Tianjin small station, Siye frontline headquarters.
The huge combat hall was crowded with people, but there was silence.
The air was filled with tension. Almost all the senior generals of the Fourth Field Army, including Yue Weihan, had gathered around the combat map and were holding their breath, waiting for the outcome of the Yu'erya battle.
Before the war, the 4th Group Army kept a tight seal on the news, and the headquarters did not know the news until the battle started.
For this, Yue Weihan did not mean to blame Dai, Liao and Deng. The situation on the front line was changing rapidly. Unless he was on the front line of command, it would be difficult for even Yue Weihan to command accurately and timely. This is what Yue Weihan repeatedly emphasized.
The main reason why senior commanders at the rear must never interfere with the specific command at the front.
Yue Weihan did not want to become the second Chairman of the Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and ruin the entire army group because of his blind command!
This is not to slander Chairman Chiang. Let’s not talk about anything else. Let’s just talk about the Battle of Songhu. If it weren’t for Chairman Chiang’s blind command, he insisted on abandoning the strong national defense fortifications planned in Wu Fu, Chengxi and other places, but it was unprotected.
The final battle with the Japanese on Shanghai Beach, which was unprotected and directly exposed to the heavy artillery of the Japanese giant ship, should have resulted in a very different outcome.
If the Battle of Songhu can be fought on the Wufu and Chengxi defense lines, the Japanese army may not be able to win it in six months, let alone three months. And if Japan can really hold out for more than six months, the Japanese army's base camp
Whether there is enough confidence and resources to continue the war is another question, and the intervention of the great powers that Chairman Chiang hopes for may become a dream come true.
The reason is very simple. If the National Government shows itself vulnerable, the Western powers will retreat. They will never offer help in times of need. However, if the National Government can show a certain degree of resistance, the Western powers will never
Watching Japan monopolize China and speculate on it has always been the specialty of Western powers.
When Yue Weihan was lost in thought, Zuo Quan, deputy chief of staff of the Fourth Field Army, hurriedly walked into the combat hall.
"Boss, there is news." Mr. Zuo could not suppress his excitement and said to Yue Weihan excitedly, "After 48 hours of fierce fighting, the 4th Group Army severely damaged the 17th Army of the 1st Front Army of the Kwantung Army east of Yuerya.
Of the 4 Japanese divisions it belonged to, 2 were completely wiped out by me, and 2 were routed. A total of more than 40,000 enemy people were wiped out in this battle!"
"Very good!" Yue Weihan said happily, "Immediately power up and reward!"
General Zuo nodded and said: "But boss, the casualties of the 4th Army itself are not small, especially the severe cold of more than 20 degrees below zero, which caused a large number of non-combat attrition of our army. Due to the harsh conditions in the mountainous areas, medicines
They were also in short supply, and many officers and soldiers originally had only mild frostbite, but due to lack of timely treatment, they had to have their limbs amputated..."
Yue Weihan nodded and said solemnly: "Call the Northern Bureau and ask for help in arranging my wounded."
"I have already sent a telegram to the Northern Bureau and Mr. Peng." Mr. Zuo nodded and said, "Also, the ammunition carried by the 4th Army is running low. If we can't find a way to replenish it,
I'm afraid we won't be able to launch a large-scale battle. If this is the case, the situation will be quite passive."
The expression on Yue Weihan's face immediately became more solemn. This was indeed a big problem.
General Wei Lihuang sighed: "But it's windy and snowy now, so how can we dispatch the air force?"
"How about..." Mr. Deng, who had just arrived from the rear of Burma and arrived at the North China front line, mused, "please ask the Northern Bureau to come forward and organize the Jidong fortress to try to transport some military supplies to the Yanshan Mountains? It's freezing cold today.
I don’t think the Japanese army may be able to completely surround Yanshan. The local folks are familiar with the terrain, so they should be able to do it.”
"I'm afraid this is just a drop in the bucket, right?" Chief of General Staff Huang Jie shook his head and said, "If there are more civilians, the target will be bigger, and they will be easily surrounded by the Japanese army. If there are fewer people, the supplies that can be transported will be limited, and it will be difficult.
To ensure the combat needs of the 4th Army’s hundreds of thousands of officers and soldiers, right?”
Mr. Zuo sighed: "It's always better than nothing."
Yue Weihan waved his hand and suddenly asked: "Is there any result from Mr. Zhu's side?"
As early as the day the Battle of Luanhe broke out, Yue Weihan sent two special planes to bring Professor Zhu Kezhen and his team, as well as some scientific research equipment from Myanmar to North China. It has been seven days now, and the results should have been obtained.
?
As soon as he finished speaking, the adjutant Yuhu walked in smartly, stood at attention and said: "Report, Professor Zhu wants to see you."
"Say Cao Cao, Cao Cao is here!" Yue Weihan immediately fisted his fist and said to Yuhu, "Quickly, please ask Mr. Zhu to come in!"
After a while, Professor Zhu Kezhen hurried into the combat hall, and from a long distance away, he said to Yue Weihan apologetically: "Commander Yue, I'm really sorry to keep you waiting, but the weather conditions in North China are more complicated now.
Some large-scale equipment could not be shipped to North China in a hurry, so it took a while."
"Fortunately, we finally have results now." After saying this, Professor Zhu Kezhen added, "According to my observation, starting tonight, the weather in the entire North China will change from rain and snow to sunny to few clouds. I dare to say that tomorrow morning
, everyone can see the long-lost sun.”
"Very good!"
"This damn rainy day is finally over!"
"So we can airdrop supplies to the 4th Army tomorrow?"
"The key is that our bomber group can be dispatched freely. The good days of the little devil are over!"
As soon as Professor Zhu Kezhen finished speaking, the senior generals and combat staff in the combat hall cheered.
Yue Weihan was more concerned about how long the good weather would last, and asked immediately: "Mr. Zhu, how long will the sunny weather last?"
Professor Zhu Kezhen adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose and said solemnly: "Commander-in-Chief Yue, I'm afraid this sunny day will not last long. In three days at most, the entire North China region will usher in a new round of rainy weather, and this time
This round of rain lasts longer and is likely to last for more than two weeks!"
"Ah? Two consecutive weeks of rainy weather?"
"With only two sunny days, what can be done?"
"It's broken. I'm afraid the 4th Army won't be able to hold on for so long?"
Professor Zhu Kezhen finished his words, and the generals and staff officers in the combat hall couldn't help but look at each other.
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Zhu." However, Yue Weihan held Professor Zhu Kezhen's hands tightly and shook them vigorously. He then ordered the adjutant Yu Hu to say, "Yu'er, immediately use my special car to send Mr. Zhu back to the station to rest, and then give orders to the station kitchen.
We will give Mr. Zhu and his disciples extra food tonight, and we must ensure that everyone eats and drinks well."
"Yes." Jade Fox snapped to attention and said to Professor Zhu Kezhen, "Mr. Zhu, please."
Seeing Professor Zhu Kezhen's figure disappear outside the door of the combat hall, Yue Weihan immediately ordered General Zuo: "Lao Zuo, immediately call the major airports in Qingdao, Nanjing, and Shanghai, the transport aircraft brigade, and the fighter brigade to assemble immediately and be on standby at any time. Once the weather improves,
Then dispatch immediately to airdrop combat supplies to the 4th Group Army!"
Although two days are a bit tight, only enough time for the transport aircraft group to fly five or six times, but if they go all out, 500 transport aircraft can airdrop more than 5,000 tons of combat materials to the Yanshan Mountains in 2 days. If the 4th Group Army saves a little
, it is absolutely no problem to persist for half a month, or to organize two large-scale battles.
After all, the current 4th Army no longer has trucks, tanks, heavy artillery and other heavy equipment, so it does not need large-caliber grenades or tons of fuel. If it is just individual soldier rations, medicines, uniforms, and machines,
Rifle bullets, rocket launchers, mortars and other small-caliber artillery shells, 5,000 tons of supplies are already a lot.
Tangdaohe Town, 4th Army Headquarters.
After the victory at Yuerya, the main force of the 4th Army moved to Tangdaohe overnight to rest and recuperate.
Dai Anlan chose Tangdaohe Town because it is surrounded by mountains and is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Moreover, it was once the anti-Japanese base area of the Jidong Guerrillas of the Eighth Route Army. It has a good mass base and the troops can rest and recuperate better here, especially the wounded.
, you can get better care because the local folks have fire pits in their homes, so at least you won’t have to worry about frostbite.
In a small private house, Dai, Liao and Deng were sitting around a hot pit drinking wine.
The wine was sweet potato wine brewed by the landlord himself, and there were no appetizers, just a large bowl of braised peanuts. However, Dai Anlan, Liao Yaoxiang and Deng Hua drank happily, especially Deng Hua, who seemed to be back in Jincha.
Not to mention the friendly spirit during the guerrilla war years.
"Come on, Old Deng, I respect you." Dai Anlan raised his bowl and said to Deng Hua, "The victory at Yu'erya was all due to your command!"
"That's right, I, Liao Yaoxiang, have never been very convincing. Except for Commander Du and Commander-in-Chief Yue, that's you." Liao Yaoxiang also raised the wine bowl and said, "You have to drink this bowl of wine!"
"Okay, I'll drink this wine." Deng Hua picked up the wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp.
Wiping his mouth, Deng Hua added: "However, the situation facing our group army is still very serious at the moment."
Dai Anlan also drank it all in one gulp, smacked his mouth first, and then said: "Yes, that old devil Okamura Neji really thinks highly of us. In addition to the original dozen or so divisions, he actually came from the four eastern provinces.
More than a dozen divisions were mobilized to surround us. If we hadn't discovered it earlier yesterday, we might have collided with the Japs."
"Yes, it's a pity." Liao Yaoxiang said gloomily, "I also thought about taking the opportunity to take down Shanhaiguan and capture that old devil Okamura Neji alive, but now I can only give up."
Deng Hua nodded and said: "If it doesn't clear up in the next two days, we will break out separately."
The Eighth Route Army was used to being wiped out by the Japanese army in the past, so it had long summed up a set of effective tactics. The Japanese army opened up the encirclement network and pressed forward step by step. If there were conditions, then concentrate their forces to defeat them. If there were really no conditions,
Then break into pieces and break out separately, wait for the Japanese troops to retreat, and then return to the mountainous area to continue fighting.
As soon as he finished speaking, a major staff officer came in and reported: "Report, urgent call from headquarters!"
Dai Anlan poured wine for Liao Yaoxiang and Deng Hua respectively, and said without raising his head: "Read it!"
The major staff officer opened the telegram and read aloud: "Dai Liao Liu: It is reported that the weather will clear up tonight, and the air force will be dispatched to airdrop supplies to your department early tomorrow morning. We hope to make preparations as soon as possible. This order, Yue Weihan, November 11, 32nd Year of the Republic of China
On the 23rd of the month.”
At dawn the next day, the long-lost sun finally rose from the east.
With the arrival of the main forces of the Kwantung General Army, the Japanese troops gathered in Shanhaiguan and the Liaoxi Corridor have reached 50 infantry divisions, 8 tank divisions and 18 heavy artillery brigades. Of course, these troops are not stupid.
They were stationed in open plain areas, and the little devils were either hiding in valleys or hidden in dense forests.
Japanese meteorological experts have also predicted that the weather will soon turn fine, so necessary precautions are still needed.
Otherwise, once the weather clears up, the armored clusters and heavy artillery clusters exposed in the open plains will soon attract indiscriminate bombing by the Chinese Air Force. If this is the case, the Kwantung Army's heavy equipment will be completely destroyed. After all, the 200 that Germany promised will
Before the jets were in place, the Kwantung Army's direct aviation force would never be able to defeat the Chinese Air Force.
Umezu Yoshijiro then formally ordered the establishment of the Kwantung Army's frontline headquarters, with Okamura Neiji as the frontline commander.
Umezu Yoshijiro, an old devil, is very self-aware and knows that his tactical command ability is far inferior to that of Okamura Neji, so he took the initiative to give way.
Okamura Neji was having breakfast in the headquarters when Mitsuo Nakazawa suddenly walked in in a hurry.
"Your Excellency, Marshal!" Mitsuo Nakazawa snapped his feet and stood at attention. "Radar Base Station No. 9 reported that a large number of flying targets were found 50 kilometers southeast of Shanhaiguan. This is probably the transport aircraft group of the Chinese Air Force. The Chinese are preparing to fly to the trapped Yanshan Mountains."
The remnants of the China Army airdropped supplies."
I have to say that the Kwantung Army was still very efficient.
Less than half a month has passed since Okamura Neiji returned to Manchukuo and determined the defense strategy, but many radar bases in plain areas or close to roads or railways have been built and put into operation. Of course, in order to
For confidentiality reasons, these radar base stations are all built in military restricted areas.
As for the Chinese workers who built the radar station, there is no doubt that they were all executed.
"Oh?" Okamura Neiji couldn't help but look slightly moved after hearing this, "The Chinese people are very efficient. The weather just cleared up, and their transport fleets came out in full force?"
Mitsuo Nakazawa said: "Marshal, do you order the aviation force to intercept?"
"No." Neji Okamura suddenly raised his hands and said, "First send out reconnaissance planes, and then dispatch fighter jets!"
Okamura Neiji is very cautious. If he directly dispatches fighter jets without dispatching reconnaissance planes, and accurately captures the exact coordinates of the Chinese transport fleet, then the secret of the radar base station will be exposed in advance. With Yue Weihan's power, it is impossible to do this
If you remain indifferent, you will lose more than you gain if you attract a special attack from the Chinese *** team.
After all, there are only a few radar base stations that have been built so far, and they are not enough to be relied upon by the Kwantung Army.
Once Yue Weihan and the Chinese *** team are alert, it may not be that easy to build a large number of radar base stations in the southeastern branch of Yanshan Mountain, the Western Liaoning Corridor, and the deep mountains and old forests of Changbai Mountain. Once the plan to build a radar base station chain is blocked,
It will inevitably affect Okamura Neji's entire defense plan.
Mitsuo Nakazawa frowned and cautiously reminded: "Marshal, if you first dispatch a reconnaissance plane and then dispatch fighter jets to intercept, will it delay the fighter plane? Because when the Imperial Army's fighter group arrives in the designated airspace, China will
The military’s transport fleet has probably returned.”
"Nakazawa-kun." Okamura Neiji glanced at Mitsuo Nakazawa indifferently and said, "Don't forget what I told you. In the Battle of Yanshan, it would be good if you can eat the 4th China Army. If you can't,
If it falls, that’s okay, after all, our first task is not to annihilate the 4th China Army, but to defend the entire Manchukuo.”
"Hai." Nakazawa Sanfu suddenly lowered his head and immediately took the order.