The adjustment of the Chinese army can be said to be very targeted. The Fifth Army has fully taken over the defense lines on the north and south banks of Yunzaobang, while the 19th Route Army has concentrated its forces to defend the Jiangwan and Zhabei front lines. From the thickness of the defense line to the deployment of troops, it has reached the current seventh level.
The optimal configuration of more than 10,000 troops. Even if the Japanese army added more than 20,000 people to the Ninth Division, with a total strength of nearly 40,000, it would still be very difficult to break through the Chinese army's defense line in a short period of time.
What's more, the Japanese army has just experienced two major defeats. The morale and strength of the Shanghai Marine Corps and the Mixed 24th Brigade have dropped to the lowest point. It will take a long time to return to the previous level in a short time.
The meeting at the 19th Route Army headquarters ended quickly, and Zhou Wen took Chief Zhang's car back to the temple.
"Sir Zhang, there is actually no need for you to place the headquarters in the temple. It is too close to the front line and it is too dangerous. I still recommend that you set up the headquarters in Dachang."
After Commander-in-Chief Chiang Kai-shek handed over the Yunzaobang defense line to the Fifth Army, Chief Zhang decided to set up the headquarters in Miaohang, but Zhou Wen had always been a little worried. Although he did not know where Chief Zhang was commanding the Battle of Miaohang in history.
, but he still believed that there was really no need for the Fifth Army, which had been assigned to the regiment at the radio station, to set up its military headquarters in an area that might be attacked by the Japanese army.
Zhou Wen tried to persuade Chief Zhang all the way, but Chief Zhang left him speechless with just one sentence.
"Xiao Zhou, do you have no confidence in yourself? Or in your troops that have won consecutive victories? With your troops protecting my headquarters, will I still be in danger?"
Commander Zhang looked at Zhou Wen's hesitant look and couldn't help but smile: "Okay, okay, I have my elite 88th Division on the front line, and you are a powerful dragon in the headquarters. What else should I be afraid of? Of course, I also
Promise you, if the war goes against me, I will retreat immediately, what about? With your protection, I can kill thousands of troops."
"Yes! I will definitely protect the headquarters."
It turned out that when assigning tasks, Chief Zhang suggested that the Shanxi Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army of Zhou Wen's central party headquarters should temporarily serve as the reserve team of the Fifth Army and be responsible for the security of his headquarters.
He has had battlefield cooperation experience with Zhou Wen, and he knows that good steel should be used on the blade. It is not worth using Zhou Wen's elite troops in a war of attrition. What's more, the newly arrived Fifth Army is not a vegetarian, 87
The 88th Division and the 88th Division are both Nanjing garrison units known as the Royal Forest Army, and their equipment and combat effectiveness are among the best in the National Army.
Seeing Zhou Wen finally stop persuading, Chief Zhang burst out laughing. Of course he knew that the young man in front of him was indeed worried about his safety, and he could also see that this man had respect and love for him from the bottom of his heart.
I couldn't help but feel a little moved.
"Xiao Zhou, there were so many people in the headquarters just now. I haven't had time to praise you properly. It's amazing! In the past, you only brought more than forty people to stir up the chaos on the battlefield in the Central Plains. Now, in just over a year, you have changed.
With a force of more than a thousand people, it’s no wonder that we can achieve such great results. It can be said that so far, on the entire Songhu battlefield, it is your unit that has achieved the most victories and achieved the greatest results.”
"Next, the Japanese army's offensive will definitely be fierce. Our strategy is to resist layer by layer and gradually weaken the Japanese army's offensive momentum. After all, our troops are still relatively abundant and can afford to consume them. When the Japanese army's offensive is weak, we will look for
If the fighter plane hits him hard again, it's time for you to take action."
Having said this, Chief Zhang looked at Zhou Wen again and said, "Xiao Zhou, do you have any objection to my arrangement?"
"Thank you, sir, for trusting me."
What other opinions can Zhou Wen have? That’s too fine, okay?
Only an officer like Chief Zhang, who is open-minded and has no selfish motives, and who understands and respects Zhou Wen relatively well, would make such an arrangement.
You must know that after the cooperation in the Central Plains War, Commander Zhang already knew how troops like Zhou Wen's command should be used and where they should be used.
This is also the biggest reason why Zhou Wen obeys Commander Zhang's command with confidence.
If you were replaced by many of the more selfish military bosses in the country, and saw that your combat effectiveness and equipment were so strong, the first thing they thought about was how to bring you under their control. If not, then you would be in great danger, okay.
I just put you aside and don't care about you. The bad thing is that I just send you wherever there is danger, and it is said to be a trust in you. If you dare to disobey the order, all kinds of difficulties and military laws will be there.
waiting for you.
There were countless such things in the history of the Republic of China, and this was the situation Zhou Wen had been careful to avoid.
…
At the same time that the 19th Route Army held a military meeting, a military meeting was also held in the Japanese military headquarters. However, this time the person presiding over the meeting was no longer Vice Admiral Nomura Koshisaburo, but the newly appointed commander of the Japanese Songhu Theater.
Army Lieutenant General Kenkichi Ueda. The meeting was attended by more than 20 military officers at the rank of Navy and Army colonels and above.
"Gentlemen, I have just listened to your report on the early battlefield situation. It can be said that although we have suffered some minor setbacks on the battlefield, we still cannot conceal the efforts you have made and your loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor."
Having said this, Lieutenant General Ueda looked at Major General Shimomoto Kumaya, who had been looking frustrated and exhausted. Then he said: "Especially Shimomoto-kun, I saw your previous battle plan, and it can be said that it is perfect.
Although it failed in the end, it was not because of any problem with your tactics, but because of the limited troop strength."
"The only thing to blame is the incompetent military staff. They have been dazzled by the victory of the Manchuria Incident. They think that Shanghai is just like Manchuria. With just over 10,000 people, they can easily win this city, which is known as the largest in Asia.
city. You were able to maintain a vigorous offensive despite such a huge disparity in military strength and completely suppress the tens of thousands of Chinese troops. This is already an amazing achievement."
Hearing this, Shimomoto Xiongya's confused eyes gathered again, and gradually became shiny, and his hanging heart finally fell back into his stomach. Originally, he thought that Lieutenant General Ueda would start to investigate the previous few times as soon as he arrived.
He was responsible for the failure. As a frontline commander, the best result would be to be dismissed on the spot and return to the country, and he would have to undergo an investigation by the military.
Now it seems that Mr. Ueda still takes good care of his colleagues in the army, putting the blame on the senior staff officers of the military department and blaming the failure on insufficient troops.
Yes, there shouldn't be any big problems with your plan. It was really a failure caused by limited troops. If during the Yunzaobang battle, not only did you have a division (you are overthinking), but you had a full staff.
With a brigade, two regiments and six brigades, the results will definitely be very different. Mr. Ueda is really my confidant!