In the past two days, Xu Rui's Chahar Independent Group has been using various methods to build momentum.
This is really abnormal. Other blitzkrieg methods focus on concealed advancement before the war and thundering when launched. However, Xu Rui did the opposite. He beat gongs and drums to promote propaganda before the war, lest the world would not know what he was going to do.
During the attack on Peiping, even Yan'an finally sent telegrams to inquire, but Xu Rui just ignored them.
Xu Rui’s vigorous campaign has achieved great results!
The situation in Suiyuan and its surrounding areas suddenly became tense. Not only the Japanese garrisons in Shuozhou, Datong, Ulanqab, Zhangbei, Zhangjiakou and other places around Suiyuan began to become tense, but even those stationed in Guisui and nearby areas began to become tense.
The divisions of Fu Zuoyi's 35th Army in various counties also began to become nervous.
The Sui army was also afraid, fearing that the Japs would be unable to hold themselves back and attack first.
At this moment, the headquarters of the North Route Army in the World War II Zone was already crowded with people.
Fu Zuoyi strode into the war room, and Ye Qijie and other generals as well as a dozen senior advisers stood up to attention.
Fu Zuoyi waved his hand casually, but his eyes fell on the huge simulation sand table in the center of the war room, and then asked: "What is the situation now?"
Ye Qijie said: "This morning, the independence group will convene various media outlets to hold a press conference in Baotou."
"What are you talking about? A press conference, at this time?!" Fu Zuoyi suddenly became calm when he heard this, and said, "Is it possible that Xu Rui really plans to counterattack Peiping?"
Ye Qijie said: "In two hours, there should be news."
"Then just wait!" Fu Zuoyi said, "Let's see what he does."
…
At the same time, in Baotou.
The large conference room at the headquarters of the Chahar Independent Regiment had been temporarily set up as a press release site. Wang Husheng asked the officials from the regiment to set up two long tables on the north side of the conference room, covered with a red cloth, and it immediately became a news conference.
There are more than 20 small chairs under the rostrum, which are for invited journalists from various media.
As soon as Wang Husheng and two officials brought the microphone to the rostrum, a large group of reporters broke through the blockade of the regiment guards and flooded into the press conference. Seeing that the situation was unstoppable, Wang Husheng signaled to the regiment guards.
Exit and let the media reporters from various news agencies, newspapers and magazines sit down.
The press conference, which was originally scheduled to start at 10 a.m., started early.
Wang Husheng stood behind the microphone, tried the sound effects, and then said: "Okay, let's start..."
Before the last word was said, more than a dozen reporters stood up at the same time and raised their right hands. Some reporters couldn't help but ask questions loudly without waiting for Wang Husheng's permission.
"Political Commissar Wang, I am Wang Zheng, Baotou-based reporter of the Central Daily News. I would like to ask..."
"Political Commissar Wang, I am Wilson, a reporter from the Miller Review. I have a question..."
"Political Commissar Wang, Political Commissar Wang, this is AFP special correspondent Hua Fu. I would like to ask, where did your Chahar Independent Group get the confidence to openly shout the slogan of counterattack on Peking?"
Wang Husheng waved his hand and said, "Well, please ask everyone one by one."
Then Wang Husheng extended his right hand to AFP special correspondent Hua Fu and said loudly: "Now, let me answer Mr. Hua Fu's question first. First of all, I want to correct Mr. Hua Fu's inappropriate wording. Counterattack on Peking is not a slogan.
It is a real military operation, a tactical counterattack by our Chinese armed forces!"
If it were Xu Rui, he would not talk about tactical counterattack, but strategic counterattack.
However, Wang Husheng is much more low-key than Xu Rui, and only dares to talk about tactical counterattacks.
"Oh God, this is a real military operation." Waffle said in disbelief, "Really?"
"Of course this is true." Wang Husheng said in a very confident tone, "And I can tell you the latest news. The prelude to this tactical counterattack has begun. The leading troops of our Chahar Independent Regiment have already arrived yesterday.
We quietly moved into Youyu County at night, and by now we should have launched an attack on Youyu County."
"Oh God, has it already started?" A low breathing sound immediately sounded from below.
"Yes." Wang Husheng nodded heavily, "The Chinese nation's counterattack has begun."
…
At Guisui, North Route Army Headquarters.
A communications staff officer hurriedly walked into the war room and reported to Fu Zuoyi and Ye Qijie: "The chief, the deputy chief, just received a call from Baotou. Wang Husheng, political commissar of the Chahar Independent Regiment, just publicly announced at the press conference that the independent regiment
The counterattack has officially launched, and its leading troops have launched an attack on Youyu County."
"What do you mean? Are you really starting to counterattack?"
"The seat of Youyu County? It's actually the seat of Youyu County?"
"My God, Xu Rui has a big appetite!"
"Isn't it? This is clearly a right hook, trying to swallow up Datong, an important town in northern Shanxi!"
"This guy is not afraid of bursting his stomach. Datong is a main division where the Japs are stationed. Although it is only a C-type division with a three-unit system, it is still a division, a division!"
"Just wait and see, Xu Rui will hit his head and bleed in Datong!"
In an instant, more than a dozen senior officials in the war room went crazy.
Fu Zuoyi ignored the cynicism of his staff, and his heart was already filled with rage.
Facts have proved that Xu Rui did not lie, but really wanted to counterattack. Then it seems that their 35th Army should not just sit back and watch, but should take this opportunity to launch a counterattack. Let alone anything else, at least they should attack Sui.
The Ulanqab League captured the eastern important town, so that Guisui would have an eastern barrier.
At that moment Fu Zuoyi said: "Brother Xin, let the 101st Division and the New 32nd Division attack as planned."
"Chief, please slow down for a moment." Ye Qijie reminded in a low voice, "The committee has issued strict orders not to issue any military provocations, let alone attacks, against the Japanese army in the near future?"
Fu Zuoyi's face immediately fell.
…
In Chongqing, the National Revolutionary Army Headquarters.
Xu Rui's vigorous campaign not only alarmed the surrounding Japs, but also alarmed Chairman Chiang Kai-shek as far away as Chongqing.
When he learned that the Chahar Independent Group was going to hold a press conference this morning, Chairman Chiang hurried to the headquarters with Wang Shihe without even bothering to eat breakfast.
When Chairman Chiang arrived, Chen Cheng, He Yingqin, Bai Chongxi and other close aides had already gathered.
Obviously, just like Chairman Chiang, Chen Cheng and several other close aides were also concerned about the situation in Suiyuan Province.
Almost at the same time that Fu Zuoyi learned the news, several close aides of Chairman Chiang who were far away in Chongqing also received the news that the Chahar Independent Regiment was attacking Youyu County.
"Youyu? Youyu County seat? Here!"
The two senior officials quickly found Youyu County on the map.
Bai Chongxi's expression suddenly became serious, and he said in a deep voice: "This guy Xu Rui did not take the Chanan route, but went to northern Shanxi!"
Although few people believed that Xu Rui would really counterattack Beiping, Bai Chongxi still conducted a deduction with several senior advisers and found that there were two routes to take from Baotou to Beiping.
The preferred route is to pass through the Sui Army's defense area, first capture Ulanqab, and then pass through Huai'an and Zhangjiakou to Peiping. The advantage of this route is that there are not many dangers along the way. The only one that can be called a danger is Changping.
Juyongguan in the county, but that is already within easy reach of Peiping.
Another route is to pass through Datong, then penetrate Zijingguan, and outflank the south of Beiping from Gaobeidian and Zhuozhou. According to Bai Chongxi and the senior advisers who participated in the deduction, this route is very difficult to follow. Not only must we defeat places like Datong
It is an important military town and has to cross the Taihang Mountains. Once it is blocked by the Japanese army to the west of Zijing Pass, it will immediately lose its footing.
Bai Chongxi didn't expect Xu Rui to take the northern Shanxi route instead of Chanan.
Of course, Bai Chongxi never expected that the Chahar Independent Regiment would actually dare to counterattack!
Not only Bai Chongxi, this sudden news also shocked Chen Cheng, He Yingqin and others. Chairman Jiang opened his mouth wide and couldn't close his mouth for a long time. Niang Xipi, what is going on? This guy Xu Rui actually
Seriously? He actually plans to counterattack Peiping? Isn’t this nonsense!
As the dignified leader of the National Government, I have more than 200 main divisions. I dare not say a counterattack lightly. Even if I launch a small-scale tactical counterattack, I have to think over and over again. You are a regiment commander and you are a regiment.
With so many troops, Niang Xipi actually dared to launch a large-scale counterattack, actually dared to counterattack Beiping City?
You are slapping me in the face. You are clearly slapping me, Mr. Jiang, in the face!
Not only Chairman Chiang Kai-shek, Chen Cheng, and He Yingqin also had burning faces.
But a moment later, Chen Cheng suddenly laughed, clapped his hands and said, "Ha, it turns out that Xu Rui is just bluffing. If he really wants to counterattack Beiping, he will not take the road of northern Shanxi anyway.
But he would take the much easier Chanan route, so this only proves that he doesn’t really want to attack Peiping."
"Oh, yes, Brother Cixiu is absolutely right." He Yingqin also echoed, "Now it seems that Xu Rui's goal is only Datong. He just wants to attack Datong, but he doesn't talk about counterattacking Beiping. But
Having said that, his skill of building a plank road openly and secretly crossing Chencang was really realistic, and he deceived us all."
"Are we going to fight Datong?" Chairman Jiang looked a little better after hearing this.
Xu Rui dared to attack Datong with a regiment of troops. This would also bring disgrace to him, the leader of the government, but at least it would not disgrace him, because Datong was just a city. Although the National Army rarely fought back, it was difficult to recover.
It is not that there are no examples of battles in the city government, there are even examples of battles to regain provincial capitals, such as Xue Yue's First Corps regaining Changsha.
But if Xu Rui counterattacked Peiping, even if it was just a show of force, it would be enough to disgrace Chairman Chiang Kai-shek without actually conquering Peiping.
