Shimen, the headquarters of the North China Front.

Okamura Ninji stood in front of the window of the war room with his hands behind his back, his expression solemn.

The "Battle of Nomenkan" launched by the Kwantung Army has ended, but the result has greatly exceeded the expectations of the entire high-level officials, and even Okamura Ninji did not expect that the Kwantung Army would be defeated so badly and so completely! The more than 50,000 ground troops used by the Kwantung Army to commit to the offensive were almost completely wiped out, and the air force and tank units were also lost!

However, the Soviet army suffered less than 10,000 losses, and the losses of the air force were even more minimal.

The only serious losses of the Soviet army were the tank troops, which lost more than 400 tanks, but the Soviet Union soon transferred more tanks from the European theater of operations, and after the Battle of Promise Gate, the tank divisions deployed by the Soviet Union in the Far Eastern Military District increased from two before the war to five.

Lao Maozi's consistent thinking is to win by quantity.

If Germany had been beaten and so many tanks had been destroyed in one battle, Hitler's military experts would have found a way to improve the tank armor, and in this case, the "Tiger" and "Panther" heavy tanks would have come out several years in advance, but Lao Maozi's thinking was not like this.

Lao Maozi's thinking is like this.

If you destroy my 400 tanks, then I'll go up to 10 tanks and eight tanks to produce more low-cost, relatively good-quality tanks to overwhelm you! Thus, after the Battle of Nomenkan, the Komsomol Arsenal of the Far Eastern Military District of the USSR increased the production of tanks, and the tank divisions of the Far Eastern Military District increased by three.

Due to Yue Weihan's crossing and the early appearance of the bazooka, the Battle of Nomenkan was more than a year later than in history.

However, the final result did not evolve in the direction of the book, and it was even worse than in history!

After the defeat of Nomenkan, the base camp of the army completely dispelled the idea of "advancing north", because at this time the Soviet Union and Germany had just carved up Poland in Europe, and there was no sign of war in a short period of time.

There is no hope of "going north", and China cannot find the strategic resources that it urgently needs, so going south seems to be the only way out.

In order to win the victory of the southward strategy, whether the navy can defeat the combined forces of the United States and Britain will be the decisive factor!

In fact, at the end of World War I, the navy was already the third in the world, second only to Britain and the United States, and moreover, the navy did not lack actual combat experience, so to speak, the navy was a fleet that grew up in actual combat, first defeated the Manchu Beiyang Fleet, and then eliminated the Russian Pacific Fleet.

For the investment of the navy, it can be said that the political axe has spared no effort, and its strength is far greater than that of the army!

By the beginning of 1941, the combined fleet of the Navy had a standing strength of 1.8 million men, 58 battleships, heavy cruisers, and aircraft carriers with a displacement of more than 10,000 tons, nearly 200 destroyers and submarines, and more than 1,000 air aircraft.

However, even if this was the case, Okamura did not think that the U.S. and British navies could defeat the U.S. and British navies.

In the final analysis, I am just a small country, the resources are too poor, and the war potential is too small!

In Okamura Ninji's view, he should not have made enemies with the United States and Britain, but should sacrifice Germany in exchange for the United States and Britain acquiescing in the occupation of China, and then slowly digest China, and after China is completely included in the rule of the United States, the comprehensive national strength and war potential of the country will take a qualitative leap, and at that time, it will be possible to compete with the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union in the world!

It's a pity that Hideki Tojo didn't take Okamura's suggestion, and the southbound strategy has already begun to be prepared!

Just when Okamura Ningji was not thinking about it, two huge military topographic maps had been hung on the wall of the war room, the map on the left was half a year ago, while the map on the right had just been drawn, and on the map on the left, there were all the bases of the Eighth Route Army, large and small, and on the map on the right, these areas had all disappeared.

As far as the eye can see, there are only two non-security zones left in the whole of North China.

One is Sun Lianzhong's Luzhong Mountainous Area, and the other is Yu Xuezhong's Sulu Border District.

As for Yue Weihan's Taihang base area, it is connected to Shanxi, and strictly speaking, it cannot be regarded as a base area behind enemy lines, but Okamura Ningji, the old devil, also knows very well in his heart that Shanxi can not be occupied, but Taihang Mountain must be taken, because if you want to achieve long-term peace and stability in North China, Yue Weihan's Taihang base must be eradicated!

However, before Yue Weihan can be eradicated, Sun Lianzhong and Yu Xuezhong must first be eradicated.

This is also the essence of the ancient Chinese military books, first cut its branches and leaves, and then take its branches!

Sun Lianzhong's 2nd Group Army and Yu Xuezhong's 3rd Group Army are the branches and leaves, and Yue Weihan's 39th Group Army is the branch of the North China Resistance Force.

I have to say that Okamura Ningji, an old devil, does have a bit of strategic vision.

Hirata Masashi strode up to Okamura Ninji, and immediately suddenly retracted his feet and said: "Your Excellency, the 24th, 25th, and 26th Divisions of the Second Army Corps stationed in Shandong, the 3rd, 4th, and 6th Group Armies of the North China Autonomous Army, and the 6th and 13th Divisions of the Third Army of the Central China Front have all entered the designated area. ”

"Yo Si." Okamura Ninji nodded and said happily, "Order all the ministries to start sweeping the Luzhong Mountains and the Sulu border on time on New Year's Day in the 16th year of Showa (1941). ”

"Hello." Hirata Masashi bowed his head abruptly and took the order.

As the commander of the North China Front, the only thing that Okamura Ninji needs to consider now is to improve the security situation in North China, run the entire North China into the backyard of the Great Empire, and continue to provide human, material, and financial resources to the Empire, instead of dragging down the Empire's finances in turn, as is the case now.

………… Jingcheng County, Headquarters of the 39th Group Army.

Yue Weihan is convening a meeting of all officers above the brigade commander level.

On New Year's Day in the thirtieth year of the Republic of China (1941), the Baoshan Division, the 181st Division, the New 6th Division, the New 9th Division and the New 39th Division of the 39th Group Army have all completed the redress, and the Taihang Garrison Brigade, the Tumen Fortress Garrison Brigade and the Cavalry Brigade have also been put on the agenda.

However, Helen was operating in the United States, buying artillery equipment on a large scale.

The patent for the bazooka has been sold to the American political axe for $5 million, and the price is fair.

Of course, this is the result of Helen using the influence of the Morgan family to invite a professional team to negotiate with the American political axe, if Yue Weihan, a yellow-skinned and black-eyed Chinese, is allowed to negotiate with the American political axe, the patent of the bazooka can be sold for 50,000 US dollars, and the double standard of the American ghost animal is definitely not blown.

With this $5 million, it is enough for Yue Weihan to buy 100 heavy howitzers or 200 American-made howitzers of less than 100mm caliber.

200 howitzers, although not much, are enough to equip two artillery brigades.

As for the logistical support of American-style howitzers, it is no longer a problem, and the 16 large forging presses ordered by Helen from the United States have been transported to Kunming through the newly completed Yunnan-Burma Highway, and they can be transported to Taihang Mountain in two months at most, and with these 16 large forging presses, the Taihang Arsenal can forge copper shells with a caliber of less than 300mm.

Liu Yi was the last to walk into the conference room, and as soon as he sat down, he reported to Yue Weihan: "General seat, the latest news, the sixteen forging presses have been transported to Yucheng, and they can be transported to Xi'an, and they will be able to reach Taiyuan in half a month at most." ”

Yue Weihan said happily: "Great, with this batch of forging presses, even if there is no chance to produce American howitzers for the production of bullets and 60 mortar shells, the production efficiency will be greatly improved." After saying this, Yue Weihan looked around at the division and brigade commander present and said, "Tell the brothers below that from today onwards, there is no need to save shells!" ”

The division commanders and brigade commanders present suddenly burst into laughter, and all of them looked excited.

Of course, Yue Weihan did not let the gunners of the divisions and brigades waste ammunition, but said that when they fought with the devils again, they would no longer have to worry about running out of shells.

Liu Yi opened his notebook and asked Yue Weihan again: "General seat, what to do with the equipment eliminated by the new 39th Division?" ”

It stands to reason that the new 39th Division's batch of equipment should indeed consider Sun Lianzhong in the Luzhong Mountains, or Yu Xuezhong in the Sulu Border Region, of course, how to transport this batch of weapons and equipment is a big problem.

Seeing that Yue Weihan was silent, Liu Yi said again: "Sun Lianzhong has just sent an urgent telegram, repeatedly asking us to urgently assist a batch of weapons and equipment, to say, the current situation of the 2nd Group Army is indeed very difficult, there is not enough food to eat, not enough clothes to wear, and even there is a serious shortage of guns and ammunition, or ......."

Yue Weihan sighed, and finally said, "Chief of Staff, just do what you want." ”

After thinking about it, Yue Weihan added again: "Wait, the 10,000 rifles, 200 improved Czech light machine guns and 100 Makqin heavy machine guns produced by the Taihang Arsenal in the past two months will all be used to support the 2nd Group Army, and the rifle bullets will be given ten bases, and the light and heavy machine gun bullets will be given at least fifty bases." ”

Although Yue Weihan has secretly joined China [***], he still has a good impression of [***].

Especially Sun Lianzhong and his 2nd Group Army, compared to Yu Xuezhong, whose surname is cowardly, Sun Lianzhong is surnamed Strong, and he can definitely be called a general of resistance, and the 2nd Group Army under his command can also be called an elite division that is brave and good at fighting, if it is not that the two major group armies are too far apart, Yue Weihan is even willing to take out half of the new ordnance to arm the 2nd Group Army.

They are all China's national defense forces, so why should they be so clearly divided? Besides, it is not a good thing that the 39th Group Army is dominant, if there is an equally powerful 2nd Army that can fight each other with the 39th Group Army, it will be the greatest benefit for the situation of the War of Resistance behind enemy lines in the entire North China!

However, it is a pity that the Luzhong Mountain is a little far away from the Taihang Mountain.

Although Chi Dianwen's underground transportation line can transport personnel and equipment, it also has to take a big risk!

Like this time, when Chi Dianwen's Qinggang sent this batch of weapons and equipment to the Luzhong Mountains, their identities will definitely be exposed, then next, they will definitely not be able to stay there anymore, and this underground communication line will be declared dead, but in order to save the 2nd Group Army, it is worth sacrificing this communication line!

After a pause, Yue Weihan instructed Liu Yi again: "Send a secret telegram to Sun Lianzhong in my personal name, begging him to lead the 2nd Group Army to break through separately, Chief of Staff, it is a plea, not a request!" After the 2nd Army breaks through, you can move to Dabie Mountain and open up a base again, or you can come to Taihang Mountain to rest and make another plan! ”

"Understood." Liu Yi nodded, and immediately took the order, as the chief of staff, Liu Yi knew Yue Weihan's thoughts.

Speaking from the heart, Yue Weihan begged Sun Lianzhong to lead the army to Taihang Mountain to rest, he really didn't have any selfish intentions, and he didn't think about taking the opportunity to incorporate the 2nd Group Army, Yue Weihan really hoped to be able to retain this powerful anti-Japanese armed force for the Chinese nation, as well as Sun Lianzhong, Chi Fengcheng and a large number of "anti-Japanese steel heads", this is a treasure of the Chinese nation!

………… Luzhong Mountain, Headquarters of the 2nd Army.

Feng Anbang, chief of staff of the 2nd Group Army, Huang Chensong, commander of the 27th Division, Zhang Huatang, commander of the 30th Division, Chi Fengcheng, commander of the 31st Division, Wu Pengju, commander of the 44th Brigade of Reading Force, and other senior generals have gathered in the conference room, and General Sun Lianzhong, commander-in-chief of the 2nd Group Army, is mobilizing them before the war.

Before he finished speaking, the attendant adjutant hurriedly walked into the conference room and reported excitedly: "General, the commander-in-chief of the 39th Group Army Yue has called back, and they promised to support us with all the weapons and equipment eliminated by the new 39th Division, in addition to some, there are 10,000 new Zhongzheng rifles, 200 Czech light machine guns and 100 Makqin heavy machine guns, as well as 50 base bullets!" "Huh?"

"Huh!?"

"Great!"

"Good guy, Yue Weihan, this kid is interesting enough!"

The senior generals present were in an uproar when they heard this!

Sun Lianzhong was also excited, although he was very disapprehensive of Yue Weihan's pro-communist behavior, but he also admitted in his heart that Yue Weihan was indeed a tiger general, and he was also generous enough, and being able to support so many guns and ammunition for the 2nd Army at this time shows this person's national righteousness!

If you change to the commander-in-chief of another group army, the equipment that can support a regiment of the 2nd Army will be sky-high!

To be honest, Sun Lianzhong didn't expect Yue Weihan to be so generous, and he gave it the equipment of two entire divisions, and one of them was actually all new equipment!

The attendant adjutant paused, and then said, "Commander-in-chief, Commander-in-Chief Yue also sent a secret telegram in his personal name!" ”

"What cipher? In what private name? Sun Lianzhong frowned and said, "As a member of the party, where does it come from?" Read! ”

"Yes!" The attendant adjutant snapped and stood upright, and immediately unfolded the telegram and read, "Brother Fang Lu (Sun Lianzhongzi): Xuzhou is a farewell, and I have been in a hurry for three years, and my brother's voice and smile are still yesterday. Today, the army of Kou is pressing, Lu is in danger, and his younger brother Yu Taihang suddenly begged to imitate Brother Lu to order the troops to be divided into pieces and break through separately, not only for the party and the state to protect the steel head of the brother, but also to reserve the elite division of the 2nd Group Army for the Chinese nation, cut it! Brother, Yue Weihan Yu Taihang, January 1 of the 30th year of the Republic of China! ”

Feng Anbang, Chi Fengcheng and other high-ranking generals present all changed color, and this telegram can be described as sincere.

Yue Weihan is a second-class general, and has 100,000 heavy troops, whether it is personal prestige or the combat effectiveness of the troops under his command, Yue Weihan is far above Sun Lianzhong, but this time he did not hesitate to call Sun Lianzhong a younger brother, and his words were sincere, and even used words like "begging for a moment", in a way, Yue Weihan was almost kneeling and begging!

Sun Lianzhong was also slightly moved, he really didn't expect Yue Weihan's evaluation of him and his 2nd Group Army to be so high, the reputation of "Steel Head" and "Elite Division" is not something that any person or unit is qualified to bear, but Sun Lianzhong is confident that he and the 2nd Group Army are well-deserved.

However, Sun Lianzhong did not intend to accept Yue Weihan's pleading.

The reason is very simple, because half an hour ago, Chairman Chiang had just sent a telegram order, instructing the 2nd Group Army to defend Luzhong and smash the sweep of Yukou at any cost! As a member of the party, it is his duty to obey Chairman Chiang's orders, so Sun Lianzhong is determined to lead the 2nd Army to live and die with the Luzhong base area!

"Record!" Sun Lianzhong froze and said calmly.

The attendant adjutant hurriedly took out his notebook and prepared to take notes.

Sun Lianzhong groaned for a while, and read aloud: "Brother Zhongshu: The telegram has been received, and I am very emotional, brother, I am very ashamed, the 50,000 officers and soldiers of the 2nd Group Army are very ashamed!" In addition, the generosity of the younger brother, the brother Mingxin felt five, and there was no way to repay, but he came to kill more devils in the Luzhong War, and he would rest until he died, nothing more. Brother, Sun Lianzhong, January 1, 30th year of the Republic of China. ”

………… Jingcheng County, Headquarters of the 39th Group Army.

Colonel Liu Xin walked into Yue Weihan's office with a solemn expression and handed the telegram in his hand to Yue Weihan.

Yue Weihan hurriedly finished reading the telegram, then let out a long sigh, and said to Liu Yi, who was sitting opposite: "It's over, Sun Lianzhong is finished, and the 2nd Group Army is also finished, it's a pity that there is an anti-steel head, and it's a pity that there is a tiger and wolf ......army."

(To be continued)