Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

The Eighth Route Army's medium bomber formation inflicted even greater casualties on the Japanese First Army.

Because medium bombers carry more munitions and there are more of them.

After several waves of bombing, the entire highway where the Japanese troops were located was turned into a living hell!

"Ahhh!"

A Japanese soldier was screaming in agony not far away. Both of his legs had been blown off by aerial bombs, and his lower body was a bloody mess. The wounds were mixed with mud and gravel from the road, causing the soldier excruciating pain.

Renya Mutaguchi pulled out his pistol and fired a shot, killing the Japanese soldier.

However, there are still many seriously injured people on the highway, as well as a large number of severed limbs and broken arms.

Here a severed hand, there a foot, and mostly blood and flesh mixed with charred dirt, chunks of flesh everywhere, and the aroma of solidified gasoline mixed with Japanese barbecue.

What's even more deadly is that the Eighth Route Army's third wave of aerial bombing followed immediately.

The third wave of aerial bombing was carried out by the headquarters' directly subordinate flight regiment, which took off from Mengxian Airport in Jinzhong.

A flight formation consisting of 30 fighter jets and 30 attack aircraft repeatedly attacked.

This inflicted another huge blow on the Japanese.

In the first two waves of attacks, the last remaining anti-aircraft guns of the Japanese were destroyed.

The pilots of the headquarters flight group then dove down to drop bombs and strafed.

After three waves of bombing, the Japanese suffered several thousand casualties, and their morale plummeted to rock bottom.

"Chief of Staff, we have spotted tens of thousands of Eighth Route Army troops heading towards us from the direction of Shouyang."

A scout cavalryman rushed in with the report.

Mutaguchi Renya's face darkened. It was truly a case of misfortunes never coming singly. With a tiger in front and pursuers behind, the remaining troops of the First Army seemed to have reached a dead end.

I must not panic. I am a potential general who will become a great general of the country.

There's always a way out. Think about it, if that instructor from the Eighth Route Army were in this situation, what would he do?
The situation was even more dangerous than crossing the Chishui River four times. If the other side was able to escape, then I certainly can too.

Renya Mutaguchi forced himself to calm down, took the map from a staff officer, and his mind raced.

Then he had someone summon Lieutenant General Shichida Ichiro, commander of the 20th Division.

Lieutenant General Ushijima Minoru, former commander of the 20th Division, used connections to slip away from Shanxi.

The newly appointed commander of the 20th Division, Shichida Ichiro, complained bitterly, saying that he should have been equipped with the new equipment in the first place and should not have come to Shanxi to serve as the commander of the 20th Division.

"Shichida-kun!" Mutaguchi Renya pointed at the map and said, "There are eight main forces ahead, eight pursuing forces behind, and eight main forces to the south along the Guangyang Highway. Our only option now is to break through to the north."

Shichida Ichiro was completely stunned: "Chief of Staff, the Eighth Route Army's base in Jinzhong is to the north, which is a dead end."

“No,” Mutaguchi Renya said. “First, head north for 15 kilometers, then follow the small road eastward, and you can enter Hebei Province after crossing the Taihang Mountains.”

Shichida Ichiro was even more confused: "The northern Taihang Mountains are the stronghold of the main force of the Eighth Route Army in the Jin-Cha-Ji region."

"Only the Eighth Route Army units in northwestern, central, and southeastern Shanxi have strong fighting capabilities," said Renya Mutaguchi. "The main force of the Eighth Route Army in the Jin-Cha-Ji region is not worth mentioning."

"Going east, west, or south now is a dead end; the only way to survive is to go northeast and cross the Taihang Mountains."

"Do you have a better idea, Shichida-kun?"

"This," Shichida Ichiro shook his head, "not yet."

Mutaguchi said in a deep voice, "Then let's proceed with this plan. The second wave of Eighth Route Army planes will arrive soon to bomb us. We must enter the mountains north of Yangquan today, otherwise our 2-plus men will be wiped out by the Eighth Route Army planes!"

Ichiro Shichida: "Hi!"

……

Beiping.

North China Area Army Headquarters. "What?! Shinotsuka Kimitama shattered?"

Upon hearing the news of Yoshio Shinotsuka's death, Shun Tada felt dizzy and almost fainted.

The First Army was the largest and strongest army group in the North China Front.

And the commander of this most powerful army group actually died a violent death.

Tada Shun felt numb. The death of Shinotsuka Yoshio made it impossible for him to explain to the headquarters and the Heavenly Locust.

He was ambitious from the moment he took office as commander of the North China Area Army.

Now, having been whipped until his body was completely battered, Tada Shun's face was extremely grim.

Colonel Yamamoto Ichiki, standing to the side, also had a very unpleasant expression.

At this moment, Yamamoto Ichiki's eyes widened, filled with tears, and his face was full of disbelief.

Yoshio Shinotsuka was not only Yamamoto Ichiki's mentor, but also had a father-son and friend-like relationship with him.

Initially, he and his special forces team were ignored by the Kwantung Army. It was Yoshio Shinotsuka who brought them to the First Army of the North China Area Army, where they finally had a stage to implement special tactics.

Yamamoto Ichiki was the most heartbroken when he heard the news of Shinotsuka Yoshio's death.

Upon hearing the news of his death, Kasahara Yukio, Hirata Masahiro, and a group of Japanese officers and staff bowed their heads in mourning.

Three minutes later, Tada Shun raised his head, his eyes red as if he wanted to devour someone: "What is the current situation of the main force of the First Army?"

"The situation of the main force of the First Army is very bad!"

Communications staff officer Toshimatsu Tatei said in a deep voice:

"The main force of the First Army, led by Major General Renya Mutaguchi, is currently being bombed by eight aircraft 15 kilometers west of Shouyang. The main force of the First Army has suffered heavy casualties and is being intercepted by eight main forces in front and pursued by eight mechanized units behind."

"idiot!"

Tada Shun's face was as black as the bottom of a pot:
"Is the First Army going to be completely wiped out?"

If the First Army is completely wiped out, he, as the commander of the North China Area Army, will only have one option left: seppuku (ritual suicide).

Before this major battle, he made a solemn pledge to Tianhuang and the General Headquarters; otherwise, the General Headquarters would not have reinforced the North China Area Army and allocated combat supplies.

However, the Eighth Route Army's preparations far exceeded Tada Shun's expectations.

Let alone eliminating the main force of the Eighth Route Army in the center of Taiyuan, even connecting with the main force of the First Army to enter Hebei Province became extremely difficult.

If the First Army can break through with some of its forces, then there will still be room for maneuver.

Yamamoto Ichiki suddenly said, "General, you can order the main force of the First Army to abandon its baggage and break through to the northeast with light equipment, and enter the northern Taihang Mountains."

Kasahara Yukio narrowed his eyes and said, "Isn't this courting death?"

“Right now, the main force of the First Army is surrounded by the Eighth Route Army, and there are planes bombing from the sky,” Yamamoto Ichiki said in a deep voice. “Only by entering the Taihang Mountains can we shake off the pursuit of the Eighth Route Army and avoid the bombing by their planes.”

Tada Shun nodded and looked at Tatei Toshimatsu: "Tatei-kun, immediately send a telegram to Chief of Staff Mutaguchi of the First Army, ordering the main force of the First Army to abandon its baggage and break out lightly towards the northern Taihang Mountains in the northeast."

"Yes, sir!" Tatei Toshimatsu suddenly lowered his head and quickly turned to relay the order.

"Commander-in-Chief," Kasahara Yukio asked, "Will the 10th and 12th Divisions continue their attack on Niangziguan Pass?"

Upon hearing this, the entire North China Front Army fell silent.

Two Class A divisions of the Locust Army, totaling 60,000 to 70,000 men, suffered nearly 10,000 casualties, yet they couldn't even capture a small pass like Niangziguan.

Very uncomfortable.

"Order the 10th and 12th Divisions to halt their offensive!"

Tada Shun felt a tightness in his chest, unable to exhale or swallow. (End of Chapter)