For a moment, the atmosphere in the courtyard became dull, and Gao Hongming could even see the expressions of the staff officers following Tang Huaiyuan and Brigadier Chen becoming solemn.
He could understand the opponent's mood. These were 100,000 Japanese troops, more than twice their number in terms of strength alone. Coupled with the Japanese air support, it goes without saying how difficult this battle would be.
Although everyone has been mentally prepared for a long time, when this moment really comes, the nervous and exciting emotions are difficult to avoid.
In order to lighten the atmosphere, Gao Hongming said with a smile: "Mr. Tang, we have all felt your enthusiasm, but the matter is not as serious as you said.
Although the Japanese are outnumbered, they are not given in vain. As far as I know, Hu Zongnan's 34th Group Army has assembled on the other side of the Yellow River, and most of the 5th and 14th Group Armies originally stationed in Zhongtiao Mountain have successfully retreated. As long as we persist for a while, and wait until Commander He has reorganized and assembled the troops, we can launch a counterattack against the Japanese army, and then we can launch a counterattack."
Tang Huaiyuan nodded and sighed softly: "I hope so."
After speaking, he looked at Gao Hongming and said seriously: "Captain Gao, our idea is certainly good, but the situation on the battlefield is ever-changing. Besides, Commander He... That's all, let's not talk about this.
I just want you to promise me one thing. If the war situation changes in the future, you and Brigadier Chen will withdraw first and let us, the Third Army, cover you."
"What do you mean?"
Gao Hongming frowned and said displeased: "Sir Tang, do you think Brigadier Chen and I are the kind of people who run away from the battlefield regardless of the comfort of friendly troops?"
"That was not what I meant."
Tang Huaiyuan waved his hand and explained: "What I mean is that the battle at Zhongtiao Mountain turned out like this because we didn't fight it well ourselves. I, Old Tang, can already be grateful to you and the Eighth Route Army for coming to help. It makes no sense. I ask you to live and die with Zhongtiao Mountain."
"Okay, Commander Tang, don't say this again. Commander Gao and I will not agree to this."
Brigadier Chen interrupted him and said domineeringly: "We have agreed beforehand that even if we lose this battle, we can retreat to Shanxi at worst. I don't believe it. With Commander Gao With the cover of armored fighting vehicles and aircraft, we still cannot fight our way out."
At this point, he sneered and said: "I don't believe that these 100,000 people from Japan dare to pursue them all the way. If they really dare to pursue them all the way into Shanxi, I would admire Okamura Neji as a man."
As soon as the words fell, everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter.
After several years of development, the Eighth Route Army in Shanxi now has a strength of 4.5 million. If the strength of the Jinsui Army and the Central Army in the World War II area are added, the total strength must be at least 7.8 million.
The most important thing is that Shanxi belongs to the mountainous plateau, with undulating mountains, crisscrossing ravines, hills, and basins. The terrain is steep and the transportation is extremely inconvenient. Once 100,000 Japanese troops rashly enter Shanxi, not to mention other things, they will only be able to maintain 100,000 troops. Food and drink is a big problem, and as time goes by, this problem will become more and more serious, and a Japanese army of 100,000 will be in danger of being overwhelmed.
After Brigadier Chen said this, Tang Jiyuan's mood improved a lot, "Haha... I like what Brigadier Chen said makes sense. In the worst case, we will go into the mountains to fight guerrillas."
I, Old Tang, dare not say anything else, but when it comes to mountain climbing, we, the children of the Yunnan Army, have never been afraid of anyone."
Everyone couldn't help bursting into laughter. Tang Jiyuan's words were really not bragging. The Third Army was from the Yunnan Army and belonged to the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The mountains here are high and the valleys are deep, with large differences. It is more steep than Shanxi. Mountain climbing is simply a task for them.
Don't be too familiar.
When everyone had finished laughing, Gao Hongming smiled and said: "Okay, the jokes are over, let's talk about business now. Commander Tang, your department has been fighting with the 37th Division for several days these days. I don't know what you have encountered."
No problem, if you need our help, just ask, you’re welcome.”
Tang Huaiyuan showed a hint of embarrassment: "Captain Gao is dissatisfied with your saying that I really have something to trouble you. From the beginning of the war to now, we have been fighting the Japanese for more than ten days, and there are at least two thousand lightly and seriously injured people in the army.
, now we are in very short supply of both medical staff and medicines.
I heard that you own a pharmacy in your hometown. I wonder if you can allocate some medicine to us. I, Old Tang, would like to thank you on behalf of the injured brother."
Gao Hongming asked curiously: "Sir Tang, I wonder how your department originally placed the wounded? How many medical staff are there?"
Tang Huaiyuan showed a helpless smile: "Our Third Army has nearly 30,000 brothers, and there are less than 30 medical staff. As for medicines, there are even fewer, especially Western medicines. When brothers are injured, they can only be treated with Chinese herbal medicine.
, I don’t know how many brothers can only watch them die due to lack of medical treatment."
Looking at Tang Huaiyuan's helpless and gloomy eyes, Gao Hongming's heart twitched. He turned to Brigadier Chen and said, "Chief Chen, is this the same for your department?"
Brigadier Chen sighed softly: "Our Eighth Route Army is similar. Many soldiers are injured and can only stand firm. The only thing better than Commander Tang is that we have a base to rely on the broad masses of the people. Even if the soldiers are injured, they can't stand it."
Get the most treatment possible.
We had a battle with the Japanese Ninth Brigade a few days ago, and there were more than a hundred wounded. Now there are more than a dozen seriously injured. Due to the serious injuries, I came here this time to ask, look at your place.
Is there any way?"
Gao Hongming said without hesitation: "No problem. I have a medical team here with more than 100 doctors and more than 300 nurses. They are fully capable of taking care of the wounded.
I suggest that you transfer all the more seriously injured to me and let our medical staff treat them. As for the lightly injured... I can give you a batch of medicines later and let you go back for treatment on your own.
You see."
As soon as Gao Hongming said this, Tang Huaiyuan and Brigadier Chen couldn't help but be overjoyed.
What scares you most about marching in combat?
Wounded people are undoubtedly one of the most troublesome things for commanders. In war, casualties are bound to occur. Once wounded are injured, they must be treated.
This requires a large amount of medicine and medical staff, which will undoubtedly distract the commander's experience, especially now that China's industrial base is almost zero, and western medicine is in short supply. Therefore, at this stage, commanders will
Having a headache, Gao Hongming's approach undoubtedly helped them a lot.
After the problem of the wounded was solved, the three of them began to discuss the issue of combat coordination...