Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 154 Return in triumph
4 month 1 day.

The city of Xuzhou was bustling with activity.

People hung up lanterns and decorated the place, sang and danced, and the scene was even more lively than during the Chinese New Year.

Chiang Kai-shek personally visited Xuzhou and delivered a post-war speech.

"The Battle of Taierzhuang has enhanced the military might of China and boosted the spirit of our people."

In the auditorium.

Wang Feng sat in the second row, listening to the Fenghua accent on the stage and clapping in a proper manner.

What Chiang Kai-shek said were all polite words without any substance. Just listen for fun.

If you have this much time, you might as well go to the training ground and watch the soldiers practice shooting.

Zhao Fangyuan sat beside him and said, "Sir, the group of students who came a few days ago have been escorted to the rear."

Wang Feng: "Where's the money?"

Zhao Fangyuan: "I reserved the military pay for next month, and sent the rest along with it."

Wang Feng nodded and said, "Send a telegram to Song Wenjie, asking him to pay more attention to the job placement of students and strive to make the best use of their talents."

Hundreds of students supported industrial construction, directly solving the urgent problem of shortage of manpower.

Next, Wang Feng plans to set up a university to cultivate cutting-edge technical talents and make plans for the future.

Zhao Fangyuan: "Sir, there is one more thing. The first batch of students at the military academy is about to graduate. Song Wenjie sent a telegram, wanting you to go back and give a speech!"

Wang Feng frowned and calculated the time in his mind.

As soon as the siege of Xuzhou was lifted, thirteen Japanese divisions, totaling more than 300,000 troops, immediately surrounded it.

Three hundred thousand people!

The Japanese army only deployed nine divisions and 220,000 people in the Battle of Shanghai.

Although there is support from naval artillery and naval aviation.

But the Japanese troops currently besieging Xuzhou also include several heavy artillery brigades, and the strength of the Army Aviation is also not bad.

What's worse, Chiang Kai-shek was carried away by three consecutive victories and kept deploying troops in an attempt to engage in a decisive battle with the Japanese army in Xuzhou.

Coincidentally, Japan thinks the same way.

Currently, the Fifth War Zone has fifty divisions and more than 700,000 troops.

Almost emptied out all the family assets.

It looks very strong, but its actual combat effectiveness is pitifully low.

If all of them are lost in the Fifth War Zone, the subsequent Battle of Wuhan will have to involve only the militia forces.

At this critical moment, I simply cannot get away, let alone return to Changzhi to attend the graduation ceremony.

Wang Feng: "After the first batch of students graduate, all of them will be brought to Xuzhou."

"The artillery fire on the battlefield is the best salute to celebrate graduation!"

Zhao Fangyuan responded: "Understood!"

On the podium, Chiang Kai-shek spoke for more than an hour and then handed the microphone to Li Zongren.

A big meeting is held for small matters, and a small meeting is held for big matters.

It is euphemistically called a "post-war summary", but in the final analysis it is just singing praises and applause, a complete "one-man show".

Wang Feng yawned and looked back at the gate.

It’s so boring, I might as well sneak away.

The thought flashed through his mind and was then extinguished.

After all, I am now a senior military officer with a high status. How could I just leave at such an "important" occasion?

The military meeting lasted the entire afternoon.

After the meeting, Wang Feng dragged his tired body and slowly walked out of the venue.

Zhao Fangyuan stood guard at his side and turned his head to look around: "Sir, my colleagues seem to be discussing the upcoming battle."

Wang Feng straightened his uniform and said, "Whether to fight or not depends on the chairman's opinion. Discussing it in private cannot influence the overall situation."

Those who were willing to continue fighting in the Fifth War Zone were all newly transferred officers.

Think about it and understand.

After traveling thousands of miles to Xuzhou, we can't just retreat in disgrace without firing a shot.

Zhao Fangyuan scratched his head and said, "Sir, there will be a celebration dinner later. Should we go back to the barracks now, or stay in the city for the time being?"

Wang Feng frowned: "Celebration dinner?"

"Go and say hello. Tell them I've caught a cold and am feeling unwell. I'll visit Commander Li another day."

"Let's go back to the barracks!"

It was a turbulent time and I could only spare an afternoon to attend the military meeting. If I attended the dinner as well, there would be no one to handle the military affairs.

"By the way, how is the discussion on the extension of the oil field going?"

Zhao Fangyuan: "Song Wenjie called me this morning and said the basic framework has been finalized, and only some details need to be improved."

Wang Feng got into the jeep and rolled down the window: "I want to see the results of the final talks as soon as possible!"

Zhao Fangyuan saluted: "Yes!"

------

4 month 4 day.

A sealed document lay on the table.

Wang Feng took a sip of hot tea and asked: "How many weapons and equipment were delivered this time?"

Zhao Fangyuan pulled out a list: "Seventy 75mm guns, four million rounds of ammunition, three hundred thousand grenades, and over four thousand rounds of various artillery shells."

"One hundred tons of food and fodder supply."

Wang Feng covered his teacup and glanced out the window: "There are still a few shells. Let the ammunition factory speed up production so as not to delay the battle."

Zhao Fangyuan responded: "Yes!"

Wang Feng opened the document on the table and read it carefully.

The two sides reached a comprehensive consensus on the cooperative exploitation of the Yanchang Oilfield.

The garrison army took over all the exploitation and management of the oil fields and had absolute control over them. The local armed security was the responsibility of the Eighth Route Army.

The two parties share the extracted oil in proportion.

Our side accounts for 80%, and friendly forces account for 20%.

Wang Feng was quite satisfied with the final result.

After all, the oil field is in other people's hands, and it may not be easy to intervene forcibly.

Wang Feng stuffed the documents into the drawer and said, "In two days, the equipment I asked someone to bring in from Europe will arrive in Lanzhou. After unloading at the airport, it will be shipped directly to Yanchang."

"Set up the equipment as soon as possible, don't delay."

Changzhi Arsenal is developing rapidly, with hundreds of industrial experiences recorded every day.

After accumulating enough experience points, I directly unlocked the [Fuel Extraction Type I] technology and obtained a large number of drilling and refining equipment.

Zhao Fangyuan: "Sir, here is another military report."

"After a short rest, the First Column arrived in Kaifeng in the early hours of yesterday morning."

"The 14th Division in Puyang has made unusual movements. Two of its infantry regiments are heading to the north bank of the Yellow River. The exact time of crossing the river is still unclear."

Wang Feng frowned and said, "Notify the 4th, 5th, and 6th columns to prepare for battle. Once the 14th Division crosses the Yellow River, the troops will immediately move to Kaifeng to join the 1st column!"

The total strength of the four columns reaches 60K, which is more than enough to deal with a Type A division.

Wang Feng added: "Now that the battle of Changzhi is over, let Liu Zhijian's Second Column prepare. They have been silent in the rear for so long, it's time to be pulled out for a walk. Once the battle on the Longhai Line begins, they will immediately move south and attack the Japanese army from behind!"

Five columns gathered at the Longhai Line, with a force more than three times that of the 14th Division. The old Japanese Kenji Doihara had basically no way to escape.

Zhao Fangyuan: "In addition, there are also unusual movements of Japanese troops on the southern front."

"The Sixth Division officially attacked Hefei last night, and the 101st Division reached Yancheng."

"On the Bengbu front, the Ninth Division launched an offensive and engaged in a fierce battle with the local defenders. The Third Division has also arrived in Mingguang."

Wang Feng’s brows were twisted into the shape of the Chinese character “川”.

The rain is coming from the wind!
The good times haven't lasted for a few days before the war starts again.

Since January, the Japanese army has lost three divisions on the Jinpu Line, seemingly achieving a temporary victory.

Little did they know that this was just an appetizer.

Three divisions were annihilated, and there were still thirteen divisions waiting behind.

A long way to go!

Wang Feng: "If there is any news from the headquarters, please send it to me in time."

"Ask Song Wenjie to keep a close eye on the tank project and put it into mass production as soon as possible,"

Zhao Fangyuan saluted: "Yes!"

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4 month 10 day.

The 14th Division rushed out from Puyang, crossed the Yellow River to the south, and launched a fierce attack on Heze.

The local garrison's 23rd Division put up a tenacious resistance, and its commander Li Bifan died a heroic death.

same day.

Another group of Japanese troops also began to move.

The 16th Division stationed in Jining crossed the Grand Canal to the west and pointed its spearhead at Yuncheng.

4 month 12 day.

The 101st Division crossed Yancheng and marched into Funing.

4 month 15 day.

Under the joint attack of the 3rd and 9th Divisions, the defenders on the southern line of the Jinpu Road were defeated, and Suxian, an important town north of Bengbu, fell into the hands of the enemy.

Battle reports from various places flew quickly to the headquarters of the First and Fifth War Zones like pieces of paper.

A series of battles launched by the Japanese army outside Xuzhou completely shattered Chiang Kai-shek's dream of a decisive battle.

Eight telegrams were sent in one day, asking Li Zongren to command the war zone troops to break through to the Pinghan Railway Line south of Zhengzhou.

Inside the military camp.

Zhao Fangyuan strode over and said, "Sir, the 4th, 5th, and 6th columns have boarded the train and are expected to arrive in Kaifeng tomorrow evening."

Wang Feng looked unhappy and paced back and forth in the room.

"Any news from the headquarters?"

Zhao Fangyuan shook his head: "Not yet."

Wang Feng slammed his fist on the table.

The Fifth War Zone had fifty divisions and more than 700,000 troops, but only one external railway line.

It is not easy to withdraw in a short period of time!
After capturing Yuncheng, the 74th Division did not join the th Division, but turned southeast, broke through the th Division's blockade, and occupied Jinxiang and Yutai.

The battle has reached the edge of the Longhai Line.

It is estimated that it will not be long before this railway line connecting the east and the west will be completely cut off by the Japanese army.

More than 700,000 troops could only run away from the Fifth War Zone.

Wang Feng turned around and said, "I have already volunteered to Commander Li to go to the eastern Henan area to meet the 14th Division."

"Have the 7th and 8th columns prepare to evacuate immediately. Once the war zone order is issued, rush to Kaifeng!"

In his eyes, the 14th Division was a soft persimmon.

The remaining five divisions were all trying hard to move towards Xuzhou.

Only Kenji Doihara's troops fought alone and continued to advance toward Zhengzhou.

If not him, who else can I hit!
Zhao Fangyuan saluted and said, "Yes! I'll give the order right away."

Wang Feng: "Tell Song Wenjie that the supplies shipped from Changzhi can be unloaded directly in Kaifeng and no longer need to be transported to Xuzhou."

Strategic withdrawal has become an inevitable trend. Even if he wanted to fight and had the strength to do so, Chiang Kai-shek did not dare to continue to increase his stakes and fight alone, facing 300,000 Japanese troops.

Even if he could win, it would be a miserable victory.

(End of this chapter)