Bright Sword: Start with Ding Blast Bridge, Homemade Sweet Potato Cake

The North China Expeditionary Force had a total of more than 100,000 people, and it was already stretched to the limit to defend such a large territory.

But the Army Headquarters was also under great pressure. The Pacific War was tense, so two security divisions were organized from the country and given to Okamura, and four elite divisions were drawn from Okamura to be sent out to fight.

During the period from the end of 42 to the middle of 43, 5 men must be drawn from the North China Expeditionary Army to participate in the overseas war.

This is a death order, and Okamura must carry it out.

The good news is that the number of puppet troops is increasing. Many anti-Japanese forces, unable to bear the hardship, chose to join the devils.

In addition, Shancheng's roundabout strategy of saving the country allowed some troops to temporarily compromise when they could no longer hold on.

The bad news is that these puppet troops are not reliable at all.

The puppet army in the North China battlefield has expanded from more than 100,000 to more than 300,000. With the Japanese army taking the lead, they can barely confront the Eighth Route Army base.

Once 5 elite troops are withdrawn, the entire security zone will be like a patchwork with weak points everywhere.

On the other hand, on the Eighth Route Army side, with the tempering of war, a group of people who knew nothing about fighting all became veterans.

Chinese soldiers have strong learning abilities and their vitality is just like weeds. They can survive with a little sunlight.

Once they have recovered their strength, they can break even solid rocks.

For example, Ding Wei's Jinbei Column, after fighting two large-scale battles, rested the wounded in the rear while also being responsible for the training of new recruits.

They used their experience to guide the new recruits on how to shoot and how to kill the enemy.

The column became famous and many young people came to join the army.

In fact, it is best to obtain soldiers from the guerrillas. These people have combat experience and can be incorporated into the main force with a little training.

New recruits need a long period of training.

"Commander, there is a message from the Northern Army Headquarters, arranging for the commander of the reconnaissance company to come here."

Northern Army?

Ding Wei didn't react at first, but then he realized that it was the Suiyuan Army, seven and a half divisions.

"please come in."

Cui Daming, the reconnaissance company commander of the Suiyuan Army, was the first to salute Ding Wei.

He then took out a handwritten letter from the commander-in-chief of the Northern Army, first congratulating the Shanxi-Northern Column on its two great victories, which had caused serious casualties to the First Army and the troops stationed in Mongolia and dealt a heavy blow to the arrogance of the Japanese invaders.

Those old devils who were invincible and victorious in every battle are gone forever.

Invite Ding Wei's column to attack from the southwest to support the battles in Baotou and Guisui.

Two Japanese cavalry regiments and an army of puppet troops are stationed here. If we can attack from the side and rear, and launch a joint attack from two directions, we will definitely be able to severely damage the Japanese mobile forces.

Ding Wei rolled his eyes and said, "Stop talking nonsense."

He is now resting his troops, and after the rest is completed, he should focus on Jining, Wucheng, and even Chifeng and Rehe.

To pave the way for entering the Northeast.

They occupied Rehe and Chahar as their rear base and continued to send troops towards the Greater Khingan Range to compete with the Kwantung Army for territory.

If we help Mr. Fu to open up Guisui, doesn't that mean we have to be on guard against his Suiyuan Army?

The combat effectiveness of the Seven and a Half Route Army cannot be ignored. The Suiyuan Army under his command should be regarded as the pinnacle of the old Kuomintang army.

It is better to let him fight hard with the Japanese and puppet troops, and not hinder Ding Wei from taking the important city inside the Great Wall.

They just made up an excuse, citing casualties in the troops and shortage of ordnance.

If you can provide a batch of arms and weapons, or provide ammunition, we can consider cooperating in supporting the troops.

The Cavalry Regiment and the 4th Regiment can cooperate to carry out guerrilla warfare in the flank and rear, attack the enemy's logistics line along the Pingsui Railway, and make a small fortune.

The two sides then exchanged secret codes and established communication contact.

After sending the other party away, Ding Wei began to mobilize troops.

After a short rest, the main force of the Jinbei Column still had the ability to continue fighting. The main force of the first battalion was arranged to break into Fengzhen and Xinrong areas, while the other main forces cut off the connection between the 26th Division and the Second Independent Mixed Brigade.

Arrange three battalions to advance into the Yunzhou area.

The 6th Regiment was transferred to Huairen to cooperate with Zhang Dabiao's detachment in combat.

The main force approached the Shilihe front and ordered all units to collect the captured machine guns, or find ways to borrow, buy or purchase from the surrounding friendly forces, in order to train a machine gun company in the shortest possible time.

Without air defense means, we would be too passive and would need to be supported by enemy aircraft at all times.

In order to avoid casualties, they chose to advance at night and continue to put pressure on the defenders of Shilihe.

The First Division of the Jin-Cha-Ji Army began to exert its strength, counterattacking the Japanese and puppet troops in Yuanyuan and Lingqiu areas, constantly raiding artillery towers and engaging the main force of the Japanese army.

Part of the HD troops participated in the attack on the artillery tower.

It is necessary to delay the strength of the Japanese Second Brigade, continuously reduce it, and then eat up most of it.

Small-scale fighting continued.

Maintain the scale of a turret and a stronghold.

Use the means of cannibalization to reduce the number of Japanese and puppet troops.

Unexpectedly, the commander-in-chief of the Northern Army agreed to Ding Wei's request. He seemed to know that the Shanxi-North Column lacked anti-aircraft firepower and promised to provide 20 Sulutong ST-5 20mm machine guns.

Before the Anti-Japanese War, the National Army purchased 200 guns. In the early days of the war and during the Yanbei campaign, several guns were used to support the Eighth Route Army.

Due to lack of shells, these guns were transferred to storage.

Mr. Fu provided the shells and 20 cannons, and Ding Wei was very grateful.

To show sincerity, the cavalry regiment also advanced into the southwest and launched guerrilla warfare along the Pingsui Railway.

Entering September, the scale of the battle remained at the battalion and company level, with guerrilla attacks being launched continuously with a knife cutting flesh.

The Pingsui Railway Line was an important logistical transportation line for the Japanese. It was harassed by the cavalry regiment, and they had to dispatch cavalry battalions, puppet Mongolian cavalry, and armored vehicles to cooperate in patrols.

The key is that the combat effectiveness of the pseudo-Mongolian cavalry was not good, and they were shattered when they came into contact with Sun Desheng's cavalry regiment.

More than 300 heads were sacrificed, and Sun Desheng also seized more than 200 excellent war horses.

The 12th Independent Regiment stationed in Fengzhen and Jining also dispatched troops to patrol along the railway line and fight with Ding Wei's mobile forces.

They met and fought almost every day, with casualties remaining at dozens every day.

The guerrilla warfare of the Eighth Route Army seriously affected logistics and transportation.

The Suiyuan Army continued to put pressure on Baotou and counterattacked the Japanese cavalry, and has achieved considerable results, trapping the Japanese troops in the city and shrinking their space for movement.

The cavalry must stay in the city. If this continues, it is only a matter of time before they are eaten.

The focus of the battle seemed to shift from Datong to Baotou.

Naosaburo Okabe was extremely worried and repeatedly submitted requests to Okamura, requesting heavy firepower support and reinforcements.

Even a battalion or an infantry company will do.

Even a few cannons would be fine.

At least give some response and don't let him bear the pressure alone.

The Shanxi-Northern Column is already overwhelmed, and if the Suiyuan Army presses forward, they will lose control of the Guisui area.

This is a huge disadvantage for the occupied areas.

The two things he wanted were exactly what General Okamura lacked the most, so he could only arrange four puppet legions to come and help in the battle.

"Puppet army, what can those guys do? Are they coming to eat the food and grass I stored?"

Okabe Naosaburo was so angry that he slammed the table and seriously doubted Okamura Yasuji's actual ability. He wondered whether he could take over the important position of the North China Expeditionary Army. If not, he should replace him.