Chapter 316 The Person Has Already Been Replaced!

Wanquan, the headquarters of the army stationed in Mongolia.

After a week of dispatch, the Japanese army in Suiyuan finally gathered the troops needed for the attack and prepared sufficient supplies for each soldier.

At this moment, a group of senior officers were holding the last meeting before the war.

After receiving a signal from his commander, Major General Goro Mano of the Second Independent Mixed Brigade stood up and reported:

"The five independent infantry battalions of our unit are ready for battle. At present, all the warriors are on standby at the garrison near Zhangjiakou. We can attack from the northeast to the southwest at any time and kill Datong along the route of Tianzhen and Yanggao."

"For the local terrain, no unit in the entire North China Front Army is more familiar with our Second Independent Mixed Brigade. As long as the attack officially begins, I am confident that I can break through the enemy's defense within a week."

"Please give the order, Commander!"

As soon as these words came out, the tired old face of Shigetaro Gan was suddenly a little more red.

Since the cavalry group and the 26th Division are equipped with a large number of heavy weapons, transport trains must be used to pull those large-caliber heavy artillery, tanks and armored vehicles to the front line.

Unfortunately, their troops stationed in Mongolia did not have air superiority.

This meant that the troops could be attacked by the Eighth Route Army's air force at any moment.

Recalling the telegrams reporting the losses, Gan Jian Shigetaro felt as if his heart was broken. He had been in the army for 24 years, and this was the first time he felt so powerless.

So Mano Goro's lofty ambitions just now were the only good news the old devils heard this week.

"Good! Very spirited!"

"Mano-kun! Your brigade can set off tonight, and you must avoid the enemy's dive bombers as much as possible."

"I'll give you seven days. You must kill the Eighth Route Army's defenders in Julebao before the middle of the month! Cooperate with the 26th Division and the Cavalry Group to retake Datong!"

"Hi!"

Gan Jian Shigetaro was still very confident in the strength of the Second Independent Mixed Brigade, which was the strongest lightly armed mountain force under his command.

What's more, the brigade was strengthened in terms of manpower and equipment last month.

At present, the five independent infantry battalions have a total of 6,700 people, and there are 53 guns of various types.

As long as they don't encounter the main force and air force of the Eighth Route Army, this model security force will definitely complete the task, after all, there are no powerful enemies in their attack direction.

After a moment, Gan Shigetaro turned his eyes to Lieutenant General Yano Otosaburo of the 26th Division and Lieutenant General Nishihara Ichisaku of the Cavalry Group.

When the three people's eyes intertwined, the scene was extremely awkward.

"Ahem!"

"You two, the plan for this attack was made by General Okamura Yasuji. I hope you can take this battle seriously and strive to recapture Datong and Tongpu Railway in one go."

"If you need anything, I will report to the headquarters of the front army for you."

In Okamura Yasuji's plan, the troops attacking Shanxi this time will be divided into four routes. The Mongolian Army is responsible for half, and the direct troops of the North China Front Army are responsible for the other half.

The first route is a feint attack, and the Second Independent Mixed Brigade will attract the attention of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region.

In order to successfully complete the mission, Goro Mano specially recalled the infantry battalions scattered throughout Hebei.

The second route is the main attack, which is carried out by the Cavalry Group and the 26th Division. The task of these two troops is very simple, that is, to start from Jining and fight southward along Fengzhen, and break through the Eighth Route Army's defense line in Datong from the front.

If it was a month ago, Yano Otosaburo and Nishihara Issaku still had the confidence to complete the task.

After all, the two division-level troops, together with the puppet army, can form a 100,000-man force, and will definitely not suffer a loss in a fight with the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region of the Eighth Route Army.

But now?

There is no difference between rushing to Datong and risking one's life.

The Cavalry Group suffered heavy losses, and the 71st Tank Regiment and the 13th Cavalry Regiment died at the hands of the 1st Marine Regiment.

Only 50% of the equipment of the 72nd Tank Regiment arrived at the prepared assembly point on time, and the rest were all picked up by the close-range support aircraft of the 1st Air Division.

The 26th Division was slightly better, and the casualties were not particularly serious, mainly because the equipment rate of heavy artillery was really not good enough.

As the first three-command division of the Japanese army, they don't have many heavy artillery. There are only 12 105mm barrels, and there are no 150, 240, 280 and 305.

After the destruction of the Air Force First Division, the entire division now has only 7 105mm field guns, and it is a problem how to break through the wall of Datong.

Seeing that the atmosphere in the combat meeting room has dropped to freezing point, the newly appointed Chief of Staff Inamura Toyojiro finally said:

"The development momentum of the Eighth Route Army in the past two years is indeed very strong, but any expansion of the army will reduce the quality of individual soldiers."

"Datong area is the former garrison of the 26th Division. The local grass and trees are not unfamiliar to us. Who will win depends on the background and performance of the senior commander."

"As far as I know, the commander surnamed Nie does not seem to be very outstanding in military affairs. Don't you two have the courage and confidence to fight?"

The method of provoking is very effective in many cases, especially when someone is full of anger.

Hearing the newly appointed chief of staff teasing them in a sarcastic tone, the two Japanese lieutenant generals immediately felt that their dignity and reputation were insulted!

"Baga!"

"Inamura Toyojiro, is that how you were taught to talk to your seniors at the Army University?"

"You are only a major general chief of staff, why are you so arrogant in front of two division-level lieutenant generals! I tell you, Datong will definitely be recovered by us, and that Republican surnamed Nie is not worth mentioning at all."

The sudden anger made all the staff tremble, and even Gan Cang Shigetaro, who was thinking about a way out, was frightened.

The old devil stood up quickly when he saw this. He first signaled with his eyes that his chief of staff had done a good job, and then he gave the other party a big slap in a businesslike manner.

"You two, I failed to train you well and humiliated you."

"Since everyone has made up their minds, let's end today's meeting. I hope everyone can do what they say and take Datong as soon as possible to open up the channel to attack Taiyuan."

"I wish you three a successful start, and I'll be waiting for your good news in Wanquan!"

As soon as these words came out, Yano Otosaburo and Nishihara Issaku suddenly felt a little impulsive.

But now that things have come to this, it is difficult to take back the harsh words just spoken, and the two Japanese lieutenant generals can only bite the bullet and prepare to launch an attack.

And from past experience, the commander of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region is really not as good as the big bearded man and the one-eyed dragon, and this battle is not really completely without a chance of winning.

Unfortunately, the two did not know that the opponent this time had changed.

Now in northern Shanxi, there is a fierce tiger waiting for them to come to the door.

······

Datong, Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region Temporary Command Post.

"Division Commander, the devils have finally set off! According to the information provided by the intelligence department and the First Air Division, the enemy in the northeast will arrive in Tianzhen in one day at most."

"The enemy in the north will be slower, and it is estimated that it will take two days to reach Fengzhen. The specific time of the attack is still uncertain."

"Can I participate in the battle of Tianzhen-Yanggao-Julebao? I will definitely complete the plan of luring the enemy deep into the territory with quality and quantity, so that the devils can enter the encirclement without anyone noticing."

Hearing the self-recommendation of 103, the tiger in the forest put down the soybeans in his hand and came to the enemy situation map.

Julebao is the most important defense line around Datong, where there are national defense fortifications built by the Shanxi faction in 1935. After being reinforced and expanded by the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region, it can definitely be regarded as an area that is easy to defend and difficult to attack.

As long as you hold it there, you can avoid being attacked from both sides.

"Okay, then you should cooperate well with Commander Yang of the First Division and try to make a good start for us."

"You must remember that each line of defense must be held for three days before retreating. You must act more realistically so that the enemy will not notice our abnormality."

"Communicate in time if there is any situation, go! Be safe!"

Hearing the instructions of his own division commander, 103 felt warm in his heart, as if the cold wind in November was dispelled.

As a comrade-in-arms who has been together for many years, he knows the impact of the Xiangjiang battle on the other side, and he also knows that the man in front of him never fights an unprepared battle.

Of course, being cautious does not mean being conservative or timid.

After all, people who lack imagination will never formulate a battle plan for the Pingxingguan Campaign.

"Yes!"

"Guarantee to complete the task!"

Happy Qixi Festival, comrades