This time, the Eighth Route Army attacked Datong, an important military town in northern Shanxi, and absolutely used 10mm heavy artillery.
The 10 mm caliber heavy artillery equipped by the new regiment posed a great threat to the Japanese First Army and even the Japanese army in North China.
Okamura Neiji has long wanted to destroy the heavy artillery unit of the new regiment.
It's a pity that I never had the chance.
The only efficient way to destroy the heavy artillery unit of the New 1st Regiment of the Eighth Route Army is to wait for the heavy artillery unit of the Eighth Route Army to appear, use fighter jets and bombers, and drop aerial bombs to destroy it.
The Eighth Route Army openly pulled out heavy artillery and attacked the 1st Division, but Okamura Neji hesitated.
At this time, bombers and fighter planes were ordered to go to Datong. The pilots would definitely see the Eighth Route Army's artillery positions.
Tanabe Moritake saw the hesitation in Okamura Neji's eyes:
"Your Excellency, General, I suggest not to send fighter jets and bombers to reinforce the 1st Division."
"Li Yunlong dared to pull out so many cannons and blast them against the city wall of Datong."
"This shows that the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army is confident and has deployed powerful anti-aircraft firepower around the artillery positions."
"Once our bombers and fighter jets attack the artillery positions, they will definitely be shot down by the Eighth Route Army's anti-aircraft firepower."
"This is what Li Yunlong did when he led his troops to attack Taiyuan a year ago. The Locust Army lost more than 100 aircraft in that battle. Although the Eighth Route Army's artillery positions were destroyed, the No. 1 Flying Group was directly disabled."
Arimo Seizoya said: "What the chief of staff said makes sense. I also think there is no need to send out fighter jets and bombers to reinforce the 1st Division. Maybe this is Li Yunlong's trap."
"Li Yunlong deliberately put out the cannon to lure the locust army's fighter jets and bombers."
"After all, the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army is equipped with large-caliber anti-aircraft guns."
Okamura Neji nodded and said:
"Although the Eighth Route Army has 10mm heavy artillery, the Eighth Route Army's heavy artillery only dares to fire on the city wall and does not dare to fire on the city. It cannot threaten the 1st Division in the city."
"So, there is no need to send fighter jets and bombers to deal with the Eighth Route Army's artillery positions."
"However, the 1st Division has heavy artillery that can threaten the Eighth Route Army artillery positions outside the city. We immediately dispatched a reconnaissance and liaison aircraft to act as the eyes of the 1st Division's 6th Heavy Artillery Regiment to counterattack the Eighth Route Army artillery positions outside the city.
"
"Hi!"
Tanabe Shengwu suddenly lowered his head.
Then he walked to the phone, immediately dialed the number at the airport, and ordered the reconnaissance and liaison machine to take off immediately and head to Datong City to reinforce the 6th Heavy Artillery Regiment of the 1st Division.
At this moment, communications staff officer Haruo Kitani walked in quickly again.
Report to Okamura Neiji: "Your Excellency, Commander, the fighter jets and reconnaissance planes that went to southeast Shanxi and northwest Shanxi for reconnaissance have sent back news one after another!"
"Oh?" Okamura Neji's expression changed, "Have you discovered the main force of the Eighth Route Army?"
"Hi!" Haruo Kiya pointed at the map on the wall and said, "The main force of the 19th Division of the Eighth Route Army in Southeast Shanxi is divided into three groups and is heading north, carrying heavy weapons with 7mm and 10mm calibers!"
"Which three groups?" Okamura Neiji asked, "Approximately how many troops are there?"
Haruo Kiya said: "The main force of the Eighth Route Army is heading north along the Baijin Line. The target should be Taiyuan. There are about 60,000 troops, including 4 artillery regiments."
"The other two main forces of the Eighth Route Army, one of which is heading north along the Heliao Highway, should be targeting Yangquan. They have about 40,000 troops, including three artillery regiments."
"Another main force of the Eighth Route Army went north from Hengling and Mafang Township. The target should be Shouyang. It has about 40,000 troops and carries 3 artillery regiments!"
"All Eighth Route Army troops heading north wear a steel helmet!"
Since the main force of the 19th Division of the Eighth Route Army was marching during the day, the heavy weapons were pulled by mules, horses or trucks without any disguise.
The Japs' reconnaissance plane observers could easily judge the approximate size of the Eighth Route Army's artillery force based on the number of mules, horses or trucks.
If the 19th Division did this, they must not be afraid of enemy aircraft, as each artillery regiment was equipped with enough anti-aircraft firepower.
Of course, only half of the 19th Division's artillery units have been dispatched. They have just been organized into 8 artillery regiments and are still training.
The main force of the 19th Division went northward with such a big fanfare in order to give the Japanese army the feeling that if your Japanese First Army dares to go northward to reinforce the 1st Division, then I, the 19th Division, will join your First Army.
After listening to Kitani Haruo's words, Tanabe Moritake and Arisum Seizan took a deep breath together.
Even Okamura Neji changed his expression.
The 19th Division of the Eighth Route Army dispatched 140,000 main troops, including 10 artillery regiments!
If it weren't for the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army attacking the 1st Division, Okamura Neiji would have even felt that the main force of the Eighth Route Army in Shanxi was about to launch a full-scale counterattack against the First Army.
However, although the 19th Division of the Eighth Route Army has many main troops and strong artillery firepower.
However, the logistics supply was not good, and the weapons and equipment of the infantry were mediocre. The 19th Division did not have the courage to destroy the First Army.
Unless the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army also goes south and attacks the First Army units in Taiyuan, Yangquan and Shouyang together with the 19th Division.
Otherwise, the main force of the 19th Division of the Eighth Route Army would only have a slight upper hand at most. Even if the First Army could be eliminated, the 19th Division of the Eighth Route Army would suffer heavy losses.
However, the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army was attacking the 1st Division at this time and had no time to go south.
Tanabe Shengwu suddenly changed his expression. The 19th Division of the Eighth Route Army made such a big noise. Doesn't it look like it was covering the new regiment's attack on the 1st Division?
Therefore, Tanabe Moritake looked at Haruo Kiya and asked: "Kiya-kun, have you found the main force of the Eighth Route Army heading south along Beitongpu Road?"
"Report to the Chief of Staff!" Haruo Kugu replied, "The reconnaissance plane conducted reconnaissance along Beitongpu Road and found no Eighth Route Army troops heading south!"
"Chief of Staff, are you confused?" Youmo Jingsan teased, "The main force of the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army is attacking the 1st Division in Datong. How can it be possible to go south at this time?"
Tanabe Moritake glanced at Yusue Seizo with an expressionless expression: "The 19th Division of the Eighth Route Army is heading north. I don't think it's like covering the new regiment's attack on the 1st Division, but I want to attack the 1st Army head-on."
Youmo Jingsan said: "Chief of Staff, you are worrying too much. Without the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army, the 19th Division alone cannot destroy the First Army."
The North China Front Army Headquarters has long received intelligence that the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army no longer belongs to the battle order of the 19th Division, but is a unit directly under the Eighth Route Army Headquarters. This is not a secret in the Eighth Route Army.
What puzzles Okamura Neiji and others is...
The new regiment of the Eighth Route Army already has tens of thousands of troops, but its organization is still at the regimental level.
Logically speaking, with so many military exploits, Li Yunlong should have been promoted to commander of a group army or a corps commander long ago.
Tanabe Moributo: "Youmo-kun, what if the Eighth Route Army that goes north to attack the 1st Division is not a new regiment?"
"If it's not a new regiment, what other army could it be?" Yumo Jingsan asked, "What other army in northwestern Shanxi has six artillery regiments and tank units?"
These words immediately made Tanabe Shengwu speechless.
What he said had no basis at all. It was entirely to refute what Tanabe Moritake blurted out.
But if you think about it carefully, this is simply not possible.
Youmo Jingsan is right. Apart from the New Regiment of the Eighth Route Army in northwestern Shanxi, which other Eighth Route Army unit has six artillery regiments and tank units at the same time?
Moreover, reconnaissance planes have already conducted reconnaissance, and it is true that there is no main force of the Eighth Route Army moving southward from northwest Shanxi.
Okamura Neiji pushed up his glasses, looked at the communications staff officer and said: "Kitani-kun, immediately send this information to the First Army Headquarters and order the First Army to shift its defense focus to the south to prepare for the attack of the 19th Division of the Eighth Route Army!"
"Hi!"
Kitani Haruo suddenly lowered his head, turned and left.
Looking at Kitani Haruo's back, Okamura Neji thought for a moment, but still did not order the 1st Cavalry Brigade to stop reinforcing the 1st Division.
The 19th Division of the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi set up such a large formation just to scare the First Army and cover the new regiment's attack on the 1st Division. They did not really want to attack the First Army.
After a pause, Okamura Neiji said again: "Tanabe-kun, order the 1st Cavalry Brigade, 4th Cavalry Brigade, 1st Division, and 3rd Cavalry Division to immediately reinforce the troops stationed in Datong.
The 1st Division must arrive at Datong within 3 days!"
Tanabe Moritake looked serious: "Hi!"
At this time, the Japanese combat staff had drawn arrows on the map based on the northward march of the 19th Division of the Eighth Route Army detected by reconnaissance planes and fighter jets.
Okamura Neji and Yusue Mizuki looked at the map.
Okamura Neiji: "Arima-kun, ordered reconnaissance planes and fighter jets to continuously scout the Eighth Route Army's position, and then ordered bombers to conduct test bombings on the artillery units of the 19th Division of the Eighth Route Army to see the Eighth Route Army's anti-aircraft firepower."
Okamura Neiji had long felt how strong the anti-aircraft firepower of the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army was.
After raiding a Dugu town and destroying dozens of aircraft, Okamura Neiji was really a little scared.
That's why he didn't dare to send the remaining fighter jets and bombers to deal with the artillery unit of the new Eighth Route Army regiment.
Okamura Neji narrowed his eyes. If the anti-aircraft firepower of the 19th Division of the Eighth Route Army is weak, then don't blame the Locust Army's aviation for being unkind!
…
Taiyuan.
Inner city.
First Army Headquarters.
"The new regiment of the Eighth Route Army has attacked the 1st Division of Datong? Is the attack on Taiyuan just a pretense?"
In the war room.
After listening to the report of the communications staff officer, Iwamatsu Yoshio's eyes suddenly lit up, and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised.
On the side, Masao Hanatani and Masao Miyazaki breathed a sigh of relief. The pressure from the Eighth Route Army was too strong.
If the main force of the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi and the main force of the Eighth Route Army in northwestern Shanxi attack Taiyuan at the same time, the First Army will definitely not be able to defend Taiyuan.
Whether it is military strength or weapons and equipment, they are not on the same level.
"Hi!" The communications staff member suddenly lowered his head, "The North China Front Army Headquarters orders the 1st Cavalry Brigade to go north immediately to reinforce the 1st Division stationed in Datong. They must arrive at Datong within 3 days!"
"Yo Xi!" Yoshio Iwamatsu looked at Masa Hanatani in a happy mood, "Kanatani-kun, give the order to the 1st Cavalry Brigade immediately."