Let’s not talk about the affairs of Northern Jiangsu for now. Let’s talk about the Japanese army’s movements later.
As early as the end of 1938, Central China's Condemnation Army had issued contracts for the blockade trenches in the Dameishan base area, and handed them over to dozens of counties in Jiangsu and Anhui provinces. Just after the first day of the new year, all blockade trench sections were completed at the same time.
In order to complete the tasks under the Central China Dispatch Army Headquarters, the puppet governments at all levels in Jiangsu and Anhui provinces began to dispatch husbands everywhere, and in less than three days, millions of civilian husbands were forcibly recruited. Moreover, this
Just the beginning!
In the corner of the war room hall, Aoki Shigesei was explaining the latest progress of the project to Itagaki Seishiro.
As the commander of the Condemnation Force in Central China, Itagaki Seishiro had too many things to worry about, so he gave the task of tracking the blockade project to Chief of Staff Shigemako Aoki.
"Your Excellency, Commander, as of yesterday, the reform government's Jiangsu and Anhui provincial governments have recruited more than 1.2 million civilians from more than 20 counties. They are currently starting from more than 300 construction sections and more than 500 kilometers long.
Construction work is being carried out on the blockade line at the same time. If nothing unexpected happens, it should be completed within three months..."
"Three months?" Itagaki Seishiro immediately interrupted Aoki Shigemai and said, "It took too long!"
After a pause, Itagaki Seishiro said in an unquestionable tone: "Tell Liang Sang that the blockade ditch project in Damei Mountain must be completed within a month!"
"One month." Aoki Shigemai said, "Commander, are you too hasty?"
"Aoki-san, we don't have much time, so we can't rush it." Itagaki Seishiro sighed and said, "I don't know if you have thought about it, but the Dameishan Independent Group will make a comeback soon!"
"Dameishan Independent Regiment?" Shigemagi Aoki's face changed slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "It shouldn't be so fast, right?"
After a pause, Aoki Shigemai added: "Based on my experience, after the Eighth Route Army guerrillas experienced a war, they need at least three months to rest. Although the collection of supplies can speed up the progress, the training of new recruits will take at least three months.
It takes time to form combat effectiveness. This is an objective law. No matter how strong the Dameishan Independent Regiment's combat effectiveness is, it cannot escape from this law."
"No, no, no, you are talking about routine." Itagaki Seishiro shook his head and said, "But you have forgotten that Xu Rui has never been an opponent who plays according to routine. What's more, there is a team in the Dameishan Independent Regiment.
Langya, this Langya army does not need three months of rest and can attack at any time!"
As soon as Itagaki Seishiro finished speaking, there were rapid footsteps behind him.
When I looked back, I saw the adjutant Dong Xiang Haotai striding over and reported: "Your Excellency, Commander, we just received an urgent call from the Ninth Division. Just last night, Xu Rui personally led the Langya Brigade to raid the Commander of the Eighty-ninth Army of the National Army.
The Ministry not only recaptured the detained personnel and materials, but also captured Han Deqin, the commander of the 89th Army."
"What did I just say?" Itagaki Seishiro said in amusement, "This Xu Rui never plays his cards according to the rules, and this wolf fang, even during the Chinese New Year, even ran hundreds of miles away.
Northern Jiangsu captured Han Deqin, the commander of the 89th Army, and Chiang Kai-shek, the leader of the National Government, I'm afraid he's scolding me again, haha."
Dongxiang Kotai then reported: "Your Excellency, Commander, the call from the Ninth Division also said that the current situation on the battlefield in Northern Jiangsu is very favorable to the imperial army, because the main force of the New Fourth Army's Northern Jiangsu Military Region has withdrawn to the vicinity of Jianhu Town.
Confronted with the Eighty-ninth Army and the Fifty-seventh Army of the National Army, both the New Fourth Army and the National Army have their flanks exposed to the Imperial Army. At this time, if the Imperial Army takes the initiative to attack, it will definitely be able to defeat the National Army.
With cooperation, it is not impossible to rebuild the main force of the New Fourth Army, and even completely annihilate the New Fourth Army's troops in northern Jiangsu."
Aoki Shigemagi nodded and said: "The Eighty-ninth Army of the National Army sent troops to Funing originally because of the invitation of the Imperial Army. Now the Imperial Army has taken the initiative to send troops to cooperate with the National Army to attack the New Fourth Army. It is completely reasonable." After a pause, Aoki Shigemagi said.
Cheng added, "Reply to the Ninth Division immediately and agree to attack!"
"Hai." Dongxiang Haotai paused and turned to leave.
"Wait." Itagaki Seishiro suddenly raised his hand to stop him.
Aoki Shigesei and Togo Kota turned to look at Itagaki Seishiro at the same time.
Itagaki Seishiro frowned and said: "If Xu Rui had not been there, the Ninth Division would have cooperated with the National Army to flank the New Fourth Army, and there would have been no problem. But now that Xu Rui is involved, the Imperial Army needs to be more careful and tell Yoshizumi
Liangfu, you must find out whether the National Army is secretly colluding with the New Fourth Army? Make sure there is no secret collusion before attacking."
"Hai." Togo Kota nodded heavily to Itagaki Seishiro again, turned around and left.
Watching Togo Kota's figure go away, Aoki Shigesei couldn't help but ask Itagaki Seishiro: "Commander, is it really necessary to be so cautious?"
Itagaki Seishiro waved his hand and said: "When facing Xu Rui, no matter how cautious you are, you will never be too cautious!"
Itagaki Seishiro said this sincerely, because he had already been frightened by Xu Rui in the Jiujiang battlefield, but Aoki Shigesei had not experienced Xu Rui's power for the first time in Wujiang, so he was quite dissatisfied. He thought Itagaki
Seishiro was making too much of a fuss, but it didn't show on the surface.
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Itagaki Seishiro's caution is undoubtedly correct.
In fact, the New Fourth Army and the National Army in the northern Jiangsu battlefield are indeed about to join forces.
It's a pity that the devil is as high as the Dao. Although Itagaki Seishiro guessed that the National Army and the New Fourth Army in the northern Jiangsu battlefield might unite, and also asked the Ninth Division to conduct verification, he did not expect that Xu Rui's behavior has always been
It is watertight and there is no chance of leaving any obvious flaws.
The division commander of the 9th Division, Yoshizumi Ryosuke, indeed sent liaison officers to the 33rd Division and the 117th Division of the 89th Army to observe the battlefield. In the dark, he also sent liaison officers from the Special High School Division.
Special agents and plainclothes teams of the puppet army conducted reconnaissance. The result of the reconnaissance was that there was no sign of collusion between the New Fourth Army and the National Army.
The observation group of the Japanese army and the plainclothes special agent team of the Japanese and puppet troops were actually reliable, and the results they detected were completely correct, because until the last moment, the 33rd Division and the 33rd Division of the 89th Army and 11
The Seventh Division, as well as the 112th Division of the 57th Army, are preparing for war with the New Fourth Army.
All the security posts of the three divisions of the National Army were placed towards the side of the New Fourth Army, but on the side facing the Japanese army, the National Army did not post any security posts at all. Obviously, the National Army was completely unprepared for the Japanese army. This can only show that
One fact is that the National Army is indeed seriously preparing for war with the New Fourth Army.
Based on this judgment, Yoshizumi Ryosuke decisively decided to attack.
Yoshizumi Yoshisuke used Akiyama Yoshiyuki's 6th Infantry Brigade as the backbone, supplemented by a regiment each of mountain artillery, engineers, heavy troops and cavalry, to form the Akiyama Detachment to participate in combat operations against the New Fourth Army's Northern Jiangsu Branch. The Akiyama Detachment was in
After being organized, they immediately came out of Qinggou Town and launched an attack on the New Fourth Army from the flank.
(Dividing line)
Yongfeng Town, New Fourth Army Jiangsu North Military Region Headquarters.
Including Commander Chen Yi, the five main leaders of the Northern Jiangsu Military Region have gathered in the war room of the headquarters. The atmosphere in the war room is a bit solemn, because the situation they are currently facing in the Northern Jiangsu Military Region is indeed not good, or
It's very dangerous. To their north, three divisions of the National Army have been deployed across the board and are launching a fierce attack on them.
The 112th Division of the 57th Army was okay, but the 33rd Division and the 117th Division of the 89th Army seemed to be bastards who were already determined to fight with the New Fourth Army! However,
Commander Chen Yi and others can probably guess that Jia Yunshan and Li Shouwei's secret thoughts are just to become army commanders.
To be honest, if there were only three divisions of the National Army, the New Fourth Army would really not take it seriously.
The real threat actually comes from the flanks, from the Japs from the direction of Huaiyin. There is a main division of the Japs stationed in Huaiyin City. The Ninth Division of Huaiyin is like the Sword of Damocles hanging over the head of the New Fourth Army. The New Fourth Army
You have to keep your eyes open even when you sleep, to be on guard against the sword of Damocles suddenly slashing you down.
However, the more worried about something, the more something happened. A communications soldier suddenly walked in in a hurry and whispered a few words to Hu Fajian, the chief of staff of the Northern Jiangsu Military Region. Hu Fajian's expression immediately changed, and then he said to Marshal Chen Yi: "
Commander, we just received a report from the Qinggou Township team that the Huaiyin Japs have been dispatched!"
"Okay!" After hearing this, Commander Chen Yi let out a long sigh of relief.
The real deterrent effect of the Sword of Damocles is before it is cut down. After it is cut off, it loses its deterrent effect. The same is true for the Japs in Huaiyin. Before the Japs in Huaiyin attack, the hearts of the commanders and soldiers of the New Fourth Army are always in suspense.
However, once the Huaiyin Japs attacked, they felt at ease.
At that moment, Marshal Chen Yi ordered his guard Xiao Li: "Xiao Li, please notify Commander Xu immediately and tell them that the Huaiyin Japs have attacked on time and can release Han Deqin."
"Yes!" Xiao Li agreed and ran away in a hurry.
Watching Xiao Li go away, Chief of Staff Hu Fajian frowned and said: "Commander, Han Deqin is a die-hard. Isn't it a bit risky for us to place our hopes on such a die-hard?"
Several other senior commanders present also nodded repeatedly when they heard this.
Frankly speaking, they were completely convinced of Xu Rui's abilities, but they were not very optimistic about Xu Rui's proposal to join forces with the National Army to deal with the Japanese with the help of Han Deqin, especially the
What people are worried about is that if Han Deqin changes his mind, the Northern Jiangsu Military Region will most likely face disaster!
"To be honest, I can't trust Han Deqin." Chen Yi snorted and then said, "But, I can trust Xiao Xu. Since Xiao Xu thinks there is no problem, then there must be no problem!"