In a temple about 30 kilometers north of the city of Xuzhou.

The soldiers of the Eighth Route Army armed with semi-automatic rifles had resolute eyes, but they were in a hurry.

The temple is called Sangha Temple, and many of the monks in the temple also participated in this battle.

However, it is not to go into battle to kill the enemy, but to serve as a logistic.

Although this group of monks has martial arts, this is not the era of cold weapons.

The division headquarters of the Eighth Route Army was located in this Sangha Temple.

"Report to the division commander, the list of casualties of each unit has been preliminarily counted."

At the division headquarters, an operational staff officer reported to Division Commander Liu with a list in his hand.

The political commissar was holding a magnifying glass on the side, lying on the table staring at the map and thinking, with a touch of murderous intent between his eyebrows.

"How many casualties?" Senior Commander Liu asked with a narrowed set of eyes.

The operational staff officer replied: "After two days of fighting, our Eighth Route Army suffered casualties, about 2,100 people. ”

"How many Japanese soldiers were killed or wounded?" Hearing this, the political commissar looked up at the combat staff officer and asked.

The operational staff officer replied again: "Report to the political commissar, according to the estimates of our staff headquarters, about 10,000 Japanese soldiers were killed and wounded. ”

The 10,000 Japanese soldiers killed and wounded were estimated by the General Staff and were not very accurate.

But it's not bad.

The political commissar nodded, there was not much surprise in his expression, and said: "The casualties of the Japanese army and us are five to one, which is about the same as the casualties of the national army and the Japanese army in the frontal battlefield. ”

Division Commander Liu smiled slightly: "That is, the Japanese army on the other side is the elite of the elite, otherwise this casualty will be even more exaggerated." ”

"yes!" The chief of staff on the side came over and said, "The combat effectiveness of the 11th Army of the devil is much stronger than that of the 1st Army. ”

Division Commander Liu nodded: "Last night, the Japanese army dispatched about 50,000 people to attack us, at least 200 cannons, to provide artillery support for their attacking troops, and the enemy should not be underestimated." ”

Last night, Division Commander Liu guessed that the devils would attack at night.

So I prepared in advance and fought a wave of artillery battles with the devils.

However, the distance between the artillery positions of the two sides was too far, and it was night, and the artillery of both sides did not have the shooting of the other side's artillery positions, and they were all lonely.

However, the Eighth Route Army called in air support and fired a large number of flares to provide the pilots with a view.

Coupled with the fire of tanks and heavy artillery, the devils who attacked last night suffered a wave of big losses.

However, the chiefs were still very sure of the combat effectiveness of the Japanese army.

It was not complacent and the idea of underestimating the enemy because the ground-air firepower comprehensively crushed the Japanese army and made a casualty ratio of 1 to 5 with the Japanese army.

Although the firepower of the 129th Division was strong.

However, there is still a gap between the overall quality of the infantry and the soldiers of several divisions and regiments of the Japanese army.

The 11th Army of the Japanese Army has four divisions, and the soldiers of these divisions have been in battle for a long time and have rich combat experience.

Frontal battles, excluding tanks and heavy artillery, as well as air support.

The infantry of the Eighth Route Army fought against the Japanese infantry, and the infantry of the Eighth Route Army, armed with semi-automatic rifles and submachine guns, had an advantage but not much.

In order to reduce casualties, Division Commander Liu decided to give full play to the advantages of the Eighth Route Army.

With heavy artillery shells, tank shells and aerial bombs, the Japanese army was cooked a pot of steel broth.

Clearly, this tactic was undoubtedly correct.

"After last night's battle, the Japanese 11th Army suffered a big loss."

The chief of staff analyzed: "I am afraid that the Japanese army will move to a full-scale defensive posture and request support from the dispatch command. ”

After a pause, the chief of staff said with a trace of worry on his face: "And the food and ammunition of our 129th Division are already a little urgent, and our logistics supply line is too long." ”

This time, the main force of the 129th Division moved south to intercept the Japanese 11th Army.

The task of the 129th Division was to go south to regain territory and develop base areas.

However, due to the road conditions and transportation capacity, the families of the 129th Division were not brought over at once.

plus the consumption of combat materials all the way to attack the city.

And this time, all kinds of heavy artillery, mountain artillery and other firepower were fully fired, and the results were very gratifying, but the consumption of combat materials was also amazing.

Xuzhou is five or six hundred kilometers southeast of Shanxi, and the road is far away, and it is not easy to bring heavy artillery and tanks over.

It is difficult to rely on manpower and animal power to ensure the logistical supply of more than 200,000 main forces.

Even with trucks, the logistical supply lines are too long, and you have to guard against devils and traitors sneaking up on the convoy.

"How much ammo is left?"

Senior Commander Liu asked with a solemn expression.

There is no need to worry about food, at present, Li Yunlong's troops are attacking cities and territories in the North China Plain, and Li Yunlong can earn a lot of food every day.

At present, a large amount of grain is flowing into Henan Province every day to relieve the victims, and the local troops of the 129th Division are in full swing in the development base there.

The main forces of the 129th Division were short of food, that is, a telegram matter.

But!

Ammunition is a big problem.

After all, in this battle, the 129th Division did not let Li Yunlong command, and nominally did not let Li Yunlong command.

So.

The 129th Division could not call Li Yunlong for airdrop supplies.

Without airdrop supplies, ammunition consumption is consumed, and it is only in and out.

A modern army with tanks and heavy artillery, without logistical supplies, will quickly lose its combat effectiveness.

"Rifles, mortars, mountain guns, tank guns, but there is still a lot of ammunition."

The chief of staff replied truthfully:

"However, 105 mm howitzers, 122 mm howitzers, 150 mm howitzers, there is only one and a half base shells."

"There are not many shells for Katyusha rocket artillery."

These three howitzers are the main artillery of the 129th Division.

Katyusha rocket artillery is also the main artillery, but the shells are basically used sparingly.

Other small-caliber artillery and shells, the 129 Division had its own production line and could achieve its own self-sufficiency.

Therefore, there are more carried in this operation, and they can withstand it at present.

But the Eighth Route Army did not have other production lines of large-caliber howitzers and Katyusha rocket artillery and shells.

This time it came out, and the 129th Division only carried shells from howitzers of 3 bases, and they were gone.

"So?"

"Our heavy artillery shells are about to stop?"

The political commissar's face also became slightly solemn.

A half-base shell, hit a little faster, and it will be used up in a few hours.

Save a little and it will be used in a few days at most.

"That's right!"

The chief of staff nodded.

Master Liu's eyes narrowed.

When all the heavy artillery shells are gone, it is estimated that the remaining small-caliber shells and bullets will not last long, which is not conducive to long-term operations.

Now in front of the 129th Division, there are only two roads.

Either get logistical supplies, or solve it quickly.

As for taking the initiative to retreat and give way to the Japanese 11th Army, that would definitely not work.

But after all, the 11th Army of the Japanese Army is the main force, the combat effectiveness of the troops is strong, and the commander Yui Yokoyama is old and calculating, how can it be so easy to fight quickly and eat the 11th Army of the Japanese Army?

According to the message from the scouts of the forward positions.

At present, the Japanese 11th Army has been fully converted to defense.

"Or, it's still the old way, let the 129th Division be under the command of Commander Li?"

"In this way, we can call for airdrop supplies to Commander Li."

A senior operational staff officer suggested.

His suggestion was instantly endorsed by the majority of officers and staff officers.

No soldier could refuse an overwhelming airdrop of supplies.

In the two battles against Taiyuan, the 129th Division received airdrop supplies, and the two battles were called a comfort.

The political commissar nodded and said, "In order to destroy more Japanese troops and sacrifice fewer soldiers of the Eighth Route Army, I think we can give it a try, whether it is nominal command or actual command." ”

The idea of the commissar is not complicated, no matter whether it is a black cat or a white cat, as long as it can catch mice, it is a good cat.

"Okay!"

Senior Commander Liu nodded, and gave an order with a serious expression:

"Send a telegram to Li Yunlong immediately."

"Also."

"Give me an order to the bomber squadron to bomb the devil's logistics supply line, our logistics supply is tight, and the Japanese 11th Army should not think about it."

Chief of Staff: "Yes!" ”

……

Baoding.

Command of the North China Front.

In the war hall, Haruo Kitani, a communications staff officer, held a telegram in his hand and reported to Okamura Ninji:

"General."

"Just now, the commander of the 11th Army, Lieutenant General Isamu Yokoyama, sent a telegram that the 11th Army's attack on the Eighth Route Army was repulsed last night, and in the Xuzhou area, the Locust Army faced the main force of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army."

Okamura Ninji, the old devil, is also a resolute character.

After deciding to go to Baoding to personally command the troops.

In the evening of the same day, under the protection of the main force of the mixed 1st brigade, he came to Baoding by car.

When he went out of Beiping, Okamura Ninji was very scared.

In case he was attacked by the bomber group of the Eighth Route Army on the way to Baoding, it would be more than lucky.

After all, it is almost a well-known fact that the Eighth Route Army has high-level spies lurking in the headquarters of the North China Front.

Maybe this senior spy has already reported his whereabouts to the top of the Eighth Route Army.

But.

His convoy was not attacked by air during the night, and Okamura Ninji and a group of officers from the North China Front Headquarters had already arrived in Baoding.

"Nani?" Okamura Ninji's pupils shrank, and he asked in disbelief, "The main force of the 11th Army was stopped in Xuzhou?" ”

The 11th Army had 7 divisions and 3 brigades, as well as a reinforced field heavy artillery brigade.

Among them, there are 4 divisions of the first type, and their combat effectiveness is extremely strong.

The first commander of the 11th Army of the Japanese Army was Okamura Ninji, who naturally knew very well the combat effectiveness of this army.

He also longed for the main force of the 11th Army and the main force of the Kwantung Army to arrive and gather and annihilate the main force of the Eighth Route Army attacking North China.

But now, the main force of the 11th Army has been stopped in the Xuzhou area, and I am afraid that it will not be able to reach North China in a short time.

"Hey." Osamu Muya bowed his head and replied, "And the Eighth Route Army sent another national telegram, saying that the slogan of this attack on North China is..."

Speaking of this, Osamu Kitani paused, hesitating whether to say it or not.

"What is the slogan of the Eighth Route Army?" Okamura Ninji's eyes narrowed, and an interested expression appeared on his face, "But it doesn't hurt to say it." ”

Osamu Kitani said: "The slogan of the Eighth Route Army's attack on North China is to enter Beiping and capture Okamura alive. ”

Okamura Ninji heard this, and his cheeks twitched.

The toad of the Eighth Route Army yawned, and his tone was not small!

If you want to capture me Okamura alive, do you have the strength of the Eighth Route Army?

Okamura Ningji suddenly thought of something, the Eighth Route Army didn't kill him halfway to Baoding, wouldn't it really want to capture him alive?