The Sword of Swords is a Guard for Kong Jie

The chief of staff came after hearing the news, and raised objections to Yoshio Iwamatsu after listening to the introduction of the staff on duty.

"Your Excellency, Commander, the Northwest Shanxi Eighth Route Army is indeed equipped with large-caliber mortars, but they are not equipped with tanks or armored vehicles."

"According to the intelligence department's investigation: the large-caliber mortars equipped by the Eighth Route Army in Northwest Shanxi have run out of shells, and basically no longer appear on the battlefield."

"However, the Eighth Route Army that attacked Niangziguan consumed a large amount of shells during the battle. This is obviously inconsistent with the ammunition reserves of the Eighth Route Army in Northwest Shanxi."

"Moreover, the Eighth Route Army in Northwest Shanxi is being swept up by our army, and the two sides are in a stalemate, and there is no way to separate troops to perform other tasks."

"Even if they really send troops to sneak attack on our logistics supply line, there is no need to detour to Niangziguan to launch an attack. The distance is too far, and it is easy to scare the enemy. Isn't the gain outweigh the loss?"

Yoshio Iwamatsu nodded in approval.

Then he ordered to the subordinates at the side: "What are you still doing here?"

"Go and investigate right away..."

"Which Eighth Route Army in Shanxi is equipped with heavy mortars and tanks..."

"The Eighth Route Army that attacked Niangziguan must have come from there."

"Only by finding out the identity of the enemy can we judge their real purpose of attacking Niangziguan."

"We have to report this matter to the Front Army Command."

"Niangziguan is located between Shanxi and Hebei. The enemy who attacked them probably came from Hebei, not the Eighth Route Army active in Shanxi."

"We only have information about the Shanxi Eighth Route Army, not other Eighth Route Army."

"If this Eighth Route Army comes from Hebei, we can only rely on the Front Army Command to provide us with relevant information."

…………

Neiji Okamura, the headquarters of the North China Front Army of the Japanese Army in Beiping, was also concerned about the mopping up in Northwest Shanxi.

Whether he can avenge his shame, make up for his defeat in Yizhong, and restore the reputation of the North China Front Army depends on this battle.

"Your Excellency Commander..."

The chief of staff hurried over and handed the telegram to Neiji Okamura with one hand and pointed to the sand table for introduction.

"Shanxi garrison urgent telegram..."

"Niangziguan was suddenly attacked by the main force of the Eighth Route Army."

"The opponent is equipped with a large number of heavy mortars, tanks, and armored vehicles. The offensive is very fierce. Niangziguan is at stake and may be occupied at any time."

"They suspect that other Eighth Route Army entered Shanxi to participate in the war and participated in the sweep of Northwest Shanxi. They asked the headquarters to help investigate the origin of this Eighth Route Army."

"Which Eighth Route Army in North China is equipped with heavy mortars and tanks at the same time..."

Hearing this, two words came to Ningji Okamura's mind: in the wings...

The Yizhong Eighth Route Army fought several consecutive victories and seized a large number of weapons and equipment, including heavy mortars and tanks.

The intelligence department has also conducted a special investigation, and the Eighth Route Army in the Yizhong is using the captured tanks to secretly form an armored force.

In addition to them, Okamura Ningji did not expect that there were other troops equipped with chariots in the territory.

The chief of staff was keenly aware of Neiji Okamura's rapidly changing expression, and hurriedly asked, "Your Excellency, Commander..."

"Have you already thought of the identity of the other party..."

"It should be the Yizhong Eighth Route Army..." Okamura Neiji replied with a serious face.

"Except them."

"I can't think of any Eighth Route Army in North China equipped with large-caliber mortars and tanks at the same time."

"Let the intelligence department check the Yizhong Eighth Route Army immediately."

"Has there been any troop movements during this time?"

"Are there any small troops in the base area?"

"Several commanders are still not in the base of the wing"

"If it's them who attacked Niangziguan."

"The battle of the Shanxi garrison sweeping Northwest Shanxi will definitely cause accidents, and we have to take precautions in advance."

Speaking of this, Okamura Ningji directly punched the frame of the sand table, and said with a vicious expression: "The Eighth Route Army in Yizhong is really a difficult opponent."

"Why are they everywhere?"

"unacceptable……"

"When I get rid of the Eighth Route Army in Northwest Shanxi and free up my hands, I will definitely find a way to kill them, and I will be ashamed..."

Any small matter, as long as there are big people paying attention, it will immediately become a big event.

Less than an hour after Neiji Okamura gave the order, the chief of staff hurried back to the war room with a very solemn expression, indicating that a storm was about to unfold at the headquarters.

"Your Excellency Commander..."

"A few days ago, the Yizhong Eighth Route Army did have a troop mobilization, and the scale was not small..."

"A team including tanks, armored vehicles, troop carriers, and cavalry set out from the wings, took the road, and went straight to Shanxi."

"The checkpoints and strongholds along the route were all captured by the Eighth Route Army."

"Because the Eighth Route Army erased the traces of the chariot march and cut off all contact between the garrison and the outside world before attacking strongholds and checkpoints, the defenders in various places only thought that the annihilation battles were launched by the local Eighth Route Army armed forces, and did not go into details."

"I didn't even think about the Eighth Route Army in Yizhong, and I didn't report to the headquarters."

"This is relevant information..."

"It took three nights for the Yizhong Eighth Route Army to reach Niangziguan..."

"If they have conquered Niangziguan now, they will be able to reach Jinzhong tonight."

"It can not only storm Jinzhong, but also threaten the safety of Taiyuan."

"It can also go straight to the northwest of Shanxi, cut off the logistics supply line of the sweeping troops, and force them to retreat."

"At present, there is no way to determine how many troops this Eighth Route Army has."

"The humble job is being investigated."

"But it is certain that the Eighth Route Army is equipped with tanks, armored vehicles, mountain artillery, and large-caliber mortars..."

"The attacking ability is very strong."

"Otherwise, it would be impossible to break through Niangziguan and enter Shanxi in just over an hour."

Neiji Okamura snorted coldly and said, "It's really them..."

"The Eighth Route Army in the Yizhong is different from other Eighth Route Army. They like to fight by surprise too much. You must not use conventional eyes to judge their next action plan."

"Send a telegram to Yoshio Iwamatsu immediately."

"The Eighth Route Army that attacked Niangziguan came from Yizhong."

"I think it is very likely that they are heading towards Taiyuan. Please be prepared in advance."

The chief of staff doesn't think so. Although the Eighth Route Army in the Yizhong likes to fight by surprise, their strength lies there.

Taiyuan is not Niangziguan, the garrison alone is seven or eight times that of Niangziguan, and there are a large number of fortifications that are far stronger than Niangziguan.

No matter how powerful the troops sent by the Yizhong Eighth Route Army are, no matter how strong their offensive capabilities are, it is impossible to break through the Taiyuan city defense fortifications and threaten Taiyuan's security.

Besides, Yoshio Iwamatsu reserved a chariot brigade for Taiyuan.

The number of chariots equipped by the Eighth Route Army is limited. As long as the chariot brigade makes a move, the tanks and armored vehicles they equip will definitely be blasted to pieces.

Therefore, the chief of staff is more willing to believe that they will go to Northwest Shanxi to cut off the logistics supply line of the mopping up troops.

Seeing that Neiji Okamura said with a firm face, and he was not easy to refute, he decided to inform Yoshio Iwamatsu of the two inferences together, so that he could make two preparations at the same time.

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