Chapter 3: The momentum of the host and the guest (I)

On the evening of February 4, except for the motor vehicles that might alert the enemy in advance due to the noise during the journey, most of the soldiers participating in the war marched towards the combat area overnight. Although the motor vehicles participating in the war of various armies did not move now, it would be fine if they could start at around 2 a.m. tomorrow, it would be fine to go to the combat area for more than two hours. By then, the battle had already started and the roar of the vehicles would not need to be cared about.

In the first army under Liu Jifeng and Cai Tingkai, all the troops responsible for attacking Han County and Dai County have set off, while the troops responsible for attacking Ying County, Yuanping and the two places are stationed in the assembly areas of Shanyin and Ningwu respectively due to the large number of motor vehicles.

At the gathering ground of the Shanyin of the First Route Army, the officers and soldiers were hurrying to rest, but Liu and Cai checked the situation in the camp.

"The changes in the world are really unpredictable. When I was fighting the Japanese in Shanghai a few years ago, I never dreamed that China would have such a mighty team, so many tanks and artillery used to fight Japanese Japanese!" In the glimmer of light reflected in the snow at night, Cai Tingkai looked at the armored automobile regiment, air defense regiment, vehicle-mounted artillery regiment and other troops gathered in the controlled area of ​​the People's Army in Shanyin County, and was filled with emotion.

"For the sake of today's situation, Mr. led us to work hard for more than ten years. And our self-producing and renewing equipment is just a matter of being based in the northwest in the past few years." Liu Jifeng was more proud while sighing, "In a few years, our equipment will definitely be better! It's only a matter of time before the Japanese defeated the Japanese!"

During these days in the northwest, Cai Tingkai had a rough understanding of Zhao Zhenzhong and the People's Party's development footprints, and also visited a series of industrial and agricultural construction achievements. Knowing that Liu Jifeng's words were true, he couldn't help but nod and exclaimed: "Chairman Zhao was just a teenager back then, but he was able to make a living at home and abroad. Such foresight is really a hero!"

"Old Cai, you don't like to listen to your compliments. He has repeatedly asked us to be pragmatic, not to speak empty words, or to sing high-profile." Liu Jifeng smiled, "We should fight the current war well and be serious!"

Speaking of war, Cai Tingkai became serious. After a little thought, he said with confidence: "Although Ying County has Kuroda Shigeide's command and a gang of Japanese devils, our troops and firepower will take us a few days to defeat Ying County. The key is whether Fan Zhi and Huairen's Japanese devils can be attracted to them, so that other troops can fight smoothly."

The People's Army used the troops to attack Yingxian include the 32nd Division Armored Automobile Regiment, Air Defense Regiment, Two Infantry Regiment, Two Battalions of the Division's Artillery Regiment, and One Regiment of 105,155 Vehicle-mounted Artillery Regiment from the War Zone. The total strength of the department is more than 10,000 people, and there are 96 artillery pieces of only 105,155 caliber artillery.

"I think so too." Liu Jifeng nodded and agreed, "I plan to beat Kurota first, wait until he gets hurt, so that he can call for help from the Japanese troops around him. Then, we will have another roundabout to fight for help."

"The Japanese army is in Fanzhi, and Huairen each has a brigade of troops. If they can attract them all, plus a multi-corps in Yingxian, it will be almost equivalent to a brigade." Cai Tingkai said in a conspiracy, "In this way, the Japanese army's troops will not be less than ours, but we still have an absolute advantage in heavy firepower. We can fight!"

"Not afraid!" Liu Jifeng waved his hand and said, "We beat Kurota to death first. Even the two brigades of Japanese soldiers came. The Japanese army that can fight us was just one gang. We have many motor vehicles and strong firepower. We can beat Kurota first and then ambush reinforcements. This battle is not that difficult to fight!"

Cai Tingkai thought that the same was true, so he nodded in agreement.

Liu and Cai were planning to attack the aid of aid, but Chen Hailan and Zhuang Yi were preparing to divide their troops.

In the original combat plan of the war zone, Chen and Zhuang should lead the 61st Division and the 22nd Division through the northern part of Guancen Mountain in Youyu and Zuoyun, and directly attack Datong from the southwest direction. However, after the combat meeting, Chen Hailan and Zhuang Yi learned about the details of Shanyin, Huairen, Youyu, Zuoyun and other places from the commander of the 61st Division, and then revised the original plan with the consent of Zhou Mingyuan.

The revision proposed by Chen Hailan, Zhuang Yi and others was to divide their troops and advance. Zhuang Yi led the troops to carry out the mission of interspersed mountains, while Chen Hailan and the mobile troops attacked Datong along the highway through Huairen.

Passing through the mountainous areas, it is indeed possible to avoid the Japanese guards and go straight to the city of Datong. However, motor vehicles and the six-column heavy artillery brigades assigned to this unit cannot pass through the mountainous areas. In this way, the People's Army not only greatly weakened its firepower to attack Datong, but also its mobility has also been severely reduced. If Sakai Hoji's armored troops forcibly break through, the Second Route Army will not be able to pursue the limited cavalry and the legs of the soldiers. If you want to change this situation, you either rule out the mines on the road from Shanyin to Huairen, or after the First Route Army takes Yingxian, the motor firepower will be dispatched from Yingxian to Huairen.

It is the cold and freezing season, and it is not easy to clear mines from the frozen soil. But if the First Route Army takes Yingxian and then heads north from the highway, it will miss the opportunity to fight. After careful consideration, Chen Hailan and Zhuang Yi chose to clear mines.

After all, although it is difficult to clear mines in frozen soil, it is not impossible. If the opportunity to be missed, the main force of the Japanese army in Renzuo and Datong escaped, it will not only reduce the results of the People's Army in this battle, but also have an adverse impact on the future operations in the Northwest.

After Wang Jingguo led his troops to evacuate Datong, he buried a large number of landmines on the road between Huairen and Shanyin. Later, when the Japanese attacked Shanyin, he cleared mines all the way to Jinshatan. After the 61st Division wiped out Goto Juro and other troops in the Jinshatan area, he buried a lot of new landmines between Jinshatan and Shanyin. This caused the traffic between the two places to be cut off. In other words, what the People's Army had to eliminate was only the landmines buried between Jinshatan and Shanyin County.

Jinsha Beach is about 30 kilometers away from Huairen, and the Japanese army dug trenches and laid barbed wires to the north of Jinsha Beach. Except for a small team of Japanese troops here to guard the situation, there was no more troops. The severe cold winter made these Japanese soldiers not have the intention to go out except for daily patrols.

This has brought a lot of convenience to the People's Army's mine clearance work. In order to complete the mine evacuation in front of the battle, Chen Hailan even agreed to use blasting and demining methods in some places near Shanyin County. He rushed forward. After nearly half a month of hard work, he finally completed the mine and repaired the road on February 2 without disturbing the Japanese army. This provided support for the Second Route Army to complete the combat mission.

"Lu Dongliang and the others set off this afternoon, and I will also leave in a while. However, this mountain road of more than 100 kilometers is not easy to walk. I guess the troops will arrive at Datong around noon tomorrow." Zhuang Yi said with some concern, "I'm afraid that the Japanese over there will realize that they are not good and will slip away in advance. Then we will suffer a huge loss!"

"I have reported the situation here to Commander Zhou. He allowed my generals to delay the attack time by 12 hours." Chen Hailan patted Zhuang Yi on the shoulder and comforted with a smile, "The entire battle will start at 5 o'clock tomorrow. When all the situations are reported to Datong, Lianzuobo and the harem Jun will definitely have some arrangements. Judging from the relevant situation, the biggest possibility for the Japanese army is to reinforce Yingxian. However, when they truly understand that our army dispatches troops and knows that things cannot be done, then it will not be until tomorrow night. Besides, we have the air force to assist in the war. The Japanese want to run away, and the fastest is tomorrow night. We are completely in a hurry!"

After pausing, Chen Hailan added: "Besides, if Jifeng and others fight in Ying County and Kuroda Chongde is in emergency, Huairen's Japanese army will definitely go south. I will be much smoother to occupy Huairen. At that time, we will join forces and fight Datong with a lot of confidence."

"I forgot about the Air Force, and my concerns will be messed up." Zhuang Yi also understood and laughed at himself.

Then, Zhuang Yi and Chen Hailan exchanged opinions on the contact time between the two departments and the matters to be paid attention to, and followed the follow-up troops on the mountainous march.

It was on this night that Yu Wansheng, Liu Haidong and others led their troops from Dongsheng to advance towards the Yellow River. Liu Haidong was responsible for commanding the soldiers of the Special Column to sneak from the ice to the north bank. After solving the North Bank guard post and establishing a front-end position, they responded to the follow-up troops to cross the river in batches. After Yu Wansheng crossed the river in front, he commanded the troops to assist the war zone boat bridge brigade to build a floating bridge so that heavy equipment and logistics supplies could cross the river smoothly.

The Japanese army in Baotou were all huddled in the city, and used searchlights on the bank of the Yellow River to scan the river surface. The one who carried out the warning mission was a reinforced puppet Mongolian army. However, the severe cold winter night and the fact that there had never been an enemy trace since the occupation of Baotou made the puppet Mongolian army completely relaxed its vigilance. Except for the searchlights before and after changing duty on time, the light column basically shone on a place without moving for a while for the rest of the time.

When the light column was still motionless, Liu Haidong was happy: "It's done! This second Japanese devil must have been hiding aside and dozing off again!"

"How do you know?" Yu Wansheng was a little surprised.

"After the combat mission was issued, I had someone stared at this side, and sent some brothers to the north shore to explore many times at night. If I hadn't been afraid of alarming the snake, these sentries in the north would have been removed long ago! But it's not too late now." Liu Haidong smiled, "It's up to you and Zhouqiao brigade."

"There are special sects to open the way, so let us leave it behind!" Yu Wansheng said with his eyes shining, "We have never had a meat dish since our 11th sect since its establishment. This time we finally got it! As long as the boat bridge can set up a floating bridge on time, we will be able to reach Baotou City tomorrow morning!"

Shortly after the two talked and laughed, the first brigade of the Special Column who had sneaked to the north bank sent back the light signal, and the sentry on the north bank was lifted!

"So fast?" Yu Wansheng said astonished.

"This time, it was not a few people, but a fully armed brigade!" Liu Haidong said calmly with a proper expression, "There are less than a hundred two Japanese devils over there. Except for those on duty, most of them are sleeping with their heads covering their heads. If we are slower, we will be sorry for the hard work of Mr.."

The post was lifted and the position on the front of the north shore had been established. Next was the performance time of the Zhouqiao troops.

In order to prepare for this battle, the Zhouqiao Brigade had conducted many drills to build floating bridges on the Yellow River between Gansu and Ning. Now with the assistance of brother troops from both sides of the north and south, and searchlight lighting, the Zhouqiao Brigade skillfully hinges the floating boxes with steel components under the command of Brigade Commander Ye Jisheng. The speed is not much slower than the setting during the day. When the large floating boxes are hinged together, the ice surface cannot bear the weight and begins to crack. As the floating boxes enter the water, the entire floating bridge is completed!

After the successful construction of this floating bridge with passable trucks and heavy artillery, it not only means that the People's Army has taken Baotou, but also marks the integration of the northwest and the north of the Yellow River in Suiyuan. With this passage, the People's Army and combat materials are continuously transported to Baotou and transported to the east and west directions.

In fact, there are three channels from the People's Army-controlled area to the north of the Yellow River in Suiyuan: one is from the northern part of Ningxia, through Suixi Linhe and other places to the east; the second is from Yulin or Fugu to the north, through Dongsheng, through Hebei, and into Suizhong area; the third is from the northwest Shanxi, and through the Great Wall to enter the Suidong area.

However, after careful consideration, Zhao Zhenzhong and Zhou Mingyuan gave up two land routes and chose this passage that needed to build a floating bridge. The two land routes, one east and one west, not only have poor traffic conditions and low traffic capacity, but also have too far away transport materials to other places in Suiyuan. In contrast, Baotou is located in the middle of Hetao and north of the Yellow River. It is much easier to transport materials from Dongsheng through Baotou to Suixi and Suidong than from the north of Ningxia to the east through Linhe or from the Qingshui River to the west.

After the Central Plains War, when Zhao Zhenzhong was in the name of Huamei Company, in order to transport supplies to the disaster area in northern Shaanxi, he built a floating bridge on the Yellow River in Baotou area and repaired the road from Dongsheng to Fugu and Yulin. With the construction of Huamei Company's industrial base in northwest Shanxi and the development and utilization of coal resources in Fugu, Dongsheng area became one of the material distribution centers from Baotou to northwest Shanxi and northern Shaanxi.

Although the material passages through Baotou, Dongsheng and other places were later abandoned due to the full opening of traffic with the Pu Railway and the branch line to Baode, the road from northern Shaanxi to Dongsheng became busy again. After Fu Zuoyi led the Suiyuan troops to Shanxi to resist the war, the area within the trap was completely in the hands of the People's Army.

The foundation of the material passage in the past few years was that after the People's Army entered the cabin last year, it comprehensively transformed and expanded the original automobile road leading to Baotou. It also built a new road from Dongsheng via Chazishan to the northern part of Ningxia. The opening of two highways in this longitudinal direction, one horizontal and two roads also confirmed the northward passage.

Since the People's Army attacked northern Shanxi in October last year, Zou Degui hoarded materials in combat preparation warehouses in northern Shaanxi and northwestern Shanxi according to Zhao Zhenzhong's instructions. After the establishment of the Yulin War Zone, the General Logistics Department of the People's Army and the Logistics Department of the War Zone jointly established a combat preparation material center in Dongsheng, and stored a large amount of food, clothing, quilts, ammunition, oil, medicine and other military supplies. This also provided sufficient material support for the battle to regain Suiyuan.

On the evening of February 4, Chiang Kai-shek, who was in Wuhan, did not care about the strong atmosphere of the Spring Festival, summoned He Yingqin, Xu Yongchang, Bai Chongxi, Chen Cheng, and Zhang Zhizhong to study the current situation and discuss countermeasures.

"Now the Japanese army is increasing its troops in North China, and its momentum is raging. Yan Baichuan called today and lamented that the situation in North China is unfavorable and hopes that the central government can increase its troops in North China. However, the central government now must not only guard against the Japanese army advancing west along the Yangtze River, but also guard against the Japanese army going south from the Pinghan Line. In addition, the Jianghuai situation is urgent. Please see how to deal with the current situation?" After everyone sat down, Chiang Kai-shek was not polite and directly gave up the purpose of holding the meeting.

The Japanese army launched a large increase in troops in North China. At the celebration of the merger of the puppet government of Peking and eastern Hebei on February 1, Sugiyama announced that it would go south with heavy troops to "eliminate those who oppose Japan and China's kindness." On the same day, the Japanese army in China successively captured Fengyang and Linhuai Pass, and then captured Bengbu on the 2nd. At present, they were fighting fiercely with the troops of the Fifth War Zone in Huaiyuan. How could such things not make Chiang Kai-shek worry?

"Although the situation in North China is tense now, the Japanese army is still in the stage of increasing troops, while the offensive of the Chinese and Chinese troops is tight. After the Battle of Shanghai, the political military suffered a great loss. In addition to deploying the external defense of Wuhan and dealing with the Jianghuai River, it is impossible to draw troops to North China." He Yingqin, who was the chief of staff of the Wuhan authorities at the time, looked embarrassed.

"In my opinion, although the Japanese army in North China has launched a large increase in troops, the spearhead is not targeting us." Bai Chongxi, who was the Minister of Military Training, said, "From Sugiyama's previous words and the fact that the People's Party has repeatedly damaged the Japanese army in northern Shanxi and Shandong, the Japanese army's increase in troops is preparing to deal with the People's Party's armed forces.

The Northwest People's Army occupied northwest Shanxi and Taoune, which not only directly threatened the Japanese control of Suiyuan and Shanxi, but also restrained the North China Front Army's troops southward. The Guards occupied most of Shandong and cut off the Jinpu Line.

In terms of strategic situation, if the Japanese army wants to open up the connection between the two major fronts of North China and Central China, it will inevitably launch an attack on Shandong, Jianghuai and other places. Although the guards occupy most of Shandong, they have not yet established a stable foothold, and Shandong will inevitably become the preferred attack direction for the North China Front Army to increase its troops!"

Bai Chongxi's analysis was reasonable and well-founded, which made Chiang Kai-shek and everyone present breathed a sigh of relief.

"Since the Japanese army increased its troops to deal with the People's Party, and the Japanese army in North China and Central China wanted to open up the connection between them, if the five war zones adjust their troops and move northward to block the enemy's advance westward, let the Japanese army in Central China also go to Shandong to consume each other with the guards, then wouldn't our army be easier?" Chen Cheng suggested, "When the Japanese army and the People's Party fight to the point of both losses, our army will come out to calmly clean up the situation and restore Shandong!"

After Chen Cheng's suggestion was put forward, Chiang Kai-shek did not say anything, while Bai Chongxi looked at Chiang Kai-shek and Chen Cheng without saying anything. Although this suggestion was proposed by Chen Cheng, everyone here was not stupid, and they understood that this might be what Chiang Kai-shek meant.

"The guards only occupy the Shandong area south of the Yellow River and east of the canal. If the Japanese army in Central China are given up and the Japanese army heading north, although the Japanese army is likely to point their fingers at the guards, what should they do if they open up connections with North China from the western part of the canal?" Zhang Zhizhong obviously disagreed with Chen Cheng's opinion and continued, "Once the two major Japanese fronts meet, if their attack on the guards are blocked, their fingers will inevitably be redirected at our army. By then, the Jianghuai barrier has been abandoned by our army. The Japanese army may either go up along the river, advance west along the Longhai Line, or go south along the Pinghan Line. Our army will be in a full passive position, and the situation in Wuhan and the periphery will also completely collapse. It is not worth giving up the Jianghuai barrier!"

Minister Xu Yongchang of Military Command also opposed it: "Now the national war of resistance, many different teams obeyed the command of the Chairman under the banner of the War of Resistance. If our army retreated without fighting in the Jianghuai River, what is the difference between us and Han Fuju? If this matter is exploited by other aspects, it will have a great adverse impact on the Chairman's prestige and will lose people's hearts!

Furthermore, although the political party is in hostility with the People's Party, we are now standing hand in hand with the enemy, **, so why can't we cooperate with the People's Party to fight against the war? No matter what, they are truly anti-Japanese and can fight head-on with the Japanese heavy army group and win!

If we retreat easily now, once the People's Party's armed forces are defeated by the Japanese army, the forces will be strengthened again in North China and Central China, and their troops will all be concentrated on our political army!"

His suggestion was opposed by Zhang and Xu, which made Chen Cheng feel a little uncomfortable. He was about to refute, but was stopped by Jiang Jiang.

"What Wen Bai and Cichen said makes sense, and Jianghuai cannot give up easily." After sighing, Jiang Jiang decided to say, "Jiansheng, go to the fifth war zone and help Delin fight this battle in Jianghuai. Even if you retreat, you must make the Japanese army pay the price!"

Bai Chongxi was stunned at first, then stood up and responded: "I will definitely bring the Chairman's words to you!"

Since the Northern Expedition, the Guangxi clique has always been a major concern for Chiang Kai-shek. After the crisis in Guangdong and Guangxi was eliminated, Chiang Kai-shek used various solutions to suppress the Guangxi clique. Li Zongren was appointed as the commander of the Fifth War Zone, and Bai Chongxi, who had always cooperated closely with Li and was known as Zhuge, was left in the central government by Chiang Kai-shek. This was actually a disguised hostage. Li and Bai knew this. Now, Chiang Kai-shek actually let Li and Bai meet, which surprised Bai Chongxi a little.

"Chichen, go to Linfen and tell Brother Baichuan that the Second World War Zone had fought very well before, and I hope he will continue to work hard. As for the losses in Taiyuan, the Central Committee will fully support reconstruction after the war. If possible, Brother Baichuan can express the goodwill of the Central Committee to the northwest. As long as the People's Party is willing to obey the Central Committee, follow the Three Principles of the People, and fight against the War of Rescue the Country under the leadership of the Central Committee, everything can be sat down and talked." Chiang Kai-shek's voice revealed fatigue and helplessness.

"Commission, this is a bit too much, right?" He Yingqin said doubtfully.

In fact, it was not only He Yingqin, but everyone here was surprised after hearing what Lao Jiang had just said.

Lao Jiang sighed with a little depressed expression: "Now we can take the initiative when we talk to the People's Party. If they win a few more battles and develop for a few years, there will be no room for peace between them. No matter what the Japanese army's next battle with the People's Party, it is appropriate to talk now."

In fact, after the Kuomintang and the Communist Party cooperated again, Chiang Kai-shek thought that the People's Party would also seek cooperation with the central government, and even prepared various back-ups to make a move. However, the People's Party went all the way to the end. Under the war of resistance across the country, while the People's Party was hostile to the Soviet and British powers, while maintaining hostile relations with Chiang Kai-shek's central government. Chiang Kai-shek once wanted to use public opinion to suppress the People's Party, but the Northwest's help to the Second World War II, especially the People's Army and the Guards, made Chiang Kai-shek's afflictions still in the stomach.

Compared with the People's Party's armed forces that often annihilate Japanese military brigades and divisions, and its own slight losses, the great victory advocated by Chiang Kai-shek and his royal literati were simply a scumbag! The defeat of Songhu, Taiyuan destroyed itself, and Nanjing was killed. After comparing these shocking endings with the results of the People's Party, Chiang Kai-shek found that the National Civil Affairs Bureau, apart from the name of the central government, was no longer the strongest in the country!

This discovery made Chiang feel mixed in his heart. What made Chiang even more helpless was that he had no choice but to the People's Party!

Using force? The People's Party first restored Mengxi and then occupied Shannan, causing the Soviets and British people to suffer great losses. Now they become brigades. The division system has annihilated the Japanese army. With Chiang Kai-shek's current team, if he starts with the People's Party, he will definitely be defeated!

Responsible for justice? Not only did the People's Party recover lost territory, but also made the Soviet, British, Japanese and other great powers defeated one after another, which has become the banner of fighting against foreign enemies in the minds of the Chinese people. The series of achievements made by the People's Party's armed forces since the War of Resistance has even more excited the Chinese people! Compared with the Central Political Department's compromise and concessions over the years, and disregarding the people's livelihood internally, the people simply ignore the groundless accusations that the imperial literati had ulterior motives against the People's Party!

Talk about the people's support? When Zhao Zhenzhong started his own business in Shandong, he continued to rescue and take in the affected people. After the Central Plains War, Zhao Zhenzhong used the name of Huamei Company to provide labor for relief in China, and rescued millions of victims. After the People's Army occupied the northwest and stabilized, the Northwest Government even attracted domestic victims. In the past two years, nearly 20 million victims had been affected by refugees in Sichuan and Shanxi Provinces alone, and refugees were resettled in the northwest. Compared with Song Ziwen, Chiang Kai-shek ignored the victims, and the Northwest's actions were more praised by the people!

It was precisely considering that the development of the Northwest had surpassed the central government, and the Japanese army's full invasion of China made Chiang Jizheng worse and worse. He became increasingly embarrassed that Chiang Chiang wanted to hold peace talks with the Northwest for the first time. Chiang Chiang knew very well that after a few years and the power of the People's Party became stronger, he might not necessarily pay attention to him if he wanted to negotiate with the Northwest.

As of now, the timing of peace talks with the People's Party is indeed good when the Japanese army is increasing its troops. If the People's Party wins later, Chiang Kai-shek sends people to talk in advance to show his sincerity; if the People's Party fails, Chiang Kai-shek will take the opportunity to lower the other party's bargaining chips. Of course, this requires the People's Party to be willing to negotiate with Chiang Kai-shek.

At this time, Lao Jiang and others did not know that the People's Army's combat operations to recover Suiyuan and annihilate the Mongolian Corps had entered a countdown stage. This battle also marked the People's Army's strategic move from being passive in the original battle and actively defending to a new stage of actively annihilation of the enemy!

...


Chapter completed!