A few sappers sweated profusely, and neatly spread bags of sand on the outer layer of the bunker, and just after the paving, the rest of the sappers brought a circle of logs and spread them on the sandbags.

Xu Ming did not go to the front line to command, he was still in Mopan Mountain, it was already late September, Xu Ming, who inspected the defense of the position, did not feel the heat, the breeze blew, but gave him some coolness.

It was a good time for the Great War.

Zhang Xueqing, commander of the engineer battalion, pointed to this bunker and was making an introduction: "Commander-in-chief, this is the mother fort, which can accommodate a platoon, has two heavy machine guns, and has 6 sub-forts next to it, forming crossfire with the bunkers on the mountain next to it... Cushion logs on the sand, lay clay soil, and plant grass and trees to camouflage..."

Xu Ming nodded, with a smile on his face, "You have done a good job, I am very satisfied, other fortifications must be the same as this, built in strict accordance with the standards, rather slow progress, but also to ensure quality, if there is a problem with the materials, you can come to me or Zhang Shenzao at any time." ”

After looking at a few of the fortifications that had been built, Xu Ming walked back to the headquarters, and the smile on his face gradually disappeared.

Seeing Zhang Shaofang walk in, Xu Ming threw over a cigarette and lit it for him.

Zhang Shaofang took two puffs, spit out the smoke ring, and said, "Boss, have you gone to inspect the fortifications?" ”

Xu Ming said: "Yes, if it doesn't go well ahead, we just need to rely on these fortifications to live, if we don't repair well, other people's fiascos will be our example." ”

The news of the loss of Jinguanqiao and Passpass Town has arrived, and it is said that Lao Jiang was furious and trained Xue Yue on the phone for several hours!

Zhang Shaofang comforted: "Commander-in-chief, we have done a good job, and the Military Commission has also called to commend you." There are only two corps here, and one of the enemy's main divisions is in a state of siege, and two divisions are also divided into the rear of the Japanese army to make a detour, which will definitely greatly contain the attack on De'an. Thousands of miles, there will not be any other army in China that has such capabilities, and no army commander can anticipate the enemy like this. ”

Xu Ming smiled bitterly: "Yes, we did a good job, but the war is about the result, as soon as our troops are surrounded, or the flanks are threatened, they will be defeated, and the Japanese army will have four or five thousand heavy troops in Meishan, and they can't take it." ”

Speaking of this, Xu Ming felt very helpless, from the pre-war analysis and tactical arrangement, Xu Ming felt that he had done his best. Indeed, as Zhang Shaofang said, in China, no general can do his degree, but the war pays attention to the result, it is impossible to encircle and annihilate the 9th Division in a short period of time, but if Meishan cannot be taken, the supply of the Japanese army will not be cut off, and the initiative in the war will always be in the hands of the opponent.

However, Zhang Shaofang obviously didn't think so, he put out the cigarette and said: "Qianli, your requirements are too high, no one can blame you, before the war, you analyzed the direction of the Japanese army's main attack, and asked Deputy Commander Wan to report to Wuhan, and you also gave command to Xue Boling of the 64th Army and the 4th Army, and also contained the Japanese army at the first time. ”

Xu Ming looked at Zhang Shaofang, and then looked at the other personnel in the headquarters, no one had an anxious or worried face on his face, but a smug and victorious expression, except for Xu Ming, no one realized that De'an's defeat was the prelude to the defeat of Jiujiang.

On the evening of September 22, the Japanese army deciphered the communication code of the squadron and mastered the operational deployment of the squadron.

In order to counterattack the pass, the 60th Army set out from De'an, and as soon as it arrived at Hot Springs, it was suddenly attacked by two divisions of the Japanese army from all directions. The 60th Army is a Yunnan army, good at mountain warfare, pinned on Chiang Kai-shek and Xue Yue's great expectations, but in the face of the surprise attack of the superior Japanese army, where is the unprepared Chinese army is the opponent, only half a day, this heroic unit in Xuzhou Yuwang Mountain was completely defeated, more than half of the troops were killed and wounded.

After the defeat of the 60th Army, the Japanese army did not put all 2 divisions into the attack of De'an, but the Sato detachment composed of the 101st Brigade as the backbone turned right from Jinlun Peak, crossed the path, inserted into the rear of Mahuiling, and cooperated with the 106th Division and the 27th Division on the left flank to launch an attack on the squadron ** of Mahuiling.

Mahuiling was originally a railway station and a hub of the Nanxun Railway, connecting an important node from De'an to Jiujiang. On September 24, the defending 4th Army suffered more than half of the casualties and withdrew from the battlefield, because the retreat of the 4th Army was not approved by the Military Commission, and the army commander Ou Zhen was removed from his post for investigation.

Receiving the telegram of Ma Huiling's loss, it was just a light telegram, and Xu Ming felt very heavy when he held it in his hand.

He threw the telegram on the table and sighed: "With the same concentration of two or three times the number of troops, the Japanese army can quickly defeat us, and I have also concentrated several times the number of troops, but I cannot defeat the Japanese army." ”

The latest news has just come from Meishan, the 108th Division and the new 18th Division have captured the peripheral positions, but they have encountered strong resistance when attacking the core positions of the Japanese army.

"Let them withdraw," Xu Ming said lightly.

"Commander-in-chief, Division Commander Hu said that Meishan can be taken in three days at most, and I think it is better to let them capture it again." Zhang Shaofang suggested.

Xu Ming shook his head, "Meishan has lost most of its combat significance, and the loss of Mahuiling shows the convergence of the left wing corps and the right wing corps of the Japanese army. ”

Zhang Shaofang did not persuade again, and the military bureaucrats of the former 107th Division rarely had doubts about Xu Ming's decision.

The telegram was intercepted by the Japanese 11th Army at Hukou for the first time, and was quickly deciphered and placed on Okamura's desk.

"Brother Bo Yuwu, Mahuiling has been lost, the Meishan operation has no meaning to contain it, and the expedition of the troops is interspersed for several days, which is inevitably dangerous, and it is recommended to withdraw from the battle; In addition, the 60th Army has just been ambushed by the Japanese army, and it is suspected that the intelligence or communication code has been leaked, so please pay more attention. Brother Xu Ming, September 23, 27 years of the Republic of China. ”

"Yanxi, it seems that our future opponent has a very clear mind and knows how to advance and retreat." Chief of Staff Sadaichi Yoshimoto took the deciphered telegram, handed it to Deputy Staff Officer Numata, and then said proudly.

Numata Takazo glanced at the telegram, and then said to Okamura Ninji: "Your Excellency, the Ikeda Detachment (composed of the 145th Wing) has just set off to relieve the siege of Meizan, do you want to continue now?" ”

Okamura Ninji thought for a moment and said, "Since the Shina army is preparing to retreat, there is no need for rescue, so let's let Ikeda's troops devote themselves to the direction of attacking Dean, tell Ikeda Daisa, and convey my proposal." ”

Others also felt that there was nothing wrong with it, the opponent was already preparing to retreat, what reinforcements should be sent? It's just that the development of many things is completely unexpected.

Meishan Zhouling, Hu Lian got this telegram, his face was cloudy.

Chen Huizhi, deputy commander of the new 18th Division, looked at Hu Lian walking around, his brows were tightly locked, obviously contradictory, and said: "Division Commander Hu, since the commander-in-chief has given an order, it is better to retreat as soon as possible, more than 20,000 people, all the time outside, it is inevitable that there will be danger." ”

Hu Lian stopped and glanced at Chen Huiyi, the new 18th Division nominally Xu Ming is also the division commander, but in fact, Chen Huizhi, Zhao Ren and other Qiyang departments are completely in control of the situation, although Chen Huizhi is the deputy division commander, he must be treated as the division commander.

Hu Lian pondered his words and said slowly: "Deputy Division Commander Chen, there is not much danger, the main force of the Japanese army is in the direction of De'an, and it is impossible to come back for a while, even if it comes, there is only one more reinforcement from the wing, I still don't want to withdraw from the battle." ”

"But the commander-in-chief has already given the order, and Qianli has never had a problem with command."

When Hu Lian heard this, he sighed in his heart, the 26th Army's worship of Xu Ming is unconditional, and he doesn't think about any right or wrong at all, when did he have this kind of prestige in the army?

He tried his best to dispel these nonsense thoughts, and said: "Of course, the commander-in-chief's opinion is correct, but I still think that the enemy who can completely annihilate Meishan and then withdraw, has been ascertained, these are just the baggage troops of the Japanese army, and we are completely sure that they will be annihilated within three days." ”

"But the commander-in-chief said that the value of Meishan has been lost, so what is the point of continuing to fight?"

Hu Lian shook his head and said firmly: "Annihilating the Japanese army is the greatest significance!" Yes, don't say it again, I'm in charge of everything, I've decided to fight again. If you don't give the order of the foreign monarch, if you don't annihilate this devil, I vow not to return to the army! ”

Shangguan Min asked beside him, "Then do you want to notify the commander-in-chief?" ”

Hu Lian nodded, and was about to agree, but then remembered the reminder in Xu Ming's telegram that there might be a leak of the communication password, and he looked under the table, "Li Bai" and "Taibai", two old dogs, nestled together, lingering and snuggling with each other.

"Let them go!"

[，！ ]