Okamura Neiji nodded. This was related to the life and death of the First Army. This kind of thing would rather be believed than not.
Moreover, the intelligence of the senior agent Pangolin is still credible.
"Tanabe-kun, immediately order the 1st Army to prepare for battle!"
"Order the 21st and 35th Divisions and the 4th Cavalry Brigade to assemble and stand ready to reinforce the First Army at any time!"
Okamura Neji narrowed his eyes.
He knew that the Eighth Route Army would launch a major counterattack, but he did not expect that the Eighth Route Army's major counterattack would come so quickly and suddenly.
Fortunately, there is a senior agent Pangolin lurking in the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army. Otherwise, it is likely that the North China Front Army Headquarters will not receive the news until the main force of the Eighth Route Army surrounds Taiyuan.
At that time, the First Army had no time to prepare or react.
The situation will be even worse.
This time, the intelligence sent by the senior agent Pangolin, even if it is false, can be regarded as an exercise for the First Army.
If it is true, then the value of this information is great.
The 21st Division and the 35th Division are units directly under the North China Front and participated in the last attack on northwest Shanxi.
During the offensive battle, these two divisions suffered heavy losses. However, they have now replenished their troops and their strength has been restored, but their combat effectiveness has been reduced.
The 4th Cavalry Brigade was formerly stationed in Shangqiu, Henan Province, but was later transferred to Hebei area to mainly deal with the cavalry regiment of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army.
This time, Okamura Neiji planned to transfer the 4th Cavalry Brigade to reinforce the First Army.
"Hi!"
Tanabe Moritake suddenly lowered his head, then took some paper and pen and quickly drafted several telegrams.
After Okamura Neiji read the contents of the telegram, he signed his name and handed it to a combat staff officer, who walked out with the telegram.
"Your Excellency, General!" Youmo Jingsan said: "If this information is true, then the main force of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi and other so-called base areas in North China should also take action."
"Except for the New Regiment, the most noteworthy one is the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army. The main force of the 129th Division is likely to go north together with the New Regiment to attack Taiyuan from both sides."
Okamura Neiji nodded: "Arimatsu-kun is right, Tanabe-kun!"
Tanabe Moritake straightened up.
Okamura Neiji: "Immediately order the intelligence department to collect intelligence about the 129th Division. If any abnormality is discovered, report it to the headquarters immediately!"
"Hi!"
Tanabe Moritake lowered his head and quickly drafted a telegram.
The Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi also did an excellent job in counterintelligence, but there were still Japanese agents and spies who had not been discovered.
after all.
The head of the headquarters does not have external intelligence support and technical assistance like Li Yunlong.
But even so, the Japanese spies and agents still did not cause any trouble in southeastern Shanxi.
If it were the Central Army, it would have been infiltrated by Japanese spies and agents long ago.
After drafting the telegram, Okamura Neiji signed it, and then handed it to the combat staff to take to the communications room next door to send the telegram.
Only then did Tanabe Shengwu have a chance to speak. He collected his thoughts and said, "Your Excellency, General, if the Eighth Route Army attacks Taiyuan at this time, it will actually be an opportunity for the Locust Army!"
"Oh?" Okamura Neji, who was feeling uneasy, asked with a look on his face, "Tanabe-kun, why do you think so?"
Nowadays, the combat effectiveness of the Eighth Route Army in North Shanxi is really terrifying, and Okamura Neiji is worried that the First Army cannot withstand it.
After all, Shanxi's geographical location is very important, and Okamura Neji was reluctant to give up Shanxi.
Because once Shanxi is abandoned and allowed to be occupied by the Eighth Route Army, the Eighth Route Army will use Shanxi as a springboard to attack the Mongolian troops stationed in Mongolia in the north and the North China Plain in the east.
By then.
The pressure on the North China Front Army will be greatly increased, and the Locust Army may even be driven out of North China by the Eighth Route Army.
"Your Excellency, General, you are the last king, please take a look!"
Tanabe Moritake quickly came to a huge map hanging on the wall, pointed at Taiyuan on the map with a wooden pole and said:
"The current strength of the Locust Army in Taiyuan includes the 41st Division, the 1st Cavalry Brigade, the 14th Brigade and the 18th Brigade, as well as the Yamada Regiment directly under the First Army, the Military Police and the Locust Association Army."
"The total strength of the Locust Army is approximately 35,000, and the strength of the Locust Alliance Army is 20,000, making the total strength approximately 50,000."
"On the Zhengtai Railway, there are also the 33rd Division and the 37th Division ready for reinforcements at any time."
"To the east, there are the 21st Division, 35th Division and the 4th Cavalry Brigade directly under our front army, ready for reinforcement at any time."
"To the north, there is the 1st Division and the Mongolian Army stationed at any time, ready for reinforcements."
As the chief of staff of the North China Front, Tanabe Moritake was quite knowledgeable. He could clearly analyze the current Japanese military situation in a few words.
Although Tanabe Moritake had something, there wasn't much.
Due to intelligence limitations, Tanabe Moritake did not fully understand the Eighth Route Army's situation and could only analyze it roughly.
"Your Excellency, Chief of Staff," Youmo Jingsan said, "Are you saying that the information about the Eighth Route Army's attack on Taiyuan is false?"
"The authenticity of the information cannot be completely determined for the time being."
Tanabe Moritake glanced at Yumo Seizan and shook his head:
"What I mean is, assuming the intelligence is true, the main force of the Eighth Route Army in northwestern Shanxi and southeastern Shanxi will launch an attack on Taiyuan from these two directions."
"Taiyuan now has sufficient troops and combat supplies."
"The mountains around Taiyuan are surrounded by a large number of tunnels and reverse slope fortifications, as well as thickened reinforced concrete fortifications. The city walls have also been thickened, which can be said to be impregnable."
"In addition, the Locust Army has sufficient reinforcements and is ready for reinforcements at any time."
"If the Eighth Route Army attacks Taiyuan like this, there is a high probability that it will not be able to defeat it. Not only will it not be able to defeat it, but it will suffer heavy losses and the troops will be exhausted."
The last time the Japanese army attacked northwest Shanxi, the combat supplies had not been used up.
There are still 15,000 tons of combat supplies in Taiyuan. The Japanese army has sufficient ammunition. Even if it is surrounded by the Eighth Route Army for a month or two, there will be no shortage of supplies.
However, Tanabe Moritake didn't know that the Eighth Route Army had been equipped with 203mm heavy howitzers, specifically used to deal with the Japanese's thickened reinforced concrete fortifications.
Even when it comes to dealing with tunnels and reverse slope fortifications, the New Group has some experience.
As for the reinforcement of Taiyuan's city walls, they are vulnerable to 203mm heavy howitzers no matter how they are reinforced. Even if the Japanese army built the city walls into fortifications, they could not withstand the bombardment of 203mm heavy howitzers.
"Tanabe-kun, you mean..." Neji Okamura asked, "This is an opportunity for the Locust Army?"
"That's right, General, the Eighth Route Army doesn't know that the base camp is going to mobilize 5 divisions and 60,000 tons of supplies for our North China Front Army for the mopping up in April."
"If the Eighth Route Army's attack on Taiyuan has not been defeated until April, we will wait until the five divisions and 60,000 tons of combat materials mobilized to our department from the base camp are in place."
"Then the Locust Army can encircle the Eighth Route Army from the periphery and give the Eighth Route Army a center-opening tactic."
"If the Eighth Route Army withdraws early, it will be exhausted after a long period of fighting and its morale will drop."
"At this time, the elites of the five divisions of the Locust Army will launch another large-scale mopping up attack against the Eighth Route Army in northwestern Shanxi. Something big can be accomplished!"
After hearing Tanabe Moritake's analysis, Okamura Neji suddenly figured it out.
The advantage of the North China Front lies in the newly mobilized five divisions and 60,000 tons of combat materials in the base camp.
This is also due to the clear telegram sent by Li Yunlong, otherwise the base camp would not have transferred so many troops and combat materials to the North China Front.
Li Yunlong's move is tantamount to shooting himself in the foot.
Okamura Neiji thought to himself: The total strength of the North China Front is about 200,000, and the total strength of the five divisions is about 100,000, which adds up to 300,000.
The Eighth Route Army's strength in attacking Taiyuan was approximately 200,000.
In any case, the strength of the troops in this battle was 300,000 versus 200,000.
The advantage is mine.
…
Shanxi.
Taiyuan.
Japanese First Army Headquarters.
The communications staff officer held the telegram in his hand, walked quickly into the headquarters, and reported to Yoshio Iwamatsu with a solemn expression:
"Report to the commander, General Okamura Neiji, commander of the North China Front, has sent an urgent message!"
Iwamatsu Yoshio's expression was serious, and the urgent call indicated that something major had happened, or that something major was about to happen.
Yoshio Iwamatsu: "Read!"
"Hi!" the communications staff officer read, holding the telegram in both hands, "According to reliable information, the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army in northwestern Shanxi has completed pre-war mobilization and ammunition has been distributed. It intends to join forces with the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi to launch an attack on Taiyuan. Order
Your troops will immediately prepare for the battle. Commander Okamura Neiji of the North China Front, His Majesty the Emperor will be on board, and the Japanese Locust Army will be on board."
Yoshio Iwamatsu was shocked when he heard this. He stood up suddenly and said with disbelief: "Nani? The main force of the Eighth Route Army in northwest and southeast Shanxi is going to attack Taiyuan?"
"Hi!"
The communications staff officer lowered his head and put the telegram on his desk.
Yoshio Iwamatsu, who was already frightened, became even more panicked now.
The former commander of the First Army was shot dead by the Eighth Route Army in his room.
It has only been half a year, and the Eighth Route Army is about to attack Taiyuan again?
Yoshio Iwamatsu was so panicked that the current strength of the Eighth Route Army was much stronger than that of the First Army.
Even though Taiyuan's defense lines are now impregnable under his management, Iwamatsu Yoshio is still not sure of blocking the Eighth Route Army's advance.
Li Yunlong's unit in northwestern Shanxi, the New First Regiment, was so powerful that no unit of the First Army was a match for the New First Regiment.
Even the Class A divisions were defeated in northwestern Shanxi, let alone the second-line divisions under his command.
After a while, Yoshio Iwamatsu suppressed the panic in his heart and said expressionlessly: "Call the chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, and Mr. Yamamoto immediately!"
"Hi!"
The communications staff officer suddenly lowered his head and walked out quickly.
Yoshio Iwamatsu had no doubts about the authenticity of this telegram. Since it was sent by General Okamura Neji, it was definitely true.
Not long after, Chief of Staff Hanatani Masaru, Deputy Chief of Staff Masao Miyazaki, and Major General Kazuki Yamamoto came to the office hand in hand.
After reading the telegram sent by Okamura Neji, Hanatani Masaru, Miyazaki Masao and Yamamoto Kazuki all changed their expressions.