Bright Sword: Construction starts from southeastern Shanxi

Twenty-fifth day.

As the Japanese army's actions in North China gradually became less noticeable, the land of North China, which had been silent for more than a year, began to become lively again.

Changzhi North China Military Region Command.

At this time, the radio station in the command center kept making beeping sounds as the telegraph operator knocked on it.

The military district's staff would take telegrams from the telegraph operator from time to time, and then signal him to send other messages.

On one side, a huge sand table was decorated with the red and blue flags.

It looks like a miniature version of the entire North China terrain.

Next to the sand table, Military Region Commander Zeng Jiwen, Deputy Commanders Huang Hanjia and Wu Lin, Chief of Staff Wang Zhuo, Deputy Chief of Staff Cai Xu, Zhu Guosheng and others were all staring at the situation on the sand table.

This sand table was only recently completed. After the situation in North China was opened up, Zeng Jiwen had the topographic map of North China redrawn.

Then we went on a field trip and finally made this sand table.

At this time, the distribution of the Eighth Route Army and the Japanese troops in the entire North China Military Region was fully displayed on the sand table.

They had already made some preparations before this.

However, when the Japanese army in North China actually began to take action, the situation of the troops being dispatched was intuitively displayed on the sand table, which still made everyone a little nervous.

Looking at the large number of Japanese divisions gathered in Shijiazhuang and Baoding, everyone couldn't help but murmur in their hearts.

At present, the Japanese army in North China has recovered all the losses since its defeat in the last Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain, and has also adjusted its garrisons in various places.

At present, in addition to the First Army's Security Brigade in Taiyuan, the Japanese Army's rebuilt 20th Division and the Independent Mixed 4th Brigade are stationed in Jinzhong.

In the Wutai area to the north is the 109th Division.

The Japanese 37th Division was stationed in Datong, and the 41st Division was stationed in Xinzhou.

Zhangjiakou is home to the rebuilt Independent Mixed 2nd Brigade, while the 26th Division of the Mongolian Army is stationed north of Datong.

In northern Henan, there were the Japanese 8th and 15th Mixed Brigades and the 27th Division.

The 21st Division was in eastern Henan, and the 4th Division was in southern Hebei.

As for other Japanese troops, they were in Shijiazhuang, Baoding and Tianjin.

This time, the Japanese Kwantung Army and the Central China Expeditionary Force reinforced seven Japanese divisions at one time. The Japanese divisions in Central China were in northern Henan at this time.

The Kwantung Army was concentrated near Baoding.

Looking at the distribution of Japanese troops at this time, it is obvious that the Japanese army intended to attack the Shota line from the very beginning.

The concentration of several Japanese divisions in the south was probably intended to prevent the Eighth Route Army troops in Henan from reinforcing them.

Chief of Staff Wang Zhuo frowned as he looked at the Japanese troop distribution on the sand table.

"Something's wrong with the Japanese army this time~

Why do I feel like the Japanese are afraid that we will run away and want to fight us to the death? "

After Wang Zhuo finished speaking, he looked at Zeng Jiwen who was standing beside him.

Zeng Jiwen leaned over, supported on the edge of the sand table, looking at the Japanese troops in Baoding and Shijiazhuang, wondering what was going on in his mind.

After a while, he spoke.

"I guess the Japanese army wants to open up the Zhengtai Line and cut off our connection with the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region."

After saying that, he picked up a baton beside him, pointed at the Zhengtai Railway and spoke to everyone.

“They already had a lot of troops in Henan, and now they have joined two divisions in central China, along the Xinxiang, Jiaozuo, and Qinyang areas.

Cut off our connection with the Central Plains Military Region."

"Now, except for the southwestern part of Shanxi, which is connected to the rear, all other directions are cut off.

I guess the Japanese army is also sure that we will not evacuate to the rear."

As Zeng Jiwen finished speaking, everyone in the command center frowned and looked in the direction Zeng Jiwen pointed.

At this time, Huang Hanjia on the side also spoke.

"I came from Hebei Province. The two heavy artillery brigades of the North China Front Army have also returned to Peking and are heading south.

The number of aircraft at Shijiazhuang Airport exceeds three hundred.

This does not include the more than 100 aircraft at Taiyuan Airport.