"The enemy has been blocked all the way, and he is worried that he can't find the main force of our army for a decisive battle, if he really concentrates superior forces on the side of the Miluo River, isn't it just in their hands?" Chen Bui continued, not half of his words were related to Sun Yumin, but every sentence was trying to put Lao Jiang's thoughts on Sun Yumin's suggestion.

"You're right, Hikoji. But no matter how it drags on, there must be a decisive battle with the Japanese army, and we can't give in all the way. "What Lao Jiang said is also what he is worried about, it is okay to retreat, but you can't retreat without principle, do you have to wait until there is no way to retreat, before you think of fighting to the death? Sun Yumin's "Tactical Suggestion" Lao Jiang has carefully thought and estimated, he believes that a certain tactical goal will be achieved, but he never dares to completely put his mind at ease, because in Sun Yumin's "Tactical Suggestion", the location of the decisive battle is Changsha City, if this battle is not won, it is not just a simple matter of losing a city, the entire southern and northern Hunan and northern Guangdong will be opened up by the Japanese army, the loss of land is small, the military and the people's hearts are turbulent, and it is a critical moment to negotiate interest-free loans and military aid with the United States. The eyes of the Allies are all fixed here, and the pressure from public opinion on all sides is not something that this war can bear.

"President, we're not retreating without principle!" Chen Bui pretended to be surprised, he could actually understand Lao Jiang's thoughts, but he didn't want to see the tactics that had already been implemented, and when it was obvious that the results were seen, they were suddenly abandoned.

"I know that Boling and Yumin have laid a big pocket around Changsha, waiting for the Japanese army to drill, and I also know that Li Yutang's Tenth Army is also ready to live and die with Changsha." Lao Jiang sighed and said, with a lot of helplessness, he then said: "But, Yan Ji, this battle is too unfortunate at this time, if it is changed to normal times, failure will be a failure, we still have a chance, but not now, I must win, I need a hearty victory, I need a long-faced victory, let the allies see the situation on the battlefield in China, so I can't bet on Yumin, I can't let the war burn under Changsha City." ”

Chen Bui knew very well what Lao Chiang meant in and out of his words, although he euphemistically said that he wanted to show the Allies, in fact, he was to show the US government to Roosevelt, so that they felt that the Chinese army still had the need to support, and let them feel that the Nationalist Government still had the need to rescue.

Thinking about it, even if he is in Lao Jiang's position, he may not dare to easily put everything on Sun Yumin. Chen Bui lost a lot, he couldn't find a reason and wording to continue to persuade, could this battle be doomed to not be carried out according to Yumin's vision? Could it be that this battle of Miluo River is destined to become the winner or loser of the war?

"Yan Ji, I know very well that Yumin has been preparing for this battle for a long time, and I don't distrust him, but the relationship between this battle is too important, I can't afford to lose, and the national government can't afford to lose, you know, Madame is still negotiating in the United States."

"President, don't say it, Yan Ji understands your troubles."

"Well, if only you could understand." Lao Jiang nodded with satisfaction, for this staff member who had been a servant and friend who had followed him for a long time, he felt a little guilty at the moment, after all, it was a matter that he decided in front of him and his son-in-law to fight with the devil in Changsha City. In fact, you can't blame yourself for breaking your word, you can only complain about the situation changing too quickly, who can know which tendon of the Japanese is wrong, and will actually go to attack Pearl Harbor? Who knows what kind of trick the Japanese army will draw and suddenly launch an attack on the British army in Hong Kong? Isn't the war against Britain and the United States on the same day a clear disregard for the Chinese battlefield? If this is not ruthless to them, how can the Nationalist Government raise its head in the Allied Powers.

"Yan Ji, in fact, I have already sent a telegram to Boling yesterday, asking him to inform the officers of the participating troops that if this battle is won, promotion is not a problem, if it is defeated, he will be held accountable together with himself, and then he will blame the ruthlessness of military law, and blame me for the ruthlessness of Jiang someone's subordinates."

Lao Jiang's words made Chen Bui's heart suddenly disappear, and a stiff smile appeared on his face, and he said: "With this order of yours, the battle of Mijiang will be no problem." ”

Chen Bui's words were really insincere, just habitually complimentary, he didn't know what Lao Jiang would think, anyway, he wanted to leave after saying this, and when he was about to say goodbye, he heard the secretary's report at the door.

"Come in!" Old Jiang responded.

"Commission, Commander Sun of the Twelfth Army of the Ninth Theater has sent an urgent telegram!"

"Yumin? What did he say? Lao Jiang glanced at Chen Bui and asked suspiciously.

The secretary took out a telegram from the folder and respectfully handed it over.

Lao Jiang didn't pick it up, but said, "You read it!" ”

"Yes, take a seat." The secretary took back the telegram and read it out as it was written: "The headquarters has made all preparations for the war, and I beg the chairman to issue an order for the battle and allow our department to immediately set off for the designated area. If this battle could not inflict heavy losses on the Japanese army and win a complete victory, the Yumin would have apologized for their crimes with death and would never survive the world. Lieutenant General Sun Yumin of the Twelfth Army of the National Revolutionary Army! ”

"Why is he so determined? Why was he so sure he would win? Should I believe him or not? After the secretary finished reading the telegram, Lao Jiang was actually a little distracted, he was asking himself softly, but there were waves in his mind. Sun Yumin's telegram made his heart, which had already been determined to fight to the death against the Japanese invaders on the left bank of Mishui, begin to shake again. Two voices were arguing back and forth in his head, and one voice was saying: Believe him, Sun Yumin is the god of war, he has pressed his life, no one dares to do it without full certainty, believe him, maybe there will be a big surprise. Another voice was retorting: I can't believe him, this battle is too big, it is not a burden that a small Sun Yumin can bear, and his wife is still in the United States, if this war is lost again, how can she have the face to negotiate with the Americans.

Lao Jiang's brows began to wrinkle, two different thoughts were running around in his mind like a war, he couldn't make up his mind, and he couldn't make up his mind, how to make a decision.

Chen Bui first instructed the secretary to go out, then thought for a while, and finally had a heartbeat, gritted his teeth and said to Lao Jiang: "President, Yan Ji is willing to seconded Yumin's tactical suggestions, and is also willing to make a military order like him. ”

"Hikoji, you ......"

Lao Jiang would never have thought that this staff member, who is usually weak and respectful to himself, but basically does not affect his judgment, would be so assertive today, he actually used his net worth and life to press on this war, although Sun Yumin is his son-in-law, but who can be completely sure of the things on the battlefield? Who dares to be sure that the war has not yet been fought? Even if Sun Yumin has a lot of achievements, it's not that he hasn't suffered "defeats", isn't the battle of Lanfeng a bloody lesson?

"President, since the stakes are so high in this war, it is difficult for people to take on their involvement. You might as well let Boling and Yumin give it a go, maybe he will really win a big battle and give you and the people a big surprise. Chen Bui knew that this was the most critical moment, and Lao Jiang was obviously hesitating, and he had to strike while the iron was hot to make him make a decision.

"Good! Since Yan, you and Yumin dare to protect their lives, then I will be willful once, and the decisive battle under Changsha City will be a decisive battle under Changsha City. ”

After Lao Jiang said this, his frowning brows also relaxed, and he was like a gambler, pressing all the chips in front of him into this seemingly uncertain battle.

"Hikoji, record the order." Now that he has been convinced, Lao Jiang did not hesitate any longer, he said in a condensed voice: "Boling and the officers of the various units participating in the battle in the Ninth Theater, there is no need to defend the position on the left bank of Mishui, retreat, block the attack step by step, deploy according to the battle plan drawn up by the Military Commission, and arrive at the designated position. ”

"Order: Sun Yumin's Department of the Twelfth Army will be dispatched immediately, and Changsha will not be defeated in the first battle."

"Order: The Ou Zhen Division of the Fourth Army will immediately return from Guangdong, and return with the artillery units attached to it to participate in this battle."

"Order: Li Yutang's division of the Tenth Army must hold Changsha, not lose the city, and if you abandon the city and flee, the whole army will be executed."

Lao Jiang issued four orders in one breath, which shows the importance attached to this battle, especially the transfer of Ou Zhen's Fourth Army, which participated in the attack on Guangzhou, back to help in the battle, which Chen Bui did not expect.

In the Ninth Theater Headquarters, when Xue Yue received the urgent message from Lao Jiang, he was stunned for a moment, his original anxious and irritable expression disappeared at once, and he muttered to himself: "He finally realized his mistake, he finally realized his mistake." Who, who has such energy, can actually convince him? Who is it? ”

"Commander, what did you say on the telegram?" Chief of Staff Wu Yizhi asked in a low voice, as a fellow from Guangdong who returned from studying in Germany, he has been by Xue Yue's side for a long time, there are many strategic and tactical matters, and his opinions can dominate Xue Yue's thoughts for a long time.

"The commission gave up the idea of fighting to the death with the Japanese army on the left bank of the river, and decided to continue to implement the previous strategic deployment." A slight smile appeared on Xue Yue's face, and he continued: "Just as you imagined, the commission decided to encircle the Japanese army under Changsha City. ”

"How could the commission suddenly change its decision?" When Wu Yizhi learned yesterday that Lao Chiang was going to fight a decisive battle with the Japanese army on the south bank of the Miluo River, he was so anxious that he couldn't do it. As one of the few German students in the national army, Wu Yizhi's tactical plan was not much different from what Lao Jiang had arranged at the beginning, but it could be executed well, but it was suddenly changed, which made him very disappointed.

"It should be someone who said something to the commission!" Xue Yue sighed greatly, and he continued: "Regardless of the reason for the change of the decision, the top priority now is to find ways to get the various departments to withdraw from the battle in turn, and the troops on the south bank of Mishui are now in dire straits. ”

"Yes, Chen Pei, Sun Du and Fu Zhongfang must be eager to receive the order to retreat, and the taste of being roasted on the fire is definitely not pleasant!" Wu Yizhi echoed and said, knowing that it could be carried out as originally planned, his mood was much better.

"You organize and implement it, don't let the Japanese army feel that we are retreating deliberately, play, if you want to act, you can play a little bit." Xue Yue's words have a joking flavor, he has been nervous and worried about the war for the past two days, and he has only relaxed a little now, he originally planned to move the Ninth Theater Headquarters to Xiangtan again, but after receiving this telegram, he dispelled this idea, 300,000 national troops are around Changsha, if this can't stop the Japanese army, then what does he mean as a commander!

The first to receive the retreat order was Fu Zhongfang, his 99th Division endured a whole day of enemy aircraft bombardment and heavy artillery bombardment, already overwhelmed, he was thinking about whether to let the 197th Division to change the guard, received the retreat order from the 9th Theater, and immediately was so excited that he almost shed tears.

"Order the troops, alternately withdraw from their positions." Fu Zhongfang could not ignore the advice of the theater commander's department not to let the enemy notice, and the most important thing was to withdraw the troops first.

Less than half an hour after the 99th Division withdrew from its position on the south bank, the 68th Wing of the Japanese Army crossed the Miluo River, and then broke through the blocking position of the 99th Division at Pailoupu, and hurriedly drove to Daniangqiao, the predetermined assembly site.

On the way to the march, the 68th Wing of the Japanese Army and the 140th Division of the National Army met by chance halfway, and an unexpected encounter occurred.

The 140th Division of the National Army is the Guizhou Army, mostly composed of Guizhou soldiers, and Guizhou is a province with a small population.

Everyone knows that the Sichuan army is poorly equipped, but in fact, the Guizhou army is not too reckless. At the beginning of the Guizhou army's anti-Japanese resistance, the equipment of the troops was worse than that of the Sichuan army, and the soldiers of many troops wore straw sandals, so they were called "straw shoe soldiers".

But these "straw sandal soldiers" are troops that should not be underestimated. They are all very capable of enduring hardships, brave in battle, and dare to fight and kill, and many units of the Central Army are willing to fight side by side with them.

This encounter with the 65th Wing of the Japanese Army just gave full play to the advantages of the 140th Division, although the weapons and equipment were not as good as the Japanese army, but the encounter was not a position, digging trenches, and starting the battle. This unexpected encounter allowed the 140th Division to fight the most beautiful battle since the War of Resistance against Guizhou, not only annihilating all the advance units of the 65th Wing of the Japanese Army, but also slipping away before the arrival of enemy reinforcements. This unexpected victory made Xue Yue and Wu Yizhi realize that the decisive battle on the left bank of Mishui was far less correct and clever than the current blockade.

With the 99th Division of the 99th Army completely withdrawn from the battle, Chen Pei's 37th Army and Sun Du's 58th Army also withdrew from their positions on the left bank of Mishui as ordered.

Although the 99th Division did not feign defeat when it retreated, and the resistance at Pailoupu only pretended to be defeated and fled, this did not prevent the Japanese from thinking that they had been defeated.

Anami laughed when he received a report from Toshima Botaro that his troops had crossed the Miluo River and routed the Chinese defenders.

Originally, I thought that the battle of Mishui would have to be fought for a few days, and it would take some ammunition and sacrifice some soldiers, but I didn't expect that before the next day, Toshima had already broken through the defense line of the Chinese army. He is a veteran soldier who has been in the army for many years, and naturally knows that after one point is broken, the entire front will soon collapse, and the Chinese army's defense line on the left bank of Mishui is no longer to worry.