Neji Okamura, who was knocked unconscious, woke up quietly under the rescue of military doctors.
"What is the situation with the First Army Headquarters, the Fifth Division and the 28th Division?"
Just like last night, Okamura's first words when he woke up were to ask the guard on the side in a hurried tone.
actually.
Okamura Neji's health is not serious, he is just short of breath and heartbroken.
Although he was in a coma, Okamura was in good condition after resting for two days and one night.
Seeing that the guard lowered his head and said nothing, Neji Okamura stood up with a gloomy look, put on his general's uniform, picked up his general's sword, and walked quickly to the operations hall.
Soon, Okamura Neji came to the combat hall.
Everyone in the combat hall is busy there.
After Yusue Seizan answered a phone call and hung up, he turned around and saw Okamura Neji walking in.
"Your Excellency, General."
"How is your health?"
Seeing Okamura Neji, Yusue Seizan walked over quickly with a very concerned look on his face.
But in fact, at this time, Youmo Jing was 30% exhausted, and he had not rested for three days and nights.
Not only did he have no rest for three days and three nights, during these days of wartime duty, he also had to deal with various important military tasks, which consumed a lot of brainpower and energy.
He looked very tired, and there were some bloodshot eyes.
However, Okamura Neiji didn't care about Sue Seizan's condition. The soldiers on the front line were still bleeding and broken, so staying up for several days with Sue Seizo was nothing.
"I'm fine now."
Okamura Neji looked solemn, waved his hand and asked:
"What is the current situation of the locust army that was surrounded in the Zhaodong Township area of Zhengtai Road?"
Yoshio Iwamatsu, a bad teammate, actually dared to defeat his superiors and lost his chance to make a comeback, which really made Neji Okamura very angry.
Even if Yoshio Iwamatsu could return to Peiping alive, Neji Okamura would not be able to spare him.
"Your Excellency, General."
You Mo Jing San said in a dignified tone:
"The situation of Lieutenant General Iwamatsu and the others is not optimistic!"
"After being ambushed, the 1st Cavalry Brigade was ambushed by the Eighth Route Army cavalry, and the whole group was shattered."
"Lieutenant General Yansong and the others adopted the tactic of breaking up into parts and breaking out in a dispersed manner. They broke out in the direction of Shouyang and Yangquan in the form of squads and squadrons."
"Break it into pieces and disperse to break out? The tactics of the Eighth Route Army?"
Okamura Neji's eyes narrowed, he was very familiar with this tactic!
In the past, when the Eighth Route Army faced an encirclement and sweep by Japanese and puppet troops that were more than ten times more powerful, the Eighth Route Army basically used this tactic to break out of the encirclement.
Okamura had to admit that this tactic was indeed something.
Relying on this tactic, the well-prepared Japanese and puppet troops almost always failed to clear up the Eighth Route Army base areas with little effect.
later.
Okamura Neiji formulated and invented the iron rolling triple sweep tactic, but unfortunately the Eighth Route Army had already risen.
Since the Eighth Route Army can use this tactic, so can the Locust Army.
But the question is, the cavalry of the Eighth Route Army is not weak. Can the infantry of the Locust Army break through successfully?
"Hi…"
Youmo Jingsan lowered his head and shouted loudly, his tone solemn:
"After the breakout, the First Army Headquarters, the Fifth Division, and the 26th Division have all lost contact with the headquarters. So far, no unit has successfully arrived in Shouyang County."
"However, the 40th Division has sent an infantry brigade along Zhengtai Road to meet the First Army Headquarters."
Okamura Neji looked at the watch on his hand.
The Japanese ambush on Zhengtai Road was in the Zhaodong Township area, about 50 kilometers away from Shouyang.
If it was a breakout, it would require a longer detour. In just a few hours, it would not be possible for the cavalry to reach Shouyang that quickly.
"Your Excellency, General." Youmo Jingsan said, "The Chief of Staff has sent twelve telegrams today requesting tactical guidance. The situation is extremely critical. Every day, the Eighth Route Army fires nearly 200,000 artillery shells, more than 1,000 aerial bombs and more than 100
An incendiary bomb caused the Locust Army to suffer heavy casualties. Should we order the 40th Division and the 56th Division to abandon Shouyang and Yangquan and go to Niangziguan to rescue the Chief of Staff?"
Okamura Neji came to the map and stared at it to analyze it carefully.
There were not many Eighth Route Army troops attacking the 40th Division and the 56th Division, only about 30,000 people each.
However, the artillery firepower of the Eighth Route Army is very strong. The artillery carried by each Eighth Route Army exceeds the size of three artillery regiments, and even has 105 and 150 mm caliber heavy artillery.
but.
The 40th Division and the 56th Division relied on tunnel and anti-slope tactics. Even though the Eighth Route Army used ground-penetrating bombs on the positions of these two divisions, these two divisions have still not been defeated.
Moreover, this time the Eighth Route Army did not attack the 33rd and 37th Divisions from both sides.
If it were a two-sided attack like last time, these two divisions would only be wiped out.
Therefore, these two divisions have a way out.
However, during the previous period, Okamura Neiji wanted the 40th Division and the 56th Division to hold the two important strongholds on the Shotai Railway and coordinate the retreat of the First Army Headquarters and the Fifth Division in Taiyuan.
.
However, the development of the war situation has gradually escaped the control of Okamura Neji.
Okamura Neji suddenly fell into a dilemma.
At this time, the 40th Division and the 56th Division left Shouyang and Yangquan, and the First Army and the Fifth Division, even if they had breakout troops, would only die.
And if these two divisions do not leave, the locust army in Niangziguan will also be at risk of being wiped out.
Seeing Okamura Neji still hesitating.
Mo Jingsan made a hurried suggestion: "Your Majesty General, if the 40th Division and the 56th Division continue to stay in Shouyang and Yangquan and wait for the Eighth Route Army to eat up the locust army in Niangziguan, then the 40th Division and the 56th Division will
The division will also be eaten by the Eighth Route Army."
You Mo Jing San had long wanted to order the 40th Division and the 56th Division to rescue the Japanese troops at Niangziguan.
However, Okamura Neiji was in a coma most of the time, and he was only the deputy chief of staff and did not have the authority to order the two divisions to retreat.
Okamura Neji's eyes narrowed when he heard this, and he also considered this.
However, he did not want to give up the First Army Headquarters and the Fifth Division.
Hearing Yumo Seizan say this, Okamura Neji nodded:
"Immediately order the 40th Division stationed in Shouyang to move into Yangquan. After joining the 56th Division in Yangquan, they will turn towards Niangziguan."
Regarding the First Army and the Fifth Division, Okamura Neiji planned to give up directly.
Under the heavy siege of the Eighth Route Army and the pursuit and interception of the Eighth Route Army cavalry, how many people can successfully break through?
After a pause, Okamura Neiji asked again: "How long will it take for the 21st Division and the 27th Division to arrive at Niangziguan?"
"It will take two more days!"
There are three answers from Mojing:
"The 21st Division and the 27th Division have been attacked by sporadic Eighth Route guerrillas."
"But these two divisions were not eager to fight. They quickly broke away from contact with the local armed forces of the Eighth Route Army and rushed to Niangziguan with all their strength."
Okamura Neji nodded.
Looking at the map hanging on the wall, his expression became more solemn.
The 40th Division and the 56th Division's reinforcements to the Locust Army at Niangziguan may not go well either.
The Eighth Route Army attacking Shouyang and Yangquan will definitely continue to pursue the 40th Division and the 56th Division.
Moreover, it would take about 2 days for these two divisions to reach Niangziguan.
"Send another report to Tanabe-kun!"
Okamura Neji looked serious:
"Order them to hold on for 2 days. By then, 4 divisions of locust troops will arrive for rescue!"
If the 40th Division and the 56th Division can successfully reach Niangzi Pass and rescue the locust army surrounded by Niangzi Pass.
Then the main force of the North China Front Army is still there, and it will still be able to fight the Eighth Route Army in the future.
"Hi!"
You Mo Jing San suddenly lowered his head.
…
Cai Dongcun.
New Regiment, Frontline General Headquarters.
"Regiment leader, political commissar, the current battle on Zhengtai Road is basically over."
Wang Dehou read the telegram in his hand and reported to Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang:
"Most of the Japanese were wiped out, and some escaped."
The reason why the battle on the Shota Railway ended quickly was because of the ambush.
Although there are more than 30,000 Japs, including the Fifth Division and other troops among them.
However, the entire team was about 10 kilometers long. At the beginning of the battle, under the fierce bombardment, the Japanese's combat power of 30,000 people could not be used at all.
Just like the strength of a hand, five fingers must be held together, clenched into a fist, and punched out to be lethal.
However, since the Japs could not gather together and were suddenly attacked, the Japs' overall combat effectiveness could only be used at most by 10%.
The situation when the Japanese troops at Niangziguan were surrounded was different.
The Japs were gathered together and surrounded, and their fighting power was still there. If they tried to forcefully eat so many Japs right after they were surrounded, the Eighth Route Army's good teeth would be broken.
Although the encirclement was too large and the Eighth Route Army had insufficient troops, so the Japanese were allowed to break out and send out some troops, but the problem was not big.
The cavalry of the New First Regiment and the New Second Regiment will take action.
"Why did you let the Japs escape?" Zhao Gang was a little confused.
Li Yunlong's eyes dropped, staring at the map with a look of thought.
"The Japanese used our tactics," Wang Dehou explained. "They broke into pieces and dispersed to break out. After these Japanese broke through, they fled towards Shouyang."
"However, the cavalry troops of our New First Regiment and New Second Regiment are chasing the escaping Japanese."
Hearing this, Zhao Gang immediately felt relieved.
The 1st Japanese Cavalry Brigade has been completely wiped out, and there are cavalrymen from the New 1st and 2nd New Regiments. Even if the Japanese escape the trap and successfully break through and escape to Shouyang, they will only be a few kittens and puppies.
"Lao Li, what are you thinking about?"
Zhao Gang turned his head and looked at Li Yunlong, who was staring at the map, and happened to see the thoughtful look on Li Yunlong's face.
So he asked with a look on his face.
"I'm thinking that the Fifth Division, the First Army Headquarters and the 28th Division have almost been killed by us."
Li Yunlong pointed to Shouyang and Yangquan on the map and analyzed:
"It no longer makes sense for the 40th Division and the 56th Division to remain on the Zhengtai Railway."
Zhao Gang's mind was spinning very fast and he said: "Old Li, what do you mean, the Japs from these two divisions might give up Shouyang and Yangquan and reinforce the Japanese army that is surrounded in the direction of Niangziguan?"
"It's not a possibility." Li Yunlong said with certainty, "It's a certainty. The Japs from these two divisions will definitely leave."
Although there were more than 60,000 Eighth Route Army soldiers attacking the two divisions of Shouyang and Yangquan.
With powerful artillery fire and air support, the Eighth Route Army also occupied a certain advantage.
However, the Eighth Route Army did not have that many troops to eat up the 40th Division and the 56th Division.
"Once the Japs from these two divisions are allowed to rush to Niangzi Pass before the Japs are completely wiped out, then the situation in Niangzi Pass may be reversed."