However, Yang Zhen believes that the main target of the Kwantung Army's next operation should still be Chen Hanzhang's troops. The reason is very simple. In addition to the important reason that Chen Hanzhang's troops are now alone and have a considerable space behind them, even if Chen Hanzhang's battle situation is No matter how dangerous the situation is, Wang Guangyu's troops, which have been divided into two parts at this time, cannot be rescued.
And if Wang Guangyu's troops were attacked, if the situation required, Chen Hanzhang's troops could abandon the Tongliao line on the spot, bypass the Cole New Left Center Banner, the Zalut Banner, and the Alukorqin Banner, and directly attack the flanks of the entire Linxi battlefield. At the same time, the advancing army currently fighting in Rehe may, if necessary, abandon its current goal and reinforce the Linxi battlefield via Heshiketeng Banner.
Although Wang Guangyu's unit, which was divided into two parts by the Japanese army, seemed to be the weakest link, that was just a look. In fact, Wang Guangyu, who was fighting alone on the surface, may have received the most reinforcements, but relatively Compared with Wang Guangyu's troops, Chen Hanzhang's troops were actually in a state of isolation.
At that time, Wang Guangyu's troops were divided into two parts and were unable to support themselves. Dukai Mountain in the north was attracted by the 71st Division among the high mountains of the Greater Khingan Mountains. The advancing army currently fighting in Rehe was also Water from afar cannot quench the thirst of the near. Once the Japanese troops divide into two lines from the Kangping line to Horqin's left-wing rear banner, and from the Changtu-line to Horqin's left-wing center flag through Lishu to outflank Chen Hanzhang's two wings, Chen Hanzhang's troops will most likely be surrounded by Japanese troops in Tongliao. to the north.
Although most of Chen Hanzhang's troops are mechanized troops with extremely strong assault capabilities, at least for now, their supply lines are long and fragile. Once the Japanese army passes through Lishu from Changtu and seizes the Horqin left center flag behind them, they will directly Their supply lines can be cut off.
Once the supply line is cut off and the source of oil is lost, the large number of tanks, armored vehicles, and automobiles under Chen Hanzhang's command will become a pile of scrap metal. Without the support of the armored troops, Chen Hanzhang's command will go deep alone and have lost its mobility. Facing a flanking attack from two sides, or even a flanking attack from three sides, it is difficult to predict the outcome of the Japanese army.
Especially in the three directions of the fraternal troops in the north, northeast, and southwest, they were all held back by the Japanese army and unable to quickly reinforce. Chen Hanzhang was really unable to support himself. Under this situation, if the Japanese army comprehensively To launch a counterattack, Chen Hanzhang's troops are definitely their first choice target.
Once Chen Hanzhang's troops are eaten, then the entire Western Manchurian War will be divided into three unrelated battlefields. In other words, the Western Manchurian War initiated by Yang Zhen will be completely destroyed. Failure, and the entire Anti-League will suffer its greatest losses since the reorganization.
However, this goal of the Japanese army is very broad, but there is a prerequisite to achieve it, that is, the remaining troops of the 23rd Division can seize the front line of Sunjiayingzi, complete the division of Wang Guangyu's troops, and Hold back this opponent with nearly 300 tanks.
Otherwise, the 300 tanks under Wang Guangyu's command with air support, plus a strengthened infantry division that has actually been motorized, a cavalry brigade and a large number of artillery, which not only have strong maneuverability, but also have strong assault power, will Let all the hopes of the Japanese army come to naught.
It's just that maybe the Kwantung Army or the 23rd Division no longer has the confidence to fight against the Anti-Alliance Forces whose strength exceeds its own, especially in this kind of forceful attack. That's why they They adopted the tactic of attacking in the east and attacking in the west, and transferred the anti-alliance reserve team deep in Sunjiayingzi's front line in order to create conditions for their own breakthrough.
If Yang Zhen had judged the real intention of the Japanese army to attack the Shishitu front line before, he was not sure whether the target of the Japanese army's comprehensive counterattack was Wang Guangyu or Chen Hanzhang, but now the Japanese army really followed his original judgment and launched an attack on the Sunjiayingzi front line. , then Yang Zhen can be sure that the next target of the Japanese army's comprehensive counterattack will be Chen Hanzhang's troops.
As for Wang Guangyu, it was just a bait they set to contain Wang Guangyu's troops. Making a fortune in silence has always been a common method used by the Japanese army. A biting dog may not bark loudly if it doesn't bark. They are dogs that can bite people. The crazier the Japanese army fights at Sunjiayingzi, the less likely the Japanese army's next main target will be here.
However, I don’t know whether it is the Kwantung Army or the 23rd Division. They don’t have much confidence in their own troops in frontal combat with the Anti-Japanese Alliance, or they are too confident in their own troops’ defensive warfare capabilities. Do they really think that As long as they break through the front line of Sunjiayingzi, they can separate the anti-alliance forces on the Linxi battlefield and hold on until their reinforcements arrive. What else can they do after seizing the frontline of Sunjiayingzi?
And for Yang Zhen, he didn't know whether the Japanese army had this confidence, but he knew clearly that this counterattack on the front line of Sunjiayingzi heralded the Kwantung Army's next plan. The Japanese troops on the front line of Sunjiayingzi now have some doubts about encircling the entire front line and annihilating them.
Are you trying to stabilize and take a look at the development of the situation to expose the Japanese army's intentions? Once the Japanese army on the front line of Sunjiayingzi is eaten up prematurely, will the entire Japanese army's counterattack plan be terminated? Arousing alertness or changes in Japanese military actions in other directions, even if it cannot change the Japanese military's plans, will expose the power they may have been hiding in secret.
Regarding the battle plan sent by Wang Guangyu, Yang Zhen did not immediately reply. He had to think about it again. Moreover, he did not ask Wang Guangyu about the content of the telegram to Wang Ziyang because he knew very well that the content of the telegram to Wang Ziyang should be The content of the second telegram to myself is the same.
Walking to the map, Yang Zhen carefully considered the current overall situation. On the front line of Sunjiayingzi, although the Japanese army dispatched three infantry brigades, as well as some tanks and artillery, with the strength of the frontline defenders of Sunjiayingzi, the Japanese army wanted to It is not possible to occupy the front line of Sunjiayingzi in a short period of time or while marching.
Moreover, while the 23rd Division is counterattacking the Sunjiayingzi front line, it will definitely take precautions against the Twelve Tut front line. The Japanese army is not stupid. Even if they are struggling to death, they will not be unprepared for the flanks and rear. Now What we should do is not to rush to counterattack, but to calm down and be steady to see if the Japanese army has other follow-up actions.
Judging from the usual cautious character of the Japanese army, they would not expect to put all their hopes on the three remaining infantry brigades of the 23rd Division in Linxi when the mechanized forces of the Anti-Japanese Alliance have a clear advantage. They must have other reserve soldiers on their bodies, and the number of troops will definitely not be too small.
It's just that where is their reserve force now? With Wang Guangyu's always steady character, he will not falsely report the results, let alone add water to the results. According to the instructions for the 23rd Division passed before the war, Judging from the actual military strength, Wang Guangyu has actually eaten up 70% of his troops. In Yang Zhen's view, there is absolutely no doubt about this. He believes in his subordinates and even more in Wang Guangyu's character.
In addition to some Japanese troops in the Bahrain Right Banner, the three Japanese infantry brigades on the Sunjiayingzi front line should be their only remaining strength. Without a certain reserve force, the 23rd Division even paid a considerable price to seize the Sunjiayingzi front line. It is also difficult to hold on for a long time under the impact of tanks from three sides.
Thinking of this, Yang Zhen turned his head and said to the combat staff beside him: "Immediately send a report to the headquarters and Wang Guangyu to once again confirm the actual strength and current movements of the Japanese troops in Wengniute Banner, Naiman Banner and Jianping. Well, there are also Kailu and Tongliao, and the focus is on the specific movements of the Japanese troops in the directions of Kangping, Changtu, and Lishu."
"Tell them all the intelligence, all the clues, don't let it go, as long as more than 100 people enter the Shuangjingdian front line or east of it, the Wengniute Left Banner on the south bank of the Xilamulun River Reports have to be sent from the western region, especially the situation in the border areas with Linxi and Hexigten Banner, and they must be clarified to me in the shortest possible time."
After hearing Yang Zhen's order, the staff officer said with some hesitation: "Commander Wang did not reply to his previous telegram and only asked for the information you mentioned. Commander Wang No. 1 is pressing hard. I suggest Should I send them this telegram at the same time and give them a reply first?"
Regarding the staff's questions, Yang Zhen thought for a while and said: "Tell them to calm down first and not to be anxious. They will wait and see how the situation develops before making a decision. Also tell them that the second-line troops on the front line of Sunjiayingzi should not rush to dispatch." , Let’s be stable first. If the reserve force is deployed too early, once the Japanese army has new forces, we will be extremely vulnerable to being passive."
After the confused staff officer who did not understand Yang Zhen's true intention left, Yang Zhen turned his attention back to the map and began to think deeply. According to the enemy annihilation figures reported by Wang Guangyu, the main force of the 23rd Division had been defeated. The three Japanese brigades on the front line of Sunjiayingzi are already the only remaining troops of the 23rd Division apart from the front line of Daban.
At present, the 23rd Division has invested the last few troops on the Sunjiayingzi front line. Does it really not want its flanks and rear? From the 12th Division to the Sunjiayingzi front line, most of the terrain is quite flat. The small number of troops was simply unable to stop the reinforcements coming from Twelve Tu to the front line of Sunjiayingzi.
Now, except for a squadron on the front line of Sunjiayingzi, the main force of his third tank regiment has been completely destroyed. Although Nishihara Kanji may not know much about the battle situation here, he lost radio contact here. You can't guess the outcome of the battle here.
Moreover, the straight line distance between the Twelve Tut Line and Sunjiayingzi was not far away. He would not be unaware that the sound of artillery here had completely subsided. Losing radio contact, plus the sound of artillery here had subsided, if Nishihara Kanji If you can believe that the Japanese army has made a breakthrough here, then it means there is something really wrong.
Then the 23rd Division on the front line of Sunjiayingzi is pressing forward. Are they trying to make an empty city with themselves? Or do they have other arrangements? There are other reserve forces that have not yet been identified. If there are new reserve forces, Where did these new reinforcements come from? When did they arrive? Why haven't we received any information yet?
Yang Zhen is aware of the tactical reconnaissance capabilities of his troops. If Japanese reinforcements secretly arrive at the Linxi battlefield or the Wengniute Banner line behind Linxi, then their troop movements cannot be concealed and there will be no trace. It is impossible to query the movement of large troops. Even if it can be concealed, it is difficult to truly hide its whereabouts.
As long as there are a few clues, with the tactical reconnaissance capabilities of our own troops, we can clearly find out whether they have reinforcements. Now there is no similar information. Is it true that the 23rd Division has not received any reinforcements? But Yang Zhen felt that things were definitely not that simple.