Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 54 The Battle of Xinkou Begins
Under the Japanese army's integrated air-ground combat, Wang Jingguo's 19th Army stationed in Gang County only held out for two days before abandoning the city and fleeing.

Thinking back to his declaration before the war, vowing to live and die with Gang County, it seemed even more ridiculous at this moment.

After the fall of Gang County, Yuanping was unable to hold on alone and the battle situation became precarious.

However, in order to buy time for the construction of fortifications in the rear Xinkou line, Yan Laoxi telegraphed Jiang Yuzhen.

"I order your troops to defend Yuanping for seven days!"

"No mistakes!"

After receiving the order, Jiang Yuzhen immediately relied on the small town of Yuanping to engage in a fierce battle with the Japanese army.

After the city gate was breached, the soldiers of the 196th Brigade engaged in street fighting with the Japanese army.

No matter how fiercely the Japanese army attacked, using air bombing, heavy artillery strikes, they tried every possible means.

None of them could completely drive the 196th Brigade out of the county.

Jiang Yuzhen gritted her teeth and completed the combat mission.

After seven days, the 196th Brigade had suffered heavy losses and the soldiers were exhausted.

Fortunately, we have been receiving a steady supply from the rear, otherwise we would not have been able to hold on.

Jiang Yuzhen is a veteran of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army. He has followed Yan Laoxi for more than 20 years and is a loyal follower of the loyal followers.

Just as the troops were about to withdraw from Yuanping, Yan Laoxi sent another urgent telegram.

"After seven days, guard for another three days!"

Looking at the telegram in her hand, Jiang Yuzhen's hands couldn't help but tremble.

Seeing that the troops were about to withdraw from the battlefield, many soldiers relied on this belief to keep their spirits up and have managed to hold on until now.

He didn't know how to pass the order to his brothers.
In the end, Jiang Yuzhen led the remaining remnants of the 196th Brigade back to the battlefield and resisted the fierce offensive of the Japanese invaders.

After three days of holding out.

April 10st morning.

Seeing that the Japanese army was about to break through the defense line, in order to boost morale, Jiang Yuzhen personally went into the battlefield to supervise the battle and kill the enemy.

The battlefield is full of dangers.

A shell landed at Jiang Yuzhen's feet, and the flames from the explosion instantly engulfed her.

After the yellow sand dispersed, only a broken corpse was left on the ground.

Jiang Yuzhen died heroically for her country.
After holding out for eleven days, the remaining soldiers of the 196th Brigade finally broke through the encirclement.

Out of a regular brigade of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army with several thousand men, only four or five hundred men survived.

(Currently the administrative divisions of Gang County and Yuanping have been merged into one place)
After the fall of Yuanping, Itagaki Seishirō's next target was Xinkou.

Taiyuan is surrounded by a basin and has no natural defenses to defend.

As long as we capture Xinkou, Taiyuan will be within our reach!
Jiang Yuzhen's troops held Yuanping for 11 days, and the blood of the soldiers was not shed in vain.

Taking advantage of this gap, all troops have arrived at the combat area.

Wei Lihuang's 14th Army Group also arrived in Taiyuan.

Second Theater Command.

A military meeting was held quietly.

There were many generals standing on both sides of the long table, and the officers present had different opinions.

After some intense discussions, the battle plan was finally decided upon.

As the commander-in-chief of the Xinkou front, Wei Lihuang finalized the final deployment of troops: "I will personally lead the 14th Army to Xinkou as the central army group to fight the Japanese invaders head-on."

"The Sixth Army is the left army, occupying positions along the line from Heiyu to Yangfangkou."

"The Eighth Army is the right army, and the 73rd, 101st, and newly formed 2nd Divisions are temporarily under its command, occupying positions along the line from Wutai Mountain to Ekou."

"The 34th, 35th, 61st Army and the 66th Division are the general reserve forces under the command of the Seventh Army Group and are deployed in the rear on standby." After reading out the deployment, Wei Lihuang said in a deep voice: "Everyone, do you have any objections to the specific strategic deployment?"

Huang Shaohong frowned and said, "I have been to the front line to inspect before. The Japanese army's actions in the First War Zone are approaching Niangzi Pass."

"At present, the main force of the First War Zone has retreated to Shijiazhuang. If this city falls, Niangzi Pass will be exposed to the guns of the Japanese invaders."

"Once Niangzi Pass is lost, the entire Xinkou defense line will be completely shattered."

"I privately believe that we should deploy important troops on the Niangzi Pass front to be on the alert for the Japanese invasion."

As soon as these words were spoken, the senior military officers present began to discuss with each other.

Huang Shaohong was not a general from the Shanxi clique, but came from the New Guangxi clique.

He was stationed in Shanxi as a special envoy of the Nanjing government.

Wei Lihuang could not help but praise: "What Ji Kuan said is true. Niangzi Pass is located behind Xinkou. If it is lost, the Japanese army will attack Taiyuan from the side and rear. At that time, our 200,000-man army will be attacked from both sides by the Japanese invaders."

Fu Zuoyi, Yang Aiyuan and other Jinsui Army generals agreed
Even Deputy Minister Zhou of the Eighth Route Army echoed this.

"If we want to fight the enemy at Xinkou, we can't afford to lose the Niangzi Pass."

At the critical moment, Yan Laoxi raised his hand and expressed his objection.

"Even though the situation in the First War Zone is not optimistic, there are still more than 100,000 troops stationed in Shijiazhuang."

"Niangziguan can rest assured for a short time!"

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a commotion below.

Huang Shaohong had explained the interests involved clearly, so that even a military illiterate who knew nothing could understand the importance of Niangzi Pass.

All the officers present agreed unanimously.

But the commander-in-chief of the Second War Zone caused some trouble.

No matter what the people below discussed, Yan Laoxi always insisted on his opinion - not to defend Niangzi Pass!

In fact, he has his own ideas.

All the troops of the Central Army were engaged in a head-on confrontation with the Japanese army and could not mobilize any extra manpower.

The Eighth Route Army's guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines had gradually gained momentum, and it was even more impossible for them to move to Niangzi Pass to fill the line and defend the frontal position.

After much calculation, it can only be his own Jinsui Army that goes.

The combat effectiveness of the Japanese troops in the First War Zone was quite strong, not at all inferior to that of the Fifth Division.

Letting the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army guard Niangzi Pass at the risk of a disastrous defeat is even more painful than killing them.

not to mention.

As an important town, Shijiazhuang is actually guarded by more than 100,000 troops.

The Japanese army could not break through easily.

Even if there were hundreds of thousands of pigs running around, it would take the Japanese army a month to kill them all!
"This"

A hint of displeasure flashed across Vice Minister Zhou's face.

Before coming here, the head of the headquarters had clearly emphasized that the Niangzi Pass line is extremely important.

He had made suggestions many times before, but they were always ignored.

Old Yan straightened his body and said, "But we can't let the survival of our line depend entirely on the friendly forces in the first war zone."

"Ji Kuan, since it was your suggestion to garrison at Niangzi Pass."

"Then you will lead a troop to garrison the area."

Huang Shaohong didn't think about it and immediately responded: "Yes!"

After finalizing many matters, the troops quickly began to prepare to meet the enemy.

(End of this chapter)