Quartermasters can also fight the devils

Chapter 505 Review Meeting

The disastrous defeat on the battlefield in southern Guangxi greatly angered the top government officials. As soon as they received the telegram from Commander Bai, they agreed to Commander Bai's suggestion to retreat. After all, the troops attacking Nanning were all the government's own troops. If they did not retreat quickly, the government would suffer the consequences.

In this Battle of Southern Guangxi, China has concentrated so many government troops and Guangxi troops, which can be said to be far more than the Japanese army in terms of manpower. However, up to now, not only has the Chinese Fourth War Zone failed to recover the city of Nanning, but even the Kunlun Pass that was previously recovered had to be given up. This makes people feel depressed just thinking about it.

The top government leaders were really angry. When he started to intervene in the command, his own troops fought quite well. They did a pretty good job in retaking Kunlun Pass and annihilating the 21st Brigade of the Japanese Army. How come the situation on the battlefield became so bad as soon as he stopped intervening? It seems that he will have to command the troops more in the future.

As the troops of the Fourth War Zone of China took the initiative to withdraw, the troops of the New 22nd Army defending Binyang also began to retreat to Shanglin, north of Binyang, in accordance with the order of the War Zone Command. After the troops of the New 22nd Army withdrew from Binyang, the flanking troops composed of the 18th Division of the Japanese Army and the Imperial Guards Mixed Brigade also entered Binyang. The combat plan formulated by Lieutenant General Ando Rikichi, commander of the 21st Army of the Japanese Army, was a great success.

After the Japanese army occupied Binyang, the fighting in southern Guangxi also came to a halt. The top leadership of the Chinese government also decided to personally hold a post-battle review meeting of the Battle of Southern Guangxi in Liuzhou to analyze the reasons for the failure of the battle and to investigate and punish the responsible personnel of the relevant troops.

The highest level of the government was also furious this time and ordered all commanders of all division-level and above units in the Fourth War Zone to attend the post-war review meeting, and no one was allowed to take leave or be absent.

As a result, on the first day of the meeting, the news that the top government officials had arrived in Liuzhou was obtained by the Japanese intelligence department. Therefore, the Japanese army immediately dispatched more than 50 planes at noon. With the guidance of traitors on the ground who used mirrors to shine into the sky, they carried out a fierce bombing on Yangjiao Mountain where the top government officials lived. However, when the Japanese planes arrived, the top government officials were escorted into the air-raid shelter by their guards and did not suffer any harm.

Although the first day of the meeting was bombed, the four-day meeting went on as planned. On the last day, the highest level of the government issued an order to punish a group of senior generals who had mismanaged the battle and failed to supervise.

The order for punishment was read out personally by the highest government authority. When everyone saw the gloomy face of the top government official, they all knew that the punishment this time would be very severe. Even Zhang Wenwu, who was in the middle of the combat meeting venue, felt a little cold when he saw the cold face of the top government official.

“Ladies and gentlemen, everyone from the theater command to the various troops under it bears an unshirkable responsibility for the defeat in the Battle of Southern Guangxi. Some troops fought very well and strictly carried out the orders of the theater command, while some troops were too afraid of the enemy and missed opportunities, causing an irreversible situation for the entire battle. Based on the actual situation of the Battle of Southern Guangxi, I will now announce the list of personnel who will be punished and commended in the post-war review of the Battle of Southern Guangxi.” The top government official stood up with a serious face and opened a blue folder that had been on the table.

"Based on the actual situation of the Southern Guangxi Campaign, after research by the Military Commission, the following decision is made: Bai Jiansheng, the commander-in-chief of the Southern Guangxi Campaign, and Chen Cixiu, the government supervisor, are given a salary reduction but are allowed to remain on the job.

Bai Jiansheng, the former director of the Guilin Headquarters, was demoted from Army General to Army General due to his poor supervision.

Chen Cixiu, the political minister and war zone supervisor, was demoted from the rank of Army General to the rank of Army Lieutenant General due to his poor leadership.

Ye Zhao, commander-in-chief of the 37th Army Group, was detained and handed over to a military court for trial.

Xu Tingyao, commander-in-chief of the 38th Group Army, was dismissed and investigated.

The commander of the 36th Army, Yao Chun, was dismissed and investigated.

The commander of the 66th Army, Chen Ji, was dismissed and investigated.

The commander of the 99th Army, Fu Zhongfang, was removed from his post and investigated.

The Chief of Staff of the 36th Army, Guo Su, was dismissed and investigated.

The commander of the 49th Division, Li Jingyi, was dismissed and investigated.

The commander of the 160th Division, Song Shitai, was dismissed and investigated.

The commander of the newly formed 9th Division, Zheng Zuoming, was killed in action and the division's number was cancelled.

The commander of the 135th Division, Su Zuxin, was dismissed but remains in office.

Wu Zongjun, commander of the 405th Regiment of the th Division, was detained and handed over to a military court for trial.

Deng Longguang, commander-in-chief of the 35th Army Group, was awarded a merit award;

He Xuan, commander of the 46th Army, was awarded a merit award;

The commander of the 76th Division, Wang Lingyun, was commended once.

The Fifth Army and the New 22nd Army were commended once."

The top government officials announced all the post-war punishments and rewards in one breath. As the names were read out one by one, the military police outside the door immediately took the dismissed officers out of the venue. For a moment, the whole venue was filled with a solemn atmosphere.

"In addition, after research and decision by the Military Commission, the numbers of the 37th and 38th Army Groups will be revoked. The Guilin Headquarters will no longer command the troops and will be under the command of the Fourth War Zone according to the battle sequence. The headquarters of the Fourth War Zone will be moved from Shaoguan to Liuzhou." The top level of the government continued to drop two big bombs.

Zhang Wenwu, who was sitting very upright in the meeting hall, was shocked after listening to the announcement from the highest level of the government. In this Battle of Southern Guangxi, the Japanese army had really screwed over the Guangxi clique badly. The top level of the government had used the means of using the opponent's force to defeat him to perfection.

After this, even though the Guangxi clique's troops were greatly weakened, Commander Bai was naturally deprived of his command power in the Guangxi army. Moreover, this was done in a way that no one could say anything.

As for Commander Chen, he was also punished, but it was of no consequence. He was demoted one level in rank, but his real power remained unchanged. It can be said that the stick was raised high and then dropped lightly. Commander Chen was obviously just a runner-up. On the surface, the punishment this time was from top to bottom, and everyone knew what was going on, but they could not find anything unreasonable.

The people who were awarded this commendation were even more meaningful. The commander of the 46th Army, He Xuan, was from the Guangxi clique. However, He Xuan's troops were almost wiped out in the Battle of Southern Guangxi. It was obvious that he and other members of the Guangxi clique had different ideas about combat. This commendation happened to be a good opportunity to bring this army over to the government. By then, some officers from the government's direct lineage could be added to this army that had been basically wiped out. Then the 46th Army would become a direct lineage of the government. It was truly a great idea.