Judging from the deployment of Japanese troops in various areas where the Kwantung Army and the Anti-Japanese Alliance faced off before the war, the various divisions complemented each other in configuration and acted as horns to each other. Although each division did not take the best defensive measures against tank cluster offensives, they did not have large-scale and deep defenses. Defense posture, but its overall defense posture is still interlocking, and the depth of the overall defense has reached dozens of kilometers.
Now the Japanese army's first-line defense is easily torn apart by the attacking troops, but the follow-up battle will probably be very difficult. Yang Zhen is still clear about the Japanese army's ability to adapt to the battlefield. What Yang Zhen is most worried about now is the current tank group assault. The speed is too fast, whether the following infantry can keep up, especially in the face of almost 100% counterattack by the Japanese army, and whether the breakthrough can be maintained.
If the forward position was breached in such a short period of time, the Japanese army would never give up and would inevitably launch an all-out counterattack. Even if they could not push back the breakthrough troops, they would still have to find ways to cut off the connection between the armored group responsible for the main attack and the following infantry.
Once the leading tank group is disconnected from the following infantry group, Yang Zhen can roughly guess what the consequences will be for the armored unit waiting to break in alone, especially in the face of the Japanese army, which is filled with a kind of pressure from top to bottom. For an army that is always going crazy all the time, Yang Zhen knows very well what consequences a lone unit that goes deep into the territory will face if it cannot stabilize the breach and once the previously opened gap is re-closed.
Looking at the general deployment situation of the Japanese army on the map, Yang Zhen shook his head and said to Guo Bingxun beside him: "Old Guo, this last step is a kick, but this is just the beginning. The next battle will really be hard-core, first-line positions. If it is breached, the Japanese army will inevitably counterattack across the board and do everything possible to seal the breach opened by us."
"Looking now, the front-line attack units are progressing smoothly in the first phase, but the overall cooperation of the various units can barely be said to be satisfactory. The armored group attacks quickly. If the follow-up units cannot follow up in time, once the breakthrough is re-sealed by the Japanese army, then An armored cluster waiting for its fuel to run out will be a disaster."
"Moreover, the progress of each department is relatively uneven. Chen Hanzhang's progress was smooth due to the problem of choosing the attack point, but in other directions, after breaking through the Japanese forward positions, the subsequent offensives were desperately blocked by the Japanese. , Since the afternoon, Du Kaishan and Wang Xiaoming’s offensive has begun to gradually slow down.”
"Although Chen Hanzhang has disrupted the overall defense of the 28th Division, in addition to the first division of the 28th Division, there is also the 51st Division that the Japanese army has just deployed on their left. The attention of the First Division has been attracted to create opportunities for Wang Guangyu's operations tomorrow afternoon, and they themselves must also pay attention to the pincer attack by the Japanese army on the east and west fronts."
Speaking of this, Yang Zhen said: "The front line of Qianguo is the key defense area of the Japanese army on the western front, and Fuyu in the east is the gateway to the west of Xinjing. The distance from Fuyu to Xinjing is more than 100 kilometers, and there is almost no danger. Once Guo is lost, the Japanese army will inevitably counterattack with all its strength, so Chen Hanzhang must be prepared to deal with the Japanese counterattack. I think once the Japanese army counterattacks, its scale will probably be unprecedented."
"Compared with Du Kaishan and Wang Xiaoming on the center line, their burden there is the heaviest, and the situation they will face in the follow-up operations is also the most dangerous. They must not only complete their own breakthrough, separate Fuyu, and eliminate the connection between the Japanese army, but also Cooperate with Wang Guangyu's troops to encircle the 51st Division, create the best fighter opportunity for Wang Guangyu's troops to move south, and also be responsible for containing the entire Japanese 28th Division and preventing them from aiding eastward."
"The pressure there is probably the heaviest. The terrain in the north of Qianguo is quite complicated. There are many lakes and swamps. The Songhua River and the Second Songhua River, as well as the lakes and swamps in the north, divide the entire battlefield into three major areas. We also lack effective boat and bridge equipment that can quickly cross the river. The limited pontoon bridge alone has limited ability to cross the river, making the battle line extremely messy."
"Chen Hanzhang originally chose the narrow strip between the east bank of Chaganpao and the Songhua River north of Qianguo as a breakthrough point. Although considering that the terrain there was complex and not suitable for tank group operations, he chose that place as the main breakthrough point to achieve the largest battle. Suddenness.”
"But it is precisely because the terrain there is too complex that the troops cannot deploy as a whole. They are separated from each other due to terrain restrictions, and their ability to support each other is limited. Lao Guo, I am very worried about their follow-up operations. If Nanxing'an The Japanese 51st Division in the area was fully withdrawing eastward. Facing the pincer attack by the two Japanese divisions, Chen Hanzhang was still at a disadvantage in terms of overall military strength in addition to his armor advantage."
"The strategic position of Qianguo is important. If the Japanese army loses in Qianguo, it is bound to counterattack with all its strength. Judging from Chen Hanzhang's current deployment, it is obvious that the west bank of the Second Songhua River is the main battlefield, except for one division on the east bank to block the counterattack of the 28th Division. In addition, the main force is still deployed on the West Bank. Judging from the current deployment of troops, no one can concentrate the advantages of troops and firepower."
"Once the Japanese army on the east coast counterattacks with all its strength, I am very worried about whether one of their divisions can guarantee the safety of their flanks. Moreover, once the Japanese 51st Division abandons its existing defense lines and fully reinforces to the east, it will cooperate with the 28th Division to attack Chen Hanzhang's troops will fight back, and Chen Hanzhang's troops will be in an extremely unfavorable situation. Now it seems that adjusting the deployment is a certainty."
Regarding Yang Zhen's worries, Guo Bingxun nodded and said: "I thought so too. The original plan for Chen Hanzhang's operations was mainly to the west. It only played a coordinating role for Du Kaishan's troops on the front battlefield and Wang Xiaoming's troops on the Wuchang front line. , according to our plan, the deployment of the forces of these three departments should complement each other."
"But judging from the battle situation so far since the early morning attack, Du Kaishan and Wang Xiaoming encountered stubborn resistance from the Japanese army when they broke through the Japanese front-line positions and then advanced deeper into the Japanese army. From the current point of view, the progress is extremely unsatisfactory. If everything goes well, if the current situation continues, Chen Hanzhang is likely to form a lone army to go deep."
"Judging from the current situation, if the former Gorros Front Banner is captured by our army, the 51st Division on the Western Front will form an isolated situation. The Kwantung Army will never be in any position under the current situation. Since one division has been separated by our army, the 51st Division will inevitably be ordered to withdraw eastward with all its strength and join the central battlefield."
"You are right. Once the 51st Division withdraws eastward with all its strength, it will form a flanking attack on Chen Hanzhang's troops on the front line of Guo. Judging from Chen Hanzhang's current strength, the 51st Division may move eastward at any time. Under the premise of withdrawing, the second part of the battle plan was completed, and there was obviously a shortage of troops.
"No. 1, now for us, we have two options to change this situation. One is to order Wang Guangyu's troops to launch an attack in advance. In addition to using the main force from the Buhat Banner and Xizhagar Banner to the Horqin Right Front Banner, At the same time as the attack is launched, a division of troops will forcibly penetrate Yao'an from the front line of Jingxing and Zhalaite Banners."
"Seize the Yao'an line as quickly as possible, completely cut off the connection between the 51st Division and the 28th Division, and cut off the 51st Division's eastward retreat route before the 51st Division retreats. , at the same time, mobilize at least two regiments from the reserve to strengthen the front line of Guo, change the original plan, turn Chen Hanzhang's troops to the west, and work with Wang Guangyu's troops to encircle and annihilate the 51st Division."
"Or Chen Hanzhang's troops can be transferred eastward, forcibly cross the Second Songhua River eastward to join the battlefield in Fuyu, develop deep into Fuyu with the second division, and deploy the third division in Qian'an to block the 51st Division's possible eastward reinforcements and protect them. Chen Hanzhang's side and rear direction, and cooperate with Wang Guangyu's troops."
"But in this way, Wang Guangyu's move south will be held back by the 51st Division. Judging from the combat effectiveness of the Japanese army, before the Kanai troops launch an attack on the 15th, it is impossible for us to carry out the 51st Division under any circumstances. Encircling and annihilating a division and trapping them with part of our troops will involve a huge amount of our troops and will result in insufficient troops for us to put into the battlefield later."
"But there is also an advantage in doing this, that is, the troops of the 23rd Division will be attracted by our army. Once the 51st Division tends to be surrounded by our army, the Kwantung Army will never sit idly by and ignore it. The western front is divided into two parts by our army, and with the strength of the central line being ensured, the 23rd Division currently stationed on the Linxi front line has become the only force they can mobilize."
"Once the 23rd Division goes north to reinforce the 51st Division, this will be conducive to the deployment of the Kwantung Army troops. The 24th Division of the Kwantung Army originally stationed in Rehe has been transferred away, and there will be only The next Jehol independent garrison will undoubtedly greatly benefit the operations of the customs forces."
"I think with the troops currently concentrated in the pass and heading north, plus the heavy firepower we already have, after the main force of the 23rd Division is attracted by us to go north, we will still be able to deal with the Japanese independent garrison and part of the puppet Manchukuo army. There’s no big problem.”
"Second, we will allocate no less than one division of troops to Chen Hanzhang from the reserve force, move them to the Qian'an line as quickly as possible, and engage in battle on his left flank. First, we will ensure that Chen Hanzhang's left defense line has one division of troops. strength to ensure the safety of the rear route for the armored group’s follow-up assault, and secondly, to ensure sufficient strength to resist the Japanese army’s follow-up counterattack.”
"After all, according to the requirements of the original combat plan, it is impossible for Chen Hanzhang's troops to stay in Qianguo to block the Japanese counterattack. Otherwise, we will lose the significance of our original large-scale use of tanks to break through quickly. But if the third division is left behind , the strength of the troops heading south is insufficient to rely solely on one armored brigade and one cavalry brigade."
"And if the Third Division goes south along with it, not only will the Second Division on the east bank of the Songhua River be attacked from both sides, but Chen Hanzhang will not have any troops behind him. If the Japanese army turns around, the southward troops commanded by Chen Hanzhang will most likely be surrounded by the Japanese army. "
"No. 1, if Chen Hanzhang only relies on the current strength of his troops, if they want to continue the assault in the southwest and cut off the connection between the 23rd Division and the 51st Division, and also want to ensure the safety of the breakthrough behind them, they now have The strength of the troops seems to be somewhat insufficient. I wonder if one of the Eighteenth Division or the Sixth Division should be transferred from Du Kaishan and strengthened to the Qian'an line."