Check in from the bright sword

With the ability to attack key points, the independent regiment began to target the stronghold.

At this time, the pressure on the 69th Division of the Japanese Army, which was responsible for guarding the northwestern Shanxi region, suddenly increased unprecedentedly.

Ryoichi Yamamoto, chief of staff of the 69th Division, carried the folder and hurried into the office of Inoue Sadae, and reported: "General, a total of 16 strongholds were destroyed by the Eighth Route Army today."

"Among them, the Independent Regiment destroyed 8 strongholds."

"The new regiment destroyed 5."

"The New Second Regiment destroyed 3."

"There are 158 imperial soldiers in total."

"In addition, more than 1200 Imperial Association troops were annihilated."

"More than 900 rifles of various types and 24 machine guns of various types were lost."

Listening to the numbers one after another read from Ryoichi Yamamoto's mouth, Inoue Sadae's face completely collapsed. Today is another bad day!The loss is too great!

Ryoichi Yamamoto: "This is just the loss of each stronghold."

"The loss of the reinforcements was even greater, especially the Heyuan Gendarmerie."

"In order to rescue the strongholds under attack, the gendarmerie guarding the counties sent a total of more than 20 reinforcements."

"Without exception, these reinforcements were ambushed by the Eighth Route Army's reinforcements on the way. The Eighth Route Army used cold weapons such as landmines, traps, and even rolling logs and rocks, causing great losses to the reinforcements."

"There are a total of 306 imperial soldiers Yu Sui in each reinforcement unit, and more than 1500 officers and soldiers of the Imperial Association Army fled."

"Loss of more than 1300 rifles of various types, 32 machine guns of various types, 2 infantry guns, and 75 Italian 1 field gun, with a total loss of ammunition"

"That's enough, don't read any further!"

Inoue Sadae couldn't bear it anymore, and finally stopped talking loudly.

"Hai!" Ryoichi Yamamoto put down the folder and stopped reading.

Inoue Zhenwei let out a long sigh of relief, and said, "Is there not even a piece of good news?"

"There are also some good news." Ryoichi Yamamoto paused slightly, and said, "The Hayata Squad and the 8st Battalion of the 1th Mixed Brigade of the Imperial Association Army performed extremely bravely, defeating the Eighth Route Army's attack again."

"Really?" Inoue Zhenwei said again with a flustered expression, "Is this the first time they have defeated the Eighth Route Army's attack?"

"This is the sixth time in the past half a month!" Yamamoto Ryo said, "The Hayata Squad and the 8st Battalion of the 1th Mixed Brigade of the Imperial Association Army seem to have a lot of experience in dealing with the Eighth Route Army's attack."

After a pause, Ryoichi Yamamoto said again: "In addition to the Xiji stronghold, more than a dozen strongholds such as Niuzhuang and Xiaocaozhuang also thwarted the Eighth Route Army's attack attempt, but the casualties were relatively large."

"Yoxi, all praises." Inoue Sadae said, "As long as the stronghold is defended, all praises."

After a pause, Inoue Zhenwei's expression turned cold again, and he said, "As for those imperial association troops who failed to hold their positions or fled, they should be arrested and shot on the spot!"

Ryoichi Yamamoto's expression changed drastically, and he said, "Master, think twice!"

"If the Imperial Association Army is forced too hard, it may cause a mutiny."

"The current situation in Northwest Shanxi is already difficult enough. If the Imperial Association Army mutinies again, the consequences will be disastrous."

"Baga." Inoue Zhenwei slammed his fist on the large board table and said angrily, "These cowards only know how to eat and drink, but they can run faster than rabbits when fighting!"

Ryoichi Yamamoto: "But at least it can help maintain law and order, can't it?"

Speaking of this meal, Ryoichi Yamamoto said again: "As for dealing with the Eighth Route Army, the Imperial Army did not count on the Imperial Association Army in the first place."

"Okay, let's just shoot them." Inoue Zhenwei snorted and said again, "But you must warn Wei Sang and Liu Sang, and you must never allow the phenomenon of fleeing in battle again."

"Hai!" Ryo Yamamoto paused.

"Also." Inoue Zhenwei said again, "Pan Sang must be commended."

Ryoichi Yamamoto's heart moved slightly, and he said: "The commander of the division, Yang Sang, the head of the 8st Regiment of the 1th Mixed Brigade of the Imperial Association Army, was hit by a stray bullet on the way to reinforce the Xiji stronghold, and unfortunately died on the spot."

"The position of head of the 1st regiment is now vacant."

"Why don't you promote Pan Sang as the head of the 1st regiment? In recognition of his heroic performance?"

"Yo Xi, let's do this." Inoue Zhenwei nodded happily, and then said, "I will promote Pan Sang to be the commander of the 1st regiment, and then assign Pan Sang the command of the Imperial Association Army in more than 20 strongholds near the Xiji stronghold."

"Hayi!" Yamamoto Ryoichi paused, and said again, "Division Commander, in view of the fact that the shortage of our division's soldiers is getting bigger and bigger, and the replacement soldiers have not come for a long time, it is really a bit difficult to continue to maintain the current more than 500 strongholds. overwhelmed."

"So, is it possible to selectively give up some of the strongholds?"

"Even remote counties can give up a few at their discretion."

"Then concentrate the main forces on the strongholds along the Tongpu Railway and several major counties."

"In this way, our defense pressure will be greatly reduced, and the loss will be correspondingly smaller."

Inoue Zhenwei frowned, and said in a deep voice: "Yamamoto-kun, we just gave up more than 100 strongholds not long ago. It's only half a month, and we have to give up more strongholds?"

Ryoichi Yamamoto sighed softly, and said, "Master, the troops are really not enough."

Inoue Zhenwei waved his hand and said, "Yamamoto-kun, have you ever read the Theory of the Six Kingdoms written by Su Xun, a famous scholar in the Song Dynasty in China?"

"Su Xun? Theory of the Six Kingdoms?" Yamamoto Ryoichi said a little ashamedly, "I disappointed the head of the division. I haven't read it."

"Actually, it's nothing." Inoue Zhenwei waved his hand, and continued, "But there is an impressive section in it. Today we cut five cities, tomorrow we cut ten cities, and then we have to sleep overnight."

"Starting to look at the four realms, and Qin Bing came to the end."

Chapter 438 Old Friends Gathering

"Starting to look at the four realms, and Qin Bing coming?" Yamamoto nodded and said, "It's really similar."

"So, peace cannot be brought back by blindly relying on abandoning the outlying strongholds." Inoue Teiichi said, "After seizing the outlying strongholds, the Eighth Route Army will target the county again."

"Even if we give up the remote counties, they will target the strongholds along the Tongpu Railway."

"Even if we give up the strongholds along the Tongpu Railway, the Eighth Route Army will not just accept it as soon as it is good. They will only push forward and target Ping'an County or even Taiyuan!"

"Hayi." Ryoichi Yamamoto said with a pause, "The head of the division is wise, it's because of my shallow knowledge."

Inoue Zhenwei waved his hand, and continued: "We can only let the defense teams in each stronghold and a few quick strike columns work harder, and try our best to survive this difficult period."

"This year will be the most difficult year on the China battlefield."

"Just wait for a turning point in the Pacific battlefield, and the empire will re-intensify its support for us."

"At that time, combat supplies and supplementary soldiers will come in a steady stream. By then, the security situation in Shanxi and even the entire China will be completely reversed."