At nightfall, the senior staff of the General Staff Department came up with a rough outline for the implementation of the Xuzhou Battle, including the combat missions of each group army in the theater. Most of the main forces will be gathered near Xuzhou, along the Jinpu Railway.
The Weitai Highway and Canal were on the offensive heading north, while a small number of troops were stationed at the Huaihe River defense line and on the defensive.
Chairman Jiang was extremely satisfied after seeing it, but suddenly he seemed to remember something. He turned around and asked General Li: "De Neighbor, why hasn't Zhongshu come back yet?"
After attending the military meeting in the morning, Yue Weihan left on the pretext that something happened at the brigade headquarters.
Admiral Li hurriedly said: "Commissioner, Zhongshu is probably busy counting the results of the war. This Hanzhuang victory, the Baoshan Brigade captured a lot of money. I heard that there were more than thirty 75 field guns alone, but it was a pity that the shells were
It’s not too much. We won’t be able to make artillery shells for the Japs at once, otherwise it would be enough to form an artillery regiment.”
"Statistical results?" Chairman Jiang frowned and said, "No need to count, let him come over immediately."
"Yes." General Li did not dare to neglect, and urgently ordered the chief of staff, General Xu Zuyi, to arrange a special car to pick him up at the Baoshan Brigade Headquarters.
In less than half an hour, Yue Weihan rushed over after a long journey. At this time, Yue Weihan had completely recovered his previous high spirits, and the dejection he had felt not long ago had been completely gone.
"Come on, Zhongshu, come on." Chairman Chiang waved his hands repeatedly, "Come over here."
"Commitment." Yue Weihan strode up to Chairman Chiang Kai-shek, stood upright with a snap.
Chairman Jiang waved his hand and handed Yue Weihan the implementation outline for the Xuzhou Battle that had just been drawn up by the Theater Staff Headquarters. He said, "Loyalty, this is the implementation outline for the Xuzhou Battle that has just been drawn up by the Theater Staff Headquarters. Take a look at it first, and then
Think about it again, are there any details that need to be modified or added?"
The senior party and state generals next to them all changed their expressions, and the senior staff members of the theater staff even looked dissatisfied.
It's no wonder that in terms of military rank, Yue Weihan is just a small major general. In terms of qualifications, most of the people present are from the fourth, third, or even first and second classes of Huangpu, and Yue Weihan is just a student of the tenth class of Huangpu. No matter which direction you look at.
, it seems that it is not the turn of Yue Weihan, a small major general and brigade commander, to give instructions.
Yue Weihan unexpectedly said: "Commissioner, I have important information to report to you alone."
"Oh?" Chairman Chiang's expression moved slightly, and he immediately walked into the small conference room next to the war room.
Yue Weihan followed him in without hesitation. The head of the national guard strode to the door of the small conference room, then turned around and stopped.
All the senior generals and senior advisers in the war room immediately looked at each other, and many generals were extremely jealous. It was a rare opportunity to be alone with the supreme leader of the country.
…
In the small conference room, Yue Weihan said bluntly: "Commissioner, I think the Battle of Xuzhou will definitely be defeated!"
Chairman Jiang was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then his face darkened. He did not expect that this was what Yue Weihan was going to say.
Yue Weihan could not care about so much anymore. For the safety of nearly one million Chinese soldiers on the battlefield in Xuzhou, and for the fate and future of the entire Chinese nation, he could only remonstrate to death, regardless of whether Chairman Chiang would adopt his advice.
, but he must do this, this is his responsibility, that is, his conscience!
"Zhongshu, I'm afraid your words are a little scary, right?"
"Scary talk?" Yue Weihan shook his head and said, "No, this is definitely not scare talk."
Chairman Jiang frowned and said patiently: "Zhongshu, do you have any evidence?"
"Of course." Yue Weihan said, "Commissioner, although we won the battle of Lunan, it was not an easy victory. More than fifty of our divisions fought for two months around the two Japanese divisions, resulting in nearly 100,000 casualties.
We just barely managed to annihilate these two divisions, and now, dozens of Japanese divisions are about to invade the territory, so how can we defeat them?"
"I forgive you for not knowing something." Chairman Chiang said, "Although the Japanese army has mobilized more than twenty divisions this time, they are all supplementary divisions, and their combat effectiveness is completely different from that of elite divisions such as the Fifth and Tenth Divisions.
It is incomparable, not to mention that our army has an overwhelming advantage in terms of military strength, and it also has the right location and people, so there is still a chance to win the Battle of Xuzhou."
"Commitment." Yue Weihan said anxiously, "I would like to ask, does having more people mean greater combat effectiveness?"
"Of course not." Chairman Jiang frowned again and said a little unhappy, "I can be considered a veteran who has experienced many battles. I still know these simple truths. The combat effectiveness of an army is worth more than
Determined by the number of troops, it also depends on factors such as their training, equipment and logistical support."
"Okay." Yue Weihan said, "Let's talk about training first!"
"The committee members should know that the reservists of the Japanese army, that is, the local soldiers, have all served in the permanent divisions. Although they have retired for a long time, they were soldiers after all. With a little experience, they can fully adapt to the battlefield atmosphere. And
Although the Japanese army’s reservists have no experience in joining the army, Japanese men will receive militarized training starting from elementary school. Their military quality is by no means comparable to that of our peasant recruits!”
"As for equipment, the Japanese army has aircraft in the sky, tanks on the ground, and even more artillery with absolute superiority, but what about us? Our machine guns need to be imported, and the artillery is small-caliber cannons, which are completely unable to effectively suppress the Japanese army. Once a war breaks out, our
The artillery company cannot provide even the most basic fire support!"
"Let's talk about logistical support. The Japanese army produces six million tons of steel annually, and it has a complete national defense industry system that can continuously provide arms to the frontline troops. However, our annual output is only more than a thousand tons of steel. This is just this steel.
How many guns and bullets can be made? There is also national strength. Japan’s national strength is more than six times that of ours. They have more money and can buy more food, more rubber, and more from the Western world.
of cotton!”
"We are far inferior to the Japanese army in terms of training, equipment, logistics, and national strength. How can we win the Battle of Xuzhou just by relying on large numbers of people? Commissioner, now it is no longer the case that large numbers of people can determine the outcome of the war."
We are in the age of weapons. Since the advent of the machine gun, superiority in troop strength is no longer the decisive advantage that determines the outcome of a war."
There was obvious anger on Chairman Jiang's face, and he said, "Then you think Xuzhou should be abandoned?"
Yue Weihan's questioning, which had an obviously accusatory tone, made Chairman Chiang both happy and angry. He was happy that Yue Weihan dared to talk to him like this. He obviously regarded him as the principal of Huangpu and an elder from his hometown, rather than a superior leader of the government.
Chairman Chiang was angry that Yue Weihan firmly opposed his idea of the Xuzhou battle.
"Of course we cannot abandon the defense of Xuzhou." Yue Weihan said without hesitation, "Xuzhou is our land. As soldiers, it is our duty to defend the land and resist the war. But I still want to say that we cannot engage in a large-scale strategic showdown with the Japanese army in Xuzhou. We
We should change our strategy and use smarter and more effective strategies to deal with the Japanese army!"
"A smarter, more effective strategy?" Chairman Chiang asked, "I would like to hear what strategy it is?"
"My strategy can be summed up in eighteen words!" Yue Weihan said, "We must fight for every inch of territory on the inside, move to annihilate the enemy on the middle line, and provide guerrilla support on the outside!"
Chairman Chiang asked: "Specifically?"
Yue Weihan strode to the large map hanging on the wall of the conference room, picked up the command stick and drew a big circle on the map, and said: "Every inch of territory must be fought for on the inside, which means building solid defense fortifications with Wuhan as the center.
As the last barrier, once the Japanese troops come to the city, we will concentrate our superior forces to fight the Japanese troops to the death."
Then he pointed at Zhongtiao Mountain, the Pinghan Line, and the Dabie Mountains, and said: "To annihilate the enemy through the center line movement, that is, to garrison Zhongtiao Mountain, the Pinghan Line, and the Dabie Mountains with heavy troop groups. If the Japanese army gathers heavy troops to attack, they will avoid it."
If he leaves, he will never entangle with the enemy. If the Japanese army turns to attack Wuhan, it will wait for an opportunity to cut off the Japanese army's logistics supply line, causing it to lose the ability to fight for a long time!"
Finally, he pointed to Yimeng Mountain, Songhu, southern Jiangsu, northern China and other areas, and said: "Guerrilla support on the outside is to send a number of small-scale elite troops deep into the areas behind enemy lines, and use the support of the broad masses of the people to carry out extensive guerrilla operations.
The Japanese army was not only unable to obtain any material supplies from the occupied areas, but also had to allocate a large number of troops to carry out law and order operations!"
"As a result, the Japanese army will definitely be in a dilemma! If a large group of troops is assembled to attack Wuhan, there will be a solid defense line in front and a heavy group of national troops watching behind.
If the momentum can be increased, the Japanese army will inevitably shrink its troops and seek to consolidate the existing occupied areas!"
"In this way, the War of Resistance will enter a stage of protracted warfare. Our country has a vast territory and a large population, and will eventually win the final victory! On the contrary, if the main force is gathered in Xuzhou to fight the Japanese army and seek a decisive battle in order to seek a quick victory, it will be inevitable
We suffered a disastrous defeat. If we lose this battle, not only will our national defense strength be completely lost, but the Chinese nation will also be in danger of being destroyed. Please think twice!"
"Okay." Chairman Jiang said expressionlessly, "It's not your turn to dictate the situation in Xuzhou!"
"The appointment!" Yue Weihan said sadly, "It is related to the life and death of the country and the nation, please think twice!"
"Okay." Chairman Jiang waved his hand and said disapprovingly, "Your three-line theory seems to have some truth, but it is only true on paper. The Battle of Xuzhou is inevitable and must be fought, so you don't need to do more.
Having said that, I just want to ask you now, is there anything that needs to be modified or improved in the battle plan for the Battle of Xuzhou?"
Yue Weihan couldn't help but let out a long sigh. In fact, he had known that this would be the result.
Gritting his teeth, Yue Weihan said again: "Commissioner, if the Battle of Xuzhou must be fought, we must take precautions and prepare for the worst! Once the war does not go well, our army will inevitably evacuate quickly from the Xuzhou battlefield, and the Japanese army will inevitably
We must pursue the enemy one after another, so an elite force must be left to garrison Xuzhou to intercept the enemy's pursuit."
"Well, this seems to make sense." Chairman Jiang said, "What are your specific thoughts?"
Yue Weihan tugged on his woolen military uniform and said solemnly: "The important task of ending the war belongs to our Baoshan Brigade. Therefore, I kindly request the commissioner to order the Baoshan Brigade to guard Xuzhou!"