Muto Nobuyoshi's strategic goal was clear, that is, to first capture the entire three northeastern provinces except Tongliao.

As long as Jinzhou was captured and the front was advanced to Shanhaiguan, the Kwantung Army could take the opportunity to attack Rehe, which was of course to cut off Zhang Xinghan's Tongliao Reading Division from Guannei.

Muto Nobuyoshi's order was soon issued to the main divisions, and the 4th and 7th Divisions, which had already moved to the Jinzhou front, immediately launched an attack on the defense line of the Jinzhou Northeast Army.

The local Northeast Army immediately counterattacked, saying that it carried out several fierce attacks under the cover of aircraft, tanks and artillery, but failed to succeed due to the resistance of the Northeast Army in the Jinzhou area.

The news of the army's attack on Jinzhou soon reached Beiping.

Zhang Shaoshuai, who was depressed about Zhang Xinghan's victory again and sent people to leave Wang Yizhe, learned that the army had invaded Jinzhou.

Fearing that the troops would be eaten by himself, in order to preserve his strength, he ignored the opposition of the Nanjing political axe and the people of the whole country, and after two days, he secretly ordered Commander He Lichong to abandon Jinzhou and withdraw to Shanhaiguan.

At this point, Zhang Shaoshuai has completely confirmed the name of a non-resistance general.

At the same time, the 3rd, 10th, and 14th divisions of the army marched from Siping to Gongzhuling.

When Li Du, Feng Zhanhai, Xing Zhanqing and other troops were reinforced by Zhang Xinghan's weapons and ammunition, and their troops had recovered somewhat.

The two sides immediately launched a fierce battle at Gongzhuling, saying that the army had the advantage of strength and air fire support, and Li Du and other troops suffered heavy losses.

had no choice but to ask Zhang Xinghan for help.

Tongliao.

Zhang Xinghan, Jiang Baili, and others are convening officers at the battalion and regimental level of the Reading Division to discuss the reorganization and expansion of the troops.

Wang Yizhe, who was the former commander of the 7th Brigade of Reading Force, also made an exception to attend the meeting.

While everyone was discussing, Chief of Staff Zhao Zhenfan walked out of the communication room with a telegram in his hand.

"Division, General Li Du sent an urgent telegram from Changchun, saying that the three divisions of the army are storming Gongzhuling, and they have suffered heavy casualties, and they ask us for support." As soon as Zhao Zhenfan's words came out, the officers of the Reading Division present were all taken aback and began to discuss in low voices.

Hearing this, Zhang Xinghan turned his head to look at Jiang Baili and Wang Yizhe, and then waved his hand to the battalion and regiment-level officers present and said, "Today's meeting is here for the time being, let's adjourn." ”

Everyone got up and left one after another.

After seeing everyone leave, Zhang Xinghan said to Jiang Baili, Wang Yizhe and Huang Xian: "There were many people just now, and it is inconvenient to say some things, I don't know what your opinions are about the emergency in Changchun?" ”

"Mr. Chiang is a well-known military scientist, so let's ask Mr. Chiang to share his views." Wang Yizhe said.

"Yes, I would also like to hear Mr. Jiang's opinion." Huang Xiansheng nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Jiang Baili did not shirk, got up and walked towards the map.

Zhang Xinghan, Wang Yizhe, Huang Xiansheng and Zhao Zhenfan followed over.

Jiang Baili pointed to the Changchun area on the map, and turned his head to Zhang Xinghan and the others: "Everyone, please see, the army is now divided into two routes, all the way west to Jinzhou, all the way north to Changchun, Zhang Xueliang will not resist, Changchun resistance force is too weak, the army can easily capture the above areas, open up the road to the two provinces of Guannei and Jihei." ”

"Mr. Jiang, do you mean that I plan to attack Guannai?" Zhao Zhenfan asked in surprise.

"It's not easy to say, I am definitely not ready to attack North China on a large scale, but it is still possible to occupy Rehe and cut off the connection between the anti-Japanese forces outside the Guanxi and the Guannei." Jiang Baili said this, and then pointed to the Changchun area and said: "Based on my analysis just now, I said that my strategic purpose is to first ignore our Tongliao Reading Division, first defeat Li Du and other troops, capture most of the three eastern provinces, and then invade Rehe through Shanhaiguan, so as to form a strategic encirclement of us. ”

Huang Xiansheng and Wang Yizhe didn't understand too much, but Zhang Xinghan suddenly realized from it and said, "What Mr. Jiang means is that we just need to make sure that Rehe is not encroached upon by himself?" Don't need to support Changchun? ”

As soon as Zhang Xinghan said this, Huang Xiansheng and Zhao Zhenfan were both confused and looked at each other.

Jiang Baili nodded approvingly and continued: "Yes, if the general had chosen Jilin or Heilongjiang as the base area for the future resistance, then Changchun would definitely not be missed.

However, now it seems that the general had the foresight to choose the base area of the resistance in Tongliao, which is bordered by Jilin in the east, Liaoning in the south, and North China in the west, which is the junction between the northeast and North China.

Jilin and Heilongjiang, on the other hand, are far away, and with the general's existing troops, at best, they can only establish a base area with a city as the center and a sphere of influence of no more than 100 miles.

Once the army enters and occupies Jilin and most of the other areas of Heilongjiang, it will be able to completely encircle us strategically and impose an all-round economic blockade on us, and it is impossible for such a base area to hold out for too long.

Because Jihei has no rear to rely on, we can't count on the Russians to support us, right? ”

Huang Xiansheng, Wang Yizhe and the others nodded as if they didn't understand.

Jiang Baili looked at Zhang Xinghan with admiration and said: "So I said, fortunately, General Zhang chose the base in Tongliao, compared to attacking Jilin and Heilongjiang, it is not so easy for me to capture Rehe, which gives us more time to expand our troops and reorganize our army." ”

"Mr. Jiang is worthy of being a famous military scientist inside and outside the world, and his analysis is very correct, the reason why he did not choose Jilin as the base for the retreat of our reading division is that in addition to Siping and Tieling are still in his hands, the complicated situation in Jilin and Heilongjiang is not suitable for our development, and the most important thing is that what Mr. said, where we have no rear." Zhang Xinghan looked at Jiang Baili with approval and said with a smile.

"Then how should we reply to General Li Du's request for help, do we sit idly by?" Zhao Zhenfan asked.

"Save, it must be saved, but we can only send the air force to support, infantry, our department has just experienced the battle of Qinglong Mountain, the loss is quite large, and it is currently being reorganized, and the army has recently invaded Jinzhou in the west, in order to prevent the army from taking the opportunity to attack my base area, our department can only strengthen the garrison, and the self-defense is still insufficient, and it is really impossible to send reinforcements to help Changchun, tell Li Du that if the Changchun war situation is really unable to hold on, please immediately lead the troops west to retreat to Tongliao, and my reading division will respond to them." Zhang Xinghan groaned.

"Yes, I see." Zhao Zhenfan nodded and took the order to leave.

…………………… Changchun, Jilin Rescue [***] Headquarters.

After receiving Zhang Xinghan's call back, Li Du couldn't help but sigh.

Feng Zhanhai and Xing Zhanqing hurriedly asked, "What did General Zhang say?" ”

"It is said that my soldiers have invaded Jinzhou, and the reading division is not enough to protect itself, and is unable to send infantry troops to reinforce Changchun, but Zhang Xinghan has promised to send the air force to support, and he also said that if Changchun cannot be held, we can retreat to Tongliao, and he will send troops to meet us." Li Du said a little upset.

"With the support of the air force, we should be able to hold Changchun." Feng Zhanhai said with a little relief.

"I said that my strength has three divisions and regiments, and there is also an air force advantage, no matter how much the air force of the reading division supports, it is impossible to arrive in time at any time, and it will no longer be able to provide support at night, and it is really unknown whether we can resist the attack of the Yue army at that time." Li Du's attitude was a little pessimistic, obviously the last battle of Shenyang left a shadow on him.

His rescue [***] can't even beat a 14th division, not to mention that this time the army has three divisions?

After Li Du said this, Xing Zhanqing and Feng Zhanhai couldn't help but worry, Feng Zhanhai thought about it and said tentatively: "Or, let's take advantage of the fact that the main force is not losing much now, and take the initiative to abandon Changchun and withdraw to Tongliao, right?" As the saying goes, if you stay in the green mountains, you don't have to worry about running out of firewood, as long as the troops are still there, he said that we will definitely be able to fight back. ”

Xing Zhanqing was also a little moved, after this period of time, the invincibility of the Reading Division has subtly penetrated into the thoughts of the anti-Japanese armed forces in the Northeast.

Invisibly, they all regarded the Tongliao Resistance Base Area of the Reading Force Master as their backer and spiritual pillar.

Everyone envies the Reader with great air power and the cover of armored assault forces when fighting.

Both Xing Zhanqing and Feng Zhanhai were clearly influenced by this idea.

It's just that Li Du is a little unwilling, just give up the whole Jilin and even Heilongjiang.

It's not that he is reluctant to give up military power, or the backward and conservative ideas in his bones are making trouble, Jilin and Heilongjiang are thousands of miles of land, so he gives up without a fight, and it is more uncomfortable than killing him.

After being silent for a long time, Li Du finally shook his head and said: "As a soldier, I can't run away without a fight and abandon the huge Jilin Province." ”

Feng Zhanhai looked at him with some disappointment, and said hurriedly: "But, Brother Zhichu, now that the enemy is outnumbered, continuing to hold on to Changchun is a dead end, rather than increasing casualties like this, we might as well retreat to preserve the precious forces in our hands as much as possible, and when the time is ripe, we can fight back." ”

"Don't say it, I've made up my mind, and I'll fight to the death with Yue Kou in Changchun!" Li Du waved his hand.

Feng Zhanhai sighed, brushed his sleeves and left.

"Brother Zhichu, I think Shoushan is right, if you leave Qingshan without worrying about no firewood, we really can't afford to take the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers for a Changchun!" After Feng Zhanhai left, Xing Zhanqing persuaded in a good voice.

"Brother Kuijiu, you and I have worked together for many years, don't you know my temper? I've already decided, don't persuade me anymore. Li Du turned around with some displeasure.

"Alas!" Xing Zhanqing also sighed helplessly and turned to leave.

In the afternoon of the same day, the army broke through the Gongzhuling defense line of Li Du's department, and Jilin was forced to withdraw to Changchun City.

The army then surrounded Changchun, wanting to save [***] in the city and annihilate it in one fell swoop.

Li Du, Feng Zhanhai and Xing Zhanqing led their troops to resist desperately, and the Air Force of the Reading Division also rushed to reinforce several times.

But in the end, due to the great disparity in strength, Changchun City was broken by the Yue army, and Li Du led his troops to fight fiercely with Yue Kou to the last moment, and died heroically.

Xing Zhanqing and Feng Zhanhai led the remnants to break through and retreat in the direction of Tongliao.

(To be continued)