Chapter 314 After Eating Western Bread for a Few Years, You Can’t Even Fight a War Anymore?

On a main road in Hebei Province, dozens of traitors maintained a scattered formation and walked towards Shimen in a swaggering manner.

These traitors walked and talked, not caring whether there were hidden enemies around. After all, in the cognition of the idiots, the closer to the big city, the safer it is.

"Hurry up! What are you dawdling about!"

"If you delay the important matter of the lady, you will definitely be in trouble!"

"I heard that 80% of the Imperial Army near Shimen will be dispatched this time. The last time such a big battle was the winter sweep a year ago. I don’t know which guerrillas provoked the locust army."

Hearing the words of his company commander, a seemingly smart traitor shuddered involuntarily.

For people like them who sell their ancestors for glory, they are experts in bullying ordinary people on weekdays, but fighting the Eighth Route Army with real swords and guns is absolutely a waste.

"Captain, the generals are not going to ask us to fight in Shanxi, are they?"

"I have a few fellow villagers in Jingxing. They said that the Eighth Route Army there is more powerful than the National Army. If a fight really breaks out, I'm afraid we will be used as cannon fodder."

"If it doesn't work, let's find a way to escape. It's just a few dollars a month, so there's no need to risk our lives."

As soon as these words came out, the whole team fell into a dead silence.

Those who can become traitors basically have no backbone. Anyone who still has a bit of blood in his heart would have gone to the nearby guerrillas to fight the devils to the death.

Unless the sun rises from the west, don't expect them to work hard.

"Let's take it one step at a time. We'll know what the mission is when we get to Shimen."

"Okay!"

As the traitors gradually left, there was a slight movement in the woods beside the main road that was difficult to detect. If it were an ordinary person, he would never find out that there were two people hiding there without getting closer.

"Captain, this should be the fourth batch today."

"I don't know what the devils and traitors are going to do. Are they going to celebrate someone's birthday in Shimen?"

After ignoring the complaints of the team members, the captain of the district team took out a piece of straw paper from his pocket and then drew a line on it with a pen.

The day after the imperial meeting ended, the Japanese troops entrenched in Hebei, Chahar and Suiyuan began to mobilize the materials needed for the war.

The leaders of the puppet army also held frequent meetings in the county to mobilize for the upcoming war.

The above behavior immediately aroused the vigilance of the intelligence department, local armed forces and militia. Everyone used the nearby communication network to report what they saw and heard to their superiors.

The devils thought that their confidentiality methods were pretty good, but in the eyes of their comrades, they were ridiculous. Every move of the entire North China Front Army could not escape the eyes of the troops.

"Okay, why bother with those second devils?"

"Take this paper to the first division and report this morning's data. Be careful on the way and don't be discovered by the enemy."

"Received!"

······

October 31, 1941, Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region Headquarters.

"Division Commander, this is the news sent back by troops at all levels. Based on the existing intelligence, we have reason to suspect that the devils will launch a large-scale military operation within a week."

"Tsk, these enemies are really crazy. They actually have the courage to attack us. I don't know who gave them the courage to go all out."

"Is there any news from the headquarters? Is there any order asking us how to respond?"

103 always kept a smile when reporting work.

In his opinion, whether it is the Mongolian Army or the direct troops of the North China Front Army, it is no different from seeking death to take the initiative to launch an attack at this time.

If the enemy hides in the occupied area and is willing to give up some cities of little strategic significance, it is possible to cause some trouble to the Eighth Route Army under the condition of tightening troops.

After all, the current troops lack heavy artillery, and attacking the city is a very troublesome thing.

But now, Okamura Ningji actually took the initiative to give up his only advantage and pulled all the troops from Hebei, Suiyuan and Chahar to fight in the field.

Thinking of this, 103 took advantage of his own division commander before he replied:

"It seems that the devils are living in the memories of the past and can't get out of it. If this happened four years ago, I might have praised them for their courage."

"After all, the main force attacking Shanxi at that time was the Fifth Division, and the gold content of the Type A division in 1937 was not low. Even if we walked through the grassland and climbed the snow-capped mountains, we had to do our best to win in the case of mountain warfare."

"What kind of stuff is the North China Front Army now? A bunch of Type B divisions plus a few independent mixed brigades dare to go to Shanxi? What's the difference between this behavior and lighting a lantern in the toilet?"

Looking at the excited expression of the chief of staff, the tiger in the forest frowned slightly, and the whole person looked serious and intimidating.

The two had been together in the north for many years, so he naturally knew that the other party was eager to prove his command ability on the battlefield, and his own situation was somewhat similar.

Because of his trip to the north to recuperate, the fifth-level general had missed many major events and failed to participate in the Hundred Regiments Campaign, the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain, and the Second Battle of Taiyuan.

Obviously, in an era of rapid change, the great victory four years ago could no longer satisfy his appetite.

Although no one would question his identity as the head of a division, the proud tiger in the forest needed a big victory to announce his return to the enemy.

"Be serious, have you forgotten what it means to be arrogant and defeated? Has eating foreign bread for several years made you forget how to fight?"

"Japs may be impulsive, but those people never fight unprepared battles. Don't jump to conclusions easily before you have a thorough understanding of the opponent's cards."

"This is a telegram from headquarters. Read it yourself."

After being scolded by his own commander, 103 put away his tendency to underestimate the enemy. He silently opened the telegram sent from the headquarters and began to read it carefully.

According to the analysis of the deputy general staff, the target of the Mongolian army's attack is most likely Datong.

If you want to fight the current Eighth Route Army, field anti-aircraft artillery and large-caliber heavy artillery are indispensable. If the starting point of the Beitong-Pu Railway cannot be captured, the enemy will not be able to bring heavy weapons into Shanxi.

Just like four years ago, the best strategic route for the Japanese is to follow the Tongpu Road from north to south, attacking Yuanping, Guoxian, Nanhuaihua and Xinkou in sequence.

"It seems that our first battle after returning to China is to defend Datong."

"Fortunately, the deputy commander-in-chief did not let us fight with the Mongolian troops in the trenches. We only need to use fortifications to dampen the enemy's spirit."

"Now that the army has artillery, tanks and even aircraft, the best choice is to give full play to mobility. Only by using depth and depth to block attacks can casualties be reduced as much as possible."

Judging from the current situation, the Japanese have not only lost air supremacy, but even the artillery firepower is at a disadvantage.

In this case, the enemy will definitely adopt tactics of frontal containment and outflanking.

Only by closing the distance with the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region as much as possible and constantly organizing small-scale attacks, assaults, and even close combat and night raids can the power of our light weapons be unleashed.

Only by arranging the position to intersect with the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region can the Eighth Route Army's long-range firepower and close-ground support aircraft be feared.

At this moment, if you squat in the trench and defend passively, it is a fool's behavior to give up your advantage. Using depth to lure the enemy deeper is the best choice.

Hearing the views of his chief of staff, the tiger in the forest nodded with great satisfaction. It can be said that the two of them had exactly the same idea.

"I personally think that our Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region can set the final decisive battle location at Xinkou and fight the Japanese in the Battle of Xinkou."

"At that time, we will lure the enemy deep into the enemy's territory, retreat for a decisive battle, and fully exert our air superiority and firepower superiority there to annihilate all the invading Mongolian troops in the basin."

"That's it for now. You go ask the Communications Department to send a telegram to the headquarters and evacuate the people along the way."

"yes!"

Xinkou is located in the northwest of Xinding Basin. Both railways and highways intersect here. It is the only transportation artery from northern Shanxi to Taiyuan.

The Japanese in Suiyuan and Hebei must carry heavy weapons if they want to attack Taiyuan. As long as you bring heavy weapons, you must find a way to pass Xinkou.

To the east is Wutai Mountain, to the west is Yunzhong Mountain, and the Hutuo River and Yunzhong River pass through it.

Once the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region completes luring the enemy in, don't be too happy about what happens next. The Eighth Route Army will use artillery shells and aerial bombs to teach the troops stationed in Mongolia how to fight modern wars.

There is no central army in the province now, and the Jinsui Army is huddled in Zhongtiao Mountain.

Troops at all levels are comrades who trust each other unconditionally. Their synergy is far beyond that of any war zone in the Republic of China, and they can implement a variety of complex tactics.

Seemingly thinking of something important, the tiger in the forest said to the deputy division commander beside him:

"Old Nie, I remember that you have a good relationship with Principal Chang of the First Air Division. Can you help me contact our Air Force comrades?"

"If possible, I hope they can arrange several troops to bomb the entire Pingsui Railway. Whether it is the cavalry group in Baotou or the 26th Division in Zhangjiakou, if they want to attack Datong, they must march through the railway."

"Blowing up a few more times will reduce the casualties of the comrades on the front line. What's more, the Japs on the train are easier to explode than those running on the ground."

After hearing his partner's words, the deputy division commander nodded without thinking.

During the last meeting, the deputy commander-in-chief specifically emphasized that their Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region could give priority to mobilizing the 1st Air Division for combat, and bombing along the railway would naturally be no problem.

"Okay, I'll send a telegram to the First Kong Division now."

"Our Air Force has also built a field airport in Datong. If everything goes well, the soldiers should be able to take off within half an hour."

"How about I contact the 1st Marine Regiment and ask them to make some noise behind enemy lines to contain a group of enemies as much as possible. This can also reduce the pressure on our military region on the frontal battlefield. If paratroopers carry out sabotage behind enemy lines, then But it’s my job!”

"Okay! I'll trouble you then!"

······

Three hours later, the eastern section of Pingsui Railway.

"Captain, is the Eighth Route Army really as powerful as the legend says?"

"I heard that the 13th Cavalry Regiment and the 72nd Chariot Regiment were destroyed by the opponent's paratroopers in the Houtao area. At that time, Lieutenant General Nishihara almost fainted in the headquarters."

"Do you think our attack this time will be as smooth as four years ago?"

After hearing his captain's question, Mitsui Kunio did not answer immediately.

The fact that the two regiments were destroyed was considered a secret in the cavalry group. He, a small commander, was not qualified to know the ins and outs of the matter.

What's more, hearing is false and seeing is believing. Why should we increase the enemy's prestige before reaching the battlefield?

After thinking for a while, the old devil decided to boost morale. He first opened the right door of the train to look at the scenery of the grassland, and then pointed to the sky and said:

"Look, in order for our regiment to arrive at the battlefield smoothly, Lieutenant General Nishihara sent a full flight squadron to escort. This is the first time I have enjoyed such treatment in my ten years of military service."

"In the rear cargo compartment, there are 23 Type 97 medium tanks parked, which is one of the assets of our cavalry group."

"Although I have never fought with the so-called Eighth Route Army, I believe that no military unit in the whole country can withstand the frontal charge of our regiment."

"Hey! Thank you for your advice! I am ashamed of my fear just now!"

Just as the two were looking forward to a bright future, bursts of exclamations suddenly sounded in the nearby carriages.

At the same time, the anti-aircraft guns arranged in the front car began to work. The sound of the Type 96 high-angle gun seemed to remind the devils that the enemy had appeared.

In this situation, Mitsui Kunio suddenly felt something was wrong. He immediately stuck his head out of the carriage and looked at the sky with a telescope.

The next scene will definitely be remembered by the Japanese for a lifetime. And he finally understood why the train needed fighter escorts and anti-aircraft guns on the train.

Three different fighter planes swooped out of the clouds more than a thousand meters in front of the train.

There were thirty-six planes that had never been seen before, and the one at the front of the formation had more than thirty stars. They came in a fierce and clear division of labor, and they were divided into two teams the moment they came out of the clouds.

One team rushed directly to the escorting Type 97 fighters, and killed five of them in just one encounter.

Although the other team had only twelve planes, the amount of bombs they carried under their wings made Mitsui Kunio, who had never seen the world, feel cold on his back.

"What kind of monster is that? Why is that bomb so big!"

Just as the Japanese colonel was still sighing, the transport train their wing was riding on suddenly began to brake, and the huge friction noise immediately brought Mitsui Kunio back to reality.

"Arrange your equipment! All teams should pack up their equipment and get off the vehicles immediately!"

"Break up into smaller units! Disperse in squadrons! Regroup in the grasslands to the south!"

"Artillery squadron! Tank battalion! You must ensure that all weapons are evacuated smoothly! If any tank or artillery piece is damaged! You all must commit seppuku!"