In late April 1942, the confrontation between China and Japan in China seemed to have come to an end.
Although the China Expeditionary Force has added six garrison divisions, the garrison divisions are based on independent mixed brigades in China, supplemented by a large number of recruits. They are mainly used in rear security operations and have not shown obvious effects.
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On the other hand, as the elite divisions of the Japanese army were constantly transferred into the Southern Army's combat sequence, the pressure on the national army on the frontal battlefield was greatly reduced, and the two sides seemed to have reached some tacit understanding.
The Japanese army did not take the initiative to attack, and the Chinese army did not launch a counterattack. Both sides took advantage of this rare opportunity to recuperate and prepare for war.
On the other hand, the Eighth Route Army in North China mainly focused on digesting the newly opened base areas. At the same time, due to the disaster in the base areas, it was unable to forge ahead.
After the formation of two garrison divisions in North China, the North China Front Army also made adjustments to its troop deployment.
The 69th Division was established in Linfen based on the 16th Independent Composite Brigade. Considering that its combat effectiveness was insufficient and unable to cope with the complex and changeable conditions on the southern front, Ishihara Kanji immediately transferred the 69th Division to Peking for army reorganization training.
The Ninth Independent Mixed Brigade, which was originally stationed around Peiping, was transferred to Linfen.
At the same time, the Fenxi Thirty-sixth Division added two supplementary brigades, the Shimen 110th Division added four supplementary brigades, and the Zhengtai Line Independent Fourth Mixed Brigade added two supplementary brigades.
The 59th Division was established in Jinan based on the independent fifth mixed brigade and continued to be responsible for the defense around Jinan. At the same time, two supplementary brigades were added to the 32nd Division.
After Ishihara Kanji took office, he immediately made a decision in line with his style. He targeted the 108th Division and the 41st Division, which had relatively intact strength during the sweep, and ordered the two divisions to deploy three from each.
Elite infantry brigade.
Two of the infantry brigades were supplemented to the First Independent Mixed Brigade stationed in Anyang, and four infantry brigades were supplemented to the division-controlled areas of the 35th Division along the Xinxiang and Kaifeng lines.
It is unknown how Shimomoto Yaxiong reacted, but according to reports from personnel assigned to the 41st Division, Terauchi Isamu slammed the table during the meeting.
Isamu Terauchi never expected that Kanji Ishihara had just taken office, and would allocate the supplementary forces from the base camp to the First Army and the Twelfth Army, and then chop the knife on the outstanding 41st Division, as a division directly under the dispatched army.
The group, not to mention not getting the slightest benefit, actually needed to draw blood.
However, despite the order issued by the North China Expeditionary Army Headquarters, Terauchi Isamu received the same reply privately from Tanabe Moritake.
As a military leader, how could Isamu Terauchi swallow such a sigh of relief? He secretly held an officer meeting, mainly composed of people from Osaka and supplemented by people from other areas. In addition to the Japanese troops from the 41st Division, many participants from the 108th Division were present at the meeting.
Japanese military officer.
As the leader of the group, Isamu Terauchi called on the group members to actively respond to the orders from the top, take the initiative to apply to bring "elite soldiers" south to support the friendly forces, and actively develop the territory and expand the business.
It is unknown what the combat capabilities of these "elite soldiers" are, after all, serving in combat missions is just a side job.
In a secret camp outside Handan City, many Japanese military officers gathered, each holding a pamphlet in their hands.
"The previous group was too scattered, and there was even a phenomenon of people competing for development territory, which allowed the Eighth Route Army to take the opportunity to lower prices. This phenomenon is unacceptable. We must unite and have a consistent goal!"
Isamu Terauchi said with great sadness. This expression made him feel more uncomfortable than Kanji Ishihara drawing blood from the 41st Division. The officers present also nodded frequently, expressing deep agreement that they had indeed suffered this loss before.
But there was no way to explain it clearly, so we could only continue to communicate with the Eighth Route Army alone, which led to the Eighth Route Army occupying a dominant position in the seller's market.
"In the next period of time, I will establish a more formal organization with a strict organizational structure and a guiding program!"
"You must carry the booklet in your hands with you and study it all the time. Comrades and colleagues, only in this way can we become bigger and stronger!"
Although Terauchi Isamu was short, his voice was unusually loud, and his face was unusually flushed. He was obviously in a state of extreme excitement.
The Japanese officers present were all confidant members of the group, and they all looked at Isamu Terauchi's speech with admiration, not realizing that the content of the speech seemed to be off track.
On the other hand, the Eighth Route Army was also adjusting its military strength as the Japanese army was adjusting its strength.
Due to the expansion of the base area, the Eighth Route Army's troops can no longer change locations as frequently as before.
"Boss, although the results are gratifying, the problems caused are not small, especially the problems in the Taibei and Southern Hebei military regions!"
"The current situation is that the peripheral base areas are too close to the Japanese transportation lines. If the troops are dispersed and stationed as before, it will cause the troops to be too dispersed. Once the Japanese army makes a move and we are not allowed to react, they will break through the peripheral base areas!"
Chief of Staff Teng said.
The boss nodded after hearing this: "Then what do you think?"
"Comrades in the staff office have repeatedly deduced that the two military regions should concentrate their main forces in the areas bordering the enemy like the troops in the Tainan Military Region, forming a long-term confrontation situation. The base areas in the hinterland should mainly consist of elite troops and local armed forces.
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"The Taibei Military Region can deploy its main force south of the Zhengtai Line and north of Xiyang and Zanhuang counties. Relying on the mountains, it can build fortifications to form a tight defense line!"
"The main force of the Southern Hebei Military Region needs to be divided into two parts. One part is deployed south of the Shide Line, Xinhe, Jixian County, and north of Zaoqiang City. The other part is deployed along the Fuyang River west of Julu.
, guard against the Japanese troops on the Pinghan-Han line!"
"The defense line that needs to be deployed in the Southern Hebei Military Region is too long, but the corresponding main forces are gathered on the front line. Even if the Japanese army attacks the base area, the front line troops can directly support each other. It is faster than dispatching troops from the rear!"
After Chief of Staff Teng finished speaking, he waited for the boss's opinion: "The method is feasible, but it requires too much manpower and material resources. But in this way, the base areas in the rear can develop with peace of mind!"
"That's right. Now, whether it's our Taihang or Jinan base areas, there are cement factories, wood processing plants, and mines. People have also freed up their hands from spring plowing and just mobilize manpower and material resources!" Chief of Staff Teng said.
"Just do it like this. The General Staff Office will send out guidance personnel, but the two military regions of Taibei and Southern Hebei will be needed, depending on the actual situation!"