When the 16th Division captured the blocking position laid by the 77th Army in one fell swoop, and the main force of the division began to advance in the direction of Gushi. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 info still took the day and night He Zheng Road, and also arrived in Huaibin, which borders Anhui.

According to the information sent back by the front-line reconnaissance detachment, the 10th Division of the Japanese Army, which had driven from the direction of Fuyang, had already captured the city of Funan, which was guarded by the Central Army. After a short rest, the whole army of the 10th Division advanced to Huaibin in Henan.

Even if it was fighting in Xuzhou, the 10th Division carried a big heel. A new division commander was replaced, and the Japanese army headquarters also added a lot of new recruits to it, and there were even three tank and armored squadrons.

Despite the fact that there were only about thirty tanks equipped, there were also a number of wheeled armored vehicles. With the artillery units equipped with the 10th Division, plus the air force support that appeared from time to time, they seemed to be able to advance into Henan with ease this time.

The 10th Division, which was temporarily under the command of the Japanese Second Army, received a telegram from the commander of the Second Army, Minoru Higashikurenomiya, handing over the matter of taking over the occupied areas to other reserve units, and the main force of the division also accelerated to the Xinyang area.

Perhaps it was Minoru Higashikunomiya who also realized that with only one and a half divisions in his hands, it was still somewhat difficult to successfully break through the Xinyang area held by the Fifth War Zone. But one more 10th Division may be able to do it.

According to the battle plan drawn up by Minoru Higashikunomiya, the 10th Division will serve as the main offensive force on the other side, striving to capture the Huangchuan area of Xinyang in the shortest possible time and block the retreat of the Central Army, which had set up heavy troops to block the attack in Guyang.

If this combat objective can be accomplished, then they will be able to flank the front and rear and inflict heavy damage on the defenders of the fifth theater who are mostly concentrated in Guyang. In this way, the battle for them to advance into Wuhan may be much easier.

The idea was naturally good, and even the offensive of the 10th Division went very smoothly. The blocking troops deployed in front of the 10th Division in the 5th Theater were still unable to resist the sharp attack of the 10th Division, even if they fought very tenaciously.

Knowing that the 10th Division had advanced into Henan, Minoru Higashikuremiya was also very satisfied and said: "Yo, the arrival of the 10th Division will make our enemies start to think about how to divide troops to rescue, right?" ”

The intelligence officer in charge of intelligence gathering also said in a timely manner: "Yes, Your Excellency Commander! According to the information we have received, Li Zongren has sent the 67th Army to set up a blocking position outside Huangchuan City after learning that the 10th Division has advanced to Xinyang.

According to the information we know, the combat effectiveness of this unit sent by the Eighth Route Army is still very strong. As far as we know, the 67th Army now has nearly 20,000 troops stationed in Huangchuan.

At present, they are constructing fortifications, presumably to ensure the rear route of their troops in the Gushi area. However, according to what we have gathered, the troops deployed by the 67th Army in Huangchuan are at least nearly 40,000 people.

It's just that this army marches a lot of the time, and it will choose to be at night. We don't know exactly how many troops they have deployed in Huangchuan. But in this case, I think the 10th Division should be informed and asked to strengthen its vigilance. ”

'Yo! As long as we know their whereabouts, we, the Imperial Japanese Army, will not be afraid to fight against them. The most troublesome thing about these Eighth Route Army is that many times they know to run away if they can't win.

This time, they were ordered to join Li Zongren's troops, and even chose to confront us. It is also necessary for us to take revenge on the 12th and 26th Divisions. If we can completely annihilate their troops, we will inevitably be commended by the military department.

Even annihilating them has another advantage, that is, to sow discord between the Central Army and the Eighth Route Army. As long as we can divide them internally, it will still be of great benefit to our Greater East Asia Holy War. Inform the 10th Division of this matter together! ’

'Hey! ’

While Minoru Higashi-kurenomiya was thinking about the idea of fighting He Zhengdao, He Zhengdao, who led the two main divisions and the reconnaissance brigade to Huaibin, was also thinking about the idea of the 10th Division.

As for the 10th Division, which sent their tank units to act as the pioneers, the three infantry wings to which the division belonged were unhurriedly hanging behind the march. He Zhengdao also felt that this little devil division was really arrogant!

Looking at Luo Ruiqing, who came with him, He Zhengdao said with a smile: "It seems that the victory along the way has made the little devils feel that no one dares to stop their edge." As far as can be seen from their march, they are not aware of our arrival for the time being.

Next, it is believed that the 10th Division will soon launch an attack on the Huaibin garrison. Then we can also plan around Huaibin City. Strive to annihilate this Japanese division in Huaibin. ”

Listening to He Zhengdao's words, Luo Ruiqing said worriedly: "Commander, our idea is good. But as far as the current situation is concerned, even if there is an infantry brigade of the Central Army stationed in Huaibin, I am afraid that they will not be able to hold out for long.

The first thing they had to face should be the Japanese army's tanks and armored vehicles. According to the information fed back by our scouts, the defenders of Huaibin City have now dispersed, and we are afraid that as soon as the little devils arrive, they will collapse without a fight.

If they can't hold back the attacking Japanese army and let the 10th Division concentrate its forces outside Huaibin City, we want to carry out the battle plan of encircling and attacking them, but I am afraid it is unlikely to be completed. I'm afraid, they'll lose too quickly! ”

Faced with Luo Ruiqing's worries, He Zhengdao thought for a while and said: "Send Li Zongren a telegram and let him strictly order the defenders of Huaibin City to hold on!" In addition, the telegram informed us that our 67th Army could send a main regiment to assist in the defense.

Except for one thing, when our troops are stationed, their infantry brigade in the city must obey our orders. Let Li Xiangdong transfer a main regiment from their brigade and take over the defense at night in Huaibin City.

Since we are now also part of the National Army, the brigade commander of the Central Army in the city seems to be just a colonel. When Li Xiangdong was asked, he put on the major general's uniform issued to him by the national government, and the whole regiment changed into the military uniform of the Central Army and entered the city to take over the defense. ”

As soon as this idea came out, Luo Ruiqing thought about it and said with a smile: "This is a solution!" I just don't know, Li Zongren will agree! However, the command of such a local army, I am afraid that he should still be willing to give it up! ”

As He Zhengdao sent the telegram in the form of a secret telegram, it was sent to Li Zongren's headquarters. Seeing that He Zhengdao wanted the command of Huaibin City, he thought for a while and said, "Call back and agree with their plan!" In addition, inform the Huaibin Garrison Brigade of this matter! ”

'Yes, sir! ’

As the telegram was sent to the Huaibin garrison brigade, seeing Li Zongren's harshly worded telegram, the garrison brigade commander also had a headache and said: "Just send a regiment of reinforcements, how can we hold on for three days?" Little devils, there are more than 20,000 elites! ”

Listening to the garrison brigade commander complaining, several regiment commanders of the garrison brigade also said helplessly: "Brigade seat, in the current situation, if we don't obey the military order, I'm afraid that Commander Li won't give us good fruit to eat."

Now Commander Li sent a main regiment to assist in the defense, and even let a major general serve as the commander. Then what we have to do is to cooperate with them in the war. If you can't beat the little devil then, you can't blame us.

The equipment of their regular army is good, but those generals are not even the top heroes. As long as they know that this Huaibin City can't be defended, I believe that those central troops who rushed to support will know that saving their lives is a wise choice! ”

The meaning of these regiment leaders is undoubtedly to take off their responsibilities. Since the theater sent a major general to supervise the war on the Huaibin front, they naturally saved the trouble and let this supervising major general carry the mines.

At that time, if you can't win the little devil, you will be held responsible, and the major general will go to the thunder. After listening to the suggestions of these regiment commanders, the garrison brigade commander thought about it and felt that this was really a good idea.

Li Xiangdong, who received the order, quickly transferred a main regiment from the reconnaissance brigade, changed into the uniform of the Central Army, and entered Huaibin City, where there are not many people now, in the middle of the night. Looking at these garrison officers with different thoughts, he also put up the score of the generals.

It's just that for the brigade commander and regiment commander of the garrison brigade, Li Xiangdong, a major general, seems to be a little beyond their imagination. Even if the garrison brigade commander wanted to inquire about Li Xiangdong's origin, Li Xiangdong didn't say much.

He just said very seriously: "Ladies and gentlemen, I believe you have received the telegram from Chief Li. Next, Huaibin's defense will be managed with me. I also hope that you will assist me in completing the tasks assigned to me by the war zone.

Since General Ben is here with his troops, he will definitely not withdraw half a step from Huaibin City until he completes the task. I hope you can all lead by example. Whoever dares to retreat lightly shakes the morale of the army, don't blame General Ben for using military law at that time! ”

'Yes, please rest assured General Li, we will cooperate well!' It's just that at the moment, although there are many soldiers in our garrison brigade, they are all lacking in training. There are even quite a few troops, and they are not even fully armed. Isn't it, sir, help apply for a batch of supplies from above! ’

Faced with the words of the garrison brigade commander, Li Xiangdong quickly said: "Your difficulties, the commander of the theater also knows. This time, I was ordered to take over the defense of Huaibin, and naturally I also brought some weapons and equipment.

It's just that a good gun also needs to be used on the blade. Starting tomorrow, martial law will be imposed throughout the city. In order to prevent the little devil's spies from passing on the news, tomorrow the troops I brought will take over the patrol and vigilance in the city.

All of your regiments have temporarily returned to the camp to recuperate, and I need to see how effective your troops really are. The country has spent so much money to form a garrison brigade, I hope you can still fight and dare to fight with little devils! ”

'Yes, please rest assured, sir, we will cooperate!' ’

Hearing that Li Xiangdong really brought a lot of equipment into the city, even they saw that the main force that entered the city was really well-organized. What surprised the commanders of these garrison brigades the most was that most of the main regiments were equipped with Japanese-style weapons.

From this, it can be seen that this unit is a real elite unit in the theater of operations. The weapons that can be equipped with so many little devils must have been captured from the hands of the little devils. After all, there are really not many troops that can be equipped with Japanese-style weapons in the Central Army! (To be continued.) )