Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

"Nani?"

"The Eighth Route Army has equipped its new tanks with two cannons?"

Taiyuan.

At the headquarters of the Japanese First Army, the First Army Commander Yoshio Shinotsuka suddenly stood up, his face ashen.

The Eighth Route Army has been equipped with new weapons, which is not good news for the First Army.

"Yes, sir." Mutaguchi Renya said, bowing his head, "According to the 238th Regiment, the tanks that the Eighth Route Army is equipped with this time have extremely high firepower!"

"One of the cannons fired, and the other cannon fired."

"With just over 30 tanks and a few hundred soldiers, the 238th Regiment was pinned down in the tunnels."

"Currently, the casualties of the 237th and 238th Regiments have both exceeded 1800."

"in addition……"

"More than 500 seriously wounded soldiers from the 237th and 238th Regiments were killed in an attack by Eighth Route Army aircraft on their way back to the 41st Division field hospital."

"Baka!" Yoshio Shinotsuka's expression turned even more unpleasant.

However, he was not heartbroken because of the loss of more than 500 seriously wounded.

Since the Third Battle of Taiyuan, the First Army has suffered more than 1 casualties. What does losing a few hundred seriously wounded soldiers count as?
What really worries Yoshio Shinotsuka is...

When Li Yunlong gets ruthless, he doesn't even spare the seriously wounded soldiers of the Locust Army, so how could he possibly let him, the commander of the First Army, off the hook?

When they moved into Hebei Province, should they have sent the 3rd Flying Division to launch an attack and draw the Eighth Route Army Air Force into the area?
Although this could very likely result in heavy losses for the 3rd Air Division...

But there is an old Chinese saying: "Better to die a fellow Daoist than a poor Daoist."

"Commander, the 238th and 237th Regiments have suffered more than half casualties."

"Should we order these two regiments to retreat to Taiyuan?"

Colonel Taro Nitta, the newly appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the First Army, said.

"Retreat?" Before Yoshio Shinotsuka could speak, Renya Mutaguchi snapped, "Colonel Nitta, is retreat all you can think about?"

"If we don't retreat, and the fighting continues like this, in at most another day, the 238th and 237th Regiments, with nearly 7000 men, will be completely wiped out!" Nitta Taro said coldly.

“This isn’t called total annihilation,” Mutaguchi Renya said. “This is called total annihilation; their honor lies in serving the Heavenly Locusts!”

Nitta Taro's lips twitched. This Major General Mutaguchi really didn't treat the soldiers on the front lines like human beings!

"Don't make any noise!"

Yoshio Shinotsuka snorted coldly, and the two Japanese soldiers immediately fell silent.

After a pause, Yoshio Shinotsuka continued, "What you both say makes sense, but we cannot stand by and watch the 237th and 238th Regiments be wiped out by the Eighth Route Army. We order the 237th and 238th Regiments to hold out until midnight tonight."

“入夜之后，派第41师团第222和223两个步兵联队，接替237联队、238联队阵地！”

Now that the Eighth Route Army has gained air superiority, the Japanese troops can only be mobilized at night.

Even during the daytime march, one can only proceed covertly, but the roads from Taiyuan to Qinglong Mountain and Qizi Mountain are basically impossible to conceal.

Once spotted by Eighth Route Army aircraft, hundreds of aerial bombs and incendiary bombs would be dropped, causing heavy losses to both infantry regiments heading to the position.

Now, even if there are seriously wounded soldiers on the front line, they dare not be transported down, because they will be bombed by Eighth Route Army planes on the way.

"In addition, report the matter of equipping the Eighth Route Army with new tanks to the North China Area Army Headquarters!"

"Hi!"

Mutaguchi and Nitta Taro both lowered their heads.

……

Time flows on relentlessly and coldly.

At midnight, Yoshio Shinotsuka was getting ready to go to sleep. Tonight, Renya Mutaguchi would be on wartime duty.

However, he had just lain down when there was a knock on the door, and a slightly panicked voice came from the doorway: "Commander, something has happened!" Yoshio Shinotsuka quickly dressed and opened the door, asking with a grim expression, "What happened?"

Although this was during a war, Yoshio Shinotsuka was already 56 years old this year.

My physical energy is no longer comparable to that of a young person, and I need to rest at night.

Otherwise, insufficient energy during the day would affect his judgment of the course of the battle.

Renya Mutaguchi immediately reported to his superior.

"The 222nd and 223rd Regiments are ordered to proceed to Qinglong Mountain and Qizi Mountain to relieve the 237th and 238th Regiments!"

"As a result, they encountered a main force of the Eighth Route Army!"

"The 222nd and 223rd Regiments are engaged in combat with the enemy!"

The two old Japanese soldiers immediately came to the operations hall, where Nitta Taro and a group of staff officers were busy with serious expressions.

Mutaguchi Renya immediately pointed out the locations on the map where the 222nd and 223rd Regiments encountered the Eighth Route Army.

"idiot."

"How could the main force of the Eighth Route Army be here?"

Upon seeing the location that Renya Mutaguchi pointed to, Yoshio Shinotsuka's expression immediately changed.

The firefight took place just 3 kilometers south of Qinglong Mountain and Qizi Mountain.

This is fatal.

As a result, the 237th and 238th Regiments could not withdraw, and the 222nd and 223rd Regiments could not reach the tunnels of Qizishan and Qinglongshan.

Mutaguchi Renya said, "Commander, I don't know where this main force of the Eighth Route Army came from either."

Yoshio Shinotsuka asked, "What is the enemy's troop strength and firepower?"

Renya Mutaguchi replied awkwardly, "I don't know yet."

"waste."

Yoshio Shinotsuka snorted coldly:
"Immediately order the 237th and 238th Regiments to abandon the Qinglongshan and Qizishan positions and advance to Taiyuan!"

"Immediately change the mission of the 222nd and 223rd Regiments to receive the remaining troops of the 237th and 238th Regiments as they move into Taiyuan!"

Neither Xinxian County nor Qinglong Mountain and Qizi Mountain were the most important defensive fortifications of the First Army.

The First Army's main fortifications consisted of over 5000 bunkers and pillboxes, including those at Wohushan, Taiyuan City, and the Huancheng Railway, as well as various defensive works such as tunnels, trenches, electrified barbed wire, and anti-tank cones.

Since the Eighth Route Army had cut off the rear of Qinglong Mountain and Qizi Mountain, the 237th and 238th Regiments had no choice but to retreat.

"General!"

Just then, the communications officer rushed over and bowed deeply to report:
"The 222nd and 223rd Regiments have been defeated, and the remaining troops are advancing towards Taiyuan!"

"What?!" Yoshio Shinotsuka asked incredulously. "How long have these two regiments been involved with the Eighth Route Army?"

Renya Mutaguchi glanced at the clock on the wall: "In less than half an hour, it will definitely be the main force of the New First Regiment!"

This main force of the Eighth Route Army was Ding Wei's New Third Regiment. He led his troops to penetrate from the weak point of the Japanese on the left flank to the south of Qinglong Mountain and Qizi Mountain, originally intending to cut off the retreat route of the Japanese 237th and 238th Regiments.

Unexpectedly, they encountered two Japanese regiments that were providing support. Neither side knew the other's firepower or size, and neither was willing to back down, so they quickly engaged in a skirmish.

The Japanese had two infantry regiments, with a total strength of over 6000 men.

The New Third Regiment has a total strength of nearly 3 men and can also call on the New First Regiment for long-range artillery support.

The outcome of the battle was not much of a surprise. In just half an hour, more than a thousand Japanese soldiers were wiped out. Seeing that the Eighth Route Army was growing stronger and stronger, the two Japanese regimental commanders immediately fled.

If the fighting continues, the 222nd and 223rd regiments will also be wiped out.

"Baka! The 237th and 238th Regiments are gone..."

Upon hearing this news, Yoshio Shinotsuka's eyes widened in fury, his face instantly turning red. (End of Chapter)