Although in the eyes of many Japanese soldiers, Shanxi was far less important than Hebei. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 infoShanxi, which can be occupied with great effort, wants to give it to the Eighth Route Army, but I am afraid that it is also something that many Japanese troops cannot accept.

Although there are not many cities occupied by the Japanese army in Shanxi today, these cities are the most affluent areas in Shanxi. In these cities, the Japanese army can also obtain a lot of income and strategic resources every year.

For Japan, which lacks resources, it is somewhat reluctant to let them give up such a military powerhouse. But the current situation in Shanxi is also very clear to them, Shanxi is afraid that it will not be able to hold it.

Lou Fu was broken through by the Eighth Route Army, and it can only be said that the Eighth Route Army opened a gap to attack Taiyuan City. But the Japanese army still has some ability to hold on to this open gap. But now the fall of Yangqu City is really aware of the danger of Taiyuan City!

Although the troops in Taiyuan City are currently in power, they should be able to hold out for a while. But Itagaki knew very well that the time they could hold on was limited. In the absence of reinforcements, the fall of Taiyuan City is also a matter of time.

Whether to defend or withdraw, Itagaki seemed very entangled, and the commanders under his command who had been summoned to the meeting also seemed to have some disagreement. This situation is a headache for Itagaki, who hopes to get some opinions.

Even if Itagaki knew that they were now in Shanxi, they were more responsible for defending and guarding the occupied areas. But now, with the Eighth Route Army attacking Shanxi, they are afraid that they will not be able to hold this Taiyuan City, which is difficult to occupy.

But if he retreated like this, Itagaki also seemed a little unwilling. Whether to fight or defend, Itagaki finally chose to hand it over to the top of the North China Front to decide. That way, he might be able to suffer less punishment.

As the commander of the Shanxi Dispatch Army, if Taiyuan was lost, Itagaki would not be able to avoid being reprimanded by the military department. If it is serious, it may be punished severely, and it is also very likely.

If the situation could be reported and instructions could be requested from the front, this mistake would undoubtedly be mitigated!

After receiving the telegram from Itagaki, the North China side also looked stunned. Perhaps in their opinion, they did not expect that the situation in Shanxi had reached such a dangerous situation.

Retreat or defense has also become a matter of considerable difficulty for them to decide. But everyone knows that the longer it drags on, the worse it will be for them. There are some things that I just need to make a decision earlier!

Tadajun, who is still the commander, looked at the staff officers of the command headquarters and also had different opinions. He was also a little angry and said, "Okay, you don't have to fight anymore." I'll just ask you a question, can Taiyuan be held? ”

'Report to the general, unless we send reinforcements to Shanxi. Otherwise, with only one infantry brigade in Taiyuan at present, I am afraid that it will not be able to hold out for long. The most important thing is that once this infantry brigade is annihilated, Shanxi will really be hopeless.

At present, the 116th Division is still stranded in Changzhi to fight with the Eighth Route Army. I simply want to rely on the troops stationed in Shanxi to resist the fierce offensive of the Eighth Route Army, but I am afraid that I am still not very sure. Withdrawing from Taiyuan may be a wise choice.

Let the Fifth Division withdraw from Taiyuan City, transfer the main force to the territory of Jinzhong, and perhaps rescue the trapped 116th Division. Even if we can rescue a division of troops, it is very important for us.

If these two divisions are all lost on the Shanxi battlefield, then we will really lose too much. At present, we also do not have many troops stationed in Hebei, and we also need more troops to protect our interests in North China. ’

The operational staff officer, who listened to the main withdrawal, quickly gave such an answer. Tada Jun looked at the staff officers of the main battle and said, "What do you want to say?" With only the troops currently in Shanxi, will we be able to withstand the attack of the Eighth Route Army? ”

In response to such an inquiry, these operational staff officers of the main battle could only say: "General, if we abandon Shanxi, we will also pay huge losses." But if there are no reinforcements, the Shanxi dispatch army will not last long. ”

Although they were unwilling to give up Shanxi, these staff officers of the main battle still understood that it would be difficult to resist the attack of the Eighth Route Army with only the existing troops stationed in Shanxi. If you don't withdraw, it can only end up being a lose-lose situation.

Is Shanxi important, or is Shanxi's garrison important. Faced with such a dilemma, the staff officers of the main battle finally chose the latter. At least in their opinion, as long as the troops can still be retained, there is always a chance for a counterattack.

If these two divisions were all lost in Taiyuan City, they would be able to kill and injure a group of the Eighth Route Army. But in the end, it is very likely that there will be a situation where both people and cities are lost. Retreat, in fact, is also a very rational choice.

The staff officers accompanying the main battle were no longer silent, and Tada Jun didn't say anything more, so he could only say: "Send electricity to the Shanxi army, if you can't do anything, let them retreat!"

After entering Jinzhong, if there is an opportunity, the 116th Division should break through from the territory of Changzhi. Japanese troops in other areas of Shanxi also withdrew into Hebei as quickly as possible to temporarily avoid the front. ”

When this telegram reached Itagaki's hands, Itagaki could only say: "Order the troops, be ready to evacuate Taiyuan City at any time." In addition, the troops on the front line were ordered to delay the offensive of the Eighth Route Army as much as possible. ”

After receiving such an order, Itagaki also knew that the front army had already helped him bear the pressure. But if you really want to give up Taiyuan City, Itagaki still feels a pity. After all, this is the capital city of Shanxi, and it will be difficult to give up and occupy it again next time.

As far as the current situation is concerned, once the Eighth Route Army recovers the entire territory of Shanxi, it means that the Eighth Route Army will also own the land of two provinces. Even their strategic frontier can advance to the border of Hebei, which will also endanger Hebei's security in the future.

But if they don't retreat, even if they hold on to Taiyuan City, they won't be able to hold out for long. After all, the North China Front simply had no way to draw reinforcements to support. How long can Shanxi's troops hold out?

When Itagaki ordered the troops defending the city to be ready to evacuate Taiyuan City at any time. Taiyuan City, which has entered a state of martial law, has also become very depressed and quiet. As for the people in the city, they also locked the door early and hid in the cellar.

Why don't you hide at home, the fundamental reason is still worried that the Eighth Route Army may launch an artillery bombardment after a big war. When the time comes, if you stay at home, you are likely to be hit by shells.

If you hide in the cellar, it's relatively safe. Even if someone broke into their home, it would be difficult to detect their existence without opening the cellar. In that case, it should be safer for them to come out again after the battle is over.

Taiyuan City, which imposed martial law, also seemed exceptionally quiet and depressing. Compared with the Japanese army, who were vigilant about the movements outside the city and in the city, the puppet soldiers who cooperated with the Japanese army to defend the city seemed a little worried.

Even if they didn't know much about the situation outside the city, looking at those busy Japanese soldiers, they also knew that the situation was not optimistic. Once the Eighth Route Army launches a siege battle, I am afraid that they will not end well.

Just after the Japanese army decided to withdraw from Taiyuan City, only retaining a part of the troops to defend the city and buy time for the retreating troops. The commandos who had infiltrated Taiyuan City in advance also began to make final preparations.

The weapons that had been buried in the city earlier were also excavated and equipped by them in advance. During this time, in addition to inquiring about the intelligence of the Japanese army, they also closed their doors, waiting for the arrival of the sortie at any time.

The commando team who was on standby in a large mansion looked at the liaison officer who suddenly ran from the tunnel, and said in surprise: "Shopkeeper Xu, why did you come here at this time?" Isn't the little devil under martial law in the whole city? ”

'It's okay! I came from the tunnel, and I didn't alarm the little devils. The situation is only afraid of changes, and the little devil seems to be planning to retreat. Previously, the Japanese army went to my grain store to urgently transfer a batch of grain, and I inquired with the little devil who led the team.

After spending a little money, the little devil finally told me that they were going to withdraw from Taiyuan City tonight. Hurry up and report the situation to the command and see what new orders the command has. Is it to let the little devils retreat, or to close the door and fight the dogs! ’

As many people in Taiyuan City, they know that they are close to the little devils. The commandos who entered the city knew that the shopkeeper Xu in front of him was actually the head of their liaison station lurking in Taiyuan.

A lot of the latest situation about the Japanese army was also revealed to the command. Now the Japanese army seems to be under martial law in the whole city, but in fact, they are secretly collecting strategic materials in the city and preparing for a secret evacuation.

Similar to the Fuyuan grain store, which was considered friendly by the Japanese army, it was also one of the targets of the little devil's robbery at this time. As for the grain in the grain store, the grain that was pulled away by the little devil, the little devil only opened a white note.

But the problem is that if you don't pull food for these little devils, everyone in the food store will be in danger. Whether you want money or your life has also become a choice that these grain bank managers in the city need to make. At this time, naturally no one dared to provoke the little devils.

When this information reached He Zhengdao, He Zhengdao, who learned of this situation, also looked very happy and said: "It seems that the little devil is very smart and has made a wise choice." It's smarter to go on your own than to let us go!

Order the assault troops in the city to let the Japanese retreat from Taiyuan City first. However, the troops it retains in the city must also be monitored by the commandos. At the same time, a reconnaissance regiment was ordered to enter Taiyuan City at night through an underground tunnel.

As for the Second Reconnaissance Regiment, it is necessary to set up a blocking position outside the city of Taiyuan. At the same time, the 2nd Division and 3rd Regiment were ordered to slow down the attack a little, and strive to advance the troops to the city of Taiyuan at night.

The remaining regiments of the 2nd Division did not need to rush to Taiyuan City, and waited for orders from the headquarters outside Taiyuan City at any time. Once the 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment launched an attack, the artillery brigade joined the main force of the 2nd Division to encircle and annihilate the Japanese troops out of the city! ”

'Yes, Commander! ’

In He Zhengdao's view, blocking the main force of the Japanese army in Taiyuan City will undoubtedly cause considerable losses to the attacking troops. But if they fight the little devils outside the city, I believe it will be much easier for them.

He Zhengdao, who had so many troops at hand, naturally would not let the little devils in Taiyuan City retreat easily. In his opinion, how can these little devils who have plagued Shanxi for a long time easily let them leave Shanxi! (To be continued.) )