Zhang Xinghan gave the order, and more than 20,000 officers and soldiers from the two infantry divisions began to wait for the train in an orderly manner.

The tanks and armored vehicles of the armored brigade also started up one after another, slowly driving out of the Tongliao base area and advancing eastward.

Regarding the tactical arrangements for this assault on the ancient forest, Zhang Xinghan conducted detailed and careful considerations and discussions with Jiang Baili and others during these three days.

After discussion, an offensive route was decided, which was to advance from Tongliao eastward along the Qinghe River, bypass Shuangliao, and directly attack the important town of Siping.

Siping is located at the junction of Liao and Gu provinces, in the hinterland of the Songliao Plain, and the South-Manchuria Railway runs through the entire territory. Once Siping is attacked, Japan will definitely mobilize heavy troops from Changchun and Shenyang for reinforcements.

After the goal of mobilizing the Japanese army was achieved, the Northeastern New Army's strong maneuverability was used to quickly take a roundabout route via Gongzhuling and penetrate into the ancient forest through Changchun.

At present, in the Northeast region, the total strength of the Japanese army is to have an absolute advantage, but it is distributed in the three northeastern provinces. Although the Japanese army tries its best to concentrate its main force along the South Manchuria Railway.

However, compared with the 50,000 Northeastern New Army, they are still at a disadvantage locally.

Moreover, in terms of air force, tanks and armored units, artillery fire, and infantry rapid fire firepower, they completely lagged behind Zhang Xinghan's Northeastern New Army.

The only advantage of the Japanese Army is that their soldiers are more well-trained than the Northeastern New Army and take longer to train.

However, under the absolute firepower and Zhang Xinghan's superb battle command that was beyond the era, this has disappeared invisibly.

While Zhang Xinghan led the 1st and 2nd Motorized Infantry Divisions and the Armored Brigade to advance from Tongliaodong in a mighty manner, Jiang Baili and Huang Xiansheng also commanded the 3rd Motorized Infantry Division and the direct cavalry regiment from Qinglong Mountain southward to threaten Zhangwu, Shenyang and other places.

Tongliao's new army troops were divided into two groups and were so powerful that it was naturally impossible to hide them from the Japanese scouts and agents who were interested in reconnaissance.

The news was quickly reported to the Kwantung Army headquarters.

Muto Xinyi was shocked when he heard this. He slapped the table and stood up and said: "Zhang Xinghan has gone too far on Bagaya Road. With his small force, he dares to divide his troops into two groups and want to attack Changchun and Shenyang at the same time?"

"Your Excellency, General, I believe that one of the two Chinese armies must be a feint attack. Zhang Xinghan will not be stupid enough to disperse his limited troops and attack important cities and towns that are heavily defended by the imperial army." Hashimoto Toranosuke said.

"Oh? Hashimoto-kun, do you think that one way into China is a virtual one, and which one is a real one?" Muto Nobuyoshi asked.

"Reporting to the general, we can't draw a conclusion yet, but we can inform the divisions on the front line in advance, especially the troops in Changchun and Shenyang, to take strict precautions. No matter which direction China attacks from, the imperial army should be able to ensure the current situation. It’s important to have a line of defense that won’t be breached,” Hashimoto Toranosuke said.

"Yes." Muto Xinyi nodded, paused and said: "The 2nd and 6th divisions are ordered to strengthen the defense in the Shenyang and Zhangwu areas. If necessary, they can abandon Zhangwu and retreat to the Xinmin front line to rely on favorable terrain for defense. .

The 14th and 10th divisions strengthened the defense forces of Siping and Changchun, and were also mobilized to coordinate with six other Manchurian divisions including Zhishan, Guxing, and Zhang Jinghui to ensure the safety of the South Manchuria Railway defense line."

"Hai!" Hashimoto Toranosuke quickly lowered his head and responded, then turned around and strode away with his saber in hand.

…………In order to concentrate its forces and shrink the defense of the South Manchuria Railway line, the 10th Division decisively abandoned the isolated Shuangliao County just after learning that Zhang Xinghan was leading his army from Tongliao.

An infantry brigade stationed in Shuangliao County and a regiment of puppet Han troops were all withdrawn to Siping.

Li Zhenyuan led the armored brigade to occupy Shuangliao, but soon gave up on Zhang Xinghan's order, and the entire brigade of 200 tanks and armored vehicles quickly advanced towards Siping.

Zhang Xinghan led 20,000 officers and soldiers of the First and Second Motorized Infantry Divisions to follow suit.

That same day, the New Army Flying Group dispatched a large number of bombers to conduct air raids on the South Manchuria Railway, Siping, Gongzhuling and other stations, causing considerable casualties and trouble to the Japanese.

On August 15, the 21st year of the Republic of China, Li Zhenyuan, commander of the New Army Armored Brigade, led his troops to the western suburbs of Siping.

Zhang Xinghan then led two motorized infantry divisions to arrive.

Knowing that the Northeastern New Army was pressing heavily on the border and approaching Siping City, Muto Xinyi quickly ordered Changchun and the Tieling Japanese puppet troops to rush along the railway line to aid Siping.

At the same time, part of the 2nd Division was also transferred from Shenyang to Siping.

In order to further attract the Japanese army, Zhang Xinghan ordered his troops to set up a formation in the western suburbs of Siping and began to launch the first fierce attack on the Japanese army's Siping defense line.

Dozens of Panzer IV tanks guided and covered thousands of New Army infantrymen on a front more than a thousand meters wide. Under the cover of fierce firepower from their own artillery groups, they launched an attack on the Japanese and puppet defense lines.

Throughout the battlefield, there were intensive gunshots, rumbling cannons, and clouds of fire and thick smoke rising from the ground.

In the forward command post, Zhang Xinghan, Wang Yizhe and others were watching the troops' attack with telescopes in their hands.

"Commander, it seems that Japan has made a lot of preparations in the past few months." Liu Jianguo, deputy commander of the 1st Motorized Infantry Division, put down his telescope and turned to Zhang Xinghan.

"Yeah." Zhang Xinghan held up his binoculars and nodded in disbelief as he watched his own offensive troops fighting fiercely with the Japanese army relying on a large number of machine gun bunkers.

On the battlefield, a large number of officers and soldiers of the Motorized Infantry Regiment were charging with their own tanks in the rain of bullets.

The No. 4 tank kept firing, but many shells fell on the Japanese bunker, bursting out with dazzling flames.

However, the Japanese bunker was obviously different from ordinary civil bunkers. After the flash of fire, the machine gun firepower in the bunker paused for a moment, then roared again.

Many infantrymen of the Motorized Rifle Regiment were unfortunately shot and fell in a pool of blood.

The offensive and defensive hands were locked in a stalemate and were consumed, with people getting shot and dying every minute.

After the attack lasted for half an hour, Zhang Xinghan put down his telescope decisively and said: "Order the troops to stop the attack and call the air force for bombing."

"Yes!" A messenger who had been waiting beside him happily stepped forward and quickly walked out of the command post.

After receiving the order, the attacking motorized infantry regiment and dozens of tanks stopped charging one after another and withdrew like water.

Not long after, about a dozen He111 medium bombers, escorted by five Zero fighters, flew over the battlefield.

Toward the Japanese army's defensive position and bunker group, light and dark firepower points began a fierce bombardment.

Coincidentally, a group of Japanese fighter planes were also ordered to arrive on the battlefield at this time.

Five Zero fighter jets immediately rushed forward. The Japanese fighter jets, which had been frightened by the Northeast New Army Air Force fighter jets, immediately turned around and fled without hesitation.

However, the Zero, which was much faster than them, quickly caught up and finally shot down the two unlucky Japanese planes.

In the forward command post, Zhang Xinghan and others looked forward with telescopes. Everything they looked at was shrouded in fire and gunpowder smoke, making it impossible to see the Japanese army's positions.

Feeling that the ground beneath his feet was shaking slightly under the violent explosion, Liu Jianguo said excitedly: "This is enough for the bastard little devil to drink a pot of. Commander, in my opinion, let's attack with all our strength quickly and take it down in one fell swoop."

Forget it, Siping."

"It's not that simple. Siping has now become one of the most important strategic hubs for the Japanese and puppet troops in the Northeast. It is related to the smooth flow of the South Manchuria Railway and the Zhongchang Railway. If we storm Siping, the Japanese will definitely continue to increase their troops.

To ensure that the four sides are flat.

If we really capture Siping, the Japanese will never give up and will mobilize heavy troops to counterattack. In this way, we will fall into a repeated tug-of-war of attrition with the Japanese. Unless we withdraw from Siping, our previous efforts will be in vain.

For nothing.

Therefore, what we need to do now is to inflict a certain amount of damage on the enemy forces in Siping and attract and mobilize more Japanese and puppet troops to reinforce Siping.

When the time is right, some troops will be retained to contain Siping to attract the Japanese army. The main force immediately bypasses Gongzhuling and thrusts into Gulin City. Gulin is now the capital of the puppet Manchukuo.

After taking Gulin, we can deal a heavy blow to the puppet Manchukuo.

In order to maintain the so-called Japanese Satisfaction Agreement, the Japanese and puppet troops will definitely counterattack Gulin. At that time, we will attack according to the situation and rely on the strong mobility of our army to defeat the Japanese and puppet troops one by one in mobile warfare.

Destroy a large number of the enemy's effective forces, and finally complete the counterattack against Changchun, Siping, Shenyang and other places, and regain our lost territory in the Northeast." After Zhang Xinghan finished speaking, he put down his binoculars, turned around, walked to the conference table, sat down, lit a cigarette and started smoking.

.

"So, now we should patiently wait for the opportunity to appear. Just watch, Japan will not be able to calm down, and the reinforcements will continue to move towards Siping."

…………… Zhang Xinghan’s prediction was good. Most of the Japanese troops stationed in the Siping area at this time were the 10th Division. When the Northeast New Army really used aircraft and tanks to launch a fierce attack.

The commander of the 10th Division, Hisuke Hirose, was in great need and sent several telegrams asking for help to Nobuyoshi Muto.

Muto Nobuyoshi then mobilized more than 60,000 Manchurian troops who were adapted and expanded from Zhishan, Guxing, Zhang Jinghui and other Han troops. The troops were divided into groups and began to support Siping from Gulin, Liaoyuan, Xifeng and other places.

The 14th Division also mobilized as many troops as possible from the Changchun direction to prepare for a melee with the Northeastern New Army in Siping.

"Commander, a large number of Japanese and puppet troops are heading towards Siping. The Japanese troops in the Gongzhuling and Changchun directions have also been ordered to mobilize a considerable number of troops southward, especially in Gulin. Manchuria* led by Yu Zhishan

Most of the soldiers have been ordered to relieve Siping. Now the ancient forest is just an empty city. The time is ripe." That night, Shen Xingye, commander of the reconnaissance battalion, quietly came to the former enemy headquarters of the New Army and secretly reported to Zhang Xinghan.

"Is the information accurate?" Zhang Xinghan asked.

Shen Xingye nodded and said: "Well, I have turned a considerable number of brothers from the reconnaissance battalion into civilians and sneaked into the ancient forest city. The news is definitely not wrong."

"Okay, you go ahead. I will order the troops to move out immediately." Zhang Xinghan waved his hand.

After Shen Xingye saluted, he left quietly.

Zhang Xinghan immediately called in Wang Yizhe, Wang Yicai and others. After discussion, Zhang Xinghan decided to leave the Second Motorized Infantry Division in Siping to pretend to be the main force to confront the Japanese. The First Motorized Infantry Division and the Armored Brigade immediately evacuated at night and headed north to Li.
Chapter completed!