Ciying Temple is located northeast of Kangbao, where the 9th Mixed Brigade of the Japanese Army is stationed. It is roughly equidistant from Huade and Kangbao. Its location is equivalent to the top corner of a triangle, and it is in the deep defense line of the Japanese Army. , a strategic point with a very important location.
As soon as he broke through the depth of the Japanese army, Chen Hanzhang appointed the third battalion of the 28th Regiment of the Ninth Division, a well-known Dagong battalion in the army, to be responsible for the attack on Ciying Temple in the shortest possible time. Capture this place to gain a starting point for attacking the Japanese army further in depth.
He even violated his own order to attack all the Mongolian lamaseries in the war zone and mobilized a mountain artillery battery to cooperate with the attack, in order to attack Kangbao, a key position at the junction of the entire Japanese front. starting point.
Facing the defenders of the 110th Division, a strengthened infantry brigade, and an engineering squadron, after a hard battle, the third battalion was crippled. When they withdrew from the battlefield, they could only draw down one company. This A large-scale temple built during the Qing Dynasty was also reduced to ruins, but Ciying Temple, a strategic point in the hinterland of the Japanese army, was finally captured.
At this time, Wang Minggui was very fortunate that this battle was fought before Chen Hanzhang left. Although he paid a price, he had obtained the starting point for the attack. Otherwise, this battle would have been even more difficult. Let alone a reinforced group, it would have been an uphill battle. It is difficult to end the battle within a short period of time.
Looking at the back of the convoy setting off, Ouyang Jishan and Wang Minggui, who came to see them off, shook their heads in unison, their hearts filled with deep worries. If Huade is the core of the entire second line of defense of the Japanese army, then Kang Bao is the control officer. At the junction of the western and Chanan battlefields, Kangbao's strategic position is more important than Huade's position on the Chaxi battlefield.
After capturing Kangbao, we can cooperate with the Chanan battlefield from the flanks and directly outflank the Japanese front positions in Zhangbei and Zhangjiakou. To the west, we can detour the entire flanks of the Japanese troops in Chaxi and Suidong battlefields. Precisely because the strategic location is extremely important, so Okamura Neiji is here, originally deploying the entire Japanese independent mixed ninth brigade.
Although two infantry brigades have been transferred away, there are still three Japanese infantry brigades there. The most important thing is that there are complete fortifications that can be used, plus non-combat troops such as baggage and engineers, even if a reinforced regiment is dispatched , but the number of troops is still less than that of Kangbao's Japanese army.
Both of them are battle-hardened veterans, and they both know that the Japanese army's baggage troops and engineers can be converted into field infantry at any time when necessary. Although these troops are not as proficient in infantry tactics as conventional infantry, after all, this battle is against the Japanese army. It is a defensive operation, even if it is not possible to charge, but these people will have no problem hiding in the fortifications and firing outside.
According to conventional military knowledge, the amount of troops invested by the attacking side must be at least twice that of the defending side. The outcome of this battle makes neither of them very optimistic. Once the Japanese army relies on the fortification group and consumes the energy of the attacking troops, If a counterattack is launched at the right time, then the outcome of waiting for this attacking force may even be surrounded by the Japanese army outside Kangbao City.
At this time, both of them hoped in their hearts that Yang Jicai, who was the commander of this unit, could be more alert in battlefield command and never blindly fight hard to create opportunities for the Japanese army to counterattack. Although both of them knew that both Yang Jicai was asked to outnumber the enemy and entangle the independent ninth brigade.
It is quite difficult to maintain a certain degree of vigilance and not to be eaten by the Japanese army. Under normal circumstances, it is almost impossible to balance the two. It is a fish and a bear's paw. Everyone wants to have it both ways, there are so many good things on the battlefield.
This burden is a difficult task for everyone. The two of them can only hope that Yang Jicai, with his own excellent level, can complete this extremely difficult challenge. But can Yang Jicai complete this task? Which of the two people There is no guarantee. Even though they are both atheists, they can't help but secretly pray for God's blessing at this time.
In fact, although Wang Minggui strengthened the organization and equipment of the attacking troops as much as possible when mobilizing troops, in fact, the gap between the strength of the enemy and ourselves on the Kangbao front line still depends on his judgment, especially the firepower configuration. exceeded his original judgment.
Indeed, after the 26th Division was divided and encircled, in order to ensure the safety of the Chaxi battlefield, Ichiro Nanada, the commander-in-chief of the Mongolian garrison, was responsible for commanding the 26th Division, the 110th Division, and the independent ninth brigade. Lieutenant General, the rescue force of the 110th Division was entangled by the Anti-Japanese Alliance, and they had to take care of both the moral and business front lines, so their military strength was somewhat stretched.
Without waiting for Neiji Okamura's consent, he transferred two infantry brigades, a field artillery squadron, and four mountain guns from the independent mixed ninth brigade to coordinate the rescue operations of the 110th Division. In this way, the entire Kangxi There are only three Japanese infantry brigades left in the territory, plus artillery brigades, baggage trains, engineers and other troops.
Because in the view of Lieutenant General Nanada Ichiro, the focus of the entire Chaxi battlefield is now the 110th Division and the 26th Division. If these two divisions are eaten up by the anti-Japanese resistance, then there will be only eight divisions left. A thousand-man independent mixed brigade, facing an offensive supported by a large number of tanks, was simply unable to support the overall situation.
Moreover, in Ichiro Nanada's view, even if the two infantry brigades are transferred, the remaining three infantry brigades that are independently combined into the ninth brigade can still use fortifications to hold on, and nothing will happen in a short period of time. In addition, Although the Kangbao front line is located at the junction of the two battlefields, it is still a deep zone for the Chaxi battlefield.
Before the two divisions on the front are solved, the Anti-Japanese Alliance does not have the strength to launch an attack on the Kangbao front line. And if the two front divisions are solved by others, then the Kangbao front line will not only be able to protect Outside the flanks of the Chanan battlefield, it has lost a large part of its original importance.
Therefore, for the entire Chaxi battle situation, the current top priority is to ensure the stability of the front line. As for the Kangbao front line, which is still safe for the time being, there is not much danger at the moment. And if the two divisions on the front line are lost, Even if Kang Bao is safe and sound, nothing can change the situation of the war.
What is the military level of Lieutenant General Ichiro Nanada? At least judging from the current development of the war situation, it can only be said to be average. However, he remembers the Chinese idiom that Mao Zedong is attached to him very well. For him, the frontal battlefield on the Western Front is fundamental. Only when the front is defended can the flanks be of some use. If the entire frontal front is destroyed, only one flank will be useless.
Although Okamura Neiji repeatedly told him before the war, the mission of this independent mixed ninth brigade is to defend Kangbao, ensure the safety of the junction of the two battlefields, and ensure the safety of the hinterland of Suidong. Without orders, it is absolutely not allowed to be used. But with the reinforcements delayed in arriving, Nanada Ichiro no longer cared about Okamura Neji's orders.
Once the 26th Division collapsed, Ichiro Nanada really did not have the confidence to rely solely on the 110th Division to fight against the four divisions of the Anti-Japanese Alliance. Moreover, he believed that once the Chaxi battle collapsed, it would trigger a chain reaction. Chanan, Suidong's entire defense line will collapse as a whole.
Now that the fire is imminent, it is better to focus on the head first. As for the butt, let's wait until the fire burns down. Besides, for this independent mixed ninth brigade, although two infantry brigades, an artillery squadron and four mountain cannons were taken away, But it doesn't mean that his strength has really decreased too much all at once, at least not to the point of breaking his muscles and bones.
Before this mixed brigade was transferred to Kangbao, it had just participated in the third Changsha Battle within the Eleventh Army. Thanks to this battle, its troops are now not only better than other independent mixed brigades, It is fully staffed and the equipment has also been greatly strengthened.
Among the independent mixed brigades under the entire Japanese North China Front, it was one of the few front-line infantry brigade equipped with four infantry squadrons, one machine gun squadron, plus a brigade artillery squadron. Its infantry brigade organization reached one There are 1,500 people, even more than some field division infantry brigades.
The artillery brigade directly under its brigade has six field guns, twelve mountain guns, and ten rapid-fire cannons and peaceful artillery. The artillery establishment exceeds the artillery brigade under the general field division artillery wing, plus the directly subordinate engineering team. , baggage train, the entire brigade has more than 8,000 people.
The number of its artillery and some support troops is even higher than that of a C division like the 69th Division. Its total strength is only three infantry brigades less than the 69th Division, which is a security division. The Sixty-ninth Division has no field combat capabilities without increasing the number of attached troops.
But this independent mixed ninth brigade is basically a field unit of the Japanese army. It can completely independently undertake field missions without adding any additional personnel. It is different from other independent mixed brigades that mainly focus on garrison tasks and are often pulled out. Participate in field battles.
Whether it was the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain at the beginning of last year, or the large-scale raids on the North China base areas since the summer, or the Battle of Changsha at the end of last year, or the Battle of Changsha at the beginning of this year, this brigade could be seen. This independent mixed ninth brigade has been used by the Japanese army in all previous battles. During the battle, it was repeatedly used as the main force. Its combat style was unusually tough, and its overall combat effectiveness was far from inferior to that of the newly formed C Division of the Japanese army.
After being transferred to Kangbao to serve as a garrison at the junction of the two theaters, because the area to be deployed was quite critical, the North China Front strengthened it with a squadron of British 25-pound field artillery and a 3.7-inch mountain gun. squadron, plus two 4.5-inch howitzers, and an anti-aircraft gun squadron was added.
Even if an artillery squadron and four mountain guns are transferred, for this independent mixed ninth brigade, the artillery strength is not only insignificant, but the number is still greater than the original establishment because of the increase in number. In terms of light weapons, the North China Front has allocated twenty more British Vickers machine guns alone, as well as a large number of Bren light machine guns.
Because a large amount of ammunition and supplies have been stockpiled for the local area and they are engaged in defensive operations, except for one squadron each of the engineers and baggage brigades, the rest have all been converted into infantry. Although these people are not as well trained as infantry, they can hide When firing inside the fortifications, the combat effectiveness is not much inferior.
At present, its infantry firepower organization even exceeds that of the 69th Division. It is precisely because of seeing this that it is difficult for Nanada Ichiro to let such a fully equipped infantry with over-staffed firepower when the frontal battlefield is close to collapse. The brigade is leisurely on the front line of Kangbao, doing nothing leisurely.
What he knows now is that if he cannot rescue the remnants of the 26th Division, he, the commander of the Mongolian garrison, will become a mere commander. Ichiro Nanada thinks that even if he transfers two infantry brigades, he can become an independent ninth The remaining strength of the brigade is enough to defend Kangbao and deal with unexpected crises. Instead of being eaten up by the Anti-Japanese Alliance, it is better to save the 26th Division first.