Volume 1 Chapter 085: Start with excitement and end with disappointment!
Upon hearing that the regiment commander was going to attack Heyuan County, Fang Ligong hurriedly tried to persuade him.
"Commander, Heyuan County is not easy to attack. Not only is there a Japanese military police battalion, but there is also an infantry battalion stationed there. What's more terrifying is that the captain of the military police battalion, Ichiro Hirata, can call for a regiment of soldiers to come to the rescue at any time. Don't mess with them! If you are not careful, you will suffer a great loss."
To attack Heyuan County successfully, we must have the help of the Sixth Army or even the entire Second War Zone.
As for Li Yunlong's attack on Ping'an County, it was purely a reckless act on his part for the woman he loved.
Or maybe he clearly wanted to drag Ding Wei and Kong Jie into the water, and then involve the entire Eighth Route Army in northwestern Shanxi, and even the Shanxi Suiyuan Army and the Central Army.
Chu Yunfei doesn't want to act like Li Yunlong and do things without authorization!
He has two good friends, but I don't have any.
Without arranging everything, Chu Yunfei would not dare to attack Heyuan County rashly.
He pointed at a few points on the sand table with a whip and said, "We can't take Heyuan County with just one regiment. But I've thought about it. If we can convince Commander Yang, he can submit a battle plan to the higher-ups. Let the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, the Central Army, and the Eighth Route Army in the Second War Zone help to tie up the Japanese army. It won't take long, just one day, or even half a day. Our regiment has a good chance of taking Heyuan County!"
When Fang Ligong heard Chu Yunfei's idea, he looked at the situation around Heyuan County on the sand table.
"Commander. If the friendly forces in the Second War Zone are willing to go out, then of course there will be no problem. But how can we guarantee that they will definitely go out? Or even be able to stop the Japanese army? Commander, you should know that the Nationalist army, even if they promise well, will change their minds at the last minute and act slowly. If they fail to coordinate well, we will be in danger!"
Chu Yunfei knew that what Fang Ligong said made sense.
The national army has always been "When friendly forces are in trouble, we remain as still as a mountain!"
In fact, Chu Yunfei didn't count on the national army either.
He thought that since he was Commander Yang's trusted and beloved general, the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army would certainly give him some support.
At the very least, it was impossible for Yang Aiyuan, commander-in-chief of the Sixth Army, to watch the 358th Regiment being wiped out.
Not to mention that the Eighth Route Army would not watch him isolated and helpless, and Li Yunlong should also try his best to support him.
It was with this confidence that Chu Yunfei dared to propose an attack on Heyuan County.
He said: "I will communicate with the friendly forces. You can rest assured about this. Your staff will come up with a battle plan based on the premise that the friendly forces will stop the Japanese army and our regiment will attack Heyuan County. Once the battle plan is approved, we can take action!"
Fang Ligong didn't know why Chu Yunfei was so confident, but the commander had given the order. He stood at attention and said, "Yes! Commander!"
Attacking Heyuan County was not like attacking the towns guarded by the puppet army before, which could be taken by the 358th Regiment alone.
Heyuan has a gendarmerie and an infantry battalion responsible for guarding it.
Moreover, once the attack is launched, it will attract support from large Japanese troops.
When to attack?
How to attack?
If we conquer it successfully, what shall we do then?
What will the 358th Regiment do if the attack goes wrong?
What should you do when encountering an attack by the Japanese Air Force?
If the Eighth Route Army and the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army could not resist the Japanese support forces, what difficulties would the 358th Regiment face?
If we retreat, how and where should we retreat?
Who will cover the rear and who will provide support?
etc!
This series of responses requires the staff to formulate combat plans through simulation.
And because of changes in enemy intelligence, changes must be made at any time.
This is not something that can be formulated overnight.
Moreover, stockpiling ammunition and medicines also takes time.
It took almost 20 days in total, and everything for the 358th Regiment was almost ready, and the battle plan was formulated.
Fang Ligong was ordered to go to the Sixth Army Headquarters to report the combat plan to Commander Yang Aiyuen and request his approval and support.
The reason why they delayed reporting it until now was because they were afraid that it would be too early and the news would leak out, giving the Japanese army time to prepare.
They didn't dare use telegraphs because they could easily be eavesdropped by the Japanese army.
Fang Ligong could only report a general action plan to Commander Yang Aiyuen.
As soon as the commander approves, Chu Yunfei will take action immediately.
By the time the Japanese army found out and wanted to send troops to support, it was too late.
After waiting for two days, Fang Ligong returned to Wuzhai Town with a tired face.
In the regiment command room, Chu Yunfei heard the shouting. He looked up and saw Fang Ligong coming in and said, "Brother Ligong is back. You've worked hard. What did the commander say?"
Fang Ligong looked at Chu Yunfei and said gloomily, "Commander, the commander has strictly ordered our regiment not to clash with the Japanese army during this period. To dispatch troops, we must have a written order from the commander-in-chief of the theater! Those who violate the order will be severely punished!"
When Chu Yunfei heard this, he was stunned for a moment.
He asked hurriedly: "What happened?"
Chu Yunfei vaguely guessed something in his heart, fearing that the thing he was most worried about had happened.
Fang Ligong said: "Commander-in-chief, the commander-in-chief of the North China Expeditionary Army has been replaced. He has been replaced by General Okamura Yasuji. He and the commander-in-chief were classmates in the Japanese army. They are old acquaintances!"
When Chu Yunfei heard this, his eyes widened.
He said in disbelief: "At this point, Commander Yan wouldn't think that Okamura Neiji would return Shanxi to him just because they were old classmates!"
Fang Ligong shook his head and said, "Commander-in-Chief! What you said before about the commander-in-chief wanting to negotiate is probably true! I have spent a lot of effort to find out. This month, Commander Zhao Chengshou has signed the "Basic Terms of the Japan-Yanhe Armistice Agreement" on behalf of the commander-in-chief in Fenyang County with the Chief of Staff of the Japanese North China Expeditionary Army, Tanabe Moritake! The commander-in-chief is determined not to fight the Japanese army anymore!"
Although I had been mentally prepared, I was still disappointed when I actually heard that Yan Xishan was negotiating with the Japanese army.
Chu Yunfei was still very angry.
He thought that by defeating the Japanese army several times, he could make Yan Xishan see clearly that the Japanese army was not invincible.
The last time we met, I specifically pointed out that Japan and the United States would fall out sooner or later.
Once a conflict broke out between the United States and the Japanese army, the Japanese army would undoubtedly be defeated in the face of the United States' terrible war potential.
The Shanxi-Suiyuan Army had no need to negotiate with the Japanese army, as long as they could grit their teeth and get through the difficult period of one or two years.
But even so, Yan Xishan still negotiated with the Japanese army.
What I did before has no effect at all.
Chu Yunfei punched the edge of the sand table hard.
"asshole!"
I don’t know whether he was cursing Yan Xishan or himself.
This punch was so furious that it smashed the models on the sand table into pieces.
Chu Yunfei's fists were scratched and blood dripped onto the edge of the table.
Fang Ligong was startled and said hurriedly: "Commander, your hand... bring me some ointment!"
Chu Yunfei was in no mood to care about the minor injury on his hand at this moment. He shouted with a gloomy face.
"Prepare the horses!"
Chu Yunfei is going to make a final effort!
