In the war room of the Sulu Theater Command, senior generals wearing thick winter clothes stood around a sand table filled with small flags of both the enemy and ourselves.
These senior generals looked serious, and the atmosphere in the war room was solemn as they listened to the combat staff holding a baton and introducing the current situation between the enemy and ourselves.
"The Japanese army has launched a new round of attacks on Dongtai, Xinghua, Taixian, Nantong, and Baoying last night..." the combat staff's baton pointed on the sand table and reported.
"According to the current reports from various frontline departments, the Japanese troops attacking us on the southern front this time have at least seven brigade numbers, and the Japanese troops in Yancheng and other places have mixed into the 12th brigade, and the 13th brigade and others have begun to cooperate.
, our 117th Division and 33rd Division have exchanged fire with them, and three puppet regiments are moving towards Xinghua..."
The nationwide winter offensive planned by the Chongqing Military Commission is coming to an end. In the past two months of fighting, a large number of Japanese troops have been wiped out and killed.
They performed very well in the several theaters they attacked, recapturing countless towns, and even killed several high-ranking Japanese generals.
But fighting in this cold winter is not only a test of the officers and soldiers' combat capabilities, but also a test of their willpower.
Until now, except for a few battle zones that are still fighting the Japanese because they are well prepared and have large reserves of ammunition and food, the squadrons in most areas have run out of ammunition and have begun to shrink their defenses, and the fighting has almost stopped.
The Sulu Theater was originally short of supplies behind enemy lines. Although this winter offensive did not count as the main attack area and was only counted as assists to contain the Japanese, there was something remarkable about the entire operation.
Troops in Shandong in the Sulu War Zone destroyed nearly a hundred miles of roads and railways, attacked thousands of Japanese artillery strongholds, and annihilated many Japanese and puppet troops.
In the Sulu Theater Zone in Jiangsu, cities such as Huaiyin, Gaoyou, and Nantong were successively recaptured, dealing a heavy blow to the Japanese and puppet forces.
Seeing that the fatigue of the attacking troops was showing, Yu Xuezhong, the Sulu Theater Command, had ordered all the troops to withdraw from the battle in a timely manner to preserve their strength. After all, after fighting for so long, the troops no longer had the strength to continue fighting, and there was a serious shortage of supplies and ammunition.
What's more important is that almost all theaters across the country have begun to shrink their defenses. Losing the control of friendly forces means that the Japanese have the ability to mobilize troops from other places for reinforcements. If the fight continues, it will be the Chinese Army that will suffer.
But now the Japanese suddenly massed heavy troops on the southern front of the Sulu Theater for a fierce attack, making the Sulu Theater Command, which was originally preparing to end the winter offensive, once again become tense.
Now the Japanese have regained the initiative on the battlefield and started attacking, which has put the Sulu theater into a passive state.
"Attacks were launched simultaneously across the southern front. It seems that the Japs are well prepared this time." Commander Yu Xuezhong frowned, and there was indescribable fatigue in his voice.
During the entire winter offensive, he barely had a solid night's sleep. Seeing that they were about to end the battle, the little devil began to fight back reluctantly. This made him somewhat unexpected.
To think that the little devil actually has the ability to fight back.
"Our troops fought tenaciously and bravely in the previous stage of the battle, but they suffered heavy losses and ran out of ammunition. We no longer have the ability to fight another large-scale battle against the Japanese." Staff Sgt.
Commander Wang Jingxuan's face was also extremely solemn. He was well aware of the status of each unit at this moment.
Zhou Fu, director of the Political Department, nodded and said: "It is better to order all ministries to evacuate immediately from the fighting to avoid greater losses."
"The situation on the battlefield is no longer under our control. The Japs are attacking now. All the ministries have exchanged fire with the Japs. It will be difficult to withdraw." Wang Jingxuan, chief of staff of the theater, rubbed his temples and said helplessly: "Besides, our Sulu Theater is
We were already behind enemy lines, surrounded by powerful enemies, but now the Japanese are only attacking on the southern front. If we just retreat blindly, I'm afraid we won't have anywhere to retreat in a short time."
Commander Yu Xuezhong never knew the current status of each unit, but he also knew that their Sulu theater was inferior to other theaters.
The frontal battlefield also has a large depth in the southwest. At worst, they could retreat to those high mountains and fight the Japanese, but they would have no way to retreat because they were fighting in the occupied area.
"Since there is no way to retreat, let all the troops fight with the Japanese to gain a foothold!" Commander Yu Xuezhong had long been tired of retreating. He placed the tea cup in his hand heavily on the table and said murderously.
"Although our troops are exhausted, the little devils are no better after being suppressed and beaten by us for two months. They are now eager to counterattack, undoubtedly wanting revenge, so we will continue to fight until they are defeated.
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Seeing the angry commander-in-chief Yu Xuezhong waving his fists, Chief of Staff Wang Jingxuan and Director of the Political Department Zhou Fu all looked at each other and shook their heads with a wry smile.
"Sir Yu, you should think twice. After all, we only have this old foundation. If we all work together, it will be gone..."
Chief of Staff Wang Jingxuan was worried that Yu Xuezhong was acting on his own initiative, so he gave a serious and thoughtful explanation.
"Behind us are the common people of the whole country! Even if all our tens of thousands of brothers are exhausted, as long as I don't die, in less than a month, I can still pull up tens of thousands of brothers and continue to fight against the Japanese! What are we afraid of? We have 45,000 compatriots.
Even the consumption can kill a little devil!"
Commander Yu Xuezhong shouted in a sonorous and powerful voice, his bloodshot eyes burning with blazing fighting spirit.
"But now that all theaters have begun to shrink their defenses, it will be difficult for our Sulu theater to fight the Japanese alone." Director of the Political Department Zhou Fu also persuaded.
"Yes, sir, we don't have enough ammunition now. If we continue to fight, we will have to fight with the Japanese with bayonets..."
"The troops on the front line suffered heavy casualties. In this winter, there are so many wounded soldiers dying of frostbite."
The staff officers began to persuade him one after another, fearing that Commander Yu Xuezhong was acting on his own initiative.
"Brothers, it's not that I, Yu Xuezhong, don't care about the lives of the brothers, but the Japs have already hit us, and we have no way to retreat. If we don't repel the Japs this time, what will happen behind enemy lines?
There is no place for you and me anymore, how will we explain to the Chairman of the Generalissimo and how will we explain to the 40,000 people of the country when the time comes?"
"Everyone, we have now reached a critical moment of life and death in our Sulu theater. We are surrounded by strong enemies. If we show weakness on the southern front, the surrounding enemies will pounce on us and take a bite. At that time, we will not even have a chance to struggle, so
We must fight this battle, and we must fight it toughly. Only by knocking down the Japs on the southern front can the Japs in other directions not dare to act rashly, and can we win a chance to breathe."
"In that case, let's fight. I will personally go to the front line to supervise the battle!" Chief of Staff Wang Jingxuan pondered for a moment and then strengthened his confidence.
Seeing the chief of staff nodding in agreement to continue the fight, the surrounding senior generals felt that this was a huge risk, but they seemed to have no other choice, so they acquiesced to the proposal to continue the fight.
"You will send the message from the theater headquarters to the frontline troops, asking them to withstand the first wave of the Japanese offensive. Then we will give them the maximum support in materials and ammunition. In this battle, no defeat is allowed!"
"Yes!" More than 20 senior generals agreed in a loud voice.
"Director Zhou, please prepare yourself. Follow me to see Commander Li in the Fifth War Zone. I'm afraid I have to count on them to provide ammunition and supplies this time..." After everyone left, Commander Yu Xuezhong stopped the director of the Political Department Zhou Fu and gave the order.
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Zhou Fu was stunned for a moment, and then nodded. Now they could only count on the nearest five theaters to provide them with constant support, otherwise they would not be able to continue this battle.