Compared with the commander-in-chief who was more worried about the anti-Japanese situation in Xiajiang and Dongman areas after the failure of the Seventh Army, after seeing these seventh army officers and soldiers who broke through the Sino-Soviet border and rushed to Ning'an from the Sino-Soviet border, Yang Zhen was more shocked than saying it was bitter.

Looking at the soldiers who were not covered in clothes and were even more embarrassed than the remaining troops of the 5th Army and the Third Division led by the commander-in-chief to retreat to the Lao Heidingzi secret camp, Yang Zhen shook his head and sighed even though he was a little relieved.

However, the death of this commander, and the remaining troops of the Seventh Army were only 100. It can almost be said to be a failure. Whether it is the Seventh Army, the Second Route Army, or even the overall situation of the anti-Japanese war in the entire Dongman area, they all suffered heavy losses.

But the only benefit seemed to be the acting commander of the Seventh Army who had already died. At least this time, he would not die except for a few parties involved, even their superiors were confused as he knew in the future.

As Yang Zhen knew in later generations, the acting commander neither rebelled nor survived, nor did he die on the battlefield like most other Anti-Japanese Allied Generals. Instead, he died at the hands of his own people. He became the second military-level cadre who was wrongly killed in the history of the Anti-Japanese Allied General.

Although the reasons for killing him have always been unclear, according to the research on family-to-beasts in later generations, the research on the seven armies has been constantly engaging in internal friction since their establishment.

What happened during this? Because most of the parties have sacrificed for various reasons, and most of the survivors are Koreans. After the end of the War of Resistance Against Japan, most of them returned to China and held high positions. The real situation has been unclear. Even scholars who claim to be the most profound research on the Confrontational Union could not give a real answer for the time being.

Although the Seventh Army has become like this now, it is a serious loss for the overall situation of the anti-Japanese war. However, for a soldier, the ending of dying on the battlefield is still better than death at the hands of his own people.

Yang Zhen could not estimate how much damage the main force of the Seventh Army would bring to the anti-Japanese situation in Xiajiang area. What he knew was that he expected to go south to Dunhua first, mobilize the Japanese and puppet troops to block the troops after fighting a few battles, and then advance eastward to Xiajiang area. The plan of uncoordinated combat with the Second Route Army remaining in Xiajiang area was severely damaged by the main force of the Seventh Army. If he advances eastward according to the original plan, then the situation in Xiajiang can only be supported by himself and can only fight alone.

The commander-in-chief, who seemed worried, looked back to rest because the last remaining main seventh army of the Second Route Army was severely damaged. After repeatedly telling Li Yanping to accompany him, Yang Zhen and Guo Bingxun who stayed in the war room, and Peng Dingjie who came to report on the preparations for the pre-war materials were all speechless.

After being silent for a long time, Guo Bingxun looked at Yang Zhen's somewhat depressed mood, hesitated for a moment and said: "Captain, do you see what we should do next? Or will we continue to advance eastward to Xiajiang area after mobilizing the Japanese and puppet troops as planned? If we continue to advance eastward, the commander, with the loss of the Seventh Army, our army has lost all support points.|"

"Without the cooperation of the Anti-Japanese Allied Forces, we will not only be unclear about the enemy situation, but we can even fight alone. Once there is any loss, please think twice. These more than a thousand people are our foundation and our last capital."

After hearing Guo Bingxun’s worries, Yang Zhen stood up and walked to the map, stared for a long time, gritted his teeth and said: | Lao Guo, is my opinion to act or follow the original plan. Go south first, fight a few battles in Dunhua, and tear the blockade line of the Japanese and puppet troops open, our main force advanced eastward and jumped east of Mudanjiang to move."

"We cannot stay in the deep mountains and forests for a long time, and we still have to jump out. It is impossible to develop and grow here. Even if there are still troops from the Anti-Japanese Allied Forces in Xiajiang area, according to the situation of the Anti-Japanese Allied Forces, we must mainly rely on ourselves and fight independently."

"To be honest, Lao Guo, the current situation is not optimistic for us, and it can even be said to be a dilemma. After the Japanese and puppet troops completed their storm in Dunhua, their sight will sooner or later turn to the Ning'an area. Instead of passively waiting for the Japanese and puppet troops to come to us, we might as well take the initiative to jump out and look for fighter opportunities."

Speaking of this, Yang Zhen smashed his fist hard on the map on the wall and said: "For us, we can only take a gamble when we win. If we win, the troops will grow and grow. If we lose, we will have nothing. Compared with our comrades who died in the concentration camp, we have lived for half a year, which is enough."

Regarding Yang Zhen's somewhat burning answer, Guo Bingxun was silent and said, "I also think it's better to fight for it than to sit and wait for death. However, without the support of intelligence, our combat will be greatly bound, just like a blind man touching an elephant. Without the support of reliable intelligence, our rash attack on Xiajiang area is equivalent to a life-and-death death. Commander, you don't really remember the real reason for the failure of the Second Route Army in the Western Expedition, right?"

"Why don't you remember, but the current situation has no way out for us. Only by fighting can we develop and strengthen ourselves. If we don't go, we can only stay in the deep mountains and forests and wait for death. After completing the clearance of the northern Dunhua, the Japanese and puppet troops will soon turn their attention to the southern mountainous areas of Ning'an. As for information, we can only rely on your radio station and Li Mingrui and others. Especially for tactical reconnaissance, we can only rely on them."

After hesitating for a moment, Yang Zhen finally made up his mind and said, "Old Guo, from now on, your radio stations will be turned on in 24 hours. Regardless of whether you can decipher the telegrams of the Japanese and puppet troops, all wireless communications between the Japanese and puppet troops must be cut off as much as possible."

"In addition, hurry up and communicate with Li Mingrui. Regardless of whether they can meet with Huang Dali and the others, they must understand the general enemy situation in northern Dunhua within three days. Tell them that in two days, all the troops will go south."

Speaking of this, Yang Zhen said: "If we want to break the current dilemma, we can only jump out of the inside and fight on the outside. For us, there is no way out. Whether it is success or failure, we can only try. No matter how dangerous the situation is in front of us, we can only break forward without hesitation. People move to live, trees move to die. When we go out, there may be a way out. One word, typing."

Regarding Yang Zhen's idea that was almost like a death-death battle, Guo Bingxun knew that this was not Yang Zhen's risk, but his side had no way out of everything. Surviving in danger is also the only choice for this army at present.

This time, Li Mingrui's call did not disappoint Yang Zhen and Guo Bingxun. Before Guo Bingxun could send Yang Zhen's order to Li Mingxu, his report telegram was first reached.

After seeing Li Mingrui's telegram that was reported in detail, Yang Zhen's serious expression on his face slightly relieved a little, he handed the telegram to Guo Bingxun and said: "Tell the troops to prepare for battle. Tomorrow, except for leaving two platoons to serve as the left-behind old Peng, they will all go south to fight."

As the director of the political department who assisted Li Yanping in charge of political work and logistics, Peng Dingjie seemed a little immature in his experience, but he was in the responsibility of a qualified political worker. Except for a very rare occasion, he never interfered in the work of a military chief.

But after hearing Yang Zhen's plan, Peng Dingjie expressed fierce opposition. In his opinion, if the battle to Dunhua south could still be said to be a helpless move to break the predicament, the troops jumped to Xiajiang to fight at this time, which was no big difference from seeking death.

Except for the remaining few people in the Fourth Army's Western Expedition, the entire army was destroyed. Most of the Five Army died, the few rebelled, and some lost contact. The remaining troops were not even considered maintaining the situation. Now the remaining troops of the Seventh Army suffered heavy losses. Once the troops left the Yangtze River, they could be said to be fighting alone.

Facing the tens of thousands of well-equipped and highly mobility-capable Japanese and puppet troops in the Xiajiang area with more than a thousand troops, it is also clear what this force means to Peng Dingjie, who is not very proficient in military affairs, has been polished in the Anti-Japanese Allied Forces for several years.

Neither Yang Zhen nor Guo Bingxun expected that Peng Dingjie, who had always been gentle and almost never interfered with the actions of the military chief, would have such fierce opposition to the action.

Looking at Peng Dingjie who was unexpected on the surface, Yang Zhen smiled helplessly, handed a glass of water and said, "Old Peng, tell me what you think and keep calm."

"Captain, you will choose to go south to Dunhua for the first battle. I have no objection. The land is vast and sparsely populated, with high mountains and dense forests, which is very suitable for us to defeat the strong with the weak. But after moving eastward, I have some disagreements."

"The Second Route Army in Xiajiang area suffered heavy losses and had almost no combat power. When we advanced east, we could say that we had lost all possible support points. Replenishment and enemy situations were all unfamiliar to us. Instead of taking the risk to attack Xiajiang area, it is better to advance north and join the Third Route Army."

"Although the situation of the Third Route Army is still unclear, the Third Route Army has always been the absolute main force in the North Manchuria and East Manchuria areas. Whether in terms of number of people, combat effectiveness, or force, they are firmly ranked among the top of the Anti-Japanese Allied Army. The combat effectiveness of the Sixth Route Army is not low. It turns out that the commander-in-chief of the Third Route Army is quite good at fighting for the foundation of the Third Route Army."

"Our advance north and the three armies can cooperate and support each other. At least we can avoid falling into a situation of fighting alone. Corps Commander, Lao Guo, although I am not good at military affairs, I can also see that our advance east at this time can be said to be a dead move. It can even be described as a life-long death."

Regarding the suggestion that Peng Dingjie would not advance eastward after he went south and turned northward, Yang Zhen shook his head and said, "Old Peng, your suggestion of northward advance and the three armies relying on each other is good. But the possibility of implementation is not high."

"We will not talk about the enemy situation on the way. We don't know the exact location of the Third Route Army. If we can't find the Third Route Army, our greatest advantage in advance will lose its significance. The Japanese and puppet troops launched a large-scale encirclement and suppression of the Xiajiang area. Can they let go of the Third Route Army that was active in North Manchuria? In order to break the encirclement and suppression of the Japanese and puppet troops, the Second Route Army first fought south and west. Who can guarantee that the Third Route Army will not divert in the face of severe enemy situation?"

"We did seem to have lost all the support points when we advanced eastward, but this is our greatest advantage. Most of the Anti-Japanese United Army in the Xiajiang area has failed and a small number of troops have moved, and the remaining troops have no way to pose any threat to the enemy. The Japanese and puppet troops' clearance of the Xiajiang area in 1938 was a great victory for them."

"When the Second Route Army units have suffered heavy losses and lost their combat effectiveness and it is difficult to pose a threat to the Japanese and puppet troops, the Japanese and puppet troops will definitely relax their vigilance against the Xiajiang area. With this premise, at least in the early stages of our operations, the resistance will be much smaller."

"Also, the Commander-in-Chief will always be active with us. With the Commander-in-Chief, a living map of the Xiajiang area, our actions will be much more convenient. At least, it is not a problem to find one or two places to settle in the dense forest."

"There is another point, which is also the most fundamental reason why I insist on going east to Xiajiang. Although the current situation in the Dongman area is very serious, its geographical location can be a fatal point for us. It connects the three Route Army in the north and can support the one Route Army in the south. It is the connection point for all the activities of all Anti-Japanese United Army units east of the entire Middle East Railway."

"If you lose the East Manchuria, the Three Army of the North Manchuria, the One Army of the South Manchuria will be completely cut off. The entire Anti-Japanese Allied Forces can only fall into a situation of fighting on their own. This situation will be a fatal blow to the situation where the enemy is strong and we are weak."

"Old Peng, our focus cannot be limited to ourselves or the whole place, we must have a view of the overall situation. The three Route Army is a whole and needs mutual cooperation. Without Dongman, the three Route Army, which is already very poorly connected, will be completely cut off and continuous. So no matter what, we must advance eastward."

"Old Peng, don't worry too much. Although most of the main forces of the Second Route Army failed, I think there should be broken troops in the Xiajiang area to continue fighting. Also, the lost troops of the Five Army led by the commander of the Fifth Army should still be hidden in the Xiajiang area. Didn't the Fifth Division of the Second Army always operate in the Jingpo Lake area of ​​Ning'an? So we went east to Xiajiang area, not fighting alone."

"This time you stayed at the secret camp. First, after we took us away, all the remaining materials were scattered and hidden. The location can only be controlled by you. You must do confidentiality. In addition, be prepared to accept the wounded. When we go south to fight and fight with the regular Japanese army, there will inevitably be wounded. When we advance eastward, we cannot carry too many wounded people, and all wounded people must be sent back to the old Hei Tingzi for cultivation."

"This time I went south and went east, I don't know how long it would take to fight continuously, so I can't leave you too many troops to stay. There are only two platoons, leaving you with a machine gun squad, two machine guns and a mortar."

"You must pay attention to safety and place more guard posts, especially to prevent the enemy from conducting air reconnaissance. Once abnormal situations occur, you are too persistent. When it is not possible, except for necessary materials, blow up all the uncarryable materials and quickly advance northwards and join the three armies."

Speaking of this, Yang Zhen walked to Peng Dingjie and said, "Old Peng, after the main force leaves, the secret camp will be handed over to you. After joining with Li Mingrui, I will transfer Huang Dali to cooperate with you. You must pay attention to safety. Remember, when things cannot be done, don't insist, put safety as the top priority in everything. Long nights and there are many wolves, be more careful."

Listening to Yang Zhen's words, Peng Dingjie knew that Yang Zhen had made up his mind and it was difficult to change again, so he shook his head and stopped talking and no longer insisted on his opinion. He knew that he was not from a military cadre and his military capabilities were far inferior to Yang and Guo. So despite his deep concerns about Yang Zhen's next eastward advance, Peng Dingjie did not interfere with Yang Zhen's military determination.

After listening to Yang Zhen’s last sentence, Peng Dingjie, who knew that he would be separated for a long time this time, took Yang Zhen’s hand and said, “There are you too. If the situation in Xiajiang area is irreversible, don’t stick to it. Whether it is going south or north, it is a road of life.”
Chapter completed!