This time, the Eighth Route Army attacked Datong, a military town in northern Shanxi, and absolutely used 150 mm caliber heavy artillery.

The 150 mm caliber heavy guns of the new regiment posed a great threat to the Japanese First Army and even the Japanese army in North China.

Okamura Ninji had long wanted to destroy the heavy artillery unit of the new regiment.

It's a pity that there has never been a chance.

If you want to destroy the heavy artillery unit of the new regiment of the Eighth Army, the only efficient way at present is to wait for the heavy artillery unit of the Eighth Route Army to appear, use fighters and bombers, and drop aerial bombs to destroy it.

The Eighth Route Army grandly pulled out the heavy artillery and attacked the 1st Division, but Okamura Ninji hesitated.

At this time, the bombers and fighters were ordered to go to Datong, and the pilots would definitely see the artillery positions of the Eighth Route Army.

Moritake Tanabe saw the hesitation in Okamura Ninji's eyes:

"Your Excellency, I suggest that you don't send fighters and bombers to reinforce the 1st Division."

"Li Yunlong dared to pull out so many cannons and bombard the city walls of Datong."

"This shows that the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army has no fear, and it has definitely deployed strong anti-aircraft firepower around the artillery position."

"Once our bombers and fighters attack the artillery positions, they will definitely be shot down by the anti-aircraft fire of the Eighth Route Army."

"A year ago, Li Yunlong led his troops to attack Taiyuan, and the locusts lost more than 100 planes in that battle, although the artillery positions of the Eighth Route Army were destroyed, but the 2nd Flying Group was directly disabled."

Arisue Seizan also said: "The chief of staff is reasonable, I also think that there is no need to send fighters and bombers to reinforce the 1st Division, maybe this is Li Yunlong's trap." ”

"Li Yunlong deliberately put out the cannon to lure the fighters and bombers of the Locust Army to take the bait."

"After all, the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army is equipped with large-caliber anti-aircraft guns."

Okamura Ninji nodded and said:

"Although the Eighth Route Army has 150 mm caliber heavy artillery, the heavy artillery of the Eighth Route Army only dares to fire at the city wall, not the city, and cannot threaten the 1st Division in the city."

"Therefore, there is no need to send fighters and bombers to deal with the artillery positions of the Eighth Route Army."

"However, the 1st Division has heavy artillery, which can threaten the artillery positions of the Eighth Route Army outside the city, so immediately send a reconnaissance and liaison machine to act as the eyes of the 6th Wing of the 1st Division's heavy artillery to counteract the artillery positions of the Eighth Route Army outside the city."

"Hey!"

Moritake Tanabe bowed his head suddenly.

Then he walked to the telephone, immediately shook the phone at the airport, and ordered the reconnaissance and liaison all-in-one machine to take off immediately and go to Datong City to reinforce the 6th Heavy Artillery Wing of the 1st Division.

At this moment, Haruo Kitani, a communications staff officer, walked in briskly again.

reported to Okamura Ninji: "Report to Your Excellency Commander, the fighters and reconnaissance planes that went to the southeast and northwest of Jin to reconnoiter have sent back news one after another!" ”

"Oh?" Okamura Ningji's expression moved, "Did you find the main force of the Eighth Route Army?" ”

"Hey!" Mu Gu pointed to the map on the wall and said, "The main force of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army in the southeast of Shanxi Province is divided into three groups and is heading north, carrying heavy weapons of 75 mm and 105 mm calibers!" ”

"Which three?" Okamura Ninji asked, "How many troops are there?" ”

Mu Gu Zhinan said: "The main force of the Eighth Route Army is going north along the Baijin Line, and the target should be Taiyuan, with a strength of about 60,000 people, including 4 artillery wings. ”

"The other two main forces of the Eighth Route Army, one of which is the main force of the Eighth Route Army, are heading north along the Heliao Highway, and the target should be Yangquan, with a strength of about 40,000 people, including 3 artillery wings."

"Another main force of the Eighth Route Army is heading north from Hengling and Mafang Township, and the target should be Shouyang, with a strength of about 40,000 and 3 artillery wings!"

"All the troops of the Eighth Route Army going north wear a steel helmet!"

Since the main force of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army marched during the day, the heavy weapons were all pulled by mules, horses or trucks, and they were not disguised at all.

According to the number of mules, horses, or trucks, it is easy to judge the approximate artillery size of the Eighth Route Army.

The 129th Division did this, and it must also be an aircraft that was not afraid of devils, and equipped each artillery regiment with enough anti-aircraft firepower.

Of course, the artillery unit of the 129th Division is only half dispatched, and it has just been organized into 8 artillery regiments, which are still being trained.

The main force of the 129th Division went north with such fanfare, in order to create a feeling for the Japanese army, if your Japanese First Army dares to go north to reinforce the 1st Division, then my 129th Division will do your First Army.

After listening to Osamu Kitani's words, Moritake Tanabe and Arisue Sei took a breath of cool air together.

Even Okamura Ninji's face changed.

The 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army dispatched 140,000 main forces, including 10 artillery wings!

If it weren't for the fact that the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army was attacking the 1st Division, Okamura Ningji would even feel that the main force of the Eighth Route Army in Shanxi was going to carry out a full-scale counteroffensive against the First Army.

However, although the main force of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army was large, the artillery firepower was strong.

But the logistics supply is not good, and the weapons and equipment of the infantry are average, and the 129th Division wants to destroy the First Army, but it does not have that good tooth.

Unless the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army also moves south, it will attack the troops of the First Army in Taiyuan, Yangquan and Shouyang together with the 129th Division.

Otherwise, the main force of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army alone would have a slight upper hand at most, and even if the First Army could be eliminated, the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army would have to suffer heavy losses.

However, the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army was attacking the 1st Division at this time, and there was no time to move south.

Tanabe Shengwu's expression suddenly moved, the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army made such a big move, it didn't look like it was covering the new regiment to attack the 1st Division?

So, Tanabe Moritake looked at Osamu Kitani and asked, "Mutani-kun, have you found that there is the main force of the Eighth Route Army, heading south along the North Tongpu Road?" ”

"Report to the Chief of Staff!" Osamu Kitani replied, "The reconnaissance plane reconnoitred along the North Tongpu Road and did not find that the troops of the Eighth Route Army were heading south!" ”

"Your Excellency Chief of Staff, are you confused?" Yousujing San teased, "The main force of the new 1st Regiment of the Eighth Route Army is attacking the 1st Division in Datong, how can it be possible to go south at this time?" ”

Tanabe Moritake glanced at Seizo with an expressionless face: "The 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army is going north, I don't think it's like covering the new regiment to attack the 1st Division, but I want to attack the 1st Army head-on." ”

Yousue Jingsan said: "Your Excellency Chief of Staff, you are too worried, without the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army, the 129th Division alone will not be able to destroy the First Army." ”

It is no secret to the Eighth Route Army that the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army has long been no longer part of the battle sequence of the 129th Division, but is a direct unit of the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army.

What puzzled Okamura Ninji and others was.

The new regiment of the Eighth Route Army already has tens of thousands of troops, but the establishment is still at the regimental level.

It stands to reason that Li Yunlong should have been promoted to commander of the group army or corps long ago after making so many military exploits.

Tanabe Moritakeshi said: "There is a late monarch, what if the Eighth Route Army, which goes north to attack the 1st Division, is not a new regiment?" ”

"It's not a new regiment, what other troops could it be?" Yousue Jingsan said, "What other army in the northwest of Jin Province has 6 artillery wings and tank units?" ”

These words suddenly choked Tanabe Moritake speechless.

What he said had no basis at all, and it was all about refuting what Moritakeshi Tanabe blurted out.

But when you think about it, that's not possible.

Youji Jingsan is right, in addition to the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army in the northwest of Shanxi, which other Eighth Route Army unit has 6 artillery wings and tank units at the same time?

Moreover, the reconnaissance planes had already reconnoitred, and it was true that there was no main force of the Eighth Route Army moving southward from the northwest of Shanxi.

Okamura Ninji pushed his glasses, looked at the communications staff officer and said, "Mutani-kun, immediately send this information to the headquarters of the First Army, and order the First Army to turn the focus of defense to the south to guard against the attack of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army!" ”

"Hey!"

Osamu Kitani bowed his head abruptly and turned to leave.

Looking at the back of Hakuo Kitani, Okamura Ninji thought for a moment, but still did not order the 1st Cavalry Brigade to stop reinforcing the 1st Division.

The 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army in the southeast of Shanxi Province made such a big formation, just to scare the First Army and cover the new regiment to attack the 1st Division, not really to attack the First Army.

After a pause, Okamura Ninji said again: "Tanabe-kun, order the Mongolian army, the 1st Cavalry Brigade, the 4th Cavalry Brigade, the 21st Division, and the 35th Division to immediately reinforce the 1st Division stationed in Datong, and we must rush to Datong within 3 days!" ”

Moritake Tanabe looked awkward: "Hi! ”

At this time, the Japanese combat staff officers had already drawn arrows on the map according to the reconnaissance planes and fighters that had detected the northward march of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army.

Okamura Ninji and Seizo Arisue looked at the map.

Okamura Ninji: "There is Sue-kun, order reconnaissance planes and fighters to continuously reconnoiter the position of the Eighth Route Army, and then order bombers to carry out tentative bombing of the artillery units of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army to see the anti-aircraft fire of the Eighth Route Army. ”

How strong the anti-aircraft firepower of the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army was, Okamura Ninji had already felt it.

Raiding a big lonely town will lose dozens of planes, and Okamura Ninji is really a little scared.

That's why he didn't dare to send the remaining fighters and bombers to deal with the artillery units of the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army.

Okamura Ningji's eyes narrowed, if the anti-aircraft firepower of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army is very weak, then don't blame the aviation of the Locust Army for being unsympathetic!

……

Taiyuan.

Inner City.

The headquarters of the First Army.

"The new regiment of the Eighth Route Army attacked the 1st Division of Datong? Attacking Taiyuan is just a pretense? ”

Inside the war room.

After listening to the report of the communications staff officer, Iwamatsu Yoshio's eyes suddenly lit up, and the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned.

Hanaya Masashi and Miyazaki Masao on the side quietly breathed a sigh of relief, the sense of oppression given by the Eighth Route Army was too strong.

If the main force of the Eighth Route Army in the southeast of Shanxi and the main force of the Eighth Route Army in the northwest of Shanxi attacked Taiyuan at the same time, the First Army would definitely not be able to hold Taiyuan.

Neither the strength nor the armament is on the same level.

"Hey!" The communications staff suddenly bowed his head, "The North China Front Command ordered the 1st Cavalry Brigade to immediately go north to reinforce the 1st Division stationed in Datong, and it must be rushed to Datong within 3 days!" ”

"Yo Xi!" Iwamatsu Yoshio was in a happy mood and looked at Hanaya Masa, "Hanaya-kun, immediately give an order to the 1st Cavalry Brigade." ”

Hanaya is headed: "Hey! ”

(End of chapter)