radicalducati Chapter 65 The division commander died in battle, the army commander took his place; the army comman
Chapter 65 The division commander died in battle, the army commander took his place; the army comman
Bai Chongxi tapped his baton on the sand table, and a series of clear instructions were issued:
"A: Order the 48th Army under Liao Lei of the 21st Army Group of the Guangxi Army and the 7th Army under Ti Zuhuang to deploy on the southern line of the Jinpu Railway and construct a defensive line along the Huai River to the northern Anhui region to resolutely block the northward advance of the Japanese 13th Division and other units, ensure the safety of the northern rear of the main force in the war zone, and prepare to support the later strategic maneuvers."
B: Order the 31st Army of the Guangxi Army under Liu Yishi to continue to implement flexible defense and luring tactics in the depths of Mingguang, Chihe, Dingyuan, and Huaiyuan, to slow down the Japanese advance and buy time for the deployment of defenses on the northern front.
丙：命令中央军第20军团汤嗯波部下辖直属第13军（汤亲自兼任军长）、第52军关林铮部、第85军王忠连部，配属战车大队（T-26坦克15辆），隐蔽集结于枣庄、峄县以东兰陵、向城地区，
As a strategic reserve force for the war zone, after the overconfident and reckless 10th Division fully entered Taierzhuang, it was to wait behind enemy lines to cut off the Japanese army's retreat and carry out a decisive counterattack. (In fact, the original plan was to send Tang to Linyi to fight the Banyuan Division head-on, but upon learning that the principal was coming, it had to be changed overnight, because if it was not changed, the entire plan would be rejected by the principal...)
Ding: Order the 41st Army of the 22nd Army Group of Sichuan Army under Sun Zhen, comprising the 122nd Division under Wang Mingzhang and the 124th Division under Wang Shijun, with a portion of the 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment attached, to advance to the line north of Tengxian, along the Jiehe River, Longshan, and Puyangshan, and hold out for at least seven days to block the advance of the Japanese 10th Division's Zhongshan Qi Detachment. They must not retreat. After seven days, once the entire rear guard of the Japanese 10th Division arrives, they may be allowed to enter Taierzhuang.
The entire Japanese 10th Division was annihilated at Taierzhuang by "closing the door and beating the dog"!
E: Order the 40th Army (comprising the 39th and 106th Divisions) under Pang Bingxun of the Third Army Corps to hold the ancient city of Linyi and withstand the attack of the Japanese 5th Division under Ban Yuan, and absolutely not allow it to join up with the advanced Japanese division!
Ji: Order the 38th Division, 180th Division, and Cavalry Brigade under Zhang Zizhong's 59th Army of the Northwest Army to cross the Yi River and launch a fierce attack on the flank and rear of the Japanese 5th Division. Together with Pang Bingxun's troops, they will launch a pincer attack from the inside and outside to crush Banyuan's troops and strive to severely damage Banyuan's 5th Division!
Geng: Order the 2nd Army Group of the Northwest Army, with the 30th Army under Sun Lianzhong and the 42nd Army under Chi Fengcheng, to defend Taierzhuang with the 31st Division as the core. Lure the Japanese 10th Division, which is "underestimating the enemy and advancing recklessly," into Taierzhuang. Then, use the canal and alleys to set up layers of defenses and carry out street fighting to annihilate the enemy. Taierzhuang must be turned into a graveyard for the Japanese army!
Xin: Once the Japanese 10th Division has fully entered Taierzhuang, the elite 20th Army Corps of the Central Army, led by Tang Enbo, must immediately launch an attack from its rear.
We achieved our first true "great victory" since the start of the War of Resistance against Japan, annihilating an entire Japanese division!
Ren: Order the 51st Army of the Northeast Army to cooperate with the 131st Division of the 31st Army of the Guangxi Army under Qi Zhengdao and the 138th Division under Mo Dehong in the Huaiyuan and Linhuai Pass areas on the south bank of the Huai River to block the Japanese army in the central part of the cave, so as to ensure that the Japanese army on the southern front cannot advance northward and to stabilize the southern flank of the war zone.
Gui: Order the 60th Army of Yunnan Army to rush to the aid of the Yuwang Mountain area east of Taierzhuang, construct a second line of defense, block enemy reinforcements and cover the flanks of the main force, and prepare for a protracted defensive operation.
Son: Order the 2nd Army under Li Yannian and the 46th Army under Fan Songpu, which were withdrawn from the Battle of Wusongkou and had not yet been replenished, to take control of the area west of Xuzhou and east of Yuzhou respectively, as reserve forces for the campaign, ready to be deployed for counterattacks or to cover breakouts at any time.
Ugly: The 3rd Army under Sun Tongxuan, whose reinforcements were not yet complete, was ordered to carry out guerrilla warfare in southwestern Shandong, harassing the Japanese army's logistics lines and dispersed troops, in coordination with the main battlefield operations.
Yin: Order Zhang Zaiyao's 48th Army of the 21st Army Group of the Guangxi Army to advance to the Mengcheng area to build blocking positions, prepare to undertake the task of covering the breakout in the later stage, and stop the Japanese army's pursuit at all costs.
Mao: Order artillery, engineering and technical units to be assigned to the main army corps to provide fire support and engineering support, especially to meet the needs of Taierzhuang and Linyi.
Chen: The Fifth War Zone Supply Command is tasked with coordinating the supply of food and ammunition and the evacuation of the wounded to ensure the sustainability of operations on all fronts, with Tengxian, Taierzhuang, and Linyi being priority supply areas.
4: Order the intelligence units in the war zone and the guerrillas behind enemy lines to strengthen reconnaissance and search, keep abreast of the movements of the Japanese 9th, 13th, 5th and 10th Divisions, and report to the command in a timely manner.
Noon: It was emphasized that all units must cooperate in combat, break down factional barriers, and be under the unified command of Commander Li. Those who disobey orders will be severely punished according to military law!
Wei: The entire army must carry forward the national spirit and fight bravely against the enemy. Taierzhuang is the front line of our entire nation, and every inch of land must be defended with blood!
state:..........................................."
Bai Chongxi issued orders one by one, precisely deploying his hundreds of thousands of troops like chess pieces on the vast chessboard of Xuzhou. Every general whose name was called stood up, solemnly accepted the order, and resolutely changed his expression.
Bai Chongxi concluded by saying, "Principal, everyone, the key to this operation lies in 'blocking in the north, luring in the south, and launching a surprise attack in the middle.'"
The northern front, led by Sunzhen, must be firmly held in Tengxian, while the southern front, led by Yuxuezhong, must resist step by step, luring the arrogant 10th Division into a deep and isolated area of Taierzhuang.
When its momentum is thwarted beneath the fortified city of Taierzhuang, its troops are exhausted, and its supply lines are stretched, my hidden ace, the 20th Legion of the Tang Enbo Legion, will immediately march south to coordinate with the defenders inside the village and cut off the head of this mad dog in one fell swoop!
At the same time, the Linyi direction must block or even repel the Banyuan Division and thwart their attempt to join forces with Jigu.
In this way, the overall situation can be stabilized!
After hearing the deployment, the Chairman nodded in satisfaction when he heard that the main force of the Central Army would be "entirely reserved for the final attack." He then slowly stood up, placed his hands on the table, leaned slightly forward, and stared intently at all the generals. His voice was heavy and weighty:
"Gentlemen! The Battle of Xuzhou..."
It is not about the gains or losses of a single city or place.
It is truly related to our country's foundation.
The last line of defense concerning the survival of the nation!
If Xuzhou falls, the gateway to the Central Plains will be wide open, and the three towns of Wuchang will be in grave danger! The Party and the nation will be in grave danger!
Today, I am handing over the National Revolutionary Army's only two German-imported heavy artillery regiments and one tank battalion to the Fifth War Zone and to you!
This is my last possession, and the nation's last hope!
I want to emphasize here that I am prepared to sacrifice everything in this operation!
All military and political personnel, including myself, should be prepared to sacrifice themselves and live or die with the position!
I hope that none of you will follow in Fang's footsteps (Han Fu Qu Zi)!
Anyone who retreats without orders, regardless of rank,
Kill without mercy!
The division commander died in battle, and the army commander took his place!
The army commander died in battle, and the group army commander took his place!
The army group commander-in-chief died in battle.
I'll personally take over!
He paused, then his voice suddenly rose: "Furthermore, I have strictly ordered Yu Nong's Military Intelligence Bureau, Ke Jun's (Xu Enzeng) Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, and Zu Tao's (Chen Guofu) CC Clique, and all intelligence forces, to spare no effort to collect intelligence on the Japanese army!"
All intelligence must be sent directly to the Fifth Theater Command immediately!
No one may detain or delay for any reason!
Intelligence is life, intelligence is victory!
Ladies and gentlemen, the fate of the nation and the hope of the people are entrusted to you!
I hope you will unite as one and fight bravely against the enemy. I am in the mountain city, awaiting your victory!
All the generals stood up abruptly and said in unison, their voices shaking the rooftops: "Please rest assured, Chairman!"
We swear to defend Xuzhou to the death! We will never retreat!
God bless the Republic of China, God bless Chairman Chiang Kai-shek.
Victory in the War of Resistance is inevitable!
The fervent atmosphere in the conference room reached its climax with the generals' oath-taking ceremony, and then gradually subsided amidst the principal's encouragement and the complex gazes of the crowd.
With a solemn expression of encouragement to his generals and a shared commitment to the nation in times of crisis, the principal adjourned the meeting and instructed all commanders-in-chief to immediately return to their troops and implement the necessary plans.
After saluting, the generals departed, the heavy sound of their boots fading into the distance in the corridor.
Only Tang Enbo, the commander of the 20th Army Corps, immediately understood that the principal wanted to speak to him privately after receiving a subtle wink from Lin Wei, the chief of staff!
I deliberately slowed down and stayed until the very end.