Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

at the same time.

In eastern Shanxi, at the old Niangziguan Pass, there was a large Japanese force defending the area, which also belonged to the Japanese 110th Division.

Although it was late at night, the Japanese soldiers defending the old pass did not dare to relax their vigilance in the slightest.

The reason is simple: the battle at Niangziguan New Pass, ten kilometers away, has been going on for four or five days.

The entire 108th Brigade suffered heavy casualties, reportedly more than half of its troops were killed or wounded.

The Eighth Route Army could attack Jiuguan at any time.

However, this was not a key defensive area for the Japanese.

The Niangziguan New Pass Fortress and the Jingxing Fortress were the key defensive areas for the Japanese.

However, this place is easy to defend and difficult to attack, with a strategic location that makes it virtually impregnable.

The Eighth Route Army still found it difficult to capture the area.

Tonight, the moon is bright but the stars are few, and the night is as dark as ink.

Xiong Shanglin led the Fierce Tiger Commando Team, a special forces unit directly under headquarters, on a journey.

The 129th Division's Special Service Battalion also joined the Tiger Commando in the attack.

The 129th Division would inevitably suffer heavy casualties if it launched a frontal assault.

However, the Tiger Commando Team already knew the terrain of the old pass, the strength and deployment of the Japanese troops very well. The Tiger Commando Team first climbed up the cliff, and then lowered the ropes to remove the landmines on the edge of the cliff.

Then the Tiger Commando directly attacked the Japanese battalion headquarters, while the Special Service Battalion coordinated with the main force from the inside.

In less than half an hour, the 129th Division captured Jiuguan.

……

Beiping.

North China Front Army Headquarters.

Tada Shun got up very early and was eating breakfast after washing up. The breakfast was very lavish, with rice, fried eggs, ham, saury tofu, and miso soup laid out on the small table.

Yukio Kasahara and Masahiro Hirata were also having breakfast nearby.

As the three ate, Kasahara Yukio, with a grave expression, reported to Tada Shun on the battle situation of the Taiyuan Campaign the previous night.

"Your Excellency, Commander."

"Last night, a main force of about 3 Eighth Route Army troops penetrated to the south of Qinglong Mountain and Qizi Mountain and repelled the 222nd and 223rd Regiments that came to reinforce them!"

Tada Shun paused in his breakfast, suddenly losing his appetite: "What's the situation with the 237th and 238th Regiments?"

“After yesterday’s battle,” Yukio Kasahara replied, “the 237th and 238th Regiments have suffered more than half casualties.”

"What's going on?" Tada Shun frowned. "The 9th Brigade and the Yoshino Regiment were able to hold out in Xinxian County for nearly five days. Does that mean the 237th and 238th Regiments can only hold out in Qinglong Mountain and Qizi Mountain for two days?"

Tada Shun knew that the Eighth Route Army had strong firepower, good equipment, and amazing combat power.

However, the fact that the Eighth Route Army wiped out an entire regiment of the First Army in a single day still made Tada Shun somewhat uneasy.

“The artillery firepower of the Eighth Route Army is too strong,” said Yukio Kasahara. “The Eighth Route Army also used new weapons, flamethrower tanks, to attack the positions of the 237th and 238th Regiments, causing heavy casualties to the Locust Army.”

"What?!" Tada Shun's brows furrowed even deeper. "A flamethrower tank?"

“Yes, a flamethrower tank!” Kasahara Yukio said solemnly. “According to the First Army Communications Section’s report, the Eighth Route Army’s flamethrower tank is a heavy tank with two gun barrels. One barrel fires a 75mm cannon, and the other barrel can be used to spray flames at a distance of nearly 200 meters.”

Tada Shun's expression grew increasingly grim.

Yamamoto Ichiki, standing to the side, revealed a mocking smile.

The Eighth Route Army was equipped with a variety of new equipment, while the Japanese army was still using outdated equipment from decades ago. It would be a miracle if they could defeat the Eighth Route Army.
(At this moment, Yamamoto Ichiki really wanted to grab the old officer in charge of production equipment by the collar and shout at him.)

The Eighth Route Army's infantry were already equipped with semi-automatic rifles and submachine guns, while the Locust Army was still using the Type 38 rifle, which was developed and produced more than 30 years ago.

The firepower of a single Eighth Route Army squad far exceeds that of a small Locust Army squad!
Can the locust army defeat them?
Look into my eyes! Answer me!
Ordnance Officer: Neng Neng

Yamamoto Ichiki swiftly slit the neck of the ordnance officer with a backhand stroke.
Yamamoto knew very well that if the Locust Army did not quickly innovate its tactics and equipment, it would be a disaster.

Not only Shanxi Province, but also North China and the whole of China will fall to the Eighth Route Army, and even the mainland of our country will be threatened!

We asked Lieutenant General Takeda to give suggestions to the General Headquarters, but we don't know if he actually did.
If a suggestion is made, what are the officials at headquarters thinking?
Just as Yamamoto Ichiki was pondering this.

Kasahara Yukio continued, "In addition, more than 500 seriously wounded soldiers from the 237th and 238th Regiments were killed yesterday afternoon when they were bombed by Eighth Route Army aircraft while traveling by car back to Taiyuan."

Tada Shun's face darkened: "Useless."

"General."

Just then, Lieutenant Colonel Toshimatsu Tatei, the communications staff officer, strode in, bowed deeply with a grave expression, and said:
"Just received a telegram from the 110th Division: the 9th Infantry Battalion of the 110th Division, stationed at the old Niangziguan Pass, was ambushed by the Eighth Route Army last night and has been completely wiped out!"

Last night, the Japanese battalion headquarters defending the old pass was beheaded by special forces directly under headquarters, without even sending out a request for help.

Therefore, the North China Area Army Headquarters only received the news now.

"Baka!" Tada Shun couldn't hold back any longer and overturned the dining table. "Useless! You're all a bunch of useless trash!"

The breakfast on the table, including rice, fried eggs, ham, and miso soup, was immediately spilled all over the floor.

Once the old pass falls, the 108th Brigade's retreat will be cut off.

It would be difficult for the North China Front Army to send reinforcements and supplies to reinforce the Niangziguan Fortress.

Logically speaking, Jingxing Fortress is not far from Jiuguan, and reinforcements should be able to arrive in time.

However, the Japanese did not expect the Eighth Route Army to launch a surprise attack using special forces.

Before the Japanese soldiers in the Jingxing Fortress could figure out what was going on, Jiuguan was captured by the Eighth Route Army.

Kasahara Yukio and Hirata Masahiro silently got up. They hadn't eaten enough; they hadn't even had a midnight snack while on wartime duty last night.

Tada Shun gripped the hilt of his lieutenant general's sword with his left hand; at that moment, he desperately wanted to kill someone.

Taking a deep breath, Tada Shun forcibly suppressed his anger:

"Order the 12th Division to retake the old pass within one day!"

"Then order the Imperial Guard Division to depart from Yanggao Fortress, capture Datong, and attack Ping'an County in northwestern Shanxi!"

Although the 12th Division was not the one defending the Jingxing Fortress, the 12th Division was stationed in Jingxing County, ready to enter Shanxi Province to support the First Army at any time.

In addition, the 10th Division was stationed in that area.

Tada Shun planned to send two Class A divisions to support the First Army.

As for the Imperial Guard Division, it was assigned to the Yanggao County area along the Ping-Sui Railway.

According to Yoshio Shinotsuka's plan, the First Army was to hold back the main force of the Eighth Route Army in Taiyuan, and then the main force of the North China Area Army would form a larger encirclement around it, thus severely damaging the main force of the Eighth Route Army in one fell swoop.

However, judging from the strength shown by the Eighth Route Army so far, it has far exceeded Tada Shun's expectations.

We should be grateful if we can get the First Army to retreat from Shanxi Province!
As for inflicting heavy losses on the Eighth Route Army?
Then we'll have to find another opportunity.

Although the Imperial Guard Division suffered heavy losses, it was still the Imperial Guard of the Sky Locusts. It received priority in replenishing its supplies and personnel, and is now a powerful Class A division. However, its combat strength is no longer comparable to that of the original Imperial Guard Division.

For the sake of Tianhuang and the glory of the Imperial Guard Division, the Imperial Guard Division volunteered to stay in North China, waiting for an opportunity to attack the Eighth Route Army in Northwest Shanxi and get revenge.

Sending the Imperial Guard Division south from Datong along the Tongpu Railway to reinforce the First Army would be too dangerous.

If the distance is too far and logistical supplies cannot keep up, the entire Guards Division could be wiped out.

However, if the Imperial Guard Division were to capture Datong first, and use Datong as a transit point for supplies, they could then attack Li Yunlong's stronghold, Ping'an County. Even if they couldn't capture Ping'an County, it would still keep Li Yunlong busy.

"Hi!" Kasahara Yukio and Hirata Masahori lowered their heads suddenly. (End of chapter)