freenovelworld Chapter 326: Basically Agree
Chapter 326: Basically Agree
"Commander Li, since we have already borrowed the troops, we might as well let the people in the First War Zone do the best they can and help transfer some more troops to guard Tongbai and block the 29th Brigade of the Japanese Army coming from Xinyang. Once they are almost exhausted, we can abandon Tongbai and give the Japanese army the illusion that we have completed the encirclement." Chief of Staff Xu also made a supplementary suggestion in line with Commander Li's idea.
After thinking about it, Commander Li also felt that Chief of Staff Xu's idea was a good one. Previously, due to the lack of manpower, he was planning to give up Tongbai.
Now it seems that since we have already asked the First War Zone and the Military Commission for help, we might as well get some benefits and let the First War Zone send an army to guard Tongbai, which will maximize the consumption of the 29th Brigade of the Japanese Army.
Then the Japanese army was tied down in the direction of Tongbai, so that in the subsequent encirclement operation against the Japanese army, it would be difficult for this Japanese force to play any role. It can be said that this was a good move.
When Commander Li telegraphed his combat ideas to the Military Commission overnight, Commander He, who had been in the Military Commission, also took it seriously.
After carefully analyzing Commander Li's battle plan on the map, he also felt that this battle could be fought, and there would be no problem in withdrawing some troops from the First War Zone. There were no major battles happening in the First War Zone at present, and it was fully capable of withdrawing the troops needed by the Fifth War Zone to join the battlefield in the south.
After careful study, Chief He hurriedly sought a meeting with the highest level of government. Such a large-scale combat operation must be approved by the highest level of government.
While the top government officials were eating breakfast and listening to Commander He's report, they asked, "He, how likely do you think Commander Li's plan will be successful? According to your estimate, if everything goes well this time, how many Japanese troops can the Fifth War Zone encircle?"
The top government officials were also a little hesitant. This battle plan was very good, but there was an important point that made him hesitate.
That is, Commander Li plans to use the 31st Army Group in Zaoyang to implement a center-blooming strategy. That is his own elite force. The risk is very high. If something goes wrong with this unit, it will make him sad.
After hearing the question from the highest level of the government, Commander He immediately replied, "I have studied it carefully. If everything goes well, Commander Li should be able to encircle at least one brigade of the Japanese army, or even completely eliminate them. The New 22nd Army is now in Xiangyang. If the Second Army of the First War Zone is also assigned there, the chances of victory in this battle are at least 80%. In the worst case, with the combat power of the New 22nd Army, it can also break the loose encirclement of the Japanese army and rescue the 31st Army that is surrounded by the Japanese army."
Commander He knew very well what the top government leaders were concerned about, so at the very end he also raised the issue of the safety of the 31st Army Group.
Moreover, Commander He also emphasized the New 22nd Army. After all, in the minds of the top government leaders, only his own direct troops can be trusted. If other local troops are to be sent to rescue the 31st Army, the top government leaders will definitely be worried.
Sure enough, when Commander He talked about the New 22nd Army, the corners of the mouths of the top government officials couldn't help but curl up. This direct army of their own had brought them many victories. It was worthy of being an army led by their good students, which made them proud.
The top government official stood up from behind the dining table, walked to the window and looked at the drizzle outside, and made a decision in his heart.
"I agree with Commander Li's battle plan, but he must pay attention to the safety of the 31st Army. If this is impossible, the priority is to ensure the safety of the 31st Army. In addition, send a telegram to Commander Tang in my name, asking him to perform his duties well and fight this battle. I also send a telegram to the new 22nd Army, asking them to fight bravely and to ensure the safety of their friendly forces as the first principle." The top government level agreed to Commander Li's battle plan, but privately gave more detailed instructions to his two direct troops.
After listening to the order from the highest level of government, Chief He curled his lips and sighed in his heart: As expected, the highest level of government is still worried about the safety of the direct troops.
When Commander Li received the news that the combat plan had been approved, he quickly deployed the combat troops behind him.
The first was the Second Army Group, which was temporarily transferred. Commander Li immediately ordered the unit to quickly march to Deng County, not far northwest of Xinye, to assemble and be ready to launch an attack at any time upon receiving orders from the war zone.
The 68th Army, which was transferred from the First War Zone, was ordered to rush to the Tongbai area to guard it and block the Japanese 29th Brigade troops attacking from Xinyang.
After receiving the order to retreat from the war zone, the entire army withdrew to the northwest and southwest of Tongbai, tying down the 29th Brigade of the Japanese Army in Tongbai and preventing it from reinforcing any Japanese troops in other battlefields.
On May 3, the offensive force of the 3rd Division on the right wing of the Japanese army launched a fierce attack on Taerwan and Gaocheng.
The 84th Army of the 11th Army Group was responsible for defending Taergou, while the 13th Army was responsible for guarding Gaocheng. Faced with the fierce attack of the Japanese army, the two Chinese troops tried their best to hold their positions.
However, after the Japanese 3rd Division strengthened its artillery forces, the size of the assigned artillery forces alone reached nearly three artillery regiments, which made the defense of the Chinese troops extremely difficult.
In particular, the battle for Talgou, the gateway to Sui County, was extremely brutal. Faced with the attack of the Japanese army supported by fierce artillery fire, the officers and soldiers of the 84th Chinese Army used their flesh and blood to block the offensive forces of the Japanese 3rd Division.
In just one day, the position of Talgou was taken over by the Chinese and Japanese troops three times. Each time, the position was lost only after all the troops on the position were wiped out.
The fierce fighting of the Fifth War Zone troops also made the commander of the 11th Army, Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji, very anxious.
The battle had been going on for nearly three days, and the attacking forces in both directions had not been able to achieve results that satisfied them.
The Third Division on the right wing was relatively better. At least it was advancing towards Sui County and had achieved some results.
However, the flanking troops on the left wing fought so miserably that they had not even been able to break through the first line of defense of the China Fifth War Zone.
This made the battle plan he had made before the war almost become a piece of waste paper.