The officers of the Fifth War Zone were all curious about Xu Dalong, so they basically met with Xu Dalong and hosted a banquet in his honor.
Xu Dalong once helped the Ninth War Zone win several great victories and showed outstanding military talents. The Fifth War Zone was now facing the Hunan-Guangxi Campaign that the Japanese army was about to launch, and they also wanted to hear Xu Dalong's opinion.
Xu Dalong knew very well about the Battle of Hunan and Guangxi. This time the Japanese army concentrated the forces of five divisions and launched a fierce attack on the fifth theater. This battle was fought very fiercely, and both the enemy and ourselves suffered heavy losses.
Xu Dalong carefully searched the information in his mind and said: "The underground party once intercepted a piece of intelligence from the Japanese army. The Japanese army assembled the 16th, 17th, 18th, 22nd, and 31st divisions to prepare for the Hunan-Guangxi Campaign. …”
He explained in great detail the strength of the Japanese troops, the numbers of the troops, and the route of attack. He even told the chief of staff and director of operations the names of the Japanese commanders above the division level and their resumes. people.
Xu Dalong said: "The information I provided may not be completely accurate. I also hope that the commander can send someone to verify it."
After hearing this, the Chief of Staff, Chief of Operations and others felt very shocked. They already have some information on the Japanese army, but it is not as detailed and comprehensive as Xu Dalong said. Although they haven't verified it yet, they already believe most of it.
The chief of staff said with emotion: "Captain Xu, I have heard for a long time that you are an outstanding commander, but I never thought that you have such great energy in military intelligence. Thank you so much."
The intelligence department of the fifth theater quickly verified the information provided by Xu Dalong, and they found that the information was very accurate.
After discussion, the chiefs of the Chief Executive Department wanted to invite Xu Dalong to participate in the upcoming Hunan-Guangxi Campaign, saying that they would report to Chongqing and pass it on to the underground party's anti-Japanese armed forces.
Xu Dalong expressed his obedience to the arrangements of the commander's department and was invited to participate in the formulation of the fifth theater combat plan.
When formulating the battle plan, Xu Dalong knew very well that the Guojun's tactical principles were completely different from those of the underground party, so at the beginning, he did not express any opinions, but only expressed his agreement.
After the battle plan was formulated and the chief of staff asked Xu Dalong for his opinion, he expressed his opinion.
He said: "I completely agree with the combat plan you have formulated. I have a small suggestion, which is to deploy the troops of one of the corps at Sequoia Pass."
The chief of staff asked in confusion: "Why did the Japanese army appear here?"
The director of the operations department was also very confused and said: "If the Japanese army wants to pass through the Sequoia Pass, they have to pass through a large water network and rice field area, which is not conducive to the passage of the Japanese mechanized troops. Not only that, our army's elite 85th Army is also deployed here. of troops.
The possibility of the Japanese army passing through here is the smallest, so our army will choose to set up heavy troops on the center and right to block the Japanese army's advance. "
Xu Dalong knows the historical process. During the Battle of Hunan and Guangxi, the Fifth War Zone deployed the 85th Army, one of the main forces of the Guangxi Army, on the left. They believed that it was impossible for the Japanese army to break through the 85th Army's position. Even if it broke through, it would not be able to pass through the large rice field water network. zone.
They believed that the Japanese army would choose the center and the right to launch an attack. What they were most worried about was that the Japanese army would choose the center to break through, because the unit guarding the center was the 88th Army of the Sichuan Army. This unit only had 10,000 people, and its strength was less than one of the Guo Army. The reorganized divisions, whose weapons and equipment were very backward, believed that they could not stop the Japanese attack at all. Even if they could play a blocking role, they could only last for one or two days at most.
The development of the war situation ultimately exceeded the commander's expectations. The powerful 85th Army only lasted for one day in the face of the Japanese attack before it was broken through by the Japanese army, suffered heavy losses, and was forced to evacuate. The Japanese army then attacked and advanced towards Sequoia Pass.
The Japanese army adopted a new tactic, which actually allowed their horses, artillery and a large number of baggage to pass through the water network and rice fields, and finally passed through Sequoia Pass and attacked Guilin. In the end, the Guo army was forced to abandon Guilin, resulting in a very chaotic situation.
There was another thing that the officers did not expect, that is, the seemingly vulnerable 88th Army of the Sichuan Army actually fought very well.
They adopted mobile defense tactics and used the water network and rice field areas to deal with the Japanese attack. With their weak force, they actually held back the Japanese army of 50,000 troops for eight days. Only then did the Fifth War Zone Commander mobilize troops to reverse the situation and gain valuable ground. time.
After Xu Dalong put forward his idea, the chief of staff said: "If they want to pass through Sequoia Pass, they have to pass through a water network of more than 40 kilometers wide and rice fields. How can their artillery baggage be transported there?"
Everyone also cast doubtful glances at Xu Dalong.
Xu Dalong said: "As long as a large number of door panels are prepared and laid in the muddy rice fields, the artillery and baggage can pass. Commanders may wish to send their subordinates to conduct experiments."
After hearing this, the chief of staff suddenly realized. He nodded repeatedly and said: "If this is the case, it is really feasible. You can send the engineer battalion to conduct experiments."
The results came out quickly. Laying the door panels on the muddy rice fields not only formed a road, but also dragged the door panels to slide on the mud, so that a large amount of supplies could be carried.
Xu Dalong had a brilliant record in the past, and after coming to the chief's department this time, the information he provided was very accurate, so his words are credible.
In the end, the commander-in-chief decided to agree with Xu Dalong's opinion and deployed the 82nd Army as a reserve force in the Guangxi Army at Sequoia Pass.
Soon after, the battle began. Sure enough, the Japanese army first concentrated its forces and defeated the 85th Army, and then moved towards the Sequoia Pass through the muddy water network and rice fields.
Seeing that Xu Dalong's judgment was completely correct, the chief of staff paid more attention to Xu Dalong's opinions. He kept Xu Dalong by his side and listened to his advice at any time.
The main force of the Japanese 16th Division struggled to cross the water network and rice fields. Just as they were about to cross the muddy area and reach Sequoia Pass, the troops of the Guangxi Army's 82nd Army, who had already been ambushing here, used fierce artillery fire. It launched an attack on the Japanese troops trudging through the mud, causing heavy casualties to the Japanese troops.
The troops of the 85th Army took the opportunity to launch an attack from the side and rear. As a result, the Japanese 16th Division was trapped in the water network and rice fields, unable to advance or retreat.
Seeing this situation, Xu Dalong suggested that the Guo Army's 71st Army and 72nd Army, which were still behind the Sichuan Army's 88th Army, be deployed to attack the Japanese 16th Division.
】
The chief of staff was very worried that after the troops of these two armies were transferred out, the 88th Army of the Sichuan Army would not be able to withstand the Japanese attack, which would lead to a large-scale breakthrough by the Japanese army from the center. He was very hesitant.
Xu Dalong said that the 88th Army of the Sichuan Army can definitely resist the Japanese attack and buy time to encircle and annihilate the Japanese 16th Division. To be on the safe side, he suggested that the Fifth Theater District replenish some weapons and ammunition for the 88th Army.
The Fifth War Zone also wanted to fight a beautiful victory. Seeing that there was indeed a chance to annihilate the Japanese 16th Division, they made up their minds, listened to Xu Dalong's opinions, and replenished weapons and ammunition for the 88th Army of the Sichuan Army. At the same time, Mobilize the 71st Army and the 72nd Army to cooperate with the 85th Army and the 82nd Army to launch a comprehensive attack on the Japanese 16th Division.
The Japanese 16th Division was trapped in the mud. They could not get any support from reinforcements. They could not find any dry wood even if they wanted to make a fire for cooking. They soon ran out of ammunition and food.
The troops of the 88th Army of the Sichuan Army were originally extremely powerful in combat effectiveness, and they were supplemented with a large number of weapons and ammunition, and their morale was even higher. They just delayed the pace of the Japanese attack for ten days, laying the groundwork for the Fifth Theater to encircle and annihilate the Japanese 16th Division. conditions were created.
The 16th Division, which was running out of ammunition and food, was unable to withstand the fierce attack of the four main forces of the Guo Army, and the entire army was eventually destroyed.
Seeing that the 16th Division was completely wiped out, the Japanese army had no intention of fighting and retreated across the board, hastily ending the Hunan-Guangxi Campaign.
The original combat plan formulated by the Fifth War Zone was to delay the Japanese attack and cover the calm evacuation of the Fifth War Zone's headquarters and the residents of Guilin. They never expected that they would be able to eat up an entire division of the Japanese army, not only saving the city of Guilin, but also forcing the Japanese army to retreat a full 50 kilometers.
This great victory made the fifth theater overjoyed. Xu Dalong's role in this victory was also fully affirmed.
At the celebration banquet, the chief of staff said happily: "Brother Dalong, you are indispensable for this great victory. If you have any requests, please feel free to make them. As long as we can achieve them, we will never refuse."
Xu Dalong was not polite. He smiled and said: "Sir, you have also heard that I have always had a bad reputation. I help the Guo Army fight and ask for rewards. This is also something I can't do. Our underground party is really too poor. We have no choice. If you don’t reach out to Guojun, please don’t laugh at me.”
All of you here are generals who have experienced hundreds of battles. They like Xu Dalong, an upright man. They all laughed when they heard his words. If Xu Dalong makes specific requests, they will try their best to meet them.
Xu Dalong made an appropriate request based on his family background in the Fifth War Zone. As a result, he received a reward of 500,000 yuan and asked the Fifth War Zone for equipment for an infantry division.
The Fifth War Zone Chief agreed to Xu Dalong's request. Not only that, but most of the equipment captured by the Japanese 16th Division was also given to Xu Dalong.
The reason Xu Dalong is so familiar with the 88th Army is because the commander of the 88th Army is a famous anti-Japanese general. He is the prototype of the Sichuan Army Division Commander Fan Tianxi in the TV series.
When the 88th Army of the Sichuan Army came out of Sichuan to fight against Japan, the Sichuan Army did not provide them with supplements. All funds and equipment were raised by themselves. They heard that it was Xu Dalong's suggestion that they could get the replenishment of weapons and ammunition this time. They specially hosted a banquet for Xu Dalong and expressed their gratitude to him.
The commander of the 88th Army was almost the same as Commander Yang. He took Xu Dalong's hand and said: "Brother Dalong, brother, I am really too poor to give you money and weapons and equipment. There is no shortage of beautiful Sichuan girls. Not as good as brother." I’ll give you a few.”
Xu Dalong waved his hand quickly and said, "Don't harm me. If I accept your kindness, I will definitely be dismissed from my post and investigated after I return."
The generals of the Sichuan Army all laughed. They indeed had no money and lacked weapons and equipment, but they still showed their sincerity.
The army commander gave Xu Dalong his ancestral jade pendant from the Tang Dynasty. This jade pendant was worn by Di Renjie, the famous prime minister during Wu Zetian's period. It can be called a priceless treasure even today.
After completing the mission, Xu Dalong did not return to the Mawushan base because he still had an important matter to deal with.
The Fifth Theater promised to give Xu Dalong the equipment of an infantry division, and also gave Xu Dalong most of the Japanese-style equipment captured by the Japanese 16th Division. This is a good thing, but it is simply impossible to transport them back to the base and cross enemy-occupied areas.
The commander of Taiyue Military Region, Zhao Gang and others felt very headache when they saw this situation. It was impossible to transport it back, and it would be a pity to give up. They didn't know what to do, so they agreed to Xu Dalong's request and asked him not to return to the base for the time being to find a way to deal with this batch of equipment.
Xu Dalong thought about it for a long time and finally thought of a way. He decided to go to Vietnam and sell these weapons and equipment to the Vietnamese underground party's anti-Japanese armed forces.
After having this idea, he sent a telegram to report the relevant situation to the commander.
Taiyue Military Region Headquarters.
I heard that Xu Dalong had obtained the equipment of another infantry division and almost a division's Japanese equipment. Zhang Wanhe took this matter very seriously. Nowadays, the anti-Japanese armed forces of the underground party are rapidly expanding, and the large number of recruits recruited lack weapons and ammunition. These equipments come at the right time, which can be said to be a timely help.
Therefore, the superiors issued instructions to the Taiyue Military Region, asking them to notify Xu Dalong and transport the equipment back as soon as possible.
Zhang Wanhe even went to the Taiyue Military Region specifically to talk about this matter.
Zhang Wanhe said: "Commander, the troops below are all reaching out to me for equipment. Brother Dalong is the one who can do it. The superiors have already said that for being able to transport this batch of weapons and ammunition back, not only Xu Dalong must be credited, but also Xu Dalong must be credited. I would also like to record a great contribution to your Taiyue Military Region."
The commander said with some worry: "This matter must be put aside for a while. The situation this time is a bit special. The equipment of the infantry division that Xu Dalong obtained from the Ninth Theater last time can be directly transported to northern Shaanxi and handed over to his superiors. But this time it was different. Xu Dalong got the equipment of this infantry division from the Fifth War Zone. They were far away from our base area. Even if they wanted to transport it to the rear, they would have to pass through at least hundreds of kilometers of enemy-occupied territory. . It’s not easy to transport these weapons and equipment back.”
Zhang Wanhe was stunned when he heard this.
He walked to the combat map hanging on the wall, made expert gestures for a while, and said: "The nearest Guotong District is 800 kilometers away. It is impossible to transport this batch of weapons and equipment back. It's really too bad."
Zhang Wanhe walked back and said to the commander: "Is this a trick played by the Fifth War Zone? They don't want to give Brother Dalong this batch of weapons and equipment. They know that he will not be able to escape, so isn't it a waste to give it to him?"
