Northeastern Jiangxi is a hilly terrain with medium and low mountains, and the terrain is relatively complex. The Huaiyu Mountains originate from Yushan, Jiangxi, and the junction of Dexing and Kaihua, Zhejiang. They run northeast and southwest, stretching for more than a hundred kilometers and disappearing into the Panyang Plain, forming a A natural barrier firmly protects Shangrao and Yingtan in the middle.
Because of the existence of the Huaiyu Mountains, if the Japanese army wanted to capture Shangrao and Yingtan, the best option would have been to attack Shangrao directly from Yushan. After occupying Shangrao, they could then move to Yingtan. However, the Xuexi Army's artillery was sharp and the Japanese army's strength advantage was relatively flat. Not only did the Tamayama area not become an advantage, but it was suspected of committing suicide in vain. In addition, due to the factors of the 11th Army, Shunroku Hata and Kenro Furusou chose Dexing and Leping as their main breakthrough directions.
After a week of fierce fighting, Ye Zhao asked his men to slowly withdraw from Dexing and Leping cities according to the development of the situation, and changed the town defensive battle to field position battle. In the direction of Dexing, according to the trend of the Huaiyu Mountains, he learned from the Tenth Brigade and the Eleventh Brigade. The 204th Brigade Regiment guards Jietian and Rao'er, which are 12 kilometers and 15 kilometers away from Dexing respectively. The two lines of defense are only about five kilometers apart. The two lines of defense echo each other. They can not only provide support at critical moments, but also outflank the sudden advance at any time. The Japanese Army, the 5th Army was responsible for the Dexing direction was the 18th Division. This division had a confrontation with the Xuebing Army during the Battle of Nanjing, and suffered heavy losses. It is for this reason that the 18th Division The commander of the regiment, Sadao Nakajima, had been in this position for two consecutive years and could not be promoted, so he was particularly hostile to the cadet army. The so-called enemies were extremely jealous when they met. Therefore, Sadao Nakajima was not stingy about sacrifices as soon as he came up. Several large-scale offensives were organized, but they were all repelled by Xiang Ke, commander of the 10th Academic Brigade. Of course, it was inevitable that the casualties of the 10th Academic Brigade would far exceed those of the 13th Academic Brigade.
In the direction of Leping, the 13th Xuexue Brigade built a defense line between Zhutian Township and Huitian Township, five kilometers northeast of Wannian County. It used one brigade and one artillery regiment to shoulder the 101st Division under the 5th Army, and fought a fierce battle. On the following week, the Japanese troops were sniped in the southern suburbs of Leping County and were unable to advance southward.
When the Xuebing Army was preparing for a New Year's counterattack, as early as that morning, at the headquarters of the 5th Army in Quzhou, Shunroku Hata and the commander of the 5th Army, Furuzo Chiro, Chief of Staff Qin Yashang and the 16th Division Division Commander Fujie Keisuke, Division Commander Miura Saburo of the 114th Division and others were sitting around to discuss the so-called New Year's Offensive.
"Tonight, we are going to give His Majesty the Emperor a New Year's gift." Shunroku Hata said first with burning eyes,
Guzhuang Qianlang: "The Chinese people sleep on the ice and don't know whether it's hot or cold. At this time, they are still making dumplings on the battlefield. Gentlemen, don't you think this is a challenge to the dignity of our imperial army?"
The reason why Guzhuang knew this was from Sadao Nakajima's report, because the Xuebing Army was indeed a bit unscrupulous in the process of preparing dumplings. The aroma of chives and meat was wafting around, and Nakajima's scouts only had to twitch their noses twice. It is not difficult to find this if you use your brain again. When Nakajima received the report, his first reaction was that this was an opportunity for a sneak attack. He reported this situation to Guzhuang just to explain the reasons for launching an offensive tonight. ,
Fujie Keisuke narrowed his eyes. As one of the 17 standing divisions of the Japanese army, the 16th Division has its own unique pride. As Tikiro Furushuo said, this behavior of the Xuebing Army is indeed an insult to the Emperor of Japan. He would never tolerate the extreme contempt of the Xue Bing Army. He sneered: "The Xue Bing Army is destroying itself, so what are we waiting for? If we can take advantage of the situation to capture Shangrao and encircle and annihilate the Fourth Xue Division, His Majesty the Emperor will definitely receive this gift." You will like it, gentlemen, let us have a great fight."
Miura Saburo then said: "I think we can unite with the South China Front Army to launch a New Year's offensive. The Chinese New Year customs are much grander than ours. Let's accommodate them and set off a big firework for them. Hehe, Ouyang Yun dares to send a large army Go north to Jiangxi to encircle and annihilate the 11th Army. Why can't we attack thousands of miles and break through in one fell swoop? The 16th Division and our 114th Division have been recuperating for so many days. It's time for us to contribute, but the Chinese are exhausted. ." After saying that, he stood up and looked at Hata Shunroku, bowed slightly and said: "Your Excellency, please let us be the vanguard of this raid."
In Hata Shunroku's plan, if he really wanted to launch a surprise attack tonight, the 16th Division and the 114th Division would definitely be the main force. Seeing that Fujie Keisuke and Miura Saburo were both full of fighting spirit and confident, he Feeling very happy, he waved his hand for Miura Saburo to sit down and said: "I see your loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor. It's very good. Then let's take a closer look at how to ensure this gift to His Majesty the Emperor. It’s enough weight.”
Just after noon, the scouts of the Fourth and Fifth Divisions who were on the front lines, as well as the fox pupils lurking in Quzhou, Yushan, Dexing, and Leping, suddenly discovered that the Japanese rear camps and the frontline military camps suddenly became lively. , the Japanese logistics soldiers carried bags of flour from warehouses and baggage trucks, slaughtered pigs and sheep, and sent them to various military camps and front lines.
This information was quickly summarized in front of Ye Zhao and other frontline commanders. Ye Zhao and others did not know that this was ordered by Hata Shunroku to show it to them. They thought that "the Japanese also celebrate New Year's Eve". Of course, because Ye Zhao He and Ouyang Yun had long thought of launching a New Year's counterattack tonight, so there was no question of letting down their guard. Ye Zhao was learning from Xiang Ke, Commander of the 10th Brigade, Gao Yongxiang, Commander of the 5th Division, and Chang Yongxin, Commander of the 13th Brigade. When talking about this, he joked: "We Chinese people have always been kind, so let's just let the little devil be a dead ghost."
The sky had just turned dark, and an interesting phenomenon appeared. As if trying to show the enemy that they were having a happy New Year's Eve dinner, the forward positions on both sides were brightly lit, and bonfires were lit up one after another. "Boom, boom" is burning, one flare after another rises into the sky, and the aroma of dumplings, udon noodles, and buckwheat noodles mixes in the confrontation between the two armies illuminated by the flares. It doesn't look like a war, but more like a war. As if at a party,
The headquarters of the Second Xue Army is located in a residential building in Beimen Township, Shangrao City. While the soldiers were enjoying the New Year's Eve "big meal", Ye Zhao and political director Lian Guangming each stood at the command with their own personal guards. At the sentry post outside the Ministry, they looked up from time to time to the east and north, where a flare would be launched from time to time, illuminating the night sky over there brightly, even brightly: "Military seat, the Japanese are showing off. It’s very high. Do you have other plans?”
Ye Zhao thought for a while and said slowly: "This possibility is very high. I know a little about the folk customs of the Japanese. New Year's Eve is not a grand festival for them. Since the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese have moved everything westward. Look, we don’t pay much attention to China’s traditional festivals. However, if Shunroku Hata really wants to launch a New Year’s offensive, he will definitely regret this decision. Our New Year’s counterattack is just to induce them to launch a large-scale offensive. I just don’t know where Tie Laowu’s troops are.”
"I'll let Xiao Li and the others get in touch later."
"No, let them take the initiative to contact us. There is a possibility of leaking secrets by telegram, but walkie-talkies are more reliable."