Chapter 32: Relief
The lights in the room were very dim due to the air defense control. However, what made the senior generals uneasy was not the dim lights in front of them, but the extremely solemn expression of Dai Jiliang as he stood in front of the map with his fists clasped.
After a long while, Lieutenant General Zhou Yawei, the second chief of staff of the Northwest Command, carefully broke the silence in the room: "Your Excellency, how should we respond to the request of the Hebei-Shandong-Henan War Zone?"
Dai Jiliang did not answer but asked: "Has the General Staff approved the battle plan submitted by Ma Kang?"
"Based on the final results of the Guide and Lanfeng battles, the General Staff believes that the resolute blocking operation plan currently formulated by the Hebei-Shandong-Henan War Zone is possible to achieve."
Zhou Yawei replied in a deep voice.
"However, the Hubei-Henan-Anhui War Zone believes that the Japanese army in central China may launch a coordinated attack in western Anhui and northern Hubei. Therefore, the General Staff believes that it is not appropriate to withdraw too many troops from Hubei-Henan-Anhui to the north at this stage."
"Of course, Commander Ma's needs must be met to a certain extent, so the General Staff intends to draw He Kui of the 67th Army and six new recruits from the Xinyang Garrison Command from the Second Army to the north."
Xu Yongchang, who was beside Zhou Yawei, added further explanation.
"In addition, we plan to transfer one or two divisions from the reserve army group to join the Second Army."
"One army, two divisions, and six regiments, all together there are about 50,000 to 60,000 people, which is really not old or young."
Dai Jiliang made a pointed comment, and his sarcastic words immediately caused everyone present to think deeply. Looking at the group of generals who were lost in thought, Dai Jiliang gave some instructions.
“Can’t the General Staff focus on the bigger picture?”
"The bigger picture?"
Xu Yongchang raised his eyebrows.
"Your Excellency, do you mean the Japanese troops in central and southern China?"
"You guys go down and get busy first."
Dai Jiliang waved his hand disinterestedly.
"Put the report aside for now. I'll weigh it."
Several generals from the General Staff withdrew as if they had been pardoned, but not long after, Zhang Zili, who had just been on duty, came over in a hurry: "What exactly are you worried about, Your Excellency?"
Zhang Zili and Dai Jiliang are in-laws and partners who have supported each other for more than 20 years. Therefore, when hearing Zhang Zili's question, Dai Jiliang answered without hesitation: "Europe!"
Zhang Zili paused. Europe seemed to have nothing to do with the Chinese battlefield. However, Zhang Zili was a military strategist with an international vision who graduated from the Virginia Military Academy. Therefore, he soon understood Dai Jiliang's concerns: "The current situation in Europe is very tense. Hitler's greed is insatiable. The European war could be rekindled at any time. Once the war breaks out, Britain and France will be deeply involved and cannot extricate themselves. They may compromise with Japan in East Asia."
"It's not just Britain and France that will compromise with Japan. Stalin's Red Russia may also compromise with Japan in order to avoid fighting on two fronts."
Dai Jiliang subconsciously tapped the coffee table with his hands.
"If this happens, apart from anything else, the two international transportation supply lines between the north and the south will inevitably be completely cut off."
"Unlike us who can produce our own ammunition and equipment, the Kuomintang, which mainly relies on foreign arms supplies, may compromise with Japan under internal and external pressure."
Zhang Zilii interjected.
"Even if Guiyang does not compromise with Japan for the sake of national justice, it cannot be ruled out that it may passively fight against Japan in order to preserve its strength. In this way, the Japanese army in central China may be able to break away and launch an attack on Henan and Anhui, so as to first open up the two major arteries of Pinghan and Jinpu."
"Since this possibility exists, we cannot rely on the contradictions within the Japanese army. We must make a comprehensive response."
Dai Jiliang squeezed out the words one by one as if he had a toothache.
"Brother Park Chu, what do you think? Should we withdraw the main forces of Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Henan and Anhui across the Pinghan Road to secure the area west of the road?"
Zhang Zili took a deep breath and said, "Your Excellency, this is a serious matter. We must weigh the pros and cons."
In fact, this is not the first time that Dai Jiliang has thought about preserving his strength, but today is different from the past. The current situation is far more dangerous than before the war broke out. Once the Japanese troops from the north and south coordinate their attack, it will inevitably cause catastrophic consequences. Once the million-strong army in the Central Plains is completely lost, it will be a hundred times more difficult for the Northwest to seize the strategic initiative again.
But what Zhang Zili said was also right. Retreat is not a simple matter in itself when the enemy launches an attack. In addition, it is a major event that will affect the entire North China and even the overall layout of the Central China region. It is not something that can be arranged in just one sentence, and we cannot ignore the condemnation of public opinion across the country.
"Yeah, that's why I can't make up my mind."
Dai Jiliang sighed. In fact, his worries went beyond that. The Japanese army's civil engineering capabilities were far superior to those of the Chinese army. Therefore, once they gave up the east side of the road, it would be very difficult to take it back. It was definitely not something that could be reversed by simply opening up a base behind enemy lines.
"Brother Park Chu, do you have anything to teach me?"
"Sun Zhen's 9th Army and Liu Ruming's 12th Army are guarding the Dabie Mountain and Tongbai Mountain passes between Hubei and Henan. They are the most direct passages for the Japanese army in North China to move northwards. They are also the most powerful terrains occupied by our side. We will not withdraw unless it is absolutely necessary."
Zhang Zilii walked to the map and looked at it carefully, talking to himself.
"Should Sun Lianzhong's 19th Army Group go south to Baokang and Fangxian to strengthen the forces in the Hunan-Hubei-Bashu War Zone?"
"If Sun Lianzhong's troops are transferred to Liu Wenhui, Feng Qinzhai's troops of the 16th Corps can be transferred back to the Nanyang frontline in the name of being transferred to the war zone's general reserve. This way, Yang Hucheng's capital can be preserved. If the 7th Army is withdrawn, Yang Hucheng will not have too many objections."
Dai Jiliang followed Zhang Zili's ideas.
"But we can't transfer all of the Seventh Army back. How about this? Didn't the General Staff originally plan to transfer two divisions from the Reserve Army to reinforce the Hebei-Shandong-Henan War Zone? Now we can transfer two divisions from the Seventh Army."
Dai Jiliang said this and pointed at the logo of the 67th Army.
"He Kui's troops continued to be transferred northwards and were incorporated into the Third Corps of He Guozhu, no, the Third Army Group.
As for the Tenth Corps, it was transferred south to the Hunan-Hubei-Baozhou-Shuzhou war zone.
By the way, Liu Wenhui will have too much power in his hands. I think it is better to transfer Liu Heding of the 39th Army to Brother Binnan, and also transfer Zhang Ximin's 164th Division to the 39th Army."
"In this case, the 165th Shi Yuanxi Division can be incorporated into the Sixth Reserve Army, and the two divisions of Zhang Qingping and Tang Ying can also be incorporated into Xu Shaozong's newly formed 19th Army."
If the 164th Division, which was originally affiliated with the disbanded 47th Army under the direct was not easy to be absorbed by Liu Heding, then the two divisions of Tang Ying and Zhang Qingping, which also belonged to the 47th Army, were likely to be swallowed up alive after being transferred to the Pan Wenhua Corps, an old subordinate of Liu Xiang. Therefore, Zhang Zili suggested returning the 165th Division to Xia Shouxun as a consolation.
"In addition, Yang Hucheng's losses this time are not small. It is better to reorganize the Xinyang Garrison Commander Yang Zihuan's troops into the 25th Reserve Division and incorporate it into the 16th Corps."
"That's about right, but we should give Tang Ying and the other two divisions a different military number. We can't make it too obvious."
Dai Jiliang chose a safe plan, and believed that if Pan Wenhua understood it, he would naturally share the worries.
"Yang Hucheng should also be ordered to withdraw Wang Yizhe's corps back to the Xinyang line to guard the Pinghan Road. The Seventh Army should move in and out of western Anhui to maintain vigilance on the Bengbu and Hefei lines."
Spreading the remaining four divisions of the Seventh Army like pepper in western Anhui may sound like the Northwest Army is fighting on the front line, but in fact such an arrangement is not conducive to combat at all. It is nothing more than maintaining contact and can only serve as a warning.
"Ma Kang should remind him to maintain sufficient reserves." Zhang Zili brought the battle plan for the East Henan Campaign back to the General Staff Headquarters after it was completely changed. Dai Jiliang sat for a while before picking up the phone: "Please connect me to Sima of the Joint Logistics Command."
The call was quickly connected: "Sima, see if you can squeeze out 5 million machine gun bullets and 50,000 Type 82 mortar shells. Okay, you arrange to sell these things to the buyers in Guiyang in the most reliable way. In addition, Guiyang needs to purchase gasoline, so you can grant them 200 tons of oil products every month."
After hanging up the phone with Sima, Dai Jiliang dialed another number: "Chu Shounian, you immediately arrange for the Guiyang press." The third call Dai Jiliang made was to E Tao: "Brother Zhi, do you have anyone who is familiar with the Guangxi clique and can talk to Li Zongren? Please arrange for him to go to the Fifth War Zone and have a good talk with the other party about the issue of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui War Zone and the Fifth War Zone jointly fighting against Japan in western Anhui. Yes, it must be done as soon as possible, preferably flying to Xinyang today."
When Dai Jiliang was on the phone, Song Cheng walked in quietly. He waited until Dai Jiliang finished his call before reporting with a sad look on his face, "The First Veterans Hospital in Xi'an called. Deputy Chief of Staff Jiang just passed away five minutes ago."
"Senior Baili."
Dai Jiliang's tears immediately came down.
"God has taken away his talent."
After saying that, Dai Jiliang took the handkerchief from Song Cheng and wiped his tears.
"Have you arranged a car?"
Song Cheng nodded.
"Well, say hello to the Chief of Staff and the others, and we'll go to Xi'an to see General Jiang off for the last time."
Song Cheng immediately handed over Dai Jiliang's military cap. While helping Dai Jiliang adjust his uniform, he also reported, "Your Excellency, Chairman Yin is also reported to be critically ill in Hanzhong."
"Yin Bendao?"
The images of the two sisters Yin Su and Yin Tao flashed before Dai Jiliang's eyes. Then he shook his head and smiled bitterly.
"Let's go to Xi'an first, brother . I think you will be able to escape this disaster because of the blessing of heaven."
Although Dai Jiliang said this, Song Cheng understood his meaning and made arrangements. As soon as Dai Jiliang paid tribute to Jiang Fangzhen in Xi'an, he immediately transferred to Hanzhong.
