Shanghai Japanese Concession, Central China Front Army Headquarters.
Just after ten o'clock, Chief of Staff Major General Tsukada Tsukuda hurried into Matsui Iwane's office and reported: "Your Excellency, General, the reconnaissance plane of the Air Force has returned."
Matsui Iwane asked: "How is the situation?"
Tsukada attacked: "The reconnaissance plane discovered a large number of Imperial Army remains on the road in the eastern suburbs of Hexian County. It is obvious that something unexpected happened to the Independent 3rd Baggage Brigade and the Replenishment Regiment."
"Where is the Baoshan Group?" Matsui Iwane gritted his teeth and asked in a ferocious voice.
"The reconnaissance plane did not detect the whereabouts of the Baoshan Regiment." Tsukada Gong shook his head and said, "But I think the Baoshan Regiment must still be hiding in a forest near He County." After saying this, Tsukada Gong continued.
Said: "In addition, the first and second detachments of the aviation reconnaissance team also reported that the Chinese army in eastern Hubei and northern Jiangxi is gathering on a large scale, and there seems to be a major operation!"
"Oh?" Matsui Iwane said solemnly, "The Chinese army in eastern Hubei and northern Jiangxi is gathering on a large scale?"
…
Wuhan camp trip.
Chairman Chiang was lying in a rocking chair with his eyes closed, and a declaration was placed in front of him. On the front page of the declaration was the huge broken sun flag pattern.
Wang Shihe, the chief of the national guard, leaned down gently and said in a low voice: "Please take a seat, Gu Zhutong has called."
Chairman Chiang hummed softly and said, "Have Liu Jianxu's 10th Group Army and Luo Zhuoying's 19th Group Army begun to assemble?"
Wang Shihe said: "Gu Zhutong called and said that the assembly can be completed within two days and the attack on Wanzhong can be launched within three days!"
Chairman Chiang shook his hand and said: "Telegraph Gu Zhutong and ask him not to act rashly for the time being. The reason why I asked Liu Jianxu's 10th Army and Luo Zhuoying's 19th Army to assemble is not to ask them to fight the Japanese invaders, but just to
In order to be able to lend a helping hand to the Baoshan Regiment when necessary, and to assist them in withdrawing to Jiujiang for rest and recuperation."
"Yes." Wang Shihe agreed softly, but he was filled with emotion.
The slap awarded to Yue Weihan and the Baoshan Regiment by the delegation was raised high and fell gently. Although the Baoshan Regiment was ostensibly ordered to delay the Japanese 13th Division and the 18th Division for at least half a month, it would still be impossible to complete the task.
Military justice, but in fact, the commission has already secretly mobilized heavy troops and is ready to respond to the Baoshan Regiment at any time.
Chairman Chiang was silent for a moment, and then suddenly said: "Let the Air Force send reconnaissance planes to provide aerial reconnaissance support."
Wang Shihe suddenly opened his eyes wide. Although the commission did not say who the Air Force would provide aerial reconnaissance support to, he could think of it with all his fingers. It must be providing aerial reconnaissance support to the Baoshan Regiment!
…
Shanghai Japanese Concession, Central China Front Army Headquarters.
Matsui Iwane, an old devil, has indeed a keen sense of smell. After pondering for a moment, he said: "The Chinese troops in eastern Hubei and northern Jiangxi are gathering on a large scale? Mr. Tsukada, do you think they want to join the Baoshan Regiment?"
Tsukada attacked: "Your Excellency, General, the large-scale gathering of the China Army in eastern Hubei and northern Jiangxi has two purposes. One is to counterattack the Nanjing area, and the other is to support the Baoshan Regiment to break out. Frankly speaking, after experiencing the Songhu
, after the defeat of Nanjing, the Chinese government forces no longer had the strength to counterattack, so it could only be the second purpose."
"Yoshi." Matsui Iwane said coldly, "This is an opportunity for the Imperial Japanese Army."
Tsukada's expression moved slightly and he said, "What do you mean, General, to use the Baoshan Regiment as bait to lure and annihilate the main force of the China Army?"
"That's right." Matsui Iwane said, "After the fall of Nanjing, the administrative center of the China government has moved westward to Wuhan. If the empire wants to force the China government to surrender, it must conquer Wuhan! It can be foreseen that the next phase of the front's combat mission must be
To seize Wuhan, if we can attract the main Chinese forces in the east of Hubei and northern Jiangxi this time, and then annihilate them in central Anhui, we can clear the way for the next stage of combat missions."
I have to say that the old devil Matsui Iwane still has some strategic vision.
If his idea can be implemented and successful, the main forces of the national army in northern Jiangxi and eastern Hubei will suffer a devastating blow, and the entire Yangtze River Basin will be opened. If this is the case, the Japanese base camp will not even need to carry out the third operation.
In the second war mobilization, it is possible to capture Wuhan with the existing strength of the Central China Front Army!
The strategic significance of capturing Wuhan is obviously far greater than opening up the Jinpu Railway.
What's more, until now, the Japanese army has no idea that the National Army has set up a super big pocket in Xuzhou, and blindly believes that the entire Jinpu Railway, whether it is the northern or southern line, the National Army's defense is extremely empty.
The two main divisions, the 5th and the 10th, are enough to open up the entire railway line.
Tsukada Gong Yemin's eyes lit up after hearing this, and he immediately said: "But the order from the base camp to the front army is to go north to Xuzhou."
Matsui Iwane waved his hand and said indifferently: "The reason why the base camp ordered us to go north to Xuzhou is simply to hope that we can cooperate with the North China Front Army to open up the Jinpu Railway. Now the north and south lines of the Jinpu Railway have been opened, with the 5th Division and the
The 10th Division is enough to complete the mission."
Tsukada attacked: "Then what your Excellency, the general, means..."
Matsui Iwane said: "The 13th Division will send a regiment north to cooperate with the North China Front to open up the Jinpu Railway. The main force of the 13th Division will cooperate with the 18th Division to encircle the Baoshan Regiment in the central Anhui area and lure eastern Hubei and northern Jiangxi.
The main force of China came to Wanzhong for rescue, and then ordered the 6th Division, and the supplemented 101st Division, and the 114th Division to secretly stationed in Wuhu. Just waiting for the main force of China to enter Wanzhong, the 6th, 101st, and 114th Divisions
The regiment will cross the Yangtze River north to cut off the retreat of the main force of China, and then gather the forces of five divisions to encircle and annihilate them in one fell swoop!"
Tsukada attacked: "Your Excellency, General, what if the main Chinese forces in eastern Hubei and northern Jiangxi remain unmoved?"
"Then destroying the Baoshan Regiment, the hero in the hearts of the Chinese people, will also be a heavy blow to the determination of the Chinese government and the Chinese army and people to resist." Matsui Iwane said this, and then said, "But I think the main force of China will definitely
If they come to central Anhui, otherwise, why would the main Chinese forces in northern Jiangxi and eastern Hubei have to gather on a large scale at this time?"
Tsukada was silent for a moment and said, "General, I always feel that things are not that simple."
"Oh?" Matsui Iwane said with great interest, "Tsukada-kun, do you have any doubts? Tell me."
Tsukada Gong shook his head and said in an uncertain tone: "Half a month ago, the Chinese suddenly changed the secret code, and the new secret code has a very high level of confidentiality. The special high school class has not deciphered it until today.
This is extremely abnormal. Does this mean that the Chinese people are taking some major action?"
"Tsukada-kun, you are worrying too much." Matsui Iwane said disapprovingly, "After the China Army experienced the defeat of North China, the defeat of Songhu and the defeat of Nanjing, the national power has been exhausted, and the army has also suffered heavy casualties. The Chinese people are now
With our national and military strength, is it still possible to launch a large-scale counterattack against the imperial army?"
Tsukada Gong shook his head and said, "Maybe I'm just worrying too much."
"Okay, just do what I just said." Matsui Iwane waved his hand and said, "Tsukada-kun, go make arrangements quickly."
"Hai." Tsukada suddenly put his feet back and lowered his head, accepting the order.
…
Xuzhou, Fifth War Zone Commander's Department.
Most of the ministries participating in the Battle of Xuzhou have arrived at their designated positions, and Li Zongren can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Little Zhuge Bai Chongqi was also a little excited, but he still reminded: "Gong De, you must remind all the ministries participating in the war to pay attention to air defense, and you must not let the little devil's reconnaissance plane discover the flaws. Once the little devil is aware of the existence of the war ministries in advance, fifth,
The 10th Division is likely to withdraw, and then all our efforts will be wasted."
"Jiansheng, don't worry." Li Zongren smiled and said, "I have repeatedly warned all the ministries involved in the war."
"That's good." Bai Chongqi nodded happily, "Now it depends on whether the Baoshan Regiment and the 114th Division can block the Japanese army on the southern front."
Before he finished speaking, a communications staff officer came in and reported: "General, the 114th Division has sent an urgent message from Hefei!"
Li Zongren and Bai Chongqi looked at each other and said, "Read it!"
"The Chief of the Fifth War Zone: Yesterday evening, the main force of the Japanese 18th Division entered Feidong along the Chaohe Highway. After dark, they suddenly broke out of camp and turned east, heading towards Chu County." The communications staff read,
He picked up another telegram and said, "Here is also a telegram from the Military Command Bureau. The secret radio station left near Yangzhou sent back news that the Japanese 13th Division has also stopped advancing north and is heading towards Chuzhou along the Yizheng and Liuhe lines.
Advancing from the county direction."
"It's weird." Li Zongren frowned and said, "Both master regiments of little devils turned around and rushed towards Chu County?"
Bai Chongqi pondered for a moment and then said: "I estimate that this matter is probably related to Yue Weihan and the Baoshan Group."
"Report!" Bai Chongqi finished his words when another communications staff officer came in to report, "The Baoshan Regiment sent an urgent message from He County!"
"Baoshan Group?" Li Zongren said anxiously: "Read it!"
The communications staff officer said: "The Chief of the Fifth War Zone: Last night, our regiment used suspicious troops to attract the two main divisions of the Japanese army near Chu County. The main force marched southward overnight and completely annihilated Yuan Guozaki in the eastern suburbs of He County at 5 o'clock this morning.
The detachment's baggage detachment and supplementary regiment killed more than 3,000 enemy people and seized a large amount of baggage. According to reliable information, the Japanese 18th Division was outflanking our regiment in the direction of Hefei. The first part of the 13th Division had about one infantryman.
The regiment is moving towards Bengbu, the main force of the division is pursuing southward along the Urawa Highway, and our regiment is retreating to the mountainous area of western Anhui overnight."
"Wow!" Bai Chongqi said suddenly, "Yue Weihan's bad idea really worked. That old devil Matsui Iwane was really angered by Yue Weihan. Mr. De, now the main force of the Japanese army on the southern front has been led to Wanxi Mountain by the Baoshan Regiment.
District, Xuzhou battlefield will no longer have any worries!"
"Order!" Li Zongren couldn't help but have a flush on his thin face. He turned to the communications staff and said, "The 22nd Army will withdraw from Teng County immediately and turn towards Xuecheng and Hanzhuang. The 3rd Army will withdraw immediately.
Linyi, turn along the Weitai Highway in the direction of Taierzhuang. Those who love war and disobey orders will be subject to military law!"