Check in from the bright sword

Coupled with the relatively large number of garrison troops in the county seat, the number of troops actually allocated to the more than 500 outlying strongholds is only more than 5000, with an average of 10 troops per stronghold.

Although in addition to the Japanese army, there are also puppet troops.

Moreover, the number of puppet troops is generally more than five times that of the Japanese army.

But even so, facing the Eighth Route Army with well-trained and improved equipment, such a small defensive force is really a bit too shabby.

In the past, the Eighth Route Army lacked heavy weapons to attack fortified areas, and the Japanese and puppet troops could still defend with artillery towers.

But now the Eighth Route Army has been equipped with a large number of mortars, infantry artillery, mountain artillery and even field artillery. A stronghold like this with only a small number of troops defending it is really a blood loss point.

The more than 500 strongholds are the more than 69 blood loss points that caused the 500th Division to continue to lose blood.

According to the rate of blood loss in the past week, the 69th Division will run out of fuel in about half a year.

Not to mention that the base camp does not have enough supplementary soldiers at all, even if there are enough supplementary sources, it will not be able to withstand the supplementation according to the original supplementary standard.

Therefore, shrinking the line of defense is the only way!

Ryoichi Yamamoto said: "Division commander, I know that shrinking the defense line is like drinking doves to quench your thirst, but if you don't drink doves, our 69th Division is likely to die of thirst in a short time."

"That is to say, Yinjiu can at least survive temporarily."

"Once the turning point comes, we have a chance to detoxify."

"But if we don't drink doves, we will not be able to survive the day when the turning point comes."

"Okay, Yamamoto-kun, you succeeded in persuading me." Inoue Sadae sighed, and then said, "Then shrink the line of defense. However, we need to study which strongholds to abandon."

"For example, strongholds like Xiji, Niuzhuang and Xiaocaozhuang should never be given up easily."

"Of course." Ryoichi Yamamoto said deeply, "Fortresses like Xiji, Niuzhuang, and Xiaocaozhuang, not only cannot give up, but also supplement the troops withdrawn from other strongholds to strengthen the strength of these strongholds. Defense force!"

"After all, once the situation in the Pacific battlefield reverses and the empire's situation improves, the imperial army will still switch from defensive to offensive in the northwest Shanxi battlefield. At that time, strongholds like Xiji, Niuzhuang, and Xiaocaozhuang will become the imperial army's base. Advance to the base and pose a fatal threat to the Eighth Route Army in Northwest Shanxi!"

"Yoxi." Inoue Sadae nodded happily, and said, "Yamamoto-kun, then your staff will first draw up a detailed plan, and then submit it to me for approval."

"Hai!" Yamamoto Ryoichi paused, and said, "Master, there is one more thing."

Inoue Zhenwei frowned slightly, and said, "Are you trying to talk about recruiting soldiers?"

"Yes." Ryoichi Yamamoto said, "Even if the deployment is adjusted, it will only treat the symptoms but not the root cause. If the security situation in Northwest Shanxi is to be truly consolidated, the headquarters must dispatch supplementary troops in time."

"I see, I will call the headquarters." Inoue Sadae.

……

Almost at the same time, in Taiyuan.

No Yuichiro, the commander of the 1st Army, is hosting a banquet at the headquarters to give money to all officers above the major of the 36th Division.

Because the North China Front Army Command has just issued an order to transfer the 36th Division to the Pacific battlefield and incorporate it into the battle sequence of the 19th Army.

Holding a small wine glass, No Yuichiro was in a bitter mood.

Although the base camp issued a new order, with the independent mixed 4th brigade as the backbone, it was reorganized into three newly formed independent infantry brigades to form a brand new 62nd division.

Therefore, on the surface, the strength of the 1st Army stationed in Shanxi was changed from three divisions plus two independent mixed brigades to three divisions plus one independent mixed brigade, only one brigade was reduced.

But in fact, this is not the case at all, because the combat effectiveness of the newly formed 62nd Division is completely incomparable with the 36th Division that will be transferred away.

Therefore, the reduction of the 1st Army in Shanxi is not a brigade, but a division!

This is even worse for the 1st Army, whose strength is already stretched.

Ye Yuichiro was even worried that after the transfer of the 36th Division, would the newly formed 62nd Division be able to take on the important task of public security in the Lu'an area?

After all, the Lu'an area not only has to face the main force of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army in the southeast of Shanxi, but also the troops of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army in the south of Shanxi. The troops of the 386th Brigade are now divided into two parts. This main regiment in southern Shanxi has also developed, posing a fatal threat to Lu'an.

Chapter 448 Abandoning Lu'an

Because he was in a bad mood, Yeyou only drank two glasses of wine and left in a hurry.

As soon as Noyou Ichiro left, several generals and dozens of adjutant officers of the 36th Division lost interest, and a money banquet quickly came to an abrupt end.

Horimo Kazuma, the chief of staff of the 1st Army who had just taken office, followed Noyuichiro back to the office.

Looking at the map of Shanxi, Ye Yuichiro frowned deeper and deeper. He couldn't think of a plan to rebalance the situation after the transfer of the 36th Division.

Horie Mo said: "Your Excellency, Commander, are you troubled by the adjustment of the defense deployment of the entire Shanxi after the transfer of the 36th Division?"

"Yes." No Yuichiro said, "Does Horimo-kun have any good ideas?"

"No good idea." Horimo shook his head and said again, "I have an immature idea."

"Oh, is that so?" Ye Yuichiro said, "Let's hear it."

Horie Mo said: "Division commander, if we want to adjust the defensive deployment in Shanxi, we might as well discuss each division and brigade on the 1st Army's organizational chart one by one."

"Let's talk about the 37th Division stationed in Yuncheng first."

"This division must not move."

"Because once Yuncheng falls, the imperial army will lose the natural danger of the Yellow River."

"Once the natural barrier of the Yellow River is lost, the imperial army will lose Jinnan and even Jinzhong."

Noyouichiro thought deeply and said: "That's right, the 37th Division really can't move."

Horimo said again: "The 3rd independent mixed brigade stationed in Linfen can't move either."

"There is nothing to say about this." No Yuichiro said, "The independent 3rd Brigade defends the Luliang line of defense and needs to face Yan Xishan's main force of the Jin army. The pressure is extremely high."

Horimo said again: "The 4nd Division, which was expanded from the independent and mixed 62th Brigade, still has the highest priority to ensure the safety of the Zhengtai Railway, so the 62nd Division should be located in Yangquan. "

"So." Ye Yuichiro said with his hand on his forehead, "Lu'an has become an empty city!"

"Lu'an not only has to face the troops of the Taiyue Military Region of the Eighth Route Army in the southeast of Shanxi, but also the main force of the 386 Brigade in the south of Shanxi. I am afraid that they will not be able to afford to enter the defense area of ​​the newly formed 3nd Division."

"We can't divide the 69th Division into two and transfer a brigade to guard Lu'an, right?"

As soon as the words were finished, the phone on the desk rang suddenly, No Yuichiro answered the phone: "Maxi Maxi."

After a while, Noyuichiro hung up the phone again, and then said to Horimo with a wry smile: "Look, just after I finished talking about dividing the 69th Division into two, Inoue-kun called me .”

Horimo smiled and said, "Are you asking for additional soldiers from the headquarters?"

"It's not just replenishment." Ye Yuichiro shook his head and said, "I also want ammunition, but how can I have replenishment soldiers and ammunition for him now? The Front Army Command has not replenished our 1st Army with supplies for almost half a year."