Chapter 119 Tanks   Advance!

After absurd failure, the prosperous times became more cautious. The Kwantung Army not only established the puppet Manchukuo in the Far East, but also encouraged the Mongolian princes and nobles to establish the puppet Mongolian military and politics in Rehe and Chahar.

All signs indicate that the Kwantung Army is very interested in Mongolia and as long as it occupies Mongolia, the Soviet Union's supply line in the Far East will be completely cut off.

After all, Mongolia and Inner Mongolia have endless relationships in many places. Thousands of years of marriage and tribal customs have made these two places more sensitive.

This is something Moscow doesn't want to see, so Sheng Shicai's expansion of his strength in Mongolia was accused by Moscow.

With Sheng Shicai's crazy expansion, in less than a year, he integrated several large Mongolian tribes and established an army of more than 50,000 people.

Stalin was not worried about this. All the military supplies of Sheng Shicai's troops were provided by the Soviet army. Sheng Shicai, who had the resources, had no confidence to challenge Moscow at all. But this did not prevent him from becoming the second strong group in Mongolia. Of course, the most powerful one was the Soviet army. He deployed the troops of three armies in Mongolia, mainly to prevent the deployment of the Kwantung Army.

In 1937, the situation in North China became even more subtle.

Faced with the continuous increase in the Japanese army in Tianjin, Zhang Xueliang was at a loss. Out of fear of the great powers, none of the Nanjing government wanted to see the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War.

But often, the will can only be a thin fig leaf in the face of power. The Japanese army's ruthlessness not only violated the Hemei Agreement, but also ignored the Tanggu Agreement. The two divisions of the Kwantung Army entered the Rehe Demilitarized Zone a year ago.

Zhang Xueliang has only one choice, fight!

But how to fight is still a big problem.

Although the Northeast Army successfully lost weight, not only did it reduce the expenses of the 100,000 army, but it was not much weaker than the Japanese army in terms of equipment. Relying on the finances of the five North China provinces, it supported a lion.

It can be said that the newly renovated Northeast Army soldiers were ready to fight back, but the general's psychology was still unable to be unified.

The strength of the Japanese army lies in its dominant position in the Far East. Without coastal defense and ports, many supplies from the Northeast Army will become a problem. Although a certain scale of ammunition production plants were established in North China, the production capacity of these plants could not meet the needs of the war at all.

So, a fantasy has never been shattered.

**The senior officials all fantasized that Japan would not launch a war against China, and even if it was launched, it would be partial.

It was a bit difficult to be a little bit stupid from the mid-19th century, but if you really want to make a breakthrough in training and tactical practice.

Zeng Yiyang was worried! What was placed in front of him was Sun Mingjiu's face that was a little overly excited.

Isn’t it just a live-fire drill? As for this?

It's no wonder that Sun Mingjiu was so excited, because in the first half of a year, Sun Mingjiu and the Northeast Army tank soldiers who participated in the training had never touched live ammunition. Instead, they used training ammunitions and carried out loading training over and over again.

Zeng Yiyang did not even break the line at once. Even later, Sun Mingjiu and his convoys were able to start traveling in the complex and changing northwest winter, which gradually changed a little. What's more, Zeng Yiyang also retained his selfishness and recruited more than 300 soldiers from the Forty Army and formed the first batch of students from the Tank Soldier Academy.

The boring tank maintenance training almost covers the inside and outside of the entire course.

Of course, basic subjects such as combat formation, night road driving, camouflage training, etc. are also essential.

"General Zeng, you didn't see that guy's squirting flames were several meters long. When they went up, a small hill was almost flattened..." Sun Mingjiu kept boasting about the effect of their target shooting. Of course, Zeng Yiyang would not examine the authenticity of these words.

"Do you think your tank camp is invincible in the world?" Zeng Yiyang was not ready to give Sun Ming a face at all.

He also knew why Sun Mingjiu said these words, because he kept warning Sun Mingjiu that although the tank battalion of the Northeast Army seemed to be much more advanced than the Japanese tank troops.

But there is a fatal weakness, which is that there is no protection from the sky and a developed railway network, and the role of tank warfare is not too significant.

The Japanese mountain artillery wing could not cause great damage to the tanks, but the 120-pound bombs carried on the plane were enough to separate the tanks. Armored troops without the sky might be able to raid or sneak attacks. Once the hands were used, the days of abandoning this army would not be long.

Another weakness is that logistics support cannot keep up.

"Don't speak anymore?" Zeng Yiyang's tone was somewhat joking, because from his perspective, letting this army be used as mobile steel plates for infantry is undoubtedly seeking death. It is better to hide it in the war and wait until the critical moment of the battle, carry out a surprise attack, break through the deployment of several Japanese troops, which is the greatest strength of this army.

"Cannon fodder, you just need to know that you have led the most luxurious cannon fodder in the Chinese team." Zeng Yiyang thought for a while and added: "In my opinion, the whole country can only count on you that can quickly tear apart the defense of the Japanese elite division. But once the sneak attack is successful, your army will be surrounded by the Japanese army. And whether there is support from our army on the periphery depends on the decision of your commander."

Regarding this point, Zeng Yiyang is not optimistic about Zhang Xueliang because Zhang Xueliang has an open-minded side, but he is still a warlord and a bargaining chip for his own political game, rather than a weapon to defend his country.

It is this difference that Zeng Yiyang is very optimistic about the Northeast Army’s defense system in North China.

To put it bluntly, many of this defense system rely on the mountains surrounding the Great Wall and the surrounding areas, and the role of tanks is not too great. However, after the Japanese army occupied the ports in Tianjin, this defense became less different from paper-made ones.

In addition to the North China Plain, the Northeast Army, which combines cavalry and infantry, wanted to break through the Japanese semi-mechanized permanent division.

Zeng Yiyang felt that Sun Mingjiu was still a passionate love official and could not just attack him, so he prepared a few words of comfort or encouragement, but the words said that made Sun Mingjiu feel like he couldn't smile bitterly.

"Once the troops you lead appear on the battlefield, then fate is already destined. You will command a desperate battle because there is little hope of returning alive. Your goal is very simple. One is the enemy's command center. If the division is against it, then their division headquarters will be your target, and the other is the Japanese field artillery corps. After being surrounded, you will fight trapped beasts and kill and kill the enemy in large numbers. If your young martyr can make up such a determination, then you will become famous in one battle, although it is more likely to become a hero." Zeng Yiyang said with emotion.

Zeng Yiyang understood that using armored soldiers to fight armored soldiers is not the main theme of the Chinese battlefield. The Japanese army cannot afford it, and the Chinese team is a luxury.

Sun Mingjiu was helpless because in Zeng Yiyang's eyes, he was already a fighting hero not far from death. What made him a little relieved was that Zeng Yiyang was still very confident in his courage.

Before leaving, he gave Sun Mingjiu instructions. If he did not want to be a spectator of the war, when he asked for battle, he would only talk about the assault ability and defense ability of the tank troops, and not say that logistics and other words shake the commander's confidence.

As for Zhang Xueliang, he had no intention of buying tanks and equiping the troops, Zeng Yiyang also knew something.

In the Middle East War, the Northeast Army's Route Protection Army had nearly 20,000 troops, and was caught off guard against the Soviet infantry equipped with eight tanks. At that time, the Soviet tank troops were also built. The T18 was slow, the armor was thin, and the technology was only at the old tanks in the late stage of World War I. Zhang Xueliang also had French tanks. However, due to the logistics inability to transport the tanks to the battlefield, the final defeat was caused.

This is a hidden pain in the hearts of the Northeast Army and also a hidden pain in Zhang Xueliang's heart.

Therefore, when the Northeast Army had a little money, it couldn't wait to buy a German tank battalion. Although there were not many, Zeng Yiyang understood that in the era of rapid technology, the group combat of tanks was a sharp sword, but small-scale tank troops could no longer play a decisive role.

However, the excellent assault capability of the German medium tanks and light tanks in sports operations is a highlight. It has outstanding protection capabilities than the Japanese Type 92 tanks and has a decisive advantage against the Japanese armored forces.

In June, Sun Mingjiu's tank battalion entered North China, and Zhang Xueliang personally welcomed Sun Mingjiu and others in Baoding.

From the heart of a professional soldier, he had long felt the clouds of war, which had already shrouded over North China. Japanese Consul Shigemitsu Shigemitsu's defense and crossed the border many times. This absurd statement that his team's defense was unreasonable in other countries' territory became a provocative act of the empire and needed severe punishment.

Zhang Xueliang was obviously angry with the other party's ugly face, so he came to Baoding to get some breath. Moreover, he was greeting Sun Mingjiu's tank battalion.

"Mingjiu, this time I went to the northwest, I wonder what you think of Zeng Yiyang, the commander of the 40th Army?" As soon as we met, Zhang Xueliang couldn't wait to ask. It can be seen how much pressure he was under. From the bottom of his heart, Zhang Xueliang always wanted to fight with the Japanese.

However, after the hasty response from North China, even after the Northeast Army lost Rehe, Zhang Xueliang knew very well that it was already a delusion to pass the support of the Nanjing government. The most hopeful thing is that the Red Army's reorganized troops in the Northwest are undoubtedly the reorganized troops in the Northwest.

Several contacts with ** also strengthened his belief in fighting against Japan together.

But in fact, once the Sino-Japanese War, Zhang Xueliang was worried that the Northeast Army would suffer too much loss and would not be able to replenish after losing its territory, and would become the largest warlord force that disappeared in the war.

"General Zeng is very peaceful many times, but strangely, he is also speaking quickly and does not shy away from his own ideas. This makes me unable to see for a moment what his personality looks like?" Sun Mingjiu asked in confusion. He knew Zeng Yiyang and was trained under Zeng Yiyang for nine months. But from the bottom of his heart, Sun Mingjiu still could not judge Zeng Yiyang's true face.

"Oh..." Zhang Xueliang exclaimed in surprise. Among the Northeast Army, Sun Mingjiu may not be the most outstanding regiment-level officer, but he is definitely the most open-minded regiment-level officer. This made Sun Mingjiu's status in the Northeast Army become a banner of the young and powerful faction.

"Tell me specifically?" Zhang Xueliang has already determined that Zeng Yiyang is the most suitable leader in the battlefield in North China. It is obviously best to know more about the other party.

"I have always found that Zeng Yiyang is a man without airs and is constantly posing in the army. He doesn't look like a commander at all. But the Forty Army, from the deputy commander to the chef, all looked at him with admiration, which is very strange." Sun Mingjiu said his impression of Zeng Yiyang, while looking at the young marshal beside him. After only nine months of seeing him, Zhang Xueliang's temples turned pale.

You must know that the young marshal is only thirty-seven years old.

"You must have asked him this question, I really want to hear how he answered you at that time. Maybe I can learn from it..." Zhang Xueliang took off his white gloves and threw them into the hands of Shunxing's guards. He gently patted the war monster parked beside him.

Sun Mingjiu looked at the young marshal carefully and felt relieved. In this case, Sun Mingjiu had asked Zeng Yiyang. But the reply he received was extremely disappointed and almost took action in anger.

Because Zeng Yiyang said with no face, Zhang Xueliang's various shortcomings, but did not mention Zhang Xueliang's advantages at all. The final conclusion is obvious that Zhang Xueliang was a failed warlord, but almost became a successful politician.

"His luck and the courage of the soldier have created his success." Although Sun Mingjiu said it, he was still a little unbelievable about the weight.
Chapter completed!