The father of the sword is Kong Jie

Speaking of which, there is a reason for the scarcity of mechanized combat vehicles in the Japanese North China Front Army.

Originally, this country was a small country with bullets. Despite its boasts to the outside world, domestic military resources were very limited. Coupled with the large number of Japanese troops, the overall level of mechanization of the troops was originally very low.

In order to deal with the Eighth Route Army, the Japanese army tightened their belts and cobbled together several mechanized combat units.

These include the 14th Division of the Kwantung Army, the Morita Division, the Harada Division and the 106th Mobile Division.

After the battles around Datong and Zhangjiakou, the 14th Division and the Morita Division were almost completely wiped out. The large number of additional mechanized combat vehicles that were originally assigned naturally went into the pockets of the Eighth Route Army.

The Harada Division and the 106th Division also abandoned many mechanized vehicles on their embarrassing retreat.

In the end, there was a serious shortage of mechanized vehicles for the mighty North China Front Army. At this time, in the battle that was blocked by the Eighth Route Army, the Japanese army's shortage of mechanized combat vehicles caused the Eighth Route Army's mechanized combat troops to appear in large numbers. The Japanese army began to change the battle situation between the two sides. An unexpected reversal.

The Imperial Japanese Army, which had always boasted of being well-equipped and highly mechanized, was actually defeated by the mechanized combat troops of the Eighth Route Army.

This has simply become a big joke on the entire Sino-Japanese battlefield.

Finally, in order to make themselves look fat, the Japanese army used bicycles and motorcycles to make up for the so-called mechanized troops that had established strongholds.

You can completely imagine the scene. A huge Japanese army rushed out, claiming to be the Imperial Army's mechanized combat force. However, at a glance, there were only some broken motorcycles and some old-fashioned bicycles. It was simply unparalleled in the world. Daji.

As for the Kwantung Army, which went south for reinforcements this time.

In order to form two mobile units, the Jihad Army and the Inoue Yoshisa Armored Army, a large number of mechanized vehicles were mobilized.

As for Yoshisa Inoue's Armored Corps, despite being called a division to the outside world, it is actually a fully-organized armored division drawn from the Kwantung Army, plus several independent armored regiments in North China. It is actually an armored corps. Strength.

One group was operating in western Inner Mongolia and the other group was in eastern Hebei Province. The main force was equipped with a large number of pontoons and bridges and secretly gathered under the Okacun banner. Even the jihadi army also secretly gathered under the Okacun banner as a surprise force to outflank the enemy.

Just like that, the few remaining mechanized combat vehicles of the North China Front were completely exhausted.

So when the Japanese army in North China fought with the Eighth Route Army, as the old Japanese soldier Okabe said, the Imperial Army fought in bullock carts, but the Eighth Route Army fought in cars.

Fortunately, the old boy Okamura was not ambiguous. He led the Japanese Sixth Front Army to attack with full strength, and with the roundabout assistance of the Japanese Jihadi Army and Armored Corps troops, he finally made a surprise move and successfully captured Changsha.

In fact, before the national army noticed these weird pontoon equipment carried by the so-called Jihadi Army and Armored Army units by the Japanese, investigators from the New Fourth Army had already discovered the situation.

When these weird equipment were being tested, the New Fourth Army had been paying attention to reconnaissance, but they didn't know exactly where the Japanese planned to use them.

Especially when the Japanese were testing in the waters around Nanjing, the Eighth Route Army intelligence personnel secretly recorded the video. It would be absolutely suitable for this kind of equipment to be equipped on a large scale in the Lianghuai Yellow River Flood Area and the Jiangnan Water Network Zone.

However, after the report was made, the Eighth Route Army headquarters did not have such equipment. Only one team was experimentally working on a tracked all-terrain tractor with certain water-wading capabilities, which could not be compared with the amphibious tanks such as the Special Type [-] internal fireboat specially designed by the Japanese.

When the headquarters called back, they just continued to pay attention and tried to send a special agent team to try to steal a few cars back.

At that time, there were too few amphibious tanks equipped by various countries, and they were all used for auxiliary purposes. Only amphibious armored vehicles equipped by the US military were put into the battlefield on a large scale.

Kong Jie also made a batch, but found that it was not needed for the time being, so he just used it for testing.

When he received this video, Kong Jie was also surprised. He didn't expect that the Japs had even dispatched such sharp weapons. It seemed that the Japs had a very determined intention to attack Changsha.

As a friendly force, even if it was only in name, the Eighth Route Army immediately conveyed a secret message to the Ninth Theater after receiving the relevant intelligence.

It's just obvious that this piece of information didn't seem to arouse special vigilance in the Ninth War Zone. The news was like a mud cow entering the sea, and there was no response.

In the end, Xue Boling was careless and lost Changsha. Seeing that the defense of Changsha City was completely gone, he had no choice but to lead the remaining troops to retreat to the Guiliu area, preparing to regroup and fight again.

At that time, news of the fall of Changsha City spread, and the entire Sino-Japanese battlefield was completely shaken. Even the Allied countries were shocked.

Before the battle broke out in the Fourth Battle of Changsha, the Chinese military's publicity to the outside world was full of confidence. Needless to say, there were inspiring slogans such as "Vow to live and die with Changsha". All officers and soldiers shared the same hatred and the same enemy. One heart.

Even the Chairman of the Generalissimo in Chongqing was still waiting expectantly for the good news from Xue Boling's victory over the Japanese invaders!
The result was shocking. Xue Boling was defeated, completely defeated. Changsha City, which had been stationed in the hands of the national army for many years, also completely fell in less than a month.

As for the reasons for the defeat of the national army, there are too many, but it is undeniable that Xue Boling made omissions in defense due to carelessness or overconfidence in his Tianlu tactics.

Faced with the defeat of the Chinese army in the Battle of Changsha, the Allied countries were also caught off guard.

At that time, Chennault, the commander of the Allied Air Force in China, had previously served as an air force consultant, mainly helping the Central Army to build China's aviation force.

After he received the news of the continuous retreat of the National Army's ninth theater, he was anxious for a while.

Nowadays, the fate of his motherland and China can be said to be tied together. Facing such a powerful Japanese army, if the Chinese army is completely defeated and the Japanese army is freed up, the pressure on his motherland to fight will definitely increase.

So Chennault couldn't sit still and took the initiative to apply for air support from the Eighth Route Army to reinforce the Ninth Theater.

In order to obtain more reinforcements, Chennault also contacted his old friend Doolittle.

Of course, this so-called old friend was obtained by Chennault on his own initiative after Doolittle completed the bombing mission and became famous in the First World War. After all, they were all compatriots.

Prior to this, Chennault's reputation was much greater than that of Doolittle.

This American has indeed made a great contribution to the construction of China's air force, and he also thinks that one day he can be known as the father of China's aviation.

Coincidentally, Doolittle also wanted to become an immortal hero in the construction of China's aviation force!

As everyone knows, Doolittle is also real. He turned around and told Kong Jie that Chennault had entrusted him with a relationship. Lao Kong then instructed Doolittle to say that there has indeed been some progress in the construction of the aviation force of our Eighth Route Army, but the overall The strength is still very weak. In addition, we have to protect the production base, Yan'an, Taihang base area, and provide support for operations in North China, and we have to reduce the number of maintenance and repair fighters.After all of this was done, only two or three squadrons of aircraft were left to support them.

As for the fighter planes produced during this period, they have been used up and failed. There are a lot of reasons to prevaricate them. In the end, our Eighth Route Army will definitely not add insult to injury and stand idly by, but we have limited aerial firepower reinforcements, so there is no way. matter.

In the end, Chen Chennault was helpless, and it would be better if he could get whatever he could.

In the subsequent discussion of the actual situation, even Doolittle said: "The national army has failed in the battle in Changsha. The limited air fire reinforcements can only play a supporting role in the war and cannot play a decisive role." .

Our fighter planes are used to attack, not to cover the retreating troops. Kong, there is an old saying in China: help the superior but not the inferior. I think all countries have placed their bets in the wrong place and will eventually turn the tide of this war and win. The key to the defeat is most likely still with your Eighth Route Army. "

"Haha, how about we and Lao Du pee in the same pot. Lao Du is talking, and we, Lao Li, really like to hear it!" Li Yunlong laughed happily.

the other side.

According to the No. [-] combat plan secretly formulated by the old Japanese Okamura after he took over as the commander of the Sixth Front Army, the first phase of the mission to get through Changsha has been completed.

The next step is to hit the Guiliu area.

As for the battle in the Jinghan area, Okamura also had a headache when he mentioned the battle in this area.
Under the supervision of Shunroku Hata and Okabe, the Japanese army, dominated by the North China Front, had turned into a complete mess in the battles in the Beijing-Hankou area.

Yoshimoto Sadakachi had just taken over as the commander of the Japanese First Army in Shanxi. He attacked Xi'an first and then Yan'an. He seemed majestic, but he was like a grasshopper after autumn and could not survive for a few days.

First of all, the Nationalist Army in the Yan'an area used to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight. Many of the areas bordering Yan'an were abandoned and were completely taken over by the Eighth Route Army's counterattack troops.

By the time the generals realized something was wrong, it was already a wishful thinking to retake these territories from the Eighth Route Army.

With the cover of these peripheral areas, the construction of production bases and defense systems in the Yan'an area will go more smoothly.

The front lines confronting the National Army also quickly started to build infrastructure. The perfect garrison conditions even shocked the National Army. The place, which was originally a wilderness, quickly built roads, built barracks and fortifications at such a speed. It's amazing.

In this regard, the National Army heard that there seemed to be an infrastructure unit in the Eighth Route Army. They were simply crazy about infrastructure. They built bridges and roads, pulled out houses and built houses. They were capable of anything.

As a result, the Eighth Route Army began to station for long-term defense.

In the Shanxi direction, there are probably only Yangquan and Shouyang areas, which are still calm under the "special public security" of the old Japanese Harada.

As an old profiteer, Harada is different from ordinary Japanese officers. When fighting everywhere, he can sell his supplies better, not only to his own people, but also to the Eighth Route Army.

When Yoshimoto came to power, he looked down upon Harada, Ishikawa and others, but Okabe did not agree to replace them. Okabe thought that if it failed again, he would have to rely on them to stabilize the Eighth Route Army, and by the way, he continued to do business. Shanxi collects supplies.

Harada also looked down upon Commander Yoshimoto, who came from the Kwantung Army. He had completely wiped out the 14th Division. How many of these generals who were pampered in the Northeast had combat effectiveness?

One by one, they may be full of energy when they arrive, but may be as languid as a drowned rat when they leave!

The Holy War Army and the Armored Army were all probably defeated in the end. Even the special agents sent by Madoka Doi to inspect the resold supplies were sent to the Military Justice Department by the old Japanese Harada on charges of liaison with the Eighth Route Army.

Harada, the old Japs with money, power and troops, is just so willful and rampant.

This old boy turned Iinuma Mamoru and the two mixed brigade commanders guarding Dezhou and Liaocheng into a community of interests. Unknowingly, although Harada was not the commander, he had succeeded in the First Army, the Twelfth Army The military has recruited a large number of members of the community of interests.

In Harada's words: In this way, our business can be carried out more steadily.

As for other directions, the Eighth Route Army's major bases, various units, main forces, local armies, including militia units, all went into battle, further reducing the scope of activities of the Japanese First Army.

Especially on the outskirts of the western highlands of Taiyuan City, Eighth Route Army troops appeared again. The whole of Shanxi changed overnight. Regular troops of the 120th and 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army were everywhere regaining lost ground.

The Japanese and puppet troops riding cattle and horses were beaten and howled by the Eighth Route Army riding in cars.

Soon after, the war situation in western Mongolia also began to reverse. After Inoue Yoshisa's armored army was transferred, and after the Eighth Route Army's military production capacity increased and new equipment was sent to the 35th Army, the Eighth Route Army cooperated with the 35th Army and immediately prepared to start a counterattack.

A large-scale puppet army in the Jiaodong area of ​​Shandong Province has secretly surrendered to the Eighth Route Army, preparing for a battlefield uprising and assisting the Eighth Route Army in regaining the Jiaodong area in one fell swoop.

Preparations for operations in the Jizhong, South, and East Hebei areas around the Jingpu Line and Pinghan Line in North China have been completed. After the summer harvest, a counterattack will be launched immediately against the main force of the Kwantung Army that has penetrated deep into the base area.

The entire base area behind enemy lines began to surge with undercurrents, and the arrival of the storm was waiting for the final opportunity.

--All is ready except for the opportunity.

When discussing what this east wind was in the headquarters, Li Yunlong was the first to express his opinion: "The equipment and weapons reinforced by the Allied countries this time are considered east wind. As soon as this east wind arrives, we can launch an offensive!"

Ding Wei put forward a different view: "If you ask me to say that the Japanese army wants to completely penetrate our mainland's communication lines, just taking Changsha is not enough. It is estimated that they will have to completely open up the Guiliu area. When the Japanese army launches operations in the Guiliu area, they will have to fight with the National Army. When the battle begins, our chance will come."

Kong Jie said with a smile: "Let's talk about how to get more assistance from the negotiators of the British, American, Soviet and other Allied countries!"

Ding Wei smiled and said: "Lao Kong, Lao Li and I will listen to you on this matter. Who makes you an expert in this field!"

Li Yunlong nodded in rare agreement.

Kong Jie said: "Then let's launch a counterattack based on the level of assistance provided by the allies."

"What do you mean?" Li Yunlong asked.

Kong Jie said: "Simple, launch a counterattack in Shanxi first and drive the Japanese back to a few isolated big cities. If the Allies are willing to increase the money, North China will immediately launch a counterattack. If we increase the money, hey, we will also give it to Shandong." Let’s start messing around. As long as the money is in place, the devils will destroy them all, hahaha——”