Of the two options, according to the little devil's arrogant and domineering nature, Zhou Wen felt that the most likely one was for the Japanese army to divide his forces and pursue him. This is what Zhou Wen wanted to see.
Once the Japanese army detaches a force to pursue the mercenary group, the battle pattern becomes one where the mercenary group takes the initiative and the Japanese army becomes passive.
If your number is small, I will look for opportunities to eat you. If your number is large, I will lead you in circles in the vast mountains, constantly sneak attacks and weaken your strength along the way, and finally wear you down before eating you.
If the Japanese army insists on fighting to the death, even if it is a Japanese brigade, Zhou Wen will have the confidence to completely defeat thousands of Japanese soldiers, or even create an even greater miracle.
Moreover, the Japanese army only invested more than 50,000 troops in two divisions and two mixed brigades in the Great Wall War of Resistance. Plus some traitor and puppet troops, the total did not exceed 100,000. Not only did they have to fight against the long supply line Leaving a certain amount of defense force behind, we still have to launch an attack on a front line of hundreds of kilometers along the Great Wall. The force is not sufficient. Once one of them is eaten up or forced to divide the force, the pressure on the Chinese army's frontal defense line will be reduced accordingly. .
However, for Zhou Wen's vision to be realized, there must be a force that can be firmly nailed on the defense line. It must not only defend the Japanese attack, but also provide strong support to the mercenary group, and the mercenary group will also fight on the outside. The attacking Japanese troops were doubtful and did not dare to give it a go. The internal and external support and cooperation can not only defend the cold mouth, but also attack the enemy from both inside and outside when fighter planes appear, causing a lot of damage to the Japanese army.
According to the original history, it was the 139th Division of the 32nd Army of the National Army that defended Lengkou. Although the 139th Division fought tenaciously, due to backward equipment, despite its advantageous terrain and the courage to kill the enemy, it suffered heavy casualties under the enemy's powerful firepower. , which eventually led to Lengkou being breached by the Japanese army.
Zhou Wen knew nothing about the situation of the 139th Division. How dare he leave the fate of the mercenary group in the hands of unfamiliar people? What if the mercenary group was defeated by the Japanese army while fighting on the outside? They were all cut off.
Therefore, Zhao Changshu's Model Brigade became Zhou Wen's only choice.
Here we will mention another important link that Zhou Wen needs to solve when participating in the Battle of Lengkou, which is how Zhou Wen can take over the task of defending Lengkou together with Zhao Changshu's model brigade.
You must know that the Peiping Branch of the Military Commission is the highest command organization of the Great Wall War of Resistance. You don't know Marshal Zhang, General He, or Zhou Wen. Why would anyone else give this task to you?
This is an important reason why Zhou Wen came to report to the commander-in-chief.
There are two command organizations responsible for the Battle of Lengkou. The Peiping Branch of the Military Commission is at the rear, responsible for the entire strategic deployment and command, and the 32nd Army Headquarters is the frontline command organization.
Zhou Wen planned to rely on the commander's relationship to work on both the upper and lower lines.
The first is the Peiping Branch of the Military Commission, which actually does the work of Marshal Zhang and asks Marshal Zhang to place the Model Brigade under the command structure of the 32nd Army.
Then we will do the work of the 32nd Army to make the 32nd Army willing to accept the joining of the Model Brigade.
This matter is extremely difficult for Zhou Wen, even asking the principal or operating through the Central Party Committee is useless, but it is not difficult for the commander-in-chief.
Here we have to talk about the predecessor of the 32nd Army, which was actually separated from the Jin Army. The commander of the army, General Shang Zheng, was originally the general under the Marshal. Later, after the Marshal was dismissed from the Central Plains War, he was transferred to Hebei by the National Government. It can be regarded as breaking away from the ranks of the Jin army. However, most of the backbone of his subordinates are from Shanxi. They have broken bones and connected tendons with the Jin army, and there is always some affection between them.
The personal relationship between Shao Shuai Zhang and the Marshal is even better. The fact that the Marshal directly hid in Jinzhou under the control of Shao Shuai Zhang after he left the field shows that the relationship between the two is extraordinary.
As long as the commander sends a handwritten letter to both parties, the matter will basically be successful.
For Marshal Zhang, it was a righteous act for the commander-in-chief to send troops to help him when he was in danger, and it was also righteous to transfer the model brigade to the 32nd Army, which was also from the Jin Army.
For General Shang Zheng, receiving the support of thousands of troops fully equipped at the moment of war is nothing more than a help in times of need, not to mention being able to sell a favor to his old boss. It is simply a blessing that comes from heaven, and there is no reason to refuse.
But what he didn't expect was that this model brigade did not only have a few thousand troops, but with the mercenary regiment, it had tens of thousands of people, and the artillery and heavy equipment far exceeded his army's configuration.
After thinking through all the issues, Zhou Wen was ready to start negotiating terms with the commander.
After the commander pondered over the map for a long time, he turned around and walked back, saying to Zhou Wen: "There is only half a year to prepare. It is easy to find soldiers who are short of soldiers. There are many veterans who were sent back before. Recruiting a few thousand people is not possible." The problem is that the officer is in some trouble."
Zhou Wen had already thought of a countermeasure and said: "The time of half a year is very tight. Extraordinary things must be done at an emergency. A group of original officers must be replaced. The younger the better, especially by promoting a group of backbones from soldiers who can read." For junior officers, we need to promote some capable young officers to the top. We don’t want the veterans, and we don’t want those who are old and have good backgrounds.”
The commander was surprised and said: "Are you going to break up and start over again? Isn't time a little tight?"
Then he said suspiciously: "Wouldn't it be true that the officers you promoted will listen to you from now on? Whose army will this Model Brigade be in the future?"
You can't blame the commander for being suspicious. Since he could bring it up face to face, he naturally has no intention of doubting Zhou Wen. However, if you do this, those newly promoted officers may really become Zhou Wen's best friends. Then don't I, old man, do it for you? Made a wedding dress?
"The appointment and dismissal of officers are all signed by you and appointed personally. I just provide the list for your reference."
"How do you know those officers are suitable? Have you been in contact with those officers in private?"
Facing the commander's series of small questions, Zhou Wen could only explain with a wry smile: "Of course only the seniors know the backbone of the soldiers, and he is the one who selects the junior officers for promotion. You always can't trust your nephew, don't you even trust the seniors?"
"Then how do you know the mid-level and senior officers?"
"Didn't my nephew organize several tactical training courses for the Sixth Brigade? The first time I met you was during the training class. Basically, my nephew knew all the officers above the company commander in the brigade, and after many After several group discussions and tactical deductions, I still have the ability to distinguish who is capable and who is not."
The Marshal then said with relief, "That's true. Judging from your kid's taste, you're not bad at seeing people."
Of course he knows how high Zhou Wen's eyes are. Just look at Zhou Wen's troops and you will know that even those ordinary soldiers are first-class good soldiers if you pull them out casually, let alone Meng Yuting and others who are great commanders. An excellent officer who is also greedy.
