Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 129 Linyi! Linyi!
Inside the garrison camp.

Li Zongren put his hands behind his back and looked at the soldiers training around him with a smile.

"In just a few days, the military has been properly disciplined. Not bad, not bad!"

He originally thought that if these three troops were grouped together, the soldiers would not be able to adapt to the local climate and would fight with each other.

But now it seems that the expected situation did not occur.

He is a good military commander, his reputation is well-deserved!

As I was admiring it in my heart, a roaring engine sound was heard.

Wang Feng got out of the jeep and saluted: "I'm sorry for the delay, sir!"

Li Zongren looked up at his capable general and smiled from ear to ear: "It's okay, it's okay!"

Wang Feng turned sideways and said, "Sir, please get in the car!"

He knew that at this critical moment, Li Zongren came to the military camp in person, definitely not to inspect or chat.

There must be a new combat mission!

Li Zongren was not humble either. After several people got in the car, they quickly turned around and drove towards the command post.

Inside the office.

Wang Feng took off his clothes and just hung them on the hanger when Li Zongren walked to the battle map.

"How's your department's recent rest going?"

Wang Feng straightened his uniform and said truthfully, "The vacancies have been filled, but they are all new soldiers. If they want to regain their previous combat effectiveness, they still need training."

Li Zongren nodded: "Right now, the Third Army Corps is resisting the Japanese invaders in Linyi and has suffered heavy losses. If I send your troops to the battlefield now, how confident are you?"

really!

It seems that my previous guess was correct. This time I came here just for the Third Legion.

Wang Feng frowned: "Sir, I wonder what the specific combat mission of our unit is?"

Currently, the only Japanese army attacking Linyi is the 2nd Division commanded by General Okamura Yasuji.

It's not that he got carried away after winning a few battles. For a Type A division, no matter how elite it was or how well-equipped it was, it would not be a problem for it to defend Linyi as long as he led his troops to intervene.

If we try to annihilate it, it might be more difficult.

Things are developing dynamically. Just because we have annihilated two Type A divisions before, it doesn't mean we can be sure of defeating the Second Division this time.

Li Zongren remained silent and paced back and forth in the room.

As of now, he still lacks a clear plan for the next battle.

It’s not that he is stupid and incompetent. The Fifth War Zone is on the defensive side and can only respond to the actions of the attackers, and then launch a planned counterattack after discovering the flaws.

The Japanese army in North China took nearly a month to reach Linyi, where they encountered the main force of the Fifth War Zone.

There are no obvious flaws at the moment, so it's difficult to start!

"What do you think about the next battle?" Li Zongren remembered that Wang Feng had proposed a strategy in Guide.

Lure the enemy deep into our territory, then surround and attack them!
This is how the Huaibei Campaign was fought, and facts have proven that it was indeed effective.

Seeing Li Zongren throwing the question to himself, Wang Feng frowned even more tightly: "This..."

The unknown war situation is like a fog. Without revealing any details, it is impossible to get a full picture of the situation. Even if you can only say a few things, there is no basis for it.

It can be overturned at any time.

The Central China Expeditionary Army suffered heavy losses because of its reckless advance.

The two Type A divisions were completely wiped out. Such a painful lesson will surely completely eliminate the arrogance of the Japanese army.

learn from mistakes.

The Japanese officers were all strictly selected and graduated from regular military academies. They are not so stupid.

As a result, the strategy of luring the enemy deep into our territory might not work.

Wang Feng: "Perhaps, we can make a test attack, wait for the Japanese army to reveal their flaws, and then act flexibly and strike decisively!"

Li Zongren: "The Chairman's order is to defend Xuzhou for at least half a year to ensure that Wuhan's national defense works can be repaired."

"You have a point. The Japanese army is so powerful that it would be difficult to hold out for half a year just by defending."

"According to reliable information, after the Huaibei Campaign, the Japanese army has withdrawn troops from Ping, Tianjin, Shanxi, Sui and other places, and is moving south on a large scale."

Wang Feng's heart skipped a beat.

Large-scale fighting has ended in the areas mentioned by Li Zongren.

The Japanese troops participating in the war are currently in a state of rest and recuperation. Joining the war early may have some impact, but it is not a bad idea.

Given the character of the Japanese, they can do anything when they are forced into a corner.

Li Zongren sighed, "I predict that the Japanese army will gather a large force in an attempt to encircle our Fifth War Zone. The Xuzhou area is located on a plain, which is very conducive to the enemy's mechanized troops and air force operations. With our equipment, we can only use the terrain to conduct mobile warfare. We must not overestimate our capabilities and engage in large-scale positional attrition warfare!"

"This will only lead to a repeat of the mistakes made in the Beijing-Shanghai battlefield!"

Wang Feng analyzed the situation calmly in his mind.

It’s really difficult!
"Captain Li, it will take some time for the Japanese to gather such a large force. We must take advantage of this time to dampen their morale."

"Perhaps we can take advantage of the fact that the Isogai Division has not yet arrived in Linyi and launch a mobile encirclement and annihilation campaign against the Sendai Division!"

Wang Feng made up his mind and decided to force his way through.

He has two armies under his command, both of which are equivalent to direct brigades.

In addition, Tang Enbo and Sun Lianzhong are about to arrive, as well as the 22nd Army which arrived earlier and has been training and resting.

There are eight and a half mobile armies that can be put into battle on the northern battlefield. If that doesn't work, the 89th Army can also be included.

Nine and a half armies, more than 100,000 people, I don’t believe they can’t figure out a Sendai Division.

The offensive of the Central China Expeditionary Army was thwarted and the defensive pressure on the southern front was suddenly reduced, but there were still two army groups defending there.

If that doesn’t work, pull two more armies to the northern front!
Li Zongren thought about it and nodded: "At this point, this is the only way!"

If the Japanese army continues to be arrogant, we can still conduct psychological warfare against them, but now the devils must be extremely cautious.

Lure the enemy deep into our territory is no longer effective, so we have no choice but to confront them head-on.

"I will now send your troops to Linyi overnight. While defending the city, wait for an opportunity to move out and find the enemy's weaknesses, waiting for the arrival of follow-up reinforcements!"

Wang Feng held his head high and saluted: "Yes!"

After finalizing the combat arrangements, Li Zongren quickly left the garrison camp.

He had one more matter to attend to.

2 month 26 day.

dawn.

When the new army set out.

The Fifth War Zone Headquarters was surrounded by tight security.

Chiang Kai-shek sat on a chair and Li Zongren stood aside.

After learning that Xuzhou was in danger, he tossed and turned in the Wuhan camp. Every time he closed his eyes, he knew that the Japanese army had already occupied Chongqing.

After that, he couldn't stand it anymore and decided to go to Xuzhou to supervise the battle in person.

Chiang Kai-shek looked out the window and saw the morning light suddenly appearing, a scene full of vitality and everything in its growth.

"Delin, do you think Xuzhou can still be defended?"

Listening to the familiar Fenghua accent, Li Zongren smiled and said, "Please rest assured, Xuzhou will be fine in the short term. It would be even better if we can get some more reinforcements!"

Chiang Kai-shek did not say much, but from his expression, one could still see that he was skeptical.

"Xuzhou City has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times. This battle is crucial to the fate of our nation. I have mobilized troops from all over the country to reinforce your Fifth War Zone!"

"Expand the results of the battle in Huaibei!"

When talking about the Huaibei Campaign, Chiang Kai-shek's expression became somewhat stiff.

Throughout history, when it comes to personnel arrangements, it has always been important to trust the people you employ, and not employ those you doubt.

But now Chiang Kai-shek is feeling very conflicted.

Wang Feng's outstanding military talent and strong and handsome appearance really won his heart.

But the Taiyuan Arsenal incident did touch his sensitive nerves.

"De Lin, do you think that there really exists a new faction within the party and the country?" After the great victory in Huaibei, this name became a hot topic within the party. I wonder who started it, but everyone said that there were two warlords in Shanxi.

Li Zongren had a blank expression on his face, but his heart was in turmoil.

How to answer this?

No?

But Wang Feng's control over his army was indeed too strong.

There is also an independently operated arsenal below, which looks almost the same as Yan Laoxi's.

says have?

I'm afraid it will be disadvantageous to the battle situation!
Seeing that Li Zongren remained silent, Chang Kai-shen waved his hand and said, "I will stay in Xuzhou for a few days. From now on, send me a copy of the daily frontline military newspaper!"

After saying that, he stood up and left the commander's office.

Suburbs of Xuzhou.

Wang Feng led the army and marched across the plains.

Inside the jeep, Zhao Fangyuan brought up a military newspaper containing the basic information about the battlefield that had been explored.

The Second Division came with great force. In addition to the main combat forces at the division level, the support forces were also fully mobilized.

Just one heavy artillery brigade is enough to make people feel tremendous pressure.

This is not something that the field artillery regiment under the division can compare with.

In addition to the conventional 105mm howitzers, a large number of 150mm howitzers are also equipped.

150 mm
An ordinary 105mm grenade weighs around 20 kilograms, while a 150mm grenade can weigh an astonishing 50 kilograms.

The charge is at least 1.5 times more.

Strategic-level suppressive firepower.

In addition, there is a cavalry brigade.

In the era of cold weapons, cavalry was naturally defeated by infantry. Even in the early era of hot weapons, cavalry maintained a certain degree of suppression over infantry.

Although the invention of the heavy machine gun marked the end of the cavalry era.

But the prerequisite is that there must be enough heavy machine guns.

According to the current actual firepower configuration of the National Army, the deterrent power of a cavalry brigade is stronger than that of a tank regiment.

The air force is extremely powerful.

It was really not easy for the Third Corps to hold Linyi for many days under such circumstances.

Zhao Fangyuan: "Sir, the original mission of this Second Division was to garrison the Northeast and defend against the Soviet Union's attack. Now it has been transferred to North China. The combat power of a single division is far greater than what we have encountered before."

After General Wang Feng finished folding the report, he snorted coldly: "The arrow is on the string and must be shot."

"No matter how strong the opponent is, what does it matter if there is a huge difference in firepower? This is called a skinny dog daring to shit hard shit!"

"It's just a Type A division. Can a single division conquer the entire world?"

"Pass my words to officers at all levels and let them listen carefully!"

Zhao Fangyuan nodded: "Yes!"

There are all kinds of birds in a big forest. With the war approaching, it is inevitable that people will become restless.

Especially for the two main forces, most of the new recruits were reservists from the Fifth War Zone. They were not as good as the reservists under their own command either in terms of military quality or ideological and political thinking.

But once you're pulled to the battlefield, you'll be much better after two days of training.

No lesson can be more unforgettable than blood.

Wang Feng: "How far is it to Linyi?"

Zhao Fangyuan placed the map on his legs and took out a ruler to measure.

"Sir, the straight-line distance is at least one hundred kilometers."

One hundred kilometers.
At the current speed, it will take at least five days.

Wang Feng looked out the window at the mighty army marching forward and said, "I hope the Third Army can hold on."

At this time, Linyi City.

The Japanese army bombarded the city wall with heavy artillery. A 150mm grenade could tear the wall apart in an instant.

"Kill him!"

"charge!"

The Japanese officers commanding the battle on the front line drew their swords and shouted loudly.

The Japanese soldiers beside him immediately rushed out of the trenches and rushed into the city in a skirmish formation.

Only faint gunshots were heard among the ruins.

Command post in the city.

Pang Bingxun was in a panic. The Japanese army surrounded Linyi City and everyone was in a state of emergency. But now all the soldiers he had were sent out, and even his own guard battalion was involved in the battle.

"Chief of Staff, when will the reinforcements Commander Li promised arrive?"

"If this continues, I'm afraid the whole army will be wiped out?"

Xu Zuyi put down the telescope, his expression very calm: "I have urged the commander many times, I believe the reinforcements are on the way now."

When he said this, he obviously didn't have the confidence.

As the chief of staff of the theater, he is well versed in the deployment of troops in various places.

He knew clearly which troops could take on important responsibilities and which troops were not capable of being used.

Even if reinforcements really came, they would probably be the 89th Army.

Pang Bingxun was skeptical: "I hope so"

The command post fell into silence, and the only sound was the constant sound of gunfire outside.

Two or three minutes later.

A soldier came running over: "Report to the commander!"

"Telegram from the War Zone Command!"

Pang Bingxun was startled and quickly took the telegram.

"show me!"

He glanced up and down, and then hope suddenly lit up in his eyes.

"It's reinforcements! Commander Li has sent reinforcements!"

Although he is over sixty years old, he is smiling like a child at this moment.

The hope that ignites in despair is so powerful.

Xu Zuyi was also a little surprised. In his impression, there were no troops available to be sent to the war zone at the moment.

"Which unit?"

Pang Bingxun: "The newly formed First Corps will arrive in about five days."

Xu Zuyi frowned and put down the telescope.

Wang Feng's army?

In his impression, this unit suffered heavy losses in the Huaibei Campaign. It has only been less than half a month, and they should still be resting and recuperating.

But it’s always good to be here.

Pang Bingxun walked to the battle map and said, "Inform all troops to step up defense. Reinforcements are on the way!"

"Notify the kitchen team and do whatever they can to give the brothers a good meal!"

Sometimes boosting morale is as simple as a clear, visible ray of hope.

And a hot meal.

The soldier saluted: "Yes!"

Pang Bingxun stared at the battle map and muttered, "The damned Japanese want to eat up my Third Army, but he still needs a good pair of teeth!"

(End of this chapter)