Chapter 1055 Prelude to the Battle of Zaoyi
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In late spring, in March, grass grows in the south of the Yangtze River, there are mixed peanut trees, and flocks of orioles fly around.
This is a sentence in the "Book with Chen Bo" written by Qiu Chi, the official secretary of the imperial court, to persuade Chen Bozhi to surrender when Xiao Hong, the governor of Yangzhou and Linchuan King Xiao Hong during the period of Emperor Xiao Yan of Liang Dynasty in the Southern Dynasties, wrote several strokes to outline the beautiful scenery of late spring in the south of the Yangtze River.
New, no wonder the capricious Chen Bozhi had to admire it after receiving the letter, and led eight thousand soldiers to surrender.
Just when Liu Yimin was worried, the prelude to the Zaoyi Battle began!
April 20, 1940, the 13th day of March in the lunar calendar, was Grain Rain, the last solar term of spring. The land in the south of the Yangtze River was full of green mountains and clear waters. It was the best time to sow and transplant seedlings and grow melons and beans.
Early in the morning, the Japanese planes went crazy, flying darkly across the spring sky, pounced on key points in Hunan and Jiangxi, and began to bomb indiscriminately.
Immediately afterwards, the Japanese troops in the Jiujiang area were dispatched. Under the cover of aircraft, they launched a large-scale raid on the anti-Japanese base areas around Jiujiang.
One wave after another, Japanese naval vessels were discovered in Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake, and Japanese naval fleets came towards Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake!
In fact, the Chinese ** Corps had long been aware of the possibility that the Japanese army would launch an offensive against the Jianghan Plain area in northwest Hubei, and had already made preparations for the battle.
Since the Nanyue Military Conference, the main forces of the Communist Party of China began large-scale training. By October 1939, the training work was basically completed. After simplifying the command structure and supplementing the training, the troops restored their combat effectiveness. At this time, due to the losses of Chaoshan and Nanning, the National Government
The Guangdong-Hong Kong international transportation line was cut off, and the Yunnan-Burma international transportation line was also seriously threatened by the Japanese army. In order to ensure the Yunnan-Burma international transportation line, win more foreign aid, and also to review the combat effectiveness of the Kuomintang and prevent Wang Jingwei from establishing a puppet regime, Chiang Kai-shek determined
Launched winter offensive operations.
The Military Commission's plan is to use the second, third, fifth, and ninth theaters as the main attack areas, and the first, fourth, eighth, tenth, Lusu, and Jicha theaters as the assist areas to launch a full-scale attack on the Japanese army.
Cover the counterattack in the direction of Guinan and drive the Japanese army out of Guinan.
Among them, the first theater attacked Kaifeng, Boai, and contained the enemy; the second theater effectively cut off the traffic between the Zhengtai and Tongpu railways, and eliminated the enemies in the southern Shanxi triangle; the third theater used the main force of about 11 divisions to intercept the Yangtze River
Traffic was divided between Hukou, Madang, Dongliu, Guichi, Datong, Tongling, and Digang, and they waited for opportunities to attack. They rushed to the river bank in one fell swoop, occupied a solid position, and blocked the Yangtze River with light and heavy firepower and laying mines; the fourth theater began with
One camera will attack Chaozhou and Shantou, and the main force will mop up the enemies on Guangjiu Road and Nanning; the fifth theater will mop up the enemies on the southern section of the Ping-Han Line between Xinyang and Wuhan, advance towards Hankou, and attack the enemies on the Han-Yi Highway to cut off Xianghua.
The transportation between Han and Yi highways; the Eighth Theater will use one unit to cooperate with the Second Theater to attack the enemy near Guisui; the Ninth Theater will attack the enemy on the front in the northern section of Guangdong and Han, focusing on the Puqi and Xianning areas, and
Advance to Wuchang; attack the Nanchang and Nanxun railways at the same time, attack the enemies of Ruichang and Jiujiang; the tenth theater will still serve as the original river defense, and according to the progress of the attack in the southern Shanxi triangle, prepare to cross the river to expand the results; the Lusu theater will use Guangzhou
The front faces Tai'an from the east and west, and attacks between Lincheng, Tongshan, and Chuxian to cope with the battles along the river; in the Hebei-Chacha theater, the main force is used to cut off the enemy's traffic between Baoding, Xingtai and near Shijiazhuang; part of it is to cut off Cangxian and Dexian.
The nearby enemy's traffic is to cope with the battle on the Shanxi front.《》网.com
In this order, the 10th Theater Command commanded the Eighth Route Army's Shanxi Force in Western Shaanxi, the 2nd Theater Command commanded the Eighth Route Army's Shanxi Force, and the Sulu Theater Command commanded the Eighth Route Army's Shandong Force. However, at that time, Chiang Kai-shek changed Liu Yimin from a lieutenant general to a second lieutenant trainee platoon leader.
Chiang Dingwen's Ministry and Zhu Shaoliang's Ministry in the Eighth Theater were secretly preparing for a sneak attack on Xi'an. The commander of the Second Theater Yan Xishan was preparing to use force to deal with the Sacrifice League and the New Army. Yu Xuezhong's Ministry and Han Deqin's Ministry in the Sulu Theater were not
Regardless of any action, the troops in the Hebei-Cha War Zone did not attack the Japanese army, but kept secretly eyeing the Taihang base area of ​​the Eighth Route Army.
In this case, the only ones who actually launched the winter offensive operations against the Japanese army were Fu Zuoyi's troops in the third, ninth, fifth, fourth and eighth theaters.
Chiang Kai-shek had to fight the Japanese and the Japanese again, so naturally he was beyond his capabilities. Especially in the late winter offensive, Chiang Kai-shek took advantage of the main force of the Eighth Route Army to fight fiercely with the Japanese army and mobilized a large army to attack Xi'an. Although he seized northern Sichuan and Longdong, the Eighth Route Army was left behind.
Shaanxi's security divisions, garrison divisions and Japanese offensive troops were all injured, making the Japanese army chuckle.
In this way, the winter offensive operations also achieved remarkable results.
Naturally, the Eighth Route Army achieved the most glorious results. The 120th Division, the 129th Division, and the ** Division on the Shanxi battlefield fought continuously with the Japanese army, which dampened the arrogance of the Japanese First Army. The 115th Division not only advanced into the western Liaoning area, harassed the Kwantung Army's rear, and returned to
The division also eliminated the Japanese Abe Brigade and killed Lieutenant General Abe Norihide. The Shandong Eighth Route Army eliminated the main force of the Japanese 38th Division and the Japanese Shimen garrison in southwestern Shandong, captured Shimen, and after returning to the division in central and southern Shandong, eliminated them again.
The main force of the Japanese 27th Division destroyed more enemies than all other units combined during the entire winter battle!
Among the main forces of the **, the First War Zone once invaded Kaifeng, Qinyang, Shangqiu and other places, and fought the best, and was commended by the Military Commission. However, the First War Zone was later ordered to mobilize the main force to attack Tongguan and Weinan, and became the vanguard of the civil war.
The results of the battle were greatly reduced.
The fifth theater had the strongest offensive and the most tenacity. It fought repeatedly with the Japanese army in the Xinyang and Yingshan areas.
The Third War Zone once invaded Nanchang, Hangzhou, Fuyang, Yuhang and other cities, and briefly cut off the Yangtze River water transportation. Unfortunately, Gu Zhutong only fought fiercely with the Japanese army for three days and nights before he withdrew to his original defense position and was severely criticized by the Military Commission.
, together with the famous Sichuan Army general and the commander of the 50th Army Guo Xunqi was dismissed.
The Fourth War Zone once conquered Wengyuan, Yingde, Conghua and other places, and cooperated with the Guilin camp to recapture the Kunlun Pass. However, the Japanese counterattack in the Battle of Southern Guangxi caused the Fourth War Zone to lose troops and was severely criticized by the Military Commission.
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The Ninth Theater once conquered Chongyang, Jing'an and other places, and dealt a heavy blow to the enemy in front of them - the Japanese Eleventh Army.
Fu Zuoyi's troops in the Eighth War Zone fought well. They once invaded Baotou and recovered Wuyuan, Linhe and other places. They annihilated more than 4,600 Japanese troops and killed Japanese Lieutenant General Mizukawa Ifo. They were the first to kill Japanese Lieutenant Generals with the main force of the attack.
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The winter offensive operations sounded the alarm for the Japanese army. The little Japanese finally understood that the entire year of fighting in 1939 was equivalent to fighting in vain. Not to mention Liu Yimin, the enemy of the imperial army, the Eighth Route Army, even Chiang Kai-shek's regular army miraculously got better and better.
Strong! We need to re-evaluate the combat effectiveness of the ** team!
Therefore, the Japanese army couldn't wait to push Wang Jingwei out, hoping to rely on Wang Jingwei's popularity to suppress the National Government and force the National Government to surrender. This move would not work in the short term. Seeing that Wang Jingwei was ineffective, the Japanese army prepared to attack the main force of the Japanese army again.
The fight started.
Due to the disastrous defeat in the First Battle of Changsha, Lieutenant General Okamura Neiji, the commander of the Eleventh Army, deeply realized that in the war against China, relying on diplomacy and small offensives could not solve the problem. It was necessary to expand the army on a large scale and use military means to completely eliminate the problem.
Solve the problem. (《》网.com) For this reason, Okamura Neiji proposed a combat concept of concentrating his efforts to eliminate the main force of the fifth theater and capture Yichang.
Okamura Neiji's reason is that China's Fifth Theater has about 50 divisions surrounding Wuhan, and its main force is deployed on both sides of the Han River in northwest Hubei. Attacking Yichang can deal a heavy blow to the Fifth Theater. Moreover, Yichang is
It is the gateway to Sichuan. It is only 480 kilometers away from Chongqing, the center of China's wartime military and political leadership. It has an extremely important strategic position. Capturing Yichang will pose a huge threat to Chongqing and the southwest rear area, which will help advance political strategies.
Okamura Neiji's combat concept was supported by the commander-in-chief of the Chinese Expeditionary Forces, General Hisao Nishio.
Therefore, Okamura Neiji formulated the "Battle Guidance Strategy" on February 25. The purpose of the operation was: "To defeat the main force of the enemy's fifth theater on both sides of the Han River before the arrival of the rainy season, and achieve victory through combat
, further weakening Chiang's army, and contributing to the advancement of political strategies against China." Its battle guidelines are: "Be prepared in the shortest period of time, and start the offensive probably in early May. First capture the Han Dynasty south of Baihe River.
The enemy on the left bank of the river will be destroyed, and then the core force of the enemy on the right bank of the river will be completely destroyed near Yichang."
According to Okamura Neiji's plan, the Japanese Eleventh Army is determined to use its 7 divisions and 4 brigades as much as possible. These seven divisions are the Third Division, the Sixth Division, and the Tenth Division.
, the 13th Division, the 16th Division, the 101st Division, the 106th Division, and the fourth brother ** mixed brigade are respectively ** mixed 13th brigade, ** mixed 14th brigade
, temporarily mixed into the 101st Brigade and the 6th Field Heavy Artillery Brigade.
It turned out that the 10th Division returned to Japan for a second reconstruction and then went to the Northeast and joined the Kwantung Army. At the end of the winter offensive, the Little Japanese quietly transferred the 10th Division to the 11th Army to serve as a garrison.
Liu Yimin is still unclear about this situation.
Originally, Okamura Neiji also asked General Nishio Hisao to mobilize the Second Guards Division from North China, and go south to Wuhan with the 11th and 12th Divisions to fight and completely eliminate the troops in the fifth theater. However, Nishio Hisao
Zao knew that these three divisions could not move. If they did, the fierce tiger Liu Yimin would run out from the southern mountainous area of ​​​​Zhong Shandong, and the North China Front would be in trouble again.
Nishio Hisotō understood Okamura Neiji's painstaking efforts, and in order to ensure victory in the Zaoyi Battle, he assigned one detachment from each of the 15th and 22nd Divisions of the 13th Army to a total of 7 brigades and assigned them to the 11th Army, and also ordered the 3rd Army
The flight group, the Navy's "Chinese Front Fleet" 1st China Repatriation Fleet and the 2nd Combined Air Force cooperated in the operation.
The old Japanese Neji Okamura is really greedy. You must know that at this time in history, among the seven divisions of the 11th Army, there were only the 3rd, 6th, and 13th permanent divisions. The other 33rd and 3rd divisions were
The 14th, 39th, and 40th divisions are all three-unit garrison divisions, plus the three mixed brigades, there are only 88 infantry brigades in total, and their strength is much weaker. Now he has seven
Divisions are both permanent divisions and ad hoc divisions with a four-unit system. There are 99 infantry brigades alone, a full 11 more. Their troops are much stronger and their firepower is much stronger.
No, Okamura Neiji is determined to let each division retain a small force on site for defense, and dedicate as much of the main force as possible to offensive operations. A total of 56 infantry brigades are planned to be mobilized, plus the artillery of each division and brigade.
, engineers, cavalry, and heavy equipment, nearly 120,000 people participated in the battle. This was a full 10,000 more troops than in history.
Unfortunately, at this time, Okamura Neiji was only the lieutenant commander of the 11th Army and could not influence the Japanese cabinet. The Japanese cabinet was trapped by the deteriorating economic situation and was already dissatisfied with the military's repeated military expansion. Prime Minister Mitsumasa Yoneuchi, Admiral Ta
He proposed reducing the number of troops stationed in China for the first time, and even outrageously proposed reducing the number of troops stationed in China to 400,000.
Okamura Neiji angrily accused Yoneuchi Mitsumasa of being a stumbling block on the army's progress. In a rage, he resigned from the position of commander of the 11th Army and returned to Tokyo to become a military counselor.
As a result, the Army's opposition to Mitsumasa Yoneuchi's cabinet spread, forcing Mitsumasa Yoneuchi to correctly understand the battlefield situation in China, and re-evaluate the combat effectiveness of the Chinese Army and the results of the Japanese army. In the end, Mitsumasa Yoneuchi sadly discovered that it could not maintain the situation without expanding the army.
The existing occupied areas have finally stated that it is not appropriate to reduce the number of troops stationed in China.
On April 10, the Japanese base camp finally approved the Eleventh Army's Zaoyi battle plan with Order No. 426 of the "Continental Order", ordering "The commander-in-chief of the Chinese dispatched troops can complete the current tasks in May and June."
We will conduct an operation in Central and South China that goes beyond the established combat areas."
The person who succeeded Okamura Neiji was Lieutenant General Enbe Kazuichiro, commander of the 7th Kwantung Army Division.
Sonobe Kazuichiro is a native of Kumamoto Prefecture. He attended Kumamoto Army Regional Infant School, Central Infant School, and the 16th Army Non-commissioned Officer School since he was a child. He was a classmate of Okamura Neji, Itagaki Seishiro, Doihara Kenji, and Ando Toshiyoshi. This is
These guys, all of whom were Japanese generals in history, were all carved out of the same mold as the devil who invaded China. When they graduated from Army University in the 25th class, Sonobe and Ichiro were members of the saber team. Such a guy is naturally the same as Okamura Neji.
So cruel.
Sonobe and Ichiro divided the attack on Yichang into two stages: the first stage was to attack the main force of the Fifth Theater in the Zaoyang area, and the second stage was to cross the Xianghe River and attack Yichang.
The operational policy of the first phase of the offensive plan is to use a mobile and rapid attack to annihilate the main force of the Fifth Theater in Suixian County and the area north of Xiangyang, and then compress the Chinese ** troops west of the Han River to the Yichang area and annihilate them. Its troop strength
The deployment is: order the 3rd Division (attached to the 5 infantry brigades of the 10th Division, 1 mountain artillery battalion, and 2 infantry brigades of the 101st Division) to make a left turn from Xinyang via Minggang to Tanghe, and attack the Nanbaihe River in Xinye
area and near Fancheng, rendezvous with the 13th Division to cut off the retreat route of the main force of the Fifth Theater to the north; order the 13th Division (attached to the 4 infantry brigades of the 15th Division, 3 infantry brigades of the 22nd Division, 1
Geshan Artillery Battalion) marched north along the east bank of the Han River west of Dahong Mountain, encircled the main force of the Fifth War Zone in the Fancheng area, and fought in coordination with the 3rd Division; ordered the 16th Division (three infantry brigades attached to the 6th Division)
, 1 mountain artillery brigade) deployed in front of Suixian County. After the two wing divisions formed an encirclement, they attacked Zaoyang from the center and coordinated with the 3rd and 13th Divisions to annihilate the 11th Group Army in the fifth theater in the encirclement. In order to contain
To confuse the Chinese ** team, the divisions in the south of the Yangtze River launched an attack on the Chinese ** team in front of them before the attack began; when fighting in the Zaoyang area, they publicized that they would return to their original defense after the battle, so that the Chinese ** team could relax their
Preparations for the second phase of the operation; and creating false orders and deliberately missing them. The attack is scheduled to start on May 1.
The planned deployment of troops in the second phase is: the 3rd Division will cross the river near the bend of the Han River between Xiangyang and Yicheng, and advance towards Dangyang to cut off the retreat route of the Chinese Army; the 16th Division will cross the river near Yicheng
, entered Jingmen; the 13th Division crossed the river near Shayang Town, entered and exited through Shilipu to the vicinity of Herong, and then waited for an opportunity to capture Yichang.
The deployment of the Japanese troops has been decided, and the Chinese troops have also made deployments.
In March, the Supreme Command learned through the intelligence department that the Japanese 11th Army was planning to launch a large-scale attack from Xinyang and Wuhan to northwest Hubei, and immediately instructed the Fifth Theater to prepare for the battle.
On April 10, on the day when the Japanese base camp approved the Tenth Army's Zaoyi battle plan, Chiang Kai-shek sent a special telegram to Li Zongren, instructing the fifth theater: "If the enemy invades Shayi, prepare for deployment immediately.
Prepare to preemptively attack the enemy... The fifth war zone should take advantage of the enemy's invasion of the desert. It is advisable to conduct a preemptive attack before the attempt becomes obvious. The main forces of Tang Enbo and Wang Zuanxu will be sent from the areas on both sides of Dahong Mountain to Jing (Mountain) Zhong.
The enemy attacked from (Xiang), Han (Yang) Yi (Cheng) Road, and assisted from Xiang (Yang) Hua (Yuan) Road, southern Henan and eastern Hubei to coordinate the operation and defeat the enemy's attempt to invade the west. The attack began
To determine the timing, the combat zone will closely monitor the enemy's situation and decisively carry out the attack at the appropriate time, but all preparations for the attack must be completed by the end of mid-April."
Unfortunately, the Military Commission misjudged the Japanese army's intentions. Chiang Kai-shek believed that the Japanese army's purpose was not to occupy Yichang, Xiang, and Fan, but to find and annihilate the main force of the Fifth Theater in Zaoyang, east of the Xiang River, and then withdraw immediately.
, restored the pre-war situation, just like the Battle of Suizhao a year ago.
This is so wrong!
Based on this judgment, Chiang Kai-shek called Li Zongren and others again on April 17, further stating: "First, our army should attack the enemy before it invades. Tang Enbo's troops used a very small number of troops, divided into units, to still attack Xiang
Facing the enemy's feint and reconnaissance at Hualu Front, the other main forces set off from the current location and quickly took a shortcut to the gap area between Pingjing Pass and Wusheng Pass, and then headed south from this area, that is (toward) Guangshui, Yingshan
Or Huayuan, Anlu's enemy attack... press and threaten the enemy's rear base at Hankou, and cut off the communication lines behind it. Then use Tangbu's main force to find the direction in which the enemy's main force is advancing, and strike at its flanks.
If our army reaches the vicinity of Wusheng Pass, but the enemy is still fighting us in Yingshan, Huayuan or Wusheng Pass area, our army will take active actions to make a quick decision. After attacking the enemy (but it does not have to be a real decisive battle)
, that is, advance to the northeast and southeast east of Pinghan Road, and then monitor the enemy forces in the southern section of Pinghan Road in Lishan, Huang'an, Macheng, and Jingfu areas to prevent them from actively attacking westward. This is the first step.
Secondly, if the enemy invades the west this time, their purpose is not to seize Yichang, Xiang, and Fan, but to attack our army so that it can retreat safely. This is an inevitable trend. Even if
If one of their troops attacks to the west of the Xiang River, they will have to feint. Therefore, our army may as well withdraw one of its strongest troops from the west of the Xiang River and the Jiang defense troops, and the second army (Mo Shujie or Zhang Zizhong's troops) quickly move to the vicinity of Dahong Mountain to lurk.
Waiting for the task of Tang Enbo's department, be on standby, waiting for the enemy's westward advance or eastward retreat to intercept it... Third, if each unit is equipped as usual, waiting for the enemy to attack, or until the enemy's safe retreat, this
It is the most stupid and hopeless thing. If one and two are implemented, all units should move immediately, with speed and secrecy as the most important..."
This telegram clearly requested that the Fifth Theater should not wait passively for the enemy, but should take active actions to gain the upper hand, harass the Japanese army's rear, contain and disrupt the Japanese army's westward advance; and place the main force in the area from the east of Xianghe River to Dahongshan,
Waiting for an opportunity to annihilate the main force of the Japanese army advancing westward or retreating eastward. This is also the campaign guideline of the Chinese ** team.
According to the instructions of the Military Commission, the Fifth War Zone formulated a combat plan, determined to use one force to occupy a wide front, advance to the rear of the Japanese army in separate routes, and actively carry out harassment attacks. The main force should be controlled in the rear, and the camera could preemptively strike east of Zaoyang or Jing (gate).
A decisive battle with the Japanese army in the area south of Dang (Yang). The specific deployment is: Jiang Defense Army Commander Guo Chan commands the 26th, 75th, 94th Army, 128th Division and the 6th and 7th Guerrilla Column, relying on the Xianghe River and Dongjing River
The right bank position tried its best to prevent the Japanese army from crossing the river and consume the Japanese troops. Together with the Right Group, they fought a decisive battle with the Japanese army in the southeastern area of ​​​​Jingdang. The commander-in-chief of the Right Group Zhang Zizhong commanded the 29th Group Army, the 33rd Group Army, and the 55th Army to hold on with one unit.
Positions on both sides of the Xianghe River were consolidated at the pass crossings on the south side of Dahong Mountain, and the main force was controlled north of Changshoudian, waiting for opportunities to defeat the invading Japanese troops. Huang Qixiang, commander-in-chief of the Central Group, commanded the 11th Group Army, the 45th Army, the 127th Division and the 1st Guerrilla Column.
, to block the Japanese army from Gaocheng to the west of Suixian County; as a last resort, they moved to Tang County and Huantan, and cooperated with the reserve corps to encircle the Japanese army from both wings and defeat the Japanese army. Sun Lianzhong, commander-in-chief of the Left Group Army, commanded the 2nd Group Army and the Eastern Hubei guerrillas.
Conduct a diversionary attack on Xinyang and prepare to fight with powerful troops on Xianghua Road. Tang Enbo, commander-in-chief of the mobile corps, commands the 31st Group Army, which is assembled in the northeastern area of ​​Zaoyang and is on standby. Sun Zhen, commander-in-chief of the reserve corps, commands the 22nd Group Army, which is temporarily located in Shuangzhou.
The command post of Li Pinxian, commander-in-chief of the 21st Group Army and the Dabie Mountain Guerrilla Army, attacked the Japanese strongholds and communication lines along the river, and used powerful troops to attack the southern section of Pinghan Road, threatening the Japanese rear.
It can be seen from this deployment that the Fifth Theater Zone has laid out a big pocket, preparing to put the Japanese troops in, and then cut off their retreat, so as to catch turtles in an urn.
The fifth theater was adjusting its deployment, and Sonobe and Ichiro moved to the ninth theater first. For a moment, even Chiang Kai-shek was confused, which song was the Japanese army singing?
Dear book friends: When the war begins, we need to explain things clearly. The poor mountain people have no choice but to act as copycats and make mistakes. I’m sorry for everyone. This may be a rare part of the book that makes mistakes. Don’t scold me for copying.
Never again!
Chapter completed!