Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Chapter 356: Mrs. Song didn’t see it, but she did see the Chairman. The policy has been set, so let’s coordinate and carry it out!
"If we attack from north to south, we naturally need to attack Xinkou Town."

"According to the intelligence we obtained earlier, the number of Japanese troops in Xinkou Town is not that large, only about a thousand people. Using three regiments to besiege more than a thousand Japanese invaders is like using a butcher knife to kill a fly, isn't it?"

Huang Baitao naturally wanted to launch an attack from the direction of Shouyang.

From this direction, it is closest to Taiyuan.

It is convenient for him to display his command talent and also convenient for his troops to hone themselves.

More importantly, the battles will also be more intensive.

In the case of a coordinated attack, we will also receive support from the 14th Army Group.

why not?

"These more than a thousand people are actually a tough nut to crack. According to the reconnaissance report submitted yesterday, the Japanese troops entrenched in the area around Xinkou Town are part of the Japanese regular division, not the defeated soldiers as previously judged. They are a fully staffed Japanese battalion with enhanced heavy firepower.

It is not only equipped with four Type 92 infantry rifles.

A large number of defensive fortifications were also repaired at Xinkou Station and the surrounding areas.

At present, our army's 37mm direct-fire artillery and Type 75 infantry guns have been consumed greatly in the war, and even several mm mountain guns have been lost in previous battles. Our army lacks heavy weapons for attacking strongholds."

Speaking of heavy weapons.

We have to mention the most critical force in the Second War Zone.

That is the 30th Artillery Regiment.

It is now equipped with ten 105mm howitzers.

It is the most critical force of Chu Yunfei's unit - the 4th Artillery Brigade.

These heavy weapons can double the effectiveness of 75mm mountain guns on the battlefield.

after all.

The repair standard of the Japanese field fortifications was only to be able to withstand the bombardment of 75mm mountain artillery.

Huang Baitao asked again: "As for those 105mm howitzers, do you plan to use them in the battle to attack Taiyuan City?"

"Yes, actually I don't want to launch an attack on Longcheng at this point in time. If I want to train troops, there are actually many other options. I can erode and clear out some of the Japanese salient strongholds in the northeast of Shanxi, which is relatively easier than attacking Longcheng."

Chu Yunfei subconsciously raised his hand and rubbed his temple.

The movement was slow and heavy.

It was obvious that he had a headache at this moment.

Followed by.

Chu Yunfei sighed slowly.

Accompanied by this sigh.

Huang Baitao stepped forward and asked, "Sir, are you worried that the direction of the mountain city is out of step with our army?"

"Our country is poor and weak, and the Japanese invaders are rampant. Unfortunately, we need to rely on foreign aid to continue this war. Now the Japanese army has obviously seen through our strategic counterattack in the second zone. The key to the core is to be trapped in Longcheng."

"If we wait for our Northwest Manufacturing Bureau to resume production, it will take a lot of time, and by then the Japanese army will surely come back again."

"Brother Huanran, we actually don't have any choice. Just like the Japanese, we can only attack."

Huang Baitao nodded in agreement: "Yes, if they choose to break through, our battle will be easier. The Japanese now use the civilians as a shield, making our army afraid to act rashly. It's really hateful."

"I plan to suggest to Commander Yan that we relax the blockade of Xinkou a little bit to see if we can save some people first, and then see how the war goes. Before that, we need to kill the Japanese troops in Xinkou town first."

Chu Yunfei and even the General Staff did not actually support Huang Baitao's proactive attack.

It’s not impossible to fight.

If we attack in the direction of Xinkou, the losses will be minimized.

Similarly, Xinkou is the key defensive fulcrum for defending Taiyuan.

Once conquered, corresponding public opinion propaganda can be carried out.

Get more support and strive for more voice.

Naturally, there are many benefits for the commander who commands this battle.

Since Huang Baitao came to Chu Yunfei's side, he has indeed shared a lot of credit, but he has never commanded a single battle independently.

The battle of Xinkou Town was actually the stage left by Chu Yunfei for Huang Baitao.

"So what is the attitude of Shancheng?"

Huang Baitao immediately asked what he thought was the most critical question.

He believes that war is about comprehensive national strength.

The battle is also about logistical supplies, while the quality of troops and tactical strategies are only secondary.

A force lacking weapons and ammunition will never be able to exert strong combat effectiveness.

In Huang Baitao's opinion.

If the mountain city does not support their subsequent counterattack.

If they want to recover Longcheng in a short time.

It's basically impossible.

"Brother Huanran, the opinions of those of us who lead the troops in battle and those who sit high above the government are bound to conflict."

Seeing Huang Baitao's silence, Chu Yunfei naturally knew that he was worried about Chang Ruiyuan's attitude, so he simply smiled and said, "We will have to fight in Xinkou sooner or later. If we fight early, we can win some support from the chairman. If we delay for too long, the situation in the Fifth War Zone will continue to deteriorate, and I'm afraid we won't even be able to get the few remaining supplies."

"Yes, even if Commander Li and the Chairman don't get along, we will still give them the support they deserve in this situation. What's more, the main force of this operation is Tang Enbo's Army Group."

Taiyuan Shanxi.

Headquarters of the First Army of the North China Front Army.

In the war room meeting room, the huge military map was very conspicuous under the light.

The atmosphere was extremely solemn.

Yoshio Shinozuka, commander of the Japanese Army's First Army in North China, is now standing upright in front of the map.

And beside him.

The ones who had not yet left were Prince Akihiko Naruhiko, commander of the 20th Division, Ushijima Sanetsugu, and Chief of Staff Kusunokichi Hideyoshi.

After several requests to Tokyo Headquarters.

This group of military and political leaders finally agreed to Prince Asaka Naruhiko's request to stay at the Shanxi First Army Headquarters to assist in command, and conveyed Tianhuang's will.

Shinozuka Yoshio turned around abruptly and said, "After comprehensively analyzing the intelligence we have obtained so far and the reports from our frontline combat troops.

Our opponents did lose their offensive capabilities in the short term.

They are transporting a batch of 45mm direct-fire artillery to engage our fortifications.

We can’t just sit there and wait for death!”

Upon hearing this, a young staff officer quickly stepped forward, his body leaning forward slightly.

He performed a standard bow with a hint of respect, his voice carrying a hint of nervousness and caution.

"General, if the enemy loses its ability to attack, we may take this opportunity to launch an attack to the north and break out. This will minimize our subsequent combat losses."

Before he could continue, Shinozuka Yoshio announced a decision that shocked everyone present: "It is His Majesty Tianhuang who wants us to defend Dragon City."

Kusunokichi Hideyoshi was extremely shocked. He didn't know the news before he came to the meeting as chief of staff.

It is unlikely that Yoshio Shinozuka would deliberately hide it from me.

There is only one possibility left, which is what Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko meant.

Maybe it really was the royal family's intention.

Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko nodded slightly, a hint of smugness and arrogance flashed across his face, and he snorted softly, "The deployment of these transport planes is what His Majesty Tianhuang wanted. The headquarters also hopes that we can hold on to Longcheng and defeat the Chinese counterattack."

“Although the 20th Division’s combat strength is insufficient, there are many defensive fortifications in the area around Longcheng, and the terrain is relatively complex, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack. It should not be a problem for them to hold out for half a year.

I am worried that if they adopt tactics similar to the previous attack on Taiyuan Airport, using a small elite force as the spearhead, infiltrating our hinterland in an incredible way, and then attacking our key points with mortars, it will inevitably cause great trouble to us. "

Ushijima Mitsuki expressed his concerns.

He originally advocated active attack, but now he has become obedient.

Never bring up that arrogant idea again.

only.

The attitudes of Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko and Yoshio Shinozuka made Ushijima Sanetsugu confused for a while.

Don't go too far.

A week ago, the two were in bad shape.

It was obvious that they were worried that the 20th Division would be surrounded and annihilated, and even the First Army Headquarters would be destroyed.

And now.

Shinozuka Yoshio's eyes were full of disdain and contempt, and he said coldly: "According to the latest intelligence we have obtained.

The Flying Tigers, our most powerful enemy, suffered heavy losses in their attacking force.

Its most elite assault regiment, which was also an unconventional combat force, suffered heavy casualties in the attack of the 37th Division.

This information has been confirmed from multiple angles.

PS: The Japanese military has many intelligence departments, and local military police and military police are also sources of intelligence.

In addition, it was also because the 11th Army of the Central China Front launched the "Xiangdong Operation".

These weapons and equipment were originally intended to be supplied to Chu Yunfei's troops.

Now they have all been dispatched to the Fifth War Zone.

These weapons, equipment and troops will be assigned to Tang Enbo's troops.

As for the remaining so-called enemy troops in China's Second War Zone.

In my opinion, they are just a bunch of scattered sand and a mob, not worth mentioning at all! "

Ushijima Minoru often saw Shinozuka Yoshio so confident.

I felt relieved for a moment.

As long as this elite small force loses its combat effectiveness.

If it was just a head-on battle, they would be able to hold out for a long time relying on their fortifications and favorable terrain.

Ushijima Mitsugu also regained his confidence at this time, and then stated: "Our Great Japanese Locust Army is well-equipped, well-trained, and powerful!"

"Facing opponents like the Chinese Sixth Army, the Thirteenth Army, and the Fourteenth Army, we will surely achieve the final victory in the war."

"Commander, rather than sit and wait for death, we should take the initiative to attack the enemy's main force to buy enough breathing time for our army's subsequent operations."

"In order to ensure that our forces are not too dispersed, our troops should retreat back to the fortifications after the attack."

Ushijima Mitsutomu's idea was very simple. He wanted to take advantage of the fact that both sides were exhausted and further deplete the manpower of the second war zone.

Compared with the National Revolutionary Army's formation cycle, the Japanese army obviously has an advantage. Rather than waiting in siege for the gap to be gradually narrowed.

It is better to go all out and choose to expand.

such.

The Tokyo headquarters may reconsider launching an offensive operation against the Shanxi region.

The battle plan discussion based on this became the 20th Division's choice of attack direction.

"The combat effectiveness of the Sixth Group Army of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army in the northwest is slightly weaker. The remnants of the 37th Division successfully broke through their blockade. If we attack the Sixth Group Army of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army in a targeted manner, it may directly change the current situation of the war."

Ushijima Shichang turned his head to look at Lin Canghui who was standing silently in the corner: "But we can't target them, but the 27th Army in the Fenyang direction."

"The Jin army is actually no longer a concern for our army, and targeted attacks on Fan Hanjie's troops will continue to intensify the conflict between the local army and the central army."

Lin Canghui nodded silently.

Based on the previous negotiations between the two parties.

At this time, the Second War Zone was still basically dominated by Yan Xishan, but the Central Army had a great say.

If the Sixth Army led by Yan Laoxi, the local army, was further attacked, it would only allow the Chiang regime to unify Shanxi ahead of time, and the two sides would completely lose the basis for further cooperation.

After all the combat staff expressed their opinions.

After a moment's contemplation, Shinozuka Yoshio supported the idea of ​​the division commander Ushijima: "Make the 27th Army the next target of the 20th Division's attack."

Mountain City, Xialuojiawan

Dai Yunong looked at Liang Ganqiao, who was still extremely haggard, and asked, "Ganqiao, what did they do to you that you haven't recovered in such a long time."

"Chu Yunfei is really shameful. He ordered people to keep the lights on all day long. Every once in a while, someone would make noise and wake me up."

Dai Li felt helpless.

After listening to Liang Ganqiao's curses for a few times, he spoke again: "The principal means that you should not be involved in intelligence work in the future. We are going to transfer you to Shaanxi to serve under Commander Hu."

Liang Ganqiao was naturally delighted when he heard this.

Before taking action, he hesitated several times whether to go and join Hu Zongnan.

But now, things have gone wrong.

It would be fine if Chang Ruiyuan, who has always been mean and ungrateful, was not punished.

I was even arranged a place to go.

This choice is much better than staying in the mountain city for the rest of your life.

"When will you leave?"

"Take a rest first and wait for the principal to summon you."

"When will the principal summon me?" Liang Ganqiao's eyes flashed with anticipation.

Dai Yunong was quite helpless about this. He shook his head slightly and said, "We have to wait until Fang Ligong has met his wife."

the other side.

Chang Ruiyuan received the report quickly.

He was also quite interested in Fang Ligong's application to meet his wife.

Regarding the right-hand man beside Chu Yunfei.

He had never seen it before.

He showed great interest in Fang Ligong's arrival.

While arranging the time, he sent someone around him to get Fang Ligong's information.

After a brief understanding, I found that there was not much difference from the reports I had read before.

The information has not been updated for about half a year.

What impressed Chang Ruiyuan the most were just four words: resourceful.

This is the most common and most popular evaluation of a chief of staff.

And Chu Yunfei can get such evaluation.

This is enough to illustrate Fang Ligong's ability.

"Darling, Chief of Staff Fang seems to be here for Chu Yunfei's wedding."

"Hmm?" Chang Ruiyuan had guessed this before. He smiled heartily, "Did Yun Fei finally figure it out?"

"Twenty-nine is not young anymore. Generals of his age basically have children, not to mention that Qian Bojun's wife is said to be pregnant."

Chang Ruiyuan let it go in one ear and out the other.

I actually have a rough idea of ​​it in my mind.

I'm afraid wanting to get married is not true, the real thing is to get closer to him.

The situation is hopeless for Yan Laoxi now and there is no need for anyone to rely on anymore.

For Chu Yunfei, Chang Ruiyuan is the towering tree.

Chang Ruiyuan chuckled and continued, "Yun Fei became famous at a young age, and his ambitions are high and he is arrogant. Now that the first phase of the Shanxi Campaign has basically ended, the losses suffered by his troops are far beyond previous estimates. Now that they are besieging Longcheng but cannot take further action, this is the best opportunity to control him."

"Darling, Yunfei is a fierce horse. He needs to be hitched. In my opinion, the best hitching post is to recover Longcheng."

"He had already shown his loyalty by wearing the uniform of the Central Army. He is now approaching us again probably because he clearly realized that the military production capacity of the Northwest Manufacturing General Administration could not support him to exert his talents and could not further strike the Japanese."

Chang Ruiyuan nodded: "A wise bird chooses the right tree to roost in. It is a good thing that he can get closer to the central government."

"With him in the Second War Zone, we don't have to transfer Hu Zongnan and his men there, which would cause dissatisfaction among Yan Baichuan's men."

"Yun Fei's move is also a timely help for us."

There was uncontrollable excitement in his tone.

Song Meiling nodded slightly, her expression normal, but there was a hint of unnaturalness in her eyes: "I plan to go to southeastern Shanxi to arrange this matter and ask Wenying's opinion. If there is no problem, arrange their marriage as soon as possible."

When she was a girl, she also wanted to marry a great hero.

And want to stand out.

Sister Song grasped this point.

This led to the union of the two people and the union of the Chiang and Song families.

Soong May-ling had experienced this kind of thing personally, so she was naturally adept at it.

Chang Ruiyuan nodded: "To show my respect, it is okay to go there in person. This is a great talent. If it can be used properly, our Chinese nation will drive out the barbarians, be self-reliant and strong, and stand forever among the nations of the world!"

In the blink of an eye, two days passed.

The extremely busy Fang Ligong finally got the news.

But it was something he hadn't expected.

When he came here himself, the person he met was not Mrs. Song, but the Chairman.

Before leaving for the Chairman's residence.

Fang Ligong followed Chu Yunfei's instructions before leaving.

He kept himself spotless and looked very energetic.

When arriving at the official residence by car.

Fang Ligong just followed Wang Shihe quickly.

Don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask, don’t look at what you shouldn’t see.

If you can avoid speaking, then never speak.

Wang Shihe was also extremely relaxed, and the other party's favorability for his meritorious service was almost maxed out.

"The chairman is waiting for you in the living room. There's no one else here, so just go over there."

Fang Ligong nodded slightly: "Director Wang, thank you very much."

He kept Chu Yunfei's instructions in mind.

With a serious face, he walked towards Chang Ruiyuan.

He stood at attention about ten steps away from Chang Ruiyuan and saluted in a proper manner: "Chairman, Chief of Staff Fang Ligong reports to you."

"Ah."

Chang Ruiyuan also showed due respect for the other party's meritorious service and returned the greeting with a smile.

He leaned on his cane and walked to a distance of about seven steps from Fang Ligong. He looked at Fang Ligong carefully and said with a smile, "I have heard Yunfei talk about you before. The battles you assisted in commanding were all fought very well. You have made contributions."

"Thank you for the compliment, Chairman." Fang Ligong responded with a smile, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Okay, let's talk about business. Regarding the siege of Longcheng, my opinion is: use fighting to promote peace, and talk while fighting."

Chu Yunfei told Fang Ligong that Chang Ruiyuan's way of speaking was more direct.

But I didn't expect that after just a few words we started talking about the most difficult things to deal with in the Second War Zone.

After the initial panic, Fang Ligong quickly reacted: "I understand what the chairman means, but our army is in a poor condition now, and the combat effectiveness of our friendly forces is somewhat insufficient. Even if we have formed a siege on Longcheng, it will be difficult to make corresponding progress."

"You mean to say that the Second War Zone no longer has the ability to continue to capture Dragon City?"

"Commissioner, I mean."

Chang Ruiyuan did not give Fang Ligong a chance to speak: "We must be tough on the Japanese. Hu Zongnan's 34th Army has made corresponding combat preparations. We can go north and cross the river to participate in the battle to capture Longcheng."

Fang Ligong nodded immediately and stated his opinion directly: "Commander Chu means that the 34th Army does not have such offensive combat capabilities."

Sure enough, as soon as the words came out, Chang Ruiyuan's brows knitted together: "Yun Fei thinks that the 34th Army cannot capture Longcheng?"

Fang Ligong still nodded firmly: "Yes, not only that, Commander Chu firmly believes that the 34th Army's entry into Shanxi will inevitably cause resentment from local powerful factions such as Commander Yan."

Chang Ruiyuan couldn't say what the combat effectiveness of the 34th Army was.

But only half a year had passed before thousands of soldiers were recruited from the local area and corresponding industrial construction was carried out.

In terms of "farming development", Hu Zongnan did a good job and had strong organizational skills.

However, command and combat have always been its weak point.

There are traces that Chu Yunfei held such a view on Hu Zongnan when they were encircling and annihilating the 14th Division.

Their decision to cooperate with Wang Yaowu and Song Xilian was also based on this judgment.

"The Battle of Longcheng is related to the overall success or failure of the Second War Zone. If it cannot be resolved quickly, the Japanese army's internal and external cooperation will inevitably cause the situation to deteriorate further."

Chang Ruiyuan seemed to have made up his mind: "I have decided to provide further troops and weapons and equipment, which are expected to arrive within two months. Within half a year, we must completely wipe out the Japanese troops in the area around Longcheng and ensure that Shanxi is in the hands of our National Government."

Fang Ligong didn't have time to ask.

Chang Ruiyuan went on to say: "I only talk about the strategic principles. The specific details still need to be coordinated. Shihe, you will follow up on this matter. You must ensure that the strategic counterattack of the Second War Zone goes smoothly. There must be no situation where it starts well but ends badly!"

(End of this chapter)