What Qiao Anbang didn't dare to imagine was that once Xuzhou was lost, wouldn't his base be attacked from both sides by the two major strategic front armies of North China and Central China? Once such a situation happens and becomes a reality, with the current strength of the Tiger Army, it will be absolutely impossible to resist.

After frowning and pondering for a long time, Qiao Anbang said in a deep voice: "Jiahan, you go and find my eldest brother, I have something important to discuss with him." ”

"Yes!" Liang Jiahan hurriedly responded, and then turned around and left quickly.

…………………………

It didn't take long for Qiao Anguo to come to the headquarters from the arsenal, although the Taihe Arsenal was still under construction, Qiao Anguo still had to come back often to inspect the Longshan Arsenal.

As soon as he entered the headquarters, Qiao Anguo asked, "Anbang, what's wrong?" What's the urgency? ”

"Big brother, according to reliable intelligence, the two major front armies of Central China and North China have once again gathered heavy troops and are preparing to attack Xuzhou again. The situation is urgent. Jo Anbang explained. What the?! 150,000 troops? Qiao Anguo was taken aback, and then asked, "What about the Central China Army?" How many troops do they have? ”

"I don't know this yet, but I guess it's only a lot more than the North China Army." Qiao Anbang groaned.

"With so many troops, isn't the Fifth War Zone very dangerous now?" Joan National Highway.

"Hmm!" Qiao Anbang nodded heavily and said, "That's why I asked you to discuss with you and see what we should do." ”

"If the Central China army also pours out, then the pressure we are facing will be great, and in this case, we will not be able to draw troops to reinforce Xuzhou." Qiao Anguo analyzed.

"That's for sure, Commander Bai Chongxi has already transferred the 11th Army and the 21st Army north to Xuzhou, and we need to take over their garrison of the Huai River defense line. Therefore, it is impossible for us to send troops to help Xuzhou. Qiao Anbang said indifferently.

"So what are we going to do?" Qiao Anguo didn't pay attention for a while, after all, the situation of the Central China Front was still unclear. It's hard to jump to conclusions.

"No matter how many troops the Central China Army has, it is always good to be prepared, so I plan to personally lead the armored brigade, the third division and the first division to the north bank of the Huai River, preparing to block the army on the north bank. Big brother, the base is left to you. Qiao Anbang said to Qiao Anguo: "In particular, I must instruct Brother Chu's fourth division to strictly defend Yingzhou in case the army raids our army's base area, and the second division can be transferred up if necessary." ”

"Well, don't worry." Qiao Anguo nodded with a heavy face and replied.

………………………………………………

Wuhan, War Hall of the Military Commission.

Chairman Jiang put down the telegram in his hand with a solemn face, and turned his head to Li Zongren, Chen Cheng, and the others: "The North China Army has gathered 150,000 troops and launched an attack on the garrison of our Fifth Theater. ”

"Commission, we can immediately transfer Qiao Anbang's Tiger Army, the combat power of the Tiger Army has always been strong, and they will definitely be able to ensure that there is no worry when they join Xuzhou." Chen Cheng was the first to speak.

"I can't transfer it, and the Central China Army has also gathered 120,000 troops at the same time, and is crossing the Yangtze River in the north, and it is a question whether the Tiger Army can block the attack of the Central China Army." Chairman Jiang said with some frustration.

Just when Li Zongren was about to speak, Chairman Jiang's chief of guard, Wang Shihe, hurriedly walked in, stood up and saluted Chairman Jiang: "Commission, the 21st Group Army is calling!" ”

Chairman Jiang turned his head, Wang Shihe hurriedly handed him the telegram in his hand, Chairman Jiang took the telegram and hurriedly read it, his face suddenly changed greatly, and he threw the telegram to the ground in a hurry, and said angrily: "Niang Xipi, this rice bucket, shoot immediately, shoot it!" ”

Li Zongren and Chen Cheng looked at each other, and finally Li Zongren opened his mouth and asked, "Commission, what's the matter?" Who are you going to shoot? ”

Wang Shihe lowered his head and picked up the telegram and handed it to Li Zongren and Chen Cheng, and said to the two: "The 45th Division of the 11th Group Army was stationed in Dingyuan County, and was defeated by a squadron of the Yue Army, and lost Dingyuan County without firing a shot. ”

"What? A division was defeated by a squadron of the army without firing a shot? Li Zongren and Chen Cheng's faces changed drastically, and it was no wonder that Chairman Jiang was so angry that he deserved to be shot.

"Niang Xipi, what are you waiting for to immediately pass the order, kill the commander of the 45th Division for me, as the commander of the first division, he didn't want to kill the enemy to serve the country, he actually escaped from the battle, and the people of the first division were defeated by more than 100 soldiers, which is simply a shame for the country and a shame for the army!" Chairman Jiang shouted angrily at Wang Shihe.

Wang Shihe made a reluctant sound, and then quickly turned around and left.

After Wang Shihe left, Chen Cheng hurriedly comforted: "Bench, you don't have to be too atmospheric, it's still important to be physical." ”

Chairman Jiang waved his hand and said, "I'm fine, what should you do now that you say that Xuzhou will be battled?" ”

Chen Cheng was speechless, bowed his head and pondered, obviously thinking, while Li Zongren pondered for a moment and said: "Commission, I think we must first find out which army is stronger and which is weaker in the northern and southern battlefields. In this way, a battle plan can be made for the surname. ”

"Which one is stronger? North China said that the army is 150,000 elites, and Central China is only a lot more! Which is stronger and which is weaker? Chairman Jiang said with a pale face.

At this moment, Wang Shihe went and returned again, still holding a telegram in his hand, and when he came to him, he stood up and saluted Chairman Jiang and the others: "Commission, Bai Chongxi is calling from Xuzhou. ”

"Huh? What did Bai Jiansheng say? Hearing this, Chairman Jiang hurriedly asked.

Bai Chongxi said that the offensive of the North China Army was fierce, and all units of our defenders suffered heavy casualties, and at present he had transferred the 11th Group Army and the 21st Group Army north to Xuzhou. In addition, he also said that he asked the committee to immediately send a telegram to the First Theater to send troops to reinforce the Fifth Theater, and in addition to this, he also ordered the Third Theater and the Second Theater to immediately launch an attack on the army in front of him, so as to contain the offensive of the army. Wang Shihe read into the message.

Chairman Jiang was already as anxious as an ant on a hot pot at this time, and his tactical command level was not very good, so he turned his attention to Li Zongren and Chen Cheng.

Li Zongren was sluggish and said: "Commission, Jiansheng is also the only way to do this, the troops of the Fifth Theater have suffered heavy losses in the previous stage of the battle, and the current combat strength has not been restored to the same as before, so it is naturally difficult to win the battle with the Yue Army, so the only way to transfer the 11th Army and the 21st Group Army to the north is Xuzhou." ”

"But these two group armies are transferred north to Xuzhou, who will guard Huainan? If you can't keep Huainan, what's the use of holding Lunan even if you keep it? Central China said that the army was unhindered all the way, and it was not said that the army would be able to come to the city of Xuzhou. Chen Cheng said with some concern.

"Have you forgotten that Huainan still has Qiao Anbang's Tiger Army?" Chairman Jiang reminded in a deep voice.

"Oh, I really didn't think about it." Chen Cheng was very embarrassed and said: "But can the Tiger Ben Army stop the elite from going out of Central China with only the Tiger Army?" Just now, he also suggested that the Tiger Army be transferred to the north, but in the blink of an eye, he ignored the Tiger Army, which was naturally embarrassing.

"This depends on Qiao Anbang, even if the Tiger Army is not the opponent of the Central China Army, but the Central China Army will not want to break through the defense line of the Tiger Army in a short time, so now, we should focus on the Battle of Xuzhou." Li Zongren took over the topic and said.

"What else can I do? Just do what Bai Jiansheng said, and immediately order Cheng Qian to send troops to help Xuzhou! In any case, Xuzhou must not be lost this time, otherwise the entire East China will not be owned by the party-state, and the Central Plains will also directly face the front of the army! Chairman Jiang said angrily.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Beiping, the headquarters of the North China Front Army.

General Terauchi Shouichi, the current commander of the North China Front, was frowning and pondering in front of the simulated sand table, and several combat staff officers next to him were busy, and at this moment, in a rush of footsteps, the chief of staff, Okabe Naosaburo, hurriedly walked over.

As soon as he arrived, Lieutenant General Okabe Naosaburo immediately saluted Terauchi Shouichi and said: "General, both the 5th Division and the 10th Division have telegraphed to say that they have been stubbornly resisted by the Shina Army and their progress is relatively slow. ”

"The Chinese Air Force?" Terauchi Shouichi asked in surprise when he heard this: "Hasn't the plane in the Fifth War Zone of Shina already been shot down by the Imperial Army?" Where did they come from the Air Force? ”

"It's not clear what this lowly position is." Naosaburo Okabe bowed his head and replied.

"Could it be the air force of the Tiger Army?" Shouichi Terauchi said suddenly.

"It is very likely, if you think about it carefully, only the Chinese Tiger Army has an air force in the entire East China." Naosaburo Okabe said.

"Baga, our North China Front will never allow the despicable China Air Force to act as a murderer, and order Tokugawa to be good and toshi, immediately send fighters to the battlefield to help in the battle, and if it encounters the China Air Force, it will be attacked immediately!" Shouichi Terauchi said angrily.

"Hay!" Okabe Naosaburo bowed his head again abruptly, and then turned around and walked away quickly.

……………………………………………………

Pheasant and set, Tiger Ben army Longshan camp.

After receiving Qiao Anbang's order, the whole armored brigade began to assemble one after another, and the No. 4 tanks and armored vehicles drove out of the garage one after another, and immediately left the barracks and headed south under the personal leadership of Qiao Anbang.

At the same time, the 1st Division stationed in Xiangcheng and Boxian also began to move south, while the 3rd Division stationed in Mengcheng and Suxian also began to advance towards Huainan.

(To be continued)