The 29th Army is the old foundation of the Northwest Army, with a strong sense of combat and good combat effectiveness.

The Japanese 4th Division and the 7th Division fought fiercely for three days and nights in Chengde and Japan. Although the casualties were heavy, the positions remained firm.

However, in the end, because the 106th Brigade responsible for the defense of the left wing was defeated by the 8th Division of the Japanese Army coming from Chifeng, the 29th Army was attacked from both sides and had no choice but to retreat.

Chengde fell to the enemy on the night of April 17th and was occupied by the Japanese army.

After occupying Chengde, the Japanese army pursued the situation non-stop, and soon drove the 29th Army and the remnants of Tangbe out of Rehe, and captured the entire territory of Rehe in less than a week.

However, when the main force of the Japanese army was in the southern area of ​​Jehol, they had not yet had time to move back.

Zhang Xinghan, who had been waiting for a long time, assembled a tank regiment, a motorized infantry division and a cavalry regiment to form a powerful mobile force. It set out from Tongliao and took the lead in launching an attack on Chifeng.

At this time, the headquarters of the 8th Division was located in Chifeng, and the newly appointed Kotaro Nakamura was present in Chifeng.

At this moment, the strength of the 8th Division remaining in Chifeng was less than one regiment.

Zhang Xinghan commanded the 1st Motorized Infantry Division, easily surrounded Chifeng County, and began a fierce attack.

During this period, Kotaro Nakamura tried to lead his troops to break out, but was hit head-on by a tank regiment. He suffered heavy losses and fled back to the city in embarrassment.

Unable to break through, Kotaro Nakamura had no choice but to report to the Kwantung Army Headquarters. At the same time, he sent power to the 4th and 7th Divisions and the main division of the headquarters, asking for relief.

......... "Bagaya Road, Zhang Xinghan is so cunning!" In the headquarters of the Kwantung Army of the Japanese Army in Jinzhou, Commander Muto Nobuyoshi learned that the headquarters of the 8th Division was besieged in Chifeng, and he was furious: "Order No.

The 2nd, 6th, and 10th Divisions immediately stormed Tongliao, and the aviation force immediately took off and rushed to Chifeng for reinforcements. The 4th and 7th Divisions also need to immediately go north to Chifeng, and they must arrive before Chifeng County falls, no matter what."

"Hai!" Kwantung Army Chief of Staff Hashimoto Toranosuke suddenly clasped his legs together, lowered his head in response, and then quickly took the order and left.

…………In fact, even if Muto Nobuyoshi did not give the order, after learning that the commander of the 8th Division was besieged Chifeng, the 4th and 7th Divisions had already begun an urgent march to Chifeng for reinforcements.

South of Chifeng County, Yuanbaoshan.

Zhang Xinghan's temporary headquarters is located here. In the headquarters, Zhang Xinghan is playing chess with Jiang Baili with great interest.

Zhang Xinghan held a cigarette in one hand and said while playing chess: "Chief of Staff, I am calling for reinforcements here. Haha, I'm sorry."

With that said, he ate one of Jiang Baili's carts.

Jiang Baili sat upright, staring at the chess game, and said: "To attack Chifeng violently without entering the city will not only create a greater psychological deterrent for the enemy, but also prevent our army from falling into bitter street fighting after entering the city.

After the Japanese reinforcements from the outside were defeated, Chifeng was defeated without attacking! The commander's use of tactics and grasp of the enemy's psychology are so perfect that Baili admires them!"

"Haha, the chief of staff praised it." Zhang Xinghan smiled and said: "Play chess, keep playing chess."

Suddenly, a burst of rapid footsteps sounded. Zhang Xinghan and Jiang Baili turned their heads and saw the commander of the cavalry regiment, Sabu Li, walking over in a hurry.

"Report to the commander and chief of staff, the reconnaissance unit of our cavalry regiment reports that the Japanese army has passed Chengde and is heading towards Chifeng day and night." Sabli saluted and reported to the second officer.

"Well, continue to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance, and report at any time." Zhang Xinghan waved his hand.

"Yes!" Sabli stood up and responded, then turned around and took the order.

………………………… The battlefield in Jehol was changing, and the 19th Route Army in the Songhu area finally faced the most severe battle.

The Japanese Army once again added two divisions, the 5th and 11th Divisions. Together with the previous 9th Division, the Marine Corps and the Armed Forces Bridge, the total strength of the Japanese Army in Shanghai has exceeded 80,000.

It also has nearly 200 sea-based combat aircraft and dozens of various naval vessels.

With the help of naval ships, the Japanese army began to launch a comprehensive general attack on Shanghai. The newly reinforced 5th Division troops of the Japanese army landed in separate groups. With the assistance of the navy and air force, they penetrated directly into the Yangtze River Estuary, starting from Liuhekou, Yanglinkou, Qi.

Yakou suddenly landed and quickly surrounded the defenders' retreat.

When the 19th Route Army was attacked from both sides, General Zhang Zhizhong led the Central Training Corps and two elite military divisions, 87 and 88, to the battlefield in time.

The outflanking troops of the Japanese 5th Division were repulsed and the defense line was temporarily stabilized.

The two sides began to engage in a fierce offensive and defensive battle in Shanghai. Since the Chinese defenders had no air control and lacked air defense weapons, they were helpless against the large-caliber naval guns of the Japanese warships.

Therefore, under the continuous bombing and air raids by the Japanese navy and air force, the casualties were extremely heavy.

The two sides fought fiercely until April 20th. The 19th Route Army and Zhang Zhizhong's Fifth Army finally turned to the defensive due to heavy casualties and began to shrink their defense lines towards Jiading.

The defeat of the Shanghai War was now inevitable.

In the early morning of the 20th, Zhang Xinghan had just woken up when he was woken up by Jiang Baili: "Commander, the scouts reported that the main force of the 8th Division of the Japanese Army has arrived in Ningcheng, less than fifty kilometers away from us."

"Really? We're finally here." Zhang Xinghan was completely sleepless. He picked up his helmet and put it on. He stood up and said to Jiang Baili: "Chief of Staff, I'll leave you a tank company and a motorized infantry regiment. You can continue to surround me."

Chifeng, as I said before, besiege but not fight. If the little Japanese wants to break out, I will beat the hell out of him. I will personally lead the main force to eat the main force of the 8th Division first."

"Okay, be more careful yourself." Jiang Baili nodded in agreement.

"I will." Zhang Xinghan nodded and shouted outside the headquarters: "Commander, order the tank regiment, the first infantry regiment, the second infantry regiment, and the cavalry regiment to all assemble...!"

……………………Chifeng County, within the headquarters of the 8th Division.

Chief of Staff Takayoshi Muraki was reporting to Kotaro Nakamura: "General, the 32nd and 31st Infantry Regiments have arrived in Ningcheng and will arrive within a day at most. The 4th Division and the 7th Division are also arriving as soon as possible.

Come on, the 17th Regiment of our division has also stopped attacking Sun Dianying's troops and is returning eastward at full speed. Reinforcements will arrive soon."

There was no trace of happiness on Nakamura Kotaro's face. He only had one 5th Infantry Regiment in hand. What puzzled him was that the Chinese Infantry Regiment outside the city had almost never launched an attack so far.

.

Most of the attacks were rapid artillery attacks consisting of tanks, artillery and infantry artillery. However, after the artillery bombardment, few infantry launched siege charges.

This made Kotaro Nakamura very confused. What on earth were the Chinese troops outside the city thinking?

Nakamura Kotaro expressed his confusion. After hearing this, Chief of Staff Kogi Muraki was also confused, but this guy soon said excitedly: "Your Excellency General, no matter what the hell China wants to do, as long as we

Sticking to it for a long time

, the main force of our division and the friendly forces of the 4th and 7th divisions will arrive, and the siege of Chifeng will be lifted by then. Our three divisions will join forces and we will be able to completely defeat Zhang Xinghan! Those who sacrificed their lives for the Battle of Tongliao

The warriors of the Imperial Army seek revenge!”

Under the influence of the optimistic attitude of the chief of staff, Kotaro Nakamura nodded, "Order the officers and soldiers of the 5th Regiment to strengthen their defense and persist until reinforcements arrive no matter what."

"Hai." Xiaoyi Muraki bowed his head happily and responded, turned around and walked away quickly as ordered.

……………………Laoha River originates from Liuxi Manchu Township in the northwest mountainous area of ​​Pingquan County. It enters Chifeng from Dianzi Township in Ningcheng County, flows through the southeast of Chifeng, and meets Naiman in the east of Daxing Township in Wengniute Banner.

At the junction of the Banner and Banner, it merges with the Xilamulun River to form the southern source of the Xiliao River.

The Laoha River reaches near Xizi Town, about 30 kilometers north of Ningcheng, and meets the Kundulun River to the west.

If the Japanese army wants to reinforce Chifeng from Ningcheng, they must cross the Laoha River and Kundulun River. Fortunately, due to the low temperature, these two rivers have completely frozen, and the ice thickness is 30 to 50 years old.

Many centimeters.

The two regiments of the 8th Division of the Japanese Army did not need to build bridges at all, and basically all successfully crossed the Laoha River and the Kundulun River.

However, just as they had just finished crossing the river and were still gathering, the vanguard reconnaissance unit that had set out first came back in a hurry on horseback.

Before the Japanese commander could ask clearly about the situation, they felt the rumble of a huge motor and the sound of intensive galloping horses coming from the front.

The Japs from the two regiments were all shocked. Through their telescopes, they discovered that on the plain ahead, a large group of Chinese tanks and chariots were roaring toward their side at full speed.

There were groups of cavalry on both wings behind the tank, and a large number of infantry who followed.

The top commanders of the two regiments were frightened and quickly ordered the troops to return to the crossing, preparing to withdraw to the south bank for another resistance.

Before the Japanese could escape far back to the south bank, the roar of an engine came from the sky in the distance.

A group of Stuka dive bombers, escorted by more than a dozen fighter jets, flew quickly towards this direction.

The plane was extremely fast and arrived in a blink of an eye. More than a dozen BF109 fighter planes pounced on the group of Japanese soldiers who were desperately trying to escape back.

Nearly fifteen Stuka dive bombers aimed at the Kundulun River and the Laoha River and dived away.

Flying at an ultra-low altitude, one after another heavy aerial bombs were dropped on the river. The violent explosion immediately exploded the frozen river surface. Countless ice cubes and river water were thrown high by the shock wave, and the broken ice cubes were like

It was like sharp shrapnel, causing a lot of damage to the Japanese who were crossing the river.

As the bombing progressed, almost all the ice on a stretch of river several kilometers long was destroyed. A large number of Japanese who crossed the river died under the bombing sweep, and some even fell into the freezing cold water and drowned alive.

.

But more Japanese soldiers were blocked on the north bank, and it was too late to go around and cross the river at this time.
Chapter completed!