The headquarters of the Tang Army Corps, the headquarters of the 20th Army Corps.

The regiment commander is studying a military map.

Suddenly, the chief of staff walked in from outside the tent.

After giving a military salute to the regiment commander, the chief of staff shouted: "Regiment commander, there is an urgent call from the Xuzhou Theater Headquarters!"

Raising his head slightly, the legion commander shouted in a deep voice: "Read it!"

The chief of staff shouted: "Xuzhou headquarters sent a telegram that the Sakamoto detachment of the Japanese army in Linyi is about to invade Xiangcheng area in the near future, with the intention of rescuing the Segu detachment that was besieged by the Second Army in Taierzhuang. Xuzhou ordered the 20th Army Headquarters to attack Xiangcheng area.

Give the Sakamoto detachment a blow and protect the backs of the 101st and 102nd brigades!"

Hearing this, the legion commander shouted sternly: "What? The little Japs from Linyi direction are dispatched?"

The chief of staff shouted: "Yes, Corps Commander, do we have to obey the orders of the fifth theater?"

The legion commander groaned and shouted: "The Fifth War Zone cannot command our Central Army. We have to ask the principal for instructions on this matter! Signal Corps, please send a telegram to the Wuhan Headquarters immediately to report the situation here!"

In agreement, the signal soldier quickly went to the telecommunications room to record the message.

The chief of staff shouted: "This... the principal has told us that from now on, we must obey Commander Li's orders? If we don't send troops in time and delay the military situation, I'm afraid we will commit the death penalty of beheading! Regiment Commander, please

Think twice!”

Sighing slightly, the legion commander shouted: "Even so, the 20th legion is the capital of the principal. We can't easily compete with the Japanese! We still have to carefully consider whether to send troops. On the Songhu battlefield, dozens of Germans from our Central Army

The mechanics have been completely lost and their vitality has been severely damaged. If something goes wrong with the troops in my hands now, then the principal’s elite will be..."

Before he finished speaking, a communications soldier hurriedly walked in toward the door.

The commander of the regiment gave a military salute, and the signal soldier shouted: "Report to the commander of the regiment, there is another message from the Xuzhou headquarters, urging us to immediately send troops to cover the flanks of the 101st and 102nd brigades!"

With a look of disapproval, the legion commander shouted: "Yeah, I got it!"

The chief of staff shouted: "Commander of the Army, we'd better send troops as soon as possible. If we delay the military situation, we're afraid we won't be punished with death like Han Fuju!"

Looking at the chief of staff, the legion commander shouted: "What are you in a hurry for? Han Fuju is a local army, Tang is a serious Huangpu student, and I also think about the principal! Wait until the reply message from the Wuhan headquarters arrives, and then

It’s not too late to act!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a communications soldier came in with another telegram.

The chief of staff shouted urgently: "Is this a message from the Wuhan headquarters?"

The signal soldier shouted: "Yes!"

Seizing the message, the chief of staff shouted: "Regiment commander, the principal has called. He ordered you to send troops immediately. He also said..."

Raising his eyebrows, the legion commander shouted: "Stop hesitating, what else did the principal say?"

Passing the message in his hand to the legion commander, the chief of staff shouted: "Legion commander, you'd better read it yourself!"

After receiving the message and reading it, the legion commander's face turned ugly.

There is no doubt that the Nanjing High Command has shown its iron-blooded determination to defend Xuzhou. Even if a Huangpu backbone like the regiment commander disobeys the orders of the Fifth War Zone, he will still be killed.

A thin layer of sweat suddenly broke out on the forehead of the regiment commander, because he was frightened by the principal's harsh words.

The principal has already told you that during the Battle of Xuzhou, you must absolutely obey Commander Li's general orders. If you disobey in the slightest, you will be killed without mercy!

At that moment, the legion commander raised his voice and shouted: "Chief of Staff, immediately send a report to Commander Guan of the 52nd Army and rush to the Xiangcheng area to stop the Japanese Sakamoto detachment!"

After a sudden pause, the chief of staff shouted: "Yes!"

…

20 miles away from the city.

After receiving the order from the army commander, the 52nd Army immediately moved towards this area without stopping.

Putting down the telescope in his hand, Commander Guan asked in a deep voice: "Reconnaissance squad, are you back?"

The guard battalion commander shouted in response: "Report to the military seat, not yet!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the reconnaissance squad came back, and three of the scouts were seriously injured.

Holding back the pain in his head, the reconnaissance squad leader gave Commander Guan a military salute.

Commander Guan asked in a calm voice: "How is it? What's Xiangcheng's situation now?"

The reconnaissance squad leader shouted: "Reporting to the division seat, a regiment of the Japs has occupied Xiangcheng! It is preparing to move towards us!"

Suddenly taking a breath of cold air, Commander Guan shouted: "The little devil's movements are so fast!"

With a look of pity on his face, the chief of staff on the side shouted: "Sir, we may have missed a good opportunity to defend ourselves. What a pity!"

In fact, before the Japs attacked Xiangcheng, Commander Guan had already suggested to the legion commander to deploy defenses in the Xiangcheng area in advance to guard against the Japs from the Linyi direction.

It's a pity that the legion commander always focused on preserving his strength and didn't pay attention to Commander Guan's suggestions at all.

Therefore, Commander Guan's troops were unable to occupy the city in time and build fortifications towards the city.

Looking at a map, Commander Guan asked thoughtfully: "Now that the Japs have occupied Xiangcheng, Chief of Staff, what do you think we should do now?"

After pondering for a moment, the chief of staff shouted: "The flank security of the 101st and 102nd brigades is very important. Our 52nd Army cannot let the Sakamoto detachment and the Setani detachment join up under any circumstances. For the current plan, we can only attack the city by force!"

Frowning, the commander of the 99th Division shouted: "Attack Xiangcheng by force? I'm afraid there will be huge casualties. The Japs have already occupied Xiangcheng, and they will definitely defend it tightly. If we attack rashly, we will suffer heavy losses!"

Hearing this, the commander of the 98th Division shouted: "Old Sun, why are you so afraid of death? Soldiers should obey orders as their bounden duty! Military officer! Give the order. Our 98th Division will never be as greedy for life and fear of death as the 99th Division. I

Request for a main attack to recapture Xiangcheng!"

Suddenly unhappy, the commander of the 99th Division shouted: "Lao Sha, who the hell are you saying is greedy for life and afraid of death! If you don't make it clear today, I will never finish with you!"

With a tit-for-tat look on his face, the commander of the 98th Division shouted: "Huh! It's not over yet..."

Suddenly his face became serious, and Commander Guan shouted sternly: "What the hell are you arguing about? You two are the captains of the moment, so how can it be unbecoming to keep arguing like this!"

Hearing this, the heads of the two division commanders suddenly dropped.

The chief of staff shouted: "Military seat! Please pay attention to whether we want to attack Xiangcheng!"

After pondering for a moment, Commander Guan shouted: "We don't have to attack Xiangcheng, but the Japs from the Sakamoto detachment must block it! Chief of Staff, where is the terrain near Xiangcheng that is suitable for blocking the attack?"

After looking at the map, the chief of staff called out: "Military seat! I have it, look here."

Looking along the position pointed by the chief of staff, Commander Guan called out: "Erlong Mountain?"

The chief of staff shouted: "Yes, the Erlong Mountain area is high in mountains and densely forested, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Moreover, if the kid from the Sakamoto detachment wants to go to Taierzhuang, this must be the place they must pass!"

After thinking for a while, Commander Guan shouted: "Well, the terrain here is indeed suitable for blocking. Okay, let's establish a defensive position in the Erlong Mountain area to block the Japs!"

After a pause, Commander Guan raised his voice and shouted: "All officers, listen to the order!"

With a snap, all the officers stood up to attention.

Commander Guan shouted: "Each division and brigade will move towards Erlong Mountain immediately. We must complete the arrangement of defensive positions within two hours!"

All the officers shouted in response: "Yes!"
Chapter completed!