Chapter 12: Autumn and Winter Offensive (I)

Both Sugiyama Moto and Minorhiko hope that the base camp can increase their troops in North China so as to change the disadvantages of the military forces in northern Shandong, eastern Henan, northern Shanxi and other places as soon as possible, and hope to recover the above-mentioned areas occupied by the People's Party as soon as possible.

The Japanese base camp did respond to increasing its troops in North China. However, the 2nd Army where Minamichi was located was transferred to the Central China Expeditionary Army in July. However, in order to strengthen the North China military, the 2nd Army only had the 16th Division to Central China with Minamichi. Of course, the 2nd Army would reorganize the Central China Expeditionary Army, and the generals under Minamichi included the 13th Division, the 16th Division, and the 10th Division rebuilt in Japan.

If a new division was hit by an annihilation blow like the 10th Division, it would definitely be cancelled. But when Aosuke Isotani fled to the north bank of the Yellow River, hundreds of Japanese troops including the command of the 10th Division also fled north, and the division's flags and important documents were also preserved, which left a glimmer of hope for the reconstruction of the 10th Division.

As a permanent division of the Japanese army, many military leaders were promoted by their experience of serving in the division. If the 10th Division was cancelled, the previous glory of these big men would become a laughing stock in the army and it would be difficult to gain a foothold in the army. For their own face and vital interests in the future, Honjo Shizuka, who had served as the commander of the 10th Division, took the lead and lobbying all parties to open up the joints for the reconstruction of the 10th Division.

A decisive heavyweight figure that Honjo Shin and Miji Kenkawa cleared was the chief of the Japanese Military Command, Fushimiya Hirokyo. Although Hirokyo, he and Zai Ren are both decisive figures in the Japanese base camp. On the surface, Hirokyo and Miji Kenkawa focus on public relations on Hirokyo, the Marshal, but in fact there are other articles in it.

The 10th Division was established in 1898. Its first division commander was Prince Shizui Fushimiya, who was the father of Hiroko. Although Satoi had passed away in 23 years, as Satoi's eldest son, Hiroko must have a kind of commemorative complex for the division he founded by his father. Honjo Shizui and Miji Kenkawa touched Hiroko on the grounds that "the achievements of the previous kings should not be abandoned."

Based on his memory of his father's achievements, Hiroko was moved by the lobbying of Honjo Shizuki and Miji Kenkawa. Afterwards, Hiroko personally negotiated with Zairen to determine the reconstruction of the 10th Division. Of course, the reason for disclosure was: "It is the responsibility of Isotani Risuke and others to be frustrated. The imperial elite division cannot be abandoned due to a temporary setback, and the division's flag and important documents can be preserved, so it should be rebuilt."

In this way, after half a year of disputes and reconstruction, by July, Lieutenant General Shinozuka Yoshinobu was the leader of the division and Colonel Kita was the chief of staff. He was under the command of two infantry brigades, as well as four infantry regiments, including cavalry, artillery, labour, light and heavy C, as well as communications teams, health teams, and four field hospitals, the permanent 10th Division of the Japanese army once again joined the Japanese combat sequence and was transferred to the 2nd Army of the Central China Expeditionary Army.

When the Yellow River Flood was formed, the guards occupied northern Jiangsu, northern Anhui, eastern Henan, southwestern Shandong and other places. When the connection between the North China Front Army and the Central China Expeditionary Force was re-sealed, if the Japanese base camp wanted to achieve the strategic goal of "first the National Government and then the people were armed, conquering Wuhan and forcing the Chiang family to surrender", it could only strengthen the strength of the Central China Expeditionary Force and then seize Wuhan along Jiangxi.

Minorhiko led the 16th Division to Central China to reorganize the 2nd Army, which was just a small part of the Japanese base camp's increase in the strength of the Central China dispatched troops. In addition, the Japanese base camp successively organized the 106th, 116th, 15th, 17th, and 22nd Division into the Central China dispatched troops. At the same time, it also transferred the 27th Division formed by the garrison corps from the North China Front Army and the aviation corps commanded by Tokugawa Yotoshi to Central China.

After adjustment, by mid-August, the strength of the dispatched troops in Central China had increased to 14 divisions, one detachment, and one aviation regiment. The Japanese army's troops in the Wuhan battle had basically been adjusted, and the combat operations were already on the verge of arrows!

The troops in central China have been greatly enhanced, and the North China Front Army, which is seriously threatened by the People's Party's armed forces, will naturally not be ignored by the Japanese base camp.

From late June to early August, the Japanese base camp successively transferred the newly formed 110th Division, the Kwantung Army, the Cavalry Group of the newly formed garrisons of the Mongolian Army, the newly formed 21st Division, the ** Mixed 6th Brigade and other units to the North China Front Army combat sequence. At the same time, the newly formed North China Front Flight Team replaced the Aviation Corps of Tokugawa Yotoshi who was transferred to central China.

After the adjustment of the troops, although the North China Front Army was transferred away the 16th Division, the 27th Division, and the Aviation Corps, the garrison army was adapted from the garrison army, and the 110th Division, the 21st Division, the 6th Brigade, and the Flying Team. The strength of the North China Front Army increased instead of decline, and had a total of nine divisions, four infantry brigades, two cavalry brigades, and one flight team.

Although most of the 109th Division was annihilated by the escort army, Sugiyama's confidence was still a little bit stronger after the troops were adjusted. By mid-August, Sugiyama had also completed the deployment of troops.

Among them, northern Shanxi and southern Chanan were stationed by the Mongolian Army and the Cavalry Group, with the 26th Division, the 2nd Brigade, the 1st and 4th Cavalry Brigades, with a total force of about 60,000.

In the east of Henan, the 21st and 110th Divisions replaced the original defense areas of the 5th and 16th Divisions, and reduced their troops to the vicinity of Kaifeng, and together with the 14th Division, they prepared the guards to advance westward and threatened southern Shanxi;

In the south of Hebei, the 3rd and 4th brigades were mixed with ** to strengthen the remnants of the 109th Division, and work together to defend Puyang and Dongming;

In the north of Lu, the 6th Brigade of the ** Mixed Brigade replaced the 13th Brigade outside the pass, and the 5th Brigade with the ** Mixed Brigade, and the 114th Division prepared the guards to cross Hebei.

As for the 20th Division and the 108th Division, they still maintained pressure on the Second World War Zone of Yanxishan, southern Shanxi from the north and east respectively; while the 5th Division was deployed in the Pingjin area as a reserve force for the Front Army.

After the relevant deployment was completed, although Sugiyama was temporarily relieved, he was unhappy when he thought of the achievements that Hata Shunrok had already achieved and was about to achieve.

Tadao Shunruo first commanded the Central China Expeditionary Army to conquer the city and land between the Jianghuai River during the previous Battle of Xuzhou, showing his face. Then he had to command more than a dozen divisions of heavy troops to fight in Wuhan. Both of these were outstanding martial arts.

In contrast, although the North China Front Army performed well in the previous Battle of Xuzhou, the escort army picked peaches in southwestern Shandong, eastern Henan and other places, causing Sugiyama to lose its troops and lose its territory and face to be greatly damaged. As for the upcoming Wuhan battle, the North China Front Army could not get involved due to the barrier between the Guard Army and the Yellow River Flood. Sugiyama could only watch Hata Shunruo show off again. This taste naturally made it unbearable.

"You guys, although the front army's strength has increased, it has been dispersed several places due to the armed restraint of the People's Party. As for the current situation in North China, Yan Xishan's troops in southern Shanxi can only defend one corner and are unable to expand, which is no longer a concern. However, the People's Party's armed forces have concentrated in northern Shanxi, Suidong, northern Shandong, southwestern Shandong, and eastern Henan, posing a serious threat to our Front Army." At the high-level meeting of the Front Army in mid-August, Sugiyama Sora said to the new leadership team member Surong, "According to the order of the headquarters, the Central China side will soon fight against Wuhan. Although the headquarters has no new combat tasks issued to our Front Army, the People's Party's armed forces are like bones in their throats, and the Front Army must come up with a proper solution as soon as possible. You have any good strategies, just say!"

After Minorhiko brought the 2nd Army to central China, the commander of the 1st Army, Kazuki Kiyoshi, had a serious dispute with the Front Command on the use of combat forces in southern Shanxi and Xuzhou, and had too much dispute with the Front Chief of Staff Naosaburo Okabe, and was removed from the position of commander of the 1st Army by Sugiyama Moto. He was succeeded by Sugiyama Moto when he was appointed as the Minister of the Army - Lieutenant General Miji Umezu.

Naosaburo Okabe also received an order from the base camp to serve as the commander of the 1st Division in the Kanto Army. The position of Chief of Staff of the North China Front Army was Major General Tomomo Yamashita, the former commander of the garrison corps. The deputy chief of staff of the Front was transferred from Colonel Muto Akira, who was transferred from Japan.

In terms of aviation, after Tokugawa Yotoshi led the aviation regiment to the Central China Expeditionary Army, Colonel Einosuke Sudo was appointed as the captain of the North China Front Flight Team.

As for the former Mongolian Army, which had suffered severe damage from the People's Army, the former Mongolian Army was reorganized into the Mongolian Army, and the Renzuobao was still appointed as the commander.

After hearing Sora Sugiyama's words, these participants looked at each other for a while, and then Mijiro Umezu took the lead and said, "Your Excellency, as far as the People's Party armed forces are concerned, the results of attacking the Guards first will be greater.

The guards have newly occupied northern Jiangsu, southwestern Shandong, northern Anhui, eastern Henan and other places. The heavy army groups originally south of the Yellow River and east of the canal have been scattered everywhere. After the Yellow River breaks, the water level in the Shandong section has dropped significantly. Although precipitation increases in the rainy season, there are still places to cross the river. If a force is used to feint the southern bank of the Yellow River east of Jinan, and heavy troops are raiding southwestern Shandong, taking advantage of the favorable opportunity of its foothold and focusing its energy on disaster relief, it is not impossible to recover southwestern Shandong in one fell swoop.

Moreover, according to public reports by the People's Party, the guards have rescued more than 2 million victims. If our army expels the victims from eastern Henan and then enter the guards controlled areas while attacking southwestern Shandong, even if the attack on the front line is temporarily blocked, the sudden increase in the number of victims will add great pressure to the guards and may even drag them down!"

Umetsu Mijiro's suggestion made Sugiyama's eyes lit up and nodded in praise. However, before Sugiyama's statement was made, Chief of Staff Yamashita Tomoto openly expressed his opposition: "Your Excellency, taking advantage of the scattered forces of the Guards and busy with disaster relief, it is indeed easier to achieve results in attacking them. However, the People's Party's armed forces are not only one Guards, but also the People's Army near Beijing and Tianjin! If the Front concentrates its forces across the Yellow River to attack the Guards, the People's Army will definitely not sit idly by! Once the People's Army launches an attack on Chanan and our army in northern Shanxi, the Front will be in danger of fighting on two or even three lines! If the People's Army breaks through northern Shanxi and the Chanan line with heavy troops, and the Front has concentrated its forces to attack the Guards, the Beijing-Tianjin area will be in danger!"

Yamashita Tomoto had fought with the People's Army in northern Shanxi. He knew the strength of the People's Army. He was afraid that Sugiyama Yuan would adopt Umejin's suggestion to cause the situation in northern Shanxi and Chanan to collapse. He further said: "If there is only the Guards alone, it is indeed beneficial to the Front Army at this time. However, due to the existence of the People's Army, this advantage will become unfavorable. On the contrary, if the Front Army concentrates its forces to solve the threat of the People's Army first, although it may be a bit difficult, the Guards who are busy stabilizing the newly occupied areas and disaster relief will not go north with heavy troops. We have to deal with it only the People's Army."

Fighting the Guards first will attract attacks from the People's Army, but fighting the People's Army first will not attract escorts. This account seems more cost-effective. Just when Sugiyama was weighing the pros and consolidating his pros and consequently escorts, Renumaba, the commander of the Mongolian army who had suffered a lot in the hands of the People's Army, said: "Your Excellency, I think we can combine the suggestions of Mei Jinjun and Yamashita Jun. While concentrating our troops on the north direction of Shanxi, we ordered our army in eastern Henan to drive the victims to the guards controlled area, and take the opportunity to create chaos to ensure that the guards are unable to go north!"

Sugiyama Moto nodded repeatedly, and was about to express his appreciation for Renumaba's proposal, but Deputy Chief of Staff Akira Muto said, "Your Excellency, whether it is for the escort army or the People's Army, it is easy to say if the Front can solve the problem within one month. But if it cannot, then the Front will fall into danger due to the lack of subsequent combat supplies, mainly due to the issue of ammunition replenishment."

"There is insufficient ammunition, just ask the base camp for allocation!" Colonel Einosuke Sudo said indifferently.

"Suto-kun, it's not that easy." Chief of Staff, Tomoto Yamashita, also recalled and said with a wry smile. "The Xuzhou battle that had just ended consumed a lot of combat reserves. The base camp decided to launch the Wuhan operation, and military supplies were given priority to the dispatched troops in Central China. The remaining part also took into account the needs of the Kwantung Army for the Soviet defense. Before the end of the Wuhan operation, the front army could at most gain more than one month's combat share. But even the two-month share was not safe. The People's Army was not comparable to the Fifth and Fifth Zones of the Chinese Government."

Sugiyama Yuan was upset. After all the calculations, he didn't expect that there was a problem in replenishing combat materials.

Since July last year, the Japanese army's battle against China has not stopped. From North China to Central China, the number of troops has been adjusted more and more, and the scale of the battle has continued to increase. From last year's Songhu, Taiyuan Battle to this year's Battle of Shanxi, and Xuzhou Battle, it will take one or two months or even longer.

After more than a year of combat consumption, the Japanese base camp had too much strategic reserves, but it was impossible to bear it. What's more, the Japanese base camp did not expect that the battle against China, which was originally expected to be resolved in three months, would last for so long, so the strategic reserve materials would naturally be insufficient.

Whether it is Fengwen of Yamashita, Renzuobo, or Sugiyama Yuan, they all know that the People's Army is not comparable to that of Li Zongren's troops in the Fifth War Zone. Although in northern Shanxi, the People's Army in Suidong only has more than 130,000, but its equipment is better than that of the Japanese army. In addition, the People's Army's air superiority and the supplementary forces that the People's Party can draw from the Northwest in time. This war will never be solved by the capabilities of the North China Front Army!

"Your Excellency, since the combat materials are not enough to support a major battle, it is better to start to consolidate the area occupied by the Front Army and completely eliminate the hidden dangers. In this way, after the Wuhan war is over, the Front Army will have no worries about the Guards and the People's Army. Furthermore, after the Wuhan war is over, the Front Army can also request the base camp to send more troops to the base so that the relevant combat operations are more confident." Umezu Mijiro spoke out and suggested.

"That's all!" Sugiyama Sora sighed, and said unwillingly, "The Wuhan war will last for one or two months, and our front army's combat operations can only be postponed to the autumn and winter seasons. At that time, the cold-proof materials required for the combat must be prepared in advance, so that the current situation will not occur again."

If the existing forces of the North China Front Army can be concentrated to attack the guards, in addition to the obvious lack of air power, the ground forces can still compete. They are used to deal with the People's Army in northern Shanxi and Suidong, and Suishan Yuan also has a lot of confidence. However, because of the use of troops in various occupied areas, Suishan Yuan can only concentrate more than 100,000 troops to northern Shanxi. Faced with the inconspicuous background of the People's Party in the northwest, these more than 100,000 troops seem to be not very reliable.

Meijiro Umezu proposed to ask the base camp to increase its troops in North China again after the battle in Wuhan, which is exactly the same as Sugiyama Motoshigaki. If the North China Front Army's strength can also be increased to 14 divisions or more, then the confidence in dealing with the People's Army will undoubtedly increase a lot.

Sugiyama Yuan and others were racking their brains to plot against the People's Party's armed forces, and Zhao Zhenzhong was also planning the next stage of the war and development of the Guards and the People's Army. Among them, the first thing to consider is the Guards' disaster relief operations.

By mid-August, after the inspection period of the epidemic prevention and observation period, the more than 2.6 million victims rescued by the escort army had been identified and those who had family members or had guaranteed more than ten familiar personnel, as well as orphans, elderly and weak, were scattered to different areas for proper resettlement.

During the rainy season, the victims who were able to work received seeds and seedlings from the local governments of the People's Party that were established shortly after they sowed corn, beans, sweet potatoes, vegetables and other crops in the allocated land, looking forward to the harvest in autumn. As for the elderly, the local governments were responsible for raising them. Those orphans and other children of appropriate age were sent to temporary schools to learn cultural knowledge.

For the good deeds of the guards, the vast majority of the victims who were properly resettled were grateful from the bottom of their hearts, and they were talking about the great kindness of "Master Zhao".

Those suspicious young and strong men who are alone and unguaranteed will be broken up and arranged to work teams to work for relief, and will be engaged in road construction, brick and tile firing, building houses, and water conservancy construction. These people will be in the trust inspection period in the next five years.

Those who wear wooden clogs or crotch marks on their bodies are considered Japanese spies, and what is waiting for them is naturally the inquiry method of the security department of the escort army.

As for other suspicious personnel, the security department of the escort army also arranged eyeliners among the people to monitor their actions.

...

"It's really hard for Haichuan and the others. In two months, relocating more than 2.6 million victims is much more difficult than fighting a major battle! Fortunately, although there were some minor troubles during this period, it was finally resolved properly!" Zhou Mingyuan looked at the disaster relief report transported by Gu Haichuan and others by air. After admiring, he said, "However, the manpower and material resources occupied by these more than 2.6 million victims are really amazing. Before the end of the year, Haichuan and the others may not be able to make big moves."

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Chapter completed!