Chapter 73: Defense of Zheng County
"As of March 15, 1941, the situation on the outer battlefield of Zheng County is as follows."
In the headquarters of the Hebei-Henan War Zone in Gongxian County, the commander Shang Zhen was squinting his eyes and listening to the intelligence staff's summary of the current war.
"The 2nd and 3rd Regiments of the 229th Division of our 2nd Army are deployed in the northeast of Zheng County from Huanggang Temple, Huangzhuang, Guodangkou, Renzhuang, Xiaojinzhuang, Xiyangzhuang, Houniugang, Gaozhuang, Malou, Zhangzhuang, Dawu Village, Laoxue'an, Sanglin, Jiazhuang to the frontier key points of Zheng County East Station on the Longhai Road, as well as the villages in depth between Xingzhuang, Baifo Village, Jichengji, Qianniugang, Xuegang, Xiaoxiazhuang, Yaodian, Shiqiao, and Xinshiqiao."
On the large map in the headquarters, a clear dividing line can be seen at this moment, which is the Longqin Yuhai Railway. The defense zone of the 229th Division is concentrated in the vast area from the north side of this line to the south bank of the Yellow River.
"The first regiment of the division, the division's field engineer battalion, the division's search and reconnaissance company and other units were responsible for garrisoning in Liubao, Qibao, Babao, Donggang, Xiangyun Temple, Matougang, Malin, Xiaoguo Village, and Shazhuang, and were responsible for counterattacks when necessary."
The baton in the hands of the chief intelligence staff slowly moved across the Longqinyuhai Railway.
"The 1st and 3rd Regiments of the 232nd Division of the 2nd Army were deployed in the southeast of Zheng County along the lines of Xiyinggang, Yanzhuang, Chengzhuang, Sizhuang, Caogusi, Dongyanggang, Yanfen, Xiaoluzhuang, Xiaotiezhuang, Zhanghualou, Wangnangang, Guozhai, and Bihe, adjacent to the 249th Division of the southwest garrison.
The second regiment of the division and its subordinates guarded the key points such as Shibalihe, Anxu, Qilihe, Xiaoyaozhuang, Xiaoyaozhuang, Dongshanggang, Baohu, Dongzhou, Fenghuangtai, and Zhangjiamen.
The chief intelligence staff officer with the rank of colonel is explaining the situation.
There was another intelligence officer nearby, who used red and blue stickers to clearly mark various things on the large map: "The southern line of Zheng County is the defense zone of the 249th Division, which extends westward to Gangao in the eastern part of Mangshan."
After talking about the situation of the Northwest Army's own regular troops, the intelligence chief of staff then mentioned the miscellaneous troops that cooperated in the battle.
"Wang Yizhe's Second Corps reported that they would use Yao Dongfan of the 117th Division of Dong Yingbin's 57th Army and Chang Jingwu of the 120th Division to assist the 249th Division in guarding the Dongduanfenggang of Mangshan.
Tang Junyao's 114th Division and Bai Fengxiang's 122nd Division of the 63rd Army, which belonged to the Second Corps, guarded the (Xin) Mizheng (County) Highway, the (Xin) Zheng (Xin) Mi Highway and Xinmi County respectively.
The remaining two divisions of the 63rd Army of the Corps set up defensive positions relying on Mangshan in the southeast direction of Xingyang.
The Second Corps also prepared to assign the 42 Northwest-made and Japanese-made 75mm mountain and field artillery guns of the seven companies of the 17th Independent Artillery Regiment of Qiao Fang to the front-line divisions to directly participate in the battle , and only retain a 4-gun 150mm Japanese-made howitzer company and a 4-gun 105mm Northwest-made German heavy field artillery company in Xingyang that could not participate in the battle due to unsuitable terrain. "
Shang Zhen suddenly said, "There is something wrong with Wang Yizhe's arrangement. The Japanese army has limited manpower and it should be impossible for them to cross the Mangshan line to attack Xingyang. Therefore, the theater should remind Wang Yizhe not to turn the 63rd Army into a useless redundant force."
Zhou Guangyou, the chief of staff of the war zone, immediately suggested, "How about we discuss with Wang Yizhe and transfer Sun Dequan's 130th Division to Zheng County as a reserve force in the name of the war zone?"
Shang Zhen certainly understood Zhou Guangyou's intention. After all, it was just to reduce the casualties of the Northwest Army. However, he was now eating Dai Jiliang's food, and his butt determined his head. So after just a little hesitation, Shang Zhen made a decision: "No need to discuss it, just transfer troops to the Second Corps in the name of the war zone."
After Shang Zhen said this, Zhou Guangyou hesitated: "Isn't this too tough? It's not good."
"What's wrong with that? This is a national war, and it's a normal order from the war zone."
Shang Zhen said calmly.
"Even if the case is brought before Zhang Hanqing, the truth is on our side. There is no need to hesitate. Send out the order immediately."
The adjutant quickly drafted the order and Shang Zhen finished it in one go. Zhou Guangyou was at a loss whether to laugh or cry and had to follow the adjutant's lead and sign.
After the telegraph officer took out the message, the intelligence director continued, "According to the report from the Eighth Corps, the Corps has arranged for Division Commander Wang Yuzhang to lead the 174th Division, its subordinates, and the Ma Guanyi Regiment of the Division to garrison Yu County."
The 56th Army, of which Sun Tongxuan was also the commander, had only one division, the 174th Division, and it had one regiment and some of the division's direct units to defend Yu County. It was obvious that Sun Tongxuan's plan was to defend if possible and flee if not.
Sure enough, Sun Tongxuan did not hide his purpose from the war zone: "The Eighth Corps also reported that the remaining two regiments of the 174th Division and the 56th Army Supplementary Regiment, the Army Mountain Artillery Battalion, the Corps Heavy Mortar Battalion, the Corps Supply Battalion and other units have successively retreated to the mountainous areas of Fangshan, Jiushan, Qianjing, Changzhuang, Wuliang and other mountainous areas outside Yu County.
The 12th Army of the Zhanshutang Corps, which is under the previous command of the war zone, is crossing the Juci Mountain and Ming Mountain line and preparing to advance to the southern border of Xinmi to assist the Second Corps in preventing the Japanese army from advancing westward from Xinzheng.
"We should tell Sun Tongxuan that it's okay to abandon Yu County if necessary, but we must keep the invading Japanese troops in the direction of Yu County and never allow them to be transferred to key positions at the critical moment."
Shang Zhen made a murderous statement.
"If he can't do this, he won't have to be the legion commander anymore."
The intelligence director swallowed and subconsciously looked at Zhou Guangyou beside Shang Zhen. Seeing that Zhou Guangyou's expression remained unchanged, he calmed down.
After the adjutant who recorded the order withdrew again, he continued: "Because He Guozhu's Third Corps was responsible for guarding the North Ru River Valley, it did not face the threat of the Japanese army in this battle. However, the corps has been ordered to transfer two divisions to the north to join the Zhengxian battlefield. In addition, according to the direct order from Lanzhou, the remaining four divisions of the corps will be ordered to transfer to the headquarters of the deputy commander-in-chief of Ludong in the Hubei-Henan-Anhui War Zone to participate in the encirclement of the Japanese Third Division."
Shang Zhen certainly had objections to Lanzhou directly commanding He Guozhu's troops without going through him, but his opinion was not directed at Dai Jiliang. Instead, he was dissatisfied with Chen Youliang, the deputy commander-in-chief of Ludong in the Hubei-Henan-Anhui War Zone.
Of course, Chen Youliang was an old horse from the northwest, and Shang Zhen could not show hostility right away. He had to act like a prime minister with a broad mind and swallow his anger for the time being.
"The Japanese side."
The intelligence chief began reporting on known enemy situations.
"To the east of our army is the enemy's 15th Army's main force, the 110th Division. According to the current reports from the front line, this division is mainly responsible for attacking the defense areas of the 229th and 232nd Divisions."
The intelligence director then introduced.
"This division is a 4th regiment division, with a front-line field force of about 18,000. In addition, the Japanese army also cooperated with the attack with more than 7,000 temporary mixed brigades drawn from the 36th and 37th divisions. The heavy artillery units included the 6th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, the 8th Independent Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, the 5th Independent Mortar Battalion, and other units, as well as puppet troops."
The intelligence director looked down at the data.
"It has been found that the puppet army has nearly 10,000 soldiers, consisting of the puppet Manchukuo Army and the Hebei Imperial Army."
The puppet Manchukuo army still had a certain combat capability compared to the Hebei Imperial Army, which could only serve as consumables. Therefore, it appeared in the intelligence director's report. Of course, the Japanese divided traitors into different levels, which was also the reason why the puppet Manchukuo army was slightly stronger. At least the puppet Manchukuo army was uniformly equipped with Type 38 rifles, and had a small number of artillery at the division and brigade levels, which was by no means comparable to the Hebei Imperial Army.
"The enemy's 35th Division currently has two regiments, the 219th Infantry Regiment and the 221st Infantry Regiment, as well as the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 35th Field Artillery Regiment, the 2nd Battalion of the 35th Engineer Regiment, the 1st Battalion of the 35th Light and Heavy Infantry Regiment, and the 1st Independent Mountain Artillery Regiment transferred from the 1st Army, forming the Iida Detachment. Commanded by Major General Iida Yasujiro, the commander of the 35th Infantry Regiment (Note: the commander of the Japanese Infantry Regiment is equivalent to the infantry commander of the Kuomintang's middle division), they set out from Xinzheng to attack the positions of the 249th Division and the Chinese 117th and 120th Divisions."
"In addition, it was found that the enemy's 35th Division was organized into the Minami-gi Detachment with the 220th Infantry Regiment, the 35th Search Regiment, the 1st Battalion of the 35th Engineer Regiment, the 2nd Battalion of the 35th Light and Heavy Infantry Regiment, the 3rd Battalion of the 35th Field Artillery Regiment, and the 1st Battalion of the 5th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment transferred from Shanxi. It was commanded by Colonel Ju-ro Minami-gi, the commander of the 220th Infantry Regiment.
The detachment is currently attacking in Xinmi, and its combat intention is to eliminate the flank threat to the enemy attacking Zhengxian. However, in view of the lack of manpower in the detachment, the Japanese army has also specially strengthened the puppet Manchukuo army and the puppet troops of Shandong and Hebei by about 5,000 people. "
"The situation is already very clear."
Shang Zhen seems to be competing with the Northeast Army and Wang Yizhe.
"It is basically impossible for the Japanese army to move southward from the Mizhen Highway. The Second Corps should immediately mobilize the defenders in this direction to support Bai Fengxiang's blocking operations. Otherwise, with only one division of Bai's army, it is absolutely impossible to stop the attack of more than 10,000 Japanese and puppet troops."
“Commander Shang, I think the war zone should not adopt an imperative tone for the time being.”
Zhou Guangyou said so.
"Wang Yizhe is also a veteran, he must be able to see the current crisis, so the war zone can only give a warning at most."
"Brother Wu Yi, where do you think Wang Yizhe will draw troops from to deal with the crisis?"
Shang Zhen’s words left Zhou Guang stunned.
"That's right. Wang Yizhe deliberately arranged his subordinates in this way so that he could use the excuse of insufficient troops to refuse the mobilization order just issued by the war zone."
Shang Zhen's prophetic judgment was soon confirmed. A telecommunications staff officer hurried in and presented a telegram to Shang Zhen.
"As I expected, Wang Yizhe wants to transfer the 130th Division to Xinmi."
The telegram reached Zhou Guangyou, who glanced at it and saw that the content was indeed as Shang Zhen said, so he frowned and asked, "What does Chief Shang mean?"
"The situation is urgent, don't push them too much."
Shang Zhen sneered.
"Call back and agree to his request to retain the 130th Division, but now that he has three divisions, he must tie down the Fengmu Detachment on the Xinmi line."
After saying that, Shang Zhen asked the intelligence director.
"Is there anything else you need to report?"
"ah!"
The intelligence director paused, then quickly grabbed the report, took a look at it, and then spoke.
"According to investigation, the 38th Division is currently using the strength of one infantry regiment and one search regiment to reinforce the division's logistics, engineering, and artillery to attack the Yu County line." This is Sun Xuantong's mission.
"In addition, the rest of the division's troops have not been deployed. Based on this, we analyze that these enemies should be the general reserve of the 35th Division of the Japanese Army on the southern front."
