Since the Eighth Route Army regained the Jingjing Coal Mine, and fought against the North China Front Army around the Shijiazhuang area for several days. The defense area of the Japanese army in North China near Shijiazhuang www.biquge.info now is undoubtedly much smaller than before.

Although Okamura Ninji later supplemented the reinforcements of a division here, in the face of the three main armies of the Eighth Route Army attacking at this moment, the Japanese army still felt the oppressive force, and it seemed that the Eighth Route Army was attacking there.

For the Japanese troops stationed here, the defenders who are qualified to be equipped with artillery units are naturally relatively important areas for defense. In some other less important areas, the Japanese puppet army stationed in it was not the opponent of the Eighth Route Army.

One outpost after another was captured, and the main position was not spared. The Japanese commander stationed in Shijiazhuang seemed very surprised by the speed of the rout of his troops. I think this defeat is too fast!

'General, the Zhao County garrison has just sent a telegram that the defensive position of their brigade has been broken by the Eighth Road. At present, the remnants of the unit are being blocked, and I ask the general to send troops to support as soon as possible and give tactical guidance! ’

Listening to the report of the combat staff officer, the Japanese lieutenant general said in surprise: "The battle has only been going on for less than two hours, and we have deployed a brigade there. How is it possible, you can't even hold on for two hours? ”

'Report to the general, the Eighth Route Army attacking Zhao County should be the 129th Division of the original Eighth Route Army. When they attacked, they used cluster artillery fire, and the main position of our army was seriously damaged, and the artillery units were also heavily damaged by the opponent.

Most importantly, the combat effectiveness of this unit should have been greatly expanded compared with the previous ones. Several positions on the periphery of Zhao County were captured by the Eighth Route Army. If they don't retreat, I'm afraid they will also be surrounded by the Eighth Road. ’

The combat staff officer explained at the right time, which made the Japanese lieutenant general's expression soften slightly. At this moment, a staff officer who had just come out of the confidential room handed him an urgent telegram at the right time.

'The Dingzhou garrison sent an urgent telegram, and the Eighth Route launched a fierce attack on its defensive positions, and the enemy artillery fire was fierce. They were putting up stubborn resistance, but the commander of the garrison sent a telegram begging the general to send troops to support, but they were afraid that they would not last long. ’

The troops on both flanks defending Shijiazhuang were attacked by the Eighth Route Army, and the main force defending Shijiazhuang was also attacked by the original 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army. Such a situation really made the Japanese lieutenant general feel that the war situation was worrisome.

Looking at the map hanging in the combat command room, the lieutenant general said with a headache: "Baga! How so? This was the first round of attack, and our troops could not resist it. When was our combat effectiveness weakened to this point? ”

While he was unwilling, the lieutenant general also knew that the reason why the troops would be defeated so quickly was more because the artillery fire of the Eighth Route Army was too fierce. In addition, the opponent's crowd tactics did make the troops somewhat powerless.

Just as he pondered what to do next, an operational staff officer said: "General, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold it here!" If we don't plan early, once the retreat is blocked by the Eighth Route Army, we won't be able to withdraw if we want to! ”

Such a suggestion made the lieutenant general a little annoyed and said, "Baga, are you still an officer of the empire?" Now that the Eighth Route hasn't hit here, are we going to take the initiative to retreat? No, we have to find a way to stop them! ”

As a result, another staff officer soon said: "General, judging from the current situation, unless we send out all the existing reserve troops, it will be possible to stop the rapid assault of the Eighth Route Army." But if we send these troops, we will be in danger.

Judging from the tactics currently being implemented by the Eighth Route, they definitely want to encircle our army on three sides. If we can't withdraw to the rear in time, I'm afraid that we may all be surrounded by the Eighth Route Army. Earlier, the Langfang garrison also sent a telegram that they were also attacked.

Once the Eighth Route Army occupies Langfang and even blocks our retreat, then the tens of thousands of troops we are now stationed here may be completely annihilated by the Eighth Route Army. If we lose, then the situation between Beiping and Tianyin will be dangerous! ”

Although many little devil officers were unwilling to retreat, the current situation told them very clearly. If they did not retreat, they would be in danger of being surrounded by the Eighth Route Army. Once it is encircled, it is really dangerous.

It was also at this time that a Japanese major general suddenly said: "General, leave me a brigade of troops, and you can lead the other troops to retreat first!" I'll be here and fight to the death against the Eight Roads! ”

Listening to the general's words, the lieutenant general said thoughtfully: "The number of troops in the city is not much, and I am afraid that it is unlikely that you will keep a brigade." If I want to retreat, I have to bring all the elite to the rear.

Fukuyama-kun, I'll leave you with an infantry wing and a puppet army brigade. In addition, the heavy artillery units of the division and regiment are also left to you. The subsequent troops withdrawn here will also be under your command.

I need you to hold on here for at least three days to buy time for the main force to retreat. If necessary, I will ask Your Excellency the Commander to send the Air Force to provide air support starting tomorrow.

If there is a chance in the future, I hope you can lead the troops out of the city safely. Maybe I was too careless and didn't realize that this time, the Eighth Route would send so many troops! ”

An infantry wing plus a puppet army brigade is naturally not much. But the major general also knew that if the troops that withdrew to the city were added in the future, then the troops he could command were likely to have about one brigade in the end.

'Good! As long as I'm alive, I'll hold on for three days! ’

There was a major general who took the initiative to ask for orders to stay, and the Japanese lieutenant general no longer bothered about anything. Soon an order was given to the troops to prepare to retreat, except for some supplies reserved for the garrison troops, all the rest of the materials that could be transported were sent away.

As for why heavy artillery was retained, the reason was, naturally, that heavy artillery was not suitable for carrying a breakthrough. Even if the passage of their retreat is still in their hearts. But the lieutenant general felt that since he wanted to withdraw quickly, he had to be quick.

Perhaps, as Okamura Ninji said earlier, the final decisive battle will be held on the periphery of Tianyuan and Beiping. As long as he can bring more of the troops stationed here back to the rear, maybe Okamura Ninji won't blame him.

Since it was decided that the main forces would retreat, the Japanese lieutenant general no longer hesitated anything. Soon send a telegram to the commanders of the troops in charge of the two flanks, telling them to block the attack and ensure the safety of the main force's retreat.

By dawn, the Japanese Army Air Force at the Beiping Airport also began to take off and rush to the Shijiazhuang battlefield. What they had to do was to provide cover for the main forces and ensure that they could safely withdraw to the rear.

Another role of the Air Force is naturally to deter the artillery units of the Eighth Route Army. According to the information received last night, the Eighth Route Army used multiple artillery clusters this time, and it is necessary for the Air Force to find them out and destroy them.

Just as the Japanese fighters at the Beiping airport took off, a telegram was quickly sent from Beiping. At the airfields of the three major air force groups that received the telegram, a shrill alarm sounded immediately, and the pilots who were already on standby immediately began to board the plane.

'Take off!' ’

Accompanied by the flags of the airport guides, one after another new Eagle fighters took off into the air. Despite the fact that the number of aircraft is not very large, the pilots of this fighter squadron have some real combat experience.

Looking at this fighter squadron taking off, Zheng Shaoyu, who also came to the airport, said nervously: "You have to come back safely!" ”

According to the information sent by the Beiping side, the Japanese army dispatched more than 30 fighters and more than 10 bombers to Beiping. Although some of the airfields remained, this number was still more than the fighter squadron of the Eighth Route Army that had previously taken off.

If you want to destroy the Japanese bombers, you must first solve the Japanese fighter formation. This means that each pilot of a fighter squadron must be a dozen or two. Such a difficulty is naturally small!

The new captain of the three major teams looked at Zheng Shaoyu's worried expression, and comforted him with a smile: "Regiment commander, don't worry, the pilots of our squadron have actual combat experience and have a good understanding of the performance of the little devil's fighters."

With the addition of new fighters, we have also been training and fumbling for so long. As long as you prepare well, I believe that you will be caught off guard by the little devil. Let's be patient and wait for the good news from them! ”

'Let's hope that as you expected, our fighter will win the first battle! ’

While the two were waiting for the good news to come back, the fighter squadron that rose into the air headed straight for Shijiazhuang. The squadron leader in charge of piloting also reminds the pilot to raise the flight altitude from time to time.

As the first battle of the Eagle fighter, pilots who have the opportunity to participate in air combat naturally know how rare this opportunity is. It can be said that for the air encounter that is about to start today, they have already practiced several times at the base.

As the fighter squadron continued to increase its flight altitude, the entire fighter group also flew in formation to the airspace of Shijiazhuang. Except for one fighter plane, which was used for reconnaissance, the rest of the fighters basically flew close to low-altitude clouds.

This altitude is also a common thing for many Japanese pilots. Only this time, they need to search for the troops of the Eighth Route Army on the ground, and it is naturally impossible to fly to such a height.

When the fighter squadron arrived at its destination, the formation of Japanese fighters flying from Beiping also arrived over Shijiazhuang. Just as the formation of Japanese fighters was about to disperse and look for the Eighth Route Army troops on the ground, the killing plane came unexpectedly.

Looking at the unfamiliar fighter plane that came out of the clouds in the sky, many Japanese fighter pilots immediately said in horror: "Enemy plane! Enemy! Get ready for battle! Get ready for battle! ”

Japanese pilots rarely encountered such a situation, although they realized that it was an enemy aircraft. However, in the face of this sudden sit-down attack, many Japanese fighters were hit by the bullets of the fighters above before they could break away from the formation.

Looking at the fighter planes that were smoking in the air and began to plant down, the little devil officers and soldiers on the ground were a little dumbfounded. In contrast, the troops of the Eighth Route Army on the ground were extremely excited. They know that the fighter painted with five stars in red is their own fighter!