12dz Chapter 285 Ishida Keio's Confidence
Chapter 285 Ishida Keio's Confidence
"But there's something strange. Along the way, there were only strongholds and artillery towers defended by puppet troops. We didn't see even a single Japanese soldier!"
"Isn't that what it is?"
In fact, this was related to the Japanese's key defense. Their military strength no longer allowed them to take risks, so they withdrew their elite troops to county towns and important towns, and handed over all the outer strongholds to the puppet army.
"This is good too. We don't have to look for them one by one. We can just catch them all at once!"
After the two people finished chatting, Li Yunlong at the Pingshun Military Fortress had received reports that the various divisions had arrived at the outskirts of the first phase target.
"Order: The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Infantry Divisions, quickly launch an attack. Make sure to capture the three counties before dark today and establish defenses. In addition, the 2nd and 3rd Armored Divisions will approach Wuxiang and Liaoxian respectively, and prepare to attack Taiyuan!"
Wang Meng's order was immediately issued to all troops, and each division immediately took action and moved towards their respective designated targets.
At this time, Lieutenant General Ishida Keio, commander of the 69th Division in Linfen, had already felt the encirclement of the independent column.
"Baga, three divisions, more than 30,000 elite troops!"
"General, I have sent a signal for help to the Taiyuan Headquarters. According to the record of the former 69th Division Commander Kei Miura Kenjiro, we must concentrate our forces to defeat the independent column!"
Ishida Keio shook his head. As Linfen was the most important strategic stronghold in southwestern Shanxi, the Japanese had been operating it for many years and had done a lot of preparatory work.
Linfen is a major transportation hub city in southern Shanxi Province. It was known in ancient times as "bordering Leihuo in the east, controlling Hefen in the west, connecting Qin and Shu in the south, and reaching You and Bing in the north." It has an important geographical location and has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times.
Because it is located on the east bank of the Fen River, its shape resembles a giant bull lying on the slope of the river bank, so it is commonly known as "Lying Bull City". Moreover, the terrain is that the inner city is higher than the outer city, making it naturally easy to defend and difficult to attack.
Since the establishment of Linfen City, there has been no record of it being attacked by force except for the case of voluntary abandonment.
The bottom of Linfen city wall is 30 meters thick, and the top is more than 10 meters thick, enough for two large trucks to pass side by side.
This 30-meter-thick wall would take a long time to gnaw even with a 150mm howitzer, and it was also necessary to ensure that each shell could hit the same position.
In order to prevent surprise attacks from the independent column's infantry and armored infantry, the Japanese built a circle of moats outside the city of Linfen.
The moat was more than ten meters wide and five meters deep, so infantry and armored troops could not pass through it quickly. Moreover, under the direct fire from the enemy from above, it was difficult for engineers to do anything.
A large number of anti-tank cones were temporarily placed outside the moat to prevent the rapid advance of armored forces, but unexpectedly, it was infantry that came.
Various open and hidden bunkers were built on the inner slope of the moat. Anyone who wanted to cross the moat would be covered in dense rain of bullets.
The concrete thickness of these bunkers was at least half a meter, and the 105mm howitzer had a hard time penetrating them.
The city is dotted with bunkers of all kinds, with a fort every three steps and a fort every five steps, for tight defense.
Therefore, Ishida Keio was full of confidence that with the will of the empire's soldiers and such strong fortress fortifications, he could completely withstand the attack of the independent column.
"Yoshi, let the Independent Column have a taste of the Eastern Majilo Line!"
Ishida Keio immediately gathered the puppet troops from the surrounding strongholds and deployed them to the first line of defense of the moat, obviously intending to use them as cannon fodder.
But as a "dog", how can it have the right to resist and choose?
Ishida Keio cleared out the civilians in the city, not because he was kind-hearted or afraid of hurting civilians by mistake, but because he had his own considerations.
On the one hand, he was afraid that these common people would interfere. After all, the independent column had a special combat force. If they were really infiltrated, they would be doomed. After all, the firing ports of his bunkers and forts were all facing outside the city.
On the other hand, Ishida Keio was prepared to fight a protracted war with the independent column and wear out the Chinese soldiers in Linfen. Therefore, he had to spend all the limited resources in the city on the cutting edge. After the fortifications were completed, these Chinese were a burden.
Linfen City has now become Ishida Keio's fortress, and he is confident that he can hold out here for three months!
"Have the supplies from Taiyuan been delivered?"
"General, the supplies have already departed from Taiyuan and should arrive in Linfen soon! In addition, there is an infantry regiment escorting supplies to support Linfen!"
Ishida Keio nodded with satisfaction and fixed his eyes on the three county towns of Jixian, Houma and Hejin on the sand table.
These three counties are definitely not going to be able to be defended. The purpose of those abandoned pieces now is to slow down the speed of the independent column's attack and buy time for Linfen to deploy its defenses!
"Order these three counties to stop the independent column with all their might, and be determined to fight to the death with the counties!"
"Hayi!"
The Ogawa Squadron stationed in Ji County had received an order from the 69th Brigade of Linfen to defend the county seat to the death.
"Baga, order all the warriors in the squadron to go up to the city wall, and also tell the Chinese in the security group to take up their weapons and defend the county with all their strength!"
Ogawa looked at the fanatical Japanese soldiers and there was actually a bit of pity in his eyes.
Because he was the only one who knew that they would die in this county and there would be no possibility of survival!
In order to boost morale, Lieutenant Ogawa announced an unrestrained military order in Ji County, allowing all the Japanese soldiers to "enjoy" the day without restraint in the county.
The so-called enjoyment is nothing but burning, killing and looting.
With its gates tightly shut, Ji County became a closed death zone, and the weak pleas for mercy and cries of the common people could be heard everywhere.
Ding Wei, the commander of the 1st Infantry Division responsible for the attack on Ji County, knew that something bad was going to happen when he saw a large amount of black smoke appearing in the sky over Ji County.
"Damn it, it must be the damn Japanese who are abusing the people! Attack immediately!"
According to the unified deployment of the independent column command, the battles in Jixian, Houma and Hejin started simultaneously.
Wang Meng also noticed that Linfen was like a water pump, concentrating all the Japanese and puppet troops in the surrounding strongholds into Linfen City.
"It seems that the Japanese are ready to defend Linfen to the death!"
Li Yunlong has been working in southern Shanxi for many years and knows Linfen very well.
"Damn it, the Japanese have learned their lesson. The terrain of Linfen plus the solid story make it look like an iron box!"
Wang Meng also frowned. If the Japanese had dug a large number of underground fortifications in the city, he was afraid that planes and cannons would not be able to solve the problem.
Therefore, his pump must be turned off. Now every time a Japanese soldier or puppet army enters Linfen, they may pick up a machine gun and block a company of soldiers in the bunker!
"Orders: While the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Infantry Divisions are attacking the corresponding counties, they should also be deployed to the outskirts of Linfen in advance to kill all the Japanese who attempt to sneak into Linfen!"