The next morning, except for the 881st Regiment and the logistics baggage unit that remained in Bac Giang City, all the troops left Bac Giang City and marched towards Hanoi. Wang Haitao silently observed his troops during the march, considering which troops should be used for the main attack on Hanoi. The 277th Brigade of the 93rd Division has been following its own troops since the Battle of Nanjing, and has more combat experience, and although the 462nd Brigade of the 211th Division was not formed as the commander of the 93rd Division, it has also experienced several major battles, and relatively speaking, the 211th Division's weapons and equipment are better.

After the troops arrived at the county seat of Beining, Wang Haitao made a decision. The task of the main attack was still handed over to the 462nd Brigade of the 211th Division, and after using most of the artillery of the heavy artillery brigade for feints, the self-propelled howitzer and artillery regiments of the 211th Division were the most powerful weapons in the main attack. With a decision, Wang Haitao stopped for a moment in the county seat of Beining and called Li Yuanhong, Tang Longzai and several brigade commanders together.

After the people arrived, Wang Haitao said straight to the point: "Everyone, I have thought about attacking Hanoi, and now I announce my decision. The 568th Regiment and the 569th Regiment of the 93rd Division were assigned the attack mission at the north gate of Hanoi City, with Mu Suzhong, commander of the 277th Brigade, as the front-line command; the 880th Regiment of the 211th Division and the 570th Regiment of the 93rd Division as the attack mission at the East Gate, with Wei Erxi, commander of the 463rd Brigade, as the front-line command; and the 462nd Brigade of the 211th Division as the attack mission at the West Gate, with Li Changwu, commander of the 462nd Brigade, as the front-line command.

The 75-caliber field artillery regiment of the heavy artillery brigade is attached to the north gate direction, the 150-caliber heavy artillery battalion and the 130-caliber cannon battalion are assigned to the west gate direction, the Japanese-style mountain artillery regiment of the 211th Division is attached to the east gate direction, the self-propelled howitzer and artillery regiment is assigned to the west gate direction, and the heavy artillery regiment of the 93rd Division is still reinforced to the east gate direction. The light tank battalion of the armored brigade and the armored regiment of the 93rd Division and the armored regiment of the 211th Division together form an independent armored regiment, which is attached to the West Gate direction, and the rest of the armored units are attached to the South Gate direction. ”

When Wang Haitao talked about this, everyone knew who would be the main attacker. Wang Haitao saw that no one had any opinions on this arrangement, so he continued: "The direction of the north gate and the east gate of the siege is a feint, but it is also necessary to show momentum, so that the Japanese army thinks that it is the main attack, so as to mobilize the Japanese army's troops." The direction of the West Gate began to use no force, and once the Japanese West Gate was empty, it was necessary to take the West Gate with all their might. The specific way to fight and to what extent will be left to the hands of your brigade commanders who are in charge of front-line command. Do you have any questions?"

Mu Suzhong stood up and said: "Military seat, although the direction of my south gate is a feint, but the strength and firepower are enough to knock through the Japanese defense line, if this is the case, can we also directly attack the city?" Wang Haitao replied: "The situation on the battlefield is ever-changing, and you, as the commander of the front, should judge the situation and assess the situation. It still depends on the flexible changes in the situation on the battlefield. However, you should pay attention to the fact that the Japanese army is not vegetarian, and no one is allowed to come hard, and there are no undue casualties. ”

Wang Haitao's words made both Mu Suzhong and Wei Erxi smile, and Li Changwu also raised his head. After the meeting was adjourned, the troops continued to advance, and this time the troops were marching with a purpose. Coincidentally, on the three combat command vehicles, the three brigade commanders Wei Erxi, Mu Suzhong, and Li Changwu, all called their own regiment commanders who participated in the attack to a meeting.

Li Chunshan, commander of the 568th Regiment, Wei Yongshou, commander of the 569th Regiment, Tang Weiren, commander of the Heavy Artillery Regiment, Wu Youlu, commander of the 75-caliber field artillery regiment of the Heavy Artillery Brigade, and commander of the Light Armored Vehicle Regiment of the Armored Brigade, all arrived in the command vehicle. Mu Suzhong looked at everyone and said: "Although you are from various units, today we are all part of the siege of the North Gate, and as the front-line commander, I hope that everyone will work together and go all out to fight this battle." ”

The leaders below nodded yes. Mu Suzhong continued: "Although it is said that the direction of our north gate is a feint, the military seat also said that the situation on the battlefield is ever-changing, and who is the main attack and who is the feint is not necessarily the same. Although we only have two infantry regiments, and the number is a little smaller, our artillery and armor strength, as well as the weapons and equipment of our soldiers, are not comparable to the Japanese army, and I don't believe that we can't open the north gate with such strength. After returning to the troops, we must make serious preparations and do a good job of mobilizing the soldiers. ”

The situation in the other two command vehicles is basically the same, Wei Erxi's strength in the direction of the east gate is the weakest, so Wei Erxi is a little more low-key, Li Changwu is the strongest there, Li Changwu is unwilling, after mobilizing, he even released the words, the direction of the west gate must be the first to break through the city. Li Changwu said this because he had his own confidence, so he put all the heavy artillery in the direction of the West Gate with the military seat, and he should be the first to break through the city.

It took the troops three hours to get to the city of Hanoi. As soon as they reached the city, the troops automatically divided into three parts and set up offensive positions in the east, north, and west directions of Hanoi City. Wang Haitao also set up a temporary military headquarters in the direction of the north gate, and the first guard regiment served as the escort duty. Tang Longzai set up the division headquarters in the direction of the west gate, and Li Yuanhong built the division headquarters next to the military headquarters.

After arriving outside the city of Hanoi, Wang Haitao called Li Yuanhong to the top of a hill and used a high-powered telescope to observe the guards of the city of Hanoi. The walls of Hanoi Fortress are about fifteen meters high, and there is a moat outside the city. In addition, in the direction of the north gate, two kilometers from the city wall, a large number of barbed wire fences blocked the defensive position. Behind the barbed wire fence is a 100-metre stretch of open space, which must have been covered*.

Behind the open field is the main defensive position of trenches, bunkers and sandbag fortifications, and the black holes in the fortifications can be seen in the telescope. If such a defensive position were other national troops, it would be difficult for several divisions to attack it, but for Wang Haitao, who had a large number of artillery and armored troops, it was not difficult to attack.

Seeing that it was evening when the troops repaired their offensive positions, Wang Haitao ordered not to attack today, and all units to do a good job of vigilance to prevent the Japanese army from sneaking up at night. Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock in the morning, the attack on Hanoi City will be launched on time in three directions. In consideration of the fact that the Japanese army would definitely send planes to assist in the war, Wang Haitao assigned the antiaircraft artillery units to three directions, and the antiaircraft artillery units focused on ensuring the air defense of the artillery and armored units.

As soon as the Chinese troops arrived, Lieutenant General Imamura could no longer sit still at the headquarters of the 16th Army. Since the Chinese army began to counterattack, it has driven out the troops that have invaded the territory of China, and then the two cities of Kelang Mountain and Bac Giang, and now even more troops are coming to the city, which has made Lieutenant General Imamura lose face. The 16th Army first lost the 56th Brigade of the mixed infantry, and then the 2nd Division, the main force, and even the commander of the 2nd Division, Lieutenant General Maruyama Masao, and the brigade commander, Major General Matsui Kiichiro, were also shattered, which made Lieutenant General Imamura feel great pressure.

Three days ago, the Southern Army Headquarters had already reprimanded Lieutenant General Imamura by telegram, and the commander, General Terauchi Shouichi, also called and scolded him, and demanded that Lieutenant General Imamura must hold Kawachi Castle. As soon as the Chinese troops arrived outside the castle, Lieutenant General Jun Imamura, Major General Kiyozaburo Okazaki, chief of staff, and Lieutenant General Tadayoshi Sano, commander of the 38th Division, climbed the castle tower to observe the situation of the Chinese troops.

After inspecting the circle, Lieutenant General Imamura Jun and the others returned to the headquarters and sat down, Lieutenant General Imamura Jun asked suspiciously: "I think that the number of the Shina army is only more than 10,000 people, and it is divided into three directions, with such a small army, how can even the second division be shattered in a few days?" Lieutenant General Sano Tadayoshi replied: "Your Excellency Commander, according to the report of the commander of the 228th Wing, Toda Yoshinao, who went to reinforce him, although the number of the Shina army is not large, it has fierce firepower, has a large number of large-caliber artillery, and has extremely strong combat effectiveness. Your Excellency, Commander, must not underestimate the Chinese army because of its small numbers. ”

Lieutenant General Imamura Jun shook his head and said, "The army we are facing is the 90th Army, which has the strongest combat effectiveness in the Chinese army, and how can I despise the other party." Now that the 90th Army has reached the outside of the city, let's talk about how to defend the city of Hanoi. Major General Kiyozaburo Okazaki, chief of staff, said: "Your Excellency, the Chinese army is divided into three directions to attack, and there must be a main attack, and the focus of our army's defense is in the direction of the north gate, and I think the people of China will not attack in the direction of the north gate." ”

Lieutenant General Sano Tadayoshi exclaimed: "Okazaki-kun, I have put the 35th Infantry Brigade, which has the strongest combat effectiveness in the division, on the position outside the north gate, according to what Okazaki-kun said, do you want to transfer some troops to strengthen the other two directions?" Major General Okazaki Kiyosaburo shook his head and said: "Don't worry, Sano-kun, it's too late to mobilize troops now, and besides, the attack of the Shina army on the north gate may not be weak." I think we still have enough troops, so we might as well put more of our top reserves in the east and west directions in the city, what do you think, Your Excellency the Commander?"

Lieutenant General Imamura Jun nodded and said: "Yo Xi, Okazaki-kun is right, Sano-kun, you arrange the cavalry brigade in the division to the east gate, I ordered the direct brigade to be stationed in the west gate direction, and the artillery is used separately, only one mountain artillery brigade will be left in the south gate direction to assist in the defense, and the rest of the artillery will be deployed in the east and west directions." In addition, the 24th Independent Mixed Brigade has entered Indochina and can reach Hanoi within eight days. Commander Terauchi Shouichi also promised to send a flying unit to help in the battle, and also mobilized reinforcements to land at Haiphong Port as soon as possible. Please work together to defend Hanoi City, please!"

Major General Kiyosaburo Okazaki and Lieutenant General Tadayoshi Sano stood up at the same time and bowed and said, "Hey, Your Excellency, please rest assured that for the sake of the Great East Asian Holy War, we will do our best to hold the city of Hanoi." Lieutenant General Imamura nodded with satisfaction. After Lieutenant General Tadayoshi Sano left the headquarters, he returned to his division headquarters, and his subordinates, Major General Shozo Hirano, commander of the 35th Mixed Brigade, and the two co-commanders, Yoshinao Toda and Katsumi Tsunachi, were already waiting for his return.