The father of the sword is Kong Jie

at this stage.

The No. 1 combat plan launched by the old Japanese Okamura in the south is expected to have the ultimate goal of opening up the communication line with mainland China but has not yet been completely achieved.

The Eighth Route Army's Operation August Storm in North China intensified and was pushed to its climax with the counterattack in northern Henan, the bombing campaign again in Jiaodong, and the Eighth Route Army's top battle plan to connect transportation lines in major base areas.

The New Fourth Army in central and southern China achieved staged victories in counter-mopping operations and gradually shifted from defense to counterattack.

On the frontal battlefield, as the Eighth Route Army launched offensives behind enemy lines, the Central Army troops also took the opportunity to launch some gradual counterattacks and completely cut off many sections of the southern continental communication line that the Japanese army had originally opened through the Battle of Henan, Hunan and Guangxi.

Anyway, it is the little devils who open up the lines of communication at the front, while the Chinese army behind you imitates the Eighth Route Army and engages in large-scale sabotage attacks, and then harasses and cuts off your lines of communication.

When all these are presented on the combat map of the Japanese Dispatch Army Headquarters.

What a mess.

Okamura's head felt like it was mushy at the moment, and the successive blows suddenly made him feel that taking over the position of commander-in-chief of the China Expeditionary Force seemed to be the stupidest decision in his life.

"Your Excellency, Commander-in-Chief, things are going to be really bad this time. The Eighth Route Army has invaded Manchuria. What should we do?

I've said before that the Eighth Route Army definitely had other motives for building the eastern Mongolia defense line. You still want me to keep sending elite troops southward. Now it's better. The Eighth Route Army took advantage of the opportunity and took advantage of it! "

Okamura was not anxious yet. On the other end of the phone, Kwantung Army Commander Umezu Yoshijiro was completely unable to sit still.

His title at the moment was quite nice - Your Excellency, Commander-in-Chief.

After all, the Kwantung Army is also nominally affiliated with the Chinese Expeditionary Forces' order of battle.

Okamura was naturally unwilling to take the blame, but instead asked: "Your Kwantung Army still has at least three divisions stationed on the western defense line. Why was the Eighth Route Army able to break through the defense line in such a short period of time?

What do the defense troops do for food? "

The implication is that your Kwantung Army has always been very proud, claiming to be the most elite of the Imperial Army and the Flower Empire? Why did he completely collapse at this juncture?

Umezu Yoshijiro explained: "The Eighth Route Army's offensive came too fiercely, and it was definitely the elite main force of the Eighth Route Army. Judging from the feedback from the frontline defenders, the enemy quickly dispatched a large number of armored units to cooperate with the infantry advance.

They are even equipped with large-caliber long-range rocket launchers.

Judging from the intelligence collected by our military intelligence department, it is speculated that the team with such advanced equipment, unified standards, wearing steel helmets and combat boots, are most likely the so-called mechanized elite of the Iron Triangle Army in the mouth of the Eighth Route Army.

Other than that, I can't think of any ace unit of the Eighth Route Army. "

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Okamura retorted without hesitation. He directly cited the facts. According to the intelligence collected by the frontline troops, this Iron Triangle Army had appeared many times on battlefields in North China and even Central China.

From the battles in Jiaodong to the battles in northern Henan, they can be seen everywhere.

They are known as the Iron Triangle Steel Helmets. The equipment of the troops is indeed excellent and their combat effectiveness is also very strong.

Including this mopping up operation against the New Fourth Army in the South, some elite armored units also appeared on the enemy side. They also wore steel helmets and military boots to fight, and called themselves steel helmet soldiers to the outside world.

Is it possible that these Iron Triangle helmeted soldiers of the Eighth Route Army have the ability to appear in all directions and fight at the same time?

“Our army has always been on guard against the Eighth Route Army’s Steel Helmets, and has had many encounters with them, but it has never been aware of the Eighth Route Army’s Steel Helmets, or the movement of elite mechanized combatants to the north.

Then why did Kong Jie's team suddenly appear in the eastern Mongolia area? "

Umezu Yoshijiro laughed at himself: "Okamura-kun, haven't you realized by now that we were completely deceived by the Eighth Route Army?

From the construction of the great defense line in eastern Mongolia to the offensives launched one after another in North China, Central China, and South China, the entire pass has been completely turned into a pot of porridge.

What is the Eight-Road Diagram?

Isn't it just for this final battle plan to advance north?

When all our armies' attention is focused on the pass.

The Eighth Route Army took the opportunity to dispatch the main force secretly lurking in eastern Mongolia, suddenly launched a fierce attack on our defense line in western Manchuria, and broke into Manchuria in one fell swoop.

The empire's impregnable Manchurian border defenses were thus breached. "

As senior leaders of the Japanese army, these two old devils knew very well what it meant to firmly control Manchuria in the hands of the empire.

But once Manchuria is lost.

"Okamura-kun, even if you and I commit suicide by caesarean section, we still can't apologize to His Majesty the Emperor. I'm afraid we will become the eternal sinners of the empire!"

Things have evolved to this point.

Umezu Yoshijiro said helplessly: "The top priority is that I have no other choice but to quickly transfer the originally reinforced Kwantung Army back to Kanto and return to Manchuria.

After the western defense line was breached, the Eighth Route Army had completely invaded the southern Manchuria area. Who knows what the next battle plan of these rampant Eighth Route Army will be?

Okabe-kun, compared to the series of wars in the Kanai region, is there anything more important than the stability of Manchuria?

There is absolutely no room for loss in Manchuria. This is a responsibility that I must stick to even if I die! "

Okamura was a little distracted. The Eighth Route Army suddenly entered Manchuria and broke through the western defense line, which completely disrupted his overall plan.

The mainland transportation lines in the southern region have not yet been completely opened.

The main force of the New Fourth Army in central and southern China has not been eradicated either.

Those damn Eighth Route Army in North China are still making a fuss.

Why is the Kanto region suddenly in danger?

Of course, this is somewhat alarmist.

Although the Eighth Route Army broke through the defense line in western Manchuria with a swift and violent offensive, it seemed to be just the elite sharp knife force of the Eighth Route Army.

The Kwantung Army has been entrenched in Manchuria for many years, and its troops are strong.

Even if the Eighth Route Army breaks through the western defense line and breaks into Manchuria, what will happen?

Is it possible that with this mere force, they want to engulf Manchuria?

Okamura also comforted Umezu Meijiro in the following words.

“The top priority is to further clarify how many troops the Eighth Route Army has accumulated in eastern Mongolia and whether it is the main force of the Eighth Route Army.

Judging from the current combat situation of the Eighth Route Army in North China.

It is unlikely that all their main players will be mobilized.

With limited troops, the Eighth Route Army rushed into Manchuria. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It may be an opportunity for our army to take advantage of the situation and eliminate the Eighth Route Army in one fell swoop! "

As the narrative continued, Okamura felt more and more that this approach was feasible:

"Umezu-kun, your Kwantung Army has been operating in the Kanto region for many years. In addition, the only anti-Japanese armed resistance alliance at that time has been completely wiped out. Convenient transportation lines are extending in all directions. Using Manchuria as a network, the main force of the Eighth Route Army can be loaded into it in one go. Then Eliminate them all, I think this plan may not be feasible."

Hearing this, Umezu Yoshijiro smiled on the outside, but he was dissatisfied in his heart.

I thought that this guy Okamura had no good intentions. If he really introduced the main force of the Eighth Route Army into Manchuria, if it was done well, it would be like beating a dog behind closed doors and catching a turtle in an urn. But if it was not done well, it would be like luring a wolf into the house. If the main force of the Eighth Route Army really continues to advance towards Manchuria, the troops originally in North China will definitely be empty.

This actually reduced a lot of pressure on the Chinese dispatched troops in Okamura.

Umezu Yoshijiro would not do such a thankless job!

Umezu Yoshijiro immediately expressed his attitude: "Manchuria must not allow any loss. Now that the western defense line has been broken, I have issued an order. After the troops who retreated from the western defense area were quickly reorganized, they were immediately deployed on the line from Jinxi to Bingcheng.

First, delay the offensive momentum of the Eighth Route Army, stabilize the front, and ensure that the Shanhaiguan, Siping, Jinzhou, Xinjing, Fengtian, and Bingcheng fronts are not lost.

It will be completely postponed until after the snow falls in late autumn, and then we will find a way to wait for the opportunity to counterattack after the reinforcements from the domestic and Korean areas arrive, and completely eliminate the Eighth Route Army advancing into Manchuria. "

As for reinforcements from China's dispatched troops, Umezu Yoshijiro knew very well that he could not count on them.

At present, North China, Central China, and South China have become a complete mess. Even if Okamura wants to, he is unable to assemble and send troops to the north for reinforcements in a short period of time.

After analyzing the battle situation, Okamura also expressed helplessness:

“Our army in Shandong needs to re-establish a communication line defense system, and in the Jiaodong area it needs to counterattack and destroy the Eighth Route Army’s large airports.

Jizhong wants to re-establish a blockade and compete with the Eighth Route Army for territory.

Central Henan must defend against the joint attack of the Eighth Route Army and the National Army.

The Lianghuai area must re-build the defense line that was riddled with holes by the New Fourth Army.

In the Hunan-Guangxi area, the Southern Army must continue to be stationed to prevent the national army from counterattacking.

After all, Umezu-kun, the only mobile units we can deploy are directly under the dispatched troops from Wuhan, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Shanghai and other places.

But I don't dare to move these mobile troops lightly, especially since a section of the New Fourth Army has already stationed in the Dabie Mountains and is stuck between Nanjing and Wuhan. Our army must guard against it! "

In fact, Okamura couldn't figure it out. He originally thought that the main force of the Chinese armed forces, the Eighth Route Army in North China, would be more difficult.

But after the big sweep launched by the South against the New Fourth Army, the Japanese army suddenly discovered that these damn New Fourth Army had actually grown completely under their noses.

The equipment level is also very sophisticated, and the combat effectiveness is equally strong. The overall strength may not be as good as the Eighth Route Army, but it is much stronger than in previous years.

In particular, the various anti-Japanese base areas behind enemy lines in the southern region of the New Fourth Army were completely connected.

The Eighth Route Army also acts as a backing, constantly providing material and military reinforcements.

The more the Japanese fought, the more headaches they had.

After much fighting, I realized how come these New Fourth Army were as difficult to deal with as the Eighth Route Army?

In this regard, the original words of Kong Jie at the Eastern Mongolia Theater Command may explain something:

"In order to fully cooperate with our northward advance operational plan this time, we will not say how much supplies and equipment our headquarters has spent.

As for our special experimental area, basically all the wealth accumulated in the past two years has been given away this time.

The purpose is to quickly improve the equipment level of our brothers' troops, so that they can first stand up and join forces to cause trouble.

They confused Okamura's eyes with snowflake-like battle reports, giving them headaches and pains, and disrupted the Japanese's overall plan with a storm-like offensive. "

Finally, the Eighth Route Army suddenly launched an attack on the western Manchuria defense zone.

The Chinese Expeditionary Forces Headquarters, which was originally eager to send reinforcements to the north, discovered that the mobile units of the imperial army were divided into two parts in the west and one in the east. They could not assemble in a short time.

After gathering, I don’t know where to get supplies and transportation tools for long-distance transportation.

In fact, the entire Sino-Japanese battlefield was completely disrupted during this period.

The Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army were attacking everywhere, and all major base areas were launching offensives. The Japanese's major counties would suffer raids and shelling from time to time.

The Japanese army has been declining in recent years, and the shortcomings of insufficient military strength have been fully exposed.

If the eastern wall is demolished and the western wall is repaired, the entire occupied area will be like a big sack riddled with holes and cannot be repaired at all.

The war situation was so chaotic that China dispatched troops to the north for reinforcements.

Even the five Kwantung Army divisions that Umezu Yoshijiro went south to reinforce not long ago - the Yamada Division stationed in the Shimen area, which lost a large group in the hands of the Eighth Route Army, and the Shimomura Division stationed in the Dezhou area, which suffered heavy losses from the Eighth Route Army. The Ishida Division stationed in the Cangzhou area, the Fukuyama Division in the Baoding area, and the Okada Division in the Tianjin area.

After the division headquarters received orders from Commander Umezu Yoshijiro to quickly return to Manchuria.

Due to the military blockade of the Eighth Route Army along the way.

These Kwantung Army elites will not be able to successfully break through the layers of defense lines in a short period of time and return to support the western defense zone.

But at this time, the Western Manchuria Defense Zone, which attracted much attention.

After the pioneer troops of the Eighth Route Army successfully broke through the Japanese defense line in western Manchuria under the offensive with the armored elite of the Iron Triangle Army as the tip of the knife.

Inside the Provisional Military Command.

Kong Jie and others came to attend the meeting to discuss the next attack plan after the first stage of fortifications was successfully completed.

During the meeting, Kong Jie stated: “This attack on the defense line in western Manchuria is overwhelming, even faster than we expected.

What does this mean?

This shows that our series of preparations over the past two years have worked. This advance to Manchuria can be said to have achieved an unexpected operational effect.

Everything is difficult at the beginning, but now we have made a good start. We have officially taken the first step towards Manchuria.

Next, we should seize the opportunity to expand our offensive and further strive for the initiative in fighting in Manchuria. "

"Everyone look at the map!"

"After the defense line in western Manchuria was breached, the remaining Japs troops quickly retreated to the area from Jinxi to Bingcheng. The Japs built new layers of defense network on the inside just to prevent our offensive troops from advancing into the inner city.

Obviously, the little devil has not been able to detect our next combat direction so far. This is our last chance.

Mainly our northbound mobile attack group.

As long as you are fast enough and attack thousands of miles away, before the Kwantung Army can react, you can completely encircle or even capture the border fortress group and destroy the mobile troops between the Japanese fortress group and the rear.

The tactical system that the Japanese Kwantung Army has always built based on defense at fortress points and supported by rear mobile troops can be completely cracked by us.

Most of the Kwantung Army's combat supplies are stored near the fortress group, and some are stored in the mobile unit station. The rear area is simply an empty warehouse.

Moreover, the Kwantung Army's policy of gathering villages and merging villages has caused a large number of population centers to be located near transportation lines. With our attack, the Japanese have to lose all their materials and manpower, and this loss cannot be taken out in a short time.

Let's go straight to the core of the Japanese fortress. If this battle goes well, it can be said that the world will be settled. If we gradually advance from north to south, the bullshit Kwantung Army will be completely defeated by us sooner or later! "