Age of Conquest Reborn

Chapter 688: Leading the way by the nose

Tang Qiuli, who was far away at Wubao Ferry on the bank of the Yellow River in Shaanxi Province, had no idea what was happening in Nanjing. All his thoughts were focused on Okamura Neiji, and his strategy of "showing it in a tangible way" really paid off.

Okamura Neiji reacted, and the intelligence personnel lurking in Taiyuan City received information that the Japanese Shanxi occupation force was gathering troops in Taiyuan. (_--)

Neji Okamura had to be anxious. He analyzed that Tang Qiuli had already determined the direction of his next attack and realized the emptiness of the Yellow River defense line. The first step was to bring in civilian armed forces to rescue the emergency. The next step was to mobilize regular troops to strengthen the Yellow River.

On the defense line, his large-scale mobilization of forces also showed that he was bluffing and his troops were empty. This was a good opportunity. If he had followed the original plan and waited for the Kwantung Army's southward troops to enter Shanxi before taking action, Tang Qiuli would have completed the deployment.

For losing such a great opportunity, Okamura Neiji would never forgive himself for the rest of his life. After Tang Qiuli's deployment was completed, it was difficult to predict the outcome of the next war. He decided not to wait for the arrival of the Kwantung Army troops and gathered troops in Taiyuan.

On the one hand, he sent a telegram to the Kwantung Army troops heading south, urging them to speed up their march into Shanxi.

The commander of the Kwantung Army's southward troops, Lieutenant General Gangmura Jianfu, knew the bitter truth. Although the ** division troops no longer blocked the force and refused to give in, his troops were exhausted and struggling, and could not advance more than ten times a day.

Kilometers, in a word, the road to Tianjin is not easy to walk. His reply to Okamura Neiji was to try his best. As for when to regain Tianjin and enter Shanxi in accordance with Okamura Neiji's request, it depends on His Majesty the Emperor.

Good fortune.

Okamura Neiji took action, and Tang Qiuli naturally took corresponding countermeasures. He sent a telegram to Tang Qiusheng and the Sulu Mobile Corps to continue to delay the Kwantung Army's march southward to ensure that during the Yellow River Defense War, they would not be attacked by other Japanese troops.

Interference, at the end of May, Okamura Neji finally assembled his troops. This time, he

No expense was spared to mobilize the most elite 8th, 11th, 22nd Divisions, Katayama Brigade, Nishino Brigade, Takashima Tank Regiment, Jingyi Tank Regiment and other troops, totaling 100,000 people,

Formed the Shaanxi occupation force, selected Liulin and Fenglingdu as breakthrough points, broke through the Yellow River defense line in one fell swoop, and occupied the strategic rear of the ** division.

For this reason, he did not hesitate to give up the pursuit of the remnants of Yan Xishan, gave up his plan to march into northwest Shanxi, and stopped large-scale expansion of the occupied area. After Zhangjiakou fell, he also understood the situation he faced. It was no longer necessary to march into northwest Shanxi.

Looking back at the situation in North China, it seems that the connection between the Shanxi occupation forces and the Pingjin area has been cut off by Tang Qiuli.

Although he is not sure, Okamura Neiji still senses this with his fox-like cunning. Therefore, capturing Shaanxi and getting rid of the unfavorable situation is his best choice at present. The Kwantung Army's southward troops cannot enter Shanxi in time to open up Shanxi and Shanxi.

The connection between Beijing and Tianjin relieves him of worries and is his biggest regret.

After Tang Qiuli learned the news that Okamura Neji had assembled heavy troops, he once again adjusted his combat plan and ordered the entire special operations detachment, led by detachment leader Tang Qiuquan, to immediately enter Shanxi. The combat targets were Japanese strongholds and small towns scattered throughout the country.

The Taihang Mountain Field Corps of Changfeng, with four brigades, advanced covertly towards western and southern Shanxi, preparing to cut off the Japanese army's retreat from Okamura Neji's attack on the Yellow River defense line.

He planned to eat these 100,000 Japanese troops along the Yellow River. The situation in Shanxi would be much more favorable. The Japanese troops setting off from Taiyuan to attack Wubao Ferry would have to pass through the Luliang Mountains. Of course, they would not be allowed to go comfortably.

From the river defense force, some elite troops were drawn out, in company units, to cross the Yellow River and enter the Luliang Mountains. They harassed the Japanese army along the way, attacked their transportation and supply lines, and exhausted the Japanese army.

This task belongs to Sun Zhenbang's Yellow River Defense Corps. Tang Qiuli has only such a regular force available. On the afternoon of the day when the order was issued, Sun Zhenbang's troops were busy preparing for the Dingbian Military Academy Cadet Brigade.

The brigade commander, General Jiang Baili, unexpectedly came to our door and submitted a request for combat. The cadet brigade requested to participate in this operation deep behind enemy lines.

The reason is very good. This is a rare training opportunity to test the students' learning achievements. Tang Qiuli declined politely. The reason is also very practical. This group of students will be the future grassroots commanders of the various units of the ** Division.

, it would be irresponsible for the carefully cultivated talents to carry out such a dangerous task.

To be honest, these students are Tang Qiuli's treasure. He is reluctant to let these future officers take risks, go deep behind enemy lines, and disperse their operations. Each company is in a state of isolation. Any unexpected situation may happen, and the entire army will be annihilated.

There are some, and no one can tell how many will come back. We cannot eat tomorrow's seeds and grains just for today's famine.

General Jiang Baili's attitude was very resolute. An officer who had never been on the battlefield or heard the sound of gunfire was not qualified for the responsibility of a grassroots commander. He would have to go through this process sooner or later. It seemed that he expected that Tang Qiuli would refuse.

We have already prepared and come up with a plan. The cadet brigade will not form separate combat companies, but will be organized at the platoon level and dispersed to various companies to accept the command of the field troops.

Tang Qiuli was in a dilemma. He admitted that what General Jiang Baili said was reasonable, but he was really worried. While he was hesitating, a neat and loud command sounded from outside. He walked out of the tent and was stunned. The students from Dingbian Military Academy were lining up.

Neatly lined up, fully armed, the star officer on duty gave a command, and his eyes

In the forest of arms in front of him, thousands of pairs of eyes were watching him. Their eyes were filled with eagerness and expectation, and there was an indescribable sense of a newborn calf not afraid of tigers. He understood that this was a collective petition, but the method was somewhat different.

On the other hand, General Jiang Baili had a satisfied smile on his lips.

He could no longer refuse, and he could be angry but not vented. Jiang Baili left with satisfaction. Tang Qiuli looked at the list of participants, and Mei Ling was listed on it, and he also served as the platoon leader. The night fell, and the spring breeze carried the scent of loess.

Breath, hundreds of small boats, taking advantage of the darkness, quietly crossed the Yellow River eastward, carrying more than 5,000 soldiers in more than 20 mixed companies on board.

In the Yellow River at night, the waves were gone, and only countless small black dots were vaguely visible, bumping in the gentle roar of the yellow water. Only when they could no longer be seen, Tang Qiuli turned around sadly, and saw the beautiful faces of Mei Ting and Mei Xue.

, with a hint of melancholy

, he knew why. Just before the troops set off, he specifically called Mei Ling to the division headquarters, explained everything carefully, and gave Mei Ling the Colt pistol that had been following him on the battlefield. He did not tell anyone about all this.

Mei sisters.

Before the soldiers went off to war, the tears they shed when bidding farewell were too sad. He didn't want his beloved woman to have any shadow in his heart. In fact, the care and worry in his heart were no less than those of the two sisters, but Mei Ting and Mei Xue still appeared at the farewell.

The crowd was stronger than he thought. The bumpy boat, Mei Ling looked back at the other shore. There was no light, but he clearly felt that the eyes of his brother-in-law and two sisters were burning his heart.

Her brother-in-law's words were encouragement, and her sister's words were worries. Mei Ling's nose felt sore. She controlled her emotions, touched the pistol on her waist, and looked toward the other side with wide eyes. There was a dark night everywhere, and the darkness on the other side was thicker and hazy.

The mountains seemed like a group of crouching beasts, ready to devour everything at any time. The ship's hull trembled lightly, touching the land, and it had already reached the other shore.

Mei Ling's heart was filled with tension, excitement, nervousness, desire and fear for the unknown world. For the first time, this nineteen-year-old boy knew the feeling of trembling all over his body. The company commander's whispered orders sounded so far away, and there was no trace of them.

It was an unreal feeling. I followed my comrades and jumped out of the boat. The river was knee-deep and bone-chilling. With the chill of spring, Meiling

His mind suddenly woke up, he remembered his duties, and hurriedly contacted his comrades and counted the number of people according to the predetermined signals. Then, dozens of companies, according to the battle plan, shot in different directions like arrows, Meiling Deep

Taking a breath, leading the troops into the unknown darkness, the boat returned, and everything returned to calm.

The troops that penetrated into the Luliang Mountains were advancing against the Japanese army. Little did Okamura Neiji know that more than 5,000 ** Division soldiers had already entered Shanxi. His order to the troops attacking Wubao Ferry only contained one word: "quickly" to seize the time.

, to compete with Tang Qiuli for time, Wu Fort is his key offensive area, and he can drive directly to the border. It is best to attract Tang Qiuli's main garrison forces in this direction, creating a way for the troops to attack Fenglingdu and assault Xi'an.

condition.

Okamura Neiji invested 60,000 troops and three field artillery regiments in the direction of Wubao Ferry, and personally served as the commander. In the Luliang Mountains, he was continuously harassed and attacked by the Chinese Army Corps. Okamura Neiji

Having learned from the experience and lessons learned in the Taihang Mountains, we did not get entangled with small groups of enemies at all. When attacked, we immediately dispatched slightly more troops than the enemy to carry out an encirclement and suppression campaign in hot pursuit without the slightest pause.

But this kind of attacks are too frequent. Every few kilometers you advance, you will take bullets. The damn China mountains are suitable for ambushes everywhere. The despicable China cowards can only hide and shoot secretly. Almost all Japanese soldiers

The commander was furious and cursed viciously. This kind of continuous small-scale harassment made the Japanese commanders who were used to the main force in decisive battles very uncomfortable. They could not find the anger of their opponents and almost burned their nerves.

Only Okamura Neiji maintained a calm mind. Similar situations had been experienced in the Taihang Mountains. Tang Qiuli couldn't play any new tricks. He did this just to slow down the advancement of the imperial army and mobilize troops for himself.

It was just a matter of buying time, and it further proved the fact that he found his troops empty when guarding the Yellow River. There is an idiom in China that goes like this: "It is difficult to cover up what is revealed."

Along the way, many corpses and soldiers missing arms and legs were left behind. Three days later, Okamura Neiji finally saw the endlessly flowing Yellow River, the rapids like wheat awns, rolling thin waves, and swirling eastward.

When he left, he was dizzy when he saw them. He arrived at the destination successfully and he suddenly became excited. But when he counted the troops, he was a little dumbfounded.

(To be continued)