Chapter 431: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 441 Tada Toshin: Reinforcements

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Lieutenant General Xiyuan Yice slumped into the field chair at headquarters, his fingers repeatedly tracing the map before him as he deduced the course of the battle.

Because of his fingers' repeated tracing, the map had become tattered beyond repair.

As the commander of the Tank Division, he had to admit a heartbreaking conclusion: his proud set of operational plans had gone completely bankrupt.

That original tactic of "a punch to the front, a kick to the waist" had once been an almost infallible panacea.

On the front, the Tank 5th Brigade's hundred-plus tanks would bite down hard on the enemy, while on the flank, the Tank 6th Brigade would coordinate with mechanized infantry to deliver a fatal blow.

He had practiced this combo countless times in simulated drills—during the day, while eating, and even in his dreams at night.

But before Lv Muzhi's absolute strength, it was like a clumsy joke.

Lv Muzhi's armored cluster was, to the Japanese armored forces, a completely overpowered existence.

In his view, this was no longer a tactical contest, but a crushing of tank strength—this battle could not be fought!

On the front battlefield, his Tank 5th Brigade ran into Lv Muzhi's main armored cluster forces and was almost completely crippled by the enemy's Type 3 Assault Guns.

The Tank 6th Brigade conducting flank harassment also kicked hard against an iron plate.

Xiyuan Yice felt like a boxer who had thrown everything into a combination, panting for breath.

But Lv Muzhi opposite him was like an elegant chess player, completely at ease throughout, not even the corner of his clothes touched.

"Order the Tank 5th Brigade to abandon the frontal assault and retreat along the entire line!" To preserve strength, Xiyuan Yice finally issued this command that was hard to accept.

He knew clearly in his heart that if they kept fighting, the Tank Division, this precious darling of the empire, would be completely annihilated.

"Have the remaining forces retreat to defend Pingyao City, relying on Pingyao's city defense works and the infantry division there for passive defense."

"This is the only way we can preserve the spark right now." Xiyuan Yice crumpled that tattered map into a ball and threw it on the ground.

As for the Tank 6th Brigade still fighting bitterly on the flank, Lieutenant General Xiyuan Yice had no intention of recalling them.

"Order Takagi Kazuo to continue guerrilla harassment on the flank to pin down the Youth Army's main force, not seeking to break through, only seeking constant harassment."

"As long as Lv Muzhi feels a threat from his rear flank, he won't dare to fully besiege Pingyao."

"If Lv Muzhi dares to forcibly attack Pingyao City, the Tank 6th Division will burst out from the flank and create a battle opportunity to turn the situation around!"

When the news reached the First Army headquarters in Taiyuan, Xiao Zhong Yi Nan stared at that battle report for a full five minutes.

The Tank 3rd Division, touted as the strongest of Emperor Chuo, ended up like this?

Tank warfare had only been going for one day, and the Tank Division had already chosen to preserve strength, beat a retreat, and seek self-preservation.

If even the Tank Division, built at great expense, couldn't withstand Lv Muzhi's military edge, what were the remaining few infantry divisions and mixed brigades in his hands?

"Am I supposed to send my infantry to block tank gun barrels?" Xiao Zhong Yi Nan roared.

He kept sending telegrams to the North China Area Army headquarters in Beiping, requesting reinforcements, even if it were just a brigade, a regiment, or even a battalion of reinforcements.

But after the telegrams were sent, the reply was always that same cold response: coordinating, hold on firmly......

At this time in Beiping, inside the North China Area Army headquarters.

Commander of the North China Area Army, Lieutenant General Tada Toshin, also had his difficulties.

Lieutenant General Tada Toshin stood before the huge North China strategic map, his brow tightly furrowed, extremely anxious, his wrinkles enough to crush a fly.

He wasn't unwilling to rescue the Shanxi battlefield; he truly couldn't scrape together any extra troops no matter how he gathered them from east and west.

In the southeast direction, the war in the vast region around Xuzhou and Bengbu was deadlocked.

A grander battle with more people was taking place there.

Although there hadn't been a shocking tank duel like on the Shanxi battlefield involving hundreds of armored tanks at every turn, the troops actually committed by both sides far exceeded those on the Shanxi battlefield.

Both sides had piled up over five hundred thousand troops there, tugging back and forth over every inch of land and every village.

By this point in the war, the North China Area Army was vigorously mobilizing the Collaborationist Army, attempting to expand its forces.

Even if Tada Toshin were bolder, he wouldn't dare to transfer any battalion from the Xuzhou front to reinforce the Shanxi battlefield.

Because once a gap appeared in the Xuzhou defensive line, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Shanxi and Xuzhou—at least one had to be held, right?

Right now, Lv Muzhi's tank forces were less than a hundred kilometers from Taiyuan City, unstoppable.

Under these circumstances, Xuzhou absolutely could not be lost.

Otherwise, the situation in North China would collapse along the entire line like dominoes.

"Shanxi is a fire pit, quickly burning Xiao Zhukazuo's First Army to death."

"Xuzhou is a quagmire, directly tying down over two hundred thousand of my troops."

Tada Toshin rubbed his temples, his tone full of weariness.

Not only were Shanxi and Xuzhou critical, but the situation in Henan North also made him feel like he had a bone stuck in his throat.

That man named Chu Yunfei, leading his Guerrilla Corps, was behaving exceptionally actively there.

Besides that, other Xia Guo forces were also conducting guerrilla warfare in the Henan North region, with various powers intertwined and complex—all hostile forces to the Japanese army!

What made Tada Toshin even more wary was that Chu Yunfei's Unit, the core main force in Henan North, was positioned to fight guerrilla warfare yet held over sixty tanks in its hands!

Thinking of this, Tada Toshin felt that he, this Area Army Commander, was serving in a pathetic manner.

This force watched covetously in Henan North, as if it might rush into southern Hebei at any time.

Thinking of this, Tada Toshin suddenly remembered his predecessor as North China Area Army Commander—Sugiyama Gen.

When Sugiyama Gen stepped down as North China Area Army Commander back then, Tada Toshin had secretly rejoiced, feeling he had picked up a great bargain.

But now, there wasn't a trace of a smile on Tada Toshin's face.

"That Sugiyama Gen, privately called 'the Fool,' is the real Old Fox, the real Winner."

Tada Toshin gritted his teeth, his eyes full of resentment.

"He left before the North China situation completely collapsed, patted his backside and walked away, leaving this huge fiery pit of North China for me to jump into."

"He's gone back home to live in leisure, while we... we'll probably have to commit seppuku for the fall of North China!!!"

An unprecedented sense of crisis enveloped Tada Toshin, who paced back and forth in the room.

If Lv Muzhi occupies Taiyuan, he will very likely set out from Taiyuan, march east along the Zhengding Railway Line, and enter Hebei.

If such troops surge into the heart of North China, North China will surely be lost!

If North China is lost during his term, then he, Tada Toshin, will be Emperor Chuo's sinner for all ages.

Calming down, Tada Toshin realized that direct confrontation could no longer stop Lv Muzhi from occupying Shanxi.

Shanxi can be lost, but North China must not be lost!

Got it!!!

Since Taiyuan cannot be held, we must find a way to "lock" Lv Muzhi's First Army in Shanxi.

Shanxi's terrain is special, with mountains and rivers inside and out, surrounded by natural barriers of great mountains.

"As long as we hold a few key gates, even if Lv Muzhi swallows Shanxi, he is still just a caged bird."

Tada Toshin's gaze moved quickly across the map, muttering to himself like a madman.

His gaze finally fell on the Zhengding Railway Line, that ancient and steep pass—Niangzi Pass.

"I will lay a Heaven and Earth Net at Niangzi Pass; even if Taiyuan falls, I will block Lv Muzhi inside Shanxi so he cannot get out."

"We absolutely cannot let him break out of Shanxi via the Zhengding Railway and strike straight at Pingjin!"

【Thanks to Taiyu Zong, who loves Ximi Yuzu, for sending a Donation x1; seeing the Author Note, he directly handed over the remaining two chapters of Stockpile!】

【Also, this book is now a Million Words; brothers who see this, can you give some Ratings OVO】