Add Bookmark | Recommend this book | Back to the book page | My bookshelf | Mobile Reading

Free Web Novel,Novel online - All in oicq.net -> Historic -> Globe Trekker

Volume 3, Chapter 476: South and North

Previous page        Return to Catalog        Next page

    Time flies like an arrow, the sun and the moon fly by, and more than half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.  During this period, the situation in the Central Plains has undergone new changes.  On the southern battlefield in Xuzhou, the 13th Division of the Central China Front made significant progress in February. The Japanese troops on the east route crossed Chihe on February 1, then captured Linhuai Pass, and occupied Bengbu five days later; the Japanese troops on the middle route crossed over on February 2.  Chihe, occupied Fengyang on the 4th; the Japanese troops on the west route crossed Chihe on February 1st, and occupied Dingyuan on the 5th.  When the Japanese army forcibly crossed Chihe, Li Zongren urgently mobilized the 51st Army of the Northeastern Army to go south for reinforcements in order to strengthen the defense force on the southern front.  The Bengbu defenders blew up the Huaihe River Bridge when they retreated to the north bank of the Huaihe River on the 5th. However, hundreds of civilian ships originally anchored on the south bank were not evacuated in time, giving the Japanese sufficient tools to cross the river.  Since then, the Chinese and Japanese armies have launched a tug-of-war on both sides of the Huaihe River.  On February 10, more than 20 Japanese planes bombed Xiaobengbu. They immediately prepared firepower with artillery and destroyed all the defenses on the north bank.  Under the cover of artillery fire, more than a thousand Japanese troops took civilian ships, motorboats and other vehicles to carry out the forced crossing.  The defenders fought tenaciously and repelled the Japanese troops crossing the river twice.  At eleven o'clock that night, the Japanese army carried out a forced crossing at night, once boarded the north bank and captured Xiaobengbu.  The defenders fought back vigorously and restored their positions at 1 a.m. on the 11th.  At dawn on the 12th, the Japanese army launched another large-scale forcible crossing attack and captured Xiaobengbu around ten o'clock. Although the defenders fought back with all their strength, Xiaobengbu was eventually occupied by the Japanese army.  At the same time that the Japanese army invaded Bengbu and launched an attack, the Japanese army that occupied Linhuaiguan also launched a forcible crossing attack.  Around six o'clock on the 12th, the Japanese army broke through the positions along the Yangong Temple and soon occupied Meiyuanzi, Qianbanzi, Xinzhuang and other places.  The defenders fought bloody battles all day long and finally regained some of their positions.  However, on the 13th, the Japanese follow-up troops gradually crossed the Huaihe River. The defenders suffered heavy casualties. In the end, due to insufficient troops and firepower, they were unable to recover and defend their positions along the river bank, and were forced to retreat to the line between Mohekou and Nianjiamiao.  As many positions along the Huaihe River were breached by the Japanese army, many of the defenders lost their command due to the deaths of their officers. In order to concentrate their efforts and reorganize the troops, Yu Xuezhong, commander-in-chief of the defenders and commander of the 51st Army, ordered the entire army to move toward the vicinity of the Fei River.  The line between Heji and Xinmaqiao was transferred.  On February 15, Li Zongren transferred Zhang Zizhong¡¯s 59th Army, which had just been transferred to the Fifth War Zone, to the vicinity of Guzhen to take over the defense line of the 51st Army. The 51st Army withdrew to the Xisipo Station area to rest and recuperate.  The 59th Army was actively preparing. At this time, most of the main force of the Japanese 13th Division moved to the north of the Huaihe River. Li Zongren ordered the 31st Army to go from the Huainan Railway to Xiangyao and Fengyang, and ordered the 7th Army to be newly assigned to the Fifth War Zone.  A flank attack was carried out from Hefei to Mingguang and Dingyuan, and air force support was requested to bomb the enemies at Bengbu and Linhuaiguan, forcing the Japanese army to withdraw the main force that had crossed the Huaihe River back to Huainan and strengthen the defense of Bengbu and Jinpu Railway.  Zhang Zizhong took the opportunity to dispatch a reinforced regiment to counterattack the enemies in Xiaobengbu on the 18th. After hard fighting, Xiaobengbu was successfully recovered, and all Japanese troops north of the Huaihe River withdrew to the south of the Huaihe River.  After February 20, the situation in the northern section of Jinpu Road tightened, and the Japanese army began to launch an attack from Jining to the west of the canal.  On the 22nd, Li Zongren, in accordance with Chiang Kai-shek's instructions, telegraphed Zhang Zizhong to be immediately transferred to Lincheng to await orders. The southern section of Jinpu Road was still defended by Xuezhong's 51st Army, and temporarily faced off with the Japanese army across the Huaihe River.  When the Chinese and Japanese armies on the Southern Front were engaged in a fierce offensive and defensive battle across the Huaihe River in the Bengbu area, the Fifth Theater Command, in order to prevent the Japanese troops on the Northern Front from taking the opportunity to move south, followed the intention of the Military Commission and adopted offensive-defensive tactics and ordered the Third Group Army  The 22nd Army launched an offensive towards Jining, the 22nd Army towards Zouxian, and the 3rd Army towards Mengyin.  At this time, the Jining Japanese army was the main force of the 39th Regiment of the 8th Brigade of the 10th Division of the Second Army, with about 1,500 people. Most of them were controlled in Nanguan. There were about 400 guards in the city. The Japanese army in Wenshang  It is the third brigade of the 39th Regiment, with about 500 people. The main force of the 8th Brigade and the headquarters of the 10th Division are located in Yanzhou.  Sun Tongxuan, commander of the Third Group Army, issued an order on February 10, ordering the 55th Army to launch an attack from Jinxiang to the enemy at Nanguan, Jining, and the 22nd Division of the 12th Army from Dingtao via Juye,  Jiaxiang detoured to the vicinity of Ershilipu, north of Jining, and then attacked the north gate of Jining. He coordinated with the 50th Army to regain Jining City and ordered the 81st Army to harass the enemies in Wenshang.  Cao Fulin's 55th Army sent a force to the west bank of the canal near Anju Town in southwest Jining. At the beginning of the attack, less than one regiment of troops crossed the river and harassed Jining Railway Station and Xiguan. It did not carry out the attack with the main force.  The attack was soon repelled by the Japanese.  After Gu Liangmin's 22nd Division arrived at the west bank of the canal east of Jiaxiang, it deployed the 64th Brigade as the main offensive force and the 60th Brigade as the reserve force to control the west bank of the canal with the division headquarters.  The 64th Brigade crossed the canal wooden bridge from Dachang Pass and arrived at the starting position of the attack before dawn on the 12th.  According to the situation detected in advance, it was originally scheduled to sneak into the city after dawn with a small team disguised as ordinary people, and then launch an attack, cooperate internally and externally, control the city gates, and annihilate the Japanese troops in the city. However, the Japanese troops were already aware of it, and that dayAfter opening the city gate, as a last resort, the 64th Brigade had to launch a storm across the city.  Around 22:00 on the 12th, the 64th Brigade began to attack the city simultaneously using long ladders and multiple routes, resulting in heavy casualties. Finally, they destroyed a section of the city wall at the northwest corner, and about nine companies of officers and soldiers broke into the city through the gap.  The Japanese commander transferred the main force into the city for reinforcements. He first used a counterattack to control the gap in the northwest corner of the city, cutting off the connection between the Chinese troops inside and outside the city, and then launched a siege against the troops that broke into the city. Both sides attacked North Street and the Guandi Temple area in the northwest corner of the city.  Fierce hand-to-hand street fighting began, with house-to-house fights taking place.  The troops that broke into the city fought alone without replenishment of ammunition and personnel. They fought bloody battles all day and night. By dawn on the 14th, all nine companies of warriors died heroically.  The remnants of the 64th Brigade in the north of the city received an order from Commander Sun Tongxuan to retreat to the west bank of the canal at 23:00 on the night of the 13th. With the help of the local people, they moved from the trail outside Beiguan through the swamp to the east bank of the canal.  , received by the 66th Brigade, crossed the canal by civilian boat and reached the west bank.  The rear guard battalion covering the retreat suffered heavy losses. The battalion commander died in the battle, and Xue Mingliang, the 66th brigade commander in charge of the response, was also shot and wounded.  The 81st Division of Zhanzhongtang began to attack Wenshang City on the night of the 12th, and once broke into Beiguan. They were attacked by fierce Japanese fire and suffered many casualties. Since the 64th Brigade of Jining had withdrawn to the west bank of the canal, the 81st Division  The 11th Division also took the initiative to withdraw to the vicinity of Kaihe Town and defend along the canal line.  On February 17, the Japanese Second Army instructed the Eighth Brigade of the Tenth Division to form a Nagase detachment based on four and a half infantry brigades and a squadron of mountain artillery. On the 20th, it began to attack the Chinese army on the canal defense line.  .  After five days and five nights of fighting, the Japanese army broke through the canal defense line on the 25th and occupied Jiaxiang on the 26th.  After occupying Jiaxiang, the Japanese army left some troops for defense, and the main force gathered in Jining.  After resisting one after another, the Third Army retreated to the lines of Juye, Dushan Town, Dayiji, Mengjiatun, and Xiangliji to defend.  When the Third Army attacked Jining and Wenshang, the Twenty-second Army began to attack the enemies in Zouxian.  Due to the continuous combat operations, the unit lost too many personnel and had poor equipment, and was unable to prevent a large-scale attack. It could only carry out guerrilla raids and harassment operations behind enemy lines in units of battalions and companies, but no significant results were achieved.  Pang Bingxun's Third Army was transferred from Haizhou to Linyi in early February, and was only assembled and deployed in the middle of February. By this time, the Japanese army had already occupied Mengyin, Yishui, Weixian, Zhucheng and other places, and the Third Army was unable to launch an offensive in time.  Combat means building fortifications and confronting the Japanese army.  On the 21st, the Japanese Fifth Division dispatched the 21st Regiment of the 21st Brigade to drive south from Wei County to attack Ju County. At that time, Ju County only had Liu Zhendong¡¯s First Guerrilla Group and Shen Honglie¡¯s Marine Corps.  Insufficient strength, the fifth theater ordered Pang Bingxun to send troops to rush for reinforcements.  Pang Bingxun ordered the 115th Brigade to assign two mountain artillery to assist. The brigade arrived near Ju County on the 26th, but Ju County had been lost two days ago, Liu Zhendong died, and the Marine Corps moved to near Gaoli.  At this time, the Japanese army formed a Sakamoto detachment based on the 21st Infantry Brigade and headed west to prepare to attack Linyi. On the 27th, they launched an attack on the 115th Brigade. After two days of fighting, the 115th Brigade resisted tenaciously.  , but they were at a disadvantage in manpower and firepower, and suffered heavy casualties, so they had to take the initiative to blow up two mountain cannons and retreat.  The Japanese army followed the 115th Brigade in pursuit of the westward advance, but was resolutely resisted by the defense forces of the 39th Division. Pang Bingxun organized a counterattack and detoured from the left and right wings to the enemy's side. The Japanese army was forced to retreat, and the two sides temporarily formed a standoff. "That's it.  From all aspects of the situation of the Chinese and Japanese armies in the north and south of Xuzhou, the Japanese army has always been at an advantage. Even if the enemy is weak and strong, it will not be unreasonable at all. Its combat power is extremely terrifying as long as the Japanese army invests more from the north and south lines.  With many troops, the prospects of the Chinese army on the Xuzhou front line are worrying." Zhang Ying returned to his seat after the introduction, and Wu Ming stood up and said: "Although the Japanese Central and North China Fronts were resolutely blocked by the Chinese army in the Huaihe and Jining areas on the north and south lines.  The counterattack suffered certain setbacks, but thanks to the victory in Shanghai and the easy occupation of Nanjing and Shandong, the Japanese military command will definitely misjudge the development trend of the war and insist on expanding the scale of the war. The increase of Japanese troops will become inevitable. By then, we in western Zhejiang will also  "Therefore, while the fierce battle in Xuzhou is raging, we cannot stand by and watch. We must use various methods to attract the attention of the Japanese army in Central China and create positive and powerful conditions for the fifth theater of operations." Luo Yuming's eyes lit up and he quickly asked.  He said: "Military seat, how have you considered sending a small unit to cooperate with the New Fourth Army to fight deep into the Japanese-occupied areas?" "Military seat, please send our New Third Division there, although the New Third Division is a little worse than the New Second Division.  , but that¡¯s because you didn¡¯t give us a chance to practice. If you let us attack this time, we will definitely complete the mission successfully." Yang Sixian quickly stood up and expressed his stance to Wu Ming.  Guard leader Lu Kuiyuan looked at Wu Ming expectantly.  Fighting deep behind enemy lines is very much to Lu Kuiyuan's liking, and the spy battalion and special battalion will definitely be able to show off their strengths.  JustDue to his current status, he is too embarrassed to come forward to compete with Luo Yuming and Yang Sixian.  Wu Ming looked at Dai Ziran, who nodded knowingly, stood up and issued the order.  The order was very simple. Select a battalion from each of the New Second Division and the New Third Division. At the same time, the guard regiment selected a reinforced company from the spy battalion and special battalion. After disrupting the organization, they formed small teams and sneaked into the Japanese-occupied areas to cooperate with the New Fourth Army.  Hearing the news, Luo Yuming, Yang Sixian, and Lu Kuiyuan were all happy and could not help but smile.  The commander of the independent division, Yin Dizhong, was drooling, but there was nothing he could do. After all, the independent division was much worse than the two main divisions. Now he could only practice the basic skills well before talking about other things.  Wu Ming patted the table and waited for the conference room to calm down before he said seriously: "I will not ask about the selection criteria, because I believe you will select elite soldiers and generals. When the troops enter the enemy's rear, we are beyond our reach, so we can only let them  You can use it on your own, but I have three requirements here. You must convey them to the officers and soldiers" "First, pay attention to protecting yourself, and all actions must be based on ensuring that you are not threatened; second, seize every opportunity to annihilate.  The Japanese and puppet troops are powerful. Every time a Japanese army is eliminated, we have one more hope of survival. Third, after entering the Japanese-occupied areas, we must make full use of the huge prestige of our New Second Army in Jiangsu and Zhejiang to gain the support of the people and win over them.  "People" "Yes" Luo Yuming, Yang Sixian, and Lu Kuiyuan stood up, saluted Wu Ming together, and then left the conference room happily with the lingering sound of Wu Ming announcing that the meeting was dismissed.
Didn't finish reading? Add this book to your favoritesI'm a member and bookmarked this chapterCopy the address of this book and recommend it to your friends for pointsChapter error? Click here to report