The 129th Division, with its main force of eight regiments and an attached artillery battalion from the headquarters regiment, was tasked with disrupting the Pingding-Yuci section of the railway, with a focus on sabotaging the Yangquan and Zhangjing sections. It also launched attacks on the Pinghan, Deshi, Tongpu, and Baijin railways, as well as the Handan-Daqing and Lintun highways surrounding the base area.
The 120th Division launched attacks on the Tongpu Railway and Fenli Highway north of Pingyao, deployed heavy forces north and south of Yangqu to block enemy reinforcements to the Zhengtai Railway, and sent two regiments to the area north and south of Yuci to cooperate with the 129th Division.
The 1st Infantry Regiment and the 4th Artillery Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division of the North China Field Army had already marched towards Yangmingbao Airport half a day ahead of schedule.
The 11th Motorized Infantry Division, the 12th Armored Division, and the 13th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division bypassed Niangziguan and set up an ambush in Jingxing from Dongzhitou and Donghuizhen.
The 2nd Infantry Division and the 39th Heavy Artillery Regiment of the 10th Artillery Division set off from Pingding and headed straight for Niangziguan.
The main force of the North China Field Army broke up into smaller units and advanced towards Taiyuan from Pingding and Wu'an Township in batches, entering Jinyuan, Jinci, Mingli, Mingqian, Baijiazhuang, Xincheng Village, Huanghouyuan, and Pingtou Town respectively, to carry out the operation plan to capture Taiyuan.
………………………………
August 10th, 8:32 PM, Yangmingbao Airport.
Yangmingbao Airport is located 3 kilometers southwest of Yangmingbao in Daixian County, Shanxi Province, 1 kilometer north of the Hutuo River, and 4 kilometers northwest of Sulongkou. The terrain is flat and open with good topographical conditions.
Built in 1933, Yangmingbao Airport was one of the earliest airports built in China and also the largest airport in North China. Its primary function was military, but it could also accommodate civilian aircraft.
After the Japanese army occupied Yangmingbao Airport, they used it as a strategic foothold for advancing from North China to the Northeast and Northwest, making it an important forward base for the Japanese invasion of China.
At this time, Yangmingbao Airport was brightly lit.
The open space around the airport was filled with dozens of Japanese warplanes of various models. Each plane was guarded by Japanese soldiers who kept their guns at all times, maintaining a high level of vigilance.
The Japanese troops stationed at Yangmingbao Airport belonged to a battalion of the 36th Division, and together with the airport's security force and pilots, there were a total of 1,300 people.
Moreover, the entire airport underwent three renovations, with the construction of sturdy fortifications, as well as a large number of artillery pieces and machine guns, making it virtually impregnable.
"Damn it, the weather in China is so hot during the day and cold at night, it's really annoying."
A Japanese soldier, wrapped in a military overcoat, stood on the airport's observation tower, his brow furrowed.
"Yoshi, China can't compare to our Cherry Blossom Country. The weather is so annoying. Our Cherry Blossom Country has spring-like weather all year round and a pleasant climate."
A Japanese soldier, also wrapped in a military overcoat, took a puff of his cigarette and looked out of the airport.
He noticed a dark shadow flash by in the grass in the distance.
"Suzuki-kun, there seems to be someone over there!"
The Japanese soldiers on the watchtower raised their binoculars and carefully looked into the distance.
"Baka! Are you seeing things? Chinese people, attacking us?"
"No, no, no, I think it's the Chinese. They often attack our strongholds, so they might attack here too."
The two Japanese soldiers on the watchtower became increasingly convinced that it was a possibility as they talked.
They immediately notified the squadron commander on duty.
A few minutes later, two searchlights shone into the distance.
The blinding light made Shen He, the commander of the 1st Regiment of the 1st Division, who was hiding in the bushes, squint.
"The Japanese reacted very quickly; I underestimated them."
"Commander, have they discovered it?"
A battalion commander said.
"So what if we found out?"
Shen He sneered, "To paraphrase the commander-in-chief, when it comes to plenty of food, all schemes and tricks are futile!"
"Fire the signal flare!"
As the order was given, a red signal flare soared into the sky.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
