Chapter 42: The Third Battle of East Henan (X)
"Hanqing, are you still angry these days?"
Dai Jiliang asked Zhang Xueliang to sit down and then asked casually.
"Speaking of which, I've always wanted to have a good talk with you. Why don't we make everything clear today? This way, you won't have any grudges and think that I want to eat up your Northeast Army."
Of course Zhang Xueliang could tell that Dai Jiliang was about to confront him, and his heart tightened at the moment.
It is true that Zhang Xueliang had complaints against Dai Jiliang, but now the Northeast Army relied on supplies from the Northwest for everything from military pay to weapons and even replenishment of troops. Now that things had gotten out of hand, could he still gather his troops and surrender to Guiyang?
Zhang Xueliang's face was uncertain, and Dai Jiliang saw it all, but he turned a blind eye and said to himself: "The war of resistance has entered the most difficult stage, but I have always had great confidence in the victory of the war of resistance. Japan is an island country with scarce resources. As long as we break the Japanese army's attempt to fight to support the war, the militaristic Japan will perish sooner or later. But after the victory of the war of resistance, what should we do with the army? I think the first thing is to reduce the number of troops, and the second is to take the path of nationalization."
Dai Jiliang looked into Zhang Xueliang's eyes and said, "Hanqing, you have been to Europe and you know what the National Defense Army is.
Therefore, no matter what party or faction, all will be disbanded at that time, the Northeast Army and the Northwest Army are no exception.
I might then resign and run for election, and how would you cope with that?"
Faced with Dai Jiliang's gentle yet aggressive tone, Zhang Xueliang, who felt a little overwhelmed, had to use a delaying tactic and tried to deal with the question in front of him first. As for the rest, he would gather his staff to discuss it after he got out of the way: "Uncle, isn't it a little too early to talk about what will happen after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War now?"
"Early, maybe, but as the old saying goes, those who do not plan for the future will have immediate worries. I will not force you to give an answer today. You can go back and discuss it with your confidants such as Tang Guozhen, Liu Yifei, and Zhu Guangmu."
Dai Jiliang was not surprised by Zhang Xueliang's reaction, but the Northeast Army was the second largest group in the Northwest camp. In terms of size and domestic influence, he was destined to take more moderate measures.
"You can also ask senior veterans like Fushuai and Mi Chunlin, consult with frontline generals like Yu Xuezhong and He Guozhu, and even Gao Chongmin, Yan Baohang and other people from the (Northeast) National Salvation Association. Ask them if they still want to establish their own organization after so many years of wandering."
Zhang Xueliang's eyes were evasive, but Dai Jiliang didn't care and continued to speak sincerely: "I know you are worried about the future of yourself and the Northeast Army after you hand over the military power.
Hanqing, the Northwest is a place that embraces all. As long as you and the Northeast Army truly integrate into the society, I will treat you equally.
I have not only told you this, I have also told Shang Zhen this. As for whether there is a guarantee, you can ask Huang Shiyue, Zhou Lian, Li Duanhao, Feng Yong, Hu Yiling and others, or you can talk to Jiang Kui, Fang Ce, Zhang Dulun, Liu Wanchun, Li Weihan, Si Kezhuang and others. "
Huang Shiyue, Huang Chuxiao, a native of Tongcheng, Anhui Province, graduated from the third class of the Northeast Military Academy and the twelfth class of the Army University. He served in the Northeast Army for a long time and is now the lieutenant general director of the Military Education Bureau of the Northwest Military Commission.
Zhou Lian, aka Zhou Rangquan, was born in Kaiyuan, Fengtian. He graduated from the fifth artillery class of Baoding and served in the Northeast Army for a long time. After 1935, he entered the Northwest to serve. Now he serves as the Lieutenant General Director of the Artillery and Artillery Shell Production Bureau of the Ordnance Department.
Li Duanhao Li Yangwu, from Funing, Jiangsu, graduated from the third artillery class in Baoding and the sixth class of the Army University. He served in the Northeast Army for a long time. After the Northeast Incident, he went to serve in the Northwest Army. Now he is the lieutenant general commander of the first super heavy artillery team.
Feng Yong and Feng Hanqing are Zhang Xueliang's sworn brothers, the founder and first president of Northeast Feng Yong University, the chief of staff of the Northeast Air Force, and now the lieutenant general vice president of Qinghai Third Aviation School.
Hu Yiling and Hu Jiemei, a native of Anshan, Liaoning Province, graduated from the fifth infantry class of Baoding and the third special class of the Army University. He served in the Northeast Army in his early years. After 1931, he entered the Northwest to serve. Now he is the major general and commander of the 240th Division.
These are all former Northeastern soldiers who have obtained high positions in the Northwest Army, and the important reason for their success is that they have been completely integrated into the larger collective of the Northwest.
As for Jiang Kui who came from the Sichuan Army, Fang Ce and Li Weihan who were from the Zhejiang Army system, Zhang Dulun who wandered among various warlords and finally joined the Kuomintang, Liu Wanchun, a veteran of the Shanxi Army, Si Kezhuang, an old man from the Anhui faction, and Cao Chunlin, Wang Chengzhi, and Zhang Daohong who graduated from West Point and were not mentioned by Dai Jiliang, as well as Duan Yunfeng, Zhou Yawei, and Ge Jingen from Baoding and the Army University faction, etc., they are all excellent examples of being appreciated and reused after integrating into the Northwest.
It was because of these examples that Zhang Xueliang's expression changed, and he seemed to be touched and couldn't help but fall into thought.
Zhang Xueliang was still considering what to do when the door to the reception room suddenly opened and Major General Hao Ruizheng, deputy head of the intelligence group in Dai Jiliang's adjutant's office, hurried in. "Your Excellency, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Zhang, we just received an urgent report from the Hubei-Henan-Anhui War Zone. The 11th Japanese Army dispatched the 101st Division and the 33rd Division to launch a surprise attack on our army in southern Henan."
Dai Jiliang's face suddenly changed, and Zhang Xueliang almost jumped up: "Two divisions, is the news from the front accurate? Didn't they say that the Japanese army in central China was preparing to attack Changsha? Why are they attacking southern Henan again?"
In response to Zhang Xueliang's questioning, Hao Ruizheng reported without hiding anything: "I have ordered the intelligence department's undercover personnel in Wuhan, Nanjing, and Shanghai to confirm the Japanese army's strength, battle objectives, and battle deadline."
Dai Jiliang calmed himself down and said to Zhang Xueliang, who was still a little confused: "Hanqing, don't ask any more questions. Let's go to the General Staff Headquarters now and listen to further reports." Okamura Yasuji's tactic of making a feint to the east and attacking in the west was extremely beautiful. Just when everyone thought that he was about to launch the Battle of Changsha, the Japanese army suddenly advanced northward, which not only threatened the hinterland of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui war zone, but also disrupted the Zhongmu counterattack that was about to be launched in the direction of Zhengxian.
Just when the Hebei-Shandong-Henan War Zone had to change from offense to defense, the 5th Division of the Japanese Army in North China, with more than 8,000 people including the entire 11th Infantry Regiment, the 1st and 3rd Battalions of the 41st Infantry Regiment, the 1st Battalion of the 5th Engineer Regiment, the 2nd Battalion of the 5th Light and Heavy Infantry Regiment, and the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 5th Field Artillery Regiment, attacked Daying, Sanguanmiao, Guodian and other places in the southwest of Zhengxian County, trying to cut off the connection between Zhengxian County and Xuchang while flattening the Zhongmu salient.
At the same time, the Fifth Division also formed the Sakamoto Detachment with more than 10,000 people, including the entire 21st Infantry Regiment, the 1st Battalion of the 42nd Infantry Regiment, the 5th Cavalry Regiment, the 3rd Battalion of the 5th Field Artillery Regiment, the 2nd Battalion of the 5th Engineer Regiment, the 1st Battalion of the 5th Light and Heavy Infantry Regiment, the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Field Heavy Artillery Regiment directly under the North China Front Army, and the 10th Independent Light Armored Vehicle Squadron, to cooperate with part of the 35th Division attacking from Yanling to attack Xuchang.
Due to Dai Jiliang's previous example of killing a chicken to scare the monkeys, the Japanese army's attack in North China did not seem to be going smoothly.
The Second Army and the Seventh Army fought for every inch of land, and the Third Army and the Eighth Army also put up a tenacious resistance.
After suffering considerable losses, the Japanese troops in North China, which were short of manpower and supplies, had to stop and consolidate their few gains on the spot.
But the situation in southern Henan was out of control.
The Japanese troops in central China made a feint at the three passes of Yiyang, but their main force quickly advanced along the Ma (cheng) Huang (chuan) highway and soon captured Shangcheng and Huangchuan.
The Japanese army then turned westward, rushed to Luoshan and attacked Xinyang.
"The main force of the Ninth Army is moving to the Dabie Mountains. Chen Li's 131st Division of 7,000 men on the Xinyang line alone cannot withstand the pincer attack of the two Japanese divisions."
Faced with the sudden deterioration of the war situation, Zhang Zili had his own views.
"We must decisively abandon Xinyang to reduce unnecessary losses."
"You can ask Yang Hucheng to give this order."
Dai Jiliang was not shirking responsibility, but because Yang Hucheng was the commander-in-chief of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui War Zone, Dai Jiliang would not interfere with the troops under him.
"In addition, the Japanese army's advance speed is not that fast. The troops along the line should be ordered to immediately dismantle the rails and sleepers and blow up the roadbed."
"The Japanese army's ability to repair is stronger than we thought. This will only block the Pinghan Road for about a year at most."
Dai Jiliang looked around at the Military Commission members who disagreed with the scorched earth policy, but his tone was very humorous.
"The Belgians cut corners when they built the Pinghan Road. Now the Japanese insist on rebuilding it for us. I welcome it with open arms."
The people around him, whether they understood or were just pretending, all chuckled. Several staff officers even whispered, "No matter how bad the quality of this rail is, it can still be melted into molten iron to produce tens of thousands of tons." Zhang Zili did not look at the staff officer who was saying strange things. His eyes were still on the map. "Sir, no matter whether the Japanese troops in Central China will advance all the way north and join forces with the Japanese troops under the city of Zhengxian, at least the situation in Xuchang is very delicate. Shouldn't we remind Ma Kang to prepare for retreat so as not to be caught off guard?"
"We can't order them to retreat for now."
Dai Jiliang bent down and lay next to Zhang Zilii.
"Brother Park Chu, you see, once Xuchang is abandoned, the Japanese 35th Division can move south along the road and join forces with the 101st Division, which will greatly hinder my plan to transfer as many soldiers and civilians as possible from the occupied areas and completely destroy the Pinghan Railway. Moreover, the Xinzheng line is still in my hands now. The Third Army and the Eighth Corps are confident in retreating north and west, so we can prepare for retreat. The wounded, heavy artillery and other supplies and some reserve troops can be withdrawn, but it is better for the main force to stay."
"I still suggest withdrawing an army into the Ru River Valley to control Baofeng, Jiaxian, and Linru County."
This is a river valley that leads directly to the southern suburbs of Luoyang.
"In addition, transfer another division to defend the Ying River Valley west of Yu County."
"Then let He Guozhu transfer an army to Baofeng. Sun Tongxuan's 56th Army also has only one division, so why not just transfer it directly to Yu County?"
Since what Zhang Zili said made sense, Dai Jiliang readily accepted the advice.
"Also, the Fifth Reserve Army suffered heavy losses last time, so they will retreat to Xinmi this time."
"Then we can simply withdraw the 63rd Army to the southwest of Zheng County and set up defenses on Meishan. In the future, the Second Corps and the Seventh Corps will retreat directly in these two directions."
"I think it's okay, but I'd better ask Ma Kang what he thinks."
