my scientific age

Chapter 447 Expanding the Ambush!

The victory was remarkable, as it resulted in the annihilation of over 300 Japanese soldiers at the cost of 64 casualties.

Upon hearing the news, all the division commanders relaxed and acknowledged the performance of the 769th Regiment. The long-planned raid behind enemy lines had finally succeeded.

With the destruction of Yangmingbao Airport, the defensive pressure on the Xinkou direction will be greatly reduced. In addition, with the loss of the logistical supply line and a large amount of military supplies, the 5th Division will not have any follow-up forces to continue attacking the Xinkou defense line for the next month.

"I didn't expect Chen Lian to fight so well. He telegraphed the 769th Regiment that the captured supplies, weapons and ammunition could be distributed by them. He also instructed them to immediately arrange for people to send this Japanese pilot team to headquarters. This could very well be the opportunity for us to establish an air force."

Upon receiving the battle report, Division Commander Liu Mingzhao smiled. Looking at the sand table in front of him, he already had a plan in mind and immediately made new arrangements: "In addition, I plan to have the 769th Regiment advance eastward to the Laiyuan mountain area to await orders. What do you all think?"

Laiyuan mountainous area?

Upon hearing Liu Mingzhao's words, all the division commanders immediately looked at the map.

"Laiyuan mountain area, could it be... the Pinghan Railway?" The political commissar glanced at Laiyuan, thought for a moment, and gave his judgment.

Laiyuan is adjacent to the Pinghan Railway, a major artery connecting North and South China. The 20th Division and the Japanese troops in Shimen rely entirely on the Pinghan Railway for logistical support. Cutting off the Japanese army's logistical support could significantly slow down their offensive.

Liu Mingzhao said seriously: "Yes, the Pinghan Railway, but it's not simply about cutting off the Japanese army's logistics supply."

"What do you mean?" the political commissar asked, somewhat puzzled.

"As you can see, the situation in the Battle of Taiyuan has changed dramatically once again. The 5th Division has lost its supply and bomber units, and the pressure on the Xinkou direction has been greatly reduced. If the Japanese want to continue to advance the front line, they can only focus on Niangziguan. However, the 20th Division just suffered a defeat at Niangziguan and is now withdrawing its forces. It dares not advance because it is worried about the threat of our heavy artillery. In addition, the garrison at Niangziguan has reached 100,000 troops. The Kawagishi Division alone is not capable of breaking through the Niangziguan defense line."

Liu Mingzhao picked up the baton with his right hand and pointed to the enemy and friendly situation map of the entire Taiyuan Campaign: "If I were Terauchi Hisaichi, and wanted to continue to advance the Shanxi front, I would have to reinforce the Niangziguan area with heavy troops. I would not only allocate heavy artillery units to the Kawagishi Division to counter our heavy artillery, but also reinforce at least one detachment to make up for the lack of troops."

A detachment was a temporary organization in the Japanese army for carrying out campaign-level combat missions. It was formed to complete specific combat tasks, similar to a European battle group. It usually consisted of a brigade plus multiple branches of service, with a strength of about 10,000 men. Its overall combat strength was between that of a regular brigade and a regular division, and it was quite flexible and adaptable.

Upon hearing the division commander's analysis, all the division leaders nodded in agreement.

"The mobility of the Japanese field heavy artillery units is limited. They mainly use 150mm heavy artillery and 105mm heavy artillery. They will inevitably follow the 20th Division in frontal operations to cooperate with the infantry. They cannot take side roads. Therefore, the task of flanking and attacking Niangziguan will fall on this detachment-level Japanese reinforcement."

Leaving the Taiyuan Battle situation map on the wall, the division commander turned to the Niangziguan sand table, held the command baton and pointed it at Qigeng Village, and put forward a new battle plan: "No matter who the Japanese reinforcements are, the Nanjiangping line is their only way through. We will still use Qigeng Village as the base and carry out an expanded ambush here."

"Expand the ambush warfare?" the chief of staff mused.

“Yes, expand the operation. This ambush is mainly aimed at killing Japanese reinforcements. Qigeng Village is located in a valley, and at its narrowest point, only one car can pass through. This is a natural ambush point. At the start of the battle, the 769th Regiment, located in the Laiyuan mountain area, will immediately cut off the Pinghan Railway and slow down the Japanese reinforcements from the Beiping direction. The 385th Brigade will outflank the Japanese reinforcements to cut off their retreat. The 386th Brigade will be responsible for the frontal engagement, and the headquarters artillery regiment and the division artillery battalion will provide artillery suppression to severely damage the Japanese reinforcements,” Liu Mingzhao nodded and said.

"What if the Japanese reinforcements don't go through the Nan'aiping line, but instead enter the main battlefield?" the political commissar asked, offering his opinion.

"That would be even better. Have the headquarters artillery regiment and the 770th Regiment move to the left flank of the 20th Division and lie in wait. When the Japanese heavy artillery units open fire and expose themselves or actively search for them, we will target the Japanese heavy artillery units and then withdraw." The chief of staff laughed and said, "If we beat the Japanese until they can't take it anymore, they will naturally come to the Nanjingping line."

If you don't take the Nanjiangping line, then I'll take the initiative and attack your heavy artillery units.

If you take the Nanjiangping line, then I will launch a surprise attack and ambush you, destroying your manpower.

Anyway, the initiative on the battlefield was in the hands of the 129th Division, so they could fight however they wanted.

“Great, I support this new plan.”

Upon hearing this, the political commissar immediately nodded in approval, agreeing with the new operational plan.

"Then it's settled. In short, it depends on the situation on the battlefield. If the Japanese reinforcements passing through the Nanjiangping line are a regiment, then annihilate them. If the force is a detachment, then focus on killing the enemy's manpower. If the reinforcements reach the level of a division, then adopt harassment and guerrilla tactics."

Division Commander Liu Mingzhao said solemnly, "Chief of Staff, you draft a new battle plan and submit it to headquarters. Once approved by headquarters, immediately distribute it to the 385th and 386th Brigades. At the same time, report the news of the Yangmingbao victory. The old commander has been waiting all night."

"I'll go right away." The chief of staff nodded and turned to leave.

After the victory at Yangmingbao Airport and the new operational plan were reported, headquarters soon replied with instructions to approve them. News of the victory at Yangmingbao Airport was then reported to Dayaodong. Shortly afterward, a telegram in plain text spread from northern Shaanxi to the rest of the country.

……

The Taiyuan Pacification Headquarters building has two underground floors, which served as the headquarters of the Second War Zone. Due to frequent bombing raids on Taiyuan by Japanese aircraft, the headquarters had to be moved from the ground to the underground to improve security.

Yan Xishan, the supreme commander of the Second War Zone and the supreme ruler of Shanxi, was working in his office, constantly processing various important military documents, including the troop movements, requests for instructions, supply of weapons and ammunition, and logistics transportation at the Xinkou front. As the commander-in-chief of the Battle of Taiyuan, Yan Xishan had not slept for a day and a night.

Recently, the situation at the Xinkou front has become extremely tense and severe. The 5th Division, which suffered a major setback at Pingxingguan, has demonstrated extremely strong combat capabilities. The frontline troops have suffered heavy casualties, continuously lost positions, and are under great pressure.

Fortunately, good news came from the Niangziguan defense line: Huang Shaohong and the 129th Division worked together to repel the attack of the 20th Division and stabilize the Niangziguan defense line.

Yan Xishan picked up a document containing an application for replenishing the Ninth Army with manpower and weapons. Upon seeing the Ninth Army's designation, Hao Mengling's image immediately came to mind.

"This war is a war for the survival of the nation; there can only be sacrifice. If we retreat again to the banks of the Yellow River, there will be no soldiers left, and no officers. This is what is meant by 'if I die, the country lives; if I live, the country dies.'"

"As a native of Hebei, you died for my Shanxi. Brother Menglin, thank you very much."

Recalling Hao Mengling's face, Yan Xishan sighed and shook his head, no longer caring about the other party's status as a guest soldier, and picked up his pen to sign his name in the blank space at the end of the application document.

On October 16, during the battle at the Nanhuaihua position on the Xinkou front, Lieutenant General Hao Mengling, commander of the Ninth Army, was unfortunately shot and killed while commanding the battle. He died a heroic death and was buried in Shanxi Province in Hebei Province. Other generals who died on the same day included Major General Liu Jiaqi, commander of the 54th Division, and Major General Zheng Tingzhen, commander of the Independent 5th Brigade.

Without the valiant fighting of the Ninth Army and their efforts to buy time by directly confronting the Fifth Division, the Xinkou front might have already fallen.

"Knock knock!" There was a knock on the office door.

"Come in." Yan Xishan picked up another document and read it as he responded.

"Commander, this is a nationwide telegram from Yancheng. Just an hour ago, the 769th Regiment of the Eighth Route Army destroyed Yangmingbao Airport and Yanmenguan Railway Station, destroying a total of 24 Japanese bombers." The chief of staff entered the office and reported the situation to Yan Xishan.

"What?!" Yan Xishan's face immediately showed shock.