Chapter 10, The War of Resistance, Shanxi

The chimes of the clock echoed in the small room, the hour hand pointing to midnight. The last day of the lunar year of Wu Yin (the Tiger) had passed. In the time before the war, this was a moment for countless families to reunite, light lamps, set off firecrackers, and celebrate the New Year. However, now, the atmosphere both inside and outside the house could only be described with negative words such as heavy, oppressive, and despairing.

Despite Yan Xishan's meticulous arrangements, the defeat was as overwhelming as a collapsing mountain. With only 4,000 troops under Yang Aiyuan and fewer than 10,000 from the incomplete Reserve Second Army under Guo Zongfen, they were fundamentally incapable of confronting the formidable main force of the Japanese army.

This is not feasible; the commanders are still counting on completely seizing the bridge to advance south and cut off the Longhai Railway

Before Nan Wuliao's words had fully settled, two ugly warplanes suddenly appeared in the distance. Although they were still quite far away, it was possible to discern that the markings on the fuselage were not those of the Rising Sun flag.

Nishimura roared, but his words were not yet finished, when a rumbling sound suddenly filled the air, as if a train was rushing towards us

This is a trap

At the same time, Liu Shirong's 140th Division, belonging to the 14th Corps under Pang Bingxun, was ordered to be expanded into the Reserve 4th Army, and was subsequently dispatched to Ping Shun and other areas to carry out a counteroffensive

This is the super heavy artillery of the Northwest Army of China that appeared in Anyang

Command Fu Yisheng to lead the 35th Army and the 19th Army to advance towards the Fangshan, Lanyan, and Wuzhai line, overseeing the resistance in Northwest Shanxi. Additionally, instruct Yang Xingru and Guo Zaiyang (Guo Zongfen) to ensure that they hold the Japanese forces for seven days at the foot of Linfen and Xiangfen; the units north of Houma should immediately advance towards Xiangning and Jixian; order Liang Chunpu to lead the reserve 3rd Army to enter the Zhongtiao Mountains and join forces with the Northwest Army.

Nishimura Yakyuu had actually already guessed the crux of the problem. With the completion and operation of the first batch of radar stations in the Northwest, the Northwest Air Force could avoid a complete replacement of the latest Nakajima Ki-27 Type 97 fighters of the Japanese Air Force, implementing a strategy of aerial guerrilla warfare that focused on evasion and hit-and-run tactics, thereby achieving the goal of conserving manpower and overcoming the strong with the weak

What sound is that, no, ah! Shelling!

Inform Sun Chu that if necessary, at all costs, even if it means making a great sacrifice, he must withdraw the 33rd Army and the 34th Army for me

Indeed, President, time waits for no one

How many lives of the imperial army will it take to fill this? It is probably equivalent to another Lushun.

On March 11, the Japanese army entered Yuncheng and Xiang County. The Northwest Air Force immediately activated five bomber squadrons, deploying over 30 Iron Eagle dive bombers (similar to the JU-87 Stuka), Shen Ying light horizontal bombers, and Monkey-faced Eagle reconnaissance/light bombers to carry out continuous bombing along the Yuncheng front. The 221st Division and the newly formed 34th Division of the 50th Army on Mount Zhongtiao also launched counterattacks against Xiang County, annihilating one and a half squadrons of the Japanese army's vanguard and forcing the Japanese troops to halt north of Xiechi. Continuous bombing was carried out along the Yuncheng front, and the 221st Division and the newly formed 34th Division of the 50th Army on Mount Zhongtiao also launched counterattacks against Xiang County, annihilating one and a half squadrons of the Japanese army's vanguard and forcing the Japanese troops to halt north of Xiechi.

That said, Nishimura-kun's brow was also tightly furrowed

When! When! When!

The Central Army is also unaware of what is happening; for so many years, the intelligence operations in the Northwest have been unable to commence, and the Imperial Army has paid a heavy price for this. Those traitors in charge of intelligence work should all commit seppuku to apologize to the Emperor!

Nan Jun, I believe it should be full of confidence

In response to the sudden deterioration of the situation in Shanxi, Dai Jiliang personally instructed the deputy commander of Li Guo's headquarters to halt the withdrawal from Shanxi, unifying the command of the 221st Division, the 50th Army, the Reserve Third Army stationed along the Zhongtiao Mountain and Wangwu Mountain front, as well as the urgently deployed Liu Maoen's 15th Army, which included Wu Tinglin's 64th Division and Sun Fucheng's Reserve 8th Division from the 38th Army.

Yan Xishan waved his hand, and Jia Jingde's words immediately came to an abrupt halt. Yan Xishan then quickly walked to the large map and stood still for a moment, looking at it for a long time before finally asking: "Lansun, how much longer can the Yicheng and Jiangxian areas hold out?"

To destroy the bridgehead of the Chinese army and seize the bridge for the Imperial Army's advance south, it is essential to first eliminate the remnants of the Chinese army in the Zhongtiao Mountains. In order to cut off the external support for the remnants of the Chinese army in the Zhongtiao Mountains, it is necessary to first destroy the bridgehead along the Fenglingdu line. The Chinese army has long been calculating, as the Chinese often say, it is a mutual encirclement. It is not an easy task for the Imperial Army to break this deadlock

Nan Jun, do not be agitated

The transfer to the mountainous areas on both sides of Tongpu Road has already been arranged

Bastard, what are our air forces doing! Why are we allowing the Chinese military's aircraft to flaunt their power over the Imperial Army?

The fall of Hongdong has occurred, and the Japanese army can now advance directly to the outskirts of Linfen. Relying solely on the four supplementary regiments currently in Xingru's hands may not be sufficient to withstand the might of the Japanese forces

Yan Xishan's finger traced the map for a moment, then firmly pointed at the location of Yuncheng

I believe the key lies in Zhongtiao Mountain, as the Chinese army must have set up anti-air observation posts on the mountain, which is why they are able to monitor the movements of the Imperial Army's aircraft

On March 8, Wenxi, Wanrong, and Hejin also fell into the hands of the Japanese army. By this point, except for a few counties such as Yuncheng, Yongji, Pinglu, and Ruicheng, Shanxi had completely fallen.

On February 26, the Japanese army's vanguard approached Quwo, forcing the remnants of Chen Changjie’s troops, numbering over ten thousand, to retreat towards Fushan. After a long and arduous journey, they eventually crossed the Qin River and temporarily settled in the mountainous area west of Changzi and Gaoping.

Seizing Fengling Crossing

Lieutenant Colonel Nishimura Mikyu, the intelligence officer of the 108th Division, pointed at the front-line photographs taken by the Japanese Army's Type 97 reconnaissance aircraft and exclaimed

The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Theater, Zhu Shouguang, responded in a hoarse voice

Send another telegram to Lanzhou, and be sure to ask Commander Dai to pressure Li Debiao to dispatch troops north to Linfen

The disrespectful words also caused Nan Wulang to furrow his brows

Zhou Dai smiled bitterly, as disaster approaches, everyone seeks their own escape. The situation in Jin Nan is so dire after the defeat in battle, how could the Northwest continue to place its bets into a bottomless pit

Nishimura smiled

Zhongtiao Mountain is an insurmountable natural barrier for the Imperial Army, and the riverbank plain along the Yellow River is too narrow, making it unfavorable for the Imperial Army to mobilize troops in large numbers. Furthermore, the numerous permanent fortifications constructed by the Northwest Army of China on both banks lead the Chinese to believe that they can secure this bridgehead connected to Shanxi

On March 15, the Japanese army's Gukou Detachment finally occupied the empty city of Yongji County amidst the bombings

The Jin Dong Anti-Japanese General Corps, under the command of the Hebei Provincial Government, was also tasked with frequently launching attacks along the Zheng-Tai Road, intercepting Japanese military supply trucks multiple times, resulting in approximately one hundred Japanese soldiers being killed or injured.

In the Yicheng area, the Japanese army has just reinforced with ten infantry battalions and a field artillery battalion from the Qingshui direction. Brother Jieshan (Chen Changjie) is facing significant difficulties here, but Brother Jieshan has expressed that he will not betray the trust of the president. Even if it means sacrificing the entire 61st Army, he will certainly hold the 20th Division at the western side of Erfeng Mountain

In my opinion, it would be better to simply blow up the Fenglingdu Bridge, thereby cutting off the retreat route for the Hebei Chinese army.

The Secretary-General of the Self-Strengthening and National Salvation Comrades Association, the Secretary-General of the Sacrifice for National Salvation Alliance, and Liang Dunhou, the cousin of Yan Xishan, observed that Zhou Dai, Zhang Yinwu, Zhao Daiwen, Kong Fankai, Zhu Shouguang, and other civil and military officials of the Yan faction were all silent. Thus, he mustered the courage to cautiously offer his advice.

Zhu Shouguang responded

Jia Jingde, who is known as the lifelong secretary of Yan Xishan, also took the opportunity to persuade.

"Mr. Nishimura, the Chinese army actually did not blow up the Fenglingdu Bridge. Do you think they are foolish or full of confidence?"

Nishimura's fist struck heavily against the ground he was sitting on

In recent days, as soon as our fighter jets arrive, the Chinese military's aircraft disappear, and just after our destroyers take off, the Chinese military's bombers suddenly appear, as if there is an invisible eye watching us. Could it be that the Chinese military has acquired some new type of weapon

Yan Xishan hesitated and shook his head: "If the Northwest wanted to blow up the Fenglingdu Iron Bridge, they would not have built so many fortifications north of the bridge, nor would they have left an entire division in the Zhongtiao Mountains. However, Ziliang is also right; it is better to rely on oneself than to rely on others. Lan Sun, have the troops along the Luan, Jiexiu, and Lingshi lines been withdrawn?"

Mr. Nishimura is correct

Bastard, it's the rapid descent bomber of the Chinese army again

The saying "A strong wind reveals the strength of the grass, and turmoil identifies the loyal minister" reflects that amidst this series of collapses, some vowed to resist to the death and persist in the fight, while others, in despair and pessimism, chose to submit to the Japanese with servility

As if to corroborate his words, a deafening roar suddenly erupted, and soon two massive columns of smoke shot up into the sky, making the already dimming sunset appear even more blood-red.

On February 28, the 20th Division and the 21st Division of the Japanese army met in Quwo, while at the same time, the southern advance units of the 108th and 109th Divisions from the northern front also entered Linfen. By this point, the Japanese army had concentrated approximately 50,000 troops in the southwestern plains of Shanxi, including 29 infantry battalions and 16 cavalry, transport, engineering, artillery, and machine gun battalions. With their formidable military strength and firepower, the Japanese army completely overwhelmed the disorganized and demoralized troops of the Shanxi army.

Fortunately, this time the display of military might outweighed the element of testing, allowing the Japanese forces, who were unable to wait for the second shell, to cautiously tidy up the chaos

Chairman, it is time to make a decision

However, the Japanese 108th Division on the Jiexiu front is attacking fiercely, and the front line is in a state of stalemate. Brother Cuiya may not be able to bring the troops down intact from this side.

On March 5, the deputy commander of the 134th Division of the 19th Army, Cai Xiongfei, who was accompanying Fu Zuoyi northward, led his two regiments of 2,800 men to surrender to the Japanese 109th Division in Fenyang. He was subsequently appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the East Asia Collaboration Army, and his two regiments were reorganized into two divisions, thus becoming infamous traitors.

Isn't Nishimura-kun overthinking it

In the event of a breach in the rear, on February 24, the key point of Tongpu Road south of Jiexiu, the town of Liangdu was abandoned. Aside from the 3,500 frontline troops who sacrificed their lives for the country, the remnants of the 33rd and 34th Armies fled in disarray into the undulating mountainous areas on both sides.

However, due to the limited financial resources in the northwest, priority can only be given to the development of defensive fighters over offensive bombers, which means that it is not possible to achieve the so-called carpet bombing effect, nor can the Japanese army's offensive be thwarted solely by the air force

On February 20, 1939, Linfen fell, and on the 23rd, Xiangfen also fell into the clutches of the Japanese army

The enemy facing Jiang County is no more than three and a half infantry battalions of the Japanese army. Although the 50th Army is unable to counterattack, it is still capable of holding its ground. This point was assured to me in person by Commander Yang.

Although Nan Wuliao also acknowledges that the Northwest is Japan's great enemy, he does not believe that the technology of the Northwest has fully surpassed that of the Japanese army

Is the 221st Division still unwilling to move north

The chairman is currently considering whether to blow up the Fenglingdu Railway Bridge in the Northwest

On March 2, the Japanese army entered Houma without a fight. Two days later, Xinjiang, Jiangxian, and Jishan fell one after another, and Yang Tongqu's 50th Army was also forced to relocate to the Yuanqu line

At this point, Yan Xishan had no choice but to make a firm decision

It was too late to say anything; a massive 210-millimeter artillery shell suddenly exploded nearby, the shockwave causing the ground to roll, and several Japanese soldiers who had no time to take cover fell to the ground.

Colonel Nan Wulang, the intelligence officer of the 109th Division who spoke earlier, also shares this sentiment

This can only be explained in this way

In response to Nishimura's anger, Nan Gorō remained silent for a moment before replying: "It is too late to say anything now; the key issue at present is how to seize Fenglingdu."

Nanjun, seeing this situation, do you still think it is easy to take Fengling Crossing?

Moreover, it is said that the 221st Division has already begun to move towards Zhongtiao Mountain, so how can one still expect Li Guo to send troops north at this time