Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 183 Strategic Encirclement

Wang Feng: "How far are we from Lanfeng?"

Zhao Fangyuan glanced at the map: "About 70 kilometers to go!"

Wang Feng: "Order the vanguard to speed up and reach the north bank of the Yellow River within one day and strengthen the ferry fortifications."

"All baggage trains must arrive within two days!"

"Send the relevant movements of our unit to the Henan East Corps."

Zhao Fangyuan nodded: "Yes!"

Wang Feng then asked, "How is Dangshan?"

Zhao Fangyuan: "Two divisions of reinforcements have arrived at Dangshan. Judging from the battle reports submitted by Chu Yunfei and Wang Mingzhang every day, the current battlefield situation has stabilized."

Wang Feng raised his eyebrows: "Where is the Fifth Division?"

"Did the Japanese army's new tanks cause heavy casualties to our army?"

Zhao Fangyuan shook his head in the bumpy car: "From the perspective of the local battlefield, the initial situation is not optimistic."

"Wang Mingzhang's column once said in a telegram that the Japanese Type 97 tanks were extremely stubborn and that using ordinary methods to fight the enemy would be ineffective and would only increase casualties."

"Sir, after those four anti-tank guns were transported to Dangshan, two were lost in battle within just one day."

When he said this, Zhao Fangyuan felt a pang of pain in his heart.

The Pak35/36 37mm anti-tank gun is a foreign product, introduced from the Prussian Empire, and the quantity is limited.

The two countries are now at odds, and Prussia is showing a tendency to side with Japan. The supply of weapons and equipment has been basically cut off, and artillery shells are becoming less and less.

Not to mention the anti-tank gun itself.

Wang Feng rubbed his temple and said, "It's just two anti-tank guns. It's not a big problem."

"Wait for a while and see if the factory in the back can produce a batch of copies."

At present, the Changzhi Industrial Zone, in addition to maintaining the most basic production of bullets, rifles, and grenades, has shifted its focus to the research of heavy artillery and tanks.

Launching new projects at this time will only be a case of having the will but not the strength.

If not handled properly, it may even have a counterproductive effect on other projects.

When the industrial zone was mentioned, Zhao Fangyuan straightened his back and said, "Yes!"

Wang Feng: "Send another message to Chu and Wang, telling them to hold on to Dangshan and stop the Japanese troops in Xuzhou from advancing westward!"

Zhao Fangyuan glanced at the map and scratched his head: "Sir, the straight-line distance from Dangshan to Lanfeng is more than 150 kilometers. Why can't we fight and retreat at the same time, and use mobile warfare or guerrilla warfare to stop the enemy?"

Wang Feng grinned: "Mobile warfare? Guerrilla warfare?"

"I don't know if you've heard of the Japanese army's rapid advance tactics."

Zhao Fangyuan thought for a moment: "Rapid advance tactics?"

Wang Feng nodded: "Have you never been curious about why the Japanese army on the southern front was able to encircle the Fifth War Zone in a short period of time in the later stages of the Battle of Xuzhou?"

Zhao Fangyuan suddenly realized: "So that's it!"

"It took the Japanese army in central China less than half a month to march from Nanjing and Songhu to Yongcheng. I thought it was just because of the advantage of mechanized troops."

Wang Feng smiled and shook his head: "Mechanized troops?"

"That's only half true!"

"You think too highly of our opponents. There are only one or two Japanese troops that can be called mechanized divisions, and they also benefit from temporary reinforcements before the war."

"For example, the current 14th and 5th Divisions."

Zhao Fangyuan: "The Japanese army is equipped with so many tanks and trucks, but they are not considered mechanized troops?"

Wang Feng smiled and said, "Of course not. At best, it is a semi-mechanized and semi-mule-horse unit."

It is actually understandable why Zhao Fangyuan thought so.

Currently, due to the lack of reference objects, people's concept of war is still stuck in the period of the Last World War.

When the war in the West begins, they will know what a real mechanized force is.

Especially Putin and the United States.

Wang Feng got back to the point: "As far as I know, the rapid advance tactic, as the name suggests, is actually a rapid assault and penetration."

"The mobile force, composed of the cavalry regiment and the tank squadron, only carried three days' rations and moved quickly towards the destination at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour."

"Chemical soldiers and engineers were also incorporated into the "Special Forces" and went deep into our army's rear to destroy transportation lines and granaries."

"In addition, there is air support and so on."

"Whether it's the 4th column, the 6th column, or the reinforcements sent by the 5th War Zone, they are all infantry units. They can't outrun tracks and wheels just by relying on their two feet."

"Once we retreat, the Japanese army may reach the designated location before us!"

"Then the strategic shift will most likely turn into a major rout!"

"It is impossible to retreat slowly and set up defenses in stages. Judging from the current situation, our two columns and the four armies of the Fifth War Zone can barely resist the Japanese army."

"If we withdraw troops from the front, I'm afraid the defense line we have painstakingly built will collapse in an instant under the fire of Japanese tanks!"

"Besides, the distance from Dangshan to Lanfeng is a total of 50 kilometers, which is all flat land with no strategic locations to defend. We must not give up Dangshan so rashly!"

Zhao Fangyuan understood: "What the commander said makes sense, it's my shortsightedness."

Wang Feng: "It is human nature that those in power are confused"

"It doesn't matter!"

"Om-!"

There was a sound of propellers overhead.

Zhao Fangyuan stuck his head out of the window.

"Sir, it's a Japanese reconnaissance plane!"

Wang Feng looked up as well.

A reconnaissance aircraft converted from a fighter jet was flying at a low altitude, with a "sun flag" clearly painted on its tail.

"So arrogant!"

"Order the air defense forces to shoot down the enemy's bird planes immediately!"

The reconnaissance plane was circling in the sky, flying very low, and there was no sign of dropping bombs or strafing.

Obviously, this aircraft is not equipped with weapon systems in order to extend its range and reduce its weight.

Then it's not threatening.

Zhao Fangyuan glanced at the convoy behind him. Before Wang Feng gave the order, several trucks had lifted their tarpaulins, revealing the anti-aircraft machine guns that were fixed and welded to the truck beds.

"Da da da--!"

Eight trucks opened fire at the same time. Orange-yellow bullet shells flew everywhere and made crisp sounds when they landed on the steel plates.

Wang Feng immediately switched to a bird's-eye view.

Within sight, the Japanese pilots were in panic.

I originally thought that I had caught a big fish in this operation, and I would receive a personal commendation from the captain after returning.

But I didn't expect it to be like this.

The low-flying reconnaissance plane was instantly covered by a hail of bullets, and the pilot immediately increased the altitude.

"idiot!"

After climbing just two or three hundred meters and before getting out of the range of the anti-aircraft machine guns, the engine at the front of the cabin caught fire. Thick smoke billowed into the cockpit, choking the pilot so that he could not open his eyes.

Seeing that the plane was about to lose control, the pilot glanced at the photo on the dashboard - it was a family portrait.

Then his eyes caught sight of a jeep speeding on the ground, and he immediately pulled the joystick and swooped down from the sky.

"It's a black card!"

"Onboard!"

Zhao Fangyuan was the first to realize that something was wrong: "Sir, hurry up!"

"This devil wants to die with us!"

The driver also reacted, stepped on the accelerator, turned the steering wheel sharply, and the jeep quickly left the convoy.

"Da da da--!"

The anti-aircraft machine guns on the ground fired bullets, madly strafing the Japanese reconnaissance plane that was about to fall.

The reconnaissance plane dived down at high speed, emitting black smoke and its left wing was broken. The pilot had no control over the direction at all and the plane went out of control, rolling continuously in the air.

The 13.2mm bullet shattered the windshield on the cabin, and the fragments hit the Japanese pilot who was roaring continuously.

In an instant, the cab was covered in blood.

"boom--!"

Finally, when the plane was only two hundred meters away from the ground, a bullet penetrated the fuel tank, and the entire plane exploded in mid-air. A fireball hung in the air, and the entire plane turned into scattered fragments and slowly fell.

Zhao Fangyuan wiped the sweat off his forehead and turned to look at Wang Feng in the back seat: "Sir, this route is no longer safe. Should we change direction?"

Wang Feng cleared his throat and said, "Let's keep going!"

"Japanese reconnaissance planes are all over the Longhai Line, it's the same wherever they go."

Zhao Fangyuan thought about it and said, "Yes!"

Wang Feng looked out the window and saw the burning wreckage of the plane falling to the ground, making muffled sounds.

Ever since Shan County’s battle with the 14th Division, the number of Japanese fighter planes overhead has suddenly become abnormally large.

He had noticed this reconnaissance plane when it entered the range of 50 kilometers.

I did think about changing course.

But after hesitating for a moment, he did not order the troops to carry out the order.

The reason is also very simple.

Within a radius of fifty kilometers, Japanese reconnaissance planes could be seen everywhere. Unless you lay on the ground and crawl in the tall weeds, you would be discovered no matter where you went.

That's not necessary.

"What are the Japanese going to do?" Wang Feng had a bad feeling in his heart, "I guess all the army aviation fighters in North China are concentrated on the Longhai Line."

“Is it just preparation for attacking Wuhan?”

After fighting the Japanese army for so long, this is the first time we have encountered something beyond our control.

------

Lanfeng.

Combat front line.

Kenji Doihara walked into the trench himself wearing a helmet.

"Everyone!"

"As a warrior, how can I be afraid of stray bullets?"

"The fragile Chinese are blocking our way!"

"Completely crush the Chinese army that stands in our way!"

Many officers on the side nodded in unison: "Ha!"

"For His Majesty the Emperor!"

Doihara Kenji drew out his general's sword. Sano Tadayoshi's face changed drastically, and he wanted to stop him: "General, this is at the front line."

Doihara Kenji ignored him and raised his saber: "Warriors of the Empire!"

"Kill him!"

"Onboard!"

He spoke very loudly, afraid that others might not hear him.

"Kill him!"

"Come on!"

The effect of this shout was obvious. The soldiers who were on high alert nearby rushed forward with extremely high morale.

Regardless of the danger, the Army Lieutenant General personally arrived at the front line to sound the charge for himself.

Of course, the most crucial thing is that before launching the charge, Kenji Doihara asked people to bring several large boxes and distributed "encouragement money" to each soldier.

"Grenade!"

Kenji Doihara stared at the Chinese position opposite.

Unlike Kenji Doihara, Tadayoshi Sano dressed himself like an ordinary soldier.

"General, safety is still the most important thing!"

He was really scared. This was the front line. If a shell suddenly flew over, it would be a big problem.

Kenji Doihara: "Sano-kun, the situation has become extremely urgent."

"The China East Henan Corps is right behind us. Wang Feng is leading a division and will soon arrive at the battlefield. If we fail to capture Lanfeng, you and I will end up worse off than dead!"

Sano Tadayoshi shut up.

Although he was reluctant, what Kenji Doihara said was indeed right.

If he were captured and fell into the hands of the Henan East Corps, it would be fine because the headquarters could redeem him through diplomatic mediation.

But if he is captured alive by the garrison.
That's simply worse than death!
As far as he knew, over a long period of time, more than ten officers above the rank of major general had been captured.

Without exception, the fate of these people was to go to the mines to mine.

It is a disgrace to the Empire of Japan!
Shanxi Special High Technology Bureau had organized several rescue operations, but all ended in failure.

Instead, it would make the imperial soldiers working in the mines suffer even more inhumane punishment.

Another possibility is to successfully break out and return to Tokyo as a defeated general.

Although still alive, the suffering was no less than that of a captive.

Under the desperate instigation of the Japanese Communist Party, anti-war sentiment is now rampant in the country. If we lose the war at this critical juncture.

There's no problem in the short term.

If it goes on for a long time, you will suffer.

If things go wrong, it may even implicate family and friends.

Rather than this, it is better to die on the battlefield. Maybe, you can even get the title of martyr.

Sano Tadayoshi: "General, I will go to the front line to supervise the battle in person!"

Kenji Doihara nodded: "Okay!"

"Be careful, the garrison's bullets don't have eyes!"

Sano Tadayoshi responded, tightened the straps of his helmet, and walked forward surrounded by two guards.

------

Pingjin.

Terauchi Juichi sat in a chair, flipping through a handwritten file.

Chief of Staff Okabe Naosaburo bowed slightly and said, "Sir, regarding the special order from the military, are we really going to carry it out?"

Terauchi Juichi closed the document and said, "I have issued an order to transfer all bomber formations to Yanzhou."

"Since it is an order from the military, we must carry it out!"

"But," Okabe Naosaburo was a little worried, "if the Yellow River embankment is blown up, floods will occur and the roads will become muddy, which will greatly hinder the passage of our troops."

Terauchi Shouichi crossed his hands and said, "Saburo, if it really comes to that, do you think we can still occupy Zhengzhou and then reach Wuhan?"

Okabe Naosaburo remained silent.

Yes!

If the Chinese army had to be destroyed by blowing up the Yellow River dike, the Imperial North China Army would probably have been defeated by then.

Terauchi Juichi sighed.

He didn't want this to happen. Blowing up the Yellow River dike would mean that the North China Front Army was completely passive and lost the ability to advance to Wuhan.

By then, the victory will probably belong to the Central China Front Army and Hata Shunroku.
"After capturing Nanjing, we seriously underestimated the Chinese people's will and ability to resist. The performance of the three corps of Tang, Xue and Wang in the battle of Xuzhou is enough to prove that the main force of the Chinese army is still there."

"Under these circumstances, the Chongqing government will not negotiate with the empire!"

"It's not important to capture Wuhan. China is so vast. Even if we occupy Chongqing, Chang will go to Yunnan or Qinghai to continue the resistance!"

(End of this chapter)