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In order to ensure the successful crossing of the Yongding River by the Fifth Army of the Guards and reduce the resistance of the troops to advance northward, three aviation divisions of the Jinan War Zone took turns to launch a large-scale air strike on the Japanese army on the north bank of the Yongding River. The range of the air strikes not only included the Japanese positions in front of the guards' crossing, but also expanded to the north bank of the Yongding River between Ci'an and Gu'an, as well as all Japanese ground targets from Langfang to Tianjin on the Pingjin Railway.

The air strikes lasted more than two hours, in addition to causing a large number of casualties to the Japanese army, also destroyed most of the ground positions they built, forcing Lin Fangtaro to move the 110th Division command center in Langfang to the basement of the station to ensure safety.

Half an hour after the air strike began, seeing that the Japanese firepower on the other side of the crossing river was completely suppressed, the engineering troops of the Fifth Army of the Guards began to carry out the operation of setting up a floating bridge in front of the enemy.

Under the traction and push of motor vehicles, two steel floating boxes, which were more than 150 meters long, slid from the snow-covered ground on the south bank of Yongding River toward the river channel that had been broken through the ice-clad river. After arriving at the riverside, the towing vehicle exited and pushed the floating box from the rear to push the floating box into the water. Then, the engineers activated the motors of two small iron-shelled ships located at the front of the two floating boxes to drive the two floating boxes to move towards the opposite shore.

The steel floating box, which is more than 150 meters long, is naturally not light in weight, but after the floating box is like water, it is driven by the small iron-shelled ship in front and the tank car with pushing shovels behind it, and the floating bridge made of the floating box was lined up on the surface of the Yongding River in less than twenty minutes.

After the front end of the pontoon bridge arrived on the other side, the engineers who were moving forward jumped up from the bridge deck and used the tools they carried to fix the bridge between the two sides. After working for nearly half an hour, Fang Zihua breathed a sigh of relief and laughed: "It's done! These two pontoon bridge-pass tanks are guaranteed to be fine!"

Chen Haidong, the commander of the 9th Company of the Engineering Corps, wiped the sweat beads on his forehead, exhaled white breath, and said with a smile: "Captain, it is not difficult to build a bridge in front of the enemy, it is not as difficult as our usual drill!"

"It's not difficult? I don't look at how many bombs the Air Force threw at the Japanese positions in order to ensure our safety? Besides, how can the Yongding River in this dry winter be compared with the canal and Huaihe River with a big water surge in summer?" Fang Zihua gave Chen Haidong a blank look and said, "I'm so glad to put a floating bridge on the Yongding River? It's really unpromising! When can we cleanly build a floating bridge on the Yangtze River within one or two hours, and make the natural barrier turn into a thoroughfare. That's the ability!"

During the installation of the floating bridge, the remaining Japanese troops on the north bank of the Yongding River also bombed the plane on their heads and opened fire on the floating bridge. The Japanese artillery and other heavy firepower were completely damaged in the air strike. Machine guns and several mortars could not do anything to the steel floating box. Moreover, as soon as the Japanese army opened fire, the location of the fire point was calibrated by the artillery observation post established by the Fifth Army on the south bank of the Yongding River, and then called on artillery fire to knock down the fire points. During the entire bridge building process, except for more than a dozen engineers who were injured by the Japanese mortar shrapnel, there was no other loss, which was smooth!

"Captain, when the army goes south, we will definitely build a larger floating bridge on the Yangtze River!" Chen Haidong smiled and said with a yearning look.

"I'll talk about what happened in the future! Now hurry back to the camp and change your clothes to get rid of the sweat!" Fang Zihua reminded, "It's almost time to hit Peking. If you don't pay attention and fall ill for ten days and half a month, you won't be able to catch up with the subsequent drama!"

As soon as the floating bridge was formed, the battle to cross the river officially began. Under the order of Lu Xueyi, the commander of the Fifth Army, the armored troops took the lead in crossing Hebei, and the Mojian Division, the Artillery Division, the Air Defense Brigade and other departments followed.

Due to previous air strikes and artillery attacks, when the 51st Armored Division of the Fifth Army and the Armored Brigade of the Army directly rumbled from the two pontoon bridges to the north bank of the Yongding River, they encountered only the remaining Japanese troops in sporadic attacks with rifles and limited machine guns.

"All of them are like this, and they are still struggling to death?" Feng Youwu, the commander of the armored division who was commanding in front of the command vehicle, smiled disdainfully, and then issued an order through the command channel. "Each division shall divide the previous sections to clear the enemy troops along the river to ensure the smooth crossing of the subsequent troops! After half an hour, he will concentrate on attacking Langfang and cut off the Pingjin Railway!"

Although the Japanese positions on the north bank were bumped by air strikes and artillery bombardment, they could not hinder the tracked tanks and armored vehicles. As the armored troops advanced deep into the Japanese positions, some Japanese who were lucky enough to die rushed towards the chariot with cluster grenades and screamed, trying to die together. But before they could get close, they were shot into sieve by the machine guns equipped on the chariot. As for the Japanese who used machine guns and mortars to attack the chariots in the distance, they were also knocked off one by one by one by the onboard artillery.

The Armored Brigade of the Fifth Army headed south between the Pingjin Railway on the north bank of the Yongding River, and opened up a passage with Tianjin early, establishing contact with the Gaofeng School Department of the Second Army.

After Gaofeng School invaded Tianjin urban area in the morning, the Japanese army close to Tianjin on the Pingjin Railway failed to rescue and retreated back to Yangcun to Luohanjian. The enemy troops in this unit originally had more than 4,000, but after the air strike, the remaining combatable troops were less than 3,000.

Although Lu Xueyi and others did not know the exact number of enemies south of Langfang, Pingjin Railway at this time, based on the total strength of the North China Front Army in the area north of the Cangshi Line and the number of Japanese troops annihilated in this battle, it was inferred that the enemy's strength would not exceed 5,000 after being attacked by air strikes. The Japanese, who were less than 5,000 and lacked heavy firepower, were enough to completely eliminate them with the firepower of the armored brigade and more than 7,000 troops!

Under forced crossing operations, there will generally be a large number of casualties, but this time, the Fifth Army had more than ten injured people when the engineers were building bridges, and there were no other casualties.

Under the fierce attack of the air and ground fire of the Guards, most of the positions built by the Japanese 110th Division and other units on the north bank of the Yongding River were destroyed. Among them, the Japanese artillery positions listed as key targets were completely destroyed. Even all the artillery of several infantry corps were destroyed by air strikes or by the fire suppression of the Fifth Army Artillery Division.

According to Lu Xueyi's order, the first to cross the river was the armored troops with an offensive and defense. With their powerful penetration ability, it was easy to remove the remaining Japanese soldiers on the Houhe River defense position.

The heavy firepower of the Japanese army was destroyed, and the remaining troops at the front positions were extremely limited. In addition, the guards were forcibly advancing with armored troops. Combined with many factors, the dangerous road to cross the Yongding River became a smooth road...

"It's not a little bit now. If we let go of the battle, we will be able to arrive at the city of Peiping at night today!" Seeing the troops crossing the river one after another and unfolding on the north bank, Zhong Yuanyang said with some regret. "It's a pity that in order to ensure the annihilation of the Kwantung Army's southward corps, we had to walk with our feet!"

The distance from Yongqing to Peiping is about 100 kilometers. If the propulsion speed of the armored troops is as high as the speed of the armored troops, they can fully advance to the city of Peiping within five hours before dark. However, when the Fifth Army was preparing to cross the river on the south bank of Yongding River, Gu Haichuan and Sun Guantao sent a telegram in the name of the Jinan War Zone and the Front Enemy Command, ordering the department to control the propulsion speed in order to create an illusion for Okamura and thus prompt the Kwantung Army to move south to speed up the assembly speed.

"Now restraint is to eliminate the Japanese army more. Besides, it is not just our army. Don't Lao Gao keep Takeshita Yoshiki's tail in Tianjin, and then annihilate it after he defeated the Kwantung Army's southward corps?" Chen Guohong didn't care and said with a smile, "I can't eat hot tofu in a hurry. Okamura has become a dish on the plate, so don't be too impatient!"

"Hastyness means not reaching. If the advancement is too fast. At night today, the troops will be at the city of Beiping. Okamura will definitely use the retreating Japanese army and its power to control while urging the Kwantung Army to move south. If this old Japanese is really blocked in the city of Beiping, it will be a big trouble to fight!" Lu Xueyi frowned and said, "There are too many ancient sites in Beiping, and Lao Gao's approach in Tianjin cannot be copied to Beiping. And as long as it is, it is a big trouble." Street fighting started in Peiping. Even if our army strictly restricts the use of heavy weapons, the damage caused will definitely not be light! Besides, if the Japanese are anxious to jump over the wall and pull the back of the Beiping City, it will be a big loss. But if we first defeat the Kwantung Army Corps, there will be no foreign aid on Okamura and no soldiers available. Our army will surround three more queu 1, then the old Japanese may abandon the city and flee. This will be more conducive to our army's smooth entry into Peiping."

"I understand the truth, but I'm just a little regretful." Zhong Yuanyang smiled and said, "However, our troops are moving slowly. The Third Army heading north along the Pinghan Line can catch up. I guess they can appear under the city of Peiping with our army."

After advancing from the south bank of Weihe to Gaoyi yesterday, the journey of more than 240 kilometers, the main force of the Third Army of the Guards led by Wu Deqing along the Pinghan Line north of the Pinghan Line was also not slow today.

Because the main force of the Japanese army's 1st Brigade had retreated with the 110th Division, the Wude Qing army encountered some great resistance in Shijiazhuang, but they encountered only a small group of Japanese troops and some puppet troops along the way, and they were not greatly hindered.

For the Japanese army that was fighting stubbornly in Shijiazhuang, Wudeqing only left one of the Mojian divisions' forces to clear the enemy and stabilize the local situation, so he continued to march north. By noon on the 12th, he had attacked and advanced more than 110 kilometers to reach the northern part of Xinle. At this speed, Wudeqing's troops could indeed appear under the city of Peiping around noon tomorrow.

"Lao Wu was a little anxious." Chen Guohong shook his head and sighed, "Fortunately he was advancing along the Pinghan Line. Fortunately, the Japanese retreated in a hurry, and many bridges did not have time to be destroyed. In addition, it was convenient for pontoon bridges and traversing in the dry season in winter. In other cases, it would be difficult to make such progress!"

"When our troops head north from central Hebei, the Second Army head north to Tianjin along the Jinpu Line, and the Japanese army was short of troops and had to retreat north after suffering heavy damage, the Third Army now has no problem with the speed of the Third Army." Lu Xueyi had other insights and said, "As long as the engineers built bridges fast enough, the oil replenishment could keep up, it is possible for Lao Wu to be faster! When Lao Gao advances to the Luanhe Line, our troops head north to Daxing and Nanyuan. Lao Wu leads his troops to Wanping Line tomorrow, and then he will be in the city! The old Japanese devil of Okamura will not last long!"

After the 400,000 guards headed north, especially the Second Army invaded Tianjin in the morning, and the Fifth Army crossed the Yongding River at noon, the North China Front Army headquarters was immersed in an unprecedented depression and dull atmosphere. On the faces of the Japanese generals entering and leaving, there was no smile. They all had stern faces, their expressions were as dark and cold as the weather outside.

"How is the restoration of the Gubei Exit Passage now? When will the Southward Corps be able to enter the pass?" In the North China Front Command, Okamura Yasuji sat in front of a wall, staring at the large-scale map on the wall with bloodshot eyes, and asked without looking back.

Since the guards head north, Okamura Yanji has not had a good rest and has been in anxiety. Early in the morning of the 12th, shortly after the Kanto Army entered the pass, Okamura learned about the bad news that the guards had entered Tianjin through a telegram from Takeshita Yoshihiko. Since then, Okamura has sat in front of the wall, staring at the map and thinking hard, hoping to find an effective way to solve the current dilemma. But what he got was another bad news that the guards came from Lin Fangtaro that broke through the Yongding River defense line at noon.

Although Takeshita Yoshiguchi has been persisting in Haikuang Temple until now, Lin Fangtaro has also been persisting in Langfang. However, Okamura Yiji knew very well that if reinforcements could not appear in time, these two places would definitely not be persisted early the morning after tomorrow, and it would even be a problem whether they could survive until tomorrow.

"From the reply I just received, the Gubeikou Pass will be repaired around the early morning of tomorrow, and the Southward Corps are also ready to enter the pass. However, in order to avoid the daytime operation being subjected to enemy air strikes, Chief Umetsu of the Kanto Army ordered the Southward Corps to enter the pass tomorrow evening." Chief of staff Ogito Sanji replied as he looked at the telegram in his hand.

From early morning on the 12th to now, Okamura has sent telegrams to the Kanto Army Headquarters and the Southward Corps four times. The most recent this time was when the guards broke through the Yongding River defense line and headed north to Langfang. The telegram received by Ogito Sanjiyao included Umezu Mijiro's reply.

"According to the enemy's current attack speed, you can appear under the city of Peiping by night tomorrow! I send a call to the base camp in the name of the front army. Chen Ming's front army is facing now, urges the base camp to urge the Kwantung Army to enter the pass as soon as possible!" Okamura said hurriedly, "Even if the southward corps cannot enter the pass before dawn tomorrow, at least two divisions must be driven to Peiping to ensure the stability of the defense line! Otherwise, once Tianjin is completely lost, Langfang, Daxing and other places will be out of protection. The enemy will have at least 200,000 troops to besiege Peiping! With the guards and gendarmerie alone, the enemy's armored troops can capture Peiping with just one assault!"

"Your Excellency, the base camp just called to ask whether Pekin can persist and how long it can last, and asked the front army to reply in time." Ogito asked hesitantly, "How should we reply?"

"The base camp, as long as the nine divisions of the Kanto Army can enter the pass tomorrow, the situation in Pektsu will definitely be eased!" Okamura Yasuhiro turned around, staring at Ogito with red eyes and said word by word. "Unless the base camp can withstand the loss of North China and the series of consequences brought about by this, it can only be solved by increasing troops! In addition, the base camp is requested to dispatch new fighter jets to North China to fight, and the new fighter jets cannot be used only in the Pacific battlefield, as the Chinese battlefield is equally important!"

Miji Ogito opened his mouth, but swallowed the words he wanted to say back into his stomach, and nodded and responded: "Hi Yi!"

Whether it is for the Japanese base camp, the North China Front Army, or Okamura Yasuji, the loss of North China is an unbearable responsibility. Although Okamura did not say it clearly, the meaning is already very obvious, which is to pull the base camp together with the North China Front Army to bear the responsibility of losing North China.

In fact, Okamura is now deeply regretful. The combat plan in Xi'an was originally good, but it would be great if the progress could be faster. If Xi'an could be conquered twenty days ahead of schedule, the North China Front Army could completely return to defend Hebei, eastern Henan and other places. In this way, even if the People's Party launches a large-scale armed force, there will be enough troops to resist its offensive. Even if it is still not enough to fight against the People's Party's more than one million troops, it will not be lost in most of North China within two or three days like the moment, resulting in a critical situation in Pingjin!

Of course, if we could learn the background of the People's Party's armed forces as soon as possible, especially the guards had developed such a strong combat force in the absence of food in the past few years, the Xi'an operation would not have proposed.

In addition to frustration, Okamura also believed that since the base camp approved the Xi'an combat plan and even commended the participating troops for the smooth progress of the Xi'an combat, there is no reason to let the North China Front Army and even Okamura themselves bear the responsibility for the failure of the Xi'an combat and the loss of North China caused by this. At least the heads of the base camp who approved the relevant plan must also bear the responsibility.

"It's less than three days since the Guards head north to now. No matter how fast the Kantong Army mobilizes, it's impossible to achieve nine divisions entering the pass at the same time!" After receiving a telegram from the North China Front Army, Sugiyama Tsubaki said with a blushing face, "What does it mean, 'as long as the nine divisions of the Kantong Army can enter the pass tomorrow to fight', 'can only be solved by increasing troops'? What does Okamura mean? Do you threaten the base camp?"

"Your Excellency, I think Commander Okamura did not mean to threaten the base camp." Tanabe Moribu, who had worked with Okamura in the North China Front Army and had a good relationship, quickly smoothed out, "The enemy attacked Tianjin, and the Yongding River defense line was broken again. Commander Okamura just hopes that the Kwantung Army's southward corps will be faster and the reinforcements will be more. After all, if the aviation troops entering the pass this time are equipped with new fighters, there will be no result of the whole situation being broken and the enemy will not lose. Now the output of the new fighter jets in the Empire has increased significantly, and it is time to consider enhancing the aviation force on the Chinese battlefield!"

"Tanabianjun, it is not something that can be done right now. It takes time to mobilize personnel and deploy fighter jets, and it cannot catch up with the current battle in Pektsu." Sugiyama's face relaxed a lot, and she sighed, "Time is too tight, and even the nine divisions of the Kanto Army cannot enter the pass at the same time. The fastest five divisions will be after the early morning of tomorrow!"

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