But for the North China General Front Committee and the officers and soldiers below who are still immersed in the joy of victory, all they can think about now is how to kill the Japanese 1st Army of the North China Front trapped in Shanxi...
Due to the frequent reports of good news, the North China General Front Committee was full of confidence in the elimination of the two Japanese divisions. After all, the total number of troops under its direct control alone was no less than 400,000, and after the defeat at Xinkou, the Central Army Wei Lihuang's Department retreated to southwest Shanxi.
, the Shanxi-Sui Army Yan Xishan and the remnants of Fu Zuoyi's 35th Army also expressed their intention to participate in this battle, bringing the total number of Chinese troops to more than 500,000, while the Japanese's total strength was only more than 50,000, and they were also
Trapped in the natural cage formed by the terrain of Shanxi, with a 10:1 military advantage, air superiority and artillery fire, if we can't win, everyone can find a piece of tofu and kill them...
Although the strength of the Japanese North China Front Army has greatly increased, the Japanese who were frightened by lightning tactics no longer dare to attack hastily. Instead, one division after another is working step by step to recover the "lost ground". The forward troops will stop to build fortifications and wait for the rear after advancing dozens of kilometers.
The troops took over the defense and then moved forward. This was much safer, but it wasted a lot of time. The Chinese ** team was able to calmly organize the defense line to block the attack, thus eliminating the biggest obstacle to the annihilation of the 50,000 Japanese troops in Shanxi.
Hidden worries......
At this time, Itagaki Seishiro, who had repeatedly failed to attack Nakajo Mountain, had been forced to retreat to Taiyuan. However, both he and the commander of the 1st Army, Lieutenant General Kozuki Kiyoshi, were full of despair about the future. With few artillery shells left,
Faced with the cruel reality that air superiority has fallen to the enemy's side, even Seishiro Itagaki, who once claimed to have "defeated China's 300,000-strong army with half a division," also knows how unsatisfactory it is to defeat a Chinese army that is ten times larger than one's own.
Practical, but looking at the dull-eyed Commander, Lieutenant General Kozuki Kiyoshi, he still encouraged him loudly, "Your Excellency, Commander, please cheer up. Although the current situation is very unfavorable, as long as we hold on for one month, the empire's
Reinforcements will surely open up the Pingsui Line!"
"One month? It only took one day for China's 15th Army to annihilate a full standing division. It was just one day, Itagaki-kun! Do you think they would give the Imperial Army a month?" Xiangyue Seiji patted nervously.
The table shouted, if the grassroots officers and soldiers of the 1st Army saw that their commander had become like this, their military morale would probably collapse...
When Seishiro Itagaki saw this, he was furious. Regardless of his dignity, he shouted angrily, "Senior Xiangyue, the so-called one day is just Chinese propaganda! And according to my speculation, the Nakajima Division should have crashed into the enemy's superior force on the plain.
Among them, there is a lack of cover from fortifications, otherwise such a result cannot be explained in any case. As long as there are perfect fortifications to rely on, it is impossible for any powerful country in the world to wipe out a full force of the Imperial Army in one day, let alone the Chinese.
A permanent division!"
"Thank you, Itagaki-kun. I feel much better now." Lieutenant General Xiangzuki Seiji, who had somewhat regained some confidence, squeezed out a smile and said, but he immediately asked, "I have always admired Itagaki-kun's talent.
, please tell me, is it really possible for us to hold Taiyuan for a month? If we hold it for a month, can the empire's reinforcements reach here? Tell the truth!"
Faced with the commander's final shout, Itagaki Seishiro did not dare to lie. He could only tell the truth in frustration, "No, we can't hold on for a month. Even if we are lucky enough to hold on, the empire's reinforcements will not arrive in time!"
"I'm glad you didn't lie to me, Itagaki-kun." After hearing this, Xiangzuki Seiji was no longer as depressed as before. Instead, there was a special look on his face. After a while, he suddenly stood up and bowed heavily to Itagaki Seishiro.
He bowed and said, "Itagaki-kun, I am an incompetent commander. I should stay here to be loyal to His Majesty the Emperor and to atone for my own incompetence. But you are different. You are the most outstanding general in the empire, bar none! No."
You should die so early in the hands of the Chinese, you have to live! The empire's grand hegemony needs you! There are two planes at the airport. You choose some young officers you think have a future and leave with you. I know this is very dangerous, maybe
You may be intercepted by enemy aircraft, you may lose your route, or the aircraft may malfunction and crash on its own, but it is better than staying here and waiting to die! You don’t have to worry about being punished when you go back, I will give you an order, and the military will also deal with it.
Punish me, the commander...”….
Itagaki Seishiro shook his head when he heard this, but he did not want to stay and wait for death, but because the order from the commander, Lieutenant General Kozuki Kiyoshi, suddenly opened his mind. Before the commander could speak, he answered first,
"If only some people are allowed to survive, I have a better idea. The success may be greater, and more imperial elites may be brought out. Even if unfortunately we fail, we will die in the attack instead of escaping.
Killed in action!"
After hearing this, Kozuki Kiyoshi was deeply impressed and immediately praised, "As expected of Itagaki-kun, the enemy is so powerful, yet he can find the weak point so quickly."
Upon hearing this, Itagaki Seishiro sighed, "Only one infantry regiment can be brought out at most, and not even heavy machine guns and infantry cannons, otherwise this plan has no chance of success."
After all, Itagaki, who unexpectedly had a chance to survive, would not stay to be buried with the commander and the others. Since the forwards of the Chinese ** team were not far from Taiyuan, it only took Seiji Kozuki and Itagaki an hour to finalize the list.
At the end of the battle, one of the technical arms and non-combatants were not available, because Itagaki believed that there might not be fierce battles on the road, and when there was no advantage in firepower, the combat effectiveness of each soldier was very important.
If you are Chinese, no matter how high your consciousness is, you will definitely have to take the time to explain this kind of thing to the list, otherwise the officers and soldiers who think it is unfair will definitely not be able to accept it, and the Japanese army's good obedience and extremely strict respect for superiors and inferiors will be reflected at this time.
If you have an advantage, the commander can just give the order directly, which saves a lot of time. Of course, it is even more important that the coach Xiang Yue Qingji is left for everyone to die together...
Kozuki Seiji originally wanted to send a report to the North China Front Army Headquarters to let them prepare for the response, but Itagaki Seishiro immediately stopped him and said, "Don't send the report. I suspect that the password has been leaked. Commander, don't you think it's strange?"
?Where we attack, the enemy must be well prepared, but our attacking troops often run into the enemy's encirclement. Even if they have intelligence advantages in local operations, it is not so exaggerated. It is as if they have been prepared for every move we make.
Just know..." (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to (.) to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my biggest motivation.)