For Neji Okamura, the outcome of this battle will directly determine the unfolding of subsequent battles. Therefore, he does not take this action lightly. He will deploy the standing division as the main force to attack the Suizao area!
The battle plan came out quickly. Okamura Neiji decided to deploy the 3rd Division, 13th Division, 16th Division and the 4th Cavalry Brigade as offensive forces to attack, oh no, to be precise, it was a counterattack. Suizao area!
Since mid-April, the troops of the National Army's Fifth Theater Zone have been actively launching the "April Offensive", actively launching harassment and attacks on the Ping-Han Railway from the east and west. The arrival of the main force of the 31st Group Army has even more It made Okamura Neji feel like he had an edge at his back.
In this case, the Japanese army can only use the word counterattack to describe it.
At dawn on May 1, 1939, the main force of the Japanese 16th Division, the 13th Division and the 4th Cavalry Brigade stationed in Zhongxiang and Jingshan directions, with the support of aircraft and tanks, attacked the Chinese army from Zhongxiang. The 37th Division and the 180th Division of the Right Group Army launched an attack, and the offensive was not generally fierce.
Regarding the news about the movements of the Japanese troops, the headquarters of the Fifth War Zone immediately reported to the National Army Headquarters. After research and decision by Chiang Kai-shek, Chairman of the National Military Commission, the information was notified to several nearby war zones as soon as possible and "be ready to support the Fifth War Zone at any time." Preparation for war."
In fact, Chiang Kai-shek also knew that except for the Ninth Theater, which might be able to provide certain support to the Fifth Theater, it was impossible for other theaters to allocate forces to support the operations of the Fifth Theater, because other fronts were also tight, so this telegram It's for the ninth theater.
…
Changsha, Headquarters of the Ninth Theater Command.
The war room is still busy. As the brain department of the ninth war zone, no matter where there is some trouble, they must know it as soon as possible and deal with it urgently. This is their responsibility.
"Sir, the Chairman sent a telegram. The Japanese army has launched an attack on the 37th Division and the 180th Division from the direction of Zhongxiang and Jingshan this morning. The Chairman asked us to be ready to support operations in the Fifth Theater at any time." A colonel walked up to Xue Yue and reported.
Xue Yue took a look at the telegram, then walked to the map to look at it, and then said: "Little Japan took action so quickly. It seems that they are in a hurry. Previously, the front line reported that they were stationed with the main force of the Japanese Sixth Division. The fourth cavalry brigade in the Yueyang area has been transferred back to Wuhan. In my opinion, they are sending troops to fight the fifth theater."
"What the commander said is absolutely true. The Japanese Sixth Division has been replenished to a certain extent. It is estimated that it should be confident about guarding Yueyang. Otherwise, how could they dare to mobilize a whole brigade to support the northern front operations. "The colonel analyzed.
"However, we have to study the Chairman's order clearly. Provide support? This must be implemented. Victory in the Fifth War Zone will definitely be beneficial to our Ninth War Zone. This Once, there was a fight over in the Fifth War Zone. These little devils, even if they are going to pay birthdays, we can't let them leave easily!" Xue Yue said harshly.
"But, sir, where can we draw away any troops now? On the Jiangxi front line, the three divisions of the Japanese Eleventh Army are still there. The troops there cannot be drawn away. The Japanese army's 3rd division on the Xinqianghe front line is still there. The main force of the Sixth Division is still there, and our troops on the Xinqianghe front line cannot move. Now the troops are still moving towards northern Hunan. I am afraid it will not be easy for us to support the fifth theater operation..." The colonel looked embarrassed. After all, from his perspective, it was indeed the case.
"No, we still have a unit on the front line that can move." Xue Yue said with a slight smile.
"Sir, do you mean the theater security force?" The colonel suddenly woke up.
Xue Yue nodded and said: "Yes, only this unit is a mobile unit and can be moved. But how to move this unit is another matter. The best target is the Sixth Division on the north bank of the Xinqiang River. , only by alerting the Sixth Division, or even attacking the Sixth Division, can the Japanese army's side tilt be transferred to some extent. But I estimate that the Japanese army will not fight this battle for too long and drag it into the front line of Tongbai Mountain. The quagmire is not conducive to their goal of attacking Changsha."
Xue Yue's mind is very clear, because he knows that Hunan is the main target of the Japanese army, because this is not only China's largest military source province, but also a granary. Only by winning here and heading north to Chongqing can the plan to destroy China be completed. .
It has to be said that Xue Yue is indeed a very talented strategist, and the general direction of the Japanese army is indeed the same - what is in the mountainous area of northern Hubei where the fifth theater is stationed? I'm afraid there aren't very abundant supplies, right? Furthermore, there are many mountainous areas there. If they fall into the quagmire of this war, it means that the Japanese army and the national army will start guerrilla warfare in circles here, which is extremely disadvantageous for them.
"Sir, what should we do? Order the theater guard troops to cross the Xinqiang River and launch an attack on the Japanese Sixth Division? I'm afraid that's not good, right? If the theater guard troops fall into the Japanese trap, we will Rescue, I'm afraid the situation will be completely unstable..." The colonel hesitated because he knew that there was something wrong with it.
I saw Xue Yue shaking his head and saying: "Impossible. The little devils can't afford to take this risk and fight on both sides? This will overly consume the troops they just added, especially the next attack they are preparing. They dare not fight a big one." It’s a battle, especially if we don’t have the 15th Group Army there? The full number of war zone guards can be considered a division! There are three armies behind us, so why are we afraid of being attacked?”
"But if the Japanese army sends reinforcements, even gets rid of the Hubei battlefield, and fights us decisively with all its strength, then we will suffer a big loss? We are afraid that the Xinqiang River defense line will not be able to hold it by then, and the Japanese army will march straight in, all the way to Changsha." Colonel. Not without worry, after all, this is his duty. Even if the commander will be unhappy if his words are a bit harsh, he must still raise his voice.
"If that's the case, then they don't want Wuhan. I don't believe that with Li Zongren's intelligence, he won't be able to smell this opportunity. If they deploy troops from Jiangxi, we will launch a counterattack in Jiangxi and restore the entire territory of Jiangxi. I don't believe that little Japan Just dare to bet! Just execute it like this!" A trace of ruthlessness flashed in Xue Yue's eyes. This is the decisiveness that a senior commander should have!
"Yes! Sir!" the colonel responded.
…
PS: Updates are coming!
Happy New Year to everyone!
Thanks to Qidian book friend James Leggeshen for the 400-point reward! !
