Chapter 351 Seizing a regiment flag? After checking it over a dozen times and asking the communications staff to confirm it again, General Hata Junroku finally believed that it was all true.  The Third Division suffered heavy losses and may be wiped out at any time.  This is really incredible.  Originally, his idea was that the troops of the Third Division and the Ninth Theater Division would continue to be depleted.  Then when the five divisions of the Kwantung Army arrive, they can withdraw and rest, and then mobilize three B divisions to cooperate with each other and attack Changsha City together.  What is the result? The Kwantung Army is still on the way, and the Third Division will be gone.  This is really unbelievable when you say it. You must know that in the entire China Expeditionary Force, there is only one Third Division left among Type A divisions, and the others are all Type B or Type C divisions.

Either it is the Imperial Alliance Army. Although the Imperial Army has several million in number, it is not very effective.  At most, it is to maintain law and order and let them participate in encirclement and suppression. That is a waste of bullets and will only shoot empty shots into the sky.  The fighting strength of a small part of the Imperial Alliance Army is still good, but they still need to encircle and suppress the guerrillas.  So, he did not have many troops left to actually mobilize.  If the third division is gone, it will be really troublesome. Thinking of this, General Hata Shunroku finally lost his previous calmness.  “Which division can be mobilized now?” General Hata Junliu asked immediately.  One thing we need to make clear here is the troop deployment of the Japanese Eleventh Army after the Battle of Jiangcheng. First of all, the area occupied by the Japanese 11th Army in the south of the Yangtze River is probably the area north and east of the Yueyang-Tongcheng-Tongshan-De'an-Fengxin-Fengcheng-Jinxian connection line. By the summer of 1941, the composition of the Japanese 11th Army had undergone some changes. First, the 33rd, 101st, and 106th Divisions were successively transferred out of the 11th Army. The 39th, 40th, and 4th Divisions were successively added to the corps. In addition, the 11th Army added the independent mixed 18th Army. , 20th Brigade. In this way, the 11th Army still has 7 divisions (., the 3rd, 4th, 6th, 13th, 34th, 39th, and 40th Divisions, each Japanese division has at least 15,000 people) and 3 independent divisions. Mixed brigades (independent mixed 14th, 18th, and 20th brigades). Among them, the 3rd Division is still responsible for the security mission in Yingshan area; the 4th Division is responsible for the security mission in Yingcheng and Anlu areas (it was transferred to the direct jurisdiction of the base camp before the third Changsha Battle, and its defense area was formed by the 18th Independent Mixed Brigade) Replacement); the 6th Division is responsible for the security mission from Yueyang to Chongyang; the 13th Division is responsible for the security mission in Yichang and its vicinity; the 34th Division is responsible for the security mission in Nanchang; the 39th Division is responsible for the security mission of Jingmen, Shadong , Dangyang area; the 40th Division is responsible for the security tasks in Xianning, Tongshan, and Daye areas.   However, due to the outbreak of the Pacific War, the Fourth Division was transferred and later mutinied. The Sixth Division and the 13th Division were also transferred to the Southern Army, and then transferred to Tianzhu. In Tianzhu, they suffered heavy losses from British special bombs and suffered heavy losses.  The remaining ones are the 34th, 39th, and 40th B Divisions, plus the 18th Independent Mixed Brigade.  The total military strength dropped from 150,000 at its peak to only 100,000.  This is also the reason why Li Zongren agreed to Cun Yunsheng and attack Jiangcheng.  Because the strength is weak, there is still hope to win it with the cooperation of three art masters.

 It was just the arrival of the Kwantung Army that caused the plan to be shattered. Of course, the base camp could not watch the Eleventh Army being destroyed, so it transferred some troops from the mainland. Unfortunately, the soldiers transferred were all new soldiers. Even if they were added, the combat effectiveness would be severely reduced. "I'm afraid we can only deploy one 18th independent mixed brigade at most." the combat staff immediately replied. “Is there only one brigade?” General Hata Shunroku asked with a disappointed look on his face. Although it is a mixed brigade with more than 10,000 people, the strength of the ninth theater is not weak.  At least one more division must be added. "Yes, the other three divisions must maintain an offensive posture, otherwise the China Army will see the clues and will definitely carry out an attack." the combat staff said.  “Do they dare?” General Hata Junliu asked still using his previous thinking. Hearing this, the combat staff was stunned. If it were before, the China Army would naturally not dare to do so.  But now that the Third Division is about to be destroyed, the morale of the China Army has been boosted, and it is uncertain what it will do.  Perhaps it is a comprehensive counterattack, etc. As a combat staff officer, these must be taken into consideration. "Your Excellency, Commander, the area we need to defend now is really too big. Once the troops are mobilized, the remaining Imperial Army will not be able to stop the counterattack of the Chinese Army. Xue Yue in the ninth theater is a difficult opponent. We must take precautions," the combat staff advised earnestly.  Hearing this, General Hata Shunroku was silent for a while. “In other words, if the Kwantung Army does not enter the Pass, it will be impossible for us to prevent a new battle?” "Your Excellency, Commander, although I don't want to admit it, this is the fact. I have now lost the ability to launch a counterattack against the China Army. Unless you can convince the base camp to bring back the Southern Army, or continue to increase the number of troops, those new recruits may not be able to fight back." If the effect is too great, it will even drag down our combat effectiveness." The combat staff looked helpless.  In fact, from the beginning of 1942, especially after the second half of the year, the Japanese army felt increasingly difficult.  The lack of troops, especially the lack of veterans, has led to a decline in combat effectiveness, which is particularly obvious.  Secondly, logistical supplies are getting worse and worse. In the past, canned food was all beef, but now? It's all beef offal and so on, it's hard to eat at all. If it were not supplemented by supplies obtained from Nanyang, it would be difficult to maintain even the most basic food rations. As staff officers, in addition to studying the changes in the enemy's and our situation on both sides every day, they also provide their own logistics supplies.  Because planning is inseparable from logistical support.  It is precisely because of this that he becomes pessimistic.  “Baga, don’t say these words.” General Hata Shunliu shouted angrily. If such words were spread, it would cause instability in the morale of the military.  “Hai.” The combat staff quickly lowered his head. "Since it is impossible to deploy more divisions, let the 18th Independent Mixed Brigade cooperate with the three divisions of the Imperial Army to rush to the rescue of the third division and rescue the third division. The rest will be left to the Kwantung Army. Arrival." General Hata Junliu also knew that he could not mobilize more troops now, so he could only make this arrangement. “In addition, another fifty fighter planes will be sent to Changsha to rescue the Third Division and use bombs to delay the enemy’s movements.”

 “Hai.”  … The news that two regiments of the Third Division were besieged naturally reached the mountain city. Since the victory of Wanjialing, there has never been a feat of encircling and annihilating a division. Moreover, this division is still a Category A division, not comparable to the 106th Category B division. Even though a large number of veterans have been deployed to the Third Division, it is still a Class A division. If this really eliminates a Class A division, it will really increase their power, especially when facing Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union, they will have more confidence.  Otherwise, you will always be inferior. "Xue Boling did a good job. This battle was fought well." In the Shancheng office, the old man looked at the telegram in his hand and couldn't help but sigh.  This is a huge increase in prestige. Encirclement and annihilation of the Japanese Third Division.  In the past, it was unimaginable, but now it has really happened. “But what’s going on with this heavy artillery regiment and the armored regiment?” The old man asked with a puzzled look on his face after reading the telegram. He Yingqin and Chen Cheng looked at each other, and finally Chen Cheng, the parent from the Department of Civil Engineering, stood up and spoke forcefully.  “It was provided by the Nanyang Task Force.” "Nanyang Task Force?" The old man was stunned, and then he immediately understood which army this number was.  “Stilwell of Niangxippi.”  When it came to Stilwell, the old man gritted his teeth.  In fact, we can understand why the relationship between the two parties is so bad. Stilwell wanted command, but the old man didn't want to give it. He felt that Stilwell was using his elite troops as cannon fodder.  I completely forgot, what did people think when he used the motley crew as artillery fire?  So the relationship between the two parties is naturally very bad. And the US aid is not that easy to get, so the relationship between the two parties is very average. As a result, he was very annoyed when he heard that the troops supported by Stilwell actually helped him to encircle and annihilate the Japanese Third Division.  Chen Cheng and He Yingqin pretended not to hear.  “So this Xue Boling has taken refuge with Stilwell?” The old man took a deep breath. He had to find out. If it was true, then someone must be replaced.  “No.” Chen Cheng stood up immediately and said. “According to intelligence, the Japanese army has sent five A-type divisions of the Kwantung Army southward. They are currently heading south quickly along the railway and are expected to arrive in Jiangcheng tomorrow.” “Their goal should be to completely open the Guangdong-Han Line.” "Guangdong-Han Line? Wasn't Yangcheng captured by Zhang Fakui?" As soon as the old man finished speaking, he immediately understood that the five divisions of the Kwantung Army were heading for the fourth theater.

 This heavy artillery regiment and armored regiment were also supported by the Nanyang Task Force.  The purpose is to kill a division and boost morale before the Kwantung Army arrives. Thinking of this, the old man fell completely silent. Two options before him were to withdraw Xue Boling and replace him with another person, and then abandon Changsha City and let the Japanese army open up the Guangdong-Han Line.  But obviously, this is impossible to agree to.  If that were the case, I'm afraid he would be scolded to death.  The second way is to continue to reuse Xue Boling and let him block the five divisions of the Kwantung Army in Changsha City.  The cost is heavy casualties, but the benefits are many.  Looking at the performance of Chen Cheng and He Yingqin again, he suddenly understood that he only had the second option left.  “What price did the Nanyang Task Force pay?” “Three art divisions, plus a heavy artillery regiment, and 48 155mm howitzers.” Chen Cheng said quickly.  “Free?” the old man asked subconsciously. Looking at Chen Cheng's performance, he also understood how it could be free. At most, it would be cheaper.  “No other conditions?” "No, I will just use the railway to transport some refugees." Chen Cheng said with an indifferent expression. This was not even a condition, and it even helped the Ninth War Zone solve a lot of troubles. "Three art masters, that's a big deal. This guy Stilwell is really willing to give up." The old man's tone was a little sour, but he also knew that the more important thing now was to find out whether this battle could be fought. “Can the Kwantung Army’s five Class A divisions be able to stop it?” "I don't know. There should be no problem with the opinions given by Xue Boling. In addition to these supports, the Fourth War Zone will also dispatch a group army to support." Chen Cheng said quickly. "Then let him try. If we can really block the attack of five Class A divisions, it will also greatly increase our power. At least when facing the ambassadors of Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union, we will have more confidence to speak." The old man After thinking about it, this is the only way. As soon as it ended here, Li Zongren received a call from Bai Chongxi in the fifth theater. "Brother De Lin, we really don't have enough courage this time. Three art masters, plus a heavy artillery regiment, and 48 155mm howitzers can form an elite art ace unit." Bai Chongxi said something on the phone. Pantothenic said. When they heard that the five divisions of the Kwantung Army were moving south, they immediately retreated.  As a result, the equipment of the three art divisions transported to the fourth theater was transported to the ninth theater.  Xue Yue got a big bargain.  Suddenly became the most powerful unit in the civil engineering department. Originally, these three art masters belonged to them, but as a result, they gave up at the critical moment and lost everything. Moreover, the credibility of the Gui Army was lost. "Brother Jiansheng, I didn't expect that guy Xue Boling actually dared to agree." Li Zongren also regretted that he had done it if he had known it. He might have been able to capture Jiangcheng in one go, and then use Jiangcheng's geographical location to fight with the Japanese army. Fight a battle. With three art divisions and a heavy artillery regiment, they can still compete with the Japanese army. Even if they lose, the Japanese army will not be easy. More importantly, the reputation of the Guangxi family will be established.

 Thinking of this, he really regretted it. "It's too late now. The Kwantung Army is about to arrive in Jiangcheng. My reconnaissance team found that the area 100 meters away from the railway is under martial law. No one is allowed to get close. The Kwantung Army should pass through my defense area tonight." Li Zongren He said a little lonely. "It's not too late. This battle will not end so soon. There are more than 100,000 Kwantung troops. Even if Xue Boling wants to stop it, it will be difficult. But if this battle can be won miserably, no, as long as Changsha is defended, it will be considered a victory. He Xue Boling His reputation will be even greater." Bai Chongxi also sighed. "Brother De Lin, why don't you let your troops coordinate the ninth war zone to see if they can capture a few cities, or make a sneak attack on Jiangcheng? We must earn some face for the Guangxi faction." "I also have this plan. The Japanese army's current defense is a bit empty. I am going to send the troops out of the Dabie Mountains, take the troops and go straight to Yuzhang to see if I can take the opportunity to expand the results." Li Zongren spoke out his plan.  Before he finished speaking, he heard the combat staff on the other side of Bai Chongxi's phone hurriedly walking in. “Sir, the battle report from the ninth war zone is that the Japanese army dispatched fifty fighter planes a few days ago. They just arrived in Changsha City and were attacked by unknown fighter planes. More than thirty of them were shot down, and the remaining fighter planes fled in a hurry.” “Another regiment of the Third Division has been completely wiped out, and the flag of the Sixth Infantry Regiment has been captured.”  Bang! Bai Chongxi was so shocked that he didn't hold the phone and dropped it directly on the table.  And Li Zongren was also confused. The new book has 100,000 words. If you haven’t killed it, you can kill it. Book title "War of Resistance: The whole world is a base vehicle!" 》

 (End of this chapter)