In mid-February, the second phase of the Taiwan Strait campaign kicked off. Due to the high mountains and dense forests of the central mountain range, the large corps could not be deployed. Ouyang Jian did not choose to attack directly to the east from the central mountain range, but ordered the 2nd Corps of the Eighth Route Army to attack the Taoyuan line, and the 9th Corps of the National Revolutionary Army to attack the Taitung line from the eastern part of Tainan. The U.S. fleet and air force supported the operation.

Before the launch of the second phase of the campaign, all fighters of the US Air Force, except for the B29 bombing team, entered various airfields in western Taiwan to carry out air support operations, and the attack efficiency was greatly enhanced. However, just as Ouyang Jian judged, the Japanese army shrank and defended heavily, which made the attack very difficult. In order to avoid air attacks, the Japanese army built a large number of tunnel fortifications, and the defense in depth was greatly strengthened. The battle was fierce, and it took 20 days for the 2nd Corps to capture Taoyuan. The three armies of the 99th Corps took turns to launch attacks on the front line in Taitung to no avail.

If it weren't for the 2nd Corps taking Taoyuan and attacking Taipei, the Japanese army would not have been able to advance north at all. After the eastern defense line constructed by the Japanese army in Taoyuan, Taitung, and Lianhua was breached, the Japanese base camp decided that it was no longer meaningful to continue to resist in Taiwan, and immediately ordered Commander Shirakawa Yoshishi to retreat to Taiwan. The Japanese army paid a heavy price as a passive defensive side. In the first phase of the 12 divisions, two divisions were completely wiped out, and one division lost most of its half.

In the second stage of defensive operations, although the Japanese division did not suffer the doom of being wiped out by the entire division, the division and regiment that stubbornly defended on the front line paid a lot of price. Before the launch of the Taiwan Strait Campaign, the Japanese army had 3 troops, and when it was forced to retreat, only 130,000 men remained. According to the telegraphic order of the base camp, 50,000 Japanese troops were withdrawn to the Ryukyus to strengthen defensive operations, and 80,000 Japanese troops were partially withdrawn to the mainland and part to the Korean Peninsula. Since the Japanese army used all its attack submarines to assist in the defense, the US fleet was unable to intercept the Japanese retreat. There is no suspense in the battle that follows, so there is no need to repeat it.

At the beginning of March, the Battle of the Taiwan Strait was marked by a complete conclusion. On this day, Ouyang Jian and others arrived at Keelung port on the US battleship USS Missouri. As far as the eye could see, Keelung Port was in shambles, and the Japanese retreat blew up all the facilities in Keelung Port. On the deck, Ouyang Jian sighed with mixed feelings and said, "The Japanese army will be even more crazy when they make the last death struggle, and they will become inhumane gamblers. "Yes, we fought beautifully on the landing, and we won successively. However, the second phase of the operation after the landing was fought hard and tragically, and the combat effectiveness of the Japanese army was indeed strong. ”

Bai Chongxi seemed to remember something, and continued: "The Military Commission has ordered that all the surrendered Taiwan troops be dismissed, and I am worried that the dismissal of the Taiwan troops will cause chaos in public order on the island. Ouyang Jian said with a smile: "Soldiers can be dismissed, but officers cannot be dismissed, they must be allowed to undergo labor reform!" "Great idea!" While speaking, the battleship approached the dock, and Ouyang Jian and other generals said goodbye to Admiral Nimitz, the commander of the U.S. fleet. The generals and officers on the dock gathered, and several army commanders such as Xiao Feng and Song Renqiang greeted them.

After the recovery of the treasure island of Taiwan, a large number of reporters rushed to the Kaohsiung Military Port, and the spotlights kept flickering, leaving behind precious historical footage. After Ouyang Jian greeted the generals, a reporter from the Central News Agency asked: "General Ouyang, when the treasure island of Taiwan returns to the embrace of the motherland and the people of the motherland celebrate, please talk about your feelings!" "The noise stopped, and many reporters raised their cameras, some prepared shorthand." Ladies and gentlemen, everyone present was very excited. The beautiful treasure island has returned to the embrace of the motherland from the new, and the ups and downs of the past 50 years have witnessed the indomitable and tenacious spirit of the Chinese nation. ”

"After 50 years of suffering, the treasure island of Taiwan has proved that the power of good will eventually triumph over the power of evil, and the end of Japanese militarism is the best testimony. After the cruel baptism of war, the Chinese nation gained dignity with blood and life. I believe that a great country with a history of 5,000 years of civilization will once again stand tall in the east of the world??????。 As the commander of the Joint Command, Ouyang Jian gave the reporters present the greatest satisfaction.

After the end of the campaign in the Taiwan Strait, the mission of the Joint Command was temporarily completed. Bai Chongxi flew to Kaohsiung and continued to serve as commander of the 9th Corps. He Long resumed his post as commander of the 2nd Corps of the Eighth Route Army, and returned to the command of the US Pacific Theater Command for the US fleet and air force. Ouyang Jian was reinstated as chief of the General Staff of the Eighth Route Army and a senior adviser to the Ministry of National Defense. According to the needs of the situation, the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army ordered Ouyang Jian to go to Shanghai to assist Chen Yi in restoring Shanghai's economic order as soon as possible.

That night, at the headquarters of the 2nd Corps of the Eighth Route Army in Taipei. He Long set up a banquet for Ouyang Jian to practice, and the guests were naturally Xiao Feng and Song Renqiang. After the end of the Taiwan Strait Campaign, according to the order of the headquarters, the special forces, airborne troops, and marine brigades of the Eighth Route Army were transferred back to the base to replenish personnel for rest and standby, and Ouyang Jian stepped down from the post of commander. When leaving Taiwan, He Long practiced for Ouyang Jian on behalf of the generals of the 2nd Corps. During the banquet, He Long's beard had a unique charm, and his face was full of red light to entertain the guests.

"Brother Ouyang, everyone is reluctant to let you go, but you don't belong here, several old subordinates have gathered, let's not get drunk today." Xiao Feng said: "Chief of General Staff, I'm afraid there won't be many opportunities to be with you in the future, I will toast you." After a glass of wine, Song Renqiao stood up and said: "Chief of General Staff, we were dormant in Jiujiang back then, how hearty it was. Time flies and the world shifts. There was a thought of how much the world had changed today. As an old subordinate, the words of thanks are all in the wine, and I toast you. ”

The generals and officials did not let them toast one after another, He Long stood up and stopped: "You toast like this, how many glasses do the chief of staff want to drink, so let's raise a glass together,!" "Thank you for your kindness!" After three rounds of wine and five flavors of food, Xiao Feng asked: "Chief of General Staff, after we finish our rest, where is the next military operation?" "Is it to assist the U.S. military in attacking the Ryukyus?" "The Ryukyus are related to the issue of territorial ownership, and the Americans will not let us participate in the attack.

He Long said: "Chief of General Staff, it's not that I look down on the U.S. Army, in the face of the stubborn defense of the Japanese army, it is still unknown whether I can take the Ryukyus." Ouyang Jian said with a smile: "The combat effectiveness of the US military is also improving, don't be self-righteous." After the war, the United States will become the most powerful political, economic, and military power in the world, so the U.S. Army must show that the world is convinced. At present, the Japanese army only has the ability to parry, but has no power to fight back, and the Americans will certainly not miss the opportunity. ”

Ouyang Jian knew in his heart that the Americans were about to implement the Normandy landing plan in the European theater, and at the moment this plan was highly secret, so it was inconvenient for him to say it. "In the next step, the main force of the US Pacific Fleet will successively requisition Taiwan and launch the Ryukyu Campaign. I estimate that the Americans will have to prepare for at least 4 months. During the summer typhoon season, the Americans will not take action, and it is estimated that the Battle of the Ryukyus will start at least in October. In the next step, the 1st Corps and the Northwest Group Army will sing a horn opera. ”

"Headquarters means to put us in the north?" He Long asked. "I don't know the plans of the headquarters at the moment, but it's possible that you'll launch another landing operation. The target may be the Korean Peninsula, but that's just my guess! "Chief of the General Staff, I heard General Chennault tell me that the U.S. B29 bombing team is going to be transferred to the Taipei Military Airport, and I heard that the U.S. engineering unit is expanding the airport runway, could it be that the U.S. military is going to bomb the Japanese mainland?"

"The bombing of the Japanese mainland by the US military is both a political and a military need, and the current conditions are fully met, and the Americans will naturally not let it go. The attack on the Japanese mainland was also aimed at destroying the Japanese army's will to resist, but the Japanese army would not give in. Be ye prepared for the war to speed up. Our expeditionary force has already taken Thailand and Vietnam, and the next step is to advance to the Malay Peninsula. After the Battle of the Taiwan Strait, the Japanese forces in Nanyang began to shrink, and are now mainly concentrated in the Malay Peninsula, Kalimantan Island, and the Philippines. ”

Song Renqiang asked: "Chief of the General Staff, why is the progress of the expeditionary force so slow nowadays when the combat effectiveness is strong?" "The situation is complicated, it is the reason of the British, who have used various reasons to prevent the expeditionary force from launching an attack on the Malay Peninsula, and the British have suffered a loss in Burma, so naturally the expeditionary force is not welcome to continue to attack the South Seas. Well, let the British go and recover the South Seas themselves. At present, General Stilwell and the British are at a standoff, and the US high command has been transferred from his post. ”

Early the next morning, He Long, Xiao Feng, Song Renqiang and others came to the airport to see them off. The Taipei military airfield is under construction, and the US siege force extends the cement runway in preparation for the arrival of B29 bombers. Before boarding, Ouyang Jian shook hands with everyone, and specially hugged Xiao Feng and Song Renqiao, showing a strong friendship. The transport plane flew into the sky under the cover of four fighter planes, and Ouyang Jian ordered the plane to circle around the island of Taiwan.

The sky is clear, the sun is shining, and the weather is rare. The transport plane flew close to the coastline, and the beautiful island of Taiwan was like a crystal clear jewel, set in the blue ocean, dazzling and dazzling. The transport plane first flew along the east coast with an unobstructed view of the coast. The eastern coastline has almost been replaced by cliffs, and even if there is a port, it is not large. Ouyang Jian's bird's-eye view of the sky seemed to have crossed time and space and saw the humiliating history of the treasure island of Taiwan.

A destroyer and an anti-submarine warfare ship appeared on the surface of the sea, patrolling the sea, and through the outline of the warship, it was clear what type of warship there was. Suddenly, Ouyang Jian had a feeling and remembered the pocket fleet. "It's time to let them go home!" "Chief, who will go home!" The guards were confused. Ouyang Jian smiled and said: "The motherland is home, it's time for overseas travelers to go home!" "I think of the pocket fleet, and I think even more about the two finished freighters at the Hermann shipyard. Time is running out, and Ouyang Jian decided to implement Plan W in advance.