On the same day, Peng Dehuai quickly returned to Xuzhou to prepare for the Battle of Tianjin. In order to crush the Japanese army's attempt, the 1st Corps of Su Yubu was required to conquer Tianjin by mid-August. That night, Runzhi and Ouyang Jian began to talk all night again. A cup of fragrant tea is moistened: "At present, the United States and Britain have successfully landed in Normandy, France, and the second battlefield in Europe has been opened, accelerating the process of Germany's defeat. The Soviet counteroffensive on the Eastern Front was sharp, and I estimate that the war in Europe will end in April or May next year. With Stalin's character, he would not wait for the defeat of Germany, and it was possible that the Soviet army would requisition troops on the Western Front in advance. ”

"Chairman, you judge that the Soviet army will be the first to move in the western part of Outer Mongolia!" "In all likelihood, we have to be predictive. The strategic value of Outer Mongolia is too important for Soviet Russia, and this is related to the pattern and interests of China, the United States and the Soviet Union after the war, and Stalin will definitely take risks, and even the military conflict will escalate. The topography of the Mongolian steppe was very suitable for the operation of the armored forces of the Soviet army. The key to how to avoid a big fight between the two sides is whether we can be better. ”

"The chairman's analysis is reasonable, if Japan does not surrender, the Americans will not turn against Soviet Russia, and China and the Soviet Union may not be able to ask for it." "Ouyang, are you sure that in October next year, the Dharma Sword will be born? This is the only means of curbing the military adventures of Soviet Russia. "Please rest assured that I will personally sit in Lanzhou and resolutely complete the task." "Brother Ouyang, the mission of deciding the fate of the nation falls on our shoulders, and we must shoulder a heavy burden."

Runzhi stood up and said meaningfully: "It's going to rain, my mother is going to get married, what should come will always come, let the storm come more violently!" It was another sleepless night, and they ended their conversation when the morning star dimmed. On the same day, Ouyang Jian flew back to Shanghai, handed over the next work to Chen Yi, and flew directly to Lanzhou with his wife Mei Fang, and then the 01 project will enter the final sprint stage.

At the headquarters of the 1st Corps in Xuzhou, a meeting of military commanders is being held. Generals above the level of the First Corps were seated, including Corps Commander Su Yu, Political Commissar Luo Ronghuan, Commander of the Shandong Independent Column Xiao Ke, and Commander of the Jizhong Independent Column Xu Haidong. "Comrades, the battle situation has undergone major changes, and the next important task of the First Corps is to conquer Tianjin, and Tianjin must be taken in mid-August."

"The Battle of Tianjin is completely a tough battle, and the time has come to test you. According to the new campaign deployment of the headquarters, Xiao Ke's Shandong Independent Column launched the Qingdao Campaign in mid-July, demanding that Qingdao be conquered by the end of August and end the fighting on the Shandong Peninsula in mid-October. "Yes! Resolutely complete the mission! Shook stood up and replied loudly. I will not participate in the specific operational deployment, and after the military meeting, I will rush to Zhangjiakou immediately! ”

After sending Peng Dehuai away, Su Yu, Luo Ronghuan, Xiao Ke and other generals came back from the airport, Su Yu said: "Brother Xiao, the 12th Flying Brigade and the 8th Heavy Artillery Brigade cooperate with your unit in combat, and I will try my best to meet any requirements." "Brother Su, before Mr. Peng left, I told me that the Special Operations Brigade of the Marine Brigade followed our unit to carry out the H Action Plan. I don't know what this H Action Plan is? ”

"I don't know, but is it clear when Li Dabao comes?" "I heard that Li Dabao led the Navy's special operations group to conduct a three-month airborne training at Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport, so I think that the H plan must be related to warships." Political Commissar Luo Ronghuan analyzed. "I borrowed Brother Luo's auspicious words to have a good show, the two brothers are pressed for time, I won't stay, see you in victory!" "See you in victory!"

After sending off the shook, the troops began to advance north, and the corps headquarters also had to move north. Su Yu and Luo Ronghuan got into a jeep and followed the group on the road. Su Yu broke the silence in the car and said: "Brother Luo, the H plan of action was personally grasped by Chief of General Staff Ouyang, you analyze, why did he go to Lanzhou at this juncture, can Lanzhou be more important than this battlefield in full swing?" ”

Luo Ronghuan said with a smile: "You are really asking for trouble, Chief of Staff Ouyang is an important thing no matter what he does, why is he suddenly interested in his whereabouts." "I have a hunch that Chief of Staff Ouyang went to Lanzhou this time, it is unusual, something big must happen!" "What's the big deal?" "I can't tell!" "Maybe it's a good thing to be happy, whether your hunch is good or not, let's wait patiently!"

The weather was overcast and muggy, and the rain was sparsely falling on the glass of the jeep. Su Yu looked up at the sky and said, "The rainy season is coming, I hope it is a good omen and rain in time." "On July 15, the Battle of Tianjin officially began, and there are still five days to go, and the arrival of the rainy season has increased the difficulty for our deployment. In particular, the march of artillery units increased the difficulty. "Brother Luo, now our conditions don't know how many times better, compared to before, what is this difficulty?"

When Su Yu's army marched north, Wei Lihuang's 8th Corps and Chen Cheng's 4th Corps met in Beiping. Because Chen Cheng's "noble soldiers" took the lead in entering Beiping City, the main force of Wei Lihuang's headquarters could only bypass Beiping City and advance to the front line of Chengde. Wei Lihuang's jeep stopped in front of Chen Cheng's headquarters. Chen Cheng was already waiting in front of the door, "Brother Chen! "Brother Wei!" The two shook hands tightly.

The spotlight kept flickering, and the reporter was in a hurry to take this precious historical footage. Wei Lihuang and Chen Cheng held hands and stood shoulder to shoulder, deliberately posing for reporters to take pictures. After both parties were satisfied, Wei Lihuang and Chen Cheng entered the headquarters hand in hand. "Brother Wei, for our troops, they are quick to enter Beiping first, and the president will call to commend you." "Brother Chen, the Su Yu Department of the Eighth Route Army is about to launch an attack on Tianjin, but the Ministry of Defense has ordered our department to stand by on the front line in Chengde, what does this mean?"

"Brother Wei, I also received an order to be on standby in Beiping, and it is the duty of a soldier to obey orders." Chen Cheng said helplessly. "When is it, and the strength is still preserved. Do you think this is a drain on the strength of the Eighth Route Army? Quite the opposite, actually. The Eighth Route Army not only became stronger and stronger, but also advanced by leaps and bounds. The air force and armored forces are developing rapidly, and now the navy fleet is in place, but we are still getting tired of it, and we are simply deceiving ourselves. "Brother Wei, I understand your feelings, in fact, it is difficult for the president!"

"Report, commission emergency call!" A subordinate reported urgently. Chen Cheng took the telegram and looked at it with a look of emotion and said: "The president ordered you and I to prepare immediately to launch attacks on Shanhaiguan and Tangshan respectively, and asked our department to break through the defense line in early August. In order to support our operations, the president transferred the Central Flying Regiment to Beiping. Wei Lihuang took the telegram and glanced at it and said: "Brother Chen, in the Tianjin Campaign, the most elite first corps of the Eighth Route Army, plans to conquer Tianjin in mid-August. ”

"The situation of your and my troops is known to the world, they are good at fighting defensive operations, and offense is not our strong point, and you are sure that you will break through the front line of Tangshan and Shanhaiguan in early August?" "Brother Wei, don't you say that you are pedantic, the president did not give the order to die, so why bother yourself." Wei Lihuang had to admit that what Chen Cheng said was reasonable, but he was blocked in his heart. In the evening of the same day, Wei Lihuang rushed to the Chengde headquarters and immediately convened a military meeting to study the operational plan for attacking Shanhaiguan.

After the military meeting, Wei Lihuang decided to use three days to find out the military deployment of the Japanese army at Shanhaiguan and then formulate an offensive plan. Regarding the offensive ability of the department, Wei Lihuang has no confidence at all. After fighting on the front line of Baoding for 4 months, in the face of the stubborn defense of the Japanese army, only its outer defense line was captured. Now that the counteroffensive is in full swing, he is so anxious that he naturally wants to make a difference. However, in the face of the Japanese army's strong Shanhaiguan defense line, how could it be possible to break through within half a month. Especially for a unit that is good at defending but not good at attacking, it is self-evident how difficult it is.

Wei Lihuang remembered that Ouyang Jian's heart suddenly brightened, so he tentatively sent a telegram to Shanghai. A few hours later, Ouyang Jian actually sent a call back from Lanzhou. The content of the telegram was very simple: my brother was on a business trip in Lanzhou, and the telegram was transferred from Shanghai. The department is facing the Shanhaiguan battle, and you know your difficulties. I have already telegraphed Commander Lin, and Lin will be here to help. Signed Ouyang Jian!

Less than 2 hours after Ouyang Jian called back, a telegram from the Northwest Army of Zhangjiakou appeared in front of Wei Lihuang. The content is as follows: Commander Wei, Chief of General Staff Ouyang called, learned of the situation of your department, and ordered our department to help. Please forward to our department the details of the deployment of the Japanese army's troops, defensive composition, fortifications, and other information on the front line of Shanhaiguan. In addition, our division will send an armored brigade to assist your department. The payment is, the commander of the Northwest Gathering Army of the Eighth Route Army, Lin!

Wei Lihuang was overjoyed after reading the telegram, and the haze in his heart was swept away.