Bright Sword's Bloody War of Resistance

Chapter 878 Pocket Formation

"Damn it, the Japanese planes are coming again, hide!"

The roar of planes came from the clouds, and then two Japanese reconnaissance planes appeared. After circling over Shangqiu, they flew to the north and south respectively.

The soldiers did not crawl out of their fortifications until the Japanese reconnaissance planes flew away. They were already accustomed to Japanese planes and immediately recognized that they were just two reconnaissance planes.

"This is the third time the Japanese planes have been dispatched today. This is a bit too frequent!"

"If I'm not mistaken, the 13th and 14th Brigades must have had a fight with the Japanese!"

"How do you know that? Are you so sure?"

"Because I have a brain!"

"Screw you!"

The soldiers who witnessed this scene nearby burst into laughter. The bickering between the company commander and the instructor was more interesting than watching a drama. It was a rare opportunity to find joy in adversity.

The temporary headquarters of the Japanese Second Front Army was stationed at the Niuwanghu stronghold on the Longhai Railway.

A combat staff officer was holding a folder and reporting: "The North China Expeditionary Army Headquarters sent a telegram, and after investigation, it was found that the Eighth Route Army in Shangqiu was Li Yunlong's 16th Brigade of the Hebei-Shandong-Henan Column."

"They fought in Shandong a month ago, equipped with a complete artillery system, with a full range of light and heavy firepower. They returned to Hebei, Shandong and Henan a few days ago, with a force of about 10,000. Their combat effectiveness is strong and should not be underestimated!"

"You go down!" Yamashita Tomoyuki nodded when he heard this. There were more than a dozen black and white photos in front of him, which seemed to be taken by Japanese reconnaissance planes.

"Hi!" The operations staff officer glanced forward quietly and then quickly walked out of the room.

The atmosphere in the room was a bit weird. The commander of the Tank Training Brigade, Hideo Yamaji, stood quietly by the side, not daring to make a sound.

"Ishihara Kanji is right. The Jiluyu Column of the Eighth Route Army is a formidable enemy. Its commander is very skilled in his deployment. He is trying to lure you into a trap!"

Yamashita Tomoyuki had to admit that this battle was not that easy. The strategy of attacking the north first and then the south advocated by Ishiwara Kanji might be the safest, but the strategy of dividing the troops could not be said to be wrong. He just didn't expect that Doihara Kenji was still deliberately hindering him at this time.

"Yamaji-kun, what do you think?"

Yamaji Hideo was obviously relieved, but he still behaved very respectfully. He leaned down and came to Yamashita Fengwen's side and said, "Commander, judging from the current battle situation, the Eighth Route Army has deployed a considerable number of armed personnel in Yucheng and Xiayi. Their purpose is to contain our army so that our army dare not deploy its formation too quickly!"

"Once the battle turns unfavorable to our army, the Eighth Route Army's troops on both sides will change from containing us to blocking our retreat. We must be on guard!"

"I think we should adopt a steady and cautious strategy. Parts of the 57th Division and the Imperial Guards Division will continue to fight with them, and with the cooperation of my tank brigade, we will concentrate the main force of the infantry to advance towards Shangqiu!"

"If we can capture Shangqiu, open up contact with the 35th Division, and ensure the smooth transportation of the Longhai Railway, our army will be invincible!"

"Yoshi!" Yamashita Tomoyuki was very impressed. He was a well-known man in the Japanese army for his wisdom and strategy. He defeated the British army in the Philippines and had a clear understanding of the current battlefield situation. He asked Yamaji Hideo's opinion just to make him express his position. The Japanese tank army was established by Yamashita Tomoyuki. As the commander of the tank training brigade, Yamaji Hideo was the most loyal of the loyal. However, people tend to go to higher places and water flows to lower places. The loyal are not necessarily reliable.

Yesterday evening, when the teaching brigade was conducting a personnel check, it was suddenly discovered that Yamashita Tomita's troops had lost contact. After searching for them all night without success, Yamaji Hideo came to report with a worried heart.

At the moment, he was worried that Yamashita Tomoyuki would be angry with him because of this matter, so he had to hold his nose and show his loyalty, but he was also worried that this would cause dissatisfaction from Tojo Hideki.

"Mr. Yamaji, your idea is very good. This battle is related to the success or failure of the empire in North China and even the whole of China. Now please return to your command position!"

"Hi!" Yamaji Hideo answered, standing at attention, and then hesitantly asked, "Commander, it's just..."

Yamashita Fengwen stood up suddenly and shouted loudly: "It's nothing, as a commander, I only care about the success or failure of this battle, personal affairs are insignificant!"

"Hey, Commander, you're wise!"

Before Yamaji Hideo left, the adjutant came in at the right time to report to Yamashita Fengwen about the disappearance of Yamashita Tomita. As a father, how could he not care about the whereabouts of his son.

"Commander, soldiers of the 57th Division witnessed Lieutenant Yamashita's troops marching westward, towards the Chinese hinterland, and many people pointed out that Lieutenant Yamashita had an argument with Toshio Tojo before he disappeared!"

"Toshio Tojo?"

The sound of fingers tapping the table suddenly stopped, and Yamashita Fengwen suddenly snorted: "Does he think that what he did will not be noticed by others, or does he think that I will not pursue the matter?"

The adjutant is Yamashita Tomoyuki's confidant. It is the subordinate's duty to share the leader's worries. If the leader is not convenient to express his ideas, the subordinates have to step forward.

Then he turned his gaze to Yamaji Hideo and made a gesture at his neck. Yamaji Hideo broke out in a cold sweat when he saw this and couldn't help but groan inwardly.

Hideo Yamaji had heard about the political struggles in Japan, and there was no unanimous voice within the Kwantung Army. Although he was a major general and the brigade commander, Hideki Tojo could be dismissed and sent back to his country with just a transfer order.

With the development of science and technology and the advancement of weapons, the way modern warfare is fought has undergone tremendous changes. Once the defense system outside the city is breached, there is no need to defend the city.

Yucheng, Shangqiu and Xiayi were like a pocket waiting for the Japanese army to enter. If they retreated, they could contain the Japanese army and force them to split their troops, and if they advanced, they could cut off the Japanese army's retreat.

"Based on the current situation, the Japanese army is only a detachment on both sides. Their strength is not that large. Including artillery and auxiliary arms, their strength is at most 5,000. On the other hand, our army's main brigade plus an artillery battalion has more than 10,000 troops!"

"The troops are two to one, and they occupy the defensive fortifications. The advantage is very obvious. In my opinion, if we let the 13th and 14th Brigades take the initiative to counterattack, it may have unexpected results!"

The Kwantung Army was determined to fight the Eighth Route Army to the death in Shangqiu, which was exactly in line with the Eighth Route Army's intention, so Zhao Bingzhang and others became optimistic again.

Zhou Weihan shook his head when he heard this: "It's not safe enough to let the 13th and 14th Brigades counterattack now. We need to wait until the main force of the Kwantung Army is trapped deeper in Shangqiu!"

"The Japanese reconnaissance aircraft have been making quite a lot of noise in recent days. It would be rude not to reciprocate. Tomorrow morning we will also send two reconnaissance aircraft to investigate the Japanese army's strength!"

"As long as the main force of the Kwantung Army and its detachments are separated, and the 13th and 14th Brigades find a way to defeat the enemy in front of them, I want to see how much combat effectiveness the famous Kwantung Army still has!"