After a long battle, it is not only fatigue, but also the more dangerous casualty rate. According to the potential of the soldiers in the ground, the embers have been tapped, and the reserve soldiers have been unable to solve the problem. Now, almost none of the frontline divisions is full, and the casualty rate among each division The strength of the top division has dropped to less than half of its pre-war strength, and the remaining divisions have also suffered considerable attrition.
Excluding the casualties in the battle, the overall strength of the army has dropped to less than 60% of the previous level. The battle-damaged tanks of the two armored brigades cannot be supplemented. Even the tanks that have not been damaged in battle, after long-term and intensive use, the mechanical and The structure is also severely worn, and its assault capability has been severely reduced.
In addition to the loss of equipment, the biggest impact on the armored brigade is fuel and ammunition, mainly the replenishment of the 45mm shells used by tank guns. Ordinary anti-personnel explosive shells can be produced by the Anti-Japanese Alliance on their own, and replenishment is not difficult. Now most What is lacking is the 45mm armor-piercing bullets that the Anti-Japanese Alliance cannot produce on its own.
At present, the Anti-Japanese Alliance can only produce capped armor-piercing projectiles by itself. Due to the lack of effective steel and substandard workmanship, it is still unable to produce steel-core armor-piercing projectiles with qualified quality. Moreover, even if it manufactures relatively simple capped armor-piercing projectiles, the current yield rate is low. It is also quite low. The troops currently use armor-piercing bullets imported from the Soviet Union.
Now that the source of imports has been cut off, and the self-produced quantity cannot meet the demand, it is quite difficult to replenish the most urgently needed armor-piercing ammunition for tanks. Wang Guangyu's unit in Linxi was engaged in a fierce battle with two Japanese divisions and two tank regiments in the front. , only limited armor-piercing shells can be concentrated on some tanks.
The same troops that are suffering from heavy casualties and are in urgent need of replenishment have been unable to be replenished due to the lack of follow-up troops and lack of replenishment of troops. Since the start of the entire battle, except for the Linxi and Xinjing battlefields, almost no troops have been replenished in other directions. Well, if this situation continues for a long time, it will be very detrimental to the future development of the Anti-League.
The loss of veterans is too great, which will affect the future development and growth of the army. Without the veterans used as the backbone, even if the army is replenished, it will be difficult to form or restore combat effectiveness. Judging from the current fatigue and casualty figures of the army, It can be said that it is quite unwise to continue the attack. You want to bleed the Japanese blood instead of draining your own blood first.
From all aspects, what the troops urgently need now is to rest and recuperate, rather than continue to expand the results of the war. One bite will not make you fat, so it is better to be more cautious. Only by digesting what has been eaten in the stomach can you free up more appetite for food. Prepare for the next meal.
At present, Chen Hanzhang's troops have seized the Tongliao and Kailu front lines, completely closing the door to the battlefield in Western Manchuria. As long as Chen Hanzhang's troops are firmly stuck in the Tongliao area, the Japanese army will not be able to pose a threat to the Western Manchuria area. And Ma Chunsheng's troops have returned to their positions in a roundabout way. , formed an iron triangle with Wang Guangyu of Linxi and Chen Hanzhang of Tongliao.
Judging from the current situation of the enemy and our armies on the entire battlefield, as well as the current status of the troops, it is now time to stop attacking and switch to full-line defense. One force is extremely tired. Although its attack power is still there, it has dropped to a dangerous level. With the troops at such a disadvantage, it would be extremely dangerous to continue the offensive.
The most important thing is that Yang Zhen does not want the Japanese to shed too much blood at this time and affect their original plan to go south. Even if it is to reduce the pressure that the United States and Britain may encounter in the future, he does not want to do it at all. , if the Japanese do not put enough pressure on the Americans on the battlefield, then how can they execute their own plans?
Looking at the telegram from Chen Hanzhang in his hand requesting to continue the attack, Guo Bingxun hesitated for a moment, and then said: "No. 1, should you explain to them that Wang Guangyu and Chen Hanzhang are, after all, the main front-line military commanders. If this trick is not If you turn it around, I'm afraid there will be some bad effects."
Regarding Guo Bingxun's suggestion to explain, Yang Zhen shook his head and said: "Don't explain anymore, just send him the latest changes in the enemy situation. From Chen Hanzhang's perspective, if you still can't see the importance of Tongliao and Kailu, The reason why the headquarters asked him to switch to defense on the spot, then it must be that I misjudged the person."
Having said this, Yang Zhen thought for a moment and then said: "Tell Ma Chunsheng that if the Eighteenth Division begins to retreat, let him immediately get rid of the Japanese army in front of him, immediately withdraw across the Xiliao River to join Chen Hanzhang's troops, and order Du Kaishan Headquarters, if the 18th Division begins to retreat, immediately launch a follow-up pursuit and flanking pursuit."
"In its roundabout pursuit on the flanks, we must pay attention to the combat method and do not overtake the pursuit. As long as the 18th Division is not allowed to retreat to the direction of Xinjing, and it can be diverted to attack Chen Hanzhang's back, and during the pursuit, We must ensure the pursuit distance and do not act rashly to avoid being ambushed by the Japanese army."
After Yang Zhen's words fell, Guo Bingxun, who immediately understood his intention, looked at Yang Zhen without any surprise and said: "No. 1, you are determined to terminate this battle. You know, if Ma Chunsheng withdraws across the Xiliao River To join forces with Chen Hanzhang would be to give the Eighteenth Division a retreat route."
Although Guo Bingxun was not surprised, he still had some uncertain questions. Yang Zhen smiled bitterly and nodded: "Now, it's not that the Kwantung Army can't fight anymore, it's that we are really unsustainable now, Lao Guo, If circumstances permit, if we do not terminate the operation, I am afraid that our logistics system will collapse."
"Moreover, we have already used our troops to the extreme. If the Japanese army mobilizes new divisions from Guannan or North Korea to join the war, we will no longer have the strength to fight against them. Lao Guo, according to the current situation on the battlefield, our army's first phase of operations The goal has been achieved, but if we continue, we will be biting off more than we can chew."
"We cannot consume all our strength in the first phase of the battle, but also hoard our strength to prepare for the second phase of the battle. Compared with the first phase of the battle, which can only be said to have opened the door to the inner pass, the second phase of the battle Combat is our real focus, and now that the portal has been opened, it’s time for us to stabilize."
"Not only should Chen Hanzhang's troops move to on-site defense to ensure that the strategic location of Tongliao is firmly in our hands, Wang Guangyu's troops on the Linxi battlefield will also have to switch to local defense if the two Japanese divisions retreat in front of them. Entering defensive operations, Yang Jicai's sneak attack knocked out Hisao Tani's Sixth Army headquarters and forced the retreat of two Japanese divisions in front of the Linxi battlefield."
"In addition, the news that the Seventh Division has been defeated must no longer be concealed. It has lost its command structure and flank protection. Tongliao and Kailu have been seized by our army. These two divisions have now been It's like hanging alone on the Linxi battlefield."
"I'm afraid that these two Japanese divisions, which were originally not active in the offensive, will completely stop, and the possibility of their active evacuation will be quite high. Now Wang Guangyu has transferred the main force of his armored brigade to the southeast of Alukorqin Banner , I’m afraid his patience is running out.”
"Although Chen Hanzhang was nearly a month late, he finally captured Tongliao and Kailu. His flanks no longer pose any threat. This guy is going to take action now, but now he has been disabled for two days. The military division is not very beneficial to us in terms of overall strategy."
"Eating two divisions in one go. With Chen Hanzhang immobilized, Wang Guangyu didn't have such a big appetite. Even if he was disabled, it would have a certain effect tactically, but it would not be very useful to us strategically. There are many benefits." At this point, the word "benefit" in Yang Zhen's mouth was very serious.
"But the Wengniute Left Banner must be captured, otherwise our defense line can only retreat to Linxi, Bahrain Right Banner, Aruhorqin Banner, and the Kailu and Tongliao lines, which are the two strategic support points of this defense line. Linxi and Tongliao are at a disadvantage, and our army is insufficient in depth in Western Manchuria."
"There will be no defense depth, and the support point of the western defense line will be in Linxi. First, the terrain and I ordered Wang Guangyu's troops. If the Japanese army retreats in front of them, they must be calmer when pursuing. His troops will follow up and recover. After the Wengniute Left Banner, we immediately shifted to defense and rest on the spot."
"Tell Wang Guangyu that his defense line after switching to defense starts along the mountainous area at the junction of Chifeng North and Wengniute Banner, and extends to the Eight Immortals Cave in Naiman Banner. For Chen Hanzhang, it starts from the Eight Immortals Cave and passes through Horqin From the left rear flag to the west bank of the Liao River, if the war situation develops as we expect, Ma Chunsheng's troops will form an overall defense line with Wang Xiaoming's troops along the line from Shuangliao, west of Changling to Nong'an."
Now that he has made up his mind, Yang Zhen did not hide it and expressed all his determination. When he said this sentence that did not have much strategic benefit, Guo Bingxun couldn't help but frown. Who is Guo Bingxun? Strategically speaking, This sentence, which does not have much merit, will not be understood by those there.
Guo Bingxun knew very well that Yang Zhen's strategic situation was definitely not talking about the Northeastern battlefield, let alone the Chinese battlefield. His strategy was referring to Southeast Asia further south, where the Japanese army was still increasing its troops. I am afraid that his current strategic vision was not Not inside, but outside.
What Yang Zhen means is that the losses caused to the Japanese army now are too great, which will affect the Japanese army's troop investment when it goes south to fight in Southeast Asia in the future. If the Japanese army does not invest enough troops in the Southeast Asian battlefield in the future, it will make the Americans and British suffer in the future. Be more generous during the year.
Manchuria and Mongolia have always been considered by the Japanese to be Japan's lifeline and a huge resource source and military production base for Japan to maintain the war. Regardless of the fact that the Japanese are now in urgent need of oil, rubber, and other resources that are not available in the Chinese-occupied areas. But once the situation in the Northeast becomes critical, their first priority is to ensure the Northeast.
If the Japanese army transfers a considerable part of its troops preparing to go south to the Northeast, or transfers part of the Chinese dispatched troops in the pass to fight in the Northeast, this is not good news for the Anti-Japanese Alliance. There is no strong defense industry and complete modernization. The current overall strength of the industrially supported Anti-Japanese Alliance is far from comparable to that of Japan.
Once the Japanese army makes up its mind to choose to resolve the Northeast issue with all its strength, it is still unbearable for the Anti-Japanese Alliance. Since most of the goals at the beginning of the campaign have been achieved, and since the second phase of the battle has been decided to be postponed, then It is still the right choice to temporarily stop the offensive now.
Especially as the Anti-Japanese Alliance's current logistics are facing too much pressure, suspending the offensive is already on the verge of collapse, and switching to defensive operations is also a helpless choice. Guo Bingxun, who once studied in France, clearly knows that the more mechanized the army, The reliance on logistics will also be greater.
Moreover, now that the supply line has stretched to the limit that the Anti-Japanese Alliance can bear, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to support as the war situation progresses, it is also time to stop and take a rest. Therefore, at this point in terminating the offensive, Guo Bingxun It’s no different from Yang Zhen’s idea,