Chapter 36: The Third Battle of East Henan (V)
"The Liaison Office has found out that the Japanese Army in North China has assembled six mixed battalions from the divisions and independent brigades directly under the front army, and stationed them in northern Henan. As a result, Homma Masaharu was able to draw out most of the two infantry regiments and some special forces to participate in the river crossing operation."
"The Military Intelligence Bureau also discovered that the Japanese 12th Army also used the same method to draw out 15 infantry squads and a part of artillery and engineering corps from its independent 5th, 6th, and 10th mixed brigades that maintained the Jiaoji Railway and Jinpu Railway to form the Okada San'nan Detachment and deploy it to the Lankao front line."
"The Japanese army has deployed six divisions totaling about 150,000 troops, more than 150 destroyers and bombers, no less than 250 artillery pieces with a caliber of 100 mm or more, and more than 100 tanks and armored vehicles on the battlefield in eastern Henan.
Although our army has an advantage in manpower, it is at an absolute disadvantage in terms of technology and weapons. "
Yang Hucheng had never expected that when he woke up, the battle situation on the northern front had taken such an astonishing turn. However, compared with the extremely urgent situation on the northern front, he was more concerned about the purpose of Zhou Yawei's direct flight from Lanzhou, which was obviously not as simple as a battle situation report.
"According to the report from the Hebei-Shandong-Henan War Zone, Commander-in-Chief Ma has decided to withdraw the troops east of Kaifeng."
Seeing Yang Hucheng's thoughtful expression, Zhou Yawei waved away the adjutant who came to report and spoke straight to the point.
"Your Excellency and Chief of Staff Zhang have agreed."
Yang Hucheng raised his eyebrows, but he knew that Zhou Yawei would have something further to say, so he held back the words that were about to come out of his mouth.
"According to your proposal, the headquarters of the Hebei-Shandong-Henan War Zone will withdraw to Gongxian, the Second Army headquarters will first retreat to Weishi and then to Zhengxian and then to Xingyang; and the troops in Minquan, Ningling and Zhecheng will withdraw to Qixian and Suixian and then to Xuchang and Linying via Wohe and Yinghe rivers. The 207th Division and other units will be taken in and reorganized by the Seventh Army, and the Third Army, the 20th Army and the Seventh Corps will be transferred to Zhengxian and Zhongmu."
"Brother Zhenjia."
Seeing Zhou Yawei lower his head and drink a sip of water, Lieutenant General Zhao Xuetan, Chief of Staff of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui War Zone, asked, taking advantage of his identity as a veteran cadre of the Northwest Army.
"The situation on the northern front has changed suddenly. In addition to considering defending Kaifeng and Zhengxian, Your Majesty must have other plans. So what can we do?"
"Considering that after the fall of Kaifeng to the east, the Japanese army's next stage goal must be to open up the Pinghan Road, so Chief of Staff Zhang has drawn up an emergency plan based on the most critical situation."
Zhou Yawei responded.
"According to this plan, the remaining three divisions of the Seventh Army and Wang Yizhe's troops of the Second Corps must be transferred north immediately. In addition, the Joint Logistics Command and the military depots in Xinyang must be withdrawn to Nanyang as quickly as possible. At the same time, Your Majesty recommends that the Hubei-Henan-Anhui War Zone Command also be moved to the Miyang front line first."
Yang Hucheng suddenly interrupted and said, "Your Excellency, do you mean to give up central and southern Henan without a fight?"
"Of course, that's not what you meant, Your Excellency. However, the Japanese army is on the rise, and once the Japanese army succeeds on the northern front, it will surely whet the appetite of the Japanese army in central China."
What Zhou Yawei said made sense. Now Okamura Yasuji was just going through the motions, but there was no guarantee that the other side would increase investment in the three passes of Yiyang after learning that the war on the northern front was going well.
"Our army is limited in strength and we cannot fight the Japanese army head-on."
Zhou Yawei looked into Yang Hucheng's eyes and said.
"Your Excellency has an idea. We are planning to set up a deputy commander-in-chief's headquarters for the Hubei-Henan-Anhui War Zone in the Dabie Mountains to unify the command of the various units in western Anhui, southeastern Henan, northern Anhui, and eastern Henan."
Zhao Xueqin glanced at Yang Hucheng sensitively, and found that Yang Hucheng seemed calm, but his fists were clenched, so he asked worriedly: "Brother Zhenjia, do you know who will be the deputy commander-in-chief? Which troops are you going to assign to the deputy commander-in-chief's command?"
"Your Excellency only has this idea, but has not yet communicated it to the people below."
After explaining the issue of the selection of deputy commander-in-chief, Zhou Yawei said again.
"But the troops that this deputy commander-in-chief will command in the future will eventually be drawn from the Hubei-Henan-Anhui War Zone."
Seeing the solemn expressions of the two war zone commanders, Zhou Yawei certainly knew what they were thinking, so he comforted them.
"I personally think that the Ninth Army and the Reserve Cavalry Corps are more likely to be involved. Of course, there may also be some troops such as the Henan Hui Muslim Anti-Japanese Corps. As for the main forces of the Sixteenth Corps and the Seventh Army, they should not be transferred there."
Zhao Xuetan breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Yang Hucheng's direct 16th Corps was not touched, everything could still be achieved. However, he was too relaxed too early, and then he heard Yang Hucheng's straightforward request: "Your Excellency has considered it far-sightedly. It is also necessary to set up a deputy commander in Hubei, Henan and Anhui to prepare for a rainy day. However, even if the Japanese army occupied the Pinghan Road, its limited total force also determined that the Japanese army would rarely continue to invade the west of the road. Although Yang is not talented, he is not willing to hide in the rear and watch the country fall. So please ask Brother Zhenjia to make a plea to Your Excellency. I am willing to stay in the east of the road, and the southwestern Henan will be handed over to the deputy commander-in-chief's department."
Hearing Yang Hucheng's indirect criticism and retreating to advance, Zhou Yawei was obviously stunned, and then he smiled dryly: "Commander-in-Chief Yang is brave in state affairs. Brothers admire him very much. I will make suggestions to you and do my best to fulfill Brother Hucheng's wish."
This time it was Yang Hucheng's turn to be depressed. He just wanted to use this opportunity to bargain with Northwest China, but he didn't expect Zhou Yawei to take advantage of the situation and push him over the edge. Fortunately, he was also a hero, so he hesitated for a moment before bargaining: "This is very good, but I hope Brother Zhenjia will return to Gaolan to explain to the Lord that Ludong still needs to retain strong troops, and it would be best if both the 16th and 7th Corps can be transferred there."
" There is no problem in mobilizing the 16th Corps, but it may be difficult to mobilize the 7th Corps. After all, Commander Ma still hopes to fight a battle similar to Guide in Kaifeng."
Zhou Yawei obviously saw Yang Hucheng's displeasure, so he tried to ease the situation.
"But we can't just rely on the Ninth Army. We really need a strong force on the east side to threaten the Japanese flank."
Zhou Yawei paused.
"I think we can first apply to the Military Commission to grant the 16th Corps a corps designation."
Resolving the number of an army is of course a good thing. At least it can legitimately expand some of the army's direct subordinates. In addition, it can also apply for more artillery from the northwest. More importantly, it can promote a group of cadres. It is difficult for Yang Hucheng to refuse. For this reason, Yang Hucheng thought about it for a while before nodding: "Since Commander Ma has difficulties here, Yang has no choice but to do it reluctantly."
Before Zhao Xuetan could even breathe a sigh of relief, Yang Hucheng said, "After the reserve ammunition in Xinyang is moved west to Nanyang, what about the firearms and ammunition in the east of the road? We can't let the brothers below fight the Japanese with fire sticks."
"Commander Yang, please rest assured."
Zhou Yawei answered with confidence.
"The Joint Logistics Command will leave a batch of ammunition reserves in Ludong that will be enough for six months of operations. In addition, the Lord has arranged for some machines and technicians to be transferred from the Chang'an Arsenal to Ludong, so that basic gun repairs and ammunition production can be carried out in due course."
“You can only guarantee a six-month supply?”
Zhao Xueqin smacked his lips and suggested from the perspective of chief of staff.
"Captain Yang, it seems that we need to give detailed instructions to the brothers below and ask them to use ammunition economically."
"It is necessary to conserve ammunition, but we cannot throw the baby out with the bathwater."
Zhou Yawei immediately followed up with another sentence.
"If we can seize a batch of ammunition from the Japanese, it will be quite helpful in solving the possible supply shortage ."
Looking at Zhao Xuetan and Zhou Yawei who were singing the same tune and forcing him into danger, Yang Hucheng suddenly felt inexplicably irritated. He immediately decided to further strengthen contact with Li Zongren of the Fifth War Zone after going deep into the east of the road. However, at this moment, he did not reveal anything. Compared with the intrigue when talking with Yang Hucheng, Zhou Yawei's communication with the commander of the Seventh Army, Li Songnian, was much more relaxed: "Commander Li, you don't have to worry about the wounded soldiers. The Joint Logistics Command will arrange it. However, the matter of drawing on the remaining powerful troops of each division to form the anti-Japanese columns in East Henan and West Anhui must be done properly. This is the biggest task of the Seventh Army at present."
Lieutenant General Li Songnian and the Chief of Staff Major General Cai Wenzhi beside him looked at each other and smiled bitterly at the same time. However, they still had to complete the mission: "Please rest assured, Deputy Chief of Staff Zhou, the Seventh Army will definitely complete the mission. However, I want to know when the reinforcements from the western front will arrive?"
"Since the war began, the Mongolian Border Army and the Reserve Army have rotated their main forces many times. Now the various units on the western front are basically crippled and have retreated to rest. The headquarters is also in a difficult situation."
Zhou Yawei explained the background of the Northwest Army without hiding anything.
"You must base yourself on the existing troops and use the new recruits from Henan Province to replenish them locally. Regarding the source of new recruits, the headquarters has already informed the Henan Reserve Command, and they will give priority to you."
There is certainly no problem with the quality of the new recruits in central Henan, but the eight divisions that had to be withdrawn from the front line in eastern Henan were to be replaced.
Of course, some individual divisions will withdraw into Kaifeng City to hold their ground. After all the supplies are completed, they will also have to restore their original combat effectiveness. This will probably be quite difficult. What's more, they will have to extract the backbone of these crippled troops and advance eastward to the border of Henan and Anhui, which will be even more difficult.
For this reason, Cai Wenzhi asked hesitantly: "Can we accommodate and annex some of the friendly forces?"
There are many collateral troops on the front line in eastern Henan, such as Shang Zhen's troops, Liu Maoen's troops, and the Third Army of the Northeast Army. In the future, there will definitely be many scattered defeated soldiers escaping from the front line in twos and threes. On the one hand, these defeated soldiers are a scourge to the local area, but on the other hand, they are also a good source of soldiers. Therefore, Cai Wenzhi set his sights on them, which is killing two birds with one stone.
"Scattered soldiers can be accommodated, but organized troops."
Zhou Yawei paused.
"Those above the battalion level are not allowed to move without authorization, and those below the battalion level are not required to ask for instructions."
