It turned out that Bai Chongxi and Xue Yue had a deep contradiction over how to fight in the Changsha area.

Of course, the two also have the same opinion. That is, first of all, to block the Japanese troops attacking by other routes, to break through Okamura Ninji's so-called two-flank tactics, and to concentrate the main force against the main Japanese forces attacking in the middle.

Secondly, before the war, the road traffic from Yueyang to Changsha was completely destroyed, the bridges were destroyed in a planned way, and at the same time, the walls were cleared, not a single grain was left for the Japanese army, and the people were also evacuated to the rear in a planned way.

Thirdly, with a force to cooperate with the local armed forces, with the help of the people, relying on the superior terrain, harassing and attacking the Japanese army, attacking his supply lines, depleting the Japanese army's vital strength and supplies, and exhausting the Japanese army.

Moreover, the main force used rivers and mountains as natural fortifications to inflict heavy blows on the Japanese army, and then retreated in a planned manner.

How to fight, the contradictions between the two cannot be reconciled.

Bai Chongxi believes that once the Japanese army sends troops, it will concentrate at least 150,000 heavy troops, which should not be underestimated, because our troops are only 240,000 (due to the difference in firepower, the national army generally needs twice the number of troops in defense). Therefore, if our army fights a decisive battle with the Japanese army without authorization, in case the Japanese army still maintains considerable combat effectiveness, will it not hit the stone with an egg and smash it on the iron plate with a fist?

The Nationalist army should adopt the method of retreating and fighting a decisive battle, decisively give up a considerable part of the land, retreat 200 kilometers back to the Hengyang area, lure the Japanese army to drive deeper, wait for them to be completely weakened, and then counterattack in an all-round way. Then cut off the enemy's retreat in one fell swoop, annihilating or inflicting heavy losses on the exhausted and unsupplied Japanese troops.

According to Bai Chongxi's plan, if he retreated 200 kilometers, he would have to abandon Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province.

Xue Yue held that although the strength of the Ninth Theater is only more than 200,000, its combat effectiveness is not weak, and the units of the Central Army account for half of the number, and after a period of rest, the combat effectiveness of the old units has basically recovered. So, going back is a must, but not going back 200 kilometers so much. Be sure to defend Changsha to the death, and then annihilate the Japanese army in the area north of Changsha.

Bai Chongxi was the director of the Guilin camp at this time, and the command area of the Guilin camp included the third, fourth, seventh, and ninth war zones. Theoretically, Xue Yue was Bai Chongxi's subordinate.

Xue Yue took the phone, and Chiang Kai-shek's tone that seemed to be discussed, but was actually an order, came from the phone: "Boling, how is the battle of Changsha, according to my opinion, if it really doesn't work, just withdraw from Changsha, and when the enemy first enters Changsha and has a foothold, then counterattack them!" ”

Xue Yue hurriedly took over and said: "Chairman Jiang, at present, the right flank is in good shape, and the 106th and 101st divisions have been besieged by us from all sides, and they are in a situation of being annihilated at any time. The 11th Brigade on the left flank and the 5th Brigade of the 3rd Division also suffered heavy losses under the blows of our Southern Expeditionary Army and the 70th Army, and it was difficult to do anything more. ”

Chiang Kai-shek on the phone was a little anxious, and said in an aggravated tone, "Boling, we are all the highest military commanders, is it good to speak practically, with your mere 240,000 people, it is not easy to break through the 150,000 heavy troops of the Japanese army." If you can't fight, don't fight hard, that's it, toss it all, how can you and I explain to the people? How will you fight the Japanese army in the future? ”

Xue Yue had no choice but to give in again and said, "Chairman, see if you can do this, let's try to fight a dozen first." If it doesn't work, we will abandon Changsha and go to the Hengyang area to fight the Japanese army again. ”

Chiang Kai-shek's tone was aggravated again: "Boling, I find that although you are loyal, brave and resourceful, you are sometimes too tough, and you are simply unreasonable!" After saying that, he hung up the phone angrily.

Xue Yue also slowly hung up the phone, the more he thought about it, the more angry he became, and he couldn't help but scold angrily: "Nonsense! Nonsense! It's just a bunch of nonsense. Blind command, blind command, are blind command. ”

At this time, a staff officer cautiously came up to persuade Xue Yue and said, "Commander Xue, the words of the chairman are the holy decree, and you can't help but listen to your subordinates." If it's wrong, the chairman will bear it. ”

Xue Yue was so angry that he couldn't vent his anger, so this staff officer became his punching bag, and scolded: "You get out of the way." You know what!? If they are not on the front line, how can they know the battle situation on the front line and casually interfere with the command of the front-line commanders, and this is the biggest mistake. Shooting only killed me, but if the battle is defeated, there will be thousands of deaths! ”

At this time, the phone rang again, and the staff officer picked up the phone and listened to it, covered the microphone and said to Xue Yue: "Chief Bai Chongxi called again, can you answer it?" ”

Xue Yue scolded: "It must be the wind that Bai Chongxi blew to the chairman, otherwise, how would the chairman know about the affairs of the committee here, and come to interfere in the command again." Pick it up, why don't you pick it up, I'm going to reason with this Bai Chongxi. ”

Xue Yue picked up the phone, and on the other side was Bai Chongxi's affectionate voice: "Brother Boling, it's hard!" Did the chairman call, and if so, how are you going to carry it out? ”

Xue Yue was angry when he heard it, and he was pretending, and when he heard it, he pressed it down. But angry is angry, and when the words come to his mouth, he is still full of kindness: "Director Bai is good!" Presumably, in the Battle of Changsha, you also know the battles on the Eastern Front and the Western Front. At present, the morale of our army is high, and it has the heroic spirit to fight the Japanese army. If Changsha is abandoned and withdrawn to the Hengyang area, this will have a great impact on the morale of our army. ”

At this moment, Bai Chongxi was serious about Xue Yue: "I said Commander Xue, our tactics have always been to avoid the real and attack the false. With your 200,000 or so people, it is not cost-effective to fight hard with the 150,000 elite divisions of the Japanese army. It would be wiser to withdraw to the Hengyang area, and then concentrate forces and wait for an opportunity to counterattack Changsha. ”

Xue Yue said: "If the Japanese army occupies Changsha, then they will also ensure the safety of their rear, Hubei." If they no longer attack the Hengyang area, no matter how many troops we put in the Hengyang area, what is the use, it is not just a chicken and a flying egg, waiting for the rabbit in vain. ”

"That'...... That...... How so? Bai Chongxi was a little anxious, "The nature of the Japanese army is greed, that is, to attack, how can they stay in Changsha and not attack the Hengyang area?" ”

Xue Yue listened to Bai Chongxi's embarrassment on the phone, and couldn't help but laugh in his heart, and said: "Chief Bai, we are fighting with the Japanese for courage and wisdom, the Japanese are not fools, we have to be smarter than them." What we can't think of, the Japanese can do. ”

"What's the matter," Bai Chongxi came hard, "Chairman Jiang and I both think so, it is the most cost-effective to pull our main force to the Hengyang area, where we can counterattack Changsha if we advance, and we can hold on to it if we retreat." ”

Xue Yue taught him: "Don't forget, the Hengyang area is not far from Guangdong, if our main force is placed in Hengyang, it will already be attacked by the Japanese army from the north and east, and if several elite divisions of the Japanese army in the Guangdong area are killed from Guangdong again, won't there be another enemy in the south, and won't we be attacked from all sides and dig our own graves?" ”

"You're thinking too much, Commander Xue." Bai Chongxi was obviously dissatisfied with Xue Yue's excessive concerns.

Xue Yuelin finished the phone call, and still didn't let go of Bai Chongxi, and said to him again: "Director Bai, if you can't look at me, you can find a more capable person to command the Ninth War Zone." If I were here, I would be responsible for the actual situation in the Ninth War Zone and for the more than 200,000 brothers in the Ninth War Zone. I still say the same thing, the situation on the battlefield is changing rapidly, let's talk about it after a fight, if it doesn't work, it's not too late to withdraw to the Hengyang area. ”

Just when Xue Yue was overwhelmed by the interference of his superiors and the pressure of Chiang Kai-shek, the main forces of the Southern Expeditionary Army had all been assembled in Yingtian.

Chief of Staff Liu Zhiyuan was, of course, the last to arrive. Han Xing was the vanguard, and Liu Zhiyuan of course had to organize the transportation of all the Southern Expeditionary Army, and his arrival also showed that the Southern Expeditionary Army had all arrived after more than ten hours of intense large-scale troop transportation.

As soon as Liu Zhiyuan came, he first shook hands with Han Xing warmly. His handshake confused Han Xing, and he hadn't seen him for less than a day, as for it?

Liu Zhiyuan said: "Yesterday, I really blamed you. I really didn't expect it, there is really a big battle in Yingtian, fortunately our southern expeditionary army came in time, otherwise, I would regret it! I now announce that yesterday my opinion was withdrawn. ”

Han Xing also smiled and said, "Yesterday, I really admired you. As long as you think that your opinion is right, you must insist, this is you Liu Zhiyuan, this is your personality. If it's all wall grass and falls with the wind, then it's troublesome. ”

Liu Zhiyuan also said: "Now that we are marching south, the people and equipment have arrived. What's next, you say? ”

"At present, the dangerous situation on the left has basically been resolved, and there is no point in us staying in this place any longer," Han said. Our butts are not yet hot, and we are going to pull out again, and we are going to the most critical frontal battlefield. We need to meet right away and agree on it in detail. ”

Liu Zhiyuan said: "Isn't it okay for you to give orders directly, why do you need to hold so many meetings?" ”

Han Xing didn't think so: "Don't underestimate the meeting, the lower-level commanders can understand the general military situation from the meeting, and I don't want the lower-level commanders to be confused." Besides, the commander of the upper house can also listen to some of the opinions of the commanders below, and if there is any good advice, it is just right to correct his immature ideas. ”

"Okay, I'll go and set it up right away."

Han Xing said to Liu Zhiyuan again: "The tank battalion that swam forward may have been unable to hold back at the Hengyang base for a long time, so it was just right for them to rush to the northern front line as soon as possible." ”

"Okay, you can give the order quickly!"

The meeting of the Southern Expeditionary Army was held in the headquarters of the Southern Expeditionary Army, and although the room was not big, everyone could barely squeeze it open. Another advantage of holding a meeting here is that outside the window is the main battlefield of Yingtian, and any battle outside can be clearly seen from this headquarters.

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