town.
However, the delivery location is still at the back mountain shooting range.
Ding Wei and Kong Jie were not in a hurry to return to their respective defense areas, but asked the political commissar to take the troops back. They insisted on staying to watch the Hammer of the Father.
Today is the day that Li Yunlong and Boss Chen agreed to receive the goods.
Considering that the 203 mm caliber heavy howitzer needs to be kept secret, Li Yunlong only brought a group of cadres above the first level of the battalion.
Chen Feng also arrived at Dagu Town early, and then went to the shooting range at the back of Zhaojiayu Village with Li Yunlong and others.
The artillery soldiers of the heavy artillery battalion also came out of the caves one after another, looking at it with excitement.
The artillerymen were very familiar with this scene. In the past, the 150mm howitzers and tanks were all received here. Seeing this formation, the artillerymen also understood that the regiment commander and the others must be receiving the goods again!
About half an hour passed.
Everyone heard a buzzing sound in their ears, and the battalion commanders of the regiments hurriedly raised their binoculars to look.
In the field of view of the telescope, a very large helicopter appeared from the clouds and flew straight towards this side.
The guard Huang Erhu on the side immediately fired a red flare into the sky.
After all, Boss Chen is the big boss. Isn’t it appropriate to ask Boss Chen to personally send out the flares every time?
"stop!"
As a red signal flare slowly rose into the sky, super-heavy helicopters flew towards this side. Under each super-heavy helicopter, there was a heavy howitzer, a heavy artillery tractor, or a large shell box.
.
Li Yunlong, Zhao Gang, the battalion commanders, and the artillerymen standing halfway up the mountain all brightened up when they saw this scene.
Not long after, the first super-heavy helicopter placed the first heavy-duty howitzer on the ground, and the helicopter's fan blades swept up smoke and dust from the ground.
Followed by the second heavy howitzer, the third heavy howitzer and the fourth heavy howitzer.
As well as 8 heavy artillery tractors and 8 oversized artillery shell boxes.
After all the heavy howitzers, 8 heavy artillery tractors and 8 super-large artillery shell boxes landed, the super-heavy helicopter headed for Dagu Town.
In Dagu Town, a tank battalion of conventional tanks and 13 Spitfire tanks and tank crews were waiting for Boss Chen's super-heavy helicopter to transport them to Yangcun in southeastern Shanxi.
In the battle of Miaoergou, a total of 10 B4 heavy howitzers were obtained, but 2 of the B4 heavy howitzers were replaced by 6 Satan Spitfire tanks.
Therefore, Li Yunlong earned a total of 8 B4 heavy howitzers, 4 of which were handed over to the headquarters, and Boss Chen would arrange for super-heavy helicopters to be sent directly to Yangcun.
Everyone present in the New Regiment looked at the four B4 heavy howitzers in the middle of the shooting range, and their eyes gradually lit up.
The barrel of this gun is so thick, the caliber is so large, and it has tracks. It looks like a heavy gun at first glance.
I just don’t know... how powerful is it?
Wang Chengzhu, commander of the 1st Artillery Battalion, Li Changsheng, commander of the 2nd Artillery Battalion, and Yao Shangwen, commander of the Heavy Artillery Battalion, looked at the heavy howitzer in front of them, and their eyes almost bulged out.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! The uninformed infantry battalion commanders also looked shocked.
"This time it's a heavy-duty howitzer, called Father's Hammer, with a caliber of 203 mm and a weight of 16 tons!"
Looking at the artillery battalion commander and infantry battalion commander with shocked eyes, Li Yunlong announced the performance data with a proud expression.
Just hearing the weight of 16 tons, everyone subconsciously frowned slightly.
too heavy!
The 150mm howitzer currently equipped by the new regiment is only 55 tons, and the weight of this father's hammer is actually three times that of the 150mm howitzer?!
I'm afraid the Jiefang truck can't pull it, right?
Immediately, everyone looked at the truck on the side.
This should be the tractor that tows the heavy howitzer, right?
However, this tractor is a bit strange, because the upper part is the same as a truck, but the lower part is not equipped with rubber tires, but with tracks similar to those of a tank.
Chen Feng naturally saw the change in everyone's expressions and said: "This is a 400-horsepower heavy-duty artillery tractor with a 12-cylinder diesel engine. The running gear adopts rear driving wheels and small-diameter road wheels in a group of 4 pairs. It is specially designed for
Designed for towing heavy howitzers, it has a traction capacity of 22 tons on flat ground and 18 tons on mountainous terrain. The vehicle also has a winch and a 30-meter cable with a diameter of 23 mm, so it has the function of a certain engineering vehicle and can be used to rescue trapped tanks or tanks.
Vehicle rescue, this function is very important for tractors, because heavy howitzers such as B4 have a high center of gravity, and if they fall over during the towing process, the tractor can perform rescue operations on its own."
"It can be used to tow artillery or carry artillery or a certain amount of ammunition."
When everyone heard this, their expressions changed, and their eyes lit up again.