Pinxian was resentful of the collapse of the 46th Army and asked the theater command to investigate the reason for the collapse of the 46th Army when the front line was slightly stable. Li Zongren was a little amused and confused when he received this hot potato. The 46th Army was the Central Army, and it would not work without Chiang Kai-shek's nod.

But the problem had been exposed, so he had to ask Zhuang Jihua for a solution. Unexpectedly, Zhuang Jihua's attitude was more determined than Li Pinxian.

"There is no slightest investigation. This situation can only be the responsibility of the commander. The war on the Jinpu Road is at a critical moment. You must not be lenient for a moment, causing the generals to be relaxed." Zhuang Jihua made his attitude clear as soon as he came up.

"They were all from Huangpu and the chairman's students." Li Zongren smiled bitterly in his heart. These disciples of the emperor could not just check it. It would be better to temporarily press it and give it a way to observe the results. He originally wanted to sell it to the best of Zhuang Jihua to resolve the gap caused by the use of the 58th Army.

"Dong Zhao and Zhou Shimian were both classmates when I was in Huangpu, but now is not the time. What should I do in the future if I don't investigate them?" Zhuang Jihua asked back. Most of the fifth war zones were miscellaneous troops. If the affairs of the 46th Army triggered the domino effect, don't fight the battles later. Moreover, after Zhuang Jihua passed through Niu Xing's battle, he deeply hated the commander who left the troops. The actions of Cheng Qian and Wang Boling almost destroyed the entire army of the First Division. Therefore, when he retreated in Nanjing, he repeatedly emphasized that commanders at all levels were in control of the troops.

"Then how about you go and check it out?" Li Zongren didn't want to be this evil person, and his appearance might arouse Chiang Kai-shek's suspicion, which would trigger a secret battle between the Guangxi and the Central Committee.

Zhuang Jihua was stunned. He didn't expect that Li Zongren would actually propose to let him go. The Forty-Sixth Army was Chen Cheng's civil engineering system. Although his relationship with Chen Cheng was not good, they were still good at each other. What's more important is that the Japanese army on the northern front had already begun to attack Yanzhou. Once Yanzhou was lost, he would go to the Juye area to lead the gathering of Forty-Nine Group Army to prepare for counterattack. At this time, go to the southern front...

"Dong De, Cultural Revolution, you cannot investigate thoroughly at this time," Xu Zuyi felt that this matter could not be so hasty: "No matter what happened on the Huaihe front line, this time is not the time to investigate thoroughly. The front line is in fierce fighting. Now, thorough investigation will cause chaos to the troops. It is better to investigate after the battle. In order to prevent possible local accidents, you can send people and military police to the southern line together. At the same time, with Degong and the Cultural Revolution, your chief and deputy commander jointly issued an order, saying that after the war, you must strictly investigate the Huaihe front line accident and warn them, and they will naturally understand what to do next."

Zhuang Jihua and Li Zongren were silent without any question. Xu Zuyi's suggestions were much more reasonable. They both expressed their intention to deal with them, but were indecisive. Then these people would not be desperate in future battles.

"Let's do this for a long time." Seeing that Zhuang Jihua didn't say anything, Li Zongren decided to adopt Xu Zuyi's suggestion, and each of the Military Control Station and the Military Law Department of the War Zone sent two people to the southern line together with the military police. At the same time, Li Pinxian, commander-in-chief of the southern line, warned that similar things would happen again. The commander immediately removed his post on the spot and took him back to Xuzhou for trial.

The Chinese team retreated across the Huaihe River. After the news was announced, it caused a shock among the local journalists in Xuzhou. The press room was filled with pessimism. Amateur military experts gathered together to analyze the situation.

"... Once the Huaihe River defense line is broken through, the river behind is cleared (three points of water next to it. The same below) the river below is far less dangerous than the Huaihe River. How can I guard this?" The speaker sighed.

"I think Commander Li is wrong in hiring people. Li Pinxian is useless. How can he be entrusted with the important task of commander-in-chief of the South Line?"

"If the southern line collapses because of this, we should kill Li Pinxian to thank the people of the country."

"It seems that Xuzhou may not be able to be protected. The southern line is not good. The northern line is also critical. Itagaki is approaching. The two Japanese troops on the northern line are about to meet at the city of Xuzhou."

...

Unlike these people who sighed, Mei Youlan, Weber and others were plotting to go to the southern line for actual interviews, which made them embarrassed that it was difficult to approve the interview pass. Even Mei Youlan did not get the interview pass, and even Zhuang Jihua refused to provide help, which made Mei Youlan indignant.

But there was no way. She, Weber, Charles and others planned to go to the southern line. Weber came forward and went directly to the Propaganda Office of the War Zone. The people in the Propaganda Office were very polite, but they refused the passes firmly. No matter whether Weber got angry or Mei Youlan threatened, they did not approve it.

This situation made Mei Youlan a little puzzled. In the past, she was just playing with her pass, and even the most difficult pass would be fine.

"Mei, this shows that there is something wrong with the southern line. What are they hiding?" Weber was very experienced. He concluded from this series of abnormalities that the battle situation on the southern line was probably not that simple.

"Weber, there must be something wrong with it," Charles looked as if he was right: "Every time there was a major action, they would block the news. I encountered this situation many times during the European War interview."

"Then how did you deal with it?" Mei Youlan felt less uncomfortable when she heard this, and her interest was immediately attracted here.

"There's no way," Charles spread his hands: "In Europe, if that reporter dares to conduct a private interview, he will definitely be dealt with seriously. If he is serious, he will go to prison."

Weber's discourse: "This is China."

Mei Youlan was unhappy: "What's wrong with China? You can just run around casually?"

Rolling his eyes at her, a little confused about why her attitude suddenly changed, and glared at him angrily: "What's wrong?"

"Mei, this is for our common interests." Weber said helplessly. Mei Youlan reacted now. She didn't know what to do. Her eyes rolled and she came up with a solution.

"Weber, I think so. Let's go to General Stilwell and ask him to come forward, and then say we want to go to the southern line to see."

Webber's eyes lit up. This was probably the only solution. Charles also agreed with the high-high. The three of them visited Stilwell in one go, but unexpectedly, Stilwell firmly rejected their suggestions.

"Noo, no, everyone, I am just an observer of the US government. I cannot participate in battles, will not appear on the battlefield, and will not participate in battles."

"General, we are not participating in the battle, and we will not appear on the battlefield. We just go to the southern line to take a look." Charles quickly explained.

"No, our operations were approved by the US Embassy, ​​or rather by Washington. And Washington gave me the local instructions that once the Japanese army approached Xuzhou, my observation team would evacuate as soon as possible. Everyone, don't forget that Xuzhou does not have our consulate." Stilwell felt funny in his heart. These reporters were fantastic and used the observation team of the US government as gun envoys. Even if the observation team was going to the southern line, he would go by himself and would not bring the reporter. How could the US government's actions allow you reporters to penetrate the newspaper?

Mei Youlan and the other two left the US military observation team in disappointment. The three of them were bored and wandered around the streets. Before they knew it, they arrived near the war zone chief's office. Mei Youlan looked at the strict guards in front of the chief's office and suggested that they go to the headquarters to try again.

Weber and Charles did not object. As soon as the three of them arrived at the chief's office, they met Zhuang Jihua. Mei Youlan hurried over and said, "Brother, are you going there?"

"I can't tell you this." Zhuang Jihua smiled, and then greeted Webber and Charles: "Old Wei, Lao Cha, how about it? Have you caught any news recently?"

"General," Webber was very clever, and a sad look immediately appeared on his face: "You blocked the news too closely. The news we got was obtained from the press officer, and you know, it was worthless."

"How can it be worthless?" Zhuang Jihua was still happy: "Any news is valuable, the key lies in the reporter's vision."

Webber's eyes lit up, but then they dimmed: "General, can Xuzhou be saved? The southern line has retreated across the Huaihe River."

"Your land is not well-informed enough," Zhuang Jihua interrupted him: "That was yesterday's news. Today's latest land battle report is to retreat. The Japanese vanguard conquered Cao Laoji without bloodshed, and approached the Xinmaqiao Ferry. Our army has retreated to the Jiehe Line on its entire line."

Webber and the other two looked at Zhuang Jihua who looked very happy in a daze. Mei Youlan had a feeling that it was the feeling that Zhuang Jihua gave her when Nanjing was in great danger. At that time, Zhuang Jihua was the same. The front line retreated repeatedly, but he was still very happy and even a little overjoyed.

Now she knew better that everything on the front line might be the appearance, but Mei Youlan didn't speak. Charles was puzzled: "General, you look very happy. Don't you worry about the battle situation on the southern front?"

"What's there to worry about?" Zhuang Jihua shrugged Americanly: "There is an old saying in China that a strong crossbow cannot penetrate the Lulu. Haneda brought a few divisions and did not give them some place. Will people be satisfied? The way of hospitality is not like this.

”

Mei Youlan was a little amused and crying, and Weber asked trickyly: "The general thinks the Japanese are guests."

"There may be many, and it can basically be divided into three types: hospitality, bad guests, bad guests, bad guests; two are hospitality, even if Stilwell is not good, no bad guests, the Japanese are just real bad guests; hospitality is good at drinking wine, bad guests, but they should be used to entertain, but they should be used to use bullets." Zhuang Jihua's expression remained unchanged, but he reminded them in a warning tone: "Two, I know some of the journalists' business, don't write to me in the newspaper, General Zhuang Jihua believes that the Japanese are guests."

"Haha!" Weber and Charles laughed. Weber secretly scolded Zhuang Jihua for being so slippery.

"Deputy Commander Zhuang."

Zhuang Jihua turned his head and saw a staff officer coming quickly. The staff officer ran to Zhuang Jihua to salute: "Report to the deputy commander, the commander, please go to the war room quickly."

Zhuang Jihua turned around and said to Mei Youlan and the others: "I'm sorry, I still have something to do, so I'll talk about it later."

Zhuang Jihua turned around and left. Mei Youlan stopped Wu Ziniu and pulled him aside. After muttering for a long time, Wu Ziniu finally said helplessly: "Stay in Xuzhou. Although the drama in the south is good, the drama in the north is even more exciting. Miss, I can only say this."

Mei Youlan let Wu Ziniu go with satisfaction and returned to Webber and the others. Webber watched her pull Wu Ziniu aside and would not mention it when she came back. However, no matter how she asked, Mei Youlan did not show any slightest voice, which made Webber so angry that she would go crazy.
Chapter completed!