Comrade, Your Ingredients Are Too Complicated

 Datong, Wudingmen Watchtower.

Due to the orders issued by Itachi Nishihara and Otonzaburo Yano, the Japanese did not launch a night attack tonight like they did the previous two days, but chose to use the vision provided by the moonlight to strengthen their positions.

 After all, the Eighth Route Army is good at night fighting. In yesterday's positional battles, they often found opportunities to launch counterattacks to regain the lost defensive depth.

This caused the troops stationed in Mongolia to become frightened. Even if they did not attack, they would take more precautions to prevent the previous results from being in vain.

Facing the "silent" enemy position, the army reorganization expert put down the telescope in his hand, and then said to the people next to him with great emotion:

"Yongjian, it seems that the Japanese have no plans to continue attacking tonight. It's not easy. The comrades on the front line can finally take a breath for a while."

“It’s a pity that this ancient city of Datong will probably be destroyed in the war.”

“I can shoulder this historical responsibility, but no one can undo the eternal hatred left behind.”

Since being assigned to the Wutai Mountain area to open up the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei base area, army reorganization experts have had little opportunity to command large-scale operations.

 In this Battle of Datong, both the enemy and ourselves invested nearly 150,000 troops.

 This level of battle affects the boss’s heart all the time. The Japs were extremely silent tonight, so naturally he wanted to pay a visit to the observation post.

Looking at the town behind him, and then at his old partner beside him, the tiger in the forest patted him on the shoulder and said:

“We fought for two full days, and the Japanese casualties were considerable. Even if the A-type divisions came, they would have to wait a while.”

“What’s more, the enemy’s reinforcements are on their way. If nothing goes wrong, the Mongolian army will launch a full-scale general offensive tomorrow, and we must be prepared for street fighting in advance.”

“As for the issue of ancient buildings, don’t think too much about it. Compared with the safety of the soldiers’ lives, all non-essential things must give way.”

“Besides, you have to believe in the wisdom of future generations. The Japanese will not destroy the entire wall. After the war, there will definitely be a chance to repair it with bricks.”

 The sudden relief made the army reorganization expert couldn't help but take a second look at his comrades. In his impression, tigers in the forest have no habit of actively comforting people.

Hearing this, he quickly adjusted his mentality so as not to affect the subsequent deployment.

As an old comrade who has followed the organization through all kinds of difficulties, if you save people and lose land, you will keep them; if you save land and lose people, you will lose both people and land. Of course he understands this.

 “If it works, I’ll lend you some good words.”

“Let’s go back first. It’s a bit cold tonight. You can’t have any problems with your body now.”

 After a while, the two left the tower hand in hand and came to the combat headquarters.

Looking at the busy staff, the tiger in the forest cleared his throat and ordered to his comrades:

“Notify each column to let the soldiers have a good rest tonight, and then they can abandon their positions if they hold on for one more day tomorrow.”

“The prey has been baited. There is no need to fight with the Japanese outside the city. It is time to implement the next phase of the street fighting plan.”

"Don't forget to reveal some information to the enemy. You must let them "accidentally" know the news about Lao Nie in the city. It's hard to catch these dogs who don't see rabbits and don't let go of hawks. It's hard to get them without stimulating them."

Compared to the Mongolian Army, which suffered heavy losses and whose dead units were calculated according to regiments, the casualties in the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region were very small.

Our own side has an absolute advantage in firepower, and solid defenses and underground bunkers have been built on the main position. A large part of the reason why the Japanese are able to make the current progress is because all columns are releasing water.

However, things will be very different tomorrow.

 Because the 110th Division of the Japanese Army is a specially set up unit in the mainland and is known as the strongest B Division.

It has two infantry brigades, an artillery regiment, an engineer regiment, a baggage regiment, and a cavalry brigade. At its peak, it even had 24,400 people.

The entry of an enemy whose strength and combat effectiveness exceeds the standard will definitely increase the pressure on the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region.

　　Coupling the enemy reinforcements from two independent mixed brigades, the frontal battlefield is about to face a strong attack by 70,000 Japanese regular troops.

The tiger in the forest is not some nutty nut. He will not let the troops defend against more than twenty 105 howitzers.

The First Air Division is currently overwhelmed by the Army Aviation of the North China Front and is temporarily unable to provide air support. At this time, it was a very wise and correct choice to let each column hold on for one more day and then retreat into the city to prepare for street fighting.

 There are a large number of bunkers and fortifications in the city, and the terrain is more complex and not suitable for large forces to advance.

In this way, the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region can completely drag the Japanese into street fighting that is more beneficial to the defenders according to the defense zones divided before the war.

While a group of staff officers issued orders to troops at all levels, the army reorganization expert silently walked to the city defense map. Looking at the small dots representing fortifications, he asked with some worry:

“How is the preparation for the tunnel I mentioned before?”

Although Datong was an important town in the past dynasties, neither the preserved fruit nor the Japanese paid attention to modernization. Except for the mining area, the various houses in the city are not much different from those of the previous century.

Buildings with masonry structures cannot protect against the enemy's mountain and field artillery.

 In order to reduce the losses of the troops, and also to make the Japanese not suspicious. Army reorganization experts specifically ordered the soldiers to build a large number of hidden tunnels.

 Unless the devils use 105 howitzers to clear the ground without distinguishing between friend and foe, and wipe out their own soldiers together.

 Otherwise, tunnels and various fortifications will definitely turn the seemingly ordinary Datong County into a flesh-eating millstone.

Hearing his words, the tiger in the forest put down the telegram sent by 103 and said:

“Don’t worry, I have arranged all the preparations for the street battle. Then you can just wait for the opportunity to retreat, and then happily make a marching pot.”

“Everything is ready now, all that is left is the east wind.”

Hearing this, the army reorganization expert nodded.

Yongjian’s work style is steady and trustworthy. He said everything was in place, so it must be OK.

"good!"

  ·······

  At 9 a.m. on November 22, 1941, Fengzhen.

“Nishihara-kun, Yano-kun, long time no see. Why do you two look so bad? You haven’t had much rest recently.”

“Don’t worry, with the reinforcements from our department, the next battle will definitely be overwhelming. The three divisions and two independent mixed brigades together have 70,000 troops, which is enough to fight another Tanzhou battle.”

“By the way, did you read the message General Gangcun sent yesterday?”

The Japanese Lieutenant General who spoke was naturally Mamoru Iinuma, the commander of the 110th Division. This person has the same living habit as a certain bald man, which is keeping a diary.

 Bald's diary is more or less useful. Some of the content there can be used to make fun of, and can even explain some mysterious operations of preserved fruit.

Mamoru Iinuma’s diary records his evil deeds from 1937 to the present. In a sense, this old guy can definitely be regarded as a representative figure when the humanoid star shines. He can be shot a hundred times without getting rid of his hatred.

Hearing the words of their new colleagues, both Nishihara Issaku and Yano Otonzaburo's eyes lit up, as if the gloom of the past few days had been swept away.

 No other reason, just because Okamura Neji sent a particularly important piece of information. In Datong, there is a big man who is crucial to the Eighth Route Army.

 From 1937 to the present, the Republic of China has indeed sacrificed some senior commanders, many of whom were posthumously awarded the title of Army General.

However, the Eighth Route Army in North China never lost any high-ranking officials who could shock the whole country.

Both Yoshio Shinozuka and Yoshio Iwamatsu had formulated special combat plans just to capture or behead the deputy commander-in-chief or deputy general staff officer of the Eighth Route Army.

 But as a result, the grass on the graves of both people is now one meter high.

Let alone arrest or beheading, even if the Japanese wanted to get photos of the two of them, they would have to send agents to attack the preserved fruits.

And judging from the strength of both sides, the Eighth Route Army did not send a marine regiment to major cities to carry out beheading missions. He, Okamura Neiji, was grateful to God.

Nowadays, there is actually a commander in Datong who is at least a division-level commander. How can the two old devils Nishihara Issaku and Yano Otonzaburo not be excited?

As long as they can bring back a body, the losses in the past few days are nothing compared to the gains in the future, and there is even the possibility of their military ranks rising to a higher level.

 “I saw it! How could I not read such an important telegram?”

“Now I just want to personally lead my troops into Datong and get my loot as soon as possible. If I let the other party run away, I will definitely regret it for the rest of my life.”

“I really didn’t expect that we would get unexpected gains from this battle.”

Nishihara Issei's words made the other two Japanese lieutenant generals nod their heads.

Judging from the excited expressions on the faces of the three of them, it seemed that they had already convinced the senior commander of the Eighth Route Army. After all, the current situation is that 70,000 regular troops are attacking a county, so I have the advantage.

“By the way, who do you think is the senior commander in Datong City? Liu? Or Nie?”

"I prefer the latter. That man is the soul of the Eighth Route Army's Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region. If we kill him, our North China Front Army will lose a major enemy."

 In the understanding of the Japanese, the Eighth Route Army has only three organized division-level troops. Judging from the current geographical location, the 120th Division entrenched in the northwest of Shanxi Province can be eliminated first.

 So, that is the 129th Division and the 115th Division.

Among them, only the division commander of the former remained in the province, while the division commander of the latter had gone north to recuperate a few years ago.

However, regardless of whether they are Liu or Nie, as long as they can be caught, it will be a great achievement. If the current strength of the North China Front was not too tight, Okamura Neiji even wanted to deploy two more divisions to fight Datong.

 After reaching an agreement, the three Japanese soldiers gave orders to their troops:

“Twenty-sixth Division! The entire army attacks Qingyuan North Gate in the west! We must break through the Eighth Route Army defenders’ defense line today! I require the troops to enter Datong tomorrow morning!”

"The cavalry group, with the 71st Chariot Regiment as the vanguard, attack Heyang North Gate with all its strength! Don't worry about the number of casualties! The time has come to be loyal to His Majesty Tian Locust!"

“The 110th Division, our goal is Wuding Ximen! Show the Eighth Route Army the strength of the strongest B Division!”

Although the three old devils are very excited now, they have not completely lost their minds.

The reason why they did not choose the main gate with three walls as the offensive defense line is because Datong has urns on all four walls. Even if their respective troops can successfully break through the wall, they will not be able to achieve substantial gains in a short period of time.

The battlefield width is even narrower, and the Wengcheng is simply a death pit for the infantry.

"Hi!"

  ·······

A position ten kilometers away from Datong, the underground command post of the Fourth Division of the First Army of the Puppet Mongolian Army.

 After two days and one night of attack, the morale within the Japanese Army had dropped to the bottom. The surviving commanders were crying and showing fear.

“Brother, think of a solution quickly! We have already lost 2,700 brothers!”

“If we continue to rush down with the Japs, I’m afraid our First Army will become a thing of the past! Contact the Army Commander quickly to see if he can have some connections and try to rescue us!”

 The words of the deputy division commander of the puppet army represent the aspirations of all traitors.

The name of the Fourth Division of the First Army is very grand, but its actual size is only a little more than a regiment, with a total strength of about 4,000 people.

 This is the result of Li Shouxin forcibly transferring some soldiers from the other three divisions before the expedition, otherwise the number would be even smaller.

Nearly 70% of them are dead now. With the fighting qualities and will of the two Japs, how can the troops still have morale?

Hearing what his subordinate said, Guiguiting managed a smile.

At this time, the traitor's face was pale, his eyes were bloodshot, and his body would tremble involuntarily from time to time. It looked like he had eaten a lot of lollipops.

“What can I do! We don’t have a radio, how can we contact the military commander?”

“The only way to survive now is to join hands with the Japanese army and rush into Datong County. Only by completing the mission can the brothers have the possibility of survival.”

 “We have to make a contribution! Otherwise we have to participate in subsequent battles!”

Hearing this, everyone fell silent.

 Recalling the ferocious and intensive firepower of the defenders at the main position, the bodies of the two Japanese soldiers were shaking even more.

beat? how to spell?

Compared with the Eighth Route Army, the Seven and a half Thirty-fifth Army is like a novice village.

 In fact, compared with the situation of the Second Army, the situation of the Fourth Division is much better.

After all, the original plan of the 26th Division was to send them to blow up the city wall, so most of the time their division launched attacks from the flanks, avoiding the most ferocious firepower points as much as possible.

Unlike the Second Army, the five divisions were all used by the Japanese as consumables to block bullets, not even cannon fodder.

While Gui Guiting and others were talking, the Japs chief of staff from a few days ago came to the command post again.

Looking at a group of chicken-like Imperial Army soldiers, Kawasaki Sadahisa showed a cruel and heart-rending smile.

 “Everyone, it’s time to hit the road!”

“The general offensive will officially begin in half an hour. After the bombardment is over, all your divisions must rush forward.” (End of this chapter)