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Chapter 1073: There is no tower and no mountain in Tashan!
Li Yunlong thought about it carefully and had to say that Chu Yunfei's words made sense.

Once the Eighth Route Army captured Chengde and Jinzhou, let alone implementing Operation Plan No. 1, it would be a big problem for the main force of the Japanese Kwantung Army to even enter the pass.

“It’s a beautiful idea.”

Wang Dehou said, "But I'm afraid it won't be so smooth to implement."

"Once we concentrate our forces to attack Jinzhou, the Japanese troops around Shenyang will surely flock to us."

"And our main force must clear out the Japanese and puppet troops from Shanhaiguan to Huludao before we can reach Jinzhou."

Before, Li Yunlong and his men had thought about attacking Jinzhou.

Jinzhou's geographical location is unique.

Jinzhou is backed by the Liaoxi Mountains and faces the Liaodong Bay. It is located between the mountains and the sea, forming a narrow plain about 150 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide.

The southern end of this plain starts at Shanhaiguan, the starting point of the Great Wall, and the northern end is Jinzhou City. Geographically, it is called the Liaoxi Corridor.

After the communications officer finished recording, he handed the draft telegram to Li Yunlong for his personal signature, then quickly left with the folder.

Chu Yunfei looked at the map carefully and studied it with a magnifying glass, but he still couldn't find a way to capture Jinzhou.

Yamamoto Ikki had fought with the New 1st Regiment for several years and was well aware of its formidable capabilities, so he said: "The Liaoxi Corridor has no strategic location to defend. The Fourth Army can only accomplish its mission by setting up multi-layered anti-tank trenches, deep defensive positions, and wide and extensive troop deployments."

No. 557 Xinfa Road, Japanese Kwantung Army Headquarters.

General Umezu Mijiro will not use me, Yamamoto Ikki, will he?

While speaking, Umezu Michijiro planted the small flags representing the 123rd Division, the 149th Division and the Fourth Army Command into Jinzhou on the sand table.

Seeing that General Umezu Mijiro really listened to his advice, Yamamoto Ikki lowered his head and said.

Umezu Mijiro stood up and walked to a huge sand table, and Yamamoto Kazuki also stood up and walked to his side.

Umezu Mijiro waved his hand. He had actually wanted to arrange it this way for a long time, but Yamamoto Kazuki just happened to make this suggestion.

Li Yunlong also looked at the map and said, "Jinzhou will be recovered sooner or later, but we have to take it step by step. In this battle, we will first recover Shanhaiguan and Huludao, and then recover Jinzhou in the next battle."

Then, Li Yunlong looked at the communications staff and said, "Immediately call back the Second Squadron of the Sword Battalion and have them immediately conduct reconnaissance, looking for locations suitable for large-scale beach landings and paratroopers to land, but they must pay attention to safety."

There are two Type B divisions of the Japanese in Jinzhou. The combat effectiveness of these two divisions is nothing to the Eighth Route Army.

Yamamoto sighed inwardly. After this battle, the Fourth Army might not be completely wiped out, but would probably be crippled.

"Yamamoto-kun, please have some tea."

Changchun.

So, Umezu Mijiro asked again: "Mr. Yamamoto, what suggestions do you have for the Fourth Army's rain protection arrangements?"

"Chief of Staff." Li Yunlong looked at Wang Dehou, "You should immediately lead the staff to quickly formulate a battle plan."

In short, if Shanhaiguan is an important gateway into the Northeast, then Jinzhou is the throat of the Eighth Route Army entering the Northeast.

The 119th Division and the 131st Mixed Brigade are still stationed on the Shanhaiguan front line, and the 80th Brigade is stationed in Huludao.

This holy war has a chance of success, otherwise...

Thinking of this, Yamamoto Ikki couldn't help but feel his heart beating fast. Having Umezu Mijiro as a strong partner would definitely be much better than having Okamura Yasuji as a trusted partner.

However, it was impossible for the Eighth Route Army to capture Jinzhou in a short period of time, and the main force of the Japanese invaders could provide reinforcements at any time.

……

It seems that I have to perform well.

"Yes!"

"That's right!"

However, the small flags of the two mixed brigades were only planted halfway between the departure point and Jinzhou, indicating that the two mixed brigades were still halfway.

If we advance, we can conquer Liaodong; if we retreat, we can defend North China.

With the help of Umezu Mijiro, he could be promoted to general as soon as possible. At that time, he would have the opportunity to reform the tactics and equipment of the Imperial Army.

"Your Excellency the General is wise!"

The beaches and paratrooper drop locations for large-scale regular landing operations require advance reconnaissance by the Sword's special forces.

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Gang, Wang Dehou, Xing Zhiguo and Chu Yunfei all expressed their agreement.

Therefore, in ancient history, the Central Plains dynasties repeatedly used military forces and had to control the Jinzhou line.

When Umezu Mijiro saw Yamamoto Ikki walk in, he put his hands together and said.

Yamamoto Ikki placed the major general's sword on the table, knelt down opposite Umezu Mijiro, and took a sip of the teacup.

Then, Umezu Yoshijiro withdrew the small flags representing the 135th Mixed Brigade and the 136th Mixed Brigade near Liaoyang and Anshan and transferred them towards Jinzhou.

"Shanhai Pass." Yamamoto Kazuki's expression changed. "General, the Hexi Corridor?"

Otherwise, if after a large force lands, trucks, heavy artillery and tanks cannot drive to the road, or if paratroopers land on top of the Japanese, it would be very bad.

Meijin Mijiro nodded and said, "This sand table is exactly the Liaoxi Corridor. According to Mr. Yamamoto's suggestion, I have ordered the Fourth Army to adjust the deployment of troops."

The Liaoxi Corridor is a channel connecting the Northeast with various places in the interior, and Jinzhou is like the throat of the entire Liaoxi Corridor.

"Yoshi." Umezu Mijiro nodded. This was similar to the order he gave to the Fourth Army.

Taking a deep breath, Umezu Mijiro asked leisurely, "Mr. Yamamoto, you are the unit that has fought the Eighth Route Army the longest in the entire Kwantung Army. Which do you think is stronger, the Imperial Army or the Eighth Route Army?"

This was the main reason why Umezu Mijiro called Yamamoto Ikki today and the two had a secret conversation.

As for being more important than Yamamoto Ikki?
Umezu Mijiro didn't think so much about it. The Kwantung Army currently had 600,000 to 700,000 elite main forces, and the headquarters was constantly increasing its troops. There were many generals and lieutenants in the Kwantung Army who were as capable as Yamamoto.

"Which is stronger, the Imperial Army or the Eighth Route Army?"

Having graduated from the Imperial Army University, studied at the Imperial Munich Military Academy, and experienced several years of war in China, Yamamoto Ikki thought for a moment and replied, "General, with all due respect, I think the Eighth Route Army is stronger than the Imperial Army."

At present, the Japanese army and the Chinese army are only fighting on land, so Umezu Michijiro did not ask the navy, and when Yamamoto answered, he tacitly did not return to the navy.

After a brief pause, Yamamoto Ikki added: "The Eighth Route Army is much stronger than the Imperial Army."

"Oh?"

Hearing this answer, Umezu Mijiro was not angry, but just said curiously:
"Talk about why you came to this conclusion."

Umezu Mijiro asked this question not only to General Yamamoto Ikki.

People including Yukio Kasahara, Satoshi Kinoshita and Junhisa Ikeda have all been asked this question by Mijiro Umezu.

The answers he got were surprisingly consistent: although the Eighth Route Army was strong, the Imperial Army was superior in overall strength.

According to intelligence, the main force of the Eighth Route Army was just over 100 million.

The total strength of the Japanese Army at present is more than 140 million in China. Together with the troops in the Caoxian Peninsula, Formosa, Southeast Asia and the mainland, the total strength is about 300 million. There are also a reserve force of three to four million, with a total strength of at least 700 million.

As to which one was stronger, the Japanese Army or the Eighth Route Army, Umezu Michijiro maintained a dialectical attitude, and today he finally heard a different answer.

"Hi."

Yamamoto Ikki first lowered his head, then raised it and said:

"General, judging the strength of an army is not complicated. It can be simply judged based on the following points."

Seeing that the other party wanted to use him, Yamamoto Ikki took out all his life's learning:
"Fighting spirit, weapons and equipment, combat discipline, combat skills, command ability and logistical support."

Umezu Mijiro nodded and listened carefully. Compared with the opinions of other generals, Yamamoto's ideas were more peculiar.

Yamamoto Ikki continued to talk:

"First of all, the fighting spirit, or fighting will. I believe that the fighting will of the Imperial Army soldiers ranks among the top two in the world."

"Since the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, few Japanese soldiers have surrendered on the battlefield."

"And the fighting spirit of the Eighth Route Army soldiers is no less than that of the Locust Army soldiers."

"Two years ago, in order to seize the Eighth Route Army's bazooka anti-tank rocket launcher, I led a special forces team to attack a small, unknown unit of the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi. We originally wanted to capture the officers of this unit, but in the end this unit fought to the last man, and the officer of the Eighth Route Army kept the last bullet for himself."

"That's true." Speaking of this, Meizu Mijiro deeply agreed, "The fighting spirit of the Eighth Route Army's peasants is indeed amazing. A guy named Yang Jingyu, in the icy and snowy conditions, ran out of ammunition and food, and actually fought against a large number of locust soldiers alone. He fought for several days and nights before he was killed by the locust soldiers. When the locust soldiers cut open his stomach, they found only dry grass, tree bark and cotton wool in his stomach, without a single grain of food."

This incident was shocking at the time, and even Umezu Michijiro, the commander of the Kwantung Army, had heard about it.

Although Yang Jingyu was not a member of the Eighth Route Army, he was in the same group as them.

Both Umezu Michijiro and Yamamoto Ikki highly recognized the fighting spirit of the Eighth Route Army and gave it the highest praise.

Yamamoto Ikki continued:
"The next thing is weapons and equipment. Three years ago, the Eighth Route Army, which had never seen the world and was composed of peasants, was not even an army. They wore tattered clothes like beggars and had trouble in winter. Their government didn't even give them cotton uniforms. A captured Type 38 rifle was considered first-class equipment. Most soldiers still used inferior weapons like the Hanyang rifle. The accuracy of this rifle was extremely poor, and jamming was a common occurrence. Ammunition was also extremely scarce. If there was no format, it couldn't hold five bullets..."

"but now…"

"The Eighth Route Army already has world-class equipment: a large number of tanks, aircraft and heavy artillery. Even semi-automatic rifles and fully automatic firearms are gradually becoming popular. What about the Locust Army? They are still using bolt-action rifles. General, the equipment of the Locust Army and the Eighth Route Army is being disparaged exponentially. Letting the Locust Army fight the Eighth Route Army, which has a modern combat system, with Type 38 rifles is tantamount to sending the excellent soldiers of the Locust Army to their deaths."

Yamamoto Ikki took the opportunity to implicitly diss a group of Japanese military ordnance officers.

"The weapons of the Locust Army are indeed inferior to those of the Eighth Route Army."

Meijin Mijiro nodded and did not deny: "However, the strength and tactics of the Locust Army can narrow the gap between the Locust Army and the Eighth Route Army, or even make up for it."

"It was fine a year or two ago," Yamamoto Ikki said solemnly, "but I'm afraid it won't work now!"

"Why not now?" asked Mijiro Umezu.

Yamamoto Ikki said: "Based on the comprehensive inference and analysis of a large amount of intelligence, the military assistance the Eighth Route Army received was obtained by defeating the Locust Army's troops and generals."

"The Eighth Route Army almost completely wiped out the First Army and the North China Front Army. Based on previous experience, after the Eighth Route Army wins the North China Campaign, it will inevitably receive more assistance than ever before, and the number of troops equipped with modern heavy weapons is likely to exceed 70."

Umezu Mijiro nodded silently.

According to the combat experience between the Japanese Army and the Eighth Route Army in the past year, the casualty ratio between the Japanese Army and the Eighth Route Army was approximately 10 to 1.

This means that it took 10 elite Japanese soldiers to kill one Eighth Route Army soldier.

This is simply unthinkable.

In other words, to defeat the 70 Eighth Route Army soldiers equipped with modern weapons, the Imperial Army would need to sacrifice the lives of 700 million elite soldiers!

In this way, those people in the Nationalist government will probably reap the benefits.

After listening to Yamamoto Ikki's analysis, Umezu Mijiro became increasingly pessimistic about Operation Plan No. 1.

After all, the headquarters only prepared more than 100 million people for this Operation No. 700 plan, but according to calculations, million people would be needed to eliminate the Eighth Route Army.

How is this played?
"Actually, you don't have to worry, General."

Yamamoto Ikki seemed to see what Umezu Mijiro was thinking and said:

"The soldiers of the Eighth Route Army are all peasants. Many of these soldiers are touching heavy artillery, tanks and aircraft for the first time. The Eighth Route Army is seriously lacking in technical arms. It will take a long time to digest these weapons and equipment. If the Locust Army can launch Operation Plan No. 1 earlier, the Locust Army still has a chance to defeat the Eighth Route Army!"

Next, Yamamoto Ikki made a comprehensive analysis of the Eighth Route Army's advantages in terms of "combat discipline, combat skills, command ability and logistical supply".

In addition, Yamamoto added the advantages of the Eighth Route Army in reserve troops, military industry and education, population and resources, and national cohesion.

After listening to this, Umezu Mijiro couldn't help but nod repeatedly.

I thought that Yamamoto Ikki, who was highly valued by Yoshio Shinozuka, Yasuji Okamura, and Mitsuo Nakazawa, did have some abilities.

"Since the Imperial Army is not as strong as the Eighth Route Army," Umezu Mijiro said, "then why did the headquarters launch Operation Plan No. 1? Why not just surrender to the Eighth Route Army?"

"Because if we don't fight this battle, the empire will most likely be destroyed!"

Yamamoto Kazuki said bluntly:

"The Eighth Route Army is getting stronger and stronger. Perhaps one day the Eighth Route Army will surpass Germany, the Soviet Union, and the United States. The Eighth Route Army is likely to counterattack the Empire."

"By the time…"

Having said this, Yamamoto Kazuki stopped talking.

Mijiro Umezu on the opposite side couldn't help but have a flicker in his eyes. By then, the people of the empire would be massacred and the cities would be turned into scorched earth, just like the Japanese invasion of China.

As a general of the Empire of Japan, he absolutely did not want to see such a thing happen.

"So…"

Umezu Mijiro asked in a deep voice, "Since Yamamoto-kun has found out the disadvantages of the Imperial Army, what methods does Yamamoto-kun have to turn disadvantages into advantages?"

It is not difficult to find the problem, but it is difficult to solve it.

General Umezu Michijiro, the commander of the Kwantung Army, could naturally see the disadvantages of the Imperial Army.

Yamamoto Ikki began to promote his theory of innovating tactics and equipment: "The Imperial Army has been suffering from problems for a long time. If we want to turn the disadvantages into advantages, we must innovate the army's tactics and weapons and equipment..."

……

three days later.

Beiping.

New group.

Regiment Headquarters.

The communications officer walked quickly into the regiment headquarters and reported to Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang: "Report to the regiment commander and political commissar, the second squadron of the Sword Battalion just sent a telegram saying that the reconnaissance mission of the landing troops has been completed."

"Send the Chief of Staff to the regimental headquarters immediately."

Li Yunlong gave the order and then took the telegram and started reading it.

Just after I finished reading the telegram, Wang Dehou walked in quickly: "Captain? You're looking for me?"

"chief of staff."

Li Yunlong then handed the telegram to Wang Dehou:
"Wang Yousheng just sent a telegram saying that he has completed the reconnaissance mission. Your staff should quickly formulate a combat plan."

Wang Dehou first took the telegram and read it, then his expression became serious and he said, "Yes!"

Afterwards, Wang Dehou quickly drew it on the map based on Wang Yousheng's telegram.

The first landing site was in the Tianlong Temple area of ​​Suizhong County, the second landing site was in Wanghai Temple, and the paratroopers were in the Tashan area east of Huludao, which is only about 10 kilometers away from Huludao and about 30 kilometers away from Jinzhou.

Then, Wang Dehou said to a combat staff officer: "Xiao Zhang, you immediately arrange two reconnaissance planes to conduct aerial reconnaissance in the Tianlong Temple, Wanghai Temple and Tashan area of ​​the Liaoxi Corridor to see whether the first two locations are suitable for beach landings and whether Tashan is suitable for paratroopers to land."

Although Wang Yousheng provided reconnaissance intelligence, this was after all the Eighth Route Army's first beach landing operation.

Wang Dehou could understand the first two locations, but as the name suggests, Tashan is most likely a mountain, so further reconnaissance is needed to determine whether it is suitable for airborne operations.

In the past, there were no conditions, and many times during marches and battles, we only needed to look at the map.

But now that the conditions are in place, Wang Dehou must ensure that everything goes well.

"Yes!" The operations staff officer stepped forward and quickly walked towards the phone.

Looking at Wang Dehou's arrangements, Li Yunlong nodded with satisfaction.

Soon, the reconnaissance plane returned and reported the reconnaissance situation to the staff.
The enemy's defense at the two landing sites was very weak, and Tashan had neither towers nor mountains, making it more suitable for paratroopers to land.

Then Wang Dehou took the battle plan and emergency plan in his hand and reported to Li Yunlong: "Commander, the battle plan has been completed. The specific deployment of the Chengde battlefield is that the main force of the rotation force, the 3rd Heavy Armored Battalion, and the newly formed 2nd, 4th, 5th and 8th Heavy Armored Battalions will attack from the front, and the heavy paratrooper battalion will be airdropped from behind to attack from behind, and the 2nd and 3rd Heavy Artillery Battalions, as well as the 3rd and 4th Rocket Artillery Battalions will cooperate in the battle."

After a new round of reorganization, the new regiment eliminated the original 105mm and 150mm howitzers.

The ship was completely re-equipped with 122mm howitzers and 152mm howitzers.

Each heavy armored battalion is equipped with 24 122mm howitzers, and each heavy artillery battalion is equipped with 36 152mm howitzers.

After a short pause, Wang Dehou continued, "The battle deployment for the Liaoxi Corridor is that Deputy Commander Chu's independent brigade and the 3rd Heavy Tank Battalion will attack Shanhaiguan head-on, with the 1st and 7th Heavy Armored Battalions as the reserve, the 2nd Heavy Howitzer Battalion, the 1st and 7th Heavy Artillery Battalions, and the 1st and 5th Rocket Artillery Battalions as support."

The 2nd Heavy Howitzer Battalion is the 203mm heavy howitzer battalion of the new regiment, equipped with 24 203mm heavy howitzers.

That is the hammer of the kind father.

Currently, the new regiment has a total of 3 heavy howitzer battalions, equipped with 72 203mm heavy howitzers.

Although the number may not be large, it is enough to deal with the Japanese who are short of resources.

"The troops that landed at Tianlong Temple were the main 2nd Heavy Armored Battalion and the newly formed 13th Heavy Armored Battalion. The troops that landed at Huludao Wanghai Temple were the main 6th Heavy Armored Battalion and the newly formed 16th Heavy Armored Battalion. The two landing forces each carried two rocket artillery battalions."

"There are two flying squadrons providing air support for both battlefields."

After saying this, Wang Dehou added another sentence.

The rocket artillery battalion is the Katyusha rocket artillery battalion. Each Katyusha rocket artillery battalion is equipped with 36 Katyusha rocket launchers.

The new regiment now has a total of 6 main heavy armored battalions and 16 newly formed heavy armored battalions, totaling 22 heavy armored battalions.

Except for the independent battalion of the new regiment, all the newly formed heavy armored battalions have arrived at the front line and participated in rotation battles.

After listening to Wang Dehou's troop deployment, Li Yunlong nodded and a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

In the rotation battle and this offensive operation, basically all the heavy armored battalions were taken care of, and this offensive was basically carried out by the main heavy armored battalion, so there would be no problems.

After listening to the chief of staff's troop deployment, Xing Zhiguo, Zhao Gang and Chu Yunfei all smiled.

Who else has this firepower?
Especially Chu Yunfei, the expression on his face was full of confidence.

I set a goal for myself in my mind. This opportunity is rare, and this time I must ruthlessly kill these inhumane Japanese beasts.

Li Yunlong took the folder and looked at the emergency plans and logistical supplies.

"No problem." Li Yunlong put down the folder, "Let's execute it according to this plan. The battles in Chengde and the Liaoxi Corridor can be carried out simultaneously."

"Yes!"

After a pause, Wang Dehou asked, "Captain, when will our warships and transport ships arrive?"

"We will arrive at Tianjin Binhai Port in about three days." Li Yunlong said expectantly, "There will be 30 transport ships in total, and there will also be 8 frigates and 7 destroyers escorting them."

Zhao Gang asked: "I remember there were only five frigates and four destroyers, right?"

"We need to increase the number of transport ships," Li Yunlong said. "We also need to increase the number of frigates and destroyers. Otherwise, what if we encounter a Japanese submarine? One torpedo can destroy a transport ship. Who can withstand that?"

Li Yunlong also spent a lot of money to rent Boss Chen's destroyers and frigates for combat.

……