Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 76: Bad Intentions

The Guard Company is the officer's guard, and its level of eliteness is unmatched by any other company in the entire North China Battle Group.

Zhao Fangyuan pulled out his pistol and killed two Japanese soldiers who were trying to get closer: "Quickly end the battle!"

After nearly half a day of fighting and a large-scale bombing, there were only more than 400 people left in the first battalion who were still able to participate in the battle.

With the guard company that came to support, it was no problem to wipe out the Japanese soldiers that rushed over.

Inside the command post.

Wang Feng witnessed the tragic situation on the front line from a bird's-eye view.

If Zhang Hu had not stepped forward in the critical moment, the position of the first battalion would have been breached by the Japanese army by now.

The New 1st Regiment also suffered heavy casualties.

Of the 800 people Li Yunlong brought with him, only 300 were left.

The third company of the third battalion and the fire support company also lost more than half of their troops.

Fortunately, they had the advantage of narrow terrain. If the battlefield was moved to a plain area, with equal numbers, they would have been pinned to the ground and beaten by the Japanese army.

Wang Feng sighed: "Alas, the gap in comprehensive strength is still too big."

The 1st Battalion was equipped with Japanese weapons and although it was slightly weak, it was still able to resist the Japanese attack.

But once the Japanese army deployed heavy firepower or air firepower, the battle situation immediately became one-sided.

Even if both sides only use light weapons in combat, a battalion can hold out for a day or two.

But it definitely won’t last ten days.

Even though the Japanese army was fighting in a foreign country and repeatedly suffered from guerrilla warfare, they were able to ensure that supplies arrived on time.

On the other hand, the national army.

Baimujing is at most 40 kilometers away from Yangquan by mountain road.

In the rear were stationed Jinsui Army troops that did not participate in the battle. The caliber of bullets used by both sides and even the equipment were exactly the same.

As a result, we couldn't get any supplies at all.

As the sun sets, visibility in the air decreases rapidly.

Zhang Hu injured his right shoulder and temporarily withdrew from the front line, and Zhao Fangyuan took over the front-line command mission.

The two armies fought continuously for most of the day and the soldiers were exhausted.

Both sides huddled in a corner, secretly licking their wounds, while staring at each other, ready to attack at any time.

Night is the time when it is easiest to relax.

The Japanese army attached great importance to night combat and even wrote specific details in the "Infantry Drill Manual". Every Japanese soldier underwent professional night training.

It's like a thorn in the side, you have to be on guard!

Wang Feng paced in the command post, secretly thinking about the battle report sent from Xinkou.

Nearly a week has passed since the North China Battle Group left Jinzhong.

During this period, the situation in the Xinkou battle underwent earth-shaking changes.

Itagaki Seishirō was officially transferred back to the mainland reserve.

Seiji Katsuki's handling of battle details is truly second to none.

After taking office, he keenly perceived the signs that the National Army troops on the front battlefield were unable to hold on, and chose to take a more radical approach, launching a swift attack on Wei Lihuang's 14th Army.

It turns out that this move is indeed effective.

The frenzied Japanese army occupied the 14th Army's forward command post, Xinkou Town, several times.

10 month 22 day.

The Japanese army transferred the Kayashima Detachment from the rear as reinforcement, adding about the strength of a regiment, and dispatched four bomber squadrons from the Peking Airport to rush to Xinkou for assistance.

Under the enemy's repeated attacks, the 14th Army and the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army suffered heavy losses.

As soon as one regiment is wiped out, another one will immediately fill in.

The average daily casualties were equal to the strength of two regiments.

Even if there were more than 200,000 Nationalist troops stationed on the Xinkou front, they could not withstand such consumption.

At the Second War Zone Military Conference a day ago, Yan Laoxi clearly proposed to deploy defenses in the area from Xinxian to Taiyuan.

This proposal was unanimously agreed upon by the generals present.

This is equivalent to admitting that the Xinkou Defense Line can no longer be defended.

Wang Feng muttered to himself: "We can't even defend Xinkou. The river valley from Xinxian to Taiyuan is almost flat. How can we defend it?"

"They are already a defeated army, and have no natural defenses to rely on. They are just struggling to survive."

With this thought in mind, he silently calculated the time in his heart. Can he return to Taiyuan before the Japanese army?
After experiencing so many wars, Wang Feng understood many things.

This is a national war.

What matters is not who has more soldiers and generals, but the comprehensive national strength, scientific and technological capabilities, and industrial production capacity behind them.

This is the most important thing.

It is an inevitable trend for Japan to annex Shanxi, and no one can change it at present.

Shanxi's geographical location is very important. In the view of the Japanese General Staff, it is a key link in the war of aggression against China.

Besides, the Japanese like to dwell on trivial matters. The higher the sunk costs they invest, the more they must occupy Shanxi.

Itagaki Seishirō was transferred and Katsuki Seiji took over.

If Kiyoshi Kazuki fails in the battle, a new commander will be transferred in.

Repeat the cycle until victory is achieved.

The same goes for the military.

The Fifth Division suffered heavy losses, so another division will be sent to Shanxi to provide assistance.

If one division is not enough, then use two. At worst, all the Japanese troops in North China can be mobilized.

If Shanxi cannot be taken, North China will be worthless and will always be exposed to the surveillance of the National Army, and the situation will be precarious.

Unless you have the strength to rival the whole of Japan, you will be powerless.

Wang Feng frowned: "We have to find a way to take control of the Taiyuan Arsenal."

This arsenal is the blood-making heart of the entire Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, and it is also one of the leading factories in the country.

After the "September 18th Incident", Yan Laoxi took charge of Shanxi again and divided the arsenal into several parts. The names were changed back and forth, which made people dizzy.

'Taiyuan Arsenal' gradually evolved into a nickname.

The scope of production also expanded from military equipment to civilian industrial products.

As the saying goes, everything is difficult at the beginning.

As long as we have passed the stage of primitive accumulation and have a certain industrial foundation, the follow-up will be much easier.

With his understanding of the 'tightrope', the current technology tree and national policy tree have not yet been fully unlocked.

No industrial options.

According to the nature of the system panel, it is estimated that it will only be gradually unlocked after an industrial foundation is established.

As far as I can remember, most of the industrial equipment at the Taiyuan Arsenal was eventually sold cheaply to the Japanese.

Before the war, Yan Laoxi transferred more than 1000 small machine tools and more than 200 power motors to Sichuan and Shaanxi areas. Although it seemed like a lot, it actually accounted for only 2% of all the property.

The rest all fell into the hands of the enemy!

Wang Feng frowned.

So how do we get the Taiyuan Arsenal?
Steal? Cheat? Or rob?

Several evil thoughts popped up in Wang Feng's mind.

The arsenal is the apple of Yan Laoxi's eye and he will not let go until the last moment.

By the time the Japanese troops surrounded Taiyuan and finally let go, they were unable to transport any equipment out.

Legal means are impossible, so we can only rely on this despicable method.

Wang Feng's mind became active.

As I recall, after the fall of Taiyuan, Yan Laoxi was deserted by his friends and relatives and was driven into a remote mountain area by the Japanese army. His life became worse and worse, even worse than that of the Eighth Route Army next door.

The troops under his command were also severely reduced. Fu Zuoyi led the 35th Army to Suiyuan and basically completely separated from the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army.

It is no exaggeration to call themselves the Sui Army.

As a result, the only troops left in Yan Laoxi's hands were the Jin Army. The army that was claimed to have 300,000 soldiers before the war was reduced to only 30,000 or 40,000 people in the end.

The title of Commander-in-Chief of the Second War Zone was only in name only.

If I really robbed the Taiyuan Arsenal, it seems that Yan Laoxi would not do anything to me.
At best, you can call yourself a traitor behind your back, which is not a big deal.

Not to mention Chiang Kai-shek.

The emperor is far away and I didn't expect the central army to provide me with salary or equipment. It would make no difference whether he was there or not.

　The comment section is so chaotic recently!
　　In fact, I have read every comment of yours carefully, and I would like to thank all the readers for their strong support.

　　I like to read good reviews, hahahaha!

　　I also accept negative reviews and suggestions.

　　But some comments don't offer any valuable suggestions, and don't say what's wrong with negative comments. They start with a barrage of foul language and then leave. This is a bit abstract, isn't it?
　　
　
(End of this chapter)