Bright Sword: Develop alone, bring back an artillery regiment

The reason why Yoshio Shinozuka was so shocked and unconfident was that simple. Since they entered Shanxi for the first time in 37 and fought against the Eighth Route Army for the first time, the fighting methods of the Eighth Route Army have hardly changed.

Either ambushing their small transport troops, or sneaking into small strongholds, or blowing up railways, road bridges, etc.

It was not until last year in Northwest Shanxi that the Eighth Route Army defeated the 9th Brigade head-on for the first time in Huluxia, and then wiped out the 4th Brigade.

But strictly speaking, in these battles, the Japanese army was attacking and the Eighth Route Army was defending.

A full-scale attack like this has never happened before.

Even though the 129th Division was forced to go to the southeast of Shanxi, and the Japanese army in North China dispatched a lot of troops to the south for reinforcements, Shinozuka Yoshio did not expect that the Eighth Route Army would dare to be so bold as to attack Zhengtai Railway, Tongpu Railway, and Pinghan Railway. More than 300 strongholds along the railway launched an attack at the same time.

Suddenly, Yoshio Shinozuka felt as if he had shot himself in the foot with a rock. Northwest Shanxi was a piece of loess, and further west it could be described as desolate, without any traffic arteries and without any strategic value.

Knowing this earlier, Shinozuka Yoshio would rather let the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army develop freely in the northwest of Shanxi than force it to the southeast of Shanxi.

It's just that things have come to this point, and it's too late to say anything now.

But after the shock, Shinozuka Yoshio felt deeply afraid again, and exclaimed: "Is the Eighth Route Army so powerful?"

Kazuki Yamamoto is a genius commanding a large corps who was delayed by special warfare, but his focus is on another level: "The Eighth Route Army has such a strong organizational ability when it lacks communication equipment and information is blocked."

"The attack node they chose is also excellent. It happened to be when our 1st Army sent troops south to reinforce the 11th Army, and the troops were most empty!"

Yoshio Shinozuka nodded and said nothing. The reason why he valued Kazuki Yamamoto so much was because he hoped to change the existing war mode through special operations, thereby resolving the crisis of Japan's insufficient war potential. , I also took a fancy to Kazuki Yamamoto's strategic vision, battlefield analysis ability, and tactical guidance ability.

The chief of staff, Toshi Miyano, asked for instructions: "Your Excellency, Commander, do you order the imperial army to form an independent and mixed first brigade to attack?"

Shinozuka Yoshio did not still say anything, but turned his head to look at Kazuki Yamamoto, wanting to hear his opinion.

Kazuki Yamamoto immediately understood, and said: "Your Excellency Commander, Chief of Staff, in my opinion, before the exact intentions of the Eighth Route Army are clarified, the Imperial Army's independent mixed 2nd brigade and independent mixed 8th brigade should not act rashly.

As the saying goes, it is better to be still than to move. Let's see the true intention of the Eighth Route Army first. "

"Anyway, as long as these railway lines are still under the control of the imperial army, the imperial army can realize rapid maneuvering. In just a few hours, reinforcements may be sent to all parts of the battlefield."

Miyano Jun asked again: "What about the more than 300 third-level strongholds on the periphery?"

Kazuki Yamamoto still had a straight face and said expressionlessly: "All the garrison teams of the third-level strongholds have withdrawn to the second-level strongholds in the center. It doesn't matter if they can't withdraw. In exchange for a chance to fight the Eighth Route Army, this is undoubtedly very worthwhile for our 1st Army."

"A decisive battle?" Jun Miyano was taken aback when he heard this.

Yoshio Shinozuka remained expressionless.

Kazuki Yamamoto said: "Chief of Staff, don't you think this is an opportunity?"

After a short pause, before Toshi Miyano could speak, Kazuki Yamamoto continued to ask: "What has troubled our 1st Army the most all this time?"

Miyano Jun subconsciously said: "Of course it is the endless harassment of the Eighth Route Army of China, they are like annoying flies, if you drive them away, they will fly away, but as soon as you breathe a sigh of relief, they will come back.

Hitting and being unable to kill, and defending but being unable to defend, it is really annoying! "

Kazuki Yamamoto: "That's right! The Eighth Route Army is like a swarm of flies, it's very annoying, but we don't have a good way to deal with these flies."

"But now, this group of flies thinks that they have grown up and turned into eagles, and they want to fight the imperial army head-on."

"Isn't this a godsend opportunity to annihilate the Eighth Route Army in one fell swoop?"

"Summer!" Miyano Toshi suddenly realized.

Shinozuka Yoshio directly issued the order: "Order the independent mixed 1st brigade, the independent mixed 4th brigade, and the 27th division. Immediately investigate the strength of the Eighth Route Army in this area and the number of the troops."

"The combat class is starting to draw up a counterattack plan!"

"In addition, the intelligence department immediately launched an investigation on the Central Army of China and the Jinsui Army! It is necessary to determine at all costs whether this attack on the Imperial Army's stronghold was a unilateral action by the Eighth Route Army, or a linkage between the Central Army and the Jinsui Army. .”

"If possible, we can properly release goodwill to the Central Army and the Jinsui Army!"

Yan Laoxi, the highest officer of the Jinsui Army, was not a staunch main fighter. He resisted Japan only for his own territory.

Even the railways built in Shanxi have different track widths from those in other regions, while the trains in Shanxi are equipped with two sets of wheels.

In this way, it can be ensured that Yan Laoxi's own train can run unimpeded in Shanxi, and can also go to other provinces.

But trains from other provinces cannot start as long as they enter Shanxi, and must be modified by Yan Laoxi.

In this way, the railway power in Shanxi was firmly controlled by Yan Laoxi.

Therefore, Yan Laoxi also has the title of King of Shanxi.

Therefore, what Yan Laoxi really cares about is only his own interests and foundation, and naturally he will not fight the little devil to the death.

On the contrary, Wei Junru and Fu Yisheng, the deputy commanders of the second war zone, were unswerving main fighters.

Among them, Wei Junru is also the supreme commander of the Central Army of the Second Theater.

It has to be said that Yoshio Shinozuka, an old devil, is still a bit powerful. Not only does he have excellent strategic vision and tactical guidance ability, but his political methods are also outstanding.

Otherwise, when the 1st Army lost successively in Northwest Shanxi, almost losing the strength of two brigades, and also caused the death of one of the two major general brigade leaders and the other being captured, he would have been impeached long ago, and even the North was imprisoned. Resigned.

But right now, if a tacit understanding can be reached with the Central Army that retreated to Zhongtiao Mountain and the Jinsui Army that retreated to the southern section of Luliang Mountain, at least four infantry regiments can be dispatched to help.

Even if only Yan Laoxi maintained a tacit understanding with him, at least two infantry regiments could be dispatched, which was almost the strength of a field brigade.

Combined with the 1st Brigade and the 8th Brigade of the garrison of the headquarters, it is also an extremely powerful force.

Speaking of which, Yoshio Shinozuka had already concocted this plan in his heart, but he just happened to use this opportunity to implement it.

"Hi Yi!"

Several devil class leaders paused at the same time, then left in a hurry, getting ready to go.

……