On the southern front, the Chinese army retreated on all fronts, and Situ Fei commanded the 103rd Division to fight and retreat, leading the Japanese army to retreat to the southern foot of Dahong Mountain; The 77th Army abandoned Anlu and retreated to the right flank of Dahongshan, and Ji Xingwen commanded the 37th Division and the 104th Division to engage in fierce battles on the front line of Dayanpo; Liu Guangyu commanded the 109th Division to abandon Zhongxiang and withdraw to Dahong Mountain after a day of battle between Zhong Xiang and the 13th Division; The Japanese army followed the pursuit, and Zhang Ximin commanded the 108th Division to block the Japanese army on the front line of Miaokanzi and Weijiaping. On the west bank of the Han River, Kanda commanded the 6th Division to attack fiercely, and Hu Guangxiang commanded the 106th Division to respond heavily, blocking the Japanese army on a large scale at Anjiayuan for a day, and then under the response of Zhang Lingfu, he withdrew from the battle and retreated to Yicheng, and Kanda waved his troops in pursuit.

The situation on the northern front was diametrically opposite, the periphery of Xinyang, artillery fire was in the sky, the sound of killing was bursting, the Chinese army attacked Xinyang from three directions, in the sky, the Chinese air force was unimpeded, tons of bombs fell from the sky, and the Japanese positions were in flames. After two days of fierce fighting, the important support points of the periphery, Panjiawan and Bagua Mountain, were lost one after another, and the 34th Wing, which was stationed in the first line of defense on the periphery, retreated to the second line of defense.

"Yo Xi, Yo Xi, the 36th Army has appeared on the battlefield, very good, very good!" After listening to Kinoshita's report, Anan was not worried about the loss of Xinyang's periphery, on the contrary, he was quite satisfied.

Kinoshita Yong smiled bitterly in his heart, so far, the battle situation is still under control, General Shina really did not transfer troops south, and is still sticking to his plan, but as everyone knows, this plan has long been in the hands of the imperial army. The 40th Division of the 36th Group Army appeared southwest of Xinyang, and General Shina could not hold his breath.

However, the worrying Xiangbei and Nanchang regions are still very calm, and the troops in these two areas are weak, especially in Xiangbei, where the weak 40 th Division is confronting more than 500,000 elite soldiers in the Ninth Theater.

"Kinoshita-kun, the first step has been completed," Anan Yuji turned to look at the map and waved his fists excitedly: "Order Uchiyama-kun to take action, telegraph Uchiyama-kun, the hope of the empire is in his assault!" ”

Following the order of Anami Yuji, Lieutenant General Uchiyama Eitaro commanded the 13th Division, the 9th Independent Mixed Brigade and Yamamoto's troops to suddenly throw off the 102nd Army, which was retreating to Dahong Mountain, along the jungle on the east bank of the Han River, stealthily go north, seize the ferry port of Liushui Town, cross the Han River at night, and suddenly appear in the southwest of Yicheng.

The 6th Division under Kanda's command continued to attack, firmly holding the 101st Army, and Lieutenant General Hirabayashi Morito led the 17th Division into the mountains to the west and made a detour to the flank of the 101st Army.

At the same time as Uchiyama Eitaro turned, the 39th Division, which was pursuing the 60th Army, abandoned the 60th Army and rotated to the left, crossed the town of Kedian to attack Zhang Ximin's 108th Division, while the 58th Division occupied Wujiazui in Lulintai and pursued into the southern foot of Dahong Mountain.

"The situation is very clear now, Anan Weiji is roughly the same as we expected, he has emptied the middle line, which is exactly in line with our requirements," Xu Zuyi suggested to Zhuang Jihua after synthesizing the battlefield situation: "The Cultural Revolution, we can start." ”

Looking at Xu Zuyi's face flushed with excitement, Zhuang Jihua sneered, he shook his head and said: "Don't worry, Anan Wei's strength is still enough, and his combat effectiveness is not weakened much, let him attack for a while, and telegraph to Du Yuming, from now on, the 102nd Army and the 60th Army will not be allowed to retreat an inch, and the two B divisions, but 10,000 people, can't even stop such an attack, so I will withdraw them." ”

Zhuang Jihua stood up as he spoke, and buckled the scenery buckle: "Let's go, Chief of Staff Xu, let's go to the war room." ”

The corners of Xu Zuyi's mouth showed a hint of a smile, of course he knew what Zhuang Jihua was going to do. The two hurriedly walked into the war room one after the other. In the war room, He Wei stood in front of the sand table with a sullen face, Sun Xiaochuan sighed frequently, and the staff officers greeted Zhuang Jihua silently.

"It's not a big deal." Zhuang Jihua looked at the situation map and cheered everyone for him indifferently: "Anan is still playing the same old way, four divisions, Anan really looks up to Wang Guobin, and told Wang Guobin to resist me and drag Kanda on the west bank of the Han River." Telegraphed Sun Lianzhong to strengthen the offensive and told him that within two days, I would be sent to Xinyang City. If Anan doesn't go back, I'll take Xinyang. ”

"Commander!" He Wei finally couldn't help but erupt: "Anan Weiji is using Xinyang to drag the main force of our army, the 101st Army is under attack from four divisions and 80,000 Japanese troops, and the situation on the southern front is in danger!" The 22nd and 36th armies should be transferred south as soon as possible, and there can be no further delay. ”

"No, order Sun Lianzhong to put all the 36th Group Army into battle, take Xinyang, and cut off the Pinghan line." Zhuang Jihua was still unmoved: "Order the 22nd Group Army to prepare for battle, and next, the Japanese are likely to transfer troops from North China to the south to reinforce Xinyang." ”

"Commander," Shangguan Jun stood up again, and said bitterly: "The Japanese army in North China has just finished its attack on the Jicha Theater, and has also dispatched two mixed brigades to the south, and there is no strength to go south for reinforcements. He believed that at least the 22nd Group Army could be transferred southward, and with the Second Group Army, the 36th Group Army, the Fifth Group Army, and the three Group Armies on the northern front, Xinyang could be completely taken. ”

"Yes, Commander, I think that the suggestion of the Shangguan Staff Officer is reasonable, and the 22nd Group Army can be transferred south." Sun Xiaochuan also suggested.

Zhuang Jihua knocked on the table a little impatiently: "Don't look ahead, this attitude can't win this war, I need you to go all out." Chief of Staff Xu, draft the order according to the order just now. ”

After finishing speaking, he raised his legs and left, walked to the door, turned his head and ordered: "Telegraph Du Yuming, the 101st Army will hold Yicheng, the 102nd Army and the 60th Army will hold Dahongshan, and the 77th Army must block the 104th Division and tell them that success or failure is here." ”

After finishing speaking, Zhuang Jihua left the war room without looking back. The staff officers in the war room looked at each other, the battle had developed to a critical moment, but the commander who commanded the overall situation was not in the war room, how could this battle be fought.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the commander has made up his mind, so let's do our duty." Xu Zuyi also seemed to be a little discouraged, reminded everyone lightly, and then drafted an order to be issued.

While Zhuang Jihua was in the war room, Ji Feixiang and several Western reporters were outside the Catholic church in the city. In Zhuang Jihua's habits, every time a campaign begins, reporters will be controlled, and news reports will be strictly censored, but the reporters accompanied by Ji Feixiang are extraordinary, New York Times reporter Foreman, Time Magazine reporter Bai Xiude, and Washington Post reporter Graeme.

These three newspapers are the most famous newspapers in the United States, and Forman and Bai Xiude have just reported on the drought in Henan, and their reports have caused tremendous repercussions in the United States, embarrassing the Nationalist Government, and also aroused the attention of the Central Propaganda Department.

Foreman and Bai Xiude came from Henan together, less than two weeks, and Graeme came with the US military advisory group, and the time in the five theaters was not very long.

Some refugees were receiving porridge at the porridge shed in front of the church, and Foreman was taking pictures of them, Ji Feixiang sighed: "These refugees have recently fled from Zhongxiang Anlu, and the Japanese are attacking these two cities. ”

Bai Xiude's eyes were full of pity, and he also sighed: "Miss Ji, as soon as we arrived, we submitted an application to go to the southern front for an interview, I don't know when it will be approved?" ”

"I can't approve it before the end of the battle," Concubine Ji smiled: "The war on the southern front is urgent, and reporters are likely to encounter danger in the past, Mr. Bai Xiude, if you want to go to the Xinyang front, I can help you think of a way." ”

"It's not been a few days since we came from the northern front," Foreman put down his camera, got up and said, "I thought there was no war in Xinyang at all, Miss Ji, I had heard of General Zhuang in Chongqing, and there was a very big gap in their evaluation of him. My colleague, Mr. Weber, admired him very much and considered him the best general in China, but the generals of the American Advisory Corps thought that he was a very stubborn man and very difficult to deal with. Miss Ji, I really want to do an interview with him, I don't know when it will be? ”

Ji Feixiang smiled: "I can go back and report, but I estimate that it is enough, our army counterattacked Xinyang, and the Japanese army attacked Dahongshan, and the commander is afraid that he will not be able to do anything." ”

Bai Xiude shook his head lightly: "Miss Ji, I think that the counterattack on Xinyang may be a diversion operation, when Mr. Foreman and I came over some time ago, the road was full of southbound military vehicles, full of soldiers, stretching for more than ten miles, Miss Ji, the real battle must be on the southern front." ”

These words were like a huge thunder that exploded in Ji Feixiang's ears, and the southbound military vehicles full of soldiers stretched for more than ten miles, how many are these troops, there are so many military vehicles in the theater, only the 36th Group Army and the 22nd Group Army, and there may be a logistics transportation office, but the logistics transportation office is to transport materials.

"You may be mistaken." Ji Feixiang stabilized her mind, Foreman and Bai Xiude entered the Fifth War Zone eleven days ago, and the imperial army's attack had not yet begun at that time.

"No, we met on the Suitong road, although it was night," Foreman was very resolute, "but we still saw that there was still an artillery caliber of 105 howitzers in tow behind the military vehicles. ”

Forman's words completely destroyed Ji Feixiang's confidence, and her mind was suddenly confused, with Tong Highway, 105 howitzers, the 33rd Group Army and the 22nd Group Army, but is it the 22nd Group Army or the 36th Group Army? Or did both army groups go south? But more than ten days ago, the movements of the imperial army had not yet been determined. What's wrong with that? Could it be that there are Chinese spies inside? Can according to the order issued by Zhuang Jihua, the 36th Group Army and the 22nd Group Army are on the northern front? Why should he hide it? Why didn't you find the white chrysanthemum? Or has the white chrysanthemum been decided? No, if the white chrysanthemum has changed, why will she stay? Leaving the Bayou Teahouse? Leave the radio? It doesn't make sense.

A series of questions surfaced in Ji Feixiang's mind, and her mind was completely confused, so that she didn't notice Foreman's subsequent question, let alone notice, not far away, two middle-aged people in short coats and beards who were chatting, their eyes observed her from time to time.

A bouquet of roses, a warmth, happy Valentine's Day!!!

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