Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

"Still no sign of the commander and the two cavalry regiments?"

About 20 kilometers west of Shouyang County, Mutaguchi Renya frowned, a bad feeling creeping over him.

After separating from Yoshio Shinotsuka, Renya Mutaguchi's First Army, consisting of more than 2 men, marched 50 kilometers overnight.

We are finally almost at Shouyang County.

"The scout cavalry continued westward and encountered Eighth Route Army scout cavalry, but still could not find the commander!"

The reconnaissance squadron leader bowed his head and answered.

"What happened? Did the commander and the two cavalry regiments all perish?"

One of the staff officers looked surprised and uncertain.

"Shinotsuka Yoshio must have led two cavalry regiments to break out via another route."

A mocking smile appeared on Mutaguchi Renya's lips.

He was just a bit simple-minded, not stupid. Considering the sudden disappearance of the 79th Infantry Regiment of the First Army a month ago, and what Yoshio Shinotsuka said yesterday, Mutaguchi guessed the general idea.

However, what he found truly unacceptable was that Yoshio Shinotsuka had lied to him yesterday when he said that Shinotsuka had the potential to become a general and prime minister of the younger brother country.

Yoshio Shinotsuka's main objective was to have him lead the main force of the First Army to attract the attention of the Eighth Route Army.

So that he, the commander of the First Army, could successfully break through the encirclement via another route, he didn't utter a single truthful word.

"General."

Just then, the communications officer strode over, his face filled with grief:

"A telegram has been sent from the 79th Regiment: the Black Island Cavalry Regiment and the 28th Cavalry Regiment were ambushed by the Eighth Route Army on the Guangyang Highway last night. The commander and the two cavalry regiments have all been killed. The main force of the Eighth Route Army is currently encircling and annihilating the 79th Regiment on the Guangyang Highway."

"Colonel Jiro Kigoshi, commander of the 79th Regiment, requests tactical guidance!"

The 79th Regiment also had a reconnaissance cavalry platoon, when the 28th Brigade and the Black Island Cavalry Regiment were ambushed.

This scout cavalry squad was not far from the ambush site in Guangyang Village, so they knew about the battle that took place on the Guangyang Highway last night.

However, by the time the reconnaissance cavalry squad joined up with the main force of the 79th Regiment, the main force of the New 1st Regiment's cavalry column had also arrived.

"Nani?"

Mutaguchi was startled and abruptly stood up.

The officers and staff officers standing nearby looked grim.

The First Army Commander, Yoshio Shinotsuka, commanded over 100,000 Locust Army soldiers and Locust Assistants, making him a powerful regional governor.

did not expect…

To be fair, Yoshio Shinotsuka was a pretty good commander; he treated his officers and staff quite well.

His term in the First Army was quite long, and he could have retired, but no lieutenant general was willing to take over the mess that was the First Army.

Finally, Yamawaki Masataka was willing to serve as the commander of the First Army, but he was killed by Li Yunlong on the way.

The Japanese officers and Mutaguchi Renya immediately bowed their heads in mourning.

"General!"

Before the mourning was even over, the communications officer rushed over, his voice trembling with panic:

"Eighth Route Army reconnaissance cavalry were spotted to the west, about 3 kilometers away, with Eighth Route Army mechanized troops behind them."

"So fast?"

Renya Mutaguchi suddenly looked up, his face showing a hint of panic.

Along the way, Mutaguchi ordered his troops to lay a lot of landmines, some of which were even anti-tank mines, and to blow up bridges.

They thought they could delay the Eighth Route Army pursuers for at least a day.

But to our surprise, the Eighth Route Army pursuers caught up with us so quickly.

"Forward this telegram immediately to the North China Area Army Headquarters!"

Renya Mutaguchi, his face grim, handed the telegram to the communications officer.

"The 80th Infantry Regiment will stay behind to cover the rear and hold off the pursuing Eighth Route Army!"

Mutaguchi then ordered, "The main force shall continue westward!"

"Yes, sir!" With Mutaguchi's order, the Japanese soldiers were exhausted, but they had no choice but to get moving.

Mutaguchi originally planned to find a place to rest and hide during the day and continue marching at night. In order to increase the marching speed, he even threw away many jars and pots, leaving only the gold, valuable jewelry, and antiques and paintings he had looted.

However, the combat effectiveness of the new regiment's mechanized units is not to be underestimated.

Once you're stuck, there's no way to escape; you have to get away as fast as you can.

However, before the Japanese soldiers had taken more than a few steps, a sound that sent chills down their spines rang out from the sky.

buzzing-

The Eighth Route Army's planes have arrived!

"Halt! Prepare for air defense!"

Upon seeing the approaching planes, the Japanese regimental and battalion commanders quickly issued orders.

To be fair, the Japanese soldiers' discipline and fighting spirit were still very strong. Even after suffering such a crushing defeat and with their morale at rock bottom, the Japanese soldiers still reacted quickly.

As soon as the Japanese commander gave the order, the Japanese soldiers quickly sprang into action, setting up light and heavy machine guns and rifles and aiming them at the direction of the Eighth Route Army's attacking planes.

……

In the sky.

"The fighter jet formation draws fire at a distance of 1000 meters."

"The attack aircraft formation dropped bombs at a distance of 600 meters."

Seeing that the Japanese had already made preparations for air defense, Zhang Chengwu, the flight squadron leader of the new regiment, issued an order.

There were more than 20,000 Japanese soldiers on the ground, which means that the Japanese had more than a thousand light and heavy rifles and more than 10,000 Type 38 rifles.

This level of air defense firepower deserves our respect.

Fortunately, the Japanese soldiers' millet-based rifles were severely inadequate for anti-aircraft defense.

Moreover, the Japanese troops were not clustered together for air defense.

Instead, a long queue stretched for several kilometers along the highway.

You can show some respect, but you don't have to respect it completely.

buzzing-

Ten fighter jets, roaring with their massive engines and propellers, swept past at an altitude of 1000 meters.

Ten napalm bombs tumbled and fell heavily!

Below, Japanese machine gunners and riflemen opened fire rapidly in the direction of the plane.

However, when the bullets reach an altitude of one thousand meters, their kinetic energy is already severely depleted. Moreover, the aircraft of the New First Regiment are all armored, so they cannot be shot down at all.

After dropping the bombs, the plane continued to fly along the road, drawing enemy fire.

Boom boom boom——

At this moment, the huge, egg-shaped metal ball landed on the road, and rings of exploding fireballs rose up, instantly tearing hundreds of Japanese soldiers apart in the black and red flames.

This is just the appetizer.

Following closely behind was a bombing formation of 20 attack aircraft, which dropped their bombs from an altitude of 600 meters.

One after another, aerial bombs and napalm fell, and from high above, visible shockwaves spread outwards in all directions.

Some Japanese soldiers were blown into the air like leaves by the shockwave, and then, like leaves, they broke apart in mid-air.

Deng Zhongliang, piloting attack aircraft No. 028, used rockets to destroy two more Japanese tanks and five small trucks.

The bombing lasted only three or four minutes, with hundreds of incendiary bombs, aerial bombs, and rockets. The roads were covered in flames and craters, littered with the remains of Japanese soldiers and filled with the horrific cries of agony.

However, the Japanese soldiers did not have time to rescue the wounded, because the scout cavalry reported again that the Eighth Route Army's mechanized pursuers were approaching from behind.

"Keep on going!"

Renya Mutaguchi gave the order with a grim expression.

However, less than 10 minutes after the Japanese left, a buzzing sound came from the sky again. Forty medium bombers and 20 fighters that had taken off from Yangcun Airport in southeastern Shanxi had arrived!
"Baka, is this never going to end?"

As a large number of planes flew overhead, Mutaguchi's expression grew increasingly grim. (End of Chapter)