However, for the North China General Front Committee, which was still immersed in the joy of victory, and the officers and men of the various departments below, all they were thinking about now was how to take out the 1st Army of the Japanese North China Front Army trapped in Shanxi in one go

After all, the total number of troops under its direct control is now no less than 400,000, and the remnants of the 35th Army of the Central Army, Yan Xishan and Fu Zuoyi, who retreated to the southwest of Shanxi after the defeat of Xinkou, also expressed their intention to participate in the campaign, making the total number of squadrons exceed 500,000, and the strength of the devils is more than 50,000 people, and they are still trapped in a natural cage composed of Shanxi terrain, with a 10:1 military advantage. Air supremacy and artillery fire also prevail, and if this is not won, everyone can find a piece of tofu and kill them

Although the strength of the Japanese North China Front has increased greatly, the devils who have been frightened by the lightning tactics no longer dare to attack in a hurry, but one division after another has recovered the "lost ground" step by step, and the forward troops will stop to build fortifications every dozens of kilometers of advance, and wait for the troops behind to take over the defense before moving forward, which is much safer, but it wastes a lot of time, and the squadron was able to calmly organize the defense line to block, thus removing the biggest hidden worry for the annihilation of the 50,000 Japanese troops in Shanxi

At this time, Seishiro Itagaki had been forced to withdraw to Taiyuan, but both he and the commander of the 1st Army, Lieutenant General Kiyoji Kazuki, were full of despair about the future, and in the face of the cruel reality that there were few artillery shells left and air superiority fell to the enemy's side, even Seishiro Itagaki, who once claimed to "defeat China's 300,000-strong army with half a division". He also knew how unrealistic it was to defeat a squadron ten times his size, but looking at the blank eyes of the commander, Lieutenant General Kazuki Kiyoji, he still loudly encouraged, "Your Excellency, Commander, please cheer up, although the situation is very unfavorable now, as long as we hold out for a month." The Empire's reinforcements will definitely be able to open up the Pingsui Line! ”

"A month? It took only one day for the 15th Army of China to annihilate a fully established permanent division, just one day, Itagaki-kun! Do you think they will give the Imperial Army a month? ”。 Kazuki Kiyoji slapped the table a little nervously and shouted, if the grassroots officers and soldiers of the 1st Army saw that their commander had become like this, it was estimated that the morale of the army would collapse directly

Seishiro Itagaki was anxious when he saw this. Regardless of his humility, he shouted angrily, "Senior Xiangyue, the so-called day is just the propaganda of the Zhina people!" And as far as I can guess, the Nakajima division must have crashed headlong into the encirclement of the enemy's superior forces on the plains, lacking the cover of fortifications, otherwise that result would not have been explained in any way. As long as there are perfect fortifications to rely on, let alone the Chinese, it is impossible for any powerful country on Shijie to completely annihilate a fully formed permanent division of the imperial army in one day! ”

"Thank you, Itagaki-kun, Itagaki-kun feel much better now.". Lieutenant General Seiji Kazuki, who had somewhat regained a little confidence, squeezed out a little smile and said, but he immediately asked again, "I've always admired Itagaki-kun's talent, please tell me, is it really possible for us to hold Taiyuan for a month?" We hold on for a month. Will the Empire's reinforcements be able to hit it here? Let's be honest! ”

In the face of the shouting of His Excellency the Commander Zuihou, Seishiro Itagaki didn't dare to lie, so he could only tell the truth in frustration, "No, we can't hold it for a month, even if we are lucky enough to hold it." It is impossible for the Empire's reinforcements to arrive in time! ”

"I'm glad you didn't lie to me, Itagaki-kun." After hearing this, Kazuki Kiyoji was no longer as depressed as before, but his face was filled with a special look, and he suddenly stood up and bowed heavily to Itagaki Seishiro and said, "Itagaki-kun, I am an incompetent commander, and I should stay loyal to Emperor Bixia, and I also atone for my incompetence." And you are different, you are the best general in the Empire, there is no one! You shouldn't die at the hands of the Chinese so early, you have to live! The empire's ambitions and hegemony need you! There are also two planes in the airfield, you pick some young officers who you think are promising and leave with you, I know it's dangerous, it could be intercepted by enemy planes, it could get lost, it could be a plane crash on its own, but it's better than staying here and waiting to die! You don't have to worry about being punished when you go back, I will give you an order, and the military department will deal with it and punish me, the commander"...,

Itagaki Seishiro shook his head when he heard this, but he didn't want to stay and wait for death, but because the order of the commander, Lieutenant General Kazuki Kiyoji, made his mind suddenly open, and he didn't wait for the commander to speak, so he replied first, "If only some people survive, I have a more haode idea, the possibility of success is greater, and it may also bring out more imperial elites, even if we unfortunately fail, we will die in the attack, not in the escape!" ”

After hearing this, Kazuki Kiyoji was deeply admired, and immediately exclaimed, "Itagaki-kun is really worthy of Itagaki-kun, the enemy is so powerful, and he can find the weak point so quickly." ”

Hearing this, Seishiro Itagaki sighed, "At most, you can only bring out one infantry wing, and you can't even bring heavy machine guns and infantry guns, otherwise this Jihua has no possibility of success." ”

After all, Itagaki who had an accident had a way to survive would not stay with the commander to bury them, because the forward of the squadron was not far from Taiyuan, it only took an hour for Kiyoji Kazuki and Itagaki to determine the list, and one of the Jishu troops and non-combatants did not have it, because Itagaki believed that there may not be no vicious battles on the road, and when there was no advantage in firepower, the combat effectiveness of each soldier was very important.

If it is a Chinese, even if the consciousness is high, this kind of thing must take time to explain the list, otherwise the officers and soldiers who feel unfair will definitely not be able to accept it, and the good obedience and extremely strict superiority and humility of the Japanese army at this time reflect the advantage, the commander can directly order, which greatly saves time. Of course, it is even more important that the coach of Kazuki Seiji also leaves everyone to die together

Seiji Kazuki originally wanted to send a report to the North China Front Headquarters, so that they could prepare to respond, but Seishiro Itagaki immediately stopped him, "Don't send a report, I suspect that the password has been leaked, don't you think it's strange, commander?" Where we attack, the enemy will be ready for battle, but our attacking troops will easily crash headlong into the enemy's encirclement, even if they have intelligence superiority in local operations, it will not be so exaggerated, as if they have known every step of our move" (To be continued). If you like this work, you are welcome to (.) to vote for recommendation, monthly pass, your support is my biggest motivation. )