Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Yoshio Shinotsuka admitted that he had a gambling element in sending the 39th Brigade to ambush the Eighth Route Army's vanguard battalion at Dazhaigou.

Unfortunately, he lost his gamble.

Soon, a telegram from the First Army Headquarters was sent to the North China Area Army Headquarters in Beiping.

On the Japanese side, they fought in large-scale operations and maintained very strict military discipline.

Apart from Yoshio Shinotsuka occasionally exaggerating his battle achievements, he would immediately report every troop movement, battle results, and losses to the North China Area Army Headquarters.

Yoshio Shinotsuka had already reported on the 39th Brigade's operation to ambush the Eighth Route Army's vanguard battalion at Dazhaigou last night.

"Nani!"

"The 39th Brigade suffered heavy losses?"

After listening to the communications officer's report, Tada Shun suddenly stood up, looking extremely angry.

"What exactly is going on?"

Normally, after suffering so many defeats, the 20th Division should have been transferred back to the mainland for rest and recuperation long ago.

However, due to the intense fighting in Shanxi Province and the frequent offensives by the Eighth Route Army, the 20th Division was not recalled to its homeland.

Because if such a strong unit as the 20th Division were to be transferred, the Eighth Route Army, with its combat strength, would inevitably launch an attack on the Zhengtai Railway. The Zhengtai Railway was the true lifeline of the First Army. If the Zhengtai Railway were occupied by the Eighth Route Army for a long time, the First Army would not be able to replenish its ammunition for a long period of time, and its combat strength would inevitably decline greatly.

However, Tada Shun did not expect that the 39th Brigade of the 20th Division would suffer heavy losses so quickly!

"The ambush positions of the 39th Brigade were exposed and were repeatedly bombed by more than 60 Eighth Route Army aircraft, suffering heavy losses!"

"On the way to Taiyuan, they were bombed by more than 50 Eighth Route Army planes in turn."

The communications officer bowed and replied.

After the headquarters air regiment bombed the Japanese ambush positions in Dazhaigou, the air squadron of the New 1st Regiment arrived and carried out another bombing raid on the fleeing Japanese.

More than 100 fighter jets and attack aircraft, each with an average bomb load of 1 ton, that's more than 100 tons of bombs.

The power of napalm bombs was not much less than that of heavy aerial bombs. One napalm bomb could cover half a hilltop. The Japanese soldiers covered by it did not even have time to scream. The Japanese soldiers who were covered by napalm bombs suffered more than if they had been hit by a bullet.

Of course, even if more than 100 tons of bombs were dropped, it would be impossible to wipe out all six or seven thousand men of the 39th Brigade.

However, killing or wounding most of the Japanese soldiers would not be a problem.

Even so, this result was still hard for Tada Shun to accept for a while.

Although a single elite brigade was severely damaged and thousands of casualties were suffered, this was still a significant loss for Tada Shun.

However, what truly chilled Tada Shun was that, in a direct confrontation, the Eighth Route Army possessed the terrifying strength to severely cripple an elite brigade under a Class A division of the Locust Army within just a few hours.

Thinking of this, Tada Shun couldn't help but gasp.

After all, the entire North China Front Army did not have many elite units like the 39th Brigade.

Although the Japanese army had built many concrete fortifications in North China over the past six months, and even constructed several small and medium-sized fortresses.

But who could have thought.

The Eighth Route Army was equipped not only with airplanes and powerful incendiary bombs, but also with large-caliber heavy howitzers.
Although Yamamoto Ichiki had thought of it, what good was just thinking of it?

"Gentlemen, what are your thoughts?"

Tada Shun looked at Kasahara Yukio, Hirata Masahiro, Yamamoto Ichiki, and the staff officers.

All the Japanese officers also had solemn expressions.

Although they had tried to overestimate the strength of the Eighth Route Army in Northwest Shanxi.

But now that I think about it, I underestimated it.

After the Jin-Sui Campaign, the Eighth Route Army in Jin-Sui, which had rested and reorganized for more than half a year, became even more formidable in combat.

“Commander-in-Chief,” Kasahara Yukio said, “With the 39th Brigade defeated, the Eighth Route Army’s advance on Taiyuan will be even more unimpeded. I’m afraid the First Army won’t be able to hold out for long. Should we order the reinforcements to enter Shanxi Province ahead of schedule?” Tada Shun frowned slightly, this was somewhat unexpected.

Because the reinforcements are not yet fully prepared, some troops and combat supplies have not yet arrived.

If reinforcements were to forcibly enter Shanxi Province, and if they did not carry sufficient combat supplies, the consequences would be unimaginable if the Eighth Route Army were to deploy its main forces to cut off the supply lines.

"Immediately send a telegram back to the First Army Headquarters to inquire how many days they can hold out in Taiyuan?"

Tada Shun gave an order.

He needed to see how many days the First Army could hold out before deciding whether to immediately send reinforcements to its aid.

"Hi."

Kasahara Yukio quickly drafted a telegram, which Tada Toshi signed, and then had the communications room send it out immediately.

Yamamoto Ichiki suddenly said, "Commander, if I may be so bold, given the current situation, the First Army should immediately move into Hebei Province."

Yamamoto Ichiki's words silenced the entire operations hall.

All eyes turned to Yamamoto Ichiki.

Although Yamamoto Ichiki had offered Shinotsuka Yoshio a plan to escape before leaving Taiyuan, he knew that Li Yunlong was a cunning man.

Even if that method is used, it will still be quite difficult for Yoshio Shinotsuka to escape from Jin Province.

Yoshio Shinotsuka had done him a favor, and he didn't want Yoshio Shinotsuka to die in battle in Jin Province.

"Yamamoto-kun, do you know what you're saying?" Tada Shun frowned.

“Commander-in-Chief,” Yamamoto Ichiki said, “the strength and preparations shown by the Eighth Route Army far exceed our expectations. If we continue this battle, the entire First Army is in danger of being wiped out.”

"While Niangziguan has not yet been captured by the enemy and the encirclement of Taiyuan by the Eighth Route Army has not yet been fully completed, the main force of the First Army still has a chance to retreat from Taiyuan."

"In two days at most, the main force of the First Army will have no chance to retreat, and Niangziguan Pass is also likely to fall."

"Yamamoto-kun." Tada Shun snorted coldly, took a telegram from the folder and handed it to Yamamoto Ichiki: "Do you think I don't want the First Army to retreat? This is an order from General Headquarters. Take a look for yourself."

Yamamoto Ichiki took the telegram and read it, his face immediately darkening.

The General Headquarters actually ordered the First Army to defend Taiyuan to the death, even if it meant dying in battle.

On the one hand, the headquarters was unwilling to give up the strategic locations and the resource-rich Shanxi province that the locust army had already captured.

on the other hand,

The Japanese army's occupation of Taiyuan meant that they also occupied Shanxi Province. Losing Taiyuan would mean losing the entire Shanxi Province, which would greatly affect the Japanese army's international prestige.

It is said that the German high command was in contact with the Japanese high command, extending an olive branch and expressing their intention to form an alliance with Japan.

What would the German high command think if the Japanese army lost Shanxi Province?
In fact, Yamamoto Ichiki had also thought of this.

But despite his thoughts, he still couldn't understand the bizarre thought process of the headquarters.

For the sake of so-called face, are we going to sacrifice tens of thousands of soldiers of the First Army?
In the end, it is likely that tens of thousands of soldiers of the First Army will be annihilated, and Shanxi Province will fall into the hands of the Eighth Route Army, resulting in a double loss.

However, Yamamoto Ichiki was of low status and had no influence at headquarters.

But even if they could speak to him, those outdated officers would never listen to a colonel like him.

Kasahara Yukio said, "Niangziguan will not be captured by the Eighth Route Army so easily. Although the fortress and concrete fortifications were destroyed by the Eighth Route Army's heavy howitzers, the Locust Army still has many tunnels and bunkers. It can hold out for half a month without any problem."

Soon, Yoshio Shinotsuka, commander of the First Army, sent a telegram saying that the First Army could hold out in Taiyuan for 20 days.

"Alright." Tada Shun nodded. "Order all reinforcement units to remain in place, but be ready to enter Shanxi Province at any time to reinforce the First Army."

Yukio Kasahara suddenly lowered his head: "Yes." (End of Chapter)