Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 157: North-South Connection

4 month 18 day.

Lanfeng.

Shortly after arriving in Kaifeng, Wang Feng moved his headquarters here.

Zhao Fangyuan stepped forward and saluted: "Sir, this is the production report for early April sent from the rear."

Wang Feng was slumped in the chair, dozing with his eyes closed. When he heard the voice, he stood up and took the booklet handed to him.

I glanced through it briefly.

"Huai Hanpeng has done a good job. In such a short period of time, the daily output of 6.5mm rifle bullets alone has reached rounds."

“Why is steel production so low?”

Seeing the last page, Wang Feng raised his eyebrows.

The Jindongnan Steel Plant produced 234 tons in the first half of the month, and its estimated annual output is about 5000 tons. It can only barely maintain the current weapons production and cannot continue to expand its production capacity.

Zhao Fangyuan was a little puzzled: "Sir... this output does not seem to be small."

Wang Feng rubbed his temple and sighed.

An annual output of 5,000 tons is indeed a lot at present. According to statistics, the total steel output in the country last year was only about 50,000 tons.

The output of 5,000 tons of steel mills in southeastern Shanxi accounts for one-tenth of the national total. During the several years that Yan Laoxi ran Shanxi, the annual output of steel mills in the province was only more than 8,000 tons.

But looking back at the past, a medium-sized steel plant could easily produce millions of tons per year.

I can't help but sigh.

Wang Feng: "Provide electricity to the machine tool factory and shift production capacity to the steel industry as soon as possible. The production of weapons and equipment can be put on hold for now."

The fact that Jindongnan Steel Plant could reach such a scale in a short period of time was certainly inseparable from the vigorous production of the machine tool factory.

But it is far from enough.

In the past, machine tool production capacity was largely tilted towards the weapons industry, and output did show results quickly, but it also left many hidden dangers.

Changzhi has no shortage of iron ore resources, with proven reserves of over 100 million tons.

The best way to increase production capacity is to expand the production line.

Zhao Fangyuan nodded and mentioned another matter: "Sir, Song Xilian's 71st Army requested to pass through Lanfeng and head towards Shangqiu!"

Wang Feng sat up straight and covered his teacup. "You are allowed to pass, but wasn't the railway line from Minquan to Shangqiu bombed by Japanese planes? Why are you still rushing to Shangqiu at all costs?"

Zhao Fangyuan frowned, not knowing the true intention of the friendly forces: "Maybe there are our troops in Lanfeng, or it may be a telegram from Chongqing."

Wang Feng grinned.

Although the First Corps and the garrison army are currently jointly defending the Longhai Line, their communication is not deep.

The command structure was also extremely chaotic.

He and Xue Boling were not subordinate to each other. The First Corps was under the First War Zone, and the garrison army was directly under the Fifth War Zone, and their levels were also different.

In the absence of a clear commander-in-chief at the front, both sides can only do their own things.

Wang Feng: "At present, our chairman's intention is to eat up the 14th Division here."

Zhao Fangyuan was anxious: "Sir, how should we deal with this?"

Wang Feng took a sip of hot tea: "Isn't it obvious?"

"Lanfeng and Shangqiu are in a pincer attack. Once Kenji Doihara launches an attack, we will be surrounded in an instant."

"Let the first, fourth, and fifth columns get ready."

Boom boom boom!
While the two were talking, a signalman knocked on the door.

"Report to the commander, urgent telegram from Xuzhou!"

Wang Feng stood up upon hearing the news: "Bring it here for me to see!"

Zhao Fangyuan understood what he meant, stepped forward and took the telegram. After glancing at it, he said, "Sir, something big has happened!"

Wang Feng's heart skipped a beat: "Hurry up and tell me!"

Zhao Fangyuan: "On the southern line of the Jinpu Road, the Japanese 7rd and 31th divisions gathered in Bengbu and Huaiyuan, relying on their powerful firepower to advance northward. The th and st armies were defeated, and Mengcheng, Yongcheng, and Xiaoxian were lost one after another!"

"The vanguard has reached the Longhai Line and blown up the iron bridge east of Dangshan. The railway line has been cut off!"

"The 16th Division has joined forces with the Central China Front Army!"

"The north-south defenses were broken through"

Wang Feng frowned and immediately looked at the macro map.

"Where's the 74th Division?"

"Why is there no movement?"

According to the original combat plan, the Longhai Railway section near Xuzhou was to be defended by the 74th Division.

Zhao Fangyuan looked bitter: "After the defeat in Jinxiang and Yutai, the 74th Division reorganized its troops and withdrew to Xuzhou after a brief resistance."

"The order from Chongqing was to stop the Japanese troops north of the Longhai Line, but we didn't expect that the Japanese troops from the south would come after just a few days."

Wang Feng sighed: "What are the instructions from the higher-ups?"

Zhao Fangyuan: "Chongqing has revised the order, requiring our troops to divide their forces to block the Japanese troops on the southern line while resisting the Japanese troops on the northern line."

"Attract the Japanese army's attention to the Longhai Line and cover the friendly forces' breakout!"

Wang Feng frowned even more tightly: "Change your orders every day!"

"Don't the Xuzhou troops have fifty divisions? Why can't they send out even one?"

Zhao Fangyuan spread his hands and said, "The telegram said that Xuzhou could not mobilize any extra troops. The second batch of Japanese troops besieging the Fifth War Zone arrived yesterday."

"Just north of Xuzhou, there are four divisions gathered, namely the 5th, 103rd, 105th, and 114th divisions."

"In the Subei area, in addition to the original 101st Division, the 17th and 118th Divisions have been added."

"At the same time, the 107th Division of the Japanese Army in the south arrived in Chuzhou"

Several technical soldiers nearby were drawing the latest combat map based on the information.

Wang Feng glanced at him.

The six armies marched towards Xuzhou in a mighty force.

"What is the combat deployment of friendly forces?"

Zhao Fangyuan: "After the Longhai Railway was destroyed, the theater headquarters adjusted the retreat plan and set the breakout direction to the southwest of Xuzhou, moving to southern Henan, northern Anhui and other places!"

"In my opinion, although the Japanese army has 300,000 troops, the combat area is too large and the battle line is too long. It is impossible to make the encirclement tight. Breaking through is not difficult!"

Wang Feng smiled and said, "The five and a half divisions of the devil are all heading towards the Longhai Line. There must be a big loophole. If we can't withdraw under this circumstance, it would be a miracle."

"Where is the Second Column now?"

Zhao Fangyuan: "The troops have left Shanxi and are about to reach Puyang!"

Wang Feng nodded: "I want to change the combat target and let the 14th Division go first!"

Zhao Fangyuan frowned: "Sir, this?"

"Let the 14th Division go?"

Wang Feng stared at the battle map and prepared a plan in his mind: "Zhao Fangyuan, take note of this!"

"I will make the following deployment adjustments."

"The Second Column besieged Puyang, the Fifth Column stayed where it was and strengthened the Lanfeng defense line, and the rest of the troops moved eastward. The Fourth and Sixth Columns advanced to Dangshan and launched a decisive battle with the Japanese 16th Division. The Seventh and Eighth Columns went to Yongcheng to block the Third and Ninth Divisions."

"The First Column will serve as the general reserve force."

"Move the artillery column and the command post to the southwest of Dangshan. I will go to the front line and personally command the battle!"

As soon as Wang Feng finished speaking, Zhao Fangyuan closed his notebook and said, "Sir, I've written it all down!"

Wang Feng took a sip of hot tea and said, "If the plan goes well, after annihilating the 16th Division, the 6th Column will move eastward to block the Kwantung Army's mixed brigade and the 10th Division."

"The Fourth Column and the First Column will turn to the northwest, cut off the 14th Division's retreat, and then join forces with the Fifth Column and friendly forces to completely encircle and annihilate it!" The battle situation changes rapidly, and plans can never keep up with the changes. The arrival of the second batch of Japanese reinforcements completely disrupted Chongqing and his combat plan.

But it doesn't matter.

As the saying goes, the devil is as high as the Tao.

In this battle, he not only had to stop the Japanese army, but also had to recapture thousands of square kilometers of fertile land between Puyang and Changzhi.

Zhao Fangyuan nodded: "Yes!"

------

71st Army.

On the high ground, Song Xilian put down the telescope and turned to look at the adjutant beside him: "Looking at the current national army, apart from the direct line of the chairman, this is probably the only unit that can be equipped with 15-meter heavy artillery."

The adjutant nodded repeatedly: "If I am not mistaken, this should be the Japanese Type 105 howitzer. There is also a mm Type howitzer over there!"

Song Xilian picked up the telescope and looked in the direction of the adjutant's finger, feeling envious.

The 71st Army was formed during the Battle of Shanghai and can be described as a "direct line".

But even so, they can only use a few 75mm guns to keep up appearances, and the ammunition reserves are still relatively scarce. One less round is one less, so they can only use them sparingly in normal times.

"It seems that my junior fellow student has truly astonishing military attainments!" Song Xilian could not help but exclaim in admiration, "This is probably the only one in the national army that has so many heavy artillery pieces."

As a first-term student of Whampoa Military Academy, he did have something to be proud of, but he truly admired Wang Feng from the bottom of his heart.

The adjutant echoed: "Commander Wang has been a star since the Shanxi Anti-Japanese War, and he has never lost a battle so far. He is truly a man of heaven!"

"But from what I have heard, this army was extremely brave in battle, and after the battle, they divided up the supplies like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves. The brother troops that fought side by side with them could not even get a sip of soup."

Song Xilian waved his hand and said, "It's human nature. If it were you, would you be able to snatch so many heavy artillery from the Japanese?"

The adjutant laughed awkwardly and remained silent.

Song Xilian: "Where is the army marching to? We are just passing through. We can't stay on their territory forever."

The adjutant saluted: "I'll go and urge them!"

Song Xilian nodded, then followed him down the hill.

After a while, the adjutant came running over.

"Sir, a section of the railway ahead has been blown up. I'm afraid the troops will have to walk to Shangqiu."

Song Xilian frowned, feeling a little unhappy: "It was blown up?"

"When did this happen?"

Adjutant: "About yesterday evening."

Song Xilian was furious and shouted angrily: "It's been more than ten hours, why did you just receive the news?"

The adjutant was troubled: "This..."

"The garrison passed the message to the Corps Headquarters, but there was too much backlog of messages. Our department just received the relevant telegram."

Song Xilian sighed. He couldn't blame anyone for this kind of thing.

The transmission of information via telegraph already has a considerable delay, and the fact that the two armies are not under the same jurisdiction makes communication even more difficult.

"Order the 88th Division to be the vanguard and reach Shangqiu within hours!"

"This is a military order, there must be no mistakes!"

The adjutant snapped to attention and saluted: "Yes!"

Song Xilian walked into the temporary command post, took off his gloves, and stared at the battle map hanging on the wall.

I was secretly calculating in my heart.

The order given by the First War Zone to the Corps was very simple - to independently destroy the 14th Division!

The emphasis is on the word "independence".

This is also why, even though the First Corps and the garrison army are on the same front, the two sides have little contact and are even strangers to each other.

The reason is also very simple.

Chongqing wants to save face!

The local miscellaneous troops performed brilliantly in the Battle of Xuzhou and were in the limelight for a while, but in the eyes of their superiors, they were actually stealing the show.

Song Xilian frowned and sighed: "The 14th Division is hesitant to move forward. If we attack rashly, it will play into the hands of the Japanese invaders!"

"chief of staff!"

"To!"

As soon as he finished speaking, an officer stepped in.

"What are the recent movements of friendly forces?"

Chief of Staff: "Sir, I was just about to report to you. Five minutes ago, the Corps Headquarters sent a message that the friendly forces are expected to withdraw from Lanfeng within two days, leaving only two divisions of garrison troops."

Song Xilian was a little puzzled: "Why is this?"

The Chief of Staff shook his head: "This is all the information sent by the Corps Headquarters. The specific reason is still unclear."

Song Xilian: "What is the situation in the Fifth War Zone? Where has the Japanese army fought?"

The chief of staff thought for a moment and said, "The Japanese offensive is extremely fierce. We plan to divide our troops into six routes and adopt a roundabout encirclement and annihilation strategy. We have now completely cut off the Longhai Railway section west of Xuzhou."

Song Xilian suddenly understood.

It turned out that he went back to put out the fire!

Chief of Staff: "Sir, there is one more thing."

"According to the latest news from the front, the Japanese 14th Division suddenly contracted its front line, and the main force retreated as a whole!"

Song Xilian was suspicious: "Huh?"

“Why is there a definite reason for the pullback?”

Chief of Staff: "In the rear of the Japanese army, a large number of friendly troops came out from Changzhi and besieged Puyang. The Japanese retreat has been cut off!"

The 14th Division is one of the few mechanized divisions of the Japanese Army. Its supply line is its lifeline and must not be lost.

Song Xilian looked bitter and laughed awkwardly.

Fuck independent warfare!

It turns out that the dominance of the battlefield has always been in the hands of this late-coming junior.
------

Two days later.

Dangshan battlefield.

Chu Yunfei huddled in the trench, leaned forward, raised his telescope, and carefully observed the battle situation ahead.

"What is the specific number of the Japanese troops ahead?"

Adjutant Sun Ming adjusted the brim of his hat and said, "The headquarters sent a message that it should be the 9th Infantry Regiment of the th Division of the Japanese. There is also a cavalry regiment on our left."

Chu Yunfei frowned: "The 16th Division?"

Sun Ming nodded: "Sir, do you still remember the newspaper about "The Hundred Killers"? "

Chu Yunfei clenched the telescope tightly and bit every byte: "Of course I remember, they are just a bunch of beasts!"

Sun Ming: "Those two Japanese officers, Noda Takeshi and Mukai Toshiaki, are the captains of the 16th Division!"

Chu Yunfei retreated into the trench and snorted coldly: "Send a telegram to the headquarters, requesting artillery support!"

"After the bombardment, the entire column will immediately launch a charge and must recapture the Dangshan Iron Bridge within 24 hours!"

"Has the Sixth Column arrived at the battlefield?"

Sun Ming shook his head: "No, half an hour ago, all units reported that the Sixth Column was still eight kilometers away from Dangshan!"

Chu Yunfei frowned: "It doesn't matter, my troops will launch the attack first to open the way for the friendly forces!"

(End of this chapter)