For the North China Front, the success of airborne supplies for the 12th Division made them feel much more relieved. At least in their opinion, the 12th Division, which was supplied with ammunition, believed that it would not be difficult to break through.

It's just that they don't know that the 12th Division has now become a meal for the independent column. It has not been wiped out, and it is more due to the fact that the operational objectives of the front-line units have not yet been completed.

Moreover, He Zhengdao believed that as long as the 12th Division was trapped in Zhuozi, the North China Front would have to find a way to support it. Under such circumstances, it would be more beneficial to keep the officers and men of the 12th Division than to annihilate them completely.

Even if the duration of the battle is prolonged, the casualties of the troops of the independent column will increase. But in the same way, if the little devil wants to rescue the 12th Division, he can only keep drawing troops from North China. In this case, their losses were also greater than those of the Eighth Route Army.

The longer it lasted, the North China Front, which itself fell into a lack of strength, unless troops were transferred from elsewhere. Otherwise, with the strength of their troops now stationed in North China, it is believed that a vicious circle will be formed.

Once the forces stationed in North China are empty, then the Eighth Route Army's troops behind enemy lines in North China will be in a much easier situation. In this way, the development of base areas behind enemy lines and the establishment of armed forces behind enemy lines will be expanded.

Overall, He Zhengdao felt that temporarily blocking the 12th Division in Zhuozi would play a greater role than annihilating it. What's more, the 12th Division, which is now stuck in the town, actually still has good combat effectiveness.

If they attack like this, they are afraid that the three divisions that surround them may also be exhausted. Therefore, He Zhengdao still hoped that when the provisional rapid reaction division to attack Ulanqab arrived, he would join forces with the 3rd Division to besiege the 12th Division.

At least in He Zhengdao's view, the five infantry divisions of the independent column are really elite, but I am afraid that they are still the first and second divisions. The combat effectiveness of the third, fourth, and fifth divisions still needs to be improved.

Rather than attacking the 12th Division of the Japanese Army, which is now retreating to the town, He Zhengdao prefers to let the troops act as the blocking party. In this case, the losses of the third division will undoubtedly be smaller. You can't fight the three divisions in order to fight a war!

A blunt knife cuts flesh, which is not painful but uncomfortable. This is the tactic that He Zhengdao thinks is the most suitable tactic to deal with the 12th Division at present!

The commander of the artillery brigade, Zhu Jie, arrived in Zhuozi and began to command the elite artillery brought in, familiar with these captured artillery. He Zhengdao also called Yulin and asked them to transport a batch of oil.

For today's Eighth Route Army, oil is also in short supply. But if you really want to talk about it, oil is just another income-generating project of the Eighth Route Army. The reason is that the Eighth Route Army has an oil field in its hands that does not have industrial value.

Yanchang Oilfield, an oilfield that is still geological survey by little devils and drilled into 'Yanyi Well'. Since the Eighth Route Army entered Shaanxi, this oil field has been taken over and protected by the Eighth Route Army.

With the previous He Zhengdao from Taiyuan, he brought back a lot of oil refining equipment from the Taiyuan Arsenal. Today, most of the oil produced in Yanchang Oilfield is used to refine petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, candles, wax flakes, gun polish, and petroleum jelly.

In order to ensure the supply of fuel to the troops, the gasoline and diesel produced by the petrochemical plant are now used as strategic reserves. As for other products, they are naturally used in exchange for supplies or for money.

It can be said that much of the central government's fiscal revenue is now earned from the chemical plants built around the Yanchang oil field. Even if this kind of oil field is not considered by many people to have industrial value. For the Eighth Route Army, it is also precious.

It is precisely thanks to the existence of the extended oil field that the oil required by the independent column at present can be guaranteed. After all, the planes and cars currently equipped by the independent column need fuel to support them.

If we rely on the seizure alone, it is estimated that these pieces of equipment will have to lie on their stomachs for three days. It is thanks to the extension of the oil field that the independent column still reserves a lot of oil. If you want to form a tank division, I am afraid that the demand for fuel will be even greater in the future.

Looking at the artillery unit that was organizing training, Jiang Shan, the commander of the third division, was puzzled and said: "Commander, what do you think the little devil thinks?" There are so many cannons, tanks and even cars, they say they will lose it, are they really afraid to leave it for us to use? ”

Regarding Jiang Shan's confusion, He Zhengdao said with a smile: "Actually, in the final analysis, it should be the confidence and reluctance of the little devil!" For the little devils, these abandoned heavy artillery and armored vehicles, they are only afraid and very concerned.

After all, the little devil is a resource-poor country. It is precisely because of their lack of resources at home that they covet our land. In the final analysis, we are like dolls holding gold ingots, and everyone wants to rob us of our gold ingots.

These cannons, as well as tanks, armored vehicles, are no less important for little devils. It was only because they ran out of shells and used up their fuel that the little devils abandoned these bulky guys in order to facilitate the march and transfer.

As for why they didn't rush to destroy, I think the little devil thinks that even if these things are given to us, they can't be used. If such a bulky cannon is not towed by a car, how many people do you think it will take to pull it with a horse alone?

What's more, the shells used in these artillery pieces cannot be imitated at all with our existing conditions. Without shells, these cannons are just a pile of scrap metal. How can these tanks and armored vehicles be driven without fuel?

Even the oil of the little devils needs to be imported from abroad, not to mention us who are now blocked from the coastline. Maybe in the eyes of the little devils, these cannons and tanks are placed here, and even if we pull them back, it is estimated that they can only be used as scrap metal.

If they had a chance to make a comeback, they would only need to carry enough shells and fuel to snatch them back, and they would be able to arm them again. It even saves them the time to bring equipment from the Northeast! ”

After listening to He Zhengdao's explanation, Jiang Shan suddenly realized: "I see! It seems that the little devils still think that in addition to our more infantry, we can't use this kind of large-caliber artillery and tanks at all.

However, this thing is really bulky to death. Just pulling these cannons into the woods, we all took a lot of effort. As for those tanks and armored vehicles, we can only do some camouflage on the spot, and we can't start at all.

Speaking of which, these little devils are still quite shrewd, but he still underestimated the strength of our column a little. With this batch of captured shells, our arsenal should be able to imitate the shells used in this cannon, right? ”

'Theoretically! But in fact, it will not work, and it is necessary to transport the shells back to the arsenal and let the experts who develop the shells discuss it. As for these tanks and armored vehicles, if you want to use them, fuel is also a big problem in the future. ’

Although these tanks and artillery are hot, He Zhengdao also knows that this is a big money-burner. The cost of a shell used in a heavy artillery is not cheap. In the future, if you fight a battle, if the cannonball goes out, it will burn money.

As for tanks and armored vehicles, although the current armored regiment has trained a lot of tank crews. However, in order to form combat effectiveness, the training and run-in of the troops alone will consume a heavy burden in the future.

Most importantly, the current oil production of the Yanchang field is not high. Even if some new wells were drilled, the production of those wells was not high. Although he knew that there were abundant oil fields there, He Zhengdao still did not dare to develop them.

If you let the little devil know that Huaxia is actually rich in oil resources, I am afraid that it will become even more crazy. After all, with the value of oil, it is gradually valued by all countries, and oil is a strategic resource that any country cares about.

And the several large oil fields known to He Zhengdao are actually not far from the Eighth Route Army. Relatively, it is not far from the Kwantung Army, which has strong troops at the moment. If these oil fields are developed, it will inevitably attract the crazy scramble of the little devils.

This means that even if a tank division is established in the future, fuel must be spared during training. As for the tank division, it is estimated that a batch of fuel must be stockpiled in advance before each use.

Looking at the Japanese planes that would appear near the town every day, He Zhengdao also ordered the three divisions that blocked the attack to strengthen the fortifications. As long as the little devil dares to come out, then he will resolutely beat it back.

At this moment, the reinforcements of the North China Front Army that entered the front banner of Chayou were also blocked by the Second Division in this area. Even if the little devil sends the air force to cooperate with the operation during the day, the daily march of this support army still seems extremely difficult.

What's more, the Eighth Route Army chose to go out day and night, and every evening, these Japanese troops who were ordered to rescue the 12th Division would be subjected to a frantic counterattack by the Eighth Route Army. Hurrying during the day, and fighting at night, the little devils are equally tired.

At this moment, the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Division, which was responsible for attacking the two counties of Huade and Shangdu, had successfully captured the Shangdu City. As for Huade City, it is now also surrounded by troops from the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Division. The entire Chahar region can also be described as full of gunsmoke.

Even the troops drawn from the Datong front smoothly returned to Zhangjiakou. However, in the face of the attack and harassment launched by the Eighth Route Army in the Zhangjiakou area, the Japanese army, which had gathered heavily in Zhangjiakou, was also unable to draw troops to support those places.

As for the city of Ulanqab at this moment, it is also surrounded by the provisional rapid reaction division. The sound of cannons from time to time made the Japanese puppet soldiers in the city also panic. The encircled troops of the Eighth Route Army also began to recover the surrounding towns.

When the main force of the 1st Division of Fuxing and Fuhe successfully arrived in the Ulanqab area, the division commander Zhang Cheng quickly sent a telegram to He Zhengdao, asking for instructions on whether a general offensive could be launched. After all, after taking Ulanqab, he would be able to free up his hands to clean up the remaining two Japanese troops.

After receiving the telegram from Zhang Cheng, He Zhengdao also said very simply: "Order the first division to launch an attack on Ulanqab." Remember, try to settle the battle tonight. If the battle drags on until tomorrow, I'm afraid that the little devil air force will come out and make trouble! ”

For attacking such a well-fortified city, the 1st Division undoubtedly had the most experience. And the reason why He Zhengdao was so relieved was that the two main battalions of the reconnaissance brigade had already mixed into Ulanqab City.

When the general offensive begins, the two main battalions will also join forces inside and outside, and cooperate with the 1st Division and the Rapid Reaction Division to capture the city. Ending the battle in one night, if it goes well, is still possible! (To be continued.) )