In mid-August, the commander of the First Front Army, Peng Dehuai, and General Fu Zuoyi, took a military plane to the location of the headquarters of the 2nd Corps of Datong. According to the command of the commander, in order to effectively cooperate with the lightning operation and to prevent the Japanese army from mobilizing troops to the northeast on the Chahar line, they took the opportunity to launch a powerful offensive against the Japanese army.

During the dog days of summer, the temperature in Datong was very hot. Yang Xiaoou, commander of the 2nd Corps, and chief of staff, Huang Guanghua, personally went to the airport to greet him. Peng Dehuai and his party arrived at the headquarters of the 2nd Corps of Datong. At this time, the commanders of the major army, including the commander of the artillery division, the commander of the heavy artillery brigade, the commander of the 1st Tank Division and the commander of the Air 2nd Division, had already been waiting at the headquarters.[]

Peng Dehuai and others walked into the combat room of the headquarters, and all the generals stood up and saluted. Peng Dehuai waved his hand and asked everyone to sit down and said, "Everyone! Our lightning plan for the Northeast has been greatly successful. At present, our army has controlled the northern regions such as Manzhouli, Qiqihar, and Jiamusi. The first phase of the lightning operation is successfully completed!"

Seeing everyone's expression of excitement, Peng Dehuai continued: "My Third Assault Corps lasted for more than a month in North Manchuria, annihilated four Japanese reorganized divisions, a tank brigade, and two mixed brigades, annihilated a total of 150,000 Japanese troops. Our air force favorably supported ground operations and shot down 272 sunshine aircraft at the same time. What is particularly worthy of commendation is the US bomber group and transport aircraft group, which played an important role in ensuring that our army's operations."

Peng Dehuai continued: "This time, our troops went out of North Manchuria, and for the first time we adopted the three-dimensional combat mode of modern warfare. The airborne troops went deep into the enemy's back to strike, flexibly maneuvered, and unexpectedly, and the battlefield rescue effect was also significant. The tank crew made great breakthroughs in depth, quickly and efficiently annihilated the enemy, and evolved a new combat mode. Our ground troops acted quickly and the battlefield command was flexible and changeable, and then achieved brilliant results!"

Peng Dehuai changed his tone and said, "Everyone! After all, we are alone in North Manchuria. In order not to give the Japanese army a chance to breathe, we must launch a tough battle on the Chahar front line. The headquarters requires us to break through on the Chahar front line by the end of September, occupy Doron before the end of the year, and maintain a strong offensive posture against Beijing, Tianjin and Chifeng front line to ensure the smooth completion of our North Manchuria combat plan."

Peng Dehuai continued: "Maybe some people would ask why we did not launch an attack in Zhangjiakou at the same time. Not attacking Zhangjiakou means avoiding the two fronts attacking and fighting at the same time. Over the past few years, the Japanese army has formed a large-scale defensive system in Chahar, and the Japanese army has formed a solid fortress group. The difficulty of attacking can be imagined. If we occupy Duolun, Zhangjiakou will become a stronghold in the fortress and lose its significance. Therefore, we must concentrate our superior forces and focus on breaking through! And form a combat situation that is favorable to the Japanese defense line in Beijing and Tianjin!"

Peng Dehuai continued: "Your 2nd Corps has accumulated rich experience in the Yangquan counterattack operation. Taking over the Japanese defense line in Chahar is a arduous task that you must complete. Since the Japanese army formed a large-depth defense system, our tank troops were unable to implement large-depth interlaced machine operation combat, so the 1st Tank Division will cover the infantry and launch a tough battle. This is another new attempt. I hope you will give the combination of the intra-tank to the extreme. Please recommend the Chief of Staff to issue a detailed combat plan!"

Peng Dehuai finished his speech in one go, mobilizing the emotions of the officers present. Chief of Staff Fu Zuoyi stood up and walked to the military map and said: "The Japanese army formed a diamond-shaped defensive system in Zhangbei, Kangbao, Guyuan, and Zhenglan Banners. Okamura Yanji once boasted that this is the most solid fortress in the world. Yes, we have to admit that the Japanese army's defensive system is very strong, but we are going to launch an offensive on the Japanese army's strongest line of defense!"

Fu Zuoyi continued: "The headquarters requires that Zhangbei, Kangbao, and Tuershan must be taken down by the end of September, and the Japanese army's diamond-shaped defense line must be opened. Guyuan and Zhenglan Banner will be captured in October. Doron will be captured before the end of the year. This time we will concentrate four artillery divisions, three heavy artillery brigades, the 2nd Air Force's 4th bombing wing, and the 3rd Air Force will carry out support operations on the battlefield at any time. The specific combat plan will be formulated by the Corps Command. Today is August 16 and August 20. "

After the military meeting, Peng Dehuai and Fu Zuoyi temporarily set up a command center in Datong to command operations. Yang Xiaoou led all the generals to Chahar to form the front-line battle command. On the same day, commander Yang Xiaoou led his subordinates to the Chahar front. The next day, the Corps Command held a combat meeting, and officers above the division attended.

At the beginning, commander Yang Xiaoou said: "Everyone, the 3rd Corps has created a brilliant record in North Manchuria and set a good start for our large counterattack. The headquarters handed over such a arduous task to us. I think none of us is willing to be a turtle. We must resolutely complete the task. Please ask the Chief of Staff to issue a combat plan!"

Chief of Staff Huang Guanghua stood up and said, "Everyone, we have concentrated four armies to launch a powerful offensive on the front line of Zhangbei and Kangbao. The 6th Army was responsible for the attack in Zhangbei area, the 7th Army attacked Tu'er Mountain, the 8th Army mainly attacked Kangbao, and the 9th Army acted as a reserve. The 15th Army of the former Third Corps Ji Hongchang still served as the front line of Zhangjiakou, while maintaining military pressure on the Japanese army."

Huang Guanghua continued: "The 1st Tank Division assisted Zhang Bei and Kang Bao in the front line of attack, and the 2nd Air Division covered the 4th bombing wing of the US military to support the battlefield. The Japanese army had four divisions and one tank division on the front, with a total force of about 150,000. The Japanese army had about 180 combat aircraft at Guyuan and Duolun Field Airport, and the Japanese army had 280 combat aircraft at Beiping Nanyuan Airport. We will increase the fighter fleet at any time according to the air force invested by the Japanese army."

On August 19, the Japanese North China Defense Command of Peking was heard incessantly. Okamura Yanji's face was gray and obviously thin. At this time, he looked at the military map and was silent. The Chief of Staff said: "God of General! The situation in North Manchuria is very critical at the moment. Our overall defense plan is fragmented. It is incredible that the Chinese army will leave North Manchuria. In less than a month, the Kwantung Army lost four divisions, which made the Kwantung Army so vulnerable. After all, the Chinese army is alone and deep!"

Okamura Yanji sighed and said, "We made a fatal mistake in strategy. The Chinese people don't play according to common sense at all. They have excellent strategic masters. They gave us a fatal blow in places we could not imagine, where all military strategists generally believed that it was impossible to appear. It was not a problem of the Kanto Army's combat, but we were not prepared at all in Beiman City. Moreover, the Chinese army invested three tank divisions this time, an airborne force of 20,000 people. The number of Chinese tanks actually reached more than 1,000, and our tanks were not opponents in terms of fire control performance and protective armor mobility. Therefore, it is not surprising that Beiman City will have such a situation."

Okamura Yasuji said: "The Chinese have studied the practical experience of German armored troops in rapid assault. In North Manchuria, our surrounded troops were unable to carry out battlefield rescue due to the mobile combat capabilities of tanks. This is so terrible. Therefore, I guess that the Chinese tank troops were not established by the Americans, and they had already formed an army, and our intelligence agencies were simply a bucket."

The Chief of Staff said dissatisfied: "The Chinese gathered secretly in eastern Outer Mongolia, and our intelligence agencies did not notice anything, especially the military experts at the base camp, which made people extremely angry!" Okamura Nishi said helplessly: "They can't blame them all! The Chinese are too cunning. They launched a large-scale feint attack on the front lines of Jiangnan, Henan, Zhangjiakou, and Chahar. In fact, they were covering the operation of troops to go to Outer Mongolia. We were deceived."

"Report! Call from the base camp!" An operational staff member reported. Okamura Yasuji received the message, and the message read: At present, the Chinese army in North Manchuria was in decline, and a new line of defense is being formed. The base camp requires the North China Defense Command to ensure that the front line of Chahar and Zhangjiakou cannot be missed, ensure the safety of the Beijing-Tianjin area, and ensure the safety of the front line of Chifeng. The signature is Tojo Hideki.

After reading the telegram, the Chief of Staff said: "It's certain that in order to cooperate with the Northern Manchuria operations, the Chinese army must launch a new offensive. It is impossible to determine whether the main attack direction is Zhangjiakou or Chahar?" "No need to guess! The main attack direction of the Chinese army must be Chahar!" Okamura Yanji made a clear judgment.

"Immediately send a report to Tada Jun that the Chinese army will soon launch a large-scale attack on the front line of Chahar, and order his front-line defensive troops to enter combat preparations. Tell him that the rise and fall of the empire will be in this way. Order all combat aircraft in Zhengzhou to transfer and enter the Beiping Airport. We ensure the safety of the Beijing-Tianjin area, and at the same time ensure the safety of Nanman."

On that day, on the west side of Zhangbei, on the 6th Army Command, Commander Hao Junfeng, facing several division commanders, pointed to the sand table and said, "The Japanese army has 12 defense trenches outside Zhangbei, including 4 anti-tank trenches, and minefields are arranged. The Japanese army has many castles and the defense system is very solid. We must not only break through the Japanese defensive positions, but also reduce casualties. I believe everyone still remembers Yangquan's attack and battles!"

One division commander said: "Commander! Don't worry! We have made a lot of preparations for the Japanese defensive characteristics." Another division commander continued: "Considering that the Japanese army fought desperately to defend, we hunted and equipped with flamethrowers provided by the US military. The officers and soldiers all said that this new weapon was very effective for the Japanese army who resisted stubbornly in the bunker."

Hao Junfeng said: "Advanced weapons are not the most important thing. Don't think that everything will be fine if you have one or two advanced weapons. This time, our army is bound to win the Chahar attack, but the Japanese army cannot make mistakes. Remember that this place is different from the Yangquan attack. The Japanese army must not only defend stubbornly, but also fight to the death to support the battle, and even carry out fierce counterattacks. Therefore, you must be fully prepared!"

On the front-line attack position of the 7th Army, the commander Lu Yufeng led several division commanders to the front line to check the terrain. Lu Yufeng observed and said, "Look at the Tu'er Mountain defense line opposite us, it is a low hill, but it has moved north and south, forming a natural barrier in the middle of Zhangbei and Kangbao. The Japanese army has a large-depth defense system. If the breach effect of the two wings is not good, it is particularly important to break through the Japanese defense line in the middle!"

The Chief of Staff added: "The Japanese army dug trenches 10 meters wide and 4 meters deep at the foot of the mountain, and the trenches were filled with water. Behind the trenches was a minefield of 200 meters. The Japanese army built a large number of permanent fortifications on the oncoming hillside, and we are facing very difficult bones. I have read the combat plan of your divisions, and we have basically considered what we should consider. But we must encounter new problems. I hope you all must be mentally prepared!"
Chapter completed!