"Fire!"

After the artillery positions were prepared, the chief of staff of the command of the attack group on the northern route gave the order to open fire.

The tone was harsh.

As soon as the words fell, there were loud muffled sounds from the artillery positions.

Accompanied by almost continuous cannon fireworks, the sharp whistling sound of the cannonballs breaking through the air rang out, and one shell after another rose into the air, cutting arcs in the sky, and falling at high speed towards the positions of the devils and puppet troops.

Boom boom...

The explosion of a landslide and a crack in the ground rumbled like thunder into the sky.

In the Command.

Ding Wei and Kong Jie raised their binoculars and saw that the entire outer positions of the Japanese puppet army in Zhangjiakou had been completely shrouded in a sea of gunsmoke and fire.

I saw that on the position of the devil's puppet army, a huge puff of gunpowder smoke rose up, and a huge puff of dirt debris rolled up.

When it exploded, you could still see devils and puppet soldiers, who were blown up and flew up.

This is the time since the beginning of the war that the Northern Route Assault Group has shown its full artillery firepower.

Before, it was an artillery regiment or an artillery battalion that shelled the positions of the devils and puppet troops.

Tanks, armored vehicles and infantry were sent to attack the positions of the Japanese puppet army.

It has to be said that this tactic of artillery bombardment and tank and infantry charging is very effective.

It is only necessary to protect the two wings of the troops, so that the devils cannot outflank them in a roundabout way, and the devils cannot stop the attack of the Eighth Route Army at all in the front.

If the attack of the Eighth Route Army is repulsed, it will again carry out artillery bombardment on the devil's position and call for air support.

Therefore, the offensive of the Northern Route Attack Group has been smooth.

cut all the way from Shanxi, and killed thousands of devils and tens of thousands of puppet soldiers.

And now, all artillery guns of more than 105 mm, as well as tank guns, are concentrated to carry out shelling.

In the face of this level of shelling, the defensive positions of the devil's puppet army could not withstand it at all.

Among them are quite a few new 122-mm howitzers and 150-mm howitzers.

The civil fortifications built by the devils were directly blown up, and even some anti-artillery holes were directly blown up.

Of course, Li Yunlong also allocated a heavy howitzer battalion to Ding Wei and Kong Jie, equipped with 24 203mm howitzers.

The reinforced concrete fortifications used to shell the devils, as well as the city wall of Zhangjiakou.

If Ding Wei and Kong Jie pulled out the 203-mm heavy howitzer.

That power will be even more terrifying.

However, now Li Yunlong ordered them to quickly capture the outer positions of Zhangjiakou.

Then go to attack Beiping.

Ding Wei and Kong Jie prepared to wait until the time to attack Beiping City.

Then pull out the heavy howitzer battalion to show its power.

In this era, not to mention roads, there are few small roads.

If the North Road Assault Group abandons heavy artillery and tanks, it will be able to reach the North China Plain by interspersing along the path.

But in that case, when attacking the city, a lot of soldiers will be sacrificed.

With heavy artillery and tanks, you can easily break through enemy concrete fortifications and walls.

"Artillery shelling is scheduled for 2 hours, and one flying regiment is supported by two air flights."

Ding Wei smiled slightly:

"It's enough for a devil to drink a pot."

On the side, Kong Jie was also smiling, with a killing intent in his smile.

"This is called modern warfare, and compared with the present, we can't even compare with Hanako."

Ding Wei nodded, feeling the same way.

In the past, their troops, whether they were fighting with the national army or fighting against devils.

That's called a poor, with an average of only a few bullets per soldier, and if you shoot a few bullets, you have to rush up and fight with the national army or devils with bayonets.

"The bitter days of the past are gone."

Kong Jie's tone sighed:

"As long as Lao Li hugs Boss Chen's thigh, our days will get better and better in the future."

At that time, there was a big gap between the equipment of the Eighth Route Army and the equipment of the Japanese army.

At present, there is a big gap between the equipment of the Japanese army and the equipment of the Eighth Route Army.

"This feeling of being covered by artillery fire...... It's cool. Ding Wei smiled slightly.

A group of high-ranking officers of the North Road Attack Group were also smiling.

Ding Wei quickly stepped down the ladder, handed the binoculars to the guard, and then looked at the map on the table.

At this time, Germany and the Soviet Union were fighting lively, and the Soviet army did not have many troops in the Far East.

After recovering North China, are you considering recovering the whole of Mongolia?

……

Zhangjiakou.

on the city walls.

Compared to the Eighth Route Army's North Road Attack Group Command, the officers were full of smiles.

The officers of the Japanese command, including Mitsuo Nakazawa, Shigetoku Kuroda, and Noboru Toyama, looked at the artillery fire in front of them, but their expressions were solemn, as if they were mourning.

The Japanese army had long guessed that the Eighth Route Army would attack Zhangjiakou.

Therefore, the Japanese army was very well prepared for the defense of Zhangjiakou.

Various foxholes, trenches, and anti-artillery holes, civil fortifications, and even some reinforced concrete fortifications.

Even if it's extremely well prepared.

But the artillery firepower of the Eighth Route Army still shocked all the devils.

"China is a backward agricultural country, there is no strong industry, there is no steel production, where did they get so many heavy artillery and shells?"

A wing commander of the 71st Division of the Japanese Army couldn't help but say.

The Eighth Route Army not only had a large number of heavy artillery, but also a large number of tanks, and even advanced fighters, bombers and reconnaissance aircraft!

For a long time, the top of the Japanese army has been propagandizing the bottom of the Japanese army.

It is said that China is a poor country, where the people are ignorant and there are civil wars between warlords.

It won't be long before the locust army will be able to occupy this place and turn it into the land of the Great Japanese Empire.

From then on, the Yamato people no longer had to be crowded on that earthquake-prone island.

But this war has been fought for several years, and now Japan is at a disadvantage, which is outrageous.

The strength of the Eighth Route Army puzzled many Japanese officers, including the captain of the devil's wing.

The artillery wing of the 1st Division is currently armed with more than 10 heavy guns.

The caliber is also large, there are 10 240-mm howitzers, and several more 150-mm howitzers.

But!

Compared with the artillery firepower of the Eighth Route Army, the power of this artillery firepower is simply the difference between firecrackers and heavy aerial bombs.

What's more, Sanfu Nakazawa did not dare to use heavy artillery easily.

Once discovered by the planes of the Eighth Route Army, it will be immediately devastated.

At this time, the shelling continued.

At this time, the position outside Zhangjiakou City had been blown up beyond recognition by the shells of the Eighth Route Army, with craters everywhere, communication trenches and foxholes were blown up, most of the fortress civil fortifications were also directly blown up, and some anti-artillery holes were blown up.

The artillery fire of the Eighth Route Army played a continuous barrage of Xu Jin, plowing back and forth on the positions of the Japanese army and the puppet army outside the city.

On the city wall of Zhangjiakou.

Many Japanese officers showed a look of fear in their pupils.

In the anti-artillery holes outside the city, the faces of many devils and puppet soldiers were directly full of fear.

The devils and the puppet army were directly beaten out of the phobia of insufficient firepower.

"Fortunately, in Zhangjiakou, there are Chinese people."

"Not really."

"The locust army didn't even have a chance to fight street battles with the Eighth Route Army."

"All of them will be blown to pieces by the shells of the Eighth Route Army."

Lieutenant General Yuanshan was silent for a long time, then sighed and said.

Even he, a lieutenant general of the Japanese army, had to sigh that the artillery fire of the Eighth Route Army was too strong.

……

Peiping.

Iron Lion Alley.

Command of the North China Front.

"Your Excellency, Commander!"

"The latest information, the offensive troops of the Eighth Route Army on the south route are still gathering in the Jinju area for rest."

"The offensive troops of the Eighth Route Army on the North Road are launching a ferocious attack on Zhangjiakou."

Chief of Staff Seizo Arise reported to Okamura Ninji on the latest battle situation.

At this time, Okamura Ninji also had a somewhat haggard face.

The 11th Division, the 40th Division, and the 56th Division were all shattered, causing him to not sleep well for the past two days.

Even, the base camp put a lot of pressure on him.

Once Baoding and Zhangjiakou were lost, he had to apologize for his crimes.

But.

The current situation has not yet reached the worst.

The main forces of the 11th Army and the Kwantung Army were on their way.

The Japanese still had a chance to win.

If the North China Front is fighting alone, it will not even have a chance to win.

Because his opponent is Li Yunlong.

This is a very cunning opponent who will hardly give him any flaws.

Okamura Ningji stared at him and said: "Order the reconnaissance troops and the intelligence department to pay close attention to the movements of the Eighth Route Army in the direction of Jinju, the Eighth Route Army has a short rest in order to launch a more fierce attack!" ”

"Hey."

Yusue Seizan bowed his head and continued:

"I have ordered the locust armies in the counties to destroy the bridge communication lines of the railway and highway from Jinzhou to Baoding, and the main force of the Eighth Route Army will take at least seven days from Jinzhou to Baoding."

"Yo Xi!" Okamura nodded.

In this way, the locust army will be able to hold out until the main forces of the 11th Army and the main forces of the Kwantung Army reach North China.

It is absolutely impossible for the Eighth Route Army to wipe out the main force of more than 100,000 locust troops in Baoding in a short period of time.

"Your Excellency, General."

Kazuki Yamamoto stared at the map for a while, and said in a gloomy voice:

"There is danger in Beiping, I suggest that the headquarters immediately transfer to Chengde!"

Okamura Ninji asked, "Yamamoto-kun, what danger can Beiping have?" ”

"There is an old Chinese saying that the thief captures the king first, if I were Li Yunlong, I would definitely not let the North Road Attack Group enter the city of Zhangjiakou to fight with the locust army in the streets."

Kazuki Yamamoto pointed to the map and continued to say in a deep voice:

"Rather, after capturing the outlying positions in Zhangjiakou, the main force continued eastward along the road into the North China Plain, and then attacked Beiping."

As soon as the words fell, there was a sudden gasp in the headquarters.

Okamura Ninji put almost all the main forces in Baoding and Zhangjiakou.

At present, Beiping has only one brigade and one puppet army group army, with a total strength of more than 10,000 people.

Okamura knew that the puppet army was unreliable.

There was only one Japanese brigade in Beiping.

Relying on a Japanese brigade to resist the main force of the 100,000 Eighth Route Army, which was equipped with heavy artillery, tanks and aircraft.

It's a dream.

"Your Excellency General, it's not impossible to do so!"

Arisue Seizo said to Okamura Ninji with a solemn face.

They wishfully felt that the main force of the Eighth Route Army would fight street battles with the 1st Division, the 26th Division, and the 71st Division in Zhangjiakou.

But Yamamoto Kazuki woke up the dreamer with a word.

Let Okamura Ninji and Arisue Seizo, as well as a kind of devil staff officer in the headquarters, suddenly feel bad.

Once the offensive troops of the Eighth Route Army on the North Route were allowed to enter the North China Plain.

The main force of the Eighth Route Army was able to drive straight into the city of Beiping.

"There are so many places of interest and the common people of China in Beiping, I don't believe that the Eighth Route Army dares to attack Beiping!"

"Once the war starts, the entire city of Beiping will be shattered!"

An operational staff officer said in a quiet voice.

"It's easy for Beiping to be shattered, and I'm afraid Tokyo will be reduced to ashes the next day."

Yamamoto Kazuki snorted coldly and glanced at the combat staff officer coldly.

The operational staff officer was silent when he heard this, he was a native of Tokyo, and he also had his wife and son, as well as his parents.

Once Tokyo is reduced to ashes, it will be difficult for his family to live.

Okamura Ninji quickly analyzed the situation in his head.

If the headquarters and the 1st Brigade went to Chengde, Beiping would be ceded to the Eighth Route Army.

Then this Eighth Route Army will definitely go south to attack Baoding.

The troops of Baoding's 6 divisions and 3 brigades are certainly not the opponents of the Eighth Route Army, and they will definitely be defeated or even completely annihilated by the Eighth Route Army.

Therefore, Beiping must not be ceded to the Eighth Route Army.

But!

If the North China Front Headquarters and the 1st Brigade remained in Beiping, the Eighth Route Army would also be able to capture Beiping.

Both the headquarters and the 1st Brigade were in danger of being wiped out by the Eighth Route Army.

Unless, the main force of the Kwantung Army or the local support troops can rush to Beiping as soon as possible.

But the problem now is that the main forces of the Kwantung Army and the reinforcements from the homeland did not arrive so quickly.

All sorts of thoughts flashed through Okamura's mind with carbide sparks.

"Order the 27th Division to immediately go to the area of Huailai County to block the Eighth Route Army from entering the North China Plain!"

Okamura Ninji gave the order with difficulty.

Sending the 27th Division to Huailai County is tantamount to pushing this division into the fire pit.

Relying on this type B division, it is difficult to block the main attack of the Eighth Route Army.

However, as long as this division can hold off the Eighth Route Army for a few days, it will be enough.

Even if all the jade fragments of the 27th Division are worth it.

However, in the direction of Baoding, there are only 5 divisions and 3 brigades left.

"Hey."

The communications staff officer bowed his head suddenly.

……

Jinju battlefield.

After the troops had rested for three days, Li Yunlong was ready to give the order to continue the offensive to the north.

In the past three days, the new regiment has not been idle, and has replenished a large amount of food, ammunition, medicine, and other combat materials.

All the main forces of the new regiment were also assembled in the Jinju area.

After a short period of recuperation, the troops of the Jizhong Military Region also regained some combat effectiveness.

Li Yunlong immediately ordered the main force of the new regiment and the troops of the Jizhong Military Region to advance in the direction of Baoding.

……

Taiyuan.

Headquarters.

"I just received a telegram from the front headquarters that Li Yunlong has led his troops north, and it is expected to arrive in Baoding in about 5 days."

The Chief of Staff reported to the chief, who walked into the headquarters:

"The North Road Attack Group is ready to attack directly to Beiping after clearing the outer positions of Zhangjiakou!"

The head of the headquarters walked quickly to the map, looked at it for a while, and nodded with a satisfied expression:

"Li Yunlong, this kid, is getting more and more capable of fighting."

"Li Yunlong's move was unexpected, and the tactics of the North Road Attack Group going straight to the headquarters of the North China Front Army are somewhat similar to the decapitation tactics of the special forces."

The chief of staff smiled slightly, in fact, there are still many capable people in the Eighth Route Army, no worse than Li Yunlong.

But.

Only Li Yunlong has such an opportunity as Boss Chen, and Li Yunlong seized this opportunity, so that he and the new group can rise rapidly.

Moreover, the entire Eighth Route Army also followed, and its overall strength increased by leaps and bounds.

At this moment, the communications staff officer walked in quickly, saluted and reported: "Report chief, YA is calling, YA hopes to liberate Beiping peacefully." ”

"Peaceful liberation of Beiping?"

The chief's face suddenly became a little solemn:

"It's not easy."