Sato Masaki frowned and said in a deep voice: "Leave a small team to intercept and delay time! The rest of the troops will move faster!"
"Hai!" the soldier responded.
For Sato Masaki, other things come second. First, he must rescue the detachment headquarters, and then think about issues such as breakout.
…
The camera turned back to the Linyi frontline headquarters.
At this time, in addition to Xu Zuyi, the chief of staff of the theater, there are also Pang Bingxun, commander of the Third Army Corps, and Zhang Zizhong, commander of the 59th Army, who are here to assist in the command. After all, compared to Xu Zuyi, a senior officer, they have less control over their own troops. Learn much more.
As soon as the war started, frontline battle reports arrived on the desktop of the combat headquarters like snowflakes. In just one morning, the situation on the battlefield reversed several times.
At the beginning of the war, the 38th Division broke through the enemy's defense lines from Tingzitou, Da Taiping, Shenjia Taiping, Xujia Taiping, and Shalingzi. The enemy suffered heavy casualties and annihilated many enemies overnight. However, after dawn, The situation began to reverse.
The Japanese army mobilized the main force of its forward troops to resist the fierce attack of the 38th Division.
It has to be said that the title of the "Steel Army" of the Japanese Fifth Division is not unearned. After mobilizing the main reinforcements from the side and rear, the ferocious momentum of the main force of the 38th Division came to an abrupt halt, just like a pretense. He was stuck on a wall, unable to move forward even an inch.
Not only could they not attack, the Japanese army also relied on the favorable terrain to carry out counterattacks. Troops from both sides repeatedly charged and killed each other on both sides of the Yi River, and blood flowed into the river!
"Brother Xinchen, my Fortieth Army only has so little possessions. Now that all the troops have been put in, it still can't win." Pang Bingxun sighed, with a very melancholy expression.
Zhang Zizhong's face was as dark as water, and he didn't know what to say. The main forces of his two divisions had already been committed. The Japanese army's combat effectiveness was too strong. These middle and lower-level commanding officers were all very good. Not most of them were It is comparable to the Northwest Army who came from a mud-legged background.
"There's no need to be nervous, two old brothers. Don't we still have a card in our hands that we haven't played yet?" Xu Zuyi said with a smile.
"Sir Xu, are you saying that Zhang Tianhai's third theater is directly under the first regiment? But sir, didn't you say that you want to keep them as a participating force in the later stage?" Pang Bingxun said hesitantly.
Xu Zuyi said with a smile on his face: "Battlefield information is changing in front of us. If Zhang Tianhai's German weapon reinforcement group really leaves the strength to fight in the later stage, it would be the biggest waste. Just wait! Wait for the Japanese army When they show signs of fatigue, put them into battle again, and then you will have a chance to annihilate the entire Sakamoto Brigade!"
At this moment, an emergency call came from the front.
I saw a combat staff officer quickly running to Xu Zuyi's side and reporting: "Report to Commander Xu, the commander of the 180th Division Liu Zhensan is sending an urgent call."
Xu Zuyi did not hesitate and said directly: "Read it!"
"Yes! Sir!" the staff officer responded, and then began to read: "This is the Linyi Frontline Combat Command, the Japanese army facing our unit has left some troops behind, and the remaining troops have rushed back to Tangtou Town with all their strength. We The department is concentrating all its efforts to annihilate the remnants of this enemy force, and has dispatched the 715th Regiment to pursue the enemy. Please give your commander instructions on the next battle plan. Liu Zhensan, Commander of the 180th Division, March 14 Urgent call at 11:57 p.m.”
Upon hearing the news, Xu Zuyi frowned and said: "The enemy forces facing the 180th Division should have received orders to quickly reinforce the troops in the Zhugecheng area. Now they actually leave behind the troops and then attack again." Rush back to Tangtou Town with all your strength? This is a bit unbelievable."
"Sir Xu, tell me... could this be something happening in Tangtou Town?" Pang Bingxun said very seriously.
"I think there is a high probability that something happened in Tangtou Town. Maybe someone is attacking Tangtou Town." Zhang Zizhong rarely agreed with Pang Bingxun's opinion.
Xu Zuyi held a pencil in his hand and tapped the coordinates of Tangtou Town on the map. His brows were still furrowed: "But in addition to the political significance of Tangtou Town, although its location is important, it is not important enough to abandon Zhuge City. The main force of the Japanese army in the area also needs to return for reinforcements."
"Then there is only one possibility. It is very likely that Jun Sakamoto's headquarters is here." Zhang Zizhong analyzed.
Pang Bingxun also echoed: "Yes, Chief Xu. I also agree with Brother Xin Chen's opinion. Only when the headquarters is attacked, and not when it is a general violent attack, can the Japanese army be forced to make such a move of cutting off the arms of a strong man."
Regarding this unexpected situation, Xu Zuyi gritted his teeth and was obviously very unhappy: At this time, someone dared to disobey orders and lead troops to attack Tangtou Town without authorization? !
This is not a question of whether the battle can be won or not. The key is to kill first and then report later. No matter who is the leader, he will definitely feel the same dissatisfaction - the key is still those two words, respect.
If you really want to attack Tangtou Town, can you ask me for advice? Am I, Xu Zuyi, someone who is hard to talk to? Xu Zuyi was already scolding Huahua inside.
At this time, other than the troops directly under the First Regiment of the Third Theater Zone who were ordered to garrison Tangshan Au, which troops can attack Tangtou Town and defeat the painful and desperate Japanese troops, which other troops have such strength? ?
Xu Zuyi is very clear about the strength of the first regiment directly under the third war zone. Not to mention that the regiment was already well-equipped and had strong combat effectiveness. After entering Lanling County, it also expanded to a cavalry of more than 300 people. camp.
Regarding the expansion of the army, the officers of the theater commander's department turned a blind eye. After all, this is when the front line is in crisis. If the frontline army commander has the ability to expand the troops on the front line, he does not ask the commander's department for help. If you want food or pay, they will welcome you.
Xu Zuyi knew clearly that before the expansion, the first regiment directly under the third theater was already overstretched, with more than 3,600 people, and its strength was close to a brigade. With this expansion, apart from the fact that the number was not a brigade, the strength was already It's a whole brigade.
It was precisely because of this that Xu Zuyi did not send Zhang Tianhai's troops into the battle immediately. He did not expect that this boy would be so restless and even mobilize his troops to participate in the battle without authorization.
"Call back to Commander Liu and ask him to annihilate the enemy in front of him and then immediately attack Tangtou Town with the entire division!" Xu Zuyi said, suppressing the discomfort in his heart.
"Yes, sir!" The staff officer took notes and took notes on Commander Xu's words.
"Also, call the First Regiment directly under the Third War Zone immediately to ask about the situation of their troops!" Xu Zuyi squeezed this sentence out from between his teeth, which shows how dissatisfied he was with Zhang Tianhai's disobedience and unauthorized mobilization of troops. .
"Yes! Sir!" the staff officer responded, feeling awe-struck in his heart.
…
Soon, Guo Qiliang, who stayed at the outer position of Tangtou, received a stern inquiry telegram from Chief Xu of the Linyi Frontline Command.
Well, yes, to put it bluntly, it means questioning, which is a bit similar to accountability.
"Chief of Staff, what should we do? Do you want to reply truthfully?" Xu Xun asked, looking at Guo Qiliang's uncertain face.
Guo Qiliang thought for a while and said: "Reply truthfully and say that the main force of the first regiment directly under my third theater has entered Tangtou Town, and it won't take long for Tangtou Town to be captured."
"Yes! Sir." Xu Xun responded and went to give instructions to the communications staff.
Not long after, Xu Xun came back. He asked Guo Qiliang: "Chief of Staff, tell me, if we mobilize troops without authorization to attack Tangtou Town, will we be punished if we turn back?"
I saw Guo Qiliang glare at Xu Xun and scolded: "If the sky falls, there is a high ceiling. It won't matter to you, just carry out the order."
"I understand, I understand." Xu Xun responded with some anxiety.
In fact, both Guo Qiliang, Zhou Fangjie, and the person involved, Zhang Tianhai, were already prepared to accept punishment before taking action. Disobeying orders is not a trivial matter. What can be said is that the impact is extremely bad!
It can be seen from this telegram that Chief Xu is really angry!
…
Not long after, Linyi's frontline headquarters received a reply from the Zhiyi Regiment Headquarters.
Holding the message paper, Xu Zuyi's face was uncertain. He was considering the gains and losses: judging from the reaction of the Japanese army, it is really possible for Zhang Tianhai and others to attack the headquarters. This is definitely good news; but condoning disobedience This is not a good start. If it is a bad start, how will the theater commander command the troops in the future?
"Sir Xu, what is going on?" Pang Bingxun asked. After all, he still had some friendship with Zhang Tianhai, so he asked worriedly.
I saw Xu Zuyi smiled bitterly and said: "You two really guessed it right. It is really Zhang Tianhai who is attacking Tangtou Town. And he has already invaded Tangtou Town."
Both Pang Bingxun and Zhang Zizhong knew that disobedience would have a bad impact, and judging from Chief Xu's face, he didn't seem too happy.
After thinking for a while, Pang Bingxun finally asked: "Sir, what are you going to do?"
Xu Zuyi smiled bitterly and shook his head: "What else can we do? Since Zhang Yulin has created a good opportunity for us, why not continue to fight? You can't give up on the elite Zhiyi Regiment, right? As for Zhang Tianhai's crime of disobedience , when he comes back, I will punish him again."
Before Zhang Zizhong and Pang Bingxun could speak, Xu Zuyi continued to say to the staff officer: "Order Commander Liu Zhensan to annihilate the enemy in front of him as soon as possible, and then cooperate with the headquarters of the 1st Regiment directly under the Third Theater to annihilate Tangtou Town." Japanese military headquarters nearby!"
"Yes! Sir!" the staff officer responded again.
In fact, Xu Zuyi saw clearly than anyone how rare the fighter plane created by Zhang Tianhai was, but this sign of disobedience really should not be used casually.
After all, including the time in Nanjing, this was not the first time that Zhang Tianhai had disobeyed orders. Xu Zuyi felt that it was necessary to kill Zhang Tianhai for this sign.
Well, to put it bluntly, he is a repeat offender.
…
PS: The second update is here!
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Thanks to Qidian book friend 426097, QQ reading friend Yuye Yuye, and cuimingda118 for each of their monthly passes!
