Chapter 5: The War of Resistance, Liu Heding
After the capture of Wuhan, serious differences arose in the Japanese military about the goals of the next stage of the war against China.
The North China Front Army strongly advocated concentrating the main forces of the Japanese troops in North China and Central China to launch the Henan Campaign. While opening up the Pinghan Railway, the army wanted to completely eliminate the vitality of the three war zones of Henan-Anhui-Xu, Jiangsu-Xu, Shandong-Henan-Anhui, and Hebei-Shandong-Henan, which were dominated by the Northwest Front, and then advance westward to Shaanxi and Gansu to occupy the core area of the Northwest.
The Central China Expeditionary Army, represented by its Chief of Staff Major General Yoshimoto Sadatsugu, insisted on giving priority to defeating the remnants of the Nationalist Government. They believed that with the change of hands in Wuhan, the morale of the Nationalist Government's troops would be low and their fighting will would disappear. Next, as long as they could seize major grain-producing areas such as Hunan and Jiangxi, the war in the south would soon end given that the Nationalist Government was confined to the southwest. At that time, it would be a natural step to turn around and deal with the northwestern regime.
The Japanese 21st Army, which captured Guangzhou, also had its own considerations. On the one hand, the army commander Ando Rikichi sent troops to capture Hainan Island, and on the other hand, he strongly demanded that the military strengthen the 21st Army so that it could launch an offensive against the Qinzhou Bay area and shake the rear of the Guangxi clique, the most resolute anti-Japanese faction in the Southern National Government.
The Kwantung Army actually had its own plans. On the one hand, they used the Korean Army's defeat at Zhanggufeng as an excuse to strengthen the Kwantung Army in order to fight against the Soviet Far East Army. On the other hand, the Kwantung Army took advantage of the North China Front's defeat at Guisui to try to seize control of the Mongolian troops so that they could eventually jump to the front and fight.
Faced with the situation of various factions fighting each other, after complicated behind-the-scenes deals, in early December 1938, the Imperial Headquarters and the Army Central Committee finally made a decision to adjust the Japanese troops in China.
According to this resolution, the Japanese North China Front Army established the 12th Army on December 11, and appointed Lieutenant General Kamezo Odaka, the former commander of the 19th Division who had shined in the Battle of Zhanggufeng, as its commander. The army headquarters was located in Baoding. The army was composed of the 21st, 35th, and 114th divisions and the 5th, 6th, and 10th independent mixed brigades, which were mainly responsible for the garrison and public security east of the Taihang Mountains and north of the Yellow River.
At the same time, the Japanese First Army, which was carrying out the operations in southern Shanxi, expanded its strength to five divisions and two independent mixed brigades. The army would be responsible for completely occupying the entire Shanxi Province and, if possible, crossing the river to cut off the Longqin Yuhai Railway in Shanxian and Lingbao. If the war situation allowed, the army would not rule out the possibility of crossing the river and directly attacking Shaanxi.
As for the command of the Mongolian Army, after fierce bargaining, the new commander of the North China Front Army, General Sugiyama Hajime, used his status as the former Army Minister to finally suppress the Kwantung Army's conspiracy and personally served as the commander of the army. However, due to the disastrous defeat of the Mongolian Army in Suidong, the army was forced to be in a state of reorganization and waiting for replenishment.
In addition, the North China Front Army also directly controlled the 27th, 32nd, 36th, and 110th Divisions and the 7th, 8th, and 9th Independent Mixed Brigades.
Among them, three independent mixed brigades were deployed along the Jiaoji and Jinpu railways, responsible for guarding and clearing out the guerrilla forces in the Jiangsu-Xuzhou-Shandong-Henan-Anhui war zone. The 27th and 32nd divisions were deployed in Yuncheng and Jiaxiang, and the 36th and 110th divisions were deployed in Xuzhou, ready to sweep across Henan again at any time.
At the same time as changes occurred in the Japanese army in North China, the Japanese army in Central China also made corresponding changes.
On December 9, 1938, the Central China Expeditionary Army abolished the Second Army's combat sequence, the army headquarters was transferred back to the country, and the troops under the Second Army were transferred to the command of the Eleventh Army. The command relationship changed at 12:00 on December 15.
In this way, the 11th Army, commanded by General Okamura Yasuji, became a super corps that commanded seven divisions, including the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 13th, 16th, 101st, and 106th, and the 14th Independent Mixed Brigade.
In addition to the 11th Army, the Central China Expeditionary Army also commanded four divisions, namely the 15th, 17th, 22nd, and 116th, three independent mixed brigades, namely the 11th, 12th, and 13th, and the 3rd Aviation Regiment.
The Kwantung Army also gained something. The 5th Division, which was originally under the 21st Army, was transferred to the Northeast to meet the Kwantung Army's need to strengthen its combat effectiveness.
Only the 21st Army fighting in southern China was not strengthened but weakened due to the departure of the 5th Division. In this regard, the helpless Ando Toshiyoshi could only send a small number of troops to implement military deterrence against the Chinese troops in northern Guangdong, western Guangdong and the Guangdong-Fujian border, except for ensuring the Pearl River Delta region and Hainan Island. This allowed the National Government to calmly withdraw and reorganize troops to cope with the pressure of the Japanese 11th Army on the northern front.
"Brother Bo Ming, your 39th Army currently only has one 56th Division, with so few soldiers and generals that it is difficult to fight a large battle, so follow the instructions of the Lord."
Zhang Binnan looked at Liu Heding, who came from the Anhui faction, with a stern face.
"The theater has decided to allocate Zhang Zhankui's 14th Cavalry Brigade to your army and give it the designation of the 20th Reserve Division. I hope your army can be reorganized according to the Northwest system as soon as possible."
Zhang Zhankui was an old subordinate of Feng Yuxiang. He defected to Chiang after the Central Plains War and served as the commander of the 3rd Cavalry Division. Later, he served as the garrison commander in Fan (cheng) Zao (yang). After the Northwest extended its hand to Hubei, this gentleman was very discerning and defected to us.
However, although the unit was called cavalry, the total number of war horses was less than 500, so Northwest had planned to reorganize it into an infantry division. In addition, Liu's unit happened to surrender, so Zhang Binnan took the opportunity to merge the two units to improve combat effectiveness.
"Commander Zhang, I welcome the decision of the theater with both hands. However, as far as I know, Brother Weixun's 14th Cavalry Brigade has only 2,000 soldiers. If it is to be reorganized into an infantry division according to the system of the Northwest, even if it is a simplified division, it must at least add 5,000 to 6,000 people. In addition, the 56th Division also suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Wuhan. I wonder where these soldiers will come from?"
Liu Heding was familiar with the rules of the Northwest in advance, so he never mentioned the request to set up a divisional command area for the 39th Army.
"That's one thing. Besides, the troops have been expanded. What should we do with the gap in weapons? And what about the artillery that was promised to be added to the 39th Army?"
Hearing Liu Heding's requests one after another, Zhang Binnan hurriedly interrupted him.
"As for the soldiers, the theater has already made some arrangements. We will first transfer 5,000 soldiers from the security groups in East and West Sichuan to supplement the 39th Army. Of course, the number is still a little insufficient, but now all the units are seriously short of manpower, so I hope Brother Mingbo will understand."
Liu Heding frowned slightly when he heard this. The Sichuan Army was already considered the strongest army in the world. It was hard for him to imagine what the remaining security corps would look like. However, he soon felt relieved.
That's right, even if the security team is useless, it is still better than the newly recruited young men. Now that he has such an understanding, he suppressed the dissatisfaction that just rose up in his heart and listened quietly to how Zhang Binnan answered his other requests.
"As for the issue of weapons, the theater has also given it comprehensive consideration."
Zhang Binnan stood up and walked to the desk and took out a document.
"The Joint Logistics Command has prepared for the 39th Army 6 7.5mm mountain guns, 1,000 steel shells, 8 120mm mortars, 12 82mm mortars, 5,000 two-type mortar shells, 20 Maxim-style heavy machine guns and 50 Czech-style portable machine guns, 300,000 79-point bullets for machine guns, 4,500 79 rifles and bayonets, 3 million round-nosed bullets, 400 MP-28-style machine guns, 200,000 9mm pistol bullets, 30,000 grenades, and a set of military uniforms."
The figures Zhang Binnan said sounded quite huge, but the originally promised artillery was reduced by almost one third. However, that was fine, as it at least solved the problem that the 39th Army's artillery no longer existed after several battles. However, the mystery of the rifles was even greater, so Liu Heding asked in a bad tone, "Captain Zhang, why did the Northwest-made rifles become the Hanyang-made ones? You just gave me some old rifles to get rid of me. This seems to be a little different from what you said at the beginning, right?"
"Commander Liu."
The other party was fussy, so Zhang Binnan's tone became serious.
"If I remember correctly, although the 56th Division is a second-stage adjustment division, it seems to be equipped only with Hanyang-made tanks, right?"
Zhang Binnan pushed the document in front of Liu Heding.
"Although the Hanyang-made is not as good as the Northwest-made, it is not a fire stick after all. If Commander Liu doesn't want it, there are probably many people who do."
Perhaps feeling that his words were too harsh, Zhang Binnan breathed a sigh of relief.
"And sending your army the Hanyang-made weapons doesn't mean we treat your army as a miscellaneous brand. It's mainly for the sake of versatility and logistics. Besides, the Northwest is based on military merit. If Commander Liu is counting on a replacement, then the 39th Army should show its prowess on the battlefield. As long as they fight well on the battlefield, not to mention the Northwest-made weapons, even if Commander Liu wants all Japanese weapons, the Northwest will also put together a complete set for the 39th Army."
Liu Heding listened to Zhang Binnan's words with an unhappy expression, but as the saying goes, a man of insight is a wise man. Liu Heding actually understood that he was now in a difficult situation.
First of all, there is no way back to the south, and even if you go back, you will be devoured without a bone left.
If he were to fall out with the Northwest again, he would have no choice but to surrender to the Japanese and become a traitor.
Speaking of being a traitor, Liu Heding didn't want to be criticized. Besides, Northwest at least gave him a number, and replenished him with soldiers, guns and ammunition. Even if there were some discounts, it was still acceptable overall.
Thinking of this, he had no choice but to take the approval document pushed to him by Zhang Binnan with a wry smile.
"Brother Mingbo, the theater hopes that the 39th Army can immediately go to the Nanzhang and Baokang lines to join the 20th Reserve Division."
Seeing Liu Heding put away the documents in a timely manner, Zhang Binnan decided to give him a sweet treat.
"In addition, the theater allows your unit to recruit the roving troops from Guiyang along the route northward, and to use force if necessary."
"yes!"
Liu Heding responded bitterly. This sweet date was poisonous. Once the 39th Army really carried out a military annexation of the remnants of the Central Army, he would have no choice but to follow the northwest path until the end.
However, I would rather die than be killed by a Taoist priest. Knowing that the Northwest still needed a token of surrender, he stood up from his chair.
"I will return to the army and reorganize it to march north."
"very good!"
Zhang Binnan nodded and stood up.
"The Japanese army is sharpening their knives now, so every minute is precious. I will not keep you here any longer. I wish you a safe journey. I hope to hear good news from the 39th Army soon."
