lovenovelstory Chapter 126 Defending the West District: The Arrogance of the Japanese Tank Unit
Chapter 126 Defending the West District: The Arrogance of the Japanese Tank Unit
After everyone dispersed, Li Jianghe took the initiative to find Chi Fengcheng.
His 31st Division was the main force in the defense of Taierzhuang, while the outer perimeter was occupied by the field troops of the Second Army Group.
However, the Second Army Group was poorly equipped and in disarray, and it had little ability to resist the main force of the Japanese 10th Division outside the city.
"Commander Chi, I know your unit received almost no reinforcements after the Battle of Niangziguan. How about we take on the task of guarding the west side of Taierzhuang?"
Li Jianghe voluntarily took on half of the city defense tasks of Taierzhuang.
"Well... I wonder how many people Brother Li brought this time?"
Chi Fengcheng asked with some concern.
He knew very well that Li Jianghe's troops were best at mobile warfare, so he wouldn't bring too many troops to assist in defending the city.
Li Jianghe gave a number.
"A guard battalion, an anti-aircraft artillery battalion, a communications company, and the detachment command, totaling more than 3,300 people."
This number made Chi Fengcheng frown.
He knew that Li Jianghe's troops were well-equipped and had strong combat capabilities, but more than 3,000 men were still not enough.
Although their 31st Division had suffered heavy losses before, after the decision was made to defend Taierzhuang, the Second Army Headquarters still managed to squeeze out some troops and firepower to replenish Chi Fengcheng's forces.
Today, Chi Fengcheng's 31st Division has more than 7,000 men stationed in the Taierzhuang area, which is almost twice the size of Li Jianghe's forces.
Even so, Chi Fengcheng was still unsure, because the number of Japanese troops on the other side was even greater.
At present, Li Jianghe only has more than 3,000 men, while the Japanese invaders on the other side are likely three times his size and probably have an absolute advantage in firepower.
"The Japanese have an absolute advantage in both manpower and firepower. Brother Li, can you hold out?"
Chi Fengcheng placed his broad, strong hand on Li Jianghe's shoulder.
"We can handle it, Commander Chi, don't worry."
Li Jianghe was extremely confident, after all, he could use the system to summon and replenish the lost soldiers and squads.
As long as the overall battle losses are not too great, and his armored forces do not suffer huge losses, his merit points can be maintained.
On the contrary, Chi Fengcheng, although he appears to have a considerable number of troops, is actually far inferior to the Japanese army in terms of firepower, and it is highly likely that he will have a hard time holding out.
This is not something that willpower can compensate for; it is an overwhelming force of absolute strength.
How could Chi Fengcheng possibly feel at ease? He grasped Li Jianghe's hand with a sincere expression and said:
"Brother Li, if we are unable to withstand the Japanese army's fierce attack on the west side, our reserve troops are ready to provide support at any time. All you need to do is give the word."
He wasn't just being polite.
On the battlefield, there is no room for politeness.
Li Jianghe also said:
"Commander Chi, if your unit cannot hold out, our reserve troops are ready to provide support at any time."
Chi Fengcheng looked at Li Jianghe and thought to himself, "Brother Li is still as confident as ever, but the Japanese army we're facing this time is quite different from before."
Not to mention the main force of the Japanese 10th Division, this first-class division was already quite formidable in combat. It was a horse-drawn division, and at full strength, its personnel and troops could approach 30,000, equivalent to a group army of the National Revolutionary Army today.
Not to mention that Terauchi Hisaichi, the commander-in-chief of the North China Area Army, also borrowed the Independent 1st Mixed Brigade from the Chahar Expeditionary Army to fight alongside the main force of the 10th Division.
Chi Fengcheng couldn't help but remind him:
"Brother Li, this time you are in the west, you are very likely to encounter the Japanese Independent First Mixed Brigade."
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This unit is fully mechanized and has already inflicted considerable losses on our Second Army Group. They come and go like the wind, making them extremely troublesome.
Li Jianghe naturally knew about this Japanese army unit.
The Japanese Army's 1st Independent Mixed Brigade was the first fully mechanized unit in the Japanese Army, and it was basically motorized.
Although its total strength was less than 5,000 men, it had an infantry regiment, two tank battalions, and an independent field artillery battalion, among other things.
同时配备车辆744辆，主要武器装备包括日军89式中型坦克、94式轻装甲车、92式装甲汽车、90式75毫米野炮等。
However, due to its outdated combat concepts, this mechanized Japanese force did not perform well on the Xinkou battlefield and did not demonstrate overwhelming power.
However, Brigade Commander Masaomi Yasuoka believed that it was because the Battle of Xinkou was mainly in mountainous terrain, which was not suitable for tanks to take advantage of their mobility.
Today, the area around Taierzhuang is almost entirely flat plains, which makes it very convenient for armored units to move quickly.
As Yasuoka Masaomi had predicted, this infantry unit performed extremely well in the first two days of the battle outside Taierzhuang.
As a unit conducting flanking maneuvers, they actually rushed ahead of the vanguard Seya Detachment and launched repeated surprise attacks on the Northwest Army's defensive positions, ambushed transport convoys, and even destroyed one of the Northwest Army's artillery positions.
In just 48 hours, under the leadership of Yasuoka Masaomi, three regiments of the Northwest Army were decimated, demonstrating extremely formidable combat power.
Currently, this Japanese unit is operating northwest of Taierzhuang and is likely to run into Li Jianghe's troops.
"When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it. It'll be a good opportunity to experience the Japanese mechanized forces firsthand."
There was no fear in Li Jianghe's eyes, but rather a hint of longing.
Meanwhile, in Yixian County, at the forward command post of the Japanese 10th Division, plans for an attack on the city of Taierzhuang were being discussed.
"Accurate intelligence indicates that Li Jianghe's force, numbering approximately three thousand, entered Taierzhuang overnight and is likely defending the western district."
This is what Rensuke Isogai said.
Their intelligence agents had secretly infiltrated Taierzhuang a few days earlier to monitor the movements of the Chinese army within the city.
Upon hearing the name "Li Jianghe," Seya Kei abruptly raised his head and said:
"Commander, my unit requests permission to attack the western district."
"And then another crushing defeat?"
The speaker was none other than Yasuoka Masaomi, the commander of the Independent First Mixed Brigade.
As the commander of Japan's first fully mechanized unit, he did not consider these infantry brigade commanders to be on the same level as him.
After all, the brigade commander of an infantry brigade is usually a major general, while the brigade commander of his mechanized brigade is a lieutenant general, on par with Isogai Rensuke.
Keiichi Seya slammed his fist on the table and glared at the table, saying:
"What does Lord Yasuoka mean by this? I want to avenge the samurai who died in Teng County. What's wrong with that?"
Yasuoka Masaomi sneered:
"Lord Seya is exceptionally brave and has led his troops in fierce battles along the Jinpu Railway for half a month, yet they cannot match the results our troops have achieved in the past two days outside Taierzhuang."
As he spoke, he looked at Isogai Rensuke, slightly raising his chin, and said:
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, Li Jianghe's unit is also a mechanized force. It is not wise to send infantry to deal with the enemy's mechanized forces."
Therefore, I think we should send our 1st Independent Mixed Brigade to attack the western district. I also want to see how effective the so-called mechanized forces of the Chinese army really are, and whether they are just like the Northwest Army, all talk and no action, and actually no match for us.