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may feel that in the direction of Datong and Suiyuan, there are encirclement and suppression troops attacking the Eighth Route Army. As the Japanese puppet army in Huade, Shangdu and other places in the rear, they all seemed to be very relieved, and felt that they did not have to worry about the threat of the Eighth Route Army.

As for the Japanese army in Xinghe City, as the rear material transfer station of this encirclement and suppression battle, many guards were also stationed in the vehicles. It's just that the Japanese troops stationed in Xinghe couldn't imagine that a disguised infantry brigade had mixed in.

As a result, after the reconnaissance brigade's disguised Japanese battalion successfully infiltrated Xinghe City in the name of escorting troops. With the cooperation of the 1st Division that launched an attack outside, the Japanese troops in Xinghe City did not expect that someone would shoot in the back.

Even when the battle began, the commander of the Japanese army stationed in Xinghe City was killed by the commander of the reconnaissance battalion who pretended to be the captain of the baggage. This is also the reason why the defenders of Xinghe City will send a farewell message so quickly.

With the successful capture of Xinghe City by the First Division, the strategic passage connecting North China with Ulanqab and Suiyuan was completely blocked by the Eighth Route Army. After receiving this farewell telegram, the North China Front realized that the 12th Division was in trouble.

What they didn't expect was that Zhangjiakou Airport, which was pouring rain that night, was also attacked at night. The airport guard was hit hard, and the planes parked on the tarmac were also badly destroyed.

The most serious thing was the aerial bomb they had just delivered to the airport, which was also blown up by the night raiders. The entire airport is in a mess, and even if the airport can still take off and land planes, I am afraid that it will not be able to provide multiple batches of air support to the troops at the front.

Looking at the telegrams sent from various places asking for help, as well as the losses reported from various places, the counties calling for help marked one after another on the map, and the headquarters of the North China Front Army, which couldn't sleep all night, also looked very depressed and dignified.

The orderlies who were responsible for taking care of Sugiyama Moto, who had cleaned the combat command room several times before. Every time he received a telegram asking for help, Sugiyama would angrily smash things, and even make angry use of these orderlies.

'Eight Gyalu! How did things come to this? When, our North China Front was so bullied by a Chinese army. Damn, these Eighth Route Army are all damned! Why, our troops everywhere did not find anything before? ’

Facing Sugiyama Moto, who was thunderous, Chief of Staff Yamashita Fufumi could only persuade: "Your Excellency, you can't blame our garrison troops for this. It can only be said that we know too little about the Eighth Route Army, and these guys are really too cunning.

Who would have thought that in the face of the encirclement and suppression of our army, they would hide so many main forces. From the current strength of the troops projected by the Eighth Route Army in various places, I am afraid that it will only reach nearly 200,000. That's a full double the number of troops we had previously estimated.

Most importantly, these Eighth Route Armies would rather fight bloody battles at the front than garrison more troops on the front line. I'm afraid that from before we start the war, they have made a battle plan to encircle the 12th Division. It can only be said that we underestimated the enemy! ”

For the erodent battle situation at the moment, Yamashita Fengfu can find words to convince himself and comfort Sugiyama Moto, and he can only comfort himself with the reason of 'underestimating the enemy'. What else could he say?

When the 1st Division began to deploy in the Xinghe area, the temporary rapid reaction division, which was concurrently the division commander of He Zhengdao, also advanced rapidly to Ulanqab City. In the face of the encircled Eighth Route Army, the defenders of Ulanqab were also panicked.

The defenders of Ulanqab, who had just sent away the 12th Division not long ago, did not expect that at this time, they would be besieged by the Eighth Route Army. What alarmed them the most was that there were not many defenders in the city at the moment.

During this time, they received telegrams from the Front Army every day, urging them to send supplies to the 12th Division. As a result, most of the defenders stationed in Ulanqab also served as baggage guards, transporting supplies to the Kwantung Army on the front line.

But many of these troops who left the city have gone and never returned. After going back and forth, when the Eighth Route Army began to besiege the city, the commander of the garrison in the city suddenly discovered that the troops under his command had unknowingly lost half of them.

Upon learning of this, the garrison commander immediately said: "Call the defenders of the various strongholds and ask them to return to the main city as soon as possible." Abandoning the outlying strongholds, send a telegram to the Front Command for help. In addition, a telegram was sent to the 12th Division, asking them to send troops back. ”

It is very clear that the city of Ulanqab is very important for both the North China Front and the Kwantung Army. If this strategic place is lost, the next Chahar and Rehe areas will be under the offensive edge of the Eighth Route Army.

With the return of the defenders of each stronghold, Ulanqab City, which was originally stationed in one brigade, still has only one wing of more than one guard unit. Even if there are many puppet Mongolian troops to help defend the city, these soldiers are afraid that they will be overwhelmed.

When the telegram for help from Ulanqab City was transmitted to the headquarters of the North China Front, as well as to the 12th Division that was preparing to retreat. Seitaro Yamamura also realized that their back road had been blocked by the Eighth Route Army.

What worries Kiyotaro Yamamura even more is that the road, which was fine when he came before, has now become dilapidated. The deep pits that could be seen everywhere, and the mines that made the Japanese soldiers tremble at every step, made him feel like he was stuck in a quagmire.

also has this feeling, and the brigade commander Hitomi Shuzo, who does not even have an infantry wing under his command. In response to the current Eighth Route Army, a counterattack has begun against them, and the only remaining troops in Xiusan's hands are getting smaller and fewer.

Faced with such a situation, Higami Shuizo found Yamamura Seitaro again and said, "Your Excellency, Division Commander, in view of the current situation, I'm afraid that we need to make some sacrifices. Otherwise, we would not have been able to break through the encirclement of the Eighth Route Army at all.

In addition, my infantry units need to be replenished with soldiers. I suggest that all the division's engineers, baggage troops, and some artillery be converted into infantry and join my infantry brigade. Even, if necessary, abandon heavy artillery, tanks and armored vehicles. ”

With these words, Seitaro Yamamura said angrily, "Do you know what you're talking about? Abandoning heavy artillery, tanks and armored vehicles, how can we break through? With just two legs, can we break through to safety from here?

Even if the breakthrough is successful and so much valuable equipment is discarded, how can you let me explain to the military department? What will others think of our actions? Without heavy artillery, will we be able to break through with infantry alone? ”

After some questioning was thrown, people saw Xiusan still calmly said: "Your Excellency the division commander, you should know that at present, our baggage troops are running out of fuel. The most important thing is that the Eighth Route Army has seriously damaged the truth at present.

Now we spend a lot of time every day repairing these damaged roads. With the help of tanks and cars, our chances of success will be greatly increased. But will the Eighth Route Army give us enough time to break out?

If we give up these things that slow us down on the march, we will be able to move flexibly. As long as we succeed in reorganizing the existing nearly 20,000 troops, we will have two infantry brigades.

If we are reluctant to give up those burdens, our entire division will be dragged down here. The most important situation is that the air force closest to us is no longer able to provide air support for us. ”

The person who made this suggestion and conceived it, Mitsuzo, also understood how many people would oppose his suggestion. But he knew that this was the only way it was possible to preserve the Twelfth Division at the moment.

The chief of staff of the division and regiment, who was standing next to him, was taken aback by the suggestion made by Shuzo in sight. But after thinking about it, he also felt that it made sense. If they were reluctant to do so, they would not be able to travel more than ten kilometers in a day.

At this speed, let alone converging with other troops, even if they consume the food they currently have in reserve, it is estimated that they will not be able to get out of the Zhuozi area. What's more, there is not much way out in front of them now.

The Datong reinforcements, who have always been in contact, still failed to make a breakthrough at this moment. As for the 24th Infantry Brigade, it is still holding out. But without reinforcements, I'm afraid they won't be able to hold out for long.

It can be said that at such a critical time, there are really not many options left for the 12th Division. Is it the equipment that matters, or is the existence of their divisions important? As long as you are there, the equipment can be replenished sooner or later.

If the people are gone, won't these equipment still fall into the hands of the Eighth Route Army? This truth, as long as you think about it, it is not difficult to understand. Most importantly, it's not easy to make this decision!

Knowing that tanks and heavy artillery are important to the chief of staff of the division and regiment, in the end he can only say: "Your Excellency the division commander, we must make some sacrifices at present. At the very least, the engineers and baggage units were incorporated into the 12th Infantry Brigade.

At present, there are more and more Eighth Route Army gathered next to us, and the small number of troops in the hands of the commander of the Renjian Brigade alone cannot stop the Eighth Route Army's attack on us at all. The most important thing now is to get out of here as soon as possible. ”

Compared to the people who saw Xiuzo, he wanted the entire division to be reorganized into infantry. The chief of staff's suggestion can be said to make Seitaro Yamamura feel a little better. After all, the tank and heavy artillery brigades were retained, and Kiyotaro Yamamura also found it acceptable.

Although for this suggestion, people still don't feel very willing. can see the chief of staff of the division and regiment who gave him an eye, and people know it when they see Xiusan. There are some things that you still can't be in a hurry!

On the other hand, the independent column that launched a counterattack at this moment, all the troops were thrown into battle as quickly as possible. Even in this encirclement and annihilation battle that revolved around the 12th Division, guerrilla units from all over the country were thrown into battle.

Even if they are more of a guard and a force transporting supplies, their presence does solve a lot of difficulties for the main force. Under the organization of these guerrilla brigades, the base of the population also joined in the support of the front-line fighting.

Regarding such a situation, He Zhengdao also sighed that perhaps with the development and growth of the independent column, this kind of situation of the people supporting the front will become more and more frequent in the future. Fortunately, for such a thing, the main forces everywhere hope that the more the better! (To be continued.) )