The adjustment of the Chinese army can be said to be very targeted. The Fifth Army fully took over the defense lines on both sides of Yunzaobang, while the 19th Route Army concentrated its forces to defend the Jiangwan and Zhabei front lines. From the thickness of the defense line to the deployment of troops, it has reached the current seventh level. The best configuration for tens of thousands of troops. Even though the Japanese Army has added more than 20,000 people to the Ninth Division, with a total strength of nearly 40,000, it is still very difficult to break through the Chinese army's defense line in a short period of time.
What's more, the Japanese army has just experienced two major defeats. The morale and strength of the Shanghai Marine Corps and the Mixed 24th Brigade have dropped to the lowest point. It will take a long time to return to the previous level in a short time.
The meeting at the 19th Route Army headquarters ended quickly, and Zhou Wen took Chief Zhang's car back to the temple.
"Sir Zhang, in fact, there is no need for you to place the headquarters in the temple. It is too dangerous to be too close to the front line. I still recommend that you set up the headquarters in Dachang."
After Commander-in-Chief Jiang handed over the Yunzaobang defense line to the Fifth Army, Chief Zhang decided to set up the headquarters in Miaohang, but Zhou Wen had always been worried. Although he did not know where Commander Zhang was commanding the Battle of Miaohang in history, he still believed that the Fifth Army, which had been assigned to the regiment at the radio station, really did not need to set up the military headquarters in an area that might be attacked by the Japanese army. .
Zhou Wen tried to persuade Chief Zhang all the way, but Chief Zhang left him speechless with just one sentence.
"Xiao Zhou, do you have no confidence in yourself? Or in your troops that have won consecutive victories? With your troops protecting my headquarters, will I still be in danger?"
Commander Zhang looked at Zhou Wen's hesitant look and couldn't help but smile: "Okay, okay, I have my elite 88th Division on the front line, and you are a powerful dragon at the headquarters. What else should I be afraid of? Of course, I also Promise you, if the war goes against me, I will retreat immediately, what about? With your protection, I can kill thousands of troops."
"Yes! I will definitely protect the headquarters."
It turned out that when assigning tasks, Chief Zhang suggested that the Shanxi Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army of Zhou Wen's central party headquarters should temporarily serve as the reserve team of the Fifth Army and be responsible for the security of his headquarters.
He had experience in battlefield cooperation with Zhou Wen, and knew that good steel should be used on the blade. It was not worth using Zhou Wen's elite troops in a war of attrition. What's more, the newly arrived Fifth Army is not a vegetarian. The 87th Division and the 88th Division are both Nanjing garrison troops known as the Royal Guards. Their equipment and combat effectiveness are among the best in the National Army.
Seeing Zhou Wen finally stop persuading him endlessly, Chief Zhang burst out laughing. Of course he knew that the young man in front of him was indeed worried about his own safety. He could also see that this man had respect and love for him from the bottom of his heart, and he couldn't help but feel a little moved in his heart.
"Xiao Zhou, there were so many people in the headquarters just now. I haven't had time to praise you properly. It's amazing! In the past, you only led more than forty people to stir up troubles on the battlefield in the Central Plains. Now, in just over a year, you have changed It has become a force of more than a thousand people. No wonder it can achieve such great results. It can be said that so far, on the entire Songhu battlefield, it is your unit that has achieved the most victories and the greatest results."
"Next, the Japanese army's offensive will definitely be fierce. Our strategy is to resist layer by layer and gradually weaken the Japanese army's offensive momentum. After all, our troops are still relatively abundant and can afford to consume them. When the Japanese army's offensive is weak, we will look for If the fighter plane hits him hard again, it's time for you to take action."
Having said this, Chief Zhang looked at Zhou Wen again and said, "Xiao Zhou, do you have any objection to my arrangement?"
"Thank you, sir, for trusting me."
What other opinions does Zhou Wen have? That’s okay, okay?
Only an officer like Chief Zhang, who is open-minded and has no selfish motives, and who understands and respects Zhou Wen relatively well, would make such an arrangement.
You must know that after the cooperation in the Central Plains War, Commander Zhang already knew how troops like Zhou Wen's command should be used and where they should be used.
This is also the biggest reason why Zhou Wen obeys Commander Zhang's command with confidence.
If you were replaced by many of the more selfish military bosses in the country, and saw that your combat effectiveness and equipment were so strong, the first thing they thought about was how to take you under their control. If not, then you would be in great danger, okay. They just put you aside and don't care about you. What's bad is that they just send you wherever there is danger, and they claim to be trusting you. If you dare to disobey orders, all kinds of difficulties and military laws are waiting for you.
There were countless such things in the history of the Republic of China, and this was the situation Zhou Wen had been careful to avoid.
…
At the same time that the 19th Route Army held a military meeting, a military meeting was also held in the Japanese military headquarters. However, this time the person presiding over the meeting was no longer Vice Admiral Nomura Koshizaburo, but the newly appointed commander of the Japanese Songhu Theater. Army Lieutenant General Ueda Kenyoshi. The meeting was attended by more than 20 military officers at the rank of captain and above from the navy and army.
"Gentlemen, I have just listened to your report on the early battlefield situation. It can be said that although we have suffered some minor setbacks on the battlefield, we still cannot conceal the efforts you have made and your loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor."
Having said this, Lieutenant General Ueda looked at Major General Shimomoto Kumaya who had been looking frustrated and exhausted. Then he said: "Especially Xia Yuanjun, I have seen your previous battle plan, and I can say that it was perfect. Although it failed in the end, it was not because of any problem with your tactics, but because of the limited troop strength."
"The only thing to blame is the incompetent military staff. They have been dazzled by the victory of the Manchurian Incident. They think that Shanghai is just like Manchuria. With just over 10,000 people, they can easily win this city, which is known as the largest in Asia. city. You can maintain a vigorous offensive despite such a huge disparity in strength and completely suppress the tens of thousands of Chinese troops. This is already an amazing achievement."
Hearing this, Shimomoto Xiongmi's confused eyes gathered again and gradually became shiny, and his heart that had been hanging finally fell back into his stomach. Originally, he thought that Lieutenant General Ueda would start to investigate the responsibility for the previous failures as soon as he arrived. As a frontline commander, the best result for him would be to be dismissed on the spot and return home, and he would have to undergo an investigation by the military.
Now it seems that Mr. Ueda still takes good care of his army colleagues, placing the responsibility on the senior staff officers of the military department, and blaming the failure on insufficient troops.
Yes, there shouldn't be any big problems with your plan. It was really a failure caused by limited troops. If during the battle of Yunzaobang, not only did you have a division (you are overthinking), but you had a full staff. With the strength of two regiments and six brigades, the results will definitely be very different. Mr. Ueda is really my confidant!
