Anti-Japanese War: Li Yunlong dared to attack Taiyuan

Thirty kilometers outside Chita, the 4th Division is stationed.

Division Commander Kenzo Kitano was leisurely drinking coffee at this time.

Several of his regiment commanders were also chatting in the command center.

As the Japanese occupied larger and larger areas of Siberia, they began to transfer large numbers of troops to Siberia, and the 4th Division's base was also transferred from Qiqihar to the Chita front.

However, compared to other troops who were trying to find ways to launch attacks on the Soviet positions every day, the 4th Division also launched attacks every day, but it would advance steadily after the artillery had knocked down the Soviet bunkers and defensive positions.

There were no fierce battles. The 4th Division advanced steadily step by step and took more than ten days to advance about five kilometers, or 500 meters a day.

Of these five kilometers, three kilometers were lost because the flank of the Russian position was captured by the Japanese troops. The Russian defenders were afraid of being surrounded by the Japanese troops, so they retreated and gave up their positions.

"Report, His Excellency the Division Commander, the Russian bear has retreated!"

Hearing the signalman's words, Kitano Kenzo put down his coffee and said, "Order the troops to prepare to advance!"

"Hayi!"

"Report, a telegram from headquarters, asking us to capture Yablonov Mountain tomorrow, otherwise, otherwise..."

Hearing this order, Kitano Kenzo frowned. "Yablonov Mountain? Has the commander gone mad? That's the core area where the Russians are defending Chita. Do they want us to die there?"

Yablonov Hill is located in the northeast of Chita. It is the highest point around Chita. Occupying Yablonov Hill overlooks the entire Chita. It is also the last line of defense of Chita.

Once beyond Yablonov Mountain, a vast plain stretches from Chita to Lake Alakhley. The entire area is completely defenseless. A detailed topographic map of the Chita area. The Russians recognized the importance of this area, so when Gastilovich formulated his defense plan, he deployed two infantry divisions on the mountain, equipped with a large number of heavy artillery, to prevent the enemy from capturing this position.

The Japanese still haven't gained air superiority around Chita, and their heavy artillery has a shortcoming in range, making them unable to fight against the Soviet Union's heavy artillery. In addition, the Soviet artillery on the mountain is attacking from high altitude and low altitude, so forcing an attack is no different from committing suicide.

"Otherwise what?"

At this time, Zhong Ming Daxiang asked.

"Otherwise, I will be punished by military law!"

As soon as these words came out, the officers of the 4th Division looked at each other, knowing that the headquarters was serious this time. In fact, the 4th Division did not want to fight this kind of offensive, after all, the casualties were too heavy.

"Hey, it looks like we need to confront the Russian bear head-on. Everyone, get ready!"

The headquarters has issued a military order. If there is further delay, there will definitely be punishment. The 4th Division has no choice but to launch a strong attack.

"Everyone, be prepared for casualties. Tomorrow will be a very difficult day!"

At this moment, a communications soldier walked up to Kota Kotera and whispered a few words.

"Really?"

Kota Kodera's voice was so loud that it immediately attracted everyone's attention.

"Kodera-kun, any good news?"

Kotaro Kotaro nodded and said, "Hayi, Your Excellency the Division Commander, General Li Yunlong just sent a telegram saying that he has a map of the Maoxiong troops' defense deployment in Chita, which he can sell to us."

As soon as this statement came out, all the Japanese officers of the Fourth Division became excited. No one would doubt that this was fake news. After all, the entire Fourth Division had cooperated with Li Yunlong. The credit for capturing Chita some time ago was sold to them by Li Yunlong, and he also gave them a lot of spoils.

It was also because of this achievement that the 4th Division was commended by the headquarters, and Nakamiya Daxiang was successfully promoted from colonel to major general, becoming the commander of the 7th Brigade under the 4th Division.

Kotaro Kodera was also transferred from the Wakayama Regiment to the 8th Regiment as its commander. Although it was only a lateral transfer, the Wakayama Regiment was a newly formed wing, while the 8th Regiment was the main wing. At the same time, Kotaro Kodera's rank was promoted from Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel.

In addition, the other officers of the 4th Division were also commended, especially Kitano Kenzo, who was promoted from major general to lieutenant general, which was a promotion Kitano had been looking forward to for several years.

"Tell General Li Yunlong quickly that we are willing to purchase Chita's defense map!"

Kitano Kenzo spoke without any hesitation, saying that they really needed Chita's defense map now.

"Hayi, I'll contact them right away!"

Kotaro Kotera quickly contacted Li Yunlong. After the two sides agreed on the price, several trucks from the 4th Division drove out of the base and began to move along the road towards the Unur Fortress.

In addition to these weapons and ammunition, this exchange also included the structural diagram of Shengshan Fortress in Sunwu County.

After receiving the deployment map, the 4th Division began to move overnight, preparing to launch an attack from the weakest point of the Soviet Union's defense in Chita.

On the other side, Outer Mongolia.

"Respected Mr. Agula the Ninth, our aid has been delivered as you requested. When will you launch your attack on the Russian bear?"

The Japanese sent liaison officers to the Outer Mongolian army, whose main role was to urge Lao Han's army to launch an attack on the Russians. However, Lao Han, under the instruction of Li Yunlong, kept delaying the attack on the Russians, saying that the troops needed to reorganize and rest.

"Today, today!"

Agula, who had just received Li Yunlong's telegram, replied to the Japanese liaison officer with a smile.

"Respected King Agula IX, the Empire is sincere in its willingness to cooperate with your army..."

The Japanese liaison officer was halfway through his sentence when he suspected there was something wrong with his ears. He then asked again, "Respected King Agula IX, do you mean that we can send troops today?"

"Yes, we can send troops today, General Han. The attack on the Russian bear will be fully under your charge!"

"Yes!"

Old Han responded with a smile, then looked at the Japanese liaison officer Kensuke Tsushi: "Lieutenant Colonel Tsushi, aren't you going with us?"

"Of course I will follow your army!"

"Then leave quickly!"

After Lao Han finished speaking, he took the lead in leaving the palace. This palace was built by the Eighth King, who was the emperor. After he was ousted, Choibalsan used it as his own palace. After Lao Han led his troops to take it down, it became the palace of the Ninth King Agula.

"Ah, okay, right away. Respected King Agula IX, I'll take my leave now!"

After Kensuke Tsushi finished speaking, he bowed to Agula and trotted out the door. He ran until he was out of breath before he finally caught up with Lao Han.

At this time, in the city of Ulaanbaatar, more than 10,000 cavalrymen had completed their assembly. This was the main force of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaodong and Chahar brought by Lao Han. There were also tens of thousands of Outer Mongolian troops who were slowly gathering.

In the war, these Outer Mongolians with little combat effectiveness were cannon fodder, consuming the Soviet Union's ammunition and searching for Soviet artillery positions, while the main force waited behind for the opportunity to deliver a fatal blow.

Chapter 464: The Japanese Capture Chita

At dawn the next day, northwest of Chita.

The 4th Division, which had obtained the Chita defense deployment, withdrew from its position overnight. After a night of forced march, it chose to circle outside the battlefield and arrived at the northwest of Chita.

The Russians deployed more than 100,000 troops on the Chita front, and there were no obvious defensive weaknesses on the entire Chita front.

However, among these more than 100,000 troops, some are newly recruited soldiers, such as the 72nd Infantry Division under the 19th Army of the Siberian Military District in the northwest.

This infantry division was hastily recruited by the Soviet Union after the Far East was captured. It was formed no more than three months ago and was transferred to the front line before even the most basic recruit training was completed.

The northwest of Chita where they were defending was not the focus of the Japanese attack, and this line of defense was not a key line of defense. There was an armored division of the Russians behind them that could provide support at any time, so the Russian command stationed this new recruit division here.

According to the Russians' plan, if this position encountered a low-intensity attack from the Japanese, these new recruits could quickly experience the baptism of war and become veterans.

In fact, on the outer positions of Chita, most of the positions of the Russian Bear are occupied by new recruits, and the elite troops are in the rear. The purpose is to allow these new recruits to grow quickly.

The 300,000 troops who surrendered or were annihilated by the Japanese in the Far East were the elite of the Soviet Union's Siberian region. The remaining troops, including the 17th Army, were not very effective. Gastilovich was able to hold on to Chita primarily because the Japanese were inferior to the Soviets in heavy weaponry, and because Li Yunlong's troops were constantly harassing the rear.

"Prepare to attack!"

The commander of the 4th Division, Kenzo Kitano, used the morning light to observe the Soviet positions in the distance and gave orders in a low voice.

"Hayi!"

At the rear of the Japanese army column, one Japanese soldier untied the field gun and mountain gun from the tow rope of the car, and began to quickly adjust the muzzle, aiming at the Russian position in the distance.

At this time, on the Russian position, most of the Russian soldiers were still dreaming, and the few patrolling people were looking into the distance.

Ten minutes later, the 4th Division launched an attack on the Soviet 72nd Infantry Division.

The sudden artillery bombardment caught the 72nd Infantry Division off guard. After the artillery fire ended, the 4th Division launched an attack on the Russian positions.

Half an hour later, the 4th Division broke through three positions of the 72nd Division in succession. At this time, the Russians also reacted and quickly mobilized the elite troops in the rear to prepare to fight back the 4th Division's attack.

However, just after the Russians mobilized their troops to retake the position, the 4th Division suddenly changed the direction of attack. Instead of continuing to attack along the original attack route, it turned its guns and launched an attack towards Yablonov Mountain in the east.

This is a loophole in the Soviet Union's defense deployment that the Fourth Division discovered after obtaining the Soviet Union's Chita defense deployment map.

The Russians deployed two divisions on Yablunov Mountain, with troops protecting the flanks, but there were no troops behind Yablunov Mountain. They only needed to break through the 72nd Division's frontline positions to penetrate directly into the rear of the Yablunov Mountain defense forces.

The 4th Division received the task of capturing the Yablonov Hill position tomorrow, but the order did not require them to launch a frontal attack.

Ultimately, the 4th Division chose a circuitous tactic, bypassing Yablonov Hill and attacking from behind the Soviet defensive positions. A diagram of the 4th Division's attack, with red marking the 4th Division's attack direction. Meanwhile, the Soviet troops were still reorganizing and preparing to retake their positions. The 8th Regiment and the 4th Cavalry Regiment of the Japanese 4th Division had already ascended the hill, while the newly formed Wakayama Regiment and the Engineer Regiment had already begun establishing defensive positions at the foot of the hill, buying time for the main force to capture Yablonov Hill.

"Send a telegram to headquarters immediately. Our army has successfully attacked the rear of Yablunov Mountain. Have the frontline troops immediately launch an attack on Yablunov Mountain to provide cover for our offensive!"

Kitano Kenzo was very calm at this time. It was very risky to do this, but compared to a head-on attack and suicide, this roundabout tactic might result in much fewer casualties.

"Hayi!"

Soon, the Japanese troops on the front of Yablonov Mountain also launched a fierce attack on Yablonov Mountain.

That afternoon, Yablonov Hill was captured by the Japanese Fourth Division, and the two Soviet infantry divisions defending Yablonov Hill were completely wiped out. The Japanese occupied the highest point outside Chita City, and the heavy artillery on the top of the hill could bombard Chita City.

At this time, the Soviet Union's Chita defense line became precarious.

But the bad news for the Russian bear doesn't end there.

That night, Kyakhta was attacked, and the Outer Mongolian rebels supported by the Japanese launched an attack on Kyakhta.

Kyakhta is not an important area for the Russians on ordinary days, but now it is related to the rear route and logistics supply line of the Chita defenders.

Although the Trans-Siberian Railway does not pass through Kyakhta, it is less than 30 kilometers away from Kyakhta. Once Kyakhta is captured, the retreat route of the Soviet defenders in Chita will be blocked and their logistics supply lines will be cut off.

In Li Yunlong's command headquarters, Li Yunlong was listening to the battle report and sending a telegram to Stilwell.

The Americans have already approved military aid for Li Yunlong, but the problem now is how to get this aid to Li Yunlong.

Li Yunlong now has two channels for receiving aid. One is that the Americans transport the supplies to Russia via the Arctic Ocean route, and then transport them to Li Yunlong via the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Another way is to take the land route, but it has to pass through the defense zone of the mountain city, and finally be transported thousands of miles to Shanxi Province, and then from Shanxi Province to Li Yunlong's hands.

In fact, there is another way, which is to go through Central Asia, but that route is too roundabout and somewhat impractical.

Compared to the second option, Li Yunlong finally decided to choose the first option. First, the Russians will not fall out with the Americans because of these aids. After all, the Russians still rely on American aid.

Secondly, this route is the most worry-free and convenient. Although many parts of the Trans-Siberian Railway have been bombed, they are only limited to East and West Siberia. Li Yunlong's troops can go to Central Siberia to receive weapons.

Once again, it is also a warning to the Russian Bear that it may turn to the United States at any time, so the treaty signed with it must be implemented as soon as possible.

Stilwell's response to Li Yunlong's request for aid was quite comprehensive. Considering Li Yunlong's need to face the Japanese armored forces, the aid included not only a certain number of tanks but also various anti-tank weapons. Furthermore, there were over 39 P fighter planes, along with some American flight instructors.

Looking at Stilwell and then at Beria, Li Yunlong felt that the defeat of Chita had nothing to do with him. If the reinforcements had been delivered sooner, how could Chita have been defeated so quickly? At least they could have held out for another week or two.

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