"Your Excellency, General, we have just received news from the Locust Army in Shimen City and Zhengding. After the Eighth Route Army planes bombed, hundreds of heavy artillery bombarded an hour later..."
"The tanks and infantry of the Eighth Route Army launched an attack on the forward positions of the Locust Army and the Locust Alliance Army."
Communications staff officer Haruo Kiya quickly walked into the operations hall and bowed his head to Neji Okamura to report.
Okamura Neiji's face changed slightly, and he looked at the huge Shimen City battlefield sand table. The direction of Shimen City was the main attack direction of the Eighth Route Army. The trenches were clearly visible, and even the artillery positions were represented by several cylinders.
The quality of the Japanese combat staff is still very high.
But at this time, the faces of the operational staff of the headquarters were extremely solemn.
The Eighth Route Army dispatched planes to bomb, and hundreds of heavy artillery bombarded the area for an hour.
And this may be just the Eighth Route Army's first trial attack. The gap between the Locust Army and the Eighth Route Army is like a chasm.
Currently, the entire North China Front only has a few dozen heavy artillery pieces.
There are not many artillery shells, and they cannot be used easily. Once discovered by the Eighth Route Army's planes, they will only end up being wiped out by the Eighth Route Army's aerial bombs.
Calculated based on each heavy artillery firing 5 shells per minute.
Each heavy cannon can fire 300 rounds in an hour.
Hundreds of heavy artillery means tens of thousands or even more than 100,000 heavy artillery shells.
It was just a test bombardment... The wealth of the Eighth Route Army was beyond the imagination of their combat staff.
"How long can the Locust Army and the Locust Alliance Army in Shimen City resist the attack of the Eighth Route Army?"
Okamura Neji asked with a slight frown.
The commander of the 11th Division, Takamori Takashi, has already made a report on the situation in the Jinzhou area to the North China Front Army Headquarters.
The Eighth Route Army's Jizhong Unit actually built field fortifications in advance.
This shows that Li Yunlong, the frontline commander of the Eighth Route Army, has guessed that the 11th Division, 40th Division and 56th Division will attack the Jizhong troops.
When Neji Okamura heard the telegram, he couldn't help being surprised. Li Yunlong actually guessed his next move!
I thought in my heart that Li Yunlong was really a formidable opponent.
However, this was not the first time Okamura Neji fought against Li Yunlong, and he quickly regained his composure.
soon.
Okamura Neiji, who regained his composure, also guessed Li Yunlong's strategic intention.
Let the Jizhong troops of the Eighth Route Army hold back the 11th, 40th and 56th Divisions of the Locust Army in the Jinzhou area.
After the main force of the new Eighth Route Army regiment captured Shimen City, they took advantage of mechanization to quickly bring reinforcements and surrounded the 11th Division, 40th Division and 56th Division.
A standard center bloom tactic.
Don’t you, Li Yunlong, just want to eat the 11th Division, 40th Division and 56th Division of the Locust Army?
Then I, Okamura Neiji, will take advantage of this mentality of yours, Li Yunlong, and eat your Eighth Route Army Hebei Central Unit first.
Now.
It depends on how long the Locust Army and the Locust Alliance Army in Shimen City and Zhengding can hold off the main force of the Eighth Route Army.
Okamura Neiji's requirements are not high, as long as the Locust Army and the Locust Alliance Army here can buy one day for the main force of the 11th Division, 40th Division and 56th Division.
In one day, the 11th Division, the 40th Division and the 56th Division were able to defeat or even defeat the entire Eighth Route Army's Jizhong troops.
Break the myth of the Eighth Route Army's invincibility.
If we can defeat or even completely annihilate the Eighth Route Army's Jizhong troops, it will be a great advantage for the subsequent decisive battle between the main force of the Locust Army and the main force of the Eighth Route Army.
after all.
This is the actual main force of the 60,000 to 70,000 Eighth Route Army.
"this…"
"The remaining Locust Army's combat effectiveness is not strong, but the Second Front Army of the Locust Alliance Army is an elite unit of the Locust Alliance Army, and its combat effectiveness is comparable to the elite units of the China National Army."
"There should be no problem if the Locust Army and the Locust Alliance Army join forces to block the Eighth Route Army's attack for a day."
You Mo Jing San answered with an uncertain tone.
Facing the attack of hundreds of tanks and heavy artillery from the Eighth Route Army, he did not dare to say anything.
What kind of army is the Locust Alliance Army?
They are just a bunch of ragtag people, do they deserve to be called an army?
To say that 30,000 Locust Army can block the new regiment's attack in one day, Mo Jingsan definitely believes it, but 30,000 Locust Alliance Army... 3 hours is considered an overestimation of the Locust Alliance Army.
If there were not nearly 3,000 Locust troops in Shimen City and Zhengding, the Eighth Route Army's first wave of aerial bombs would have wiped out the ground and covered it with heavy artillery shells, and the Locust Alliance Army would have collapsed.
"We must order the Locust Army and the Locust Alliance Army in Shimen City and Zhengding to hold their positions for one day..."
Before Okamura Neji finished speaking, a telegraph soldier hurried in and reported to Okamura Neji and Arisu Seizan:
"General, just now the Shimen City Locust Army reported via radio to the 11th Division Regiment and Headquarters that the forward position has been lost and the Eighth Route Army's offensive is very fierce. The Locust Army there is requesting tactical guidance!"
"Nani?"
"Is it so fast?"
Okamura Neji was stunned when he heard this.
The Eighth Route Army had just started its offensive and the forward position was lost?
On the side were Su Seizo, Yamamoto Kazuki and a group of Japanese staff officers, whose expressions suddenly changed.
Because the Japanese in Shimen City initially sent a telegram to the 11th Division and copied it to the North China Front Army Headquarters.
But this time, the Eighth Route Army captured the frontline positions of the Japanese and puppet troops with just one probing attack.
The Japanese commander in Shimen City immediately panicked and reported the situation directly over the radio and requested tactical guidance.
Sue Seizan, Kazuki Yamamoto and all the Japanese combat staff officers were silent.
According to the offensive efficiency of the Eighth Route Army, it would take less than a day, but at most half a day, for Shimen City and Zhengding to be captured by the Eighth Route Army.
Then, the main force of the Eighth Route Army can go all the way east to pursue the 11th Division, 40th Division and 56th Division.
The current war situation is not very good for the Japanese army.
As for why the Japanese and puppet troops did not retreat into Shimen City to fight street battles with the Eighth Route Army, but instead fought positional battles outside the city.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Originally, the main forces of the 11th Division, 40th Division and 56th Division were preparing to fight street battles with the Eighth Route Army.
However, the loss rate in street fighting is very high, and only the most elite troops have the courage to fight in street fighting.
What if the puppet troops are allowed to engage in street fighting and the puppet troops surrender directly?
In addition, now that the Japanese and puppet troops have withdrawn into Shimen City, the Eighth Route Army can encircle it instead of fighting, and just send the main force to bypass Shimen City to reinforce the Jizhong Eighth Route Army troops.
Therefore, the Japanese and puppet troops in Shimen City could only fight positional warfare with the Eighth Route Army outside the city.
There is no choice.
"Order the Shimen City Locust Army and the Locust Alliance Army to block the Eighth Route Army's attack at all costs!"
"Then order the 6th Flying Division to dispatch the 10th Flying Team and the 34th Flying Team to immediately take off to reinforce Shimen City!"
Taking a deep breath and gritting his teeth, Okamura Neiji dispatched a fighter squadron and a bomber squadron.
Although these two teams will probably not be able to come back if they leave.
But at this time, Okamura Neiji was like a gambler on the gambling table, his eyes were red, and he did not hesitate to put up more chips in order to win the game of annihilating the Eighth Route Army's Jizhong troops.
"Hi."
Communications staff officer Haruo Kiya suddenly lowered his head, then turned and left.
…
"Kill me..."
At the same time, on the Jinzhou battlefield, a Japanese captain wore a victory turban on his head, brandished a major's command sword, and roared hysterically.
Under the leadership of this captain, the Japanese began their third attack on the main position of the Eighth Route Army's Jizhong Unit.
At this time, the battle has entered a fierce state.
Both the Jizhong troops and the Japanese suffered heavy casualties.
With the cooperation of 20 fighter jets and 20 attack aircraft from the 2nd Flying Group of the New Regiment, the Jizhong troops repelled two Japanese attacks.
And this is already the Japanese's third attack.
At this time, the fighters and bombers of the 2nd Group of the New Regiment had returned to Taiyuan Airport.
Taking advantage of the absence of air support from the Eighth Route Army, the Japanese prepared to defeat the Jizhong Eighth Route Army in one go.
In several other directions, the Japanese's 40th Division and 56th Division were also attacking the two wings of the Jizhong troops.
The battle was extremely fierce, and the entire battlefield was filled with rumbling cannons and intensive gunfire. Soldiers on both sides were dying every second.
The direction of the main position.
"Boom, boom, boom..."
As the Japs approached, the artillery positions of the Eighth Route Army in central Hebei began to operate. Shells from 82mm mortars, 60mm mortars and 75mm mountain guns continued to explode in the Japs' formation, killing and injuring many Japs.
.
This is the main position of the entire battlefield, and the troops attacking are the 22nd Brigade of the 11th Division of the Japanese Army.
Those defending the position were also the main elite troops of the Central Hebei Military Region.
On the way to the attack, five or six Japanese tanks were blown into empty shells by aerial bombs and burned there.
The path of the attack was littered with corpses of Japanese soldiers.
Many Eighth Route Army soldiers were also killed on the positions of the Eighth Route Army in central Hebei Province.
Several tanks led the Japanese infantry attack.
“Da da da, da da da da da…”
As the Japanese approached the position, the infantry of the Central Hebei Military Region opened fire, and Maxim and Czech gunfire rang out intensively.
On this main battlefield, a firepower network composed of more than 150 Maxim and Czech tanks suppressed the Japs of the 11th Division at a distance of 100 meters.
Although the Japanese had tanks, the Jizhong Eighth Route Army also lacked anti-tank weapons.
However, the number of Japanese tanks was too small and they could not play a decisive role in such an intensity offensive and defensive battle.
As two Japanese tanks were attacked by Eighth Route Army soldiers with meat bombs, they were successfully attacked.
The Japanese's third attack was fruitless and they retreated after leaving behind a large number of corpses.
However, many soldiers in the Jizhong Military Region were killed by the Japanese's accurate marksmanship, grenades and mortars.
…
"idiot!"
In a ground fortification, Takashi Takamori held up a telescope, looked at the repulsed Japanese troops, and cursed angrily.
The first two attacks were supported by aircraft from the Eighth Route Army, so it was normal for them to be repulsed.
However, the third attack organized by the 11th Division was defeated so quickly, which made Takashi Takamori feel bad for a moment.
This Jizhong Eighth Route Army is not as easy to deal with as imagined!
According to intelligence, the main force of the Central Hebei Eighth Route Army is nothing more than a group of mud-legged troops composed of farmers, and they can be easily defeated.
However, judging from the situation of the battle, the tenacity of the Eighth Route Army's fighting will was far beyond Takamori Takashi's expectations.
Of course, the 11th Division is no match for its tenacious will to fight alone.
In terms of their tenacious will to fight, the troops of the Class A Division who have been baptized in bushido and loyal to the Empire and Locust are no worse than the Eighth Route Army in fighting will.
The most important thing is that the light and heavy machine gun firepower of the Jizhong Eighth Route Army is really too fierce.
Not only are there many light and heavy machine guns, but there are also so many bullets that it’s almost like they can’t finish them all!
Of course, judging from the sound of gunfire, it seems that the machine gunners of the Jizhong Eighth Route Army did not have very rich shooting experience.
But it can't hold up to light and heavy machine guns and there are many bullets. I don't have enough experience, so I have to make up the quantity.
Of course, if there are only light and heavy machine guns and a lot of bullets, the Japanese army can still cope with infantry artillery, mortars and grenade launchers. The gunners of the Type A division can be said to hit wherever they want.
These can all deal with the machine gun firepower of the Eighth Route Army.
However, although the Eighth Route Army lacked heavy artillery firepower, in terms of light artillery firepower, it was not inferior to the Japanese army, or even exceeded it, and there were an absurd amount of artillery shells.
The three artillery regiments of the Japanese army had dispersed and carried out concealed bombardment, and the effect of the bombardment was greatly reduced.
He did not dare to use them intensively for fear of being discovered and destroyed by Eighth Route Army aircraft.
"idiot!"
Seeing the disgraced captain of the 7th Infantry Battalion walking into the headquarters with bandages on his hands, Takamori Takashi was furious as he personally led the charge.
"Report to the General."
The captain of the 7th Battalion who retreated had a very ugly expression on his face, and his head was lowered:
"My brigade suffered more than 400 casualties, including 200 broken ones. Please give me another chance. This time I will definitely chop off all the heads of the Eighth Route Army..."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Before he finished speaking, the captain of the 7th Battalion was slapped on the face.
The slaps were clear and loud.
One attack almost caused more than half of the casualties to an elite infantry brigade. This was unacceptable to Takashi Takamori. Based on this casualty, how long would it take to defeat the Jizhong Eighth Route Army?
"Hi."
The captain of the 7th Battalion suddenly lowered his head and did not dare to speak.
"Where's our air support? Why hasn't our air support arrived yet?"
Takashi Takamori looked gloomy.
The Eighth Route Army's air support has come in two waves, but our own air support has yet to be seen. What the hell is that?
The North China Front Army Headquarters has promised to send air support to the 11th Division, 40th Division and 56th Division.
Is Okamura Neji lying to me?
Wanting to defeat the Eighth Route Army in central Hebei Province, but not sending air support, Okamura Neiji made it clear that he wanted the horses to run but did not let them eat grass.
While Takamori Takashi was furious, the communications staff officer walked in with a telegram in his hand and lowered his head to report: "General. General Okamura from the North China Front Army Headquarters just sent a telegram. The 83rd Flying Team and the 47th Flying Team have taken off from the airport.
We were heading towards the Jinju battlefield and arrived over the Jinju battlefield around 11:30 in the morning. General Okamura ordered us to guide the aviation force to bomb the Eighth Route Army positions when the plane arrived."
The 83rd is a fighter squadron and the 47th is a bomber squadron.
Once the war breaks out in the Jinzhou area, the Eighth Route Army will definitely send aircraft for air reinforcements.
In order to avoid the sharp edge of the Eighth Route Army's fighter units, the Japanese Air Force waited until the Eighth Route Army's bombing was completed before sending out their fighter and bomber teams.
"Yoshi!"
Hearing that the headquarters had dispatched two teams, Takashi Takamori suddenly felt confident:
"Next, the 5th Infantry Group will take over the attack from the 7th Group."
"After the aviation bombed the Eighth Route Army's position, the 5th Battalion immediately rushed up and captured the Eighth Route Army's position. Then the entire army launched an attack and defeated the Jizhong Eighth Route Army in one fell swoop."