Anhua County.

The brigade commander and Li Yunlong had also climbed the South Gate Tower.

Standing on the tower of the South Gate and looking into the distance, you can already see the queue of Japanese troops, which are driving along the Tongpu Highway.

"The devil is coming." The brigade commander said in a deep voice, "It's finally here." ”

While he was talking, Li Xia also hurriedly climbed the city tower.

Li Xia reported: "Brigade commander, Lao County and Ping'an County have also found devils. ”

"Expected." The brigade commander snorted, "The devil came quite neatly. ”

Speaking of this, the brigade commander turned his head again and asked Li Yunlong, "Li Yunlong, are you ready?" ”

Li Yunlong smiled and said: "Brigade commander, you just put a thousand hearts, according to your instructions, our three detachments are ready early, and we promise to let the devil hit his head and break the blood flow in Anhua County!" ”

The brigade commander nodded, and said: "I am not worried about the three detachments, nor am I worried about the first and second detachments, I am worried about the first and second divisions, but fortunately, the weather has just cleared, and even the roads are muddy, not to mention the small roads and mountain roads, so the first and second divisions will not be attacked within three days." ”

Li Yunlong said with a smile: "Brigade commander, don't worry, didn't Xiao Wang say it?" It's no problem to keep it for half a month. ”

The brigade commander muttered: "But after all, that's just a war game deduction on the sand table, what will be the result of the actual battle, who dares to say?" After all, a devil is not a chess piece, and Okamura Ninji is not a marionette! ”

Li Yunlong couldn't answer at this time.

……

Okamura Ninji has arrived in Taiyuan.

The headquarters of the 1st Army has also been turned into the temporary headquarters of Okamura Ninji.

With Masao Inamori and several other operational staff officers, the latest situation of the Eighth Route Army and the Japanese army was already displayed on the sand table, and I saw that the 10 divisions and regiments were divided into four routes, and they had already advanced to the outside of Laoxian County, Anhua County, and Ping'an County, forming a semicircular encirclement of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army.

The commander of the 1st Army, Yoshimoto Sadachi, said abruptly: "It's really unimaginable that ten divisions and regiments were gathered in an operational depth of less than 100 kilometers, and this force is too dense. ”

Yoshimoto Sadachi seems to be sighing, but in fact, it contains a faint meaning of sarcasm.

That is, Okamura Ninji, will you use soldiers? Can so many troops come together and spread?

"What's this?" However, Seizo stood firmly on the position of Okamura Ning Jiyang, and retorted, "The depth of the operation in the first two stages of the Battle of Songhu was only less than 30 kilometers, and didn't five divisions also gathered? Moreover, those five divisions are still permanent divisions and regiments of the four-unit system, with a total strength of more than 200,000 people! ”

"Although there are many divisions and regiments gathered in the northwest of Shanxi at present, the total strength is only 150,000."

Speaking of this, Arisue Seizan said: "Considering the attrition in the early stage, the strength of the imperial army that actually participated in the second phase of the operation was only 120,000!" A hundred kilometers in depth, 120,000 people, is it dense? ”

"Ahem, that's not what I meant." Yoshimoto Sadashi hurriedly said, "I mean, isn't it too much to mobilize ten divisions, including one chariot division, just to deal with just one brigade of the Eighth Route Army?" ”

"This question has to be asked to your 1st Army." Okamura Ningji said, "If it weren't for the repeated defeats of your 1st Army, which not only buried the 2nd Guards Division and the 69th Division, but even lost Taiyuan, so it provided a large amount of weapons and ammunition to the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army and even the machinery and equipment of the arsenal, how would there be today's situation?" ”

"If it weren't for the 1st Army's successive defeats in the early stage, would I have made such a big move?"

Speaking of this, Okamura Ningji said coldly again: "Does Yoshimoto-kun want the imperial army to fail again and send another batch of supplies to the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army?" ”

Yoshimoto Sadachi was silent now.

Okamura Ningji snorted coldly, and said: "The lion fights the rabbit with all his strength, not to mention that the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army is not a harmless rabbit for humans and animals, but is clearly a fierce beast!" Mobilizing ten divisions to carry out the sweep may be suspected of wasting troops, but it is better than failing because of insufficient troops. ”

Speaking of this, he said: "What's more, in terms of the current situation, ten divisions may not be too many, but only the generals will be enough, and the ferocity of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army has exceeded your imagination!" You idiots, do you still think that the 386th Brigade is the same 386th Brigade two years ago? ”

Okamura Ninji has already said this very politely.

Including Sadaichi Yoshimoto, the people at the headquarters of the 1st Army were suddenly blushing.

However, if you think about it carefully, what Okamura Ninji said does not seem to be wrong, in the past two years, especially since the beginning of this year, the combat effectiveness of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army has indeed been reborn.

At this time, Yasushi Inoue, the head of the communications section, walked in and handed over a telegram to Midaichi Arisue.

After reading it, Seizo reported to Okamura Ninji: "Your Excellency, the 1st, 71st, 72nd, 73rd, and 74th Divisions and the 3rd Chariot Division have all been deployed outside Lao County, Ping'an County, and Anhua County, but due to the muddy mountain roads and the difficulty of mules and horses, the 26th, 27th, 75th, and 110th Divisions have not been able to deploy for the time being. ”

"Expected." Okamura Ninji said, "The two wings are not in a hurry first. ”

After a pause, he said, "Let's start with the three county towns on the front." ”

At this time, Takuya Mizuhara also quietly withdrew from the battle hall.

……

Chongqing Huangshan official residence, Yunxiu Tower.

Chang Kaishen, He Jingzhi, Chen Cixiu and other senior generals have gathered in the battle hall on the first floor.

It's just that the sand table in the hall shows not the battlefield in western Zhejiang, but the battlefield in the northwest of Shanxi.

Obviously, Chang Kaishen and a senior cadre of the party-state were more concerned about the victory or defeat of Northwest Shanxi at this time, because the victory or defeat of this battle was likely to be related to the direction of North China.

"Headmaster." Tang Zong hurried in.

"The military commander Taiyuan Station sent another secret telegram."

"Quick." Chang Kaishen said, "Come out quickly." ”

Tang Zong responded yes and started the sand table operation with a few staff officers.

In less than ten minutes, Tang Zong and the others had already completed the sand table operation, completely presenting the latest movements of the Japanese army in the northwest of Shanxi Province on the huge sand table.

After seeing the situation on the sand table, all the senior generals present were stunned.

"Oh my God." Chen Ci cultivated, "Okamura Ning Cizhen used ten divisions? ”

"It's unbelievable." He Jingzhi also said, "At the beginning of the Battle of Songhu, the Japanese army only invested five divisions in the first two stages, and now in order to deal with just one brigade of the Eighth Route Army, ten divisions and regiments are actually used!" This 386 Brigade really makes Okamura Ningji so jealous? ”

Bai Jiansheng said: "Brother Jing, these ten divisions in the northwest of Shanxi Province cannot be compared with the five divisions and regiments that were originally put into the Songhu battlefield, and the five divisions and regiments that participated in the Battle of Songhu were all permanent divisions, each division and regiment had a full strength of nearly 30,000 people, plus nearly 40,000 reserve soldiers, and the five divisions were 200,000 people. ”

"The combat effectiveness of those five divisions is really not ordinarily strong."

"These ten divisions in the northwest of Shanxi can still be seen by the 1st division."

"Oh, by the way, there is also a 28th Division that is also elite, but it has been eaten by the 386th Brigade."

After a pause, he said: "As for the other divisions, the sum of the three may not be able to defeat the one division that participated in the Battle of Songhu. ”

He Jingzhi: "Even so, there is no need to mobilize ten divisions to be so exaggerated, right?" ”

Liu Fei said: "Okamura Ningji is probably also out of prudence, mobilizing one or two divisions is to send him to death, and three or four divisions may not be able to win the battle, so the old devil simply mobilized ten divisions." ”

Bai Jiansheng said: "Wei Zhang is right, if I am Okamura Ningci and do the same, for opponents like Chen Gen and the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army, we can't leave him the slightest chance, and I must be beaten to death with a stick!" ”

Chang Kaishen said: "So can Okamura Ningji kill the 386th Brigade with a stick this time?" ”

Bai Jiansheng said: "Don't worry, chairman, the 386th Brigade is definitely in a catastrophe this time." ”

"Yes, the 386th Brigade must be finished this time." Liu Fei nodded, and also said, "If you only face the encirclement and suppression of four or five divisions of the Japanese army, the 386th Brigade actually has a chance, but now it has to face the encirclement and suppression of ten divisions and regiments, including a heavy division and a chariot division, and this battle will not be fought at all." ”

He Jingzhi: "That's why you say that the Eighth Route Army is stupid, what is the picture?" ”

Chang Kaishen said: "Telegraph to Wang Jialing and continue to pay close attention to the progress of the battle. ”

"Yes!" Tang Zong snapped his leg, then turned around and hurriedly walked back to the communication office.

……

The 1st Division has set up camp outside the north gate of Lao County.

The infantry of the 1st Engineer Wing, as well as the infantry of various infantry wings, were working with all their might to build the fortifications of the battalion.

This is the old tradition of the Japanese army, and the first thing to do is to build fortifications whenever they go to a place, whether it is attacking or defending.

As a heavy division, the scale of the camp was beyond imagination, with a radius of nearly five kilometers, and this was due to the limitations of the terrain, otherwise the camp could have expanded to more than ten kilometers.

The 1st Division is still a heavy division of more than 20,000 men.

Surrounded by Chief of Staff Takahashi Manzo and several operational staff officers, Mitsuo Nakazawa climbed a hill.

This hill is in the middle of the whole camp, and there is a camp of the 1st Division within two kilometers of the surrounding area, so there is no need to worry about safety, and the view from the hill is very good.

So, Mitsuo Nakazawa built an observation post on the top of this hill.

Standing at the observation post on the top of the mountain, you can clearly see the north gate of Lao County.

However, it was limited to the city gate and the northern city wall, but the city was obscured by the city wall and could not be seen.

Mitsuo Nakazawa couldn't help but look at the heavy artillery camp about 500 meters away on the left, only to see a sounding hot air balloon already rising, which was the sounding hot air balloon of the 3rd Field Heavy Artillery Brigade.

There is a gondola underneath the hot air balloon with a cannon mirror in the gondola, and an observation group.

The task of this observation group is to determine the parameters of the target, and also to correct the firing elements.

Mitsuo Nakazawa asked: "Takahashi-kun, when will the artillery positions of the 3rd Brigade of the Field Heavy Artillery and the 1st Wing of the Field Artillery be completed?" ”

Takahashi said, "It's probably noon." ”

"Yo Si." Mifu Nakazawa nodded happily and said, "Inform the 1st Infantry Wing not to build fortifications, let the imperial soldiers rest for a few hours, recuperate enough physical strength, and prepare for the first wave of attacks." ”

Takahashi Mitsuzo said: "Division commander, the 1st Infantry Wing suffered the greatest casualties in the battle of Wild Boar Gully, so this time did you let the 49th Infantry Wing or the 57th Infantry Wing go first?" ”

"Nope." Mitsuo Nakazawa said categorically, "The first shot must be fired by the 1st Infantry Wing." ”

"Hello!" Takahashi Mitsuzo paused, signaling the signal corps to give orders to the 1st Infantry Wing.

……

In Lao County, inside an underground shelter.

Ding Wei said: "Guard, pour another bowl of cold boiled water." ”

After speaking, Ding Wei said to Feng Xianghe and more than 30 wolf warriors: "You eat slowly, don't choke." ”

Feng Xianghe took a big bite of the pancake and asked with a smile: "Commander, can you reward us with a mouthful of sweet potato roast?" ”

"You kid, you must have been an alcoholic in your last life." Ding Wei scolded with a smile and said, "Guard, go and bring Lao Tzu's pot of sweet potato boil." ”

The guards quickly brought up a pot of sweet potatoes.

Feng Xianghe and his subordinates each shared a small half cup, and immediately enjoyed a mouthful of pancakes and a mouthful of soju, only feeling that there is nothing more fun in life than this.

While eating, Li Xiaoxian hurriedly walked in.

"How?" Ding Wei asked, "Chief of Staff, have the devils started attacking?" ”

Li Xiaoxian said: "No, the devils are busy building fortifications, and their artillery positions have not been built, I guess they will not attack this morning." ”

Ding Wei said: "Xiao Wang said that they are marmots, and he is really right, every time he goes, the first thing the devil does is always to build fortifications, and this time he came to Lao County is no exception." ”

After saying this, Ding Wei said again: "If the devil doesn't come, let's go!" Give the devil a dismount first! ”

"Huh?" Li Xiaoxian was stunned when he heard this, and said, "Regiment leader, now the devils are attacking us, what are we going to do outside the city if we don't defend the city?" ”

"You don't understand this, you can't stick to the old rules in war." Ding Wei said, "Who stipulates that defensive warfare cannot take the initiative to attack?" Remember, Chief of Staff, offense is the best defense! Blindly defending is only defending to the death, and only by defending with offense can the enemy be feared, and even sleep at night with your eyes open! ”

After a pause, he said, "Have all the gun emplacements on the city wall been repaired?" ”

"It's been fixed a long time ago." Li Xiaoxian replied without thinking, "The inner walls have been built back." ”

As early as five days ago, Ding Wei ordered Li Xiaoxian to personally take charge of a project, that is, to dig 12 mountain artillery firing positions on each of the four walls of Lao County.

It is similar to the layout that Chu Yunfei made in Heyuan County.

It's just that Chu Yunfei asked Xiu to repair the shooting position, and the shooting hole was opened towards the city, that is, to dig a hole in the root of the city wall and put the mountain cannon inside.

And Ding Weixiu's shooting hole is open outward.

It is to dig through the city wall more than ten meters thick and open a shooting hole on the outermost side, which is equivalent to rebuilding the city wall seven or eight meters high and more than ten meters thick into a huge pillbox fortification.

"That's good." Ding Wei said, "Let the artillery push all 12 mountain guns to the north city wall." ”

"First let the artillery wash the ground for the devils, and while the artillery is washing the ground, let the 1st battalion quietly move from the tunnel to the periphery of the devil's camp, and launch a surprise attack as soon as the shelling stops!"

After a pause, Ding Wei said again: "Tell the commander of the 1st battalion to bring as many grenades as possible, and throw all the grenades on the devil's head in the shortest possible time, and quickly withdraw from the tunnel after throwing. ”

……

In Anhua, Wang Huaibao also had the same confusion.

"Commander, it's the devil attacking now." Wang Huaibao said, "We are on the defensive. ”

"What's wrong with the devil's attack?" Li Yunlong's eyes glared and said, "The battle has been fought so far, we will not do anything else, we will only attack, if you don't dare, I will let Shen Quan go!" ”

"Don't, head of the regiment." Wang Huaibao hurriedly said, "I won't bother Lao Shen to make a move in this matter." ”

"That's okay, you two regiments hold on." Li Yunlong said, "I have already said hello to the artillery battalion, and when the time comes, the artillery battalion will first give the devils a wave of artillery fire to wash the ground, and then you will continue to attack." ”

"Remember, the point of this counterattack is to be fast, and the action must be fast!"

After a pause, he told again: "Leave after the fight, you must not let the devil entangle!" ”

"Yes!" Wang Huaibao snapped upright, and said, "Commander, just take a look, if our second regiment can't beat the devils out of this time, I, Shen Quan, will have their surname." ”

"Okay, there's momentum."

Li Yunlong said, "Go ahead." ”

Wang Huaibao turned to leave.

……

At this time, it was in Ping'an County.

Guan Dashan found Kong Jie and proposed: "Regiment leader, while the devil has just arrived and his foothold is not stable, should we beat him first and give them a dismount?" ”

"Nope." Kong Jie said, "Our second detachment has to deal with the devils from the two directions of Dagu Town and Qingyun Town, and the pressure is even greater than that of Lao Li and Lao Ding, and the troops are precious, so they must not be wasted." ”

"So, our side must be steady, you tell the commanders of the regiments below,"

"Counter-assault is strictly forbidden in the battle, so according to the deployment of the headquarters, use the preset fortifications in the city to kill and injure a large number of devils."

After a pause, Kong Jie said again: "I'm not Li Yunlong, I'm not Ding Wei, I don't pursue to overwhelm the devil from the momentum, a beautiful counterattack may be able to gain the upper hand in momentum, but the loss is the precious troops, I don't do that kind of thing, I just need to hold the position and don't let the little devil cross the Ping'an County half a step!" ”

After another pause, Kong Jie asked again: "Lao Guan, have the defense arrangements in the city been completed?" ”

"Commander, it's all done." Guan Dashan nodded and said, "Most of the houses have been reinforced with bricks or sandbags, and the houses at the mouth of the streets and alleys are even reinforced with ash bricks to form bunkers. ”

"In addition, some of the private buildings in the city have also been demolished to make a separation zone."

"Make sure that even if the devils use brimstone bombs on a large scale, they won't burn down the whole city."

After a pause, Guan Dashan said again: "Then there is the tunnel, the main structure has been fully reinforced with logs, even if it is shelled by the Japanese heavy artillery group, or bombed by heavy aerial bombs, it will never collapse." ”

"Okay." Kong Jie said happily, "Then it's fine." ”

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