As the gateway to and from Taiyuan, Yangqu is undoubtedly also a military town guarded by the Japanese army. Pen ~ Fun ~ Pavilion www.biquge.info is just for He Zhengdao, when he snatched the spoils of the Japanese army earlier, he led the reconnaissance brigade to capture Yangqu.

Although Yangqu was later recaptured by the Japanese army, in fact, many people know that if Yangqu is lost, it means that the door to Taiyuan is wide open. In this way, Itagaki naturally takes this place very seriously.

Setting this place as the second stop of the attack on Taiyuan was also He Zhengdao's intention to let Lou Fu's offensive divert the attention of the Japanese army. Although He Zhengdao knew that the Japanese army would not always be so careless, a surprise attack could better reduce the offensive losses of the troops.

As planned earlier, the 1st Division raided the Japanese defensive positions in Lou An. And overnight, when the troops were advanced to the territory of Jiaocheng, Itagaki who received the news was also taken aback.

'What about that?' A main division of the Eighth Route Army has already attacked the territory of Jiaocheng? How is this possible? What about our troops in Lou Fu? Why didn't the news come out in time, what did the 42nd Wing eat? ’

Facing Itagaki who was first shocked and then angry, the intelligence officer in charge of reporting also said bitterly: "General, it's not that the 42nd Infantry Wing failed to deliver the news in time. It was that the Eighth Route Army had already planned it, and their raid was too fast.

According to the information we have so far, the Eighth Route Army used at least one main division, plus two artillery regiments, to attack Loufu. Heavy artillery was even used to bombard our main defensive positions without declaring a war.

At that time, the 42nd Wing was really meeting on the position, and it was very unfortunate that the Wing Commander was shattered in the first round of shelling. The entire infantry wing simply lost its command system in the process of blocking the attack.

As for the other blocking forces in Lou Fu, the news also failed to come out in time. Many of the defensive posts and fortresses we have arranged have been secretly attacked by the elite teams of the Eighth Route Army. These Eighth Route Army made a long-distance attack overnight.

Judging from the current situation, the troops we deployed in Jiaocheng are afraid that they will not be able to stop them for too long. Although the number of this unit is not known for the time being, judging from this style of operation, it should be the handiwork of an independent column. ”

'Independent columns? Didn't they fight in the Henan theater of operations? ’

Faced with the intelligence officer's analysis, Itagaki felt very puzzled and asked again. Nowadays, many people know that the reason for dragging the Japanese army into the big quagmire of the Battle of Henan is also inseparable from the independent column reorganized into the new 67th Army.

How could an independent column that was obviously fighting in Henan at the moment come to Shanxi?

Listening to Itagaki's inquiry, the intelligence officer quickly said, "General, according to the information we learned from Chongqing. He Zhengdao, the commander who commanded the new 67th Army earlier, seems to have been relieved of his post as commander by the Eighth Route Army.

At present, he is replaced by the deputy commander of the new 67th Army. The reason given to Chongqing by the Eighth Route Army was that it seemed that in the previous battle, the new 67th Army suffered relatively large losses, and the person surnamed He was punished.

But now it seems that it is only afraid that this is a conspiracy. According to what we have learned, the independent column should have retained a lot of the main force on the Yulin side. And this time it was these left-behind troops who attacked us.

I dare to make such a judgment because this attack force did not use a regiment of heavy artillery units. Such a heavy artillery unit, in the entire Eighth Route Army, only an independent column is equipped.

Although we don't have much useful information in our hands for the time being, if nothing else, the commander of the Eighth Route Army who commanded the attack on us this time should be this He Zhengdao. Come to think of it, they came to Taiyuan! ”

Although there is no way to find out too much useful information from within the Eighth Route Army. As an intelligence officer of the Japanese army in Shanxi, it is also very easy to make some judgments about the battle situation based on some known information.

But for Itagaki , when he heard that He Zhengdao commanded the troops to attack Taiyuan this time, he also felt a little bad in his heart. The name of the person, the shadow of the tree, He Zhengdao was already a very formidable opponent for many Japanese commanders.

Fighting against such an opponent, a careless one will have a very bad end!

'Yaga! It seems that we still underestimated the determination of the Eighth Route Army, they really dared to fight on two fronts. If we attack our commander this time, it will be really this righteous way. Then the troops currently in Yangquan are also the troops under his command.

Draw our attention with Yangquan's troops, and then make a quick sneak attack from Lou Fu. The purpose of this is also very simple, that is, he wants to flank us and fight us in a decisive battle in Shanxi. This He Zhengdao is very arrogant and bold! ’

After listening to the intelligence officer's analysis, Itagaki still felt that there was some truth. And after such deliberation and analysis, Itagaki had already guessed that the Third Infantry Division currently attacking Yangquan was used to confuse and divert their attention.

Just as Itagaki was guessing He Zhengdao and what move he would make next, a confidential staff officer quickly walked in and said: "Report to the general, there is an urgent telegram from Jiaocheng, and the Eighth Route Army is attacking them!" ”

Looking at the rescue telegram handed by the staff officer, Itagaki also had a headache and said, "Yaga, you need support everywhere." But in our hands, where can we still draw troops out? This tactic of multi-point flowering is indeed very vicious! ”

The 116th Division, which could have been used as reinforcements, was directly besieged by the Eighth Route Army in the Changzhi area, and now it is difficult to break through, let alone want them to provide reinforcements. This means that Itagaki really doesn't have many troops at his disposal.

Even in the city of Taiyuan, he also kept an infantry brigade. But he knew very well that this was the unit he was guarding. If this army is also transferred, when the Eighth Route Army is approaching the city, Taiyuan will not have to defend it at all.

But the problem now is that if you don't send troops to increase the city, once the friendship is lost. Then the Eighth Route Army can also directly push the troops to the city of Taiyuan, and even cut off their communication channel with Jinzhong.

Faced with such a situation, the intelligence officer thought for a while and said, "General, there is no room for loss in the city. Even if we can't withstand the offensive of the Eighth Route Army, we must slow down their attack and give us a little more time to prepare.

At present, in Jinyuan, we still have a force, which may be able to be drawn out of Chi** City. At least for the time being, in the vicinity of Taiyuan, we have not found a large number of armed members of the Eighth Route Army. This means that the vicinity of Taiyuan is safe for a short time. ”

'You're talking about the 46th Independent Mixed Brigade?' ’

'Yes, General! Although the combat effectiveness of this mixed brigade is somewhat different from that of our infantry brigades. But many of the soldiers in that unit were our expatriates and domestic conscripts.

Compared with the transfer of those imperial alliance troops, I think it is safer to transfer this mixed brigade. Let them send an infantry wing to gallop through the city as fast as possible, and the rest of the troops set up a blocking line near Taiyuan.

Judging from the tactics of the Eighth Route Army attacking Lou Fu, they were afraid that they also wanted to end the battle earlier. The faster they want to go, the more we have to prolong the fight. As long as the 116th Division can break through, we may still have a chance to turn defeat into victory! ’

The independent mixed brigade was also the garrison security force of the Japanese army. It's just that compared to those recruited puppet army units, the combat effectiveness of the mixed brigade is definitely stronger. Against the Eighth Route Army, the offense can't be won, but the defense is still okay.

Looking at the map, Itagaki said with a little worry: "The mixed brigade of Jinyuan is transferred, so what about our defense in the direction of Qingxu?" You know, in the territory of Luliang, there is still a main division of the Eighth Route Army? ”

'General, according to the information we have, the main force of the Eighth Route Army, which is currently in Lüliang, has sent no less than two regiments of the main force into the Changzhi area to block our 116th Division. They don't have many troops left.

As for Qingxu, we also deployed an infantry wing there. As long as the vigilance is strengthened, I believe that there will be no such thing as Lou Fu. Without the cooperation of heavy artillery units, it would be difficult for them to break through our defensive blocking network. ’

Hearing what the intelligence officer said, Itagaki felt somewhat reasonable. It's just that in his heart, there seems to be a faint worry. If Jinyuan's mixed brigade is transferred, then there will really be no troops left around Taiyuan.

can think of today's intelligence, and he can only tear down the east wall and make up the west wall in such a way that he is so aggrieved. If the troops are not dispatched to reinforce in time, perhaps the Eighth Route Army will be able to drive straight into Taiyuan City and attack the city of Taiyuan with all its might.

In the end, the intelligence officer's suggestion was adopted, and Itagaki did not transfer the infantry brigade stationed in Taiyuan, but sent out the only reserve in his possession. He Zhengdao, who received the news, was somewhat surprised by this.

It's just that thinking of the reconnaissance regiment that is currently near Jinzhong and Jinyuan, He Zhengdao feels that this mixed brigade has been transferred, so the reconnaissance regiment used to deal with Jinzhong can be vacated. This means that the capture of Taiyuan is more certain.

Thinking of this, He Zhengdao quickly said: "Send a report to the Second Reconnaissance Regiment in Jinzhong, and ask them to take advantage of the opportunity for the Japanese army to move into a mixed brigade to go to the location of the first regiment to assemble, and cooperate with the first regiment to prepare for a surprise attack on Taiyuan." ”

He Zhengdao did not feel a little regretful that he could not transfer some more troops from the infantry brigade in Taiyuan. An extra reconnaissance regiment means that the raid on Taiyuan is also more secure. Two reconnaissance regiments are also more certain against one infantry brigade.

Of course, there is still the battle of Yangqu that is about to start yet. If Itagaki knew, Yangqu would also be taken down by him. When the time comes, what choice will he make? Do you want to defend Taiyuan and fight to the death, or give up Taiyuan for evacuation?

If he could help Itagaki make a choice, He Zhengdao naturally hoped that Banyuan would abandon Taiyuan City and lead the remaining infantry brigades to retreat in the direction of Jinzhong or Yangquan. In this way, he will be able to recover Taiyuan without bloodshed.

It's just that judging from the current situation, it is indeed a little difficult for Itagaki to make such a choice. But how will Itagaki choose, we have to wait until we win Yangqu to see the move! (To be continued.) )