Chapter 6: Vertical and horizontal (two)

The smoke of gunpowder in northern Shanxi had just dissipated, but the war in southern Shanxi started again. This shocked many people who speculated that the war in northern Shanxi would continue, and at the same time they were full of worries about whether Yan Xishan could defend southern Shanxi.

You should know that in the final stage of the Battle of Taiyuan, although the Japanese army had the 5th, 14th, 20th Division and part of the Chahar dispatched corps to participate in the battle, the 5th and 14th Divisions at that time were not satisfied, and the real strength was less than three divisions. Now, the Japanese army used three divisions that had reached the full state after being supplemented to southern Shanxi, retreating to southern Shanxi, and the combat maneuver room had been greatly reduced. It was really unsure how long the Second World War Zone could last.[]

In fact, the Japanese army used far more than three divisions to pacify North China, but six. In addition to the three divisions of the 1st Army of the North China Front attacking southern Shanxi, the 16th Division, located in Shijiazhuang, also was responsible for guarding the Japanese army's side and rear combat in the Pinghan Line and Jinpu Line, and may join the Shanxi or Shandong battlefield at any time. In addition, in the direction of the Jinpu Line, the 5th Division, whose troops were supplemented, and the 109th Division was also deployed on the north bank of the Yellow River in Shandong, preparing to cross the river to attack southwestern Shandong while preparing to attack southwestern Shandong while preparing for the guards.

If the garrison troops were not restrained in Yanggao, and the 114th Division was transported to Yanggao, northern Shanxi, Tianzhen and other places to strengthen defense, the Japanese troops in North China would definitely have more troops used to pacify operations!

Literally speaking, pacifying the war seemed to be an act of the Japanese army to stabilize the occupied areas and eliminate the resistance armed forces. But in fact, this was an important link in the Japanese army's strategy to defeat the Chiang Ji National Government and realize its mainland annexation of China.

In the view of the Japanese base camp, as long as the Yan Xishan troops retreating to southern Shanxi was eliminated, the threat of the North China Front Army to the south when they marched south along the Pinghan Line. After crossing the Yellow River in North China, the Japanese army could attack Shaanxi along the Longhai Line to the west and attack Wuhan along the Pinghan Line to the south. In addition, even if the 5th and 109th divisions could not capture Shandong controlled by the guards for a while, the area could be occupied by south Shandong and joined forces with the Central China Expeditionary Army in the direction of the Jianghuai River, the Japanese army could still open up the north-south connection. The forces and materials of the two fronts could be better utilized.

In the Japanese mainland strategy, in addition to the important link in North China, central China is also equally important.

Just the day before the North China pacification operation was launched, on February 14, the Japanese base camp issued an order to remove the battle sequence of the Central China Front Army, the Shanghai Expeditionary Army and the 10th Army. At the same time, an order was issued to form the Central China Expeditionary Army. The commander of the Central China Expeditionary Army was General Hatashiro, and the chief of staff was appointed by Masazo Kawabata, the former deputy chief of staff of the North China Front Army. The entire dispatched army had six divisions, a brigade and a flying regiment.

According to the order of the headquarters, in addition to cooperating with the North China Front Army to open up north-south connections, the central China Expeditionary Army was to take down the Yangtze River and advance westward along the river, and jointly attack Wuhan with the North China Front Army.

Judging from the strategy of the Japanese base camp, whether it is the pacification operation of the North China Front Army or the Jianghuai strategy of the Central China dispatched troops, it is just to clear the forces of Wuhan's periphery, achieve the goal of two major fronts attacking Wuhan and forcing Chiang Kai-shek to surrender as soon as possible.

"He really made the point of Zhao Zhenzhong's crow's mouth!" After receiving the news of the heavy attack of the Japanese army, Yan Xishan said angrily. Although the heavy attack of the Japanese army made him a little panicked, Yan Xishan did not lose his insignificance. He just couldn't take advantage of the current advantage, and he would lose his troops and land again and feel depressed.

"Donald Yan, should you convene a combat meeting in the theater to clarify the combat tasks of each department?" Chief of Staff Zhu Shouguang suggested, "It is better to take the opportunity to emphasize combat discipline and strengthen the combat confidence of each department."

"What I want to say is already said after the Taiyuan War. Now the fight has started in front of us, so there is no need to summon everyone. The same is true for sending telegrams." Yan Xishan shook his head and breathed a lot, and then said, "Now the fortifications are basically complete. The troops will defend themselves with this. It will be fine for them to persist for a while."

At the beginning of last year, after accepting Zhao Zhenzhong's suggestion, Yan Xishan started to build defense fortifications in southern Shanxi. After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Yan Xishan increased his investment without hesitation for the first time. By the time the Japanese army pacifying the war, the fortifications in southern Shanxi had basically been completed. This also gave Yan Xishan some confidence.

"Yan Gong, the Japanese army that are now attacking our theater include the 20th Division in the north and the 109th Division in the east. Although the 14th Division has taken action, it is advancing south along the Pinghan Line. This is not exactly consistent with what the Northwest said in the previous telegram." Wei Lihuang, deputy commander of the Second World War Zone, said, "However, in this way, my theater faces only two divisions, and there is no need to worry about the Japanese aviation army. It should be no big problem to defend the position."

"Junru, you can't be careless. There is still a 16th Division in Shijiazhuang area to the east that has not moved!" Yan Xishan didn't feel much relaxed. After pondering for a moment, he said murderously, "Order the troops, Yushe, Liao County, Xiyang and other places north of Wuxiang, as well as the Fenhe Valley north of the ancient times, to at least two months! The southeastern Jin south of Wuxiang and the southwest Jin south of the spirit stone must be firmly defended by fortifications! It is known to all divisions that there are no Jinsui Army, Central Army, and Miscellaneous Army. There is only World War II Zone here! Those who do not respect the orders of the war zone, and those who retreat without authorization will be killed! The brigade commander retreats and kill the brigade commander! The division commander retreats and kills the division commander! The commander retreats and kills the commander! The commander retreats and kills the commander retreats and kills the commander!"

Since last year, Zhang Peimei was able to use military law to intimidate the 61st Army in Tianzhen and Yanggao fought to the death, it is now the time for life and death in the Second World War Zone, Yan Xishan will not let the military law go without it.

Yan Xishan's order surprised Zhu Shouguang, Wei Lihuang and others. Although he was the commander of the Second World War Zone, Yan Xishan's previous careful calculations were more like a landlord and old fortune. Now, after a series of words "kill" popped out of his mouth, people felt that the old man in front of him was a decisive and decisive member of the side, and had his hideous side! As for Yan Xishan's faction, there was only the saying that the Second World War Zone troops were inspiring, but it was just a boost. No one would really ignore the faction.

The 19th Army and the 61st Army of the Jinsui Army were deployed in the Shangdang area, the 35th Army was in western Shanxi, and the 33rd Army, the 34th Army and other troops were in southwest Shanxi. However, most of the Central Army and other troops of Wei Lihuang were in the Fen River Valley and the Jinzhong Mountains south of Zhengtai Road.

The reason for this situation was that after the Japanese army entered Shanxi last fall, the Shanxi-Sui army took the lead in fighting hard in northern Shanxi, and the losses were too great, so they had to retreat to the south to rest. During the Battle of Taiyuan, after completing the task of receiving the retreat of friendly troops, Yan Xishan deliberately deployed the Shanxi-Sui army in southern Shanxi, and also called it "friendly troops can avoid going to detours after the war."

Such deployment of troops also caused the situation where the Central Army and the Miscellaneous Army were in front and the Jinsui Army was huddled behind when the Japanese attacked. Of course, there were also head-on confrontations with the Japanese army in the Shanxi and Sui Army. The 19th Army and 61st Army in the Shangdang area were fighting fiercely with the Japanese 108th Division at the Hukou Pass in Taihang Mountain. This also made it impossible for Wei Lihuang and other non-ShiSui Army people to find fault.

"Now the aviation regiment of the North China Front Army has been almost wiped out by the Northwest Air Force. What I need to deal with in the Japanese ground offensive! Although the firepower of our theater troops is worse than that of the Japanese army, the troops are quite strong! In addition, there are dangerous mountains and rivers and built fortifications to make use of, our army is sure to delay the Japanese army in the Fenhe Valley north of Lingshi and the Jinzhong Mountains north of Wuxiang for two months!" Zhu Shouguang echoed Yan Xishan's order, "In two months, not only can the new recruits from each department complete training and supplement the front line, but the central government can also have enough time to send troops to reinforce!"

"Not only that, the People's Army and the Guards will definitely not be idle!" Wei Lihuang also opened his mind and said, "No matter whether it is northern Shanxi or Shandong, it is the Japanese army that cannot give up. Judging from the people's party's proposition, they do not have the possibility of the Japanese army not fighting! In the two directions of northern Shanxi and Shandong, no matter which side takes the initiative, there will definitely be new wars! By then, not only will the pressure facing our war zone be greatly reduced, but the situation in the entire North China may also have major changes!"

"The key is that I must hold on to the battlefield in the war zone, so that I can wait for the change in the situation in North China! If I can't hold on, then no matter how favorable the situation is, it will have nothing to do with us!" Yan Xishan narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he had seen the future results in advance, and said decisively, "No matter what method is used, Lingshi, north of Wuxiang, must last two months! In this way, we can have the opportunity to counterattack and recover lost land when the situation changes!"

"It should be like this!" Wei Lihuang nodded and added, "Mr. Yan, we should communicate more with the northwest. In addition to getting relevant information in time, see if they can help us treat the wounded this time."

From northern Shanxi to Xinkou, the People's Army's battlefield hospitals treated tens of thousands of minor and serious injuries in the Second World War Zone last fall and winter. Although some of the seriously injured and disabled officers and soldiers were unable to return to the battlefield after they recovered, the more than 30,000 officers and soldiers who returned from injury made the Second World War Zone feel a lot of gratitude to the Northwest. Even Liu Kan, a famous stubborn in the Central Army, determined that "the People's Party is against the Central Committee and the People's Party is the enemy", publicly admitted that "the Northwest still did a good thing."

The war has begun and will last for several months. The firepower of the Second World War Zone is not advantageous, so the wounded and sick are bound to be indispensable. The limited-war treatment institutions established by Yan Xishan in Linfen, Jincheng, Changzhi and other places alone cannot compare with the Northwest medical system, nor can they bear heavy treatment tasks in comparison with the Northwest medical system. Wei Lihuang, who has tasted the sweetness of medical treatment power in Northwest, naturally hopes that the People's Army can help.

"Many people say that I communicate with the northwest to communicate with the enemy, but now it is the War of Resistance. Our biggest enemy is Japan, not the Northwest! Not to mention anything else, just the Northwest treatment and the officers and soldiers who returned to the team after returning from injury are equivalent to adding an army to my war zone!" When Wei Lihuang heard that he mentioned the Northwest medical power, Yan Xishan took the opportunity to complain and sighed, "For the sake of the wounded in the war zone, I took the blame. However, my war zone is now retreating to southern Shanxi, and only western Shanxi can connect with the northwest. Whether this battlefield hospital can be established and where it is set up is a question..."

The battlefield hospital should naturally be located around the battlefield so that the wounded can be rescued in time. However, the southeastern Shanxi area attacked by the Japanese army is too far away from the northwest, and even the southwest Shanxi is also quite far from the area controlled by the People's Army. If the hospital is still set up in the northwest Shanxi as before, it will not be a battlefield hospital but a rear hospital. However, based on Yan Xishan's previous understanding of the northwest, Zhao Zhenzhong would not rashly send his own personnel to other controlled areas. In this way, whether the battlefield hospital can be set up like before is really a problem.

Yan Xishan, Wei Lihuang and others were working hard for the current battle situation, and Zhao Zhenzhong and others were also conducting a war situation analysis on the pacification operations of the North China Front Army.

"Although the 114th Division increased its defenses in northern Shanxi, making the Japanese troops in Yanggao and Tianzhen areas reach nearly 40,000, but after the North China Aviation Corps was severely damaged by our army, the ministry lacked air support and did not have an advantage in ground firepower. It will not take the lead in launching an attack on our army in the near future." Chen Hailan, who has already served as commander of the Yulin War Zone, said at the meeting of the People's Party Military Commission, "In view of this, our theater plans to send the 52nd Division to Jingle to cooperate with the 62nd Division on the front line of Yunzhongshan so that our army can respond in a timely manner when the war situation in southwestern Shanxi suddenly changes."

"This deployment is fine. However, the purpose of our army attracting three divisions in northern Shanxi has not yet been achieved. I think we can put some pressure on Shanshan Yuan. Even if there is no division in his hand, at least several brigades will be attracted." Zhou Mingyuan added, "Since the 102nd Division has arrived in Suiyuan, let the division and the 112th Division be responsible for the stability of the existing area of ​​Suiyuan, and expand to Yinshan and Daqingshan, and strive to solve the northern part of Suiyuan within half a year. In addition, all the 12th Army will be transferred eastward to the Dongyang River in Suidong, threaten Zhangbei, and force Shanshan Yuan to continue to increase his troops!"

The 12th Army, adapted from the 12th Column, had a total force of more than 50,000. Such a force was pressing towards Zhangbei, not only threatening Chahar's security, but also detoured from the outside of the Great Wall to the Japanese side of the northern Shanxi! Unless Sugiyama Yuan was willing to give up northern Shanxi and central and southern Chahar, whether in order to protect Chahar or the Japanese army in northern Shanxi, Sugiyama Yuan had to increase his troops again!

"From the perspective of perfect defense lines, our army can take down Hunyuan and expand the original defense line from Xubao to the south. It will extend from the south bank of Sanggan River to the western foot of Xionger Mountain and the northern part of Hengshan." Zhang Mingrui, who returned to Lanzhou from Xinjiang to attend the meeting, suggested the Avenue, "Since our army will have to tug-of-war with the Japanese army in northern Shanxi in the next few years, there is no need to build many Yonggu fortifications on this defense line. We will only send troops to garrison to form a line of actual control, increase the room for combat maneuver in our army, and compress the space for the Japanese army."

"Our army is in Suiyuan, and this is basically the case in Shanxi. It can be decided. In Shandong, Gu Haichuan and his team were tasked in the first half of the year to find an opportunity to solve the problem of southwestern Shandong and develop towards northern Jiangsu in the south. These situations have been reported to everyone before, so I won't say much." Zhao Zhenzhong looked at the people attending the meeting and said, "After talking about our own affairs, let's pay attention to the matter of Yan Xishan War II. What do you think about the situation in southern Jin Dynasty?"

"The Japanese attacked from Hukou Pass in the east. If they succeed, they could attack Licheng, Lucheng, Changzhi and directly attack Shangdang's hinterland! From Yuci to the south of the Fenhe Valley and Jinzhong Mountains in the north, if they succeed, Yan Xishan's old nest in southwest Shanxi might not be protected! The Japanese army's combat method of launching attacks in the east and north directions at the same time is very similar to the way they attacked Shanxi last year. They both looked for opportunities to attack the main force of the Second World War Zone. However, this time the troops invested no less than during the Taiyuan Battle last year, and the combat maneuver space is no longer the entire Shanxi, but only in southern Shanxi." Yang Tianming, who rushed back from the inner area, analyzed, "The place is small, the troops are quite large, and the firepower density is relatively large. The Second World War Zone is not easy to fight this time!"

"Tianming said it well!" Zhao Zhenzhong nodded to show his approval, and continued, "In fact, the Japanese army's crisscrossing attack method was not only reflected in the Taiyuan Battle last year and the current southwest Shanxiong battle, but also the same was true when Gu Haichuan and others defeated the 10th Division in Shandong. However, the troops of Isotani Risuke who crossed the river and went south along the Jinpu Line were annihilated by our guards, and the Japanese 4th fleet that wanted to land west from Qingdao was severely damaged by our air force. The Japanese did not succeed. To put it further, the current combat situation of the North China Front Army and the current Central China Expeditionary Army are also crisscrossing! And they basically launched attacks from both east and north! Our army must be vigilant when fighting against the Japanese army's front-line attack and flanking flanks!"

The Japanese army's combat method of crossing and attacking on one side seems simple, but it can be changed according to the actual situation. Side attacks may become the main force, while the original front may become the auxiliary attack. In addition, the Japanese army's firepower and maneuverability exceed that of most domestic troops, this seemingly simple combat method has also played an amazing combat effect.

In history, the Japanese army occupied most of China through this crisscrossing combat method. Now, due to the emergence of the People's Party, although the Japanese army was in the northwest and Shandong was bleeding, the teams that could be used to deal with Chiang Kai-shek still succeeded repeatedly.

"If this is the case, the 14th Division, which attacks south along the Pinghan Line, may also change its attack direction, and detour to the north of the Yellow River, the border area between Shanxi and Henan, and then detour to the rear of the Second World War Zone to attack! This will form a large encirclement in the east, north and south directions!" Inspired by what Yang Tianming and Zhao Zhenzhong said, Chen Hailan, who is good at long-distance raids, frowned and said, "If Yan Xishan focuses on both the east and north directions, the 14th Division will be inserted from the south, then the Second World War Zone will be dangerous!"

Although the Japanese army was unable to implement a comprehensive network-like promotion due to military strength and mountainous mobility difficulties, and the Second World War Zone troops also had many loopholes to exploit, as long as the encirclement of three quads and one circumference was formed, the strategic points and transportation lines of the relevant regions would definitely fall into the hands of the Japanese army! The battle situation in southern Shanxi will also develop in a direction that is extremely unfavorable to the Second World War Zone!

Zhao Zhenzhong and Zhou Mingyuan both knew the outcome of the North China Front Army's pacification battle in history, but neither of them directly stated the results. Instead, they guided the participants to draw conclusions step by step, so that everyone could continue to improve.

"We can remind Yan Xishan and Wei Lihuang, and then help them solve the problems of field hospitals and wounded treatment, so as to prevent them from calling for help one after another. As for sending troops to fight, it is not the time." Zhao Zhenzhong decided, "The Logistics Department and the Air Force jointly set up field airports in Yanchuan, and one fighter regiment and one bomber regiment each. Then let Yan Xishan set up field airports in Linfen, Changzhi and Jincheng for aircraft transfer to seriously injured people!"

"Sir, if we rely on our Air Force to transport the wounded, it would be too much to be busy!" Zou Degui looked embarrassed, "It would be better to ask Yan Xishan to send all the medical staff from the Second World War Zone to southeastern Shanxi, and the medical team we sent to stay in Linfen. In this way, the wounded soldiers on the two battlefields in southeastern Shanxi and southwest Shanxi can be treated in time!"

"It's good." Zhao Zhenzhong nodded and said, "The logistics department will send a medical team to Linfen. I will remind Yan Xishan again. You can't let those veterans do whatever they want in the hospital! In addition, the airport in Yanchuan still needs to be built. If the situation in the southwest of Shanxi suddenly changes, we can also deal with it in time!"

When Yan Xishan received a telegram from Zhao Zhenzhong after the meeting, he praised repeatedly: "Zhao Zhenzhong is righteous! The people's party is righteous!" Wei Lihuang was more concerned about the southward defense: "Duke Yan, Zhao Zhenzhong's reminder makes sense. We must strengthen the defense lines of Yuxia Pass and Tianjing Pass in southeastern Jin. The 14th Japanese Division is advancing south along the Pinghan Line. Once it advances along the branch line to Qinghua Town west of Jiaozuo, it will be not far from Jincheng! If the Japanese army successfully attacked Jincheng, not only will the war situation in southeastern Jin collapse completely, but even southwestern Jin may not be able to defend for long!"

Yan Xishan was also a veteran of the army, so he naturally knew the benefits and decided to say: "Order Wang Zhian and let his 19th Army strengthen the troops of Yuxia Pass and Tianjing Pass! The fortifications there are not bad, and they must not be lost!"

Just as the Japanese army attacked southern Shanxi and the Second World War Zone was fighting, the People's Army was also rushing to adjust its troop deployment to cope with the subsequent development of the war. Although Zhao Zhenzhong did not need to take personal experience in the relevant matters, he still had to take the helm of military and political affairs in the northwest and Shandong. In addition, he held talks with Lan Fang's delegation and the German Chancellor's Special Envoy, and he was busy these days.

But just when Lorde adhered to the mission given by Xiaowang and had a special conversation with Zhao Zhenzhong in the northwest, hoping to promote the People's Party to transfer fighter jets or aviation technology to Germany, on February 20, Hitler delivered a public speech in the German parliament, acknowledging the puppet Manchukuo!

After learning the news from a telegram sent by Tang Ming from the United States, Zhao Zhenzhong was immediately angry! Even if Xiaowang was a war madman and a world-class hero, he would be inappropriate to speak so much!

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Chapter completed!