Devil's Army

The Tangshan Campaign began to be prepared on the same day that the Qinhuangdao Campaign began. Because Tangshan was relatively close to Beijing and Tianjin, it would certainly be counterattacked by heavy Japanese troops, so the early preparations took a long time.

Gray Wolf believed that when the Battle of Tangshan started, the 11th Mixed Brigade of the Japanese Garrison Army in Beijing and Tianjin, the 27th Division of the Japanese Army and the 110th Division of the Japanese Army would definitely come to reinforce. The 15th Independent Mixed Division and the 9th Independent Mixed Division of the Japanese Army outside Beijing would also come to reinforce.

There were many Japanese troops around Tangshan, which was one of the reasons why the First Anti-Japanese Army did not take action against nearby Tangshan for a long time after occupying the Xiaoguanzhuang Airport.

Wu Lang believed that after the Battle of Wuhan, the 27th Division of the Japanese Army was transferred to Hebei Province to participate in the encirclement and suppression of the Eighth Route Army in Hebei Province. Some of its main forces would be tied down by the Eighth Route Army, but the number of troops transferred to participate in the Battle of Tangshan would not exceed .

The 9th and 15th Japanese Independent Mixed Brigade participated in the Battle of Qinhuangdao and fled to Chengde after their defeat. There should be more than troops that can participate in the Battle of Tangshan.

Together with the puppet North China Security Army stationed in Tangshan, the Japanese 110th Division, and the 11th Mixed Brigade of the Japanese Garrison Army in Peking and Tianjin, the number of Japanese and puppet troops participating in the Battle of Tangshan may have reached more than 4.

The Second Front Army of the First Anti-Japanese Army had a force of more than 10,000 people, including the Jidong Independent Brigade. However, they were scattered throughout the Tangshan base area, so there were not many troops available. Moreover, the Jidong Independent Brigade had just been established and its combat effectiveness was too weak.

Fortunately, the First Army's Air Force had local air superiority in this airspace, which was able to weaken the Japanese army's military advantage.

As soon as Brigade Commander Gao heard that Tangshan was about to be attacked, he immediately asked Gray Wolf to fight. Their Jidong Anti-Japanese Allied Forces had suffered too many casualties this time. But Gray Wolf refused. Now their First Army had trained for less than a month and was basically not allowed to go to the battlefield. Going to the battlefield was like sending themselves to death.

Gray Wolf convened a combat meeting for officers at the brigade level and above to deploy the upcoming Battle of Tangshan.

The meeting decided that the 364th Brigade, a veteran main force brigade, would be responsible for retaking Tangshan. The rd Brigade, a veteran main force brigade, and the th Brigade of the Sichuan Army would be responsible for blocking the Japanese reinforcements from Gubeikou and Jiangjunshan. The th Brigade would be deployed in the direction of Tianjin and Beijing, ready to block Beijing at any time.

The 12th Brigade exchanged guard with the 5th Brigade, taking over the 5th Brigade's defense of the Huangyaguan Great Wall pass, Panshan position, Fengrun County, Bailonggang Bridge, and Sanchakou, to prevent the Japanese troops in Peking and Tianjin from taking the opportunity to attack the Tangshan base.

Wu Lang calculated that the number of troops participating in the Battle of Tangshan was around 300,000. Although there was air force support, the attacking force was slightly insufficient.

At this time, Gao, the commander of the Jidong Independent Brigade, applied for combat again, but Gray Wolf rejected his request again.

"Commander Tan, the 364th Brigade of the Sichuan Army with more than 4000 soldiers can all join the battle. Why can't our Jidong Independent Brigade with more than 9000 soldiers join the battle?"

"You lack training and your combat effectiveness is not good enough."

"After more than a week of training, our combat effectiveness has been greatly improved. There should be no problem."

"What do you mean there shouldn't be any problem? With your fighting power, you'll just be sending yourself to death on the battlefield." Gray Wolf was a little angry, and he continued:

"In the defense of the Tangshan base last year, the 364th Brigade of the Sichuan Army held off the attack of part of the Japanese Fifth Division for two full days with more than 2000 troops. Your Jidong Anti-Japanese Allied Forces, with more than 9000 troops, were chased and beaten by the devils. In less than three days, your number was reduced from more than to more than . If these of you were well trained and directly participated in the Battle of Tangshan, would I still need to send other troops?"

Brigade Commander Gao did not expect that the 364th Brigade of the Sichuan Army, the weakest unit among the Second Front Army of the First Anti-Japanese Army, could hold off the two-day attack of the Japanese Fifth Division with only 2000 troops.

Brigade Commander Wang of the 364th Brigade puffed out his chest and looked at Brigade Commander Gao.

Although their brigade now only has more than 4000 people, he is already very satisfied, because this is twice as many as when they first came to join the First Anti-Japanese Army.

Brigade Commander Gao asked Gray Wolf in a low voice:

"Commander Tan, can I organize the troop commanders to observe the Battle of Tangshan? We want to learn some experience."

"Yes, you can organize two observation teams. One team will follow the Fifth Brigade, led by Li Junnan, to attack the city, and the other team will follow the Third Brigade, led by Li Guozhu, or the 364th Brigade, led by Wang, to fight the reinforcements. But you cannot participate in the battle without my approval."

"Yes!" Brigade Commander Gao saluted Gray Wolf and sat down. Although they could not participate in the Battle of Tangshan this time, at least they would not have to sit on the bench and could go to the front line to observe and learn some experience.

"All troops go back and prepare. The 5th Brigade will launch an attack on Tangshan at 8 o'clock the day after tomorrow morning!"

"Yes!" Everyone stood up and answered in unison.