The Japanese army's increase in troops was very sudden, which caught the armed forces behind enemy lines in the entire north China a little unprepared. After all, the Battle of Wuhan was at a critical moment, and no one thought that Japan would have the spare strength to reinforce North China at such a time, and there were several divisions and regiments of large troops.

Just a few days before the intelligence came, the Eighth Route Army even planned to continue to attack north from eastern Hebei and fired the first shot to recover the northeast! This is not for fun, but for the sake of preparation. The headquarters of the Eighth Route Army had already transferred the 120th Division from the northwest of Shanxi, and ordered the 115th Division, which was advancing to Shandong, to rest on the spot and wait for orders. Once the time is ripe, these two main forces will be sent to the northeast.

Why do you dare to make such a plan against the sky? Because after the 63rd Army occupied Tangshan, the Japanese puppet army in eastern Hebei realized that the county seat was not safe, and fled in fright. As a result, within a few days, the entire eastern Hebei region was declared recovered, and the door to the northeast was completely opened!

Under these circumstances, the ambitions of the Eighth Route Army became greater, after all, Northeast China was the largest heavy industry base in China and one of the sources of Japanese aggression against China. As long as the northeast is taken, the situation behind enemy lines will undergo earth-shaking changes. Another factor was that the Soviet Union requested Yan'an to send troops into the northeast to involve the Japanese army through GC International, so as to reduce the defensive pressure of the Soviet army in the Far East, and promised to distribute 10 divisions of equipment on the spot as soon as they arrived in the northeast.

Some time ago, there was a clash between the Japanese and Soviet troops at Zhanggufeng near the mouth of the Tumen River. Although the Soviets were victorious, Stalin was greatly shocked by the process. At that time, the Soviet army dispatched an army (the 39th Army) with more than 30,000 men and more than 100 guns. More than 200 tanks, supplemented by more than 100 sorties per day, bombed indiscriminately. The Japanese army only had more than 7,000 people in the 19th Division (lacking a wing), 37 artillery pieces, and no tanks and planes.

It stands to reason that the Soviet army has an absolute advantage, but the result is that the Soviet army suffered more than 4,000 casualties, destroyed 96 tanks, 16 artillery pieces, and shot down 3 aircraft. The Japanese suffered only 1,440 casualties, of which 526 were killed, which was only a third of the Soviet army.

As soon as the internal data was made public, everyone was shocked. Triple the comparison of forces and weapons. The result is quite the opposite. It's truly shocking. Feeling the consequences, Stalin had to stop the campaign in the Far East (which lasted until '41) and removed the commander of the Far Eastern Front, Field Marshal Brucher, from his post and imprisoned, and tortured to death on charges of "Japanese spy". By the way. Brühel has a Chinese name called Gallon. He once served as the chief adviser of the Whampoa Military Academy and the top military adviser of the Nationalist Government. Poor Chang Gong is still inquiring about this good friend many years later. I didn't come back to my senses for a long time after hearing the bad news.

Although he was made a scapegoat, Stalin was still deeply disturbed by the fighting power of the Japanese army, and it was not clear whether Japan would "advance north" at that time. So he wanted the "Chinese comrades" to go to the northeast to take his place.

This happened in history, but Taizu thought it was unreliable, so he used delaying tactics to fool the past. Now the situation is different, not only do more than 20 counties in eastern Hebei have as the rear, but there is also an entire group army with troops. Not to mention Wang Ming's people, even Taizu was a little tempted.

However, Zheng Huzi didn't see it that way, as a traverser, who didn't know that the Japanese army had hoarded a large number of troops in the northeast? Although these divisions were pinned down by the Soviet Union at the border, if you put your finger in its mouth, will it not bite? As for Lao Maozi, he is even more unreliable, what if the international situation changes and Stalin regrets it?

For this reason, Commander He of the 120th Division and Commander Nie of Jinchaji also made a special trip to Jizhong to try to dispel Zheng Huzi's concerns. Their plan was for the 41st Group Army to send a main force to cooperate with the 120th Division to enter the puppet Manchukuo, and then decide whether to add additional troops according to the situation. To put it bluntly, he just wanted to "break through the Kanto", but he was worried that his strength would not be good, so he wanted to pull Zheng Huzi's men and horses over. If you have wealth, you will make it together, and you will carry it together when you are in trouble.

Political Commissar Cheng was quickly fooled by the two CEOs, and said excitedly: "What? Fight the puppet Manchukuo! Is it going to open up a new base in the Northeast so soon? ”

Master He chattered his pipe and smiled: "Yes, this time I didn't get into the belly of the little devil and stir up its wolf heart and dog lungs!" He waved his hand vigorously.

Zheng Weiguo just smiled and never said anything.

"How is Lao Zheng?" Commander Nie bewitched: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Haven't you always wanted to fight back to your hometown in the Northeast? Now that the opportunity is in front of you, what are you waiting for? ”

Zheng Weiguo shook his head and said: "The timing is not right, besides, resisting Japan is a long-term process, and only by preserving oneself can we destroy the enemy." For example, going to the Northeast is a one-shot deal, and I can't take such a risk. ”

Commander Nie said: "With the Soviet Union and the Anti-Union Connection, how can it be said that it is a risk? ”

Division Commander He also interjected: "The Soviet comrades have already agreed, how many people will go, how many equipment will be given!" ”

Zheng Weiguo asked: "Have you contacted the comrades of the Anti-Japanese Federation?" ”

Commander Nie was embarrassed to tell a lie, so he had to say vaguely: "For the time being, we have not made direct contact, but we have comrades lurking in Changchun and Harbin. ”

Zheng Weiguo said: "Is that you not in touch? My intelligence officers reported that the situation of the Northeast Anti-Japanese Federation is very bad, the large units are unable to move, and the residential areas do not dare to stay, so they can only scatter in the deep mountains and old mountains to fight guerrillas. How can you take care of us? As for the USSR, to be honest we cannot fully trust them. ”

Commander Nie was puzzled: "Lao Zheng, do you have prejudices against Soviet comrades?" ”

Zheng Weiguo didn't hide it, and said with a smile: "Few people in the Northeast like Lao Maozi, but that's not what I'm talking about." But the USSR was, after all, a country, and it was necessary to consider the problem first from their standpoint, and then whether to support us. In case the international situation changes and Japan and the Soviet Union make peace alone, what will we do in the Northeast? ”

Master He disagreed, objecting: "How is this possible? Japan is a fascist country! ”

Zheng Weiguo explained: "The first consideration between countries is interests, for example, Germany is also a fascist country, but they have the most favored nation relationship with the Soviet Union. ”

Commander Nie and Division Commander He listened. Speechless.

Master He said angrily: "Lao Zheng, are you afraid of death and dare not go?" Okay, if you don't go, I'll go! Look at how I, a Hunan native, can help you recover the Northeast. ”

Zheng Weiguo was not angry, and said with a smile: "Okay, when the time comes, the grain supply will be on me!" ”

Master He hit the snake with the stick, and hurriedly said: "Okay, this is what you said, don't regret it when the time comes!" He took the opportunity to ask: "Lend me another field artillery regiment!" ”

Everyone laughed and said, "The fox's tail is exposed!" ”

Master He's face turned red, and he shouted: "The short-term workers also have wages, and I will send a division to recover the Northeast." Can't you get some benefits? ”

Zheng Weiguo smiled: "I'm sorry. The artillery has not been trained yet! ”

Master He said dissatisfiedly: "I said, why are you so stingy, don't you still look like a Northeast man?" I won't borrow it in vain, I'll go back and pay you back an artillery division! ”

Zheng Weiguo said helplessly: "Mr. He, I'm not reluctant. It's not that I'm afraid of death! You also know how powerful the field artillery regiment is. Then do you know how many artillery wings there are in the Kwantung Army. How many infantry wings? ”

Unexpectedly, Master He did put in a lot of effort, and said with his fingers: "Don't be intimidated by the name of the Kwantung Army." We have done an investigation, and the Kwantung Army now has eight divisions in the northeast. One independent mixed brigade, 3 separate garrisons. It seems that there are a lot of troops, but to defend such a large area of the three eastern provinces, and to guard against the Soviet Union, it is simply impossible to support it. I think as long as you enter the Liaohe Plain, you will have a chance. ”

Zheng Weiguo thought about it for a while, knowing that this method of Lu Dao was very dangerous, but he couldn't help but be a little tempted. In 38 years, the Tohoku region produced millions of tons of iron every year, accounting for more than 80% of Japan's imports; The annual output of coal is more than 50 million tons, accounting for more than 85% of Japan's imports; The annual output of oil (shale oil in Fushun) is more than 200,000 tons, which is close to half of Japan's own oil. In addition, a large number of agricultural products such as rice and soybeans will be exported to Japan, and the three soybean products (soybeans, soybean cakes, and soybean oil) alone will be exported to Japan on average more than 10 million tons per year. It can be said that without Tohoku, Japanese industry would have come to a standstill, and the army and even the inhabitants of the country would have starved.

In addition to these primary products, the Shenyang Arsenal also produced a large number of weapons for the Japanese army every year. After the 918 Incident, the puppet Manchurian government invested an additional 20 million yuan to expand the factory, with more than 1,200 employees and more than 30,000 workers in its heyday, and the rifles produced every month alone were enough to equip two main infantry wings. By the end of the war, Japan's arms production accounted for more than 70 percent. If you destroy all of this...... Zheng Weiguo touched his freshly shaved chin and couldn't help but look forward to it.

"Okay, I'll send someone to inquire first, if there is a head, let's go to the Northeast to get a vote, and if you don't have a head, I won't accompany you." Zheng Weiguo decided to let Feng Kun inquire to see if there was a chance to fish in the troubled waters, it would be too cool if he could sneak in like the sneak attack on Taiyuan. If Japan's industrial base in Tohoku can be completely destroyed, it will be worth fighting an army.

Commander Nie suddenly heard a little taste, and asked in surprise: "Lao Zheng, do you have eyeliner in the Northeast?" Can you send a liaison into the puppet Manchurian? ”

Zheng Weiguo nodded and said, "Well, I just opened a way, so I don't know if it's okay." ”

Commander Nie hurriedly said, "Then can you help contact the Anti-Japanese Federation?" ”

Zheng Weiguo said with a smile: "I have already sent someone, because this matter is too involved, I don't even dare to send a telegram, so I haven't notified you." ”

Commander Nie didn't care, and said happily: "What's the matter, as long as you can get in touch!" Alas, we sent several groups of comrades to the Northeast in a row, but we did not find them. ”

Zheng Weiguo said: "Why don't you ask the Soviet Union for help?" ”

Commander Nie was stunned for a moment and said, "They may have their difficulties!" ”

Zheng Weiguo pouted and said, "So I said that Lao Maozi can't fully believe it, and we have to solve the affairs of our Chinese ourselves." ”

Then it is to wait for information, after all, Feng Kun is in Tianjin, and he still has to work hard to understand the situation in the northeast of Lu Dao. Taking advantage of this time, Zheng Huzi accompanied Division Commander He and Commander Nie around the base area, focusing on visiting the troops and military academies, especially the artillery unit, which made the two bosses drool.

Commander Nie complained: "Last time you gave me two mountain cannons, I still thought it was a great favor, and I couldn't sleep for a few days after being happy. Today, I found out that you kid actually ambushed me, and he took the most inferior goods! ”

Master He also came back to his senses and said, "I helped you run before and after Guisui ran last time, but I didn't catch anything for a few months. You're good, you changed hands and came back with a whole bunch of weapons and cars from the little devils. Tell me, should we settle the score? ”

Zheng Weiguo said with a smile: "Okay, I'll just say why my right eyelid jumped straight this morning, it turns out that the two bosses are not good, and they actually beat up my local tyrant!" ”

Master He smiled and said, "Now that North China counts you as the fattest, who will you beat if you don't beat you?" He Zhengse said: "Seriously, the conditions in the northwest of our Shanxi Province are too bad, and the equipment of the 120th Division is poor, can you support a little?" It's still the same sentence, double it for you in the future! ”

Zheng Weiguo said briskly: "Okay, no matter whether you go to the Northeast or not, I will send Mr. He a brigade of equipment, plus two mountain artillery!" "The German supplies are about to arrive, Zheng Huzi plans to let the main force change their clothes first, and give the old equipment to the local troops, and the rest to the surrounding Eighth Route to help them grow up as soon as possible.

Master He was overjoyed and thanked.

Feng Kun responded very much, and the confidential telegraph translated the telegram, hurriedly found Zheng Weiguo, and said: "Oh no, commander-in-chief, the little devils have reinforced, and the numbers of a division and three independent mixed brigades have appeared in Tianjin alone. The intelligence also said that there were also divisions in the northeast moving south along the Bac Ninh line, which was probably to deal with the ...... in eastern Hebei."

Zheng Weiguo didn't wait for him to finish speaking, and hurriedly took the telegram and looked at it at a glance. Moving south from the Bac Ninh Line was the 11th Division of the Kwantung Army, which had just been transferred from the Japanese mainland to the northeast. The 110th Division, which landed in Tianjin, was independently mixed into the sixth, seventh, and eighth brigades, which were now part of the Northern Branch Dispatch Army. Feng Kun telegraphed that the information was absolutely accurate, and he even witnessed the disembarkation of the troops in the harbor.

Mr. He, Commander Nie, Political Commissar Cheng, and Chief of Staff Zhou hurried over when they heard the news, and asked with a solemn face: "What brought us here, there is an emergency?" ”

Zheng Weiguo nodded heavily and said, "Well, the Japanese army sent two divisions and three independent mixed brigades from the mainland into North China. One of the divisions and three separate mixed brigades had landed in Tianjin, and the other division had moved south from the Beining line, which was supposed to deal with eastern Hebei. ”

Division Commander He was stunned for a moment and said, "Aren't all Japan's troops pinned down in Wuhan?" Then there are still soldiers sent to North China? ”

Zheng Weiguo shook his head and said: "Japan's war potential is far from being exhausted, and although the current strength is tight, it is not a problem to organize a few more divisions or even a dozen regiments. ”

Commander Nie carefully looked at the telegram and said anxiously: "How is the combat effectiveness of the 11th Division going south from the Bac Ninh line?" ”

Zheng Weiguo thought for a while and said: "It is one of the 17 standing divisions of the Japanese army, which is organized in Pushan Temple, with a pack horse system, and its combat effectiveness is relatively strong. At least it is difficult for our army in eastern Hebei to match! ”

Commander Nie was puzzled, "What do you mean?" ”

Zheng Weiguo said: "Jidong must withdraw its troops immediately!" (To be continued......)