Chapter 221 A plan that kills three birds with one stone! "Your Excellency, the First and Second Independent Infantry Battalions have launched an attack on the Eighth Route Army's positions according to the predetermined plan. In addition, the Taiyuan Headquarters sent a telegram stating that Commander Yoshio Shinozuka has agreed to our combat plan, and the 9th and 11th Brigades have slowed down their combat plans to allow the Eighth Route Army enough time to mobilize its troops. Commander Yoshio Shinozuka sent a telegram, hoping that we could launch an attack on the Eighth Route Army as much as possible and attract more Eighth Route Army to the Shangdang area. The Commander has already prepared the 20th Division for the attack. When everything is ready, the 9th Brigade will take over Shiquan County, and then the 20th Division will take the railway directly south to completely wipe out all the Eighth Route Army in the Shangdang area!" Listening to the adjutant's report, Pinglu Yongfu, who was standing outside the tent and looking around with a telescope, put down the telescope and glanced at the adjutant. "Commander Yoshio Shinozuka is going to dispatch the 20th Division?" Hearing his adjutant say that Yoshio Shinozuka had mobilized the 20th Division, Pinglu Yongfu was also a little confused. The 20th Division is specifically responsible for guarding Taiyuan. If the 20th Division is transferred away, then the huge city of Taiyuan will only be left with one regiment of troops to defend.
If any accident occurs, there will be no troops from Taiyuan able to provide support. Moreover, the 20th Division is the last mobile force of the entire Shanxi First Army. The 20th Division has been transferred from the Taiyuan area and is not in the railway hub area. If problems arise in other places. Then the Shanxi First Army would not be able to mobilize troops to provide support to other places. Hiraru Isamu was a little confused about Yoshio Shinozuka's decision. The biggest role of the 20th Division is not to directly participate in the battle, but to stay near Taiyuan and form a deterrent to other areas. Tell everyone that the Shanxi First Army still has an entire field division with complete combat effectiveness that has not moved. If an accident occurs anywhere, the 20th Division can immediately provide support via rail or road. Or it may be possible to mobilize troops from other counties for support. After all, the 20th Division is still in Taiyuan, so even if the troops from other counties are withdrawn first, there won’t be any big problems. It can be said that the 20th Division is a passive skill. As long as the attack is not intense enough, the 20th Division will never be deployed. Once the battle reaches a certain level, the 20th Division, a powerful field division, will immediately go to the battlefield and quickly end the battle with its powerful combat power. It is precisely because the 20th Division is stationed near Taiyuan City, so except for the Shangdang area, although other places were attacked, the intensity of the attack was not very large and could be temporarily blocked by the local garrison. But if the 20th Division took the initiative to attack, the situation would be different. The reason why the attacks encountered in other places were not so intense was because there were concerns about the 20th Division stationed in Taiyuan. Once the 20th Division leaves Taiyuan, the transportation hub, it will lose its deterrent effect. The reason why everyone did not dare to attack the county town controlled by the Japanese with all their strength was that they were worried that the Japanese 20th Division would suddenly take action and rush towards them, which would easily cause all operations to collapse. But if the 20th Division took the initiative to choose a place to attack, the situation would be different. Other places do not have the convenient transportation like Taiyuan, which allows the 20th Division to quickly maneuver to other controlled counties by rail and road.
Moreover, because we don't know which direction the 20th Division will go, we can't take targeted measures. Even if we want to destroy roads or railways, we have to know which direction the Japanese 20th Division is going. As for destroying all the railways and roads... where can you find so much explosives for you to destroy the railways and roads? If the destruction is not thorough, the Japanese will be able to repair the destroyed railways or roads quickly. Therefore, those Eighth Route Army troops responsible for interfering with other county towns could only carry out interfering operations while being on guard against the 20th Division. But if the 20th Division takes the initiative to attack now, then there will be a clear direction, and then the roads and railways through which the 20th Division passes will be completely destroyed. In this case, the Japanese 20th Division would not be able to return to Taiyuan in a short period of time. If it could not return to Taiyuan, it meant that it would not be able to put out fires through this transportation hub of Taiyuan. The Eighth Route Army in other regions can seize the opportunity to expand their victory. "No, no, the 20th Division must not move. If the 20th Division moves, it will not be able to suppress the Eighth Route Army in other places and the troops in the mountain city. And there are the Locust Army!" As the brigade commander and major general, Pinglu Yongfu naturally knew what the main role of the 20th Division was, and he also knew what the consequences would be if the 20th Division was mobilized to take the initiative to attack. Especially now. The Locust Army in Shanxi has already turned away from them, and it is unclear when they will rebel. If the 20th Division is transferred away from Taiyuan at this time, the attack will go smoothly. If the attack fails, the locust army will immediately come up with other ideas. Especially those organized troops that were formed by the surrender of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and then reorganized into the Locust Army. If it was one or two regiments of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army that surrendered as a whole, the problem would not be very serious and it would be easy to disperse them. However, the Locust Army that surrendered as a whole was not just one or two regiments, but two armies! Because the Locust Alliance was too powerful, their plan to reorganize the Locust Alliance was difficult to advance. Not only that, these locust troops also used the supplies given to them by the North China Front Command to quickly recruit local people into the army. It can be said that their strength is even stronger than when they were still the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army. In addition to this, apart from helping them manage the county on the surface, these Locust Army generals were just there to work but not put in any effort. When they really went to the battlefield, they didn't put their heart into it at all. Let these Locust Army go out to fight the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army. It won't be long before the Locust Army comes back and says that the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army on the opposite side has surrendered and has joined their Locust Army. In this situation, generals like Pinglu Yongfu were not idiots and naturally realized that Yan Laoxi was using their supplies to support his Jinsui Army. If something happens to the 20th Division and their attack is thwarted, then at the order of Yan Laoxi. Those Locust Alliance troops will transform themselves into the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army again and launch an attack on them. Therefore, Pinglu Yongfu was very confused at this moment about Yoshio Shinozuka's plan to mobilize the 20th Division. What he could think of was something that Yoshio Shinozuka could never have thought of. "What is the purpose of your Excellency the Commander in mobilizing the 20th Division? How can the 20th Division be moved around at will?" Pinglu Yongfu returned to the tent, looked at the map, and wondered why Shinozuka Yoshio had mobilized the 20th Division to attack. "Your Excellency, the commander-in-chief, is it possible that he wanted to take this opportunity to completely annihilate the large forces of the Eighth Route Army in the south, while also destroying the Shanxi Suiyuan Army and the Central Army in the Zhongtiaoshan and Jincheng areas?" Just as Pinglu Yongfu was thinking, the adjutant beside him pointed to the Zhongtiao Mountain area and Jincheng area on the map and said to Pinglu Yongfu.
Listening to what the adjutant said, Pinglu Yongfu also looked towards the Zhongtiao Mountains and Jincheng areas. "With the strength of our three brigades, if we want to wipe out all the Eighth Route Army in the south before they retreat into the mountains. It is indeed a bit difficult. But if the 20th Division is added, the Eighth Route Army in the Shangdang area will be like an egg. We are stone, stone made of steel, and we can easily wipe out all the Eighth Route Army. In addition, they cooperated with the troops in Jincheng and Zhongtiao Mountain areas to encircle the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and completely wiped out the main forces of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and the Central Army in these two areas. Eventually we will occupy the entire Zhongtiao Mountain. If we lose these troops, then the Second War Zone of China will no longer have any power to resist our First Army... It will be easy to destroy the Second War Zone." Listening to what the adjutant said, Pinglu Yongfu quickly deduced in his mind, and soon, he guessed what the real purpose of Shinozuka Yoshio's mobilization of the 20th Division was. On the surface, the 20th Division's target seemed to be the Shangdang area, but in fact it was Jincheng and Zhongtiao Mountain areas. As long as the Eighth Route Army, Shanxi Suiyuan Army and Central Army in Shangdang, Zhongtiao Mountain and Jincheng areas are completely eliminated, it means that the main force of the entire Second War Zone of China will be annihilated. By that time, there will no longer be any troops in Shanxi that can threaten the First Army. Even if the Eighth Route Army troops or the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army troops in other areas took advantage of the transfer of the Second Division to launch attacks on other counties, it would not have any impact. If the main force of the Second War Zone is wiped out, the troops located in Zhongtiao Mountain and Jincheng area will no longer have to confront the Shanxi Suiyuan Army or the Central Army. They can be directly transferred to encircle and suppress the remaining Shanxi Suiyuan Army, the Eighth Route Army, and the Central Army in the entire Shanxi Province. And because the main force of the Second War Zone was annihilated, the Locust Army dared not waver anymore and could only work honestly for them. "Commander Shinozuka Yoshio's move is brilliant. To use the Chinese words, Commander Shinozuka Yoshio's move can be said to kill three birds with one stone. Kitajima-kun, do you understand the arrangements made by Commander Yoshio Shinozuka?" "Your Excellency, Commander of the Brigade, please forgive my ignorance. I did not understand how much result Commander Yoshio Shinozuka's arrangement could achieve. I only know that the 20th Division is used for deterrence and cannot be deployed at will." Pinglu Yongfu's adjutant, Kitajima Shichiro, listened to Pinglu Yongfu's questions, shook his head, and answered Pinglu Yongfu's questions. Although Kitajima Shichiro understood what Hiraru Isamu said, he really didn't understand why Hiraru Isamu said that Shinozuka Yoshio's arrangement was a plan that killed three birds with one stone. Kitajima Shichiro could only see that the role of the 20th Division was to serve as a deterrent. We cannot see the 20th Division moving south and cooperating with the troops in Zhongtiao Mountain and Jincheng area to wipe out the main force of the Second War Zone of China. If he could understand it, he wouldn't be just a major. Seeing that Kitajima Shichiro didn't understand, Pinglu Yongfu smiled and patted Kitajima Shichiro on the shoulder. "Kitajima-kun, it's okay, don't blame yourself. It's great that you can think of the real role of the 20th Division as a deterrent. Kitajima-kun, although you are only a major now, you will become a general one day. When you become a general, you can no longer think from a military perspective, you have to learn how politicians think. Otherwise, Major General, this is your end." "Your Excellency, Commander of the Brigade, please give me your guidance."
After listening to what Pinglu Yongfu said, Kitajima Shichiro immediately bowed and spoke. Hiraru Isamu first told Kitajima Shichiro his speculation about Shinozuka Yoshio's arrangements, and then pointed to the empty area below the map. “Kitajima-kun, in this area, our troops are engaged in a major battle with the mountain city. Battle of Yichang. In order to completely eliminate the threat posed by the Shancheng army to Jiangcheng. The Expeditionary Force Headquarters planned the Battle of Yichang and mobilized a large number of troops from various regions to participate in the war. This included mobilizing two field divisions from our North China Front Army to move south. It can be said that the Battle of Yichang was the largest-scale battle launched by our army this year. The goal of this battle is to completely eliminate the threat posed by the Shancheng troops to Jiangcheng. If the goal is achieved, then everything will be fine. But if the goal is not achieved, and we happen to use the remaining troops to eliminate the threat from China's Second War Zone. Even if the South achieved their goal, compared to their mobilization of a large amount of resources and troops, our First Army only mobilized less than a quarter of their troops, a total of three brigades and one division. Without any other support, we were able to eliminate the threat from the Chinese war zone. Beidao, what do you think the base camp will think? And this is the ultimate goal of Commander Yoshio Shinozuka!" Kitajima Shichiro was not a fool. After listening to Hiraru Isamu's analysis, he immediately understood Shinozuka Yoshio's real thoughts. The Southern Expeditionary Force consumed so much manpower and material resources. If it failed to achieve its goal, the First Army in the North would only be able to garrison there with the remaining strength of the First Army itself, while also eliminating the threat from China's Second War Zone. Then the headquarters will definitely feel that the commander of the Southern Expeditionary Army is not worthy of being used, and the commander of the Shanxi First Army, Yoshio Shinozuka, and a group of officers will directly step on the defeat of the Southern Expeditionary Army to be promoted! Even if the Southern Expeditionary Army achieved its combat objectives, compared with the performance of the Shanxi First Army, the Southern Expeditionary Army mobilized so much manpower and material resources to achieve its combat objectives. If the First Army achieves a similar goal with its remaining strength, then the First Army's merit will increase significantly. Because in order to prevent its own contribution from being diminished, the Southern Expeditionary Army will definitely find ways to exaggerate the contribution of the Shanxi First Army. Because the Southern Expeditionary Force would never admit that it was because of their own lack of ability and poor command that they needed so much manpower and material resources to achieve their combat objectives. They could only say that it was because Shinozuka Yoshio's ability was so strong that he relied on the First Army to eliminate China's Second War Zone. Even if the Southern Expeditionary Army failed to achieve its combat objectives, it would still exaggerate the combat effectiveness of the Chinese army as much as possible and at the same time exaggerate the ability of Yoshio Shinozuka. Only in this way can they prove that they are not incompetent, but have really tried their best. Regardless of the outcome of the battle sent by the South, the biggest beneficiary would be Yoshio Shinozuka, who had nothing to do with the Battle of Yichang. First, eliminate the Eighth Route Army in the Shangdang area, then destroy the main force of the Second War Zone of China, and finally use the Battle of Yichang initiated by the Southern Expeditionary Army to enhance his own merits. And this is what Yoshio Shinozuka did, killing three birds with one stone! (End of this chapter)