When the Ministry of National Defense observation team headed by Zhang Zhizhong arrived at Yunshui County, Jiujiang was captured by the Japanese army. In the headquarters of the 3rd Regiment, an operational staff officer reported that the Japanese had occupied Jiujiang Wharf and Jiujiang County after a night attack. Zhang Zhizhong and the members of the Ministry of National Defense's inspection team were shocked when they heard this. It was easy to lose the Jiujiang point, and it was absolutely impossible with the defensive ability of the Eighth Route Army. However, looking at Ouyang Jian and the generals of the headquarters, it seemed that they were not alarmed, and everyone's mentality was very peaceful. "Chief of General Staff Ouyang, please explain why you gave up Jiujiang so easily?"

Ouyang Jian said with a smile: "General Zhang, I didn't plan to stick to Jiujiang. Jiujiang is the key point of the Yangtze River, but it is not necessarily the key point for Jiangxi. The first is to avoid the power of the Japanese naval guns, and the second is to lure the enemy into depth. Check it out! My defensive focus is on the Dean line, with the aim of making the Dean line fully functional. The Japanese army took the lead in launching an attack at Jingdezhen, and the battle lasted for 3 days. The Japanese army did not attack on the ground when it changed its tactics, but instead used powerful air-ground firepower, with the intention of killing and injuring our living forces. ”

"In the direction of Jingdezhen, the Japanese army threw one division, one heavy artillery brigade, two mountain artillery regiments, one armored regiment, and two army aviation wings. The Japanese firepower was unprecedented. However, the 3rd Corps of our 2nd Corps withstood the powerful offensive of the Japanese army, and also carried out local counterattack operations. Although our casualties were very large, the casualties of the Japanese army were not small, and they were basically between the two. "Military experts from the Ministry of Defense believe that the Jingdezhen defense line is a feint, but putting in such a powerful firepower is not like a feint." Zhang Zhizhong was a little worried.

Ouyang Jian said: "The purpose of the Japanese army is to capture Yunshui County, and there is no doubt that Jiujiang is the main direction of the Japanese army. According to intelligence, the 22nd, 33rd, and 35th divisions of the Japanese army have gathered in Jiangbei, and the Japanese army has concentrated four bombing wings at Nanjing Airport. The 2nd and 4th Heavy Artillery Brigades and the 7th, 9th, and 11th Independent Mountain Artillery Regiments of the Japanese Army have set out from Nanjing to Jiujiang, and it is not difficult to see the direction of the Japanese army's main attack. The Japanese attacked in two directions, intending to disperse our defensive forces. "How many artillery units do you have deployed on the De'an Line?" "A brigade of heavy artillery!"

Ouyang Jian guessed Zhang Zhizhong's thoughts and continued: "Compared with the Japanese army, our artillery is too small, and the firepower is not high. But as a defensive side, the purpose was to contain the Japanese offensive, so the artillery units could play a role at a critical moment. Moreover, our artillery positions are permanent fortifications, the losses of our artillery are minimal, and they are able to exert maximum efficiency. Zhang Zhizhong nodded and said: "General Ouyang, your military thinking is indeed extraordinary, and the inconspicuous tunnel fortifications can play such a role, it can be said that you have brought the civil engineering department to the extreme." ”

Zhang Zhizhong continued: "Your department's advanced defensive experience and practical and simple fortifications are worth learning from. After we go back this time, we will implement the advanced defensive experience of your unit to all departments. "General Zhang, some words are not unpleasant, I am not attacking your confidence. To put it mildly, the central army is faster than the local armies, and its combat effectiveness and the quality of its soldiers are much higher. However, the Central Army's thinking on army building and training methods, including the quality of its officers, are still stuck in the period of the European War, and this is the biggest weakness of the Central Army. ”

"Even with advanced weapons and strong fortifications. But weapons need soldiers to use, and fortifications need soldiers to guard. The lack of military quality, the low quality of soldiers, and the fact that no matter how good the weapons and strong fortifications are, it is impossible to quickly increase the combat effectiveness, and this is not a one-day achievement. Zhang Zhizhong sighed and said: "I know that your ministry has vigorously carried out formalized education in recent years, and let soldiers learn culture and systematically conduct military training. In particular, the lower-level officers of your ministry have been trained by military academies. In this regard, the central army could not do this, and the local army was even more out of reach. ”

"General Ouyang, your unit is strong in combat, not one or two new weapons, but a manifestation of overall strength. In fact, the Ministry of Defense has had this plan for a long time, but you should know how difficult it is to implement. At present, when the national disaster is at hand, a dead horse can only be used as a live horse doctor. "Report, the front finger reports, the vanguard of the Japanese army has reached the De'an Line!" An operations staff officer put down the phone and reported it. Zhang Zhizhong said: "General Ouyang, I want to go to the De'an defense line and see with my own eyes how your troops conduct defensive operations." ”

In the afternoon of the same day, Zhang Zhizhong's inspection team drove to the front-line headquarters. The front-line headquarters was located in the city of De'an, and at this time the Japanese bombers were bombing indiscriminately. Zhang Zhizhong and his entourage wore steel helmets and were escorted by the guard troops into the front-line command bunker. Su Yu, the commander-in-chief of the front line in the headquarters, Luo Ronghuan, the political commissar, and Zhang Shiying, the chief of staff, had already heard the news and greeted them. The two sides exchanged military salutes and greetings. It was deafening outside and it was inconvenient to talk, so Su Yu handed Zhang Zhizhong a telescope for easy viewing.

Soon, the Japanese bomber flew away, and Su Yu put down the binoculars and said: "General Zhang, this is the prelude to the Japanese attack, and its ground forces are being deployed." "Doesn't your unit have anti-aircraft guns, why don't you deploy anti-aircraft guns here and let the Japanese planes bomb them indiscriminately?" "General Zhang, anti-aircraft artillery has a huge demand for ammunition, so we can only deploy anti-aircraft artillery in Yunshui County, the western military base, Nanchang, Ruijin and other key points. After all, our armament production capacity is limited, and if anti-aircraft guns are deployed in the defense line, ammunition will not be able to meet the supply. ”

"I just saw anti-aircraft machine gun firing into the air!" "The limited deployment of anti-aircraft machine guns is aimed at curbing the low-altitude bombs of the Japanese army!" Zhang Zhizhong nodded and continued: "The front trenches are criss-crossed, presumably the defense line of your department, I want to understand the deployment of troops" "The troops put into operation by our department are the 7th Army, the 19th, 20th, and 21st Divisions, and the 3rd Artillery Brigade are responsible for the defense of the 25-kilometer frontal defense line. The 6th Army was a reserve corps. "How many troops do you have in one army?" 45,000 people. "I found that the western region was empty, and I wasn't worried about the Japanese army outflanking it?"

"The western part is a mountainous area that is not suitable for large regiments to fight, and we have an engineering regiment, including militia and guerrillas, to guard the western region. Maybe General Zhang thinks that the troops are too small but don't worry, it is a minefield, and the Japanese army will not dare to outflank it. "Your mines are indeed powerful, very clever deployment." Zhang Zhizhong admired. At this time, the air defense siren sounded suddenly, and it was obvious that the Japanese planes were attacking again. Soon, a deafening explosion came, and the operational staff officers who were on the phone in the headquarters naturally raised their voices by an octave.

After an afternoon of wanton and indiscriminate bombardment, the Japanese fighters did not launch an offensive on the ground, and it was obvious that they had not been well deployed. Chief of Staff Zhang Shiying accompanied Zhang Zhizhong and his entourage to the front line to inspect the front, political commissar Luo Ronghuan went out to check the damage, and Su Yu called Ouyang Jian to report the bombing by Japanese planes. The battlefield fell silent, and a light rain fell outside. Su Yu put down the phone and walked out of the fortress, raising his face to let the rain pour on his face. He knew in his heart that the curtain would begin tomorrow when the brutal battle began, and as a commander, he felt how heavy the courage was on his shoulders.

At dusk, a Japanese warship stopped at the Jiujiang wharf. The docks were in shambles, and the traces of the destruction of the artillery fire were clear at a glance. In the dim light, the Japanese generals stood on the dock to greet them. Soon a few people came down from the deck of the battleship, the first of whom was slender and had a stubble face. The battle cap is worn on the head to appear narrower, and this Jun is Lieutenant General Takakura Yusuke, commander of the 8th Army of the Shanghai Dispatch Army, who will serve as the commander-in-chief of the Jiujiang side. He is in his 50s and is known for his steadiness and courage.

The generals saluted, and Yusuke Takakura casually returned the military salute, and got into the car with an expressionless face. At present, the 22nd Division, the 33rd Division, the 2nd Heavy Artillery Brigade, and the 7th and 9th Mountain Artillery Regiments of the Japanese Army have been ashore and are being deployed. Soon, a pre-war military conference was held. The generals in the Japanese headquarters sat in two rows, and each officer stood upright without squinting. Yusuke Takakura strode in and walked in, and everyone stood up and saluted. Yusuke Takakura nodded and motioned for everyone to sit down.

"Everyone, although we captured Jiujiang County overnight, there is nothing to be proud of, it can be said that Jiujiang County was deliberately abandoned by the Eighth Route Army. The Eighth Route is very cunning, and the abandonment of Jiujiang County is to avoid the bombardment of naval artillery, and the real intention of the Eighth Route to abandon Jiujiang is to use the large in-depth fortifications of the De'an line to block our attack. The situation is not optimistic, and at present, the offensive of the 41st and 40th divisions on the Eastern Front has been blocked, and the Eighth Route Army has used rudimentary fortifications and efficient artillery strikes to contain our offensive. ”

"According to the offensive on the Eastern Front, the Eighth Route Army exposed its artillery units, which can confirm that the Eighth Route Army was massively equipped with 105-mm heavy artillery. The Communists worked so hard that it was almost impossible to destroy the heavy artillery in the permanent fortifications underground. The Eighth Route Army's artillery support was extremely efficient, and Chu Yuan was set up in the offensive area, which greatly improved the accuracy of artillery bombardment. Ladies and gentlemen, the Eighth Route Army made careful preparations a few years ago, and you must imagine how terrible our opponents are. For this reason, the Dispatch Corps Command decided to adopt high-intensity firepower and protracted offensive tactics with the intention of dragging down the defensive forces of the Eighth Route Army and destroying the main force of the Eighth Route Army on the defensive line. ”

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have formulated a perfect offensive plan in view of the defensive situation of the Eighth Route Army and with reference to the offensive situation on the Eastern Front. According to the artillery counterattack of the Eighth Route Army on the Eastern Front, the artillery positions should be dispersed, and many artillery positions should be preset to facilitate the transfer at any time, and the observing soldiers on the hot air balloon were ordered to report the artillery position of the Eighth Route Army in time to facilitate the suppression of artillery fire. Ladies and gentlemen, if we capture Jiangxi, China will be at your fingertips, and I hope you will do your best. "Hey!" All the generals stood up and shouted in unison.

This night is destined to be a sleepless night, and in the headquarters of the 3rd Corps in Jiujiang, Chief of Staff He Long said: "News came from the dark arrow, the commander of the 8th Army of the Japanese Army, Yusuke Takakura, arrived at the Jiujiang Wharf and served as the supreme commander of the front line. According to the information provided by the Dark Arrow, this person is determined, calm, resolute, and does not take risks easily. Ouyang Jian searched his memory and felt that the name Yusuke Takakura was very unfamiliar. Yusuke Takakura was recruited from the Kwantung Army Headquarters, and Ouyang Jian naturally didn't know about it. 、

"No matter who the opponent is, as long as we beat the Japanese army and kill his prestige, the Japanese attack will be aborted. The Japanese look down on the weak and worship the strong, and as long as we are strong, the Japanese army will lose confidence. We must not only keep the Japanese army out of the Jiangxi gate, but also defeat the arrogance of the Japanese army, so that the Japanese army will be terrified when they hear the name of the Eighth Route Army. Ouyang Jian's sonorous words made everyone's blood boil.