Ciying Temple is located in the northeast of Kangbao, where the 9th Mixed Brigade of the Japanese Army is stationed, and the distance from Huade and Kangbao is roughly equal. Its position is equivalent to the top corner of a triangle. It is a strategic point with a very important position in the deep defense line of the Japanese army.

At the first time of breaking through the depth of the Japanese army, Chen Hanzhang handpicked the 3rd Battalion of the 28th Regiment of the Ninth Division, a well-known battalion of the whole army, to be responsible for the attack on this Ciying Temple. It was in order to be able to take this place in the shortest possible time and obtain the starting point of the offensive for further development of the Japanese army.

He even did not hesitate to violate his own regulations on the attack on all the Mongol lama temples in the theater and not to use artillery at all times, and mobilized a mountain artillery company to cooperate with the attack. It was to obtain the starting point for the attack on the key position of the joint of the entire front of the Japanese army.

Facing the defenders of the 110th Division, a reinforced infantry brigade, plus an engineer squadron, was defending the area. After some hard fighting, the third battalion was crippled, and when it was withdrawn from the battlefield, it could only be reduced to one company. This large-scale temple, which was built during the Qing Dynasty, was also reduced to ruins. However, Ciao Temple, a strategic point in the hinterland of the Japanese army, was finally taken.

At this time, Wang Minggui was very fortunate that this battle was fought before Chen Hanzhang left. Despite the cost, the starting point for the offensive was achieved. Otherwise, this battle will be even more difficult to gnaw. Not to mention a reinforced regiment, even if a regiment is on the top, it is difficult to end the battle in a short time.

Looking at the back of the convoy departing, Ouyang Jishan and Wang Minggui, who came to see them off together, shook their heads in unison, and their hearts were full of worry. If Huade is the core area of the entire Japanese army's second line of defense, then Kangbao is the junction of the Zhanzhì Chaxi and Chanan battlefields. Compared with Huade's position on the Chaxi battlefield, Kangbao's strategic position was more important.

Taking Kangbao, you can cooperate with the Chanan battlefield from the flank, directly outflank the flanks of the Japanese frontal positions in Zhangbei and Zhangjiakou, and detour the entire flank of the Japanese army in the Chaxi and Suidong battlefields to the west. It is precisely because of the extremely important strategic location that Okamura Ninji was here, and the original deployment was all of the Japanese army's independent mixed 9th Brigade.

Although two infantry brigades have been transferred for now, there are still three Japanese infantry brigades there, and the most important thing is that there are complete fortifications to use. Coupled with non-combat units such as baggage and engineers, even if a reinforced regiment was sent, the strength was still less than that of the Japanese army in Kangbao.

Both of them are battle-hardened veterans, and they both know very well that the Japanese army's baggage and sappers can be converted into field infantry at any time when necessary. Although these units were not as proficient in infantry tactics as conventional infantry, the battle was a defensive operation for the Japanese army. Even if it is not possible to charge, but hiding inside the fortifications and firing outside, these people have absolutely no problem.

According to the military common sense that the regular attackers must invest at least twice as many troops as the defenders, the outcome of this battle is not very optimistic for either of them. Once the Japanese army relies on the fortification group, consumes the vitality of the attacking force, and launches a counterattack at the right time, then waiting for the end of this attacking force, it is even possible that the Japanese army will be surrounded outside Kangbao City.

At this time, the two of them hoped in their hearts that Yang Jicai, who was the commander of this unit, would be more shrewd in battlefield command. Don't blindly fight hard and give the Japanese army a chance to fight back. Although both of them knew that Yang Jicai wanted to be outnumbered and entangled in this independent mixed ninth brigade.

It is quite difficult to maintain a certain degree of vigilance and not to be eaten by the Japanese army in turn. Under normal circumstances, it is almost impossible to do both. Both fish and bear's paws, they all want to have both, and there are so many good things on the battlefield.

This burden is a difficult task for anyone to complete. The two of them can only hope that Yang Jicai, with his own excellent level, can complete this super difficult challenge. It's just that Yang Jicai will be able to complete this task, no one dares to guarantee it. Although they are both atheists, at this time, the two of them can't help but secretly ask God to bless them.

In fact, although Wang Minggui strengthened the establishment and equipment of the attack force as much as possible when mobilizing troops. But in fact, on the front line of Kangbao, the gap between the strength of the enemy and us is still above his judgment. In particular, the firepower configuration far exceeded his original judgment.

Indeed, after the 26th Division was divided and encircled, in order to ensure the safety of the Chaxi battlefield. Lieutenant General Nanita Ichiro, commander-in-chief of the Mongolian Xinjiang Garrison Army, who was responsible for commanding the 26th Division, the 110th Division, and the 9th Brigade of the Independent Mixed Brigade, was somewhat overstretched when the rescue troops of the 110th Division were entangled by the Anti-Japanese Union, and they had to take into account the front lines of Huade and Shangdu.

Without waiting for Okamura's consent, he arbitrarily transferred two infantry brigades, one field artillery squadron, and four mountain artillery pieces from the 9th Independent Mixed Brigade to cooperate with the rescue operation of the 110th Division. As a result, only three infantry brigades of the Japanese army remained, plus artillery brigades, baggage, engineer and other units in the entire territory of Kangbao.

Because in the view of Lieutenant General Nanata Ichiro, the focus of the entire Chaxi battlefield is now the 110th Division and the 26th Division. If these two divisions are eaten by the anti-Japanese alliance in person, then the remaining independent mixed brigade of only 8,000 men will be unable to support the overall situation in the face of an offensive supported by a large number of tanks.

And in the opinion of Ichiro Nanata, even if two infantry brigades are transferred. But the remaining three infantry brigades of the 9th Brigade can also be held by using fortifications, and nothing will happen in a short time. In addition to the Kangbao front, although it is located at the junction of the two battlefields, it is still a deep area for the Chaxi battlefield.

Before the two divisions on the front were eliminated, the Anti-Japanese Union did not have the strength to launch an attack on the front line of Kangbao. And if the two divisions on the front are all solved. Then the Kangbao frontline, in addition to protecting the flank of the Chanan battlefield, has also lost a large part of its original importance.

Therefore, for the entire Chaxi war situation, the top priority at present is to ensure the stability of the frontal front. As for the front line of Kangbao, which is safe for the time being, there is no great danger at the moment. And if the two divisions in front are lost, even if Kang Bao is safe and sound, it will not be able to change the situation of the battle.

What is the military level of this Lieutenant General Nanataichiro, at least judging from the current development of the war situation, it can really only be said to be average. But the Chinese idiom that the skin does not exist, and Mao will be attached to it, he remembers it well. For him, the frontal battlefield on the Western Front is fundamental. The front is held, and the flanks are of some use. If the entire frontal front smashes the pot, there will be only one flank left.

Although Okamura Ninji repeatedly told him before the war that the task of this independent mixed 9th Brigade was to defend Kangbao, ensure the security of the junction of the two battlefields, and ensure the security of the hinterland of Suidong. Without an order, it is absolutely not allowed to be used. But when reinforcements were delayed, Nanata Ichiro couldn't care about Okamura Ninji's orders.

Once the 26th Division collapsed, the 110th Division alone would fight against the four divisions of the Anti-Japanese Alliance, and Nanata Ichiro really did not have that confidence. And he believes that once the Chaxi war is defeated, it will trigger a chain reaction. The entire defense line of Chanan and Suidong will collapse as a whole.

Now it's about to burn your eyebrows, so it's important to take care of your head first. As for the butt, let's wait until the fire burns. Besides, for this independent mixed Ninth Brigade, although two infantry brigades, an artillery squadron and four mountain guns were withdrawn, it does not mean that his strength has really decreased too much at once, at least it is far from the point of breaking his muscles and bones.

Before being transferred to Kangbao, this mixed brigade had just participated in the Third Battle of Changsha within the 11th Army system. Thanks to this battle, its troops are now not only fully manned, but also quite strengthened in terms of equipment compared to other independent mixed brigades.

It became one of the few front-line infantry brigades under the North China Front of the Japanese Army, equipped with four infantry squadrons, a machine gun squadron, and a large artillery squadron. Its infantry brigade has reached 1,500 people, even exceeding the infantry brigades of some field divisions.

The artillery brigade directly under the brigade has six field guns, 12 mountain guns, 10 rapid-fire guns and flat-fire guns. The establishment of artillery exceeds that of the artillery brigade under the artillery wing of an ordinary field division or regiment. Together with the directly subordinate engineer team and baggage team, the number of the entire brigade is as high as more than 8,000 people.

The number of artillery and some support units is even higher than that of the 69th Division. Its total strength was only three infantry brigades less than that of the 69th Division, which was the security division. The 69th Division will not have the ability to fight in the field without increasing the number of subordinate units.

But this independent mixed 9th Brigade Regiment was basically a field unit of the Japanese army. Without any increase in the number of personnel, it is possible to undertake field tasks completely independently. Unlike other separate mixed brigades, which were mainly on garrison duty, they were often pulled out to participate in field battles.

Whether it was the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain at the beginning of last year, the sweeping of the base areas in North China since the summer, and the Battle of Changsha at the end of last year and the beginning of this year, this brigade can be seen. This independent mixed 9th Brigade was repeatedly used as the main force in all the battles of the Japanese army. Its combat style is unusually strong, and its overall combat effectiveness is far inferior to that of the newly formed C Division of the Japanese Army.

And after being transferred to Kangbao to serve as the garrison of the junction of the two theaters, because the area to be deployed is quite critical. The North China Front reinforced it with a British 25-pounder field artillery squadron, a 3.7-inch mountain artillery squadron, plus two 4.5-inch howitzers, and an anti-aircraft artillery squadron.

Even if an artillery squadron and four mountain guns were transferred, for this independent mixed Ninth Brigade, the artillery strength was not only not painful, but the number was still more than the original establishment because of the increase in numbers. In terms of light weapons, the North China Front allocated 20 more British-made Vickers machine guns alone, as well as a large number of Bren light machine guns.

At the same time, because a large amount of ammunition and supplies had been stockpiled in advance for the locality, and it was also used for defensive operations, its engineers and baggage brigades, except for one squadron each, had all been converted into infantry. Although these people are not as well trained as the infantry, they hide in the fortifications and fire, and their combat effectiveness is not much inferior.

At present, its infantry firepower even exceeds that of the 69th Division. It is precisely because of this that it is difficult for Nanata Ichiro to let such a fully equipped brigade with excessive firepower do nothing on the front line of Kangbao when the frontal battlefield is close to collapse.

What he knows now is that if he can't rescue the remnants of the 26th Division, he, the commander of the Mongolian Xinjiang garrison, will become the commander of the light pole. Nanata Ichiro thought that even if the two infantry brigades were transferred and the remaining forces of the 9th Brigade were mixed independently, it would be enough to hold Kangbao and deal with the unexpected crisis. Rather than being eaten by the Anti-Japanese Federation in one bite, it is better to keep the 26th Division first.