Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 172: Phased Victory, Rewards Calculation
Green Forest is just a nice name for bandits.

Yu Xuezhong didn't mind. The other party was able to cross the war to support him, so he couldn't blame them for that.

Besides, he was from the Fengtian Army, while Marshal Zhang Zuolin started out as a horse bandit.

If we really talk about it, no one is superior to anyone else.

Yu Xuezhong: "I can't say too much in the telegram. I will give you a detailed introduction to the situation now."

Zhang Chong clasped his hands together and said, "I'd like to hear more about it!"

Yu Xuezhong pointed to the battle map and saw that the small Yongcheng County was surrounded by the Japanese army.

"Our main enemy at the moment is the Japanese Third Division!"

Zhang Chong frowned: "The Third Division. Sounds a bit familiar."

Yu Xuezhong took out a stack of information: "The Third Division is a Type A combat unit with extremely strong combat effectiveness. During the Battle of Songhu, it was the first batch of troops to land in Shanghai. Its combat style is known for its bravery and it is also good at using chemical weapons!"

Zhang Chong was a little surprised: "Chemical weapons?"

Yu Xuezhong nodded with a gloomy expression.

Zhang Chong scratched his head: "I remember there is another division?"

Yu Xuezhong continued, "The remaining one is the Japanese Ninth Division, which is also a Type A combat unit. In terms of combat effectiveness, it is stronger than the Third Division."

"According to the intelligence passed down by the General Staff, the main troops of this division are from the Hokuriku region of Japan. They are extremely united and highly organized during the battle!"

"This information has been proven in actual combat, it is only higher, not lower."

Zhang Chong thought to himself that something was wrong.

Yu Xuezhong smiled and dispelled his concerns: "The 9th Division withdrew half of its troops the day before yesterday. According to reliable intelligence, the general direction is to the southwest of Anhui."

"Currently, only one detachment remains in the Yongcheng area."

Zhang Chong breathed a sigh of relief: "Sir, the higher-ups have provided you with weapons. I asked my brothers to bring them into the city. We have just opened up the road, so it will take a few hours to move them all in."

Yu Xuezhong nodded: "Brother, be righteous!"

Zhang Chong grinned and said, "Commander Yu, there is still a battle outside. I will withdraw first. When we defeat the Japanese, I will treat you to a couple of drinks!"

He was a very straightforward person. Along the way from Yunnan to Henan, he met many generals of the National Army.

Those direct generals of the Central Army were arrogant and conceited. The arrogance of a brigade commander was even greater than that of a division commander like him.

He always boasted about his Whampoa Military Academy origin and looked down on him as a local military division commander who came from a "green forest" background.

On the contrary, he likes people like Yu Xuezhong very much.

With the 60th Army joining the battle, the Yongcheng defense line was temporarily stabilized.

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October 4th, 27:9.

Wang Feng stepped on the ruins and sniffed the lingering smell of gunpowder in the air.

Zhao Fangyuan followed beside him and reported the battle situation in a low voice: "In the battle of Dangshan, our army lost 5432 soldiers and 3432 were seriously injured and disabled."

"The remaining wounded soldiers will be able to continue to fight after receiving first aid and recovering for a while."

Wang Feng lowered his head, feeling very unhappy.

There will always be casualties in war. Since ancient times, it has been said that a kind person should not be in charge of an army.

But when the medical soldiers carried those young men who had lost their limbs but were still shouting and fighting past in front of me, I couldn't help but be moved.

Wang Feng: "Give the fallen brothers a proper burial on the spot, and keep the roster safe afterwards."

Zhao Fangyuan responded.

Wang Feng: "Send a telegram to Zhang Zizhong, ordering the 5th Column's reserve troops to move to Dangshan as soon as possible!"

The Battle of Dangshan lasted for a week and directly destroyed a quarter of the troops.

If we don’t replenish some, the next battle will be difficult.

After the reorganization of the troops, each column had two thousand reserve troops, who received the same military training as the front-line troops and whose quality was even better than that of some of the Central Army's direct troops.

The 5th Column was blocked by Xue Yue's Henan East Corps in front, so it would not encounter the 14th Division for the time being.

It is a foolish move to rob Peter to repair Paul, but it is an emergency measure, so just take it and use it first.

Zhao Fangyuan: “Yes!”

"As for the number of enemies killed, our army estimates that 8323 enemies were killed, 232 soldiers were captured, and more than 3212 rounds of ammunition and rifles were seized."

Wang Feng: "For a battle of this magnitude, the casualty ratio is less than one, which is considered a great victory!"

Zhao Fangyuan was a little regretful: "The battle was going on until the second half of the night, and the 16th Division's regiments concentrated on breaking out. If they were encircled and blocked, perhaps more Japanese devils could be annihilated."

Wang Feng smiled and said, "Surround them?"

"Can we declare victory after we take down Dangshan?"

Zhao Fangyuan sighed.

He understood the truth, but he still felt that he had suffered a loss.

If the 16th Division is besieged in Dangshan City, and if we advance steadily and nibble away at it step by step, it might take a month or so before we can completely annihilate the entire division.

Wang Feng stroked the captured command knife and turned to look at Zhao Fangyuan: "I also feel it's a pity, but from a strategic point of view, the current battle situation is the most ideal state."

"The 16th Division suffered heavy losses, the division commander was captured, the morale of the troops collapsed, and they are no longer able to participate in subsequent battles."

"We have not only recaptured Dangshan County and restored the railway traffic from Xuzhou to Shangqiu, but the loss of troops is also within controllable range, and we can be deployed to the second battle at any time."

Zhao Fangyuan nodded: "What the commander said makes sense!"

What Wang Feng said is indeed correct.

Right after they had dealt with the 16th Division, two mixed brigades of the Kwantung Army were already at the gates of the city.

According to the news from Li Zongren, after learning that Dangshan had fallen, the Fifth Division also showed a tendency to move towards the Longhai Line.

A new war is likely to break out in a short time.

Wang Feng: "Notify all troops to rest as soon as possible. Also, contact the Fifth War Zone and ask when the troops will withdraw westward. Coordinate the time as soon as possible."

Zhao Fangyuan stood at attention and saluted: "Yes!"

After saying that, he turned and left in a hurry.

On the desolate ruins, only Wang Feng and a few guards beside him were left.

While he had nothing to do, he quickly immersed his consciousness in the system panel.

Although not many enemies were killed in the Dangshan Campaign, it was of extremely important strategic significance, and the division commander Nakajima Imao was captured.

Therefore, it was judged to be an [Epic Victory].

Wang Feng's consciousness fell on the [National Policy Tree], and several highlighted options to be unlocked came into view.

【Jindongnan University of Technology】

We have a solid industrial base, but we are always short of engineers and industrial designers. We need to build a university to ensure that the best people are always available to fill any new positions in the growing industry.

[Triggerable resolution: Triggering the basic discipline strengthening plan]

【Strengthening of basic subjects】

[Effect: Student training speed +10%, +30 professors returned from overseas study]

------

[Triggerable resolution: Build a precision instrument laboratory]

[Effect: Electronic industry research speed +20%, unlock vacuum tube technology. ]

【Trigger condition: Complete the construction of "Mechanical Engineering Department". 】

------

[Triggerable decision: Build Taihang Mountain Scientific Research Base]

[Effect: Mountain fortification construction speed +30%, unlock "Underground Laboratory", unlock the spirit "Taihang Backbone"]

【Taihang Backbone】

[Effect: Stability +15%, -30% damage to the factory caused by bombing, triggering the "uranium exploration" event chain, atomic energy research progress +15%] Wang Feng was dazzled by the string of text.

"Why so many?"

One national focus can unlock three decisions.

What attracted him most were the [Basic Discipline Strengthening Plan] and the [Construction of Taihang Mountain Scientific Research Base].

There is no need to explain in detail the importance of the speed of student training.

What is most in short supply right now is senior engineers. If the normal training plan is followed, the first batch of graduates will have to wait at least three years before they can start working.

He could afford to wait, but the war situation could not.

Although the Japanese Army won several battles in the Fifth War Zone, it suffered a great loss of face, which caused quite a stir in Japan.

But it still failed to touch the root of the problem.

When one cabinet falls, another one will take over.

As long as the emperor does not change and militarist ideology still controls Japanese society, the new cabinet will continue to implement the policy of invading China to the end.

Maybe it will get even crazier.

The resolution to [build the Taihang Mountain Scientific Research Base] is tailor-made for the current situation.

Especially the spiritual "Taihang Backbone".

The fact that the garrison had so many domestically produced weapons had aroused the vigilance of the Japanese Army General Staff.

According to reports from the rear.

Since April, Japanese bomber formations have frequently appeared over Changzhi, dropping two bombs from time to time.

It is clear that the industrial area has been exposed.

Anti-aircraft artillery has not yet been officially produced, and air force construction has just started. A few anti-aircraft machine guns alone are not enough to withstand strategic bombing.

When he was at a loss of what to do, this article really solved his urgent problem.

Wang Feng was ready to go, pacing slowly on the ruins, his consciousness shifting to another national policy.

【Heavy Industry Priority Plan】

[The development of heavy industry directly affects national defense and military strength. The shadow of global war is still growing. We should not be satisfied with our current achievements. Establishing a more complete heavy industry system will directly enhance our military strength.]

[Effect: Tank/artillery production speed +10%, steel consumption -10%]

[Unlock the Industrial Spirit "Coal and Steel Complex"]

【Coal-steel complex】

[Effect: Trigger the "Great Steelmaking Policy" output +15%, trigger the "Large-Scale Iron Ore Exploration" event chain, and return geology experts +20 people]

"Not bad!"

Wang Feng grinned.

The two newly unlocked national policies are both aimed at responding to current urgent needs.

"A new medal?"

In addition to the [National Policy Tree], the medal system that had been silent for a long time was highlighted again. Wang Feng raised his eyebrows and clicked in with operational awareness.

[Iron Wall]

[Owner: Field 7th Column, Field 8th Column]

[The troops under your command performed extremely well in the defensive battle. The grassroots officers have accumulated a lot of combat experience and passed it down as the troop's signature skill.]

[Effect: Trench limit +5, trench construction speed +25%]

"Seven vertical and eight vertical?"

Wang Feng was a little surprised.

Including the most recent one, there are currently only three medals hanging on the wall.

Two of them belong to the First Column, namely [First Climber] and [Breakthrougher].

"This really has become a professional blocking force." Wang Feng joked in his heart, "Every profession has its own specialty!"

After exiting the medal interface, he then clicked on the army technology tree.

"What are you unlocking right now? It doesn't seem necessary at the moment!"

Wang Feng was in a dilemma.

After the Battle of Dangshan, the Army's technological experience value reached 2K again, but there was nothing worth unlocking.

"Unlock the rifle?"

"No, no! The Type 24 has not been fully deployed yet. If we update the equipment so quickly, the logistics system will only become more and more chaotic."

"Light or heavy machine guns?"

"It's not right to develop a new model after it has been put into service for less than a month!"

Wang Feng scratched his head, feeling uncertain.

The best may not be the most suitable for you. We should not blindly pursue the advancement of weapons and ignore the actual situation.

When dealing with the Japanese Army, production is the most important thing, not weapon performance.

"Field hospital?"

Wang Feng noticed the auxiliary weapons column.

Field Hospital Type II

[By establishing field hospitals to expand medical assistance to those in need, many unnecessary deaths and permanent disabilities will be avoided]

[Required experience: 2.5K]

Wang Feng stroked his chin and thought for a while.

It was relatively easy to establish the garrison's field emergency medical system. At the end of the Xinkou Campaign, Wei Lihuang gave the Second Field Hospital under his command to himself intact.

This move may have been secretly instigated by Chiang Kai-shek, or it may have been done out of kindness. He never delved into the specific reasons.

There is no reason not to eat the meat that is right in front of your mouth.

After the field hospital was assigned to his command, he immediately used it as a basis to expand into various units and set up new field branches.

So far, the scale has been quite impressive.

But there are also many problems during the development period.

The first thing to be affected is the extreme shortage of medicines and medical supplies.

These things cannot be produced domestically and can only be purchased from abroad at high prices.

Wang Feng hated the feeling of being controlled by others the most. In several transactions, European companies raised the price arbitrarily. After buying a hemostat into China, the price after taking into account various expenses was about five times that of the European market.

It’s too expensive!

It’s better to produce it yourself.

"Unlock it."

Wang Feng made up his mind.

The army's experience is still a little lacking, and new combat doctrines cannot be unlocked for the time being.

After checking around and making sure nothing was missed, his consciousness exited the system panel.

This battle was a fruitful one, with both strategic significance and benefits gained.

Just at this moment, Zhao Fangyuan came over and handed over a telegram: "Sir, Xuzhou has replied!"

Wang Feng was surprised.

Is it so quick?

Zhao Fangyuan: "The Japanese army intensified its attack on the northern battlefield. It takes time to transfer troops. The Fifth War Zone urges our troops to hold on here for at least a week to cover the main force's retreat to the west!"

(End of this chapter)