After the fall of Xuzhou, the Nationalist Government decided to adjust the sequence of operations in order to enhance the command structure and combat capability. The Ninth Theater was newly formed with Chen Cheng as the commander of the theater, and at the same time, it cooperated with the troops of the Fifth and Second Theaters to prepare to defend Wuhan.

In order to resist the Japanese army's large-scale attack on Wuhan, the government also transferred the air force and navy, totaling nearly 50 ground troops, including combat aircraft and naval vessels, with a total strength of more than one million.

With such a deployment of troops, it can be seen that the Central Army is also aware of how unfavorable it will be for the Nationalist Government that moved its capital to Chongqing if Wuhan is lost. But even so, Lao Jiang still seems to feel unsafe.

Fortunately, after the Yellow River burst its embankment, the Central Army, which had been pursued and beaten by Tufeiyuan, took advantage of the favorable conditions of the Yellow River rushing down, and began to encircle and suppress those Japanese troops who were caught off guard by the Yellow River's burst.

At the same time, the rest of the troops who retreated to the safe area, while resting, many troops also began to set off for the next battlefield to prepare for the next battle of Wuhan. And the movements of the Central Army, the Japanese army is naturally also aware of it.

In the eyes of many Japanese troops, the Nationalist Government basically transferred their elite troops to the Japanese army around Wuhan to prepare to block the attack, trying to fight a decisive battle with the Japanese army around Wuhan that was bigger than the Battle of Xuzhou.

Although the Japanese military was worried about such a situation, they also felt that they were looking forward to it. For the attacking Japanese army, they also hope that there will be a battlefield where they can have a good decisive battle with the Central Army.

If this time, they can annihilate the elite units of the Central Army participating in the war, perhaps the resolute resistance of the Nationalist Government will truly collapse. At that time, it is believed that the entire anti-Japanese war force in China will also be greatly damaged.

In view of this situation, the Japanese army is also in full swing to arrange troops, and also hopes to use this battle of Wuhan to strive for a one-time solution to the vitality of the Chinese anti-Japanese war forces that are currently causing them to be equally anxious.

The two countries' top brass is also aware of the importance of this battle, and Wuhan will also be reduced to a new area of belligerence. In response to such a situation, many people living in Hubei have also begun to choose to flee to safer places.

Even if they knew that there were elite troops of the Central Army in front of them. However, the fall of Xuzhou still made many people full of doubts about whether the central army could withstand the attacking Japanese army.

In response to such a situation, Lao Jiang naturally said with an unhappy expression: "Before the little devil came in, many of us people wanted to flee from their homes. If this continues, am we afraid that it will also affect the morale of our front-line troops participating in the war? ”

In the face of Lao Jiang's inquiry, the intelligence officer in charge of intelligence work also said helplessly: "Commission, many people know that the little devils are menacing at present. Although we had quite a few troops in front, they were all a little scared.

The previous incident in Nanjing has made many people have a shadow of the little devil in their hearts. In fact, according to what we know so far, many of the people who created this atmosphere of tension and failure are spies of small devils.

It's just that most of the people who were really able to leave Hubei before the war were some rich people. They are relatively well-informed, and they are not short of those carts and horses in their hands. It was the departure of these rich men that caused some panic among the people.

Even if we are currently in Wuhan, we have already begun to carry out propaganda to defend Greater Wuhan. However, the fall of Xuzhou last time still made the people have little confidence in whether we can hold Wuhan, and they are also worried that the little devils will be the same as Nanjing.

Even according to some folk discussions we have gathered, many people hope that the Eighth Route Army will come to Hubei. In the eyes of these people, they all felt that the Eighth Route Army was more able to protect them. This kind of public opinion must be suppressed as soon as possible! ”

Although the intelligence officer felt a little embarrassed when he said this. But as an official in charge of intelligence, he can understand that it is normal for people to have this kind of private discussion. After all, after the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, the Eighth Route Army did fight very well.

The most important thing is that the Central Army is constantly losing territory, while the Eighth Route Army is constantly recovering territory in the northwest. The people did not understand the reason for a strategic retreat, but they knew that the Central Army was retreating, but the Eighth Route Army was advancing.

In addition, the people who paid attention to the situation of the Anti-Japanese War had more or less seen it in the newspapers that the Eighth Route Army was not the Central Army as propagated, swimming behind enemy lines without attacking. The little devil has two divisions, both of which have been completely annihilated.

Listening to what the intelligence officer said, Lao Jiang said with a very ugly expression: "Niang Xipi! What do these people know? If we hadn't pinned down the main forces of the Japanese army in front, would they be where they are today? You know, we are the Central Army! ”

Regarding the reason given by Lao Jiang, the intelligence officer said a little cautiously: "Commission, since the people have this will, then why don't we take this opportunity to let the Eighth Route Army send troops over to participate in the battle?"

In the matter of the Anti-Japanese War, the lowly officials felt that they should not dare to disobey. At present, our troops are very much consumed in order to contain the main force of the Japanese army. However, the Eighth Route Army took the opportunity to become bigger in the rear, which is very unfavorable for the party-state! ”

Such a suggestion made Lao Jiang cover his head and say: "With the order of the Anti-Japanese War, it is naturally possible to transfer the Eighth Route Army to the south." But have you ever thought about what if the Eighth Route Army comes over, they can really win the little devils?

Although we have always preached that they are in the Northwest Theater and only know how to fight guerrilla warfare with little devils, as the intelligence chief, you should know better than me what the real situation is. Today's Eighth Route Army is indeed not what it used to be. ”

'Commission, this time the little devils have gathered more than 300,000 elites to prepare to attack Wuhan. If we can transfer the Eighth Route Army over, we can send them to the front line and let them fight with the elite of the little devils.

Central China has always been under our control. As long as they come, they must be under our command. If they can win, I believe it will be of great help to us to hold Wuhan, and it will also help to enhance our reputation at that time.

If they can't complete the orders we have given, then we can engage in military law against them, and secondly, let the people know that these Eighth Route Army are actually paper tigers, and they can't deal with the elite of the little devils at all.

Whether it is victory or defeat, it is beneficial for the party-state. Moreover, by transferring them to our theater of operations, we can also observe at close range how strong the combat effectiveness of these Eighth Route Armies is today, so that we can understand their real combat effectiveness. ’

The intelligence officer's words made Lao Jiang say thoughtfully: "I'm afraid this suggestion didn't come up with you, right?" O you people! However, I will consider your suggestions.

It's just that none of you should underestimate the ability of the Eighth Route Army on the propaganda front, and don't forget that the Eighth Route Army now has the power to fight independently. If you want to transfer them to war, all you need is an order, but there are also a lot of tedious things.

We only have the right to make suggestions, not the right to command, to transfer that force over and where to transfer it. And with the wisdom of ****, will they not be able to see our calculations? Let me think about this matter carefully! ”

In the face of the intelligence officer's eye medicine again, Lao Jiang also knew very well that this was the instigation of some generals in the military. After several major battles, many elite troops of the Central Army suffered heavy losses, which made these descendants of the generals feel distressed.

At present, the development of the Eighth Route Army in the northwest is booming, and they are naturally a little jealous. It's just that for Lao Jiang, he knows very well in his heart that the Eighth Route Army at this moment is no longer the Red Army that arrived in northern Shaanxi at the beginning of the year.

The Red Army, which entered northern Shaanxi on the Long March, made him feel somewhat worried. At the moment, on the bright side, the Eighth Route Army, which has ten main divisions, how can they handle it at will?

He knew that the Eighth Route Army did not dare to destroy the united anti-Japanese front at will, so as the commander of the Republic of China and the supreme commander of the Central Army, how could Lao Jiang not know that a complete fall out with the Eighth Route Army would really be beneficial to the Nationalist Government?

In the final analysis, Lao Jiang also knew in his heart that the biggest enemy in front of him at the moment was actually the Japanese army. If he can't resist the attack of the Japanese army, whether it is him or the Eighth Route Army, he may become a slave of the country.

Although he was very worried, taking advantage of the opportunity of the Anti-Japanese War, the Eighth Route Army took the opportunity to grow, and finally it was difficult to get rid of it. Compared with becoming a slave to the country, Lao Jiang still feels that the top priority should be to protect his family and the country.

And as far as the current situation is concerned, the Central Army has achieved good results in several battles. But there is one thing that Lao Jiang is still worried about. That is, he also does not have full control over these forces.

Even, when dealing with those generals who passively resisted, Lao Chiang sometimes had a lot of concerns when he wanted to deal with them. This situation did not exist in the Eighth Route Army. This may be the reason why the Eighth Route Army can develop rapidly in the northwest.

Just as the Central Army began to arrange its troops to deal with the peripheral battles of the Battle of Wuhan, which had already begun. The Dabie Mountain advance detachment dispatched by He Zhengdao had arrived in the Dabie Mountain area in a low-key manner and joined up with a local guerrilla force.

Even if the advance detachment only has the size of a main battalion, in fact, this advance detachment does not stay in one place. On the contrary, according to He Zhengdao's order, the advance detachment was divided into several small units to carry out activities and reconnaissance in the Dabie Mountain area.

The partisans who insisted on guerrilla warfare in the area were very happy about the arrival of the advance detachment. The fact that the main force sent a small detachment over shows that it attaches great importance to the guerrilla struggle in the Dabie Mountain area.

This also means that the guerrillas operating in the local area can also have more room for development. Even in the next possible anti-Japanese war, save some more hope for life.

At this moment, He Zhengdao, who had already completed the expansion of the troops, ordered the troops to seize the time to complete the training after the expansion, and also paid attention to the enemy situation in Wuhan and prepared for the possible participation in the war.

Just when the Eighth Route Army felt that the Central Army might not send them to the Battle of Wuhan. Zhou Enlai, who was far away in Chongqing, finally sent a telegram, and the state government officially sent a notice that it hoped to transfer the new 67th Army to participate in the battle.

Seeing this telegram, Mao Taizu and Mr. Zhu couldn't help but sigh, this matter seems to have made He Zhengdao guess right again! (To be continued.) )