When Yang Sen walked into the county town with more than a dozen army commanders and division commanders, the officers and soldiers of the 6th Division who arrived first had already found the body of Commander Fan Haer of the 4th Division from the rubble. Commander Fan had been hit by six bullets, all of which were hit head-on.
He was shot, and he kept his eyes wide open with anger until he died, with a ferocious expression as if he was determined not to let the Japanese army pass.
Yang Sen sighed, stretched out his hand and gently touched Fan Haer's face. When Yang Sen's right hand was released, Teacher Fan's wide eyes finally closed, and Yang Sen saluted the military salute to Teacher Fan's body again, solemnly.
Said: "Brother Fan, you can go with peace of mind, as long as I am here, Yang Sen, little Japan should never even think about Jingmen!"
At this moment, Yang Sen is not just comforting the deceased, but actually has this confidence.
Although less than half a month has passed, the Sichuan Army is already different from what it used to be.
When the Japanese army just launched the Southwest Campaign, the Central Army, Sichuan Army and Yunnan Army collapsed at the first touch and were defeated like a mountain. The reasons were various. Among them, the most important reason was that the various departments of the National Army had not distributed food and pay for a long time. The officers and soldiers
They are generally malnourished, have low morale, and are short of guns and ammunition. How can they remain undefeated?
This is not the case now. The Chinese Communist authorities not only urgently airlifted a large amount of military rations and ammunition from Myanmar to Chengdu, but also supplemented military pay for the Sichuan Army. They were also issued according to the standards of the Four Fields (Expeditionary Force). At this time, the Sichuan Army is well-equipped and has sufficient ammunition.
, and the morale of the officers and soldiers was extremely high, so Yang Sen had the confidence to fight to the death with the Japanese army.
The Battle of Wanxian further boosted Yang Sen's confidence.
A Fan Division with more than 7,000 men was able to withstand the fierce attack of nearly 20,000 people from the Japanese 113th Division for more than ten hours. If the Shino Aviation Division had not withdrawn from the battlefield because it was low on fuel, all members of the Fan Division would not have died in the battle.
In this way, Master Fan also basically crippled the Japanese 113th Division in front of him.
When the 6th and 9th Divisions arrived at Wanxian, the Japanese 113th Division was already at the end of its battle.
The 9th Division took advantage of the situation and charged as a group. The remnants of the Japanese 113th Division had no time to switch to defense and collapsed at that time.
It has to be said that at this time, the quality and combat effectiveness of the Japanese army were not as good as before. If it were replaced five years ago at the beginning of the Anti-Japanese War, the Japanese army could easily block the attack of an elite division of the Chinese army with only one infantry brigade.
, a motley crew like the Sichuan Army, even if it mobilizes a dozen divisions, may not be able to defeat an infantry brigade of the Japanese Army.
However, with the deepening of the Anti-Japanese War, the combat effectiveness of the Japanese army declined sharply, while the combat effectiveness of the Sichuan Army continued to increase.
When the Sichuan Army first came out of Sichuan in the 26th year of the Republic of China, it had a total of 400,000 troops. With later additions, the total strength of the Sichuan Army already exceeded one million. However, until now, the million-strong Sichuan Army has only less than 100,000 soldiers left.
, this is like a cruel and bloody survival elimination. How can the Sichuan Army soldiers who survived be the same people?
In all likelihood, the 100,000 Sichuan troops who survived were all hard-blooded veterans who had experienced hundreds of battles.
In the previous Great Southwest Battle, the reasons why these veterans had poor results were firstly because they were hungry and had no energy, and secondly, they were short of guns and ammunition, and they didn’t have the energy. They couldn’t really compete with the Japanese machine guns with large knives, right?
But now, after replenishing their food, wages and ammunition, these veterans immediately regained their combat effectiveness!
When Yang Sen was remembering the deceased, Chief of Staff Li Yuntong strode up to him, snapped to attention and said: "Master's seat, the forward observation post reported that the Japanese reinforcements have arrived in Wanxian County."
"Hmm." Yang Sen nodded and said in a deep voice, "How many people are here?"
"It's too dark to see clearly." Li Yun said, "But there are large-caliber heavy howitzers. I think the main force of the Japanese army from the North Route has arrived, and its strength will not be less than 5 divisions!"
"Five divisions!?" Yang Sen's expression changed slightly when he heard this, and then he gritted his teeth and asked in a deep voice, "Chief of Staff, have all the divisions entered their designated positions?"
Li Yun said: "Reporting to the division seat, all divisions have entered their designated positions."
"Okay!" Yang Sen gave a high-five with his fist and said in a ferocious voice, "Immediately call all armies and divisions to build fortifications on the spot and prepare to meet the Japanese army. Tell the brothers that the 4th Group Army, below Yang Sen, has the responsibility to defend the country and resist the war.
, even if the whole army fights to the last man, they will never let little Japan pass!"
"Yes!" Li Yuntong snapped to attention and took the order.
Amidst the sound of hurried footsteps, Mr. Li hurriedly walked into the war room and immediately reported to Yue Weihan: "Boss, we just received an urgent message from Sanye. Yang Sen's troops have captured Wanxian before the Japanese army and withstood the attack.
The fierce attack of the Japanese 113th Division has blocked the entrance for the Japanese troops from the North Road to exit Jingmen from the east!"
"Okay!" Yue Weihan said fiercely, "Sichuan Army insists on getting it!"
Mr. Xu next to him gently removed his pipe and said with emotion: "In the five years of the Anti-Japanese War, the combat effectiveness of the Japanese army has declined seriously, while the combat effectiveness of the Sichuan Army has made great progress."
Regarding the actual combat effectiveness of the Sichuan Army, Xu always has the most say.
During the Anti-Sixth Route Siege in the 22nd year of the Republic of China, the Red Fourth Front Army commanded by General Xu defeated the 200,000 Sichuan Army with 20,000 people. The Sichuan Army at that time did not have much combat effectiveness.
Mr. Li pondered for a moment and said with concern: "Boss, although the Sichuan Army's combat effectiveness has made great progress and its equipment level has also improved to a certain extent, the 100,000 Sichuan Army alone wants to block the nearly 200,000 Japanese troops on the North Road.
, but it is unrealistic, so the troops in the first field and the second field must move faster."
After saying this, Mr. Li said thoughtfully: "Even if the troops from the first field and the second field just act as reinforcements for Jingmen, they can put great psychological pressure on Okamura Neiji and then affect his decision-making.
, forcing him to make a choice in advance and order the Japanese troops on the northern route to give up attacking Jingmen and march south to Guizhou."
"Yes." Yue Weihan was convinced and asked Mr. Xu, "Old Xu, have all the units participating in the battle been assembled?"
In this southwest battle, the First Field Army had three armies participating in the battle, namely Liu Bocheng's 2nd Army, Chen Geng's 8th Army, and Yue Weiguo's 9th Army, with a total strength of more than 600,000, including the 2nd and 9th.
The group army can be called the fist force of a field, and Chairman Mao spared no expense.
In the battle plan formulated by the Southwest Campaign Frontline Command, the troops of the First Field will assume the role of the general reserve team of the campaign. They will not only assist the troops of the Second Field in cutting off the Yangtze River Channel, the lifeline of the Japanese Army in Central China, but also assist the Third Field in encircling the Japanese Army in Central China.
The main force is in the southwest, giving the surrounding areas time to deploy calmly and complete the encirclement and annihilation.
General Xu immediately replied: "The 2nd Group Army has been relatively difficult to assemble due to the large spread of the stalls. So far, only nine divisions have completed the assembly, and there are still 18 divisions that have not yet assembled. However, the 8th and 9th Group Armies have already assembled.
Finished, now heading south along the Ping-Han Railway, the forward column of the 9th Army Yu Ting has entered Hubei."
"Okay." Yue Weihan said immediately, "Call Yue Weiguo immediately and order him to lead his troops to reinforce Jingmen!"
Wuhan, Japanese military headquarters.
Okamura Neji's face was livid and he was reprimanding Lieutenant General Nemoto Hiroshi.
"The Chinese army was actually allowed to seize Wan County? The 113th Division's attack failed? Why did you not report such a big thing to me until now? Why didn't you report it to me as soon as possible last night?"
Nemotobo said with a sad expression: "Your Excellency, General, I just learned the news."
"What?" Neji Okamura frowned, "So, Yoshio Shinozuka deliberately concealed it and refused to report it?"
"Hai." Nemotohiro suddenly lowered his head and said, "I think Shinozuka-kun wanted to take back Wanxian County first, and then report to the front army headquarters after re-opening Jingmen. However, the development of the war was far beyond his expectation. China
The resistance of the army was very tenacious, and Shinozuka-kun realized something was wrong, so he quickly reported it to the headquarters."
"Bagagaru." Neji Okamura cursed angrily, "You're so smart!"
After saying this, Okamura Neji waved his arms and roared loudly: "Nemoto-kun, you also know that the China Army has mobilized millions of troops and opened a huge net in the southwest.
In destroying the main force of the Central China Front Army, at this moment, the most precious thing for the Central China Front Army is time! It is time!"
"Hai." Nemotohiro suddenly lowered his head and said, "Your Excellency, General, although the China Army has successfully attacked Wanxian County, intelligence shows that this army is just adapted from the China Sichuan Army. It has backward equipment and lacks training. It is not a military force at all.
The opponent of the Japanese Imperial Army, Shinozuka-kun will definitely be able to open the Jingmen again."
"Open the Jingmen again?" Neji Okamura said coldly, "Five days? Or ten days!?"
After saying this, Okamura Neiji vigorously patted the map in front of him and said in a hurried tone: "Jingmen has a long and narrow terrain, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Especially in the Three Gorges area of the Yangtze River, there are many dangerous passes and passes.
There is no way to open it! How easy will it be for the imperial army to re-open Jingmen in a short period of time?"
"Also." Okamura Neiji took a breath and added, "I just received a report from the aviation reconnaissance force. About 200,000 people from the China Army heading south from North China have entered the border of Hubei and Henan. The intelligence shows that this is very likely
It is the most elite Yue Weiguo Corps in the North China Army. If this army goes to aid Jingmen, what will be the result?"
Genbo pondered for a moment and then said: "There is no doubt about the combat effectiveness of the Yue Weiguo Corps, but they are still more than 500 kilometers away from Yichang. It is impossible for this force to arrive within at least five days. There is still enough time."
"Is there enough time?" Neji Okamura said coldly, "Nemoto-kun, never be so arbitrary!"
After saying this, Okamura Neiji said again: "Have you ever thought about what kind of situation the imperial army will face if Shinozuka Yoshio cannot break through Jingmen within five days? By then, the Yue Weiguo regiments going south will swarm
When it comes, Jingmen will be completely blocked. What should the imperial army trapped in Sichuan do? Go back and go north out of Hanzhong, or go south to Guizhou?"
Hiroshi Nemoto insisted on what he had seen: "Your Excellency, General, I don't think this can happen."
"Nemoto-kun, please remember." Neji Okamura sighed and said with great sincerity, "As a senior commander of the Imperial Japanese Army, when you judge the enemy's situation, remember not to be subjective and arbitrary.
, don’t let national emotions blind your reason. Today’s Imperial Japanese Army’s combat effectiveness is no longer what it used to be…”
A look of deep thought appeared on Nemoto's face, obviously touched by Neji Okamura's words.
Okamura Neiji patted Nemotohiro on the shoulder and said: "Immediately call Yoshio Shinozuka and ask him to defeat the enemy in front of him within two days and withdraw to Hubei Province. If Jingmen cannot be cleared within two days,
That is, we should lead our troops north out of Hanzhong and go to Mongolia via Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia to join the troops stationed in Mongolia."
"What?" Nemotobo said in disbelief, "Going to Mongolia?"
Okamura Neiji sighed: "If they can't get through Jingmen, do you think they can come back?"
Nemoto took a breath and said with difficulty: "Your Majesty General, with all due respect, leaving Hanzhong from the north can only be a dead end, because from east Sichuan to Mongolia via Hanzhong, the journey is more than ten thousand miles? The imperial army cannot get any supplies on the way.
We also have to be endlessly hunted by various Chinese armies. Isn’t this a dead end?"
"Why not go south to Guizhou?" Hiroshi Nemoto said, "If we go south to Guizhou, we can also take the Sichuan-Yunnan Highway. After arriving in Guizhou, we can also join up with Okabe-kun's 3rd Army. After the two armies merge,
, even if facing the main force of Yue Weihan’s expeditionary force, the imperial army may not be incapable of fighting!"
"Nemoto-kun, you think too simplistically." Okamura Neji shook his head and said rather lonelyly, "If it is in the two lakes or Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas, the imperial army is not afraid of a battle with the Chinese Expeditionary Force, but if it is in the
In the hinterland of the southwest, the Imperial Army is no match for the Chinese Expeditionary Force, because our logistics supply line is too long and is easily attacked by the Chinese army."
After saying this, Okamura Ningji added: "Moreover, the 3rd Army cannot hold the Sichuan-Yunnan Highway. If the 5th and 10th Army go south to Guizhou, they will be encircled by the China Army at most halfway.
Therefore, going south to Guizhou is the real dead end, so it is better to send them north, where there may be a glimmer of hope by surprise."
Gengen Bowenyan took a breath of air and said solemnly: "Your Excellency, General, the matter can't be so serious, can it?"
"Nemoto-kun, do you think there is a better result?" Okamura Neji sighed again, looking lonely.
Nemoto was silent. He suddenly discovered that General Okamura was in a very bad state of mind today. In just a few minutes, he had already sighed several times. This was unimaginable before. This is still the eternal spirit.
General Okamura, who always has full confidence in the empire and the imperial army?
At this moment, Nemoto was completely at a loss. Is there really no hope for the empire?
In fact, Okamura Neiji has indeed lost confidence in Japan. As a senior general with a very strategic vision, Okamura Neiji has clearly foreseen that after the CCP quickly completed the integration of various resistance forces in China, Japan will
The last chance has been lost, and the final defeat is inevitable. The only thing Neji Okamura can do now is to do his best and obey fate, and try to delay the day when the Japanese army is completely defeated.