Chapter 158 Accidental collision
Yoshio Shinozuka’s idea was very simple. Since Yoshio Iwamatsu wanted to use the special forces team to forcibly replace him as the commander of the Shanxi garrison.

Then he would directly order the special forces team to carry out a decapitation operation against the command structure of the 386th Brigade.

As long as the special forces team successfully completes the decapitation operation, he will be able to seize the opportunity to encircle and suppress the 386th Brigade.

At that time, the three brigades will take advantage of the destruction of the 386th Brigade’s headquarters and the chaos in the Eighth Route Army’s command to re-occupy the Shangdang area.

Moreover, if the special forces plan succeeds, Yoshio Iwamatsu will never be able to become the commander of the Shanxi garrison in advance.

And he is still the commander of the Shanxi garrison. At that time, he only needs to slow down the attack speed of the troops, so that he can buy time for the special forces team to behead the highest commander of the Eighth Route Army and gain credit again.

However, the premise of all this is that Yamamoto Ikki’s special forces team really has the ability to successfully take down the headquarters of the 386th Brigade.

If he failed, he would have no choice but to hand over command and pass the position of commander to Yoshio Iwamatsu.

Yamamoto Kazuki also understood what Shinozuka Yoshio meant. It was obvious that Shinozuka Yoshio was putting everything on him and his special forces team.

It can be said that Yoshio Shinozuka bet his future on him and the special forces team!

Seeing that Yoshio Shinozuka believed in him so much, what reason did Yamamoto Ikki have to refuse?

The suggestions put forward by Yoshio Shinozuka are indeed in line with Yamamoto Ikki’s own positioning of the special forces team.

It is to attack important targets and then create opportunities for the main force to win.

“Commander, your suggestion is very good. The special forces can carry out a decapitation operation against the headquarters of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army at any time.”

“Yoshi, Mr. Yamamoto, come and take a look. Where do you think the headquarters of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army will be located?”

Seeing that Yamamoto Ikki agreed to his suggestion, Shinozuka Yoshio took out a stick and handed it to Yamamoto Ikki, indicating that he should guess where the headquarters of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army would be located.

“Mr. Yamamoto, my guess is that the Eighth Route Army’s headquarters will most likely be set up in Linyuan County.”

“Linyuan County is close to Taiyue Mountain. If the headquarters of the 386th Brigade is set up in Linyuan County, then the brigade commander can command the Eighth Route Army troops in Taiyue Mountain, Linyuan County, and Shiquan County at the same time.”

“Moreover, in a town facing Taiyuan in Linyuan County, the 358th Regiment of the Shanxi Suiyuan Army is stationed there.

According to our intelligence, the 358th Regiment has 5,000 troops and is well-equipped. Compared with the army’s equipment, the 358th Regiment’s equipment is not inferior to that of our Great Japanese Locust Army.

The commander of the 358th Regiment, Chu Yunfei, was a top student at Whampoa Military Academy and had real talent and knowledge.

With the strength of the 358th Regiment, it can at least resist the strength of our two battalions.”

“So I think the headquarters of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army is likely to be located in Linyuan County. What do you think, Mr. Yamamoto?”

After listening to the location of the 386th Brigade headquarters speculated by Yoshio Shinozuka, Yamamoto Ikki thought for a moment, shook his head and spoke.

“Commander, I think the headquarters of the 386th Brigade may not be in Linyuan County.”

“Our intelligence officers said that the Eighth Route Army had obtained a large military radio station from somewhere.

This means that the Eighth Route Army’s command distance has been greatly increased.

The 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army can be said to be the ace unit of the Eighth Route Army in Shanxi. Their headquarters must have been equipped with a large military radio. “

“Moreover, Linyuan County is a typical county that is easy to attack but difficult to defend. Apart from the city walls, there are no other defensive facilities.

The 9th Brigade launched the attack from the direction of Linyuan County. It can be said that the county seat of Linyuan County is a front-line position. “

“The high-level command was set up at the front line, and I think the commander of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army would not make the mistake of letting Sakata Nobutsu fall.

After all, Sakata Nobutsu set up his headquarters too far forward, and then the Eighth Route Army destroyed the headquarters with artillery…”

“To use an old Chinese saying, this is what we call a lesson from the past!”

“Oh? In that case, where do you think the headquarters of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army will be located, Mr. Yamamoto?”

“I think the headquarters of the 386th Division of the Eighth Route Army will be set up here!”

Yamamoto Kazuki pointed the bamboo stick in his hand at a location on the map and spoke to Shinozuka Yoshio with a firm gaze.

“White Tiger Ridge?”

Shinozuka Yoshio looked at the place pointed out by Yamamoto Ikki and said curiously: “Yamamoto-kun,

Why do you think the commander of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army would set up his headquarters here at Baihuling?”

“Commander, we are now clear about the terrain advantages of Baihu Ridge. The Eighth Route Army has built a large number of fortifications on Baihu Ridge, and the entire Baihu Ridge is as solid as a rock.

If ordinary troops want to attack Baihu Ridge, they can only launch an attack on Baihu Ridge from the canyon area in front, and it will cost a huge price.

At the beginning, not a single brigade was able to capture Baihu Ridge. Instead, the entire army was defeated by the defenders of Baihu Ridge. This is enough to show how difficult it is to capture Baihu Ridge.

If I were the commander of the 386th Brigade, I would choose to set up my headquarters at Baihuling.

Baihu Ridge is located at the border between Linyuan County and Shiquan County. All we need to do is to arrange the reserve troops at Baihu Ridge. Then, no matter which side of the front encounters problems, the reserve troops can be dispatched for support in a timely manner.

Moreover, Baihuling is close to the front line. Even if the radio station is destroyed, it won’t take much time for the Eighth Route Army signalmen to ride on horseback to report the situation.

With this advantage, the command center can know the battle situation at the front line in a timely manner and modify the combat plan in time.

And be able to deliver new orders to each regiment in a timely manner.

Commander, in a large-scale war like this, you should be aware of how much the timely delivery of orders can help the war, right?”

Shinozuka Yoshio listened to Yamamoto Ikki’s analysis and nodded, then continued: “If the headquarters of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army is at Baihu Ridge, but Yamamoto-kun, you just said it.

The terrain of Baihu Ridge is dangerous, and the only entrance is in the canyon area. How are you going to lead the special forces team into Baihu Ridge?”

Yamamoto Ikki smiled and spoke.

“Commander, for ordinary troops, the only entrance to White Tiger Ridge is the canyon area.

However, for the special forces team, the terrain made it impossible to trap them.

If the special forces are unable to move because of terrain that can trap ordinary troops, then what is the difference between the special forces and ordinary troops?”

“Commander, the special forces have been tested in Taiyuan. Even with the strong walls and defenses of Taiyuan, the special forces can quietly climb over the walls and enter the city!”

(End of this chapter)