While General Juichi Terauchi, commander of the Japanese North China Front, was discussing with his chief of staff Naosaburo Okabe how to further expand the campaign, the battlefield in Yixian County was rarely quiet.
The remaining main force of the Japanese army huddled in Yixian is building a defensive line at Jiuding Mountain and Yixian City, and seems to be holding on to Yixian to await reinforcements.
On the same day, all the enemies in Taierzhuang had been basically eliminated. The Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang sent a message to encourage Commander Li Zongren and reward the soldiers who had contributed. It also told the soldiers and civilians across the country not to be arrogant after victory and to fight calmly to the end.
The day before this, that is, April 6, the enemy army was defeated. Cao Fulin's 55th Army of the National Army Interceptor Corps went south along Jinpu Road and reached the areas north of Lincheng and Zaozhuang. The enemy's retreat was blocked. Interrupt.
Also on April 6, Wang Mingzhang, commander of the 122nd Division of the Army, died in the battle of Tengxian County. He was commended and awarded posthumously to the Army General, and his life story was published in the history museum for future generations to remember.
However, what everyone did not expect was that Zhang Zhen's 10th Division did not arrive at the narrow entrance east of Guoqizi Mountain as planned, but encountered trouble in the villages along the Jinshan Temple line to the west of Baishan Mountain.
It is true that the Japanese army had no chance to enter Zhangshan, but that does not mean that the Japanese army did not move into other places.
After the enemy in Taierzhuang was ordered to retreat, they quickly fled in several groups. The main force fled toward Yi County and Zhangshan. Counting the part of the troops they had previously reserved, plus the part of the fleeing troops, in fact, the Japanese army west of Baishan The strength of the army is not weak, with at least 4,000 remaining troops, especially the artillery unit, which has the most abundant reserves of artillery shells.
As a result, these Japanese troops relied on their well-equipped equipment and remaining combat effectiveness to launch a counterattack against Zhang Zhenzhi's 100th Division, aiming to defeat Zhang Zhen's troops.
At dawn on April 8, the Japanese army first bombed the village west of Baishan twice with three aircraft, and then launched a fierce attack on Zhang Zhen's 110th Division that had entered here with very fierce artillery fire.
From dawn to dusk, the Japanese army fired nearly 10,000 artillery shells at the 110th Division position. After a day-long fierce bombardment, the Japanese army began to launch a fierce attack on the left flank of Baishan with two brigades. The love was very fierce at the time.
Since the 52nd Army and the 85th Army shouldered the important task of quickly pursuing the enemy, Tang Enbo transferred the two artillery battalions of the 20th Army to Zhang Zhen's command under the emergency situation. That is, one battalion of 15-year-old heavy artillery and one battalion of 75-mm field artillery, responsible for carrying them forward.
However, in the face of such fierce Japanese artillery fire, the howitzer battalion and field artillery battalion temporarily attached to Zhang Zhen's unit could not exert their power at all, and were suppressed by the Japanese army.
Therefore, Zhang Zhen, commander of the 110th Division, could only grit his teeth and grit his teeth, and at the same time sent a report to Tang Enbo, asking for instructions.
Tang Enbo also knew that Zhang Zhen's 100th Division was related to whether he could build a defense line east of Guoqizi Mountain, so he could only ask Li Zongren for help.
After all, the enemy in Yixian is the most important. Although the enemy in Baishan does not have too many troops, they must not be allowed to join the enemy in Yixian, otherwise the trouble will be great.
If the enemies in Yi County can be completely annihilated, it will be another huge victory for the troops in the fifth theater, so both Li Zongren and Tang Enbo have set their sights on Yi County.
After receiving the order, Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth War Zone, Li Zongren, also looked embarrassed. It seemed that almost all the troops nearby had been mobilized. Do they really need to mobilize troops from Yixian County to fill the gap in the 110th Division?
After thinking about it, Li Zongren hesitated.
"Brother Yanmou, you are also an old man in the fifth war zone. According to your opinion, which unit should be mobilized is the most appropriate. I can't think of which unit is most appropriate for the moment. This siege of Yixian County The troops are all capable of fighting well, and none of them will be suitable." Li Zongren looked at Xu Zuyi, the chief of staff next to him.
At this time, neither Bai Chongxi nor Cheng Qian, the commander of the first theater who came from the first theater to assist in the command, were no longer around. Li Zongren usually killed decisively.
After Xu Zuyi thought for a while, he said: "Brother De Lin, in my opinion, it is better to mobilize the troops who are better at defense first to block the holes in Zhang Zhen's 110th Division. We must not let the enemy force hinder the progress of the division. Pace. I remember that yesterday Tang Enbo had transferred the howitzer battalion and a mountain artillery battalion of their regiment to Zhang Zhen's 110th Division. The other things are not important. What is important is the two artillery units of Tang Enbo's regiment. The battalion must be delivered to the front line of Yi County as quickly as possible."
"Then which unit is this unit that is good at defense that Brother Yanmou favors? Is it the first regiment directly under Zhang Tianhai's third theater?" Li Zongren asked with a smile.
"No, this good steel directly under the First Regiment of the Third War Zone cannot be wasted. It must be used on the edge. My idea is to transfer part of Sun Lianzhong's Second Group Army to the villages west of Baishan Mountain. To take over the position of the 110th Division. If circumstances permit, one of Sun Lianzhong's divisions or a reinforced brigade can be sent to the position of the 110th Division. After all, the 110th Division has strengthened a heavy artillery battalion. It is so difficult to cope with the addition of a mountain artillery battalion. If we do not strengthen it appropriately, I am afraid there will be trouble here." Xu Zuyi said in a deep voice.
"How do you plan to use Zhang Tianhai's regiment? His regiment is an elite unit, and they can be used directly as an independent brigade. I want to hear your opinion." Li Zongren said with a serious face.
"If it were me, I would arrange for them to guard the west of Yixian County. This can be regarded as taking over the position of Sun Lianzhong's Second Army. The positions of the two troops transferred from here will be filled in." As he said, Xu Zuyi changed the topic and said: "Speaking of this boy Zhang Tianhai, didn't he apply for marriage? I have to help him host the wedding when I have time. I can also be regarded as a witness! Wait for him to fight After the fight, that’s it.”
"It seems that you still value Zhang Tianhai. Your idea is right. Let's do it like this! Tang Enbo's equipment is indeed good, but compared to the sophistication of the first regiment directly under the third theater, I think It's still a little bit worse. You are the person who is most familiar with Zhang Tianhai here. Since you value him so much, you will order someone to come up with a battle plan soon! I am waiting for your good news. As for Zhang Tianhai's marriage, let him Prepare yourself. If he can win the battle on the front line, not only will you go to help witness the marriage, but I will go too. This can be regarded as giving him enough face. In the battle in Linyi, he did fight well. I really have some uneasy conscience in my heart." Li Zongren said half-jokingly.
"Well, it is said that he married Zheng Boqu's daughter. This guy is so lucky!" Xu Zuyi smiled and said, "Okay, I won't say anything else for now. I'm going to carry out your order first!"
"Go, go!" Li Zongren waved his hand and said.
…
PS: Today’s second update is here. The owed updates are finally completed. It’s not easy. Good night everyone.
