To the north of Shimen, Zhengding County, which is known as the ancient Sanguanxiong Town, is called Changshan, Zhending, and is the hometown of Zhao Yun and Zhao Zilong, the victorious general of the Three Kingdoms period.

Since the 42nd Group Army recovered Shimen and Zhengding, Zhang Mingyu regarded Zhengding County as the north gate of Shimen, and sent two infantry companies of more than 500 people to guard here.

At this time, the people of Zhengding County resumed their normal production and life, and lived a happy life of saying and doing and resting, and on September 7 of the 30th year of the Republic of China, the merchants and vendors in the county town began a new day's life, and all their goods were moved out of the store and began to open.

People in need walked around the streets, picking up all kinds of goods, and the whole street presented a harmonious scene.

At this moment, there was a loud sound of horses' hooves from the north gate, and about a dozen soldiers in green uniforms[***] rode into the city.

When the people looked at the green uniform, their hearts suddenly fell back into their stomachs, because they knew that only the [***] of the 42nd Group Army would wear green military uniforms, and they were still very supportive of the people of the 42nd Group Army.

The officers and men of the 42 nd Group Army also did not have any official status, and some senior and junior officers often went to the homes of some lonely and widowed old people when they had nothing to do, helping them chop wood and carry water, and helping the old men with farm work and household chores. Therefore, the officers and men of the 42nd Group in the Shimen area were deeply loved by the people.

In the words of a lonely old man, meeting the soldiers of the 42nd Army was as intimate as meeting his own children, and although his two sons died on the battlefield, he had thousands of children.

At this time, one of the leading officers of the more than a dozen cavalry rode forward and shouted at the street: "Folks, the troops want to borrow it from here, and please stand on both sides of the road and let go!" Borrowed it!! ”

Hearing this, the people present retreated to both sides of the street, and a wide passage suddenly appeared on the entire street.

More than a dozen cavalrymen rode to the side of the road, and at this time, they saw trucks full of soldiers driving into the city, and the soldiers on the trucks were all burly and heroic.

When the people saw a large number of heroic soldiers marching into the city, they couldn't help but be excited, their blood boiled, and they didn't know who shouted: "Long live China!" ”

Immediately after that, all the people waved their fists and shouted hoarsely: "Long live China....!" ”

Zhang Mingyu sat in the passenger seat of a truck, looking at the crowds who were shouting in unison on both sides of the street, and couldn't help but feel surging, opened the window and waved to the people on both sides of the street.

Soon, the three thousand tigers of the guard regiment all entered the county seat of Zhengding, and without stopping for long, they shuttled directly from Zhengding City and drove towards Shimen through the south gate.

This time to the south, Zhang Mingyu was at the rear with the guard regiment, a little faster than the baggage troops.

Zhengding is very close to Shimen, only less than fifteen kilometers, and the guard regiment quickly arrived at Shimen from Zhengding by truck, Shimen North Gate, Lai San, Ling Tianbao, Wang Tiehan and others have been waiting for a long time.

Outside the north gate, a group of heavily armed soldiers lined up on both sides of the road, and when they saw the vehicles rolling in the distance, Lai San laughed and said, "Lao Ling, the general seat has arrived!" ”

"Yes! Let's go up and greet you! Ling Tianbao nodded, beckoning Lai San and Wang Tiehan to come forward to greet them.

Seeing the three of them, Zhang Mingyu jumped out of the truck, and Lai San and the other three hurriedly saluted! Zhang Mingyu replied: "The troops are all settled? ”

"Hmmm! Boss, I asked the room to prepare a sumptuous lunch, Boss, please! Lai San nodded, and then said solemnly.

"Huh? Lai San, isn't there no military salary for your kid? Where does the money come from? Zhang Mingyu asked suspiciously.

"Total seat! This money is not mine, it is you! Any of our military salaries have been deducted by you, don't want to treat yourself within half a year, even if you want to invite, you have more than enough heart and not enough power! Lai San scratched his head and smiled.

"Okay, you're Laisan! I know that you kid is not well-intentioned! Zhang Mingyu scolded with a smile and led everyone into the city.

After lunch, Zhang Mingyu gathered everyone together and said, "Everyone, this time we were ordered to go south, the purpose is to cooperate with the central counteroffensive in Central China. The third, fourth, sixth, and ninth theaters are already preparing for war, and it is believed that they will be able to launch a counteroffensive against various Chinese armies in half a month at most, and the task of our 42 nd Group Army is to be responsible for attacking Henan, so as to cope with the counteroffensive of the [***] large army. Therefore, I plan to cross the Taihang Mountains through Jingcheng Pass, and then replenish weapons and ammunition from Taiyuan, and then set off from Taiyuan to the south, directly to Jiaozuo and Xinxiang in Henan, first recover the area north of the Yellow River, and then cooperate with the first theater to counterattack Luoyang and Zhengzhou. ”

"Why don't we go south directly from Shimen, along the way Xingtai, Handan to Anyang, Henan, Hebi area, so that the distance is closer, and take this route, we can take the train. The march was a little faster. Lai San asked puzzled.

"Because we have to pass through Taiyuan to replenish weapons and ammunition for the troops. The equipment of the 2nd and 4th divisions needs to be strengthened! In particular, artillery, which fights with the elite of the army in Central China, must be strengthened. Zhang Mingyu explained.

"Oh!" Lai San nodded as if he didn't understand, he originally wanted to say that he was willing to take the third division south from Shimen to Zhang Mingyu's soldiers to split two ways, but when he thought that Zhang Mingyu didn't arrange it like this, he must have his own reasons, so he didn't bring it up.

In fact, Zhang Mingyu has his own plans, although there are no more troops in Xingtai and Handan, but the 76th Army of the First Theater, Li Tie's military headquarters is stationed in the Handan area, and Zhang Mingyu does not want to have anything to do with these central armies before he has anything to do with the devils.

After all, his relationship with Chairman Jiang is rather delicate, and he has to be a little more vigilant, in case Chairman Jiang gives such a high-ranking general an order, he will make some small moves behind his back and detain him privately. At present, in his own capacity, he absolutely cannot fall into the hands of Chairman Chiang, let alone lose control of the 42nd Group Army.

Zhang Mingyu paused and stood up and said, "Okay, everyone has nothing else to do, go down and prepare!" Then go! ”

"Yes!" Everyone snapped to their feet, and then turned and left.

Just as Zhang Mingyu was marching towards Taiyuan with 100,000 troops, at the same time, Xue Yue, commander of the Ninth Theater, and Wei Lihuang, commander of the First Theater, submitted a petition to Chairman Chiang at the same time.

The Ninth Theater and the First Theater are all ready to launch an attack on Hunan, Henan, and other places at any time.

Yucheng, the leader's official residence.

General Bai and General Li, Chief of the General Staff, walked into Chairman Chiang's office together, and Chairman Chiang was looking at the map with great interest, the blue arrows representing [***] had all been marked on the map, and the red arrows represented the Yue Army.

Judging from the map, the blue arrows have formed a huge encirclement in the four directions of east, west, north and south, and the red arrows in the encirclement are encircled.

When Chairman Jiang saw Chief Bai and the others, he raised his head and turned around and smiled: "Jiansheng, Duke De, you are here." Sit! ”

Bai Li and the two stood upright, and then sat straight on the sofa opposite Chairman Jiang.

Chairman Jiang smiled and asked, "Jiansheng, what's the matter with the two of you?" ”

"Take a seat! Xue Yue of the Ninth Theater and Wei Lihuang of the First Theater sent letters of request for war one after another, saying that all the officers and men of the Ninth Theater and the First Theater are ready for battle and can launch an attack on the army at any time! ”

"Oh?" Chairman Jiang sighed, and immediately asked, "Where is Zhang Mingyu's 42nd Group Army now?" ”

"Back to the commission, the 42nd Group Army called in the morning to inform them that they have now arrived in Jingcheng County, and their vanguard will be able to reach Taiyuan by tomorrow morning at the latest!"

"What? They entered the Taihang Mountain? Why don't you go south to Handan from Shimen? And to go around Taiyuan in a big circle? Niang Xipi, what is this Zhang Mingyu doing, this is to delay the military situation. When Chairman Jiang heard this, he was immediately furious.

"Commission, maybe it's because they don't have enough ammunition, and the arsenal of the 42nd Group Army is in Taiyuan, so they want to replenish weapons and ammunition from Taiyuan!" Chief Bai thought slightly.

"Then why didn't he, Zhang Mingyu, apply to me in advance? There is not enough ammunition, I can supply him from the first theater of operations. Order the 42nd Army to immediately turn around and move south from Shimen to Handan! Chairman Jiang said breathlessly.

"Commission, I'm afraid this is inappropriate, at present, they are about to walk out of Taihang Mountain, and they are ordering them to turn back and delay at both ends, I am afraid that it will delay time even more and delay the military situation!" Admiral Li spoke at this time.

"Mother, Xipi! This Zhang Mingyu really refused to change his teachings, and even changed the marching route without authorization! Chairman Jiang scolded angrily.

When General Li heard this, he felt a burst of contempt in his heart, as an army general with a national political axe, and the commander-in-chief of a group army, did he not have the right to make his own decisions? It is the so-called general who has been ordered by the monarch outside the country to be disobeyed, and you, Chairman Chiang, did not order the 42nd Group Army to take that route in advance, right?

It was still General Bai who came out to make a round, and he said to Chairman Jiang: "Commission, since the 42nd Group Army has already left Taiyuan, let them go, and you can send another telegram urging Zhang Mingyu to march as soon as possible." It's the petition for the first and ninth war zones, what do you think? ”

Chairman Jiang said angrily: "Then it can only be like this, as for Xue Yue and Wei Lihuang's letter of request for war, you tell them for me that the 42nd Group Army has not arrived, and no one is allowed to act rashly, and the telegram to Xue Yue to counterattack depends on the timing, and cannot attack blindly, which will suffer a big loss!" ”

"Yes! Admiral White snapped to his feet. Then he and Admiral Li left one after another.

……….

Wuhan, the headquarters of the Southern Group Army.

The commander-in-chief of the Nanfa Group Army, Tada Jun, was reviewing the documents in his office, and the chief of staff, Major General Muto Akira, strode in. General Gangmura, commander-in-chief of the Northern Army, sent an urgent telegram! ”

"Oh? Okamura-kun? What did he say? Tada Jun still admires Okamura Ninji's law and order tactics very much, and Tada Jun knows that if it were not for the perverted existence of the 42nd Group Army, Okamura Ninji would have the strength and ability to govern North China in an orderly manner.

"General Okamura said in the telegram: The Chinese political axe is preparing a counteroffensive operation of unprecedented scale, in a vain attempt to destroy our Southern Group Army in one fell swoop and recover Wuhan and other places." Muto Akimichi.

"Muto-kun, we all know this news, Okamura-kun is really worried! I have ordered all divisions and regiments on the front line to enter emergency combat readiness, and if the people of China really dare to attack, I guarantee that they will not be able to eat and go around. Tada interrupted Muto's report.

"But! The general, General Okamura Ninji, also said in the telegram that Chiang, the leader of China, had transferred the 42nd Army in North China out of Beiping and was preparing to participate in the southward campaign, and now the 42nd Army was on its way! Muto Akira said with an ugly face.

"What? The 42nd Army? Tada stood up and asked in shock.

"Hay! This is what General Okamura Ninji said in the telegram, and General Okamura Ninji also said that in order to ensure the victory of this defensive battle in Central China, he had asked the Third Fleet to move south from Tianjin, and it would be possible to reach the Songhu area before it was said. Muto Akira bowed his head abruptly.

"Yaga Tooth Road! Where is the 42nd Army at the moment? Tada Jun scolded with some annoyance, he hated and feared the 42nd Group Army, hated that there were no less than 100,000 imperial warriors who died under the guns of the 42nd Group Army, and what he was afraid of was the amazing combat effectiveness of the 42nd Group Army and Zhang Mingyu's amazing command ability.

"According to intelligence, the 42nd Group Army has reached the Taiyuan area, and it is estimated that it will soon go south from Taiyuan to Xinxiang, Jiaozuo and other places!" Major General Muto Akira replied with a sudden bow.

"Jiaozuo, Xinxiang?" Tada Jun said with an ugly face: "It is the imperial army that is stationed in Xinxiang?" ”

"General Huiyu, stationed in Xinxiang and Jiaozuo is the Taiwan Chongdo Detachment, in addition to the Chongdo Detachment, there is also the Eighth Division of the Puppet Imperial Allied Army, of which the Eighth Division of the Imperial Allied Army is stationed in the Jiaozuo area, and the Chongdo Detachment is stationed in Xinxiang. The 101st Division is stationed in Luoyang! ”

"Yaga! In this way, we have less than 10,000 troops in the Xinxiang area? Tada asked.

"Hay! If you add the eighth division of the puppet army, the strength can reach 20,000! Muto Akira looked up suddenly.

"Muto-kun, do you think that with the Shigetsu Detachment and the Eighth Division of the Imperial Army, you can block the attack of the 42nd Army of the Shina Army?" Tada Jun asked thoughtfully.

"Can't! If it was other units of the Chinese Army, the cooperation of the Shigeto detachment and the Imperial Allied Army was enough to resist the attack of a group army of the Chinese army, but this time they needed to face the opponent of the 42nd Group Army, which had the strongest combat effectiveness of the Chinese Army, and the 42nd Group Army had 100,000 people, and the Shigeto detachment alone could not stop them at all. Akira Muto replied bluntly.

Tada Jun was silent, it is true that what Muto Akira said is all reasonable, it is impossible to block the 42nd Group Army's offensive like a tide with the Shigeto detachment alone, in the North China battlefield, Okamura Ninji almost gathered 100,000 troops and was unable to block the attack of the 42nd Group Army, one can imagine how strong the combat effectiveness of the 42nd Group Army is.

Even though the 42nd Army had the advantage in terms of troops, it was by no means overwhelming.

Thinking of this, Tada Jun couldn't help but gasp and asked, "Muto-kun, how many troops do you think we need to be able to block the Chinese army on the north bank of the Yellow River?" ”

"General, according to intelligence, although the 42nd Group Army of the China Army has 100,000 people this time, its elite First Infantry Division and powerful armored division stayed in Beiping and did not set off with the army, so the combat effectiveness of the 42nd Group Army of the China Army will decline this time, and the combat distance is relatively long, and its air force cannot provide it with effective and timely air support, so we still have an advantage at this station, at least in terms of air supremacy, we will not repeat the mistakes of North China. He believed that if we wanted to block the attack of the 42nd Army this time, we would need to gather at least two to three divisions with more than 50,000 troops, and if we wanted to defeat them, we would need to gather more than four divisions and regiments. Muto Zhang raised his head and analyzed with a cold expression.

"Four or five divisions? That is one-third of the strength of our Imperial Army in Central China, and if we cannot defeat the 42nd Group Army, the situation will be very unfavorable to us. Tada Jun seemed to say to himself.

"General, I am willing to go to the front line to command the Imperial Army and the 42nd Army to fight to the death!" Muto Akira bowed his head suddenly.

"Yo Xi! Muto-kun, I hope you can reproduce the majesty of the Imperial Army, this time I will hand over the 101st Division, the 6th Division, the 17th Division, and the 21st Division to your unified command! In addition, the strength of the Shigeto detachment should be on par with the 42nd Group Army of the China Army, and the aviation will provide air fire support for the front-line officers and men at any time! Tada nodded happily.

"Hay! The humble post will definitely live up to the trust of the general! Muto Akira bowed his head abruptly.

"Yo Xi! Muto-kun, I wish you success in advance! If this battle is won, I will apply to the base camp for your promotion to lieutenant general. Tada Jun stood up and patted Muto Akira on the shoulder.

"Hay! Thank you for your kindness! There is nothing else, the humble post is ready to fly to Zhengzhou today" Muto Zhang bowed his head again and said.

"Yo-sai, Muto-kun! I'll see you off at the airport later! Tada Jun nodded.

……………

On the highway from Taiyuan to Changzhi, the three infantry divisions of the 42 nd Group Army were advancing along the highway in a mighty manner, and the 1 Brigade of the 3rd Division, under the leadership of brigade commander Lai Changqing, took the lead in pulling out, leaving the follow-up troops far behind, and Lai Changqing sat in a jeep and happily held a Taiyuan brand cigarette.

This time, his First Brigade, as the main vanguard brigade, Zhang Mingyu specially equipped his brigade with more than 800 trucks, and according to the crew of 20 people in one truck, 500 trucks are enough to carry all the combat personnel of the First Brigade, and the remaining 300 or so trucks are all used to haul artillery and combat materials.

Seeing the rolling convoy driving mightily on the road, Lai Changqing's heart was already happy at this time, and he seemed to be able to see the embarrassment of the brother troops of several other brigades eating smoke and dust behind.

It's just that what Lai Changqing didn't expect was that there would be an extremely tragic bloody battle waiting for them ahead, and this battle in Central China would be the most difficult and dangerous battle since the formation of the 42nd Group Army.

(To be continued)