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Chapter 384 Dilemma!

Taiyuan.

First Army Command.

Shinozuka Yoshio got up before dawn, and after washing up, he suddenly became interested, and wanted to practice a wave of sword skills in his busy schedule.

Kazuki Yamamoto, who has the strongest swordsmanship, went to the front line of Zhongjo Mountain.

Chief of Staff Kusuyama Hideyoshi went to the 37th Division.

Therefore, Shinozuka Yoshio randomly brought in a combat staff officer to practice sword skills with him.

This combat staff officer was named Nobukichi Fujimura. Seeing that the commander was so excited, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and practice against the commander.

Both sides used bamboo knives and protective gear. This situation attracted many people from the First Army Command to watch.

When the two meet each other, it means the start of sparring.

Shinozuka Yoshio took the lead in the attack, and after a diagonal cut to Fujimura Nobukichi, he did not give the opponent a chance to breathe, and launched fierce offensives one after another.

Fujimura Shinkichi quickly swung his knife to block, and after only a few moves, he was a little overwhelmed.

Although there is a saying that fists are afraid of young people, Fujimura Nobukichi found that the commander's sword skills are as good as they are, and his offensive is extremely tricky and fierce.

Therefore, Fujimura Nobukichi took out ten successes and counterattacked in defense.

But he was still defeated, and the bamboo knife in his hand was thrown flying, and the bamboo knife in Shinozuka Yoshio's hand was already pressed against his throat.

Seeing this scene, the devil officers who watched onlookers applauded.

Because of the successive defeats of the First Army and the Eighth Route Army, Yoshio Shinozuka's authority in the First Army has fallen to the bottom.

However, this time the Central Plains Battle launched by the First Army first deceived the Central Army and the Eighth Route Army with suspicious tactics, and then used blitzkrieg to surprise the Central Army, achieving great results in a short period of time.

This made Shinozuka Yoshio's prestige in the First Army rise a bit.

Picked up some, but not quite.

Unless Yoshio Shinozuka commanded the First Army to defeat the Central Army, and then defeated the Eight Route Army immediately, his prestige could return to its peak.

However, these devil officers did not know that Yoshio Shinozuka had received an order to retire.

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency's swordsmanship is so advanced that it is not inferior to Beichen's one-sword style back then!"

Fujimura Shinkichi said with an admiration on his face.

"Fujimura-kun has won the prize."

Shinozuka Yoshio's mouth was modest, but his face was full of complacency. During this period of time, his comprehension of saber techniques had indeed greatly improved.

If I had to describe it in one word, it would be enlightenment.

Shinozuka Yoshio said again: "Kendo is not only a technique, but also an art. Mr. Fujimura, as long as you devote yourself to practicing, your kendo will become the same as mine, or even surpass mine."

"Hi!" Nobukichi Fujimura suddenly lowered his head, "Thank you General for your teaching, Fujimura will definitely remember it in his heart."

Yoshio Shinozuka waved his hand, picked up a towel beside him and wiped off his sweat.

At this moment, Lieutenant General Toshimatsu Kasai, holding the telegram, hurried over, lowered his head with both feet together and said, "Report to the general, Lieutenant General Nanshan of the 37th Division has an urgent telegram!"

Shinozuka Yoshio said: "Read!"

"Hi!"

Toshimatsu Kasai took the telegram and read: "The main force of the Eighth Route in Southeast Shanxi went south this morning and exchanged fire with the 37th Division. The Eighth Route's offensive is extremely fierce, with no less than 3 people!"

"Nani?"

"The number of eight roads is not less than 3?"

When Shinozuka Yoshio heard this, his tone suddenly rose, and his face changed slightly.

If it was the Central Army or the Jinsui Army with 3 people, Shinozuka Yoshio would not have the slightest change in expression or voice.

But the 3-strong Eighth Route Army should not only not be underestimated, but should be taken seriously.

Because in the last mopping operation, the 3-strong Eight Route Army severely damaged two elite divisions of the Japanese army.

If it was the 3th Route led by Li Yunlong who went south, then the situation of the 37th Division might be a little bit bad.

I really didn't expect that the Eighth Route Army in Southeast Shanxi can still gather 3 main troops to attack the 37th Division southward.

This is probably the entire main force of the Eighth Route Army in Southeast Shanxi. At this time, if the 2nd Guards Division is ordered to go south, will it have a miraculous effect?

"Hi!"

Yoshio Shinozuka looked thoughtful.

Kasai Minsong continued: "Not only are there 3 main forces in the Xiangyuan and Licheng areas, but the scouts and intelligence personnel deployed by the imperial army in Heshun County have sent back news that there is a main force of no less than 3. , is heading north along the Heliao Highway, carrying heavy equipment, and the target should be the Zhengtai Railway."

"Nani?"

"There are still 3 main forces going north?"

Shinozuka Yoshio raised his voice even higher when he heard the words, threw away the protective gear and bamboo knife, and hurried to the battle hall.

When he came to the battle hall, Shinozuka Yoshio asked urgently: "Where did the scouts find the eight routes going north?"

A 3 main force was already extremely difficult to deal with, and another 3 main force was added, making Yoshio Shinozuka one head bigger than two.

The good mood when I woke up in the morning disappeared without a trace.

"it's here!"

Kasai Minsong pointed out the location of the Eighth Route Army on the map.

The base area of ​​the Taihang Military Region runs north-south like the Taihang Mountains. The brigade commander led the Taihang 1st Column to go north and marched all night before getting out of the base area.

Therefore, the devil scouts found out that the main force of the eighth route was going north, and they didn't send it until morning.

In the past, when the Eighth Route Army went to the Zhengtai Railway to do side work, it was always a small group of troops going north, and they all took small roads or detours.

This time, in addition to more than 3 main forces, there are more than 2 militiamen, which together approach 6 people. Without killing the devil scouts and intelligence personnel, such a large-scale march is impossible to hide from the Japanese army.

Yoshio Shinozuka frowned suddenly, where did the main force of the Eighth Route come from so many people?
Could it be that the Eight Routes did not lose personnel and equipment in the last raid?

"Your Excellency, there is another strange situation."

"The two batches of intelligence personnel and scouts of the Imperial Army arranged by the headquarters on the Baijin line have lost contact with the Communications Department."

Just as Shinozuka Yoshio was thinking, Kasai Toshimatsu said again.

"Lost contact?"

Yoshio Shinozuka suddenly raised his eyebrows: "How often do they contact the Communications Department, and when was the last time they contacted?"

Kasai Toshimatsu said: "We contacted once every 6 hours. The last contact was at 12:6 midnight last night. We should have contacted the Ministry of Communications at [-]:[-] this morning, but the Ministry of Communications has not yet received a telegram from them to report the situation. .”

Shinozuka Yoshio stared at the Heshun area on the map and moved his eyes to the left until the Baijin Line area.

Suddenly his heart beat suddenly.

From the Baijin line to Qixian, Taigu and Taiyuan, there are no Japanese troops defending this area.

If at this juncture, a main force of the Eighth Route goes north along the Baijin line, it can directly threaten Taiyuan.

"General, are you worried that the Eighth Route Army will besiege Taiyuan?"

"The main force of the Eighth Route in Southeast Shanxi should have already come out, and there should be no extra troops going north to attack Taiyuan."

Combat staff officer Nobukichi Fujimura analyzed.

After Chief of Staff Kusuyama Hideyoshi was transferred away, the combat staff around him had a greater voice.

If Kusuyama Hideyoshi was still around, they wouldn't be able to speak at all.

Shinozuka Yoshio shook his head and said, "Theoretically, this possibility cannot be ruled out."

"Assuming that the Eighth Route has 5 to 6 main forces, the Eighth Route in the Xiangyuan and Licheng areas is the main force, and in the Heshun area going north, if the Eighth Route's militiamen wear the main force's uniform..."

"Then there are still 2 to 3 main roads left, and it is likely that the main force has already gone northward from the Baijin line."

The staff thought about it for a while, and it was really possible. After all, it was not the first time that the Eight Route Army had changed their uniforms and engaged in tactical deception.

Then, Shinozuka Yoshio ordered: "The 32nd Kwantung Army Flying Squadron will switch to cooperate with the 37th Division and the 2nd Guards Division. Bombers and fighter jets should immediately find the Eighth Route Artillery Unit in Heshun and destroy them immediately!"

"In addition, send out all the reconnaissance planes to reconnaissance along the Baijin line, and report immediately if you find any traces of the Eighth Route!"

"Hi!" Kasai Toshimatsu paused and walked out.

This is just his guess, and he is not sure that the Eighth Route must go north to attack Taiyuan.

At this time, the old devil is in a dilemma. If the 2nd Guards Division is transferred back to Taiyuan from the Zhengtai Railway, it will definitely be able to hold Taiyuan.

But if the 2nd Guards Division was transferred away, it would be tantamount to handing over the Zhengtai Railway to the Eighth Road. After the Eighth Road destroyed the Zhengtai Railway, it would definitely continue northward to destroy the Beitongpu Railway.

If the two key railway transportation lines of Zhengtai and Beitongpu are destroyed by the Eighth Route, the impact on the Central Plains battle will be very fatal.

When the logistical supply is interrupted and the frontline troops lack supplies, the results of the battle will be greatly reduced.

Naturally, the old devil would not give up the chance of honorable retirement so easily.

Not sure whether the Eighth Route Army will attack Taiyuan, Shinozuka Yoshio dare not easily transfer the 2nd Guards Division back.

The last time the 37th Division was hit hard because the troops were too scattered. The first batch of people who entered the base of the Eighth Route Army was only more than 5000 people, and the other 5000 were from the Imperial Association Army.

The 2nd Guards Division was hit hard because of an ambush and mysterious air support.

With strong air support and frontal combat, Shinozuka Yoshio did not believe that the main force of the 3 Route Army could really defeat an elite division of the Japanese army.

Following the old devil's order.

The fighters, bombers and reconnaissance planes of the 32nd Squadron of the Kwantung Army at Xinxiang Airport in Henan Province took off quickly.

Divided into 3 battle formations, one part flew towards Xiangyuan and Licheng, one part flew towards the Baijin line, and one part flew towards the Heshun area.

The Taihang 2nd Column led by the division commander has already exchanged fire with the 37th Division.

Although the first wave of raids on the Eighth Route Army took some advantage.

However, since this time they were facing an entire division of the Japanese army, and the Japanese army was in a defensive posture, they built fortifications in advance facing the Eighth Route Army.

Coupled with the fact that the old devil Nanshan Hideyoshi is not easy to deal with, and the devil's air support, even if the Eighth Route Army has the advantage, there is no way to solve the battle in a short time.

On the side of the brigade commander, before dawn, the brigade commander ordered two artillery regiments to quickly hide the cannons and shells.

The Devil fighter jets and bombers searched for a few laps but couldn't find them. They ran out of fuel and flew south.

On Li Yunlong's side, all the troops were hidden in the leafy woods that the Sword Squadron had reconnaissed in advance. The soldiers who slept during the day had grass rings on their heads, and their bodies were covered with branches and weeds.

Well hidden.

Even with the low-altitude reconnaissance of the Devil reconnaissance plane, it is difficult to find it.

(End of this chapter)