(PS: Let's have a third watch first!) It's been almost three months since it was put on the shelves, and Mosquito hasn't asked for a day off to break the update, and there are an average of 10,000 words updated every day. This should be said to be very powerful, right? For the sake of this, shouldn't we give some encouragement? ）

The 71st Army and the 42nd Army, which retreated from the Lu'an front to the Xinyang area, began to recuperate because they had just finished a major battle. The 51st Army and the 77th Army, which were originally stationed in Xinyang, began to lay out defensive lines in the area bordering Henan and Anhui.

In the face of the continuous blocking tactics implemented by the Fifth Theater, the Japanese Second Army, which was responsible for the attack, also felt a certain amount of resistance. It's just that for the victory on the Lu'an battlefield, many Japanese troops still feel that the resistance of the Central Army is still in vain.

Even if the Central Army's resistance caused them certain casualties and troubles, for the Second Army, which had two elite divisions, their combat effectiveness was still strong. This kind of resistance seems to delay their time even more.

Fortunately, the attacking Japanese army also knew that the longer they were blocked by the Central Army, the more manpower and material resources they would consume. In addition, the relocation and evacuation of the Nationalist Government in Wuhan has also not escaped the eyes and ears of their special high school.

It is clear that the tactics being implemented by the Central Army at this moment are more about implementing the general strategy of 'exchanging space for time' formulated by Lao Chiang, maintaining the vitality and looking forward to the future counteroffensive. This tactic also made the Japanese army feel uncomfortable at this moment.

The reason is that as the Japanese occupy more places, the more troops they need to disperse. If the occupation area is large, a large number of troops will also be required to be stationed. If no troops are sent to defend them, there is a good chance that these occupied areas will be recovered.

Although the situation in the occupied southern territories is now generally calm. However, the continuous recovery and encroachment of the occupied areas in the north made the invading Japanese army realize that they must end such a protracted war as soon as possible.

The Japanese army's plan to attack Wuhan this time was actually to attack Chongqing in one go, and completely destroy the Nationalist Government currently established in Chongqing. It was even possible to force the Nationalist Government to surrender through this war.

It was just to their surprise that Lao Chiang seemed to have lost interest in the surrender and peace talks proposed by the Japanese army. Under these circumstances, the Japanese army decided that it was necessary to make this somewhat stubborn old Chiang realize the strength of the Japanese army.

If it is said that the Central Army has done its best for the battle of Wuhan, it can be regarded as doing its best. Then the Japanese army, which launched an attack at this moment, actually did its best. The number of Japanese troops participating in the Battle of Wuhan now also numbered more than 300,000.

These troops, in addition to fighting the central army that resisted them, still did not forget to occupy and plunder the resources and wealth of the occupied areas. After all, the wealth gained through plundering can also make up for the high military spending at the moment.

The Japanese army, which had just finished the Battle of Lu'an, also understood that the retreating Central Army could not be given too much respite. With the 13th Division as the vanguard, it began to force the crossing of the Shi River and officially launched the attack on the Xinyang garrison.

Relying on the superiority of weapons, the Japanese army dispatched a large number of planes on the day of the attack and launched a wanton bombardment of the defensive positions of the 77th Army stationed near the Shihe River. After the plane bombardment ended, the Japanese heavy artillery units began to launch heavy artillery bombardment.

For the Central Army troops responsible for blocking the attack, they really seemed very helpless in the face of these two tricks of the little devils. Seeing the little devil's planes and heavy artillery, constantly ravaging their blocking positions, the officers and men were both angry and frustrated.

Naturally, the anger was that the Japanese army relied on its superiority in weapons to bully people and fight this kind of unfair battle. Frustrated, of course, is that they don't have much ability to fight back against this kind of attack of the little devil.

Under the bombardment of a day and a night, the 132nd Division of the 77th Army, which was responsible for defending along the coast, suffered one-third casualties. For such a battle, a soldier will feel embarrassed and aggrieved.

The commander of the main regiment guarding the front line called the rear helplessly and said: "Division, send us some reinforcements!" If we continue to fight like this, we don't have to wait for the little devils to attack, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold out for three days! ”

Faced with the request for help from the regiment commander at the front, the commander of the 132nd Division sitting in the rear also said helplessly: "Reinforcements!" I'm going there right now to send you reinforcements! Your regiment must give me three days to hold on. When the three days are up, you can take them down.

Now Commander Li has given a death order to the military seat, and our 77th Army must stop the little devils on the front line for at least seven days. This is the first day, you asked me for reinforcements, how will the next battle be fought? I don't have many reserves in my hands! ”

'Master, even if you give us a company, it's fine! Now attacking our positions is the elite division of the little devils. It was planes and heavy artillery, and we suffered hundreds of casualties in a day. Without soldiers, how can I hold out for three days? ’

Listening to the bitter pleading of the regiment commander in front, the division commander who still had some reserve troops in his hand finally gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I'll give you two more companies of reserve troops." In any case, your regiment must give me three days to defend it. ”

'Yes, thank you, Master! Humble promise, I will be crucified here for three days! ’

After hanging up the phone, looking at the concerned eyes of the regimental chief of staff, the regiment commander said helplessly: "The division has promised to send two more companies of reserve troops to our regiment before noon tomorrow." Alas, there are not enough troops for this! ”

After saying this, the chief of staff also said with a wry smile: "The division seat is also difficult!" At the moment, our division is at the forefront, and at the end of this day, although our regiment suffered the heaviest losses. But the other two regiments, I'm afraid, won't be any better.

If the little devils start to attack tomorrow, we also need to be prepared to fight to the death. After this battle, I am afraid that our regiment will also fight hard. In the future, we people didn't know that we would be reorganized into that unit. ”

The 77th Army, formerly known as Song Zheyuan's troops of the Northwest Army. After Feng Yuxiang's defeat in the Central Plains War, Song Zheyuan led the remnants to retreat into Shaanxi, which was reorganized into the 29th Army by Zhang Xueliang, which later participated in the Great Wall War of Resistance.

After the fall of Beiping, although the 29th Army put up a period of resolute resistance, it finally withdrew from the garrisoned Beiping area in the form of a rout. And its army commander Song Zheyuan has now returned to his hometown to recuperate.

After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Nationalist Government planned to reorganize it, and the 37th and 132nd Divisions of the 29th Army and the Special Service Brigade of the Division Headquarters were combined to form the 59th Army. Soon after, the 37th and 132nd Divisions of the 59th Army were expanded into the 77th Army.

It can be said that the 77th Army at this moment is in the Central Army, and it is also a role that grandma does not hurt and uncle does not love. Even though this unit had fought with the Japanese army several times, when facing the Japanese army, they still felt that it was difficult to resist the edge of the Japanese army.

The 71st Army and the 42nd Army retreated the previous time, and the 77th Army, which was at the forefront, knew that it would be their turn next. As for how long they can hold out, it depends on how fierce the little devil's attack is.

Although Li Zongren's death order to the 77th Army was to require them to resist the Japanese army on the Shihe front line for seven days. But in the eyes of the officers and men of the 77th Army, it is really not easy to stop the menacing little devils for seven days.

In this case, Feng Zhi'an, as the army commander, could only give death orders to the two main divisions. And the order received by the 132nd Division was under this circumstance to block the Japanese army on the Shihe front for three days.

After receiving the information from the 132nd Division, Feng Zhi'an also said with some heartache: "Damn, what kind of battle is this, in one day, none of the little devils fought, and Lao Tzu lost thousands of troops." These little devils raised by dogs! ”

After scolding, Feng Zhi'an also knew very well that tomorrow was the time for a real hard fight. Feng Zhi'an, who had already fought with the Japanese army several times, knew in his heart that tomorrow's Japanese offensive would only be even more fierce than today.

If today's bombardment of the little devils is more to destroy the morale of the defenders, then tomorrow the little devil's plane will still appear above their heads. The heavy artillery unit of the little devil will naturally cooperate with the Japanese army to attack.

In response to this situation, Feng Zhi'an also couldn't think of a good solution. Now all he can count on is to hope that the troops on the front line will be able to compete and try their best to complete the task assigned by Li Zongren while avoiding a large number of casualties.

Just when Feng Zhi'an felt that this time the 77th Army was afraid that it would face another major casualty. In his command room, there was someone who made him feel a little surprised, but also a little expectant.

'Staff Officer Qiu, why are you here?' Do you have any instructions above? ’

As the Central Army knows, there are also a large number of cadres sent by the Eighth Route Army in the troops of the Northwest Army and the Northeast Army. The middle-aged man in front of him who served as a staff officer of the military training regiment was the representative sent by the Eighth Route Army.

In fact, all units of the 77th Army today have a group of officers and soldiers who are dedicated to the Eighth Route Army. But in the same way, there are also people in the 77th Army who are installed by the Central Army. It's just that both parties seem to be very cautious and tacit, and they won't tear their faces easily.

At this moment, this staff officer Qiu suddenly visited his headquarters late at night, and Feng Zhi'an thought that there must be something on the side of the Eighth Route Army, and he needed this representative stationed in the 77th Army to discuss something with him.

'Commander, I thought you were resting!' Today's 132nd Division, the casualties should be not small, right? ’

'Yes! At the end of the day, there were more than 1,000 casualties! This is just the beginning, tomorrow will be the battle! You probably didn't come to see me so late to ask about the casualties on the front line, right? Isn't it, what instructions do you have above? ’

In Feng Zhi'an's view, now the Northwest Army and the Northeast Army have become history. What can really compete with the Central Army may be the Eighth Route Army, which is growing in strength in the northwest and north China at the moment.

In this battle of Wuhan, the Eighth Route Army also sent an army to cooperate with the operation, and even joined the Fifth War Zone. As far as Feng Zhi'an is concerned, in fact, he also wants to see how effective the Eighth Route Army is through this joint operation.

At least in Feng Zhi'an's view, the general who participated in the Battle of Wuhan on behalf of the Eighth Route Army this time was He Zhengdao, who repeatedly inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese army after the all-out War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. He was also very curious about this red general, who was very influential among the soldiers and civilians of the Anti-Japanese War.

If this force, as he knew, could have repeatedly inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese army. Perhaps their arrival will be good news for the rest of the troops in the Fifth Theater.

After all, with a strong friendly army by their side, their Japanese army would undoubtedly be better. But as far as he knows, the participating troops of the Eighth Route Army should not have arrived in Xinyang yet!

So what did this Staff Officer Qiu want to say to him when he visited his combat headquarters late at night? (To be continued.) )