In Zhangjiakou, the Mongolian Army Headquarters.
Datong Road belongs to the defense area of the Mongolian Army, so as soon as Youyu County was attacked, Anda 23 reported the news to the Mongolian Army Headquarters.
At this moment, Naosaburo Okabe, the commander of the Mongolian Army, was nervously waiting for news from the front in the war room.
Naosaburo Okabe has immediately ordered the independent mixed second brigade to assemble urgently. However, whether to send the second brigade to Datong for reinforcements still needs to be evaluated. One is to see the attack of the Chahar Independent Regiment. The intensity, another thing depends on whether Fu Zuoyi's troops in the direction of Guisui will coordinate
Because intelligence shows that Xu Rui and Fu Zuoyi have a very good personal relationship, it is very likely that the two will join forces to fight again.
It was not until this time that Naosaburo Okabe finally felt the embarrassment caused by insufficient troops.
If he had enough mobile troops on hand, Naosaburo Okabe would not be troubled by this at all. He would immediately order the independent mixed second brigade to rush for reinforcements. However, now, he must be cautious, because apart from Chaha In addition to the Seoul Independent Regiment, their troops stationed in Mongolia also need to beware of another powerful enemy, Fu Zuoyi's Sui Army!
To this day, the Army Garrison in Mongolia still only has two divisions, an independent mixed brigade and a cavalry group. The previous talk of expanding to five divisions was just a smokescreen. In fact, the size of the Army Garrison in Mongolia has not only failed to achieve Any expansion would instead take away two key regiments, expand them into new infantry divisions, and then integrate them into the newly formed Far East Front.
Not only that, the artillery regiments of the 26th Division and the 110th Division have been taken away. Now both divisions only have an independent mountain artillery brigade, as well as light and heavy machine guns from each infantry brigade. Part of it was also transferred away to strengthen the firepower of the newly formed Far East Front Army.
The base camp has also tried its best to fight in the Far East.
In other words, the combat effectiveness of the troops stationed in Mongolia has not been enhanced, but has been greatly weakened.
It was precisely because of this that Naosaburo Okabe was troubled by whether to send reinforcements to Datong.
While waiting, Adjutant Matsumoto Hiroshi suddenly walked in in a hurry and said: "Your Excellency, Commander, there is an urgent call from Datong. Following the fall of Youyu County, Zuoyun County has also fallen. The Chahar Independent Regiment is heading towards Datong along the Baoda Highway. With rapid advancement, General Anda has given up on shrinking his troops to fight the enemy in Datong, and instead divided his troops to defend various places, in order to delay the enemy's speed as much as possible and buy time for the main force of the Mongolian army to deploy defense."
"Nani?" Naosaburo Okabe's heart instantly fell to the bottom of the Nine Nether Valley.
He had already thought that the battle situation in Datong would not be optimistic, but he still did not expect that it would be so bad.
Tanaka Shinichi, the chief of staff of the garrison in Mongolia, said in a deep voice: "Your Excellency, Commander, there is no room for loss in Datong, so we should quickly order the independent mixed second brigade to go to rescue."
Naosaburo Okabe did not dare to give the order.
Tanaka Shinichi took another step forward and said urgently: "Your Excellency, Commander, you can't hesitate any longer!"
Naosaburo Okabe took a breath, and just as he was about to give the order, another communications staff member hurriedly walked in, paused and reported: "Your Excellency, Commander, there is an urgent call from Ulanqab, and the Sui army has attacked in full force!"
"Baga!" Tanaka Shinto said angrily, "At this time!"
In the minds of Naosaburo Okabe and Shinichi Tanaka, the threat of Fu Zuoyi's Sui Army is by no means weaker than that of Xu Rui's Chahar Independent Regiment, because intuitively, the Sui Army is a group army, and Xu Rui's Chahar Army The Er Independent Regiment is just one regiment, and the Chahar Independent Regiment is stationed in Baotou, but the Sui Army is stationed in Guisui, which is closer to them.
After learning that the Sui Army was attacking in full force, Tanaka Shinichi immediately knew that the plan to send an independent mixed second brigade to assist Datong had completely come to nothing. The Anda Division might have to rely on its own strength to defend Datong! At least, until the reinforcements sent by the North China Front Army Headquarters arrive, the Mongolian Army Headquarters will not be able to send troops for reinforcements.
At that moment, Naosaburo Okabe sighed and said: "Tanaka-kun, immediately forward the telegrams from Datong and Ulanqab to the North China Front Army Headquarters, and then order the 26th Division, for the glory of the Imperial Army of Japan, to For the glory of the Japanese Empire and the glory of His Majesty the Emperor, we must carry forward the spirit of determination of the Bushido and defend Datong until the last moment!"
"Hai!" Tanaka Shinichi nodded loudly and turned around.
…
In Datong, the headquarters of the 26th Division.
The Chahar Independent Regiment aviation bombing and dive strafing have stopped because it is getting dark and the IL-15 fighter jets that do not have night combat capabilities must return.
After receiving a call back from the Mongolian Army Headquarters, Anda Twenty-san's face immediately darkened, telling them to carry forward the spirit of samurai's death and defend Datong until the last moment. In other words, the Mongolian Army Headquarters would not send any reprimands. Even a single soldier came to reinforce Datong.
…
In the evening, Xu Rui's regiment moved forward to Yanzishan Town.
He Guangming and his guard platoon had been waiting by the road early. When he saw the regiment's convoy approaching, He Guangming quickly pulled off his military uniform and hurried forward to meet it.
With a creak, the jeep Xu Rui was riding in stopped on the roadside.
Xu Rui bent down and jumped out of the back seat, saying to He Guangming: "Old He, you played well."
He Guangming chuckled, and could no longer hide the pride on his face: "Captain, in fact, our battalion didn't even use 10% of its strength. The Japanese are really too inexperienced to fight."
Mei Jiuling, the tank battalion commander accompanying him, couldn't stand it any longer and said suddenly: "If our tank battalion hadn't cooperated with your attack this time, do you think the little Japanese would have been able to withstand the fight?"
He Guangming waved his hand and said: "Mei Xiucai, I'm really not bragging. Compared with before, the combat effectiveness of the little devils has really been weakened to a great extent. At least, it is far worse than the devils we met in Damei Mountain before. ! First, the level of weapons and equipment has dropped a lot. Not only are there fewer artillery pieces, but the number of machine guns is also much smaller."
After a pause, He Guangming continued: "The quality of the soldiers is even more incomparable. In the past, when we were in Dameishan, our independent regiment could only fight with bayonet as well as the Japs. But now, when we fight the Japs in Datong, we can't beat them." They are like vegetables, it’s surprising that three little devils can’t compete with one of our veterans.”
"This is not surprising at all." Xu Rui said, "This further proves my inference."
He Guangming asked blankly: "What inference?"
"The little devils must concentrate all war resources and launch a general offensive against the Soviet Far Eastern Front!" Xu Rui said, "In order to ensure victory in this general offensive against the Soviet Far Eastern Front, the Japanese base camp even did not hesitate to transfer a large number of elite soldiers and equipment from the North and Central China battlefields to the Northeast. , incorporated into the Kwantung Army."
After a pause, Xu Rui continued: "It is precisely because a large number of elite veterans and light and heavy weapons have been transferred away that the combat effectiveness of the North China Front Army has declined greatly. It is precisely because of this that the Japanese base camp did not hesitate to adjust its strategy against China again. , take a defensive position against the national army on the frontal battlefield."
Xu Rui didn't say anything. It was for this reason that he took the initiative and launched this counterattack.
Because the current North China Front Army is at its weakest, in a few months, the North China Front Army will be able to complete the redeployment of defenses, and the newly recruited recruits will also gain combat experience through mopping up base areas behind enemy lines. The North China Front Army's The combat effectiveness can be restored.
"So that's what happened." He Guangming suddenly realized.
Xu Rui added: "But the next attack on Datong will be a test!"
"I know this." He Guangming nodded solemnly and said, "After all, Datong is stationed in a main Japanese division. This will definitely be a fierce battle. I have been mentally prepared for this!"
"You are wrong again. Where did a division come from in Datong?" Mei Jiuling said disapprovingly, "Our attack this time was launched so suddenly that the 26th Division stationed in Datong had no time to gather its troops. Therefore, most of them Some Japanese soldiers are also stationed in various surrounding counties and strongholds. The Japanese soldiers in Datong City are only one regiment at best, and then there are some directly-affiliated units, such as artillery, engineers, and baggage troops, etc., and their combat effectiveness is very limited."
Xu Rui shook his head and said, "Even so, we can't be careless."
After a pause, Xu Rui turned to He Guangming and said: "Old He, remember, except for your battalion, I will not leave you any more soldiers. In other words, I will rely on you from beginning to end. The First Battalion is dealing with the Japs in Datong and surrounding areas. If this battle is not successful, what will be the consequences? I don’t need to say more, right?"
He Guangming immediately stood at attention and said proudly: "Captain, don't worry, the First Battalion will never let you down."
"Very good, then I'll wait for your news on the road." After saying that, Xu Rui got back into the jeep, patted Zhuoli Getu on the shoulder and said, "Atu, go directly to Hunyuan County."
"Okay." Zhuoligetu shifted into first gear, stepped on the accelerator, and the jeep immediately slid forward.
He Guangming hurriedly retreated to the side of the road. He waved at Xu Rui's jeep first, then looked back and saw the convoy originally parked on the road moving forward again. First, dozens of trucks towed a door. Howitzers, then T-34B tanks one after another, and then Soviet trucks one after another.
It wasn't until the entire convoy disappeared on the road that He Guangming dusted himself off, turned around and hummed a tune and returned to his battalion headquarters. At this time, the twelve 122mm-caliber field howitzers of the first battalion artillery company had all been deployed. Thick and long barrels have been pointed straight at Datong City.
Twelve T-34B tanks working with the First Battalion have also been lined up outside the south gate of Datong. The tank engines have also been started. They are just waiting for He Guangming's order to guide the infantry towards the south gate of Datong. Menchengyuan launched an attack, and He Guangming immediately issued the attack order without any hesitation.