The father of the sword is Kong Jie

Chapter 1236 The biggest problem

The orders from the Japanese military headquarters were issued urgently, and they continued to put pressure on Okamura, the new commander-in-chief of the Chinese Expeditionary Forces.

Okamura was also helpless. Although the remaining mobile forces of the China Expeditionary Force had not been completely repaired after the disastrous defeat in the Battle of Northern Henan, the current task was urgent and they had to be mobilized again to quickly advance towards the Jiaodong base of the Eighth Route Army.

Okamura didn't dare to gamble at all.

According to the feedback from the port troops who were attacked by air raids in the Nagasaki and Fukuoka areas on a rainy night that night, the enemy dispatched a considerable number of fighter planes that night.

The sky was filled with the roar of enemy planes, probably one or two hundred fighter planes.

Bombs fell one after another, and almost all docks, military camps, and factories were swallowed up in the gunfire.

Enemy planes even carry some heavy explosive bombs and specially made armor-piercing incendiary bombs.

Not only was the port completely devastated, but even the aircraft carrier it encountered suffered heavy damage from enemy bombers. The Amagi carrier, built with the country's financial resources, was directly bombed and sunk in the sea.

Who knows if the enemy conducts such an air strike once, whether he will conduct it a second time?

Who knows whether the enemy used all its aviation power in this air strike?

With the rapid rise of the Eighth Route Army in recent years, especially the rapid growth of the Eighth Route Army's aviation force, it can even compete with the Japanese aviation force in the rear of North China for air supremacy.

Okamura had long been aware of the deterioration of the situation.

However, he never expected that the Eighth Route Army's aviation force would develop at such an alarming rate.

It even has the background and ability to use coastal airports to carry out air strikes on the mainland.

Just as the Japanese military headquarters was worried.

Once the Eighth Route Army completely stabilizes the front exit airport in the Jiaodong area, not only the Eighth Route Army, but also those countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union, which have been trying to find stable airports in China to use as a springboard for bombing Japan, can also use the airport in the Jiaodong area at any time. Bombing of the Japanese mainland.

That would be an absolutely devastating disaster for Japan.

If such a threat cannot be completely eliminated, as the new commander-in-chief of the China Expeditionary Forces, what face does Okamura have to continue to stay in this position?

As for the strategy of eradicating the Eighth Route Army's Jiaodong base area.

If in previous years, the Eighth Route Army had not carried out air strikes on the Japanese mainland this time, Okacun would have probably carried out a steady attack, mobilized the army to encircle the Jiaodong area completely.

But the current situation does not allow Okamura to make complete preparations.

The headquarters issued a fatal order, and domestic high-level officials continued to put pressure on China to dispatch troops.

In addition, in a series of battles in the south such as Henan, Hunan, and Guangxi, although the Japanese army achieved successive victories, they suffered equally heavy casualties and paid a heavy price.

With the opening of the Pacific War and the Southeast Asian battlefield, the Japanese army that fought on multiple fronts mobilized a large number of elites from China. As Kong Jie, Li Yunlong and other Eighth Route Army generals said, they had already become stronger on the outside and stronger on the inside.

In the series of battles such as Henan, Hunan and Guangxi that broke out this time, even though the Japanese army was the victorious side, it was still a brutal victory that had already explained all this.

Take the Battle of Hengyang as an example. The Japanese army lasted more than a month. Although they finally defeated the Tenth Army and captured Hengyang City, they also paid a heavy price of more than 10,000 to 20,000 people. Can it really be considered a victory?

At this time, the final Battle of Guiliu in the Battle of Henan, Hunan and Guangxi had just ended.

The wounded Japanese army had not had time to repair itself and regain its combat strength.

Where can I find the extra energy to mobilize elites to advance to the Jiaodong area?

In addition, the terrain in the Jiaodong area is complex, and the base area established by the Eighth Route Army there is very stubborn by taking advantage of the terrain.

Otherwise, after so many years, the Japanese army would have wiped out the Jiaodong base area long ago.

Okamura knew very well that a protracted war could not be fought in that place and a quick victory was necessary.

Otherwise, the Eighth Route Army will continue to strengthen its defense lines and reinforce troops, and sooner or later it will turn into a bad battle around the Jiaodong area.

At this time, the frontline battlefields were victorious and needed time to rest and recuperate, and the rear area in North China was riddled with holes under the offensive launched by the Eighth Route Army. A large number of occupied areas were lost and the Japanese troops were forced to defend some major transportation lines and important counties, towns and towns. Word.

They simply cannot withstand the consumption of continuous large-scale battles.

There is simply no way to consume those native-born Eighth Route Army troops.

Consider these difficult questions.

Okamura realized that if he wanted to completely solve the problem of the Eighth Route Army leaving the airport in the Jiaodong area, conventional combat troops would probably not be able to count on it.

"General, then we can only gather our elite mobile troops and fight quickly!"

The Japanese chief of staff also put forward his own suggestions after analysis.

"Although our army's mechanized combat units have suffered huge losses in the past two years, including the Jihadi Army and Armored Army units that went south for reinforcements this time, more than half of them were lost in the battle in northern Henan.

But after all, there are still a lot of mobile troops after integration. If they can use their mobility to launch surprise attacks on the Eighth Route Army base areas in the Jiaodong area.

Taking advantage of the moment when the Eighth Route Army has not recovered and before reinforcements arrive, it may not be impossible to defeat Jiaodong in one fell swoop and completely destroy the front exit airport that the Eighth Route Army borrowed to carry out air strikes on our mainland. "

This incident was urgent, and Yan Junliu had no time to return to China, so he completely handed over his rights. He temporarily stayed at the Nanjing headquarters and worked for Okamura as a consultant.

Junroku Hata said that he would help contact the Kwantung Army for cooperative operations.

In addition, Junroku Hata pointed out: "The geographical location of the Jiaodong area is very special. In addition to the complex terrain, it also has a great feature. Compared with other places, it is surrounded by the sea on three sides and is not very deep. It can move forward in groups. As long as the speed is fast and the Eighth Route Army is not given time to move, it should be possible to achieve relatively large results.

Compared with conventional inland operations, the troops used for encirclement from the other three directions can even be saved. "

Okamura was convinced of this. The situation was urgent, so he did not hesitate. Even as the newly appointed commander-in-chief of the China Expeditionary Force, he issued an order to the headquarters of Lao Guizi Yamashita and Inoue:

"Using the Yamashita and Inoshang mobile forces as the main force, supplemented by the mechanized combat forces deployed from North China, Central China, and South China, we will quickly advance to the Haiyang area in Jiaodong, completely wiping out the Eighth Route Army base area, and destroying the Eighth Route Army's exit airport!"

In order to win this battle and calm the anger of the domestic high-level officials.

In order to win his first battle as the commander-in-chief of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, Okamura.

When talking to the headquarters of Yamashita and Inoue, Okamura repeatedly urged: "This battle has attracted domestic and foreign attention, even the world's attention. It is directly related to the safety of our country and has a very significant impact.

Only win, no failure.

If they win, the two generals will not only be able to completely wash away the shame of the disastrous defeat in Northern Henan, but they will also be able to make immortal contributions. But if it fails, the decline of the Holy War of the Japanese Empire may completely begin. The two generals, including Okamura, will probably become sinners for the ages. Even committing suicide by disembowelment will not be enough to apologize to His Majesty the Emperor! "

In order to ensure that Yamashita and Inoue are determined to win.

Okamura specifically stated that in addition to the large-scale mobile troops of the Imperial Army advancing towards the Jiaodong area, the main army forces in the Jiaodong area will also cooperate to intercept reinforcements from the Eighth Route Army.

The Kwantung Army will also send a unit south for reinforcements.

Including aviation units, corresponding air fire reinforcements will also be dispatched.

Realizing that the situation was serious, Yamashita and Inoue did not dare to delay. After receiving the order from the headquarters, they immediately led the remaining mobile elites to advance rapidly towards the Jiaodong area.

According to the combat analysis of the Japanese Army Command.

According to intelligence, the exit airport used by the Eighth Route Army for air strikes on the mainland is most likely in Haiyang County. If you want to take advantage of the maneuverability of the mobile troops to quickly advance to Haiyang, there are three options.

One goes north from Qingdao, one goes east from Jinan, and one goes west from Weihai.

Okamura's final offensive deployment was: three-pronged advance, the mobile troops pushed directly into the core defense area of ​​Haiyang, and with the cooperation of the local security forces as the front line, they launched an offensive with overwhelming momentum, without giving the Eighth Route Army any chance to breathe. Directly destroy the Eighth Route Army's airports and base areas, sweep all the way through the combat area, implement the three-guang policy, and leave no one alive.

Before the battle officially started, Okamura also specifically proposed the "three slow and one fast" tactical principles for this battle: preparations must be slow and meticulous, marching routes must be thorough, and material preparations must be sufficient; but the troop deployment and advance must be fast. , must not be sloppy.

Speaking of which, this tactical principle was the experience summed up by the old boy Okamura himself through constant battles with the Eighth Route Army.

……

Inside the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army Special Experimental Zone.

The war surrounding the Jiaodong area is about to begin, and Kong Jie, Li Yunlong, and Ding Wei are just casual spectators as usual.

The war was right in front of him, but he couldn't participate in it. Li Yunlong was so anxious that he pulled Kong Jie and Ding Wei to the headquarters to conduct military simulation exercises on the military simulation sandbox surrounding the Jiaodong area created by the staff. .

"Haha, Lao Kong, Lao Ding, the situation has been figured out. As expected, the little devil gathered all the remaining mobile troops according to our speculation and prepared to use them to destroy our airport in Jiaodong area.

The routes we took were basically the routes we had guessed.

This time we have already set up a dragnet around the Jiaodong area. Once this little devil falls into the trap, I will have to shed his skin even if he doesn't die.

After this battle, within a short period of time, the Japanese mobile forces in North China, Central China and even South China could basically be said to exist in name only! "

Ding Wei smiled and nodded, but the topic was still on the upcoming war in Jiaodong area.

He was a little worried: "The Japanese mobile troops are moving in and out. Even if we make a lot of preparations in the Jiaodong area in advance, it may not be easy to completely defeat the Japanese mobile troops!

The battle surrounding the Jiaodong area has attracted the attention of all parties. Whether this battle can be won is also related to the military prestige and morale of our Eighth Route Army.

I don’t know if the comrades in the Jiaodong Military Region can withstand it! "

Li Yunlong said happily: "Old Ding, why are you so worried? If Lao Xu doesn't even have this ability, why should we, Lao Li, be willing to call him Big Brother?

When it comes to the ability to fight, Big Brother is unambiguous, and there is also a large amount of ammunition and equipment specially airlifted from our experimental area.

The little devil went there this time, basically to deliver supplies to the Jiaodong Military Region! "

"The combat aircraft surrounding the Jiaodong area this time is rare. The little devil would never have imagined that we would spend so much effort to make such a big noise, and even air raid his homeland. But the ultimate goal is to use the Jiaodong area Lure all the last mobile troops of the Japanese over and catch them all in one fell swoop."

Speaking of this, Li Yunlong was quite a bit sad, "I have to say, Lao Kong, your air raid on Risidian Island and your method of inviting the king into a urn is absolutely perfect."

Kong Jie smiled and said: "Old Li, where are we now! If our air raid on the mainland of Xiaoli this time can be considered a beginning.

This battle around the Jiaodong area can probably only be regarded as the first step. "

Li Yunlong said: "Oh, Lao Kong, if you say that, I will be interested. So what is the first step for our Iron Triangle Army to advance into Guandong?"

Kong Jie thought for a while and stretched out four fingers: "It can only be considered the fourth step."

"So what are the second and third steps?" Li Yunlong asked.

Kong Jie looked at the military simulation sandbox built around the Jiaodong area in front of him and said with a smile: "If the battle in the Jiaodong area goes well, the Japanese mobile force will be basically eliminated by us.

Once the Japanese mobile troops behind enemy lines are completely defeated, Lao Li, tell me, if we want to isolate the Japanese cities into isolated cities behind enemy lines, won't it be difficult? "

"According to the instructions from the headquarters, after the war in the Jiaodong area is over, our next step is to continue to expand our offensive behind enemy lines and contain the Japanese and puppet troops in the pass. At the same time, we must start vigorously preparing for war and prepare for the battle before advancing to the Kanto area.

This is the second step we want to take.

As for the third step, it is to turn the Kwantung into a complete mess, and to allow the Kwantung Army to continuously mobilize outwards as much as possible to weaken the strength of the Kwantung defenders.

Create opportunities for our fourth step. "

Li Yunlong was a little depressed when he heard this: "There are so many big battles before we advance to Guandong. Poor old Li can't participate in any of them. This feeling is really uncomfortable."

"There is still a problem at the moment." Kong Jie said: "The little devil is not an idiot. Although we have made a series of arrangements to pave the way for the final advance into Guandong, once our troops are mobilized, our trends will be exposed sooner or later. The Japanese army will definitely be aware of our intention to advance towards Kanto.

Manchuria has always been a top priority for the Japanese army.

In terms of land area alone, the area of ​​Puppet Manchuria is even twice that of Japan Island. It is a vast land with abundant resources. The little devils are really going to get ruthless and fight for their lives. They might not even want to lose the mainland, but also forcefully pick the fruit of Puppet Manchuria.

Once the Japanese army becomes aware of our intention to advance to Kantung, they will definitely make quick adjustments and continuously strengthen the strength of the Kantung defense line.

At that time, it will be difficult for us to open up a channel for troops to enter.

Is there any way to prevent the little devils from doubting our intention to advance to Kanto even if they realize that we are deploying troops to the western Mongolian and northern Shanxi areas? "

"This……"

Li Yunlong and Ding Wei were also thinking hard.

(End of this chapter)