After the traditional Chinese Spring Festival passed, the raging snowstorm finally stopped, and the sky that had been silent for more than half a month began to become lively again. The troops on the ground could once again see the Chinese and Japanese fighter planes chasing and fighting in the sky.
The fighter planes of both sides, which had been resting for more than half a month, were chasing and roaring in the sky, and the troops on the ground were not idle either. The sound of gunfire resounded throughout Jinzhou City.
The day before yesterday, Su Tong formed the 42nd Army with five newly formed infantry divisions and one artillery division and marched to Jinzhou. He also officially appointed Lieutenant General Luo Zhuoying, the former chief of staff of the 41st Army, as the commander of the 42nd Army.
Speaking of the Forty-Second Army's designation, when Su Tong reported it, the Chairman originally did not intend to give it to him. Faced with Su Tong's increasingly aggressive behavior, how could the Chairman be willing to increase his opponent's designation? But later on
Yang Yongtai, who served as the Secretary-General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, offered advice to the Chairman: "Even if we don't give them a designation, their military strength will not be reduced by half, but Su Tong always has a good face and does not want to have a supporter on his back in front of the people."
He felt that his troops were self-respecting and expanding their troops privately, so we sent a telegram to the central government, but we refused to approve it. Wouldn’t it be even worse if he became so angry that he never ignored the central government’s orders again?”
The chairman asked solemnly: "Then what do you think we should do?"
Yang Yongtai said with a smile: "Actually, the numbers given by the central government are just superficial things for those warlords who are self-respecting. Instead of hiding them, we might as well give them the numbers, but we can't give it to them in vain. Check it out.
Isn't Chahar extremely rich now? Let's tell him clearly that if he wants a serial number, he can do it, but he has to exchange it for equipment. We can give him the serial number they ask for, but Chahar needs an infantry division.
equipment to replace.”
The chairman hesitated for a moment and said: "This is not good. If people know that the dignified Central Government actually wants to exchange serial numbers for equipment, where will the Central Government lose its face?"
Yang Yongtai became anxious and hurriedly said: "Chairman, how much is face worth? Now our troops are short of equipment everywhere. We can make a lot of money from this business of exchanging a false name for a division's equipment."
The Chairman hesitated for a while and then stamped his feet, "Okay, for the sake of the great cause of the Anti-Japanese War, I will shame someone today."
At this time, there were also voices of opposition within the Chahar army and the government. Some people believed that the current strength of the Chahar government was enough to compete with the National Government and that it could stand on its own. Why would it be for a mere empty title?
To give away a division's equipment to future opponents for nothing.
However, after discussion with Su Tong, Jiang Baili and others, they believed that since the Chahar provinces still have the title of the Seventh War Zone in name, they should give the Kuomintang ax some face and not let the Kuomintang ax lose face.
And now we are having a lively fight with the Kwantung Army. The reason why the North China Expedition Army and the Central China Expedition Army behind us did not come to join the war in the three provinces of the Near East is because there is still the Central Army in front. If the Central Army defeats our
The trouble will be great. By then, the Japanese will be able to use all their strength to deal with Chahar, and we will not be able to deal with it as easily as now.
In this way, in the Military and Administrative Department of the Central Government, another group army designation was added. After receiving the designation, Su Tong was also very trustworthy. The equipment of an infantry division was quickly handed over to the hands of the National Government Army, and both sides gained
Everyone is happy when they get what they want.
After the 42nd Army arrived at the gates of Jinzhou, the top commander of Jinzhou, Rensuke Isotani, immediately felt the pressure increase. In less than two days, the 41st and 42nd Army launched uninterrupted attacks.
Attack, with the cooperation of aircraft and heavy artillery, two lines of defense were captured in two days. Now only the last line of defense is left on the periphery of Jinzhou City.
If this line of defense is also breached, then Jinzhou will become an isolated city. In that case, Jinzhou's fall will only be a matter of time. Therefore, Isotani Rensuke sent one telegram to Fengtian requesting additional troops, one after another.
Flying away like snowflakes.
In the city defense headquarters in Jinzhou, Isotani Rensuke was holding the telegram just sent back from the Kwantung Army headquarters, and his heart felt as cold as the weather outside. The reply above clearly told Isotani Rensuke that there was no news in the near future.
Reinforcements, all difficulties can only be overcome by oneself. I hope Isotani Rensuke can lead the defenders to overcome the difficulties and create miracles.
Looking at the telegram signed by Umezu Yoshijiro and Ishihara Kanji, Isotani Rensuke was dumbfounded. Overcoming difficulties and creating another miracle. Do they think miracles are cabbage on the street, so easy to get? If there are signs of miracles, they are like cabbage.
If it can appear at any time, it's not a miracle.
"Commander Umezu, Chief of Staff Ishihara, are you really going to abandon Jinzhou?" Isotani Rensuke smiled silently in his heart.
After the last attempt to attack Vladivostok resulted in the loss of troops and generals, General Isotani Rensuke asked the headquarters to decentralize himself to the division as the division commander, but was rejected by Umezu Yoshijiro. Soon he was appointed as the defense commander of Jinzhou and commanded
With five divisions defending Jinzhou, the gateway to Fengtian, who knew that this time they would still be defeated by the Seventh War Zone, which made Isotani Rensuke feel powerless in his heart. And in Isotani Rensuke's
A dozen staff officers were surrounding him, waiting for him to issue orders.
"Your Excellency Isoya," a combat staff officer saw Isoya Rensuke's expressionless face holding the telegram. He couldn't help but feel resentment in his heart and complained: "What on earth are Commander Umezu and Chief of Staff Ishihara trying to do?"
Just leave Jinzhou alone like this? You must know that if Jinzhou loses its power, it will be difficult to protect it."
Isotani Rensuke shook his head and smiled bitterly: "You can't say that. Jinzhou is Jinzhou. No matter how important it is, it cannot be compared with Fengtian. If I were Commander Umezu, I would not send all my troops to Jinzhou."
"But at least we should send a few more divisions or replenish the troops we have lost recently. You must know that two of our five defensive divisions have already suffered more than half of their casualties. Do they really just regard us as abandoners?
Son?" the staff officer asked sadly.
"Crack!" Two clear slaps sounded. Isotani Rensuke turned around and slapped the staff officer twice.
"Baga, Colonel Kawakawa, you are not a real soldier." Isotani Rensuke glared at the staff officer: "What does it mean to be an abandoned son? When we put on this military uniform, we have already given our lives to His Majesty the Emperor, for
We are ready to sacrifice at any time for the great cause of His Majesty the Emperor. Now is the time to test us. How can you make such pessimistic remarks? You are not a real soldier."
"Hi, thank you very much for reminding me. I will always keep my humble position in mind." Colonel Kawakawa quickly bowed his head to Rensuke Isotani with a ninety-degree bow.
"Yes." Isotani Rensuke seemed to feel much better after venting his anger. After his mood improved, he managed to cheer up and comfort his subordinates, "You don't have to worry, we have built a road in Jinzhou City.
We have a strong fortress, and with the hundreds of thousands of Chinese people in Jinzhou City as hostages, they will never dare to use heavy artillery when attacking the city. We will have no problem holding on in Jinzhou for three months. After three months, our new soldiers will
After they are all trained, the reinforcements will be able to crawl to Jinzhou."
"Hai, your Excellency is wise." All the staff members bowed collectively.
Isotani Rensuke thought for a while and then said: "But there is an urgent problem before us now, that is, our channel with the outside world may be cut off by the Chinese at any time, so we must be in Jinzhou before the channel is cut off.
Store weapons and ammunition that can support us for three months, otherwise sticking to Jinzhou will be empty talk."
Speaking of this, Rensuke Isotani shifted his gaze to Colonel Kagawa's face and looked at it for a long time. It made Colonel Kagawa feel very nervous before he slowly said: "Colonel Kagawa, please ensure that the transportation channel between Jinzhou and Fengtian is smooth.
I will leave it to you, and I hope you will not disappoint my expectations of you."
"Hai" Colonel Kawakawa knew that this was an opportunity given to him by Isotani Rensuke to perform meritorious service, so he gave himself such a relatively simple and easy opportunity to perform meritorious service. Therefore, he arranged for Isotani Rensuke
Still grateful.
"Well, you go report to the baggage force now. Remember, although I have already prepared for the transportation line to be cut off by the Chinese, this transportation line must not be interrupted until enough supplies are rushed. You
Do you understand?" Looking at the river, Osaka Isotani Rensuke shouted sharply.
"Hai, in this lowly position, you will definitely be able to transport enough supplies for our troops." Colonel Kawakawa bowed deeply and immediately turned around and left.
When the weather cleared up, the transportation line from Jinzhou to Fengtian became smooth. The thick snow on the road had been cleared by the civilian laborers forcibly recruited by the Japanese. From time to time, there were long convoys and mules and horses on this road.
round trip.
It is not an exaggeration to say that this road is now called the lifeline of Jinzhou. The snowstorm for more than half a month has made the Japanese army stationed in Jinzhou a little nervous about supplies. Now that the weather has cleared, they immediately started to rush to transport supplies from Fengtian.
At this time, a group of people wearing snow-colored camouflage uniforms were ambushing near this road. The snow-white cloaks on their bodies blended them harmoniously with the surrounding scenery. It would be impossible not to walk into them.
Their traces cannot be detected.
They were the Dragon Tooth Brigade that had just been ordered to rush back from Siberia, and the one who was observing the enemy situation was Captain Liu Weiming. Looking away from the telescope, Liu Weiming turned to the Blue Dragon beside him and said: "Send a signal to the others immediately.
Let them come to us immediately, and our business will be open today."