The Battle of Taierzhuang lasted more than a month, during which the Chinese army killed and wounded more than 19,000 Japanese soldiers, captured 1,840 prisoners, captured 54 artillery pieces, 27 armored vehicles, 16 large and small chariots, more than 2,000 light and heavy machine guns, and 20,000 rifles.

After several defeats at the hands of the New Second Division in the East China Battlefield, the Japanese army was defeated at the hands of another Chinese general, and the Japanese army base camp lamented that it had "once again destroyed the glorious traditions of the Japanese army." It dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese army's aggressive arrogance, encouraged the will of the National Government and the people of the whole country to resist the war, strengthened the confidence of the entire Chinese people in winning the war of resistance, and dispelled the fear of some people against Japan.

The victory of Taierzhuang changed the international view of the Sino-Japanese war, and newspapers in Britain, the United States, France, the Soviet Union, and other countries all published the news of Taierzhuang's victory with large headlines and commented on it one after another.

On April 9, Reuters telegraphed that "the British military authorities are extremely concerned about the situation in the battle on China's Jinpu Road. At first, the news of the victory of the Chinese army was not very believable, because no army other than the New Second Army had achieved similar results, but the news of the defeat of the Japanese army has now been proved to be true...... The psychology of the British gradually changed, and they all believed that the most decisive victory should belong to China. ”

The German newspaper said: "The strength of China's resistance in Xuzhou is beyond surprising," and "the most prudent observer cannot admit that Japan will be defeated." "These public opinions have a certain positive guiding effect on improving China's international status and winning the support of foreign governments.

However, it was precisely because of the defeat of Taierzhuang and the strong demand of the Japanese authorities to expand the war situation in order to save face, and found that a large number of Chinese troops were gathered in Xuzhou and other war conditions, the Japanese army decided to invest heavy troops in the Battle of Xuzhou.

On 16 May, the conference room of the official residence of Chairman Jiang of Donghu in Wuchang.

Looking at the urgent telegram sent from Xuzhou, Chiang Kai-shek was speechless for a long time.

Since mid-April, the Japanese army has once again adjusted its strategic deployment and made certain changes and additions to the front-line combat series, and the 5th and 12th divisions have advanced southeast from the east to carry out a diversionary attack on the 2nd Army, the 20th and 3rd Army Corps, and the 59th Army of the 27th Army Corps of the Chinese defenders in front.

The Chinese army resisted stubbornly, and by the end of April, the Japanese army was stopped on the front line of Hanzhuang, Pixian and Tancheng.

Subsequently, the main force of the Japanese army carried out a roundabout encirclement to the west side of Xuzhou from the north and south.

In the south, the 9th and 13th Divisions of the Central China Front Army marched north from the Bengbu area along the west bank of the Beiqi River and the Whirlpool River, respectively, and on 13 May, after capturing Mengcheng and Yongcheng, they attacked Xiaoxian and Dangshan in Jiangsu; The 3rd Division entered the Dayingji area from Bengbu and attacked Suxian.

In the north, the 16th Division crossed the canal from Jining, Shandong, and on the 14th, after capturing Yuncheng, Shanxian, Jinxiang, and Yutai, it advanced to Fengxian and Dangshan in Jiangsu; The 14th Division crossed the Yellow River from Puyang, Henan, and after trapping Heze and Cao County in Shandong, it went straight to Lanfeng, Henan.

The situation was so dangerous, Chiang Kai-shek's face was quite ugly, he looked around and asked: "Ladies and gentlemen, now that the war in Xuzhou has reached such a point, what other good strategies can be used to solve the current crisis?" ”

In the face of the aggressive offensive of the Japanese army, Chiang Kai-shek ordered the Fifth Theater to replace the defense with the attack, and resolutely repelled the counterattack of the Japanese army, in order to achieve a complete victory in the Battle of Xuzhou.

Now that the situation is rapidly eroding, all fronts are frequently in a hurry, and a number of military committee bigwigs and Chairman Chiang's staff are looking at each other and not knowing what to say.

At this time, Chen Cheng, the newly appointed director of the Political Department of the Military Commission and chairman of Hubei Province, commander of the Wuhan garrison and commander of the Sixth Theater, pushed open the door of the conference room, held a telegram in his hand, strode up to Chiang Kai-shek, took a deep breath, and reported to Chiang Kai-shek: "Commission, General Li Delin of Xuzhou urgently telegraphed!" ”

"What's the matter?" Chiang Kai-shek asked with a calm face.

Chen Cheng hesitated and reported: "General Li Zongren reports...... Yesterday, after handing over the defense of the Hanzhuang and Taierzhuang areas to the Japanese troops who were transferred from Beiping into two mixed brigades, the 10th Division crossed Weishan Lake near Xiazhen and attacked Peixian. Now the Japanese attack is very fierce, and all units of our army follow the policy of commissioning and launch a fierce counterattack against the Japanese attack, but they have suffered heavy casualties. ”

"Niang Xipi!" Chiang Kai-shek scolded hatefully.

He Yingqin, Minister of Military Affairs, coughed lightly and hurriedly signaled the staff officers to unfold the Xuzhou battle map covered by a curtain and clearly mark the latest Japanese offensive on it.

Chen Cheng thought for a while and suggested: "Commission, according to the analysis of the battle situation in Xuzhou, the Japanese army has mobilized heavy troops, with planes to open the way, artillery support, and tanks and armored vehicles to help the battle. ”

"Judging from the situation of the troops participating in the battle in the Fifth Theater of Xuzhou, all units of our army actively participated in the battle and resisted the Japanese army very bravely, but there was a huge difference in firepower between the enemy and us, and the losses of our army were too great!"

"General Cixiu is not wrong at all!"

Bai Chongxi took over the conversation: "Judging by the current situation on the battlefield, the Japanese army is advancing north and south and launching a large-scale encirclement operation in Xuzhou, China. ”

Chiang Kai-shek had clearly seen the Japanese army's attempt to prepare to annihilate the **** in the Xuzhou area, and only on the 30th of last month did he order all the troops in Xuzhou to attack instead of defend, and resolutely repel the attack of the Japanese army, and issued the No. 7 combat order on the 10th of this month, urging the troops to attack, and sent Liu Fei, director of the War Department of the Military Command Department, to supervise the battle, but now he chose to retreat in a hurry.

Seeing that Chiang Kai-shek was silent, everyone had to look at He Yingqin, who was sitting first on Chiang Kai-shek's right hand, with a look for help.

Although He Yingqin's power has been greatly reduced, he has the most seniority, and in the face of the safety of hundreds of thousands of troops in Xuzhou, He Yingqin has to stand up and speak.

He Yingqin leaned forward slightly, and said to Chiang Kai-shek: "Seat, the war in Xuzhou has reached an extraordinary time, although the officers and men of our army are heroic, but the manpower cannot resist the aircraft and artillery after all. Moreover, the elite of our army is gathered in Xuzhou, once it is lost, the Central Plains and Wuhan will have no troops to defend, and the consequences will be unimaginable! ”

"Moreover, Wu Ming's department launched a series of sabotage operations in the Jiangnan region, we abandoned Xuzhou and took the initiative to retreat westward, so that the Japanese army's supply line was extended, and the long territory will inevitably dilute the Japanese army's strength, and wait until the next battle, our army will definitely let the Japanese army lose its troops and return in vain!"

"Since you're all saying that, I think that's all I can do." Chiang Kai-shek happily descended the steps and immediately ordered Chen Cheng to draft a telegram for Li Zongren to retreat.

Li Zongren, who received Chiang Kai-shek's order, quickly took advantage of the fact that Xuzhou had not yet been completely surrounded by the Japanese army, broke through to the mountainous area on the border of Henan and Anhui, broke into pieces, and scattered and broke out of the encirclement of the Japanese army.

By the time the Japanese army occupied Xuzhou, it was already 19 May, and the entire Battle of Xuzhou was over.

In this battle, China and Japan relied on their respective advantages and made their own strange moves, but the Japanese army was the last laugh by virtue of its advantages in training and weapons and equipment.

The Japanese base camp was not satisfied with the results obtained, and immediately ordered all divisions and regiments on the front line to take advantage of the victory to pursue and prepare for the Battle of Lanfeng.

The Central China Front of the Japanese Army, which received the order, immediately ordered the 3rd Division to assemble near Fuliji, the 5th Division to assemble near Bengbu, and the 13th Division to advance towards Mengcheng.

As early as the night of the 19th day when the Japanese North China Front entered Xuzhou, it had already issued an order to pursue the westward expansion of the results of the battle, and ordered the Second Army to enter and occupy Guide.

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was early June, and the Battle of Lanfeng ended with the Chinese army retreating again, and the Japanese army occupied Lanfeng, Guide, Kaifeng and other places, threatening the safety of Zhengzhou and Pinghan Railway, where the headquarters of the First Theater Governor was located.

On the 9th of June, the embankment of Huayuankou burst, it was a heavy rain, the breach became bigger and bigger, the water potential spread down, and on the 12th, it was the same as the water flow of Zhaokou that was washed away, and flowed south along the Jialu River, so that the villages and towns in the Jialu River and the vortex river basin became a vast ocean, and the water flow submerged Zhongmu, Weishi, Fugou, Xihua, and Shangshui, forming a vast water barrier. When the rapid flow of the Yellow River water into the Huai River, it flooded the Huai River embankment, and then the flood broke the Huai River Iron Bridge in Bengbu, and the area from Bengbu to Suxian County also became Zeguo.

At this point, the nation's anti-Japanese resistance has entered a new stage.

The Eighth Route Army of the Communist Party of China penetrated deep into North China behind enemy lines and actively opened up anti-Japanese guerrilla areas and base areas, posing a huge threat to the vast rear of the Japanese army. Overseas Chinese enthusiastically donated money and materials, and the people of the whole country took out their own family backgrounds for the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and even more enthusiastic young people joined the army to serve the country, especially Wu Ming's New Second Army was the most popular.

15 June, Phoenix Mountain Base, the conference room of the military headquarters of the New Second Army.

Zhang Ying, chief of the operations section of the General Staff Office, took the baton and explained the Battle of Xuzhou and the Battle of Lanfeng to the surrounding generals and colonels on the map:

"Ladies and gentlemen, in the Battle of Xuzhou, the arrangements of the enemy and us have been explained before. In this battle, the vast number of officers and men of the Chinese army fought bravely, first stopping the Japanese army on the south bank of the Huai River on the southern front, breaking its attempt to join the Japanese army on the northern front; Then, on the northern front, the Japanese army on the eastern route was defeated in the Linyi area, and the right flank of the Japanese army on the western route was stopped in the Jiaxiang area, smashing the Japanese army's plan to join forces in Taierzhuang. ”

"In the operation in the Taierzhuang area, the Fifth Theater adopted an active defensive tactic, with one part serving as the inner line of defense and the other part fighting on the outer line, combining attack and defense, being flexible and mobile, and achieving a great victory. Subsequently, the supreme military authorities, ignoring the overall situation of the enemy's strength and weakness, mobilized a large army near Xuzhou in an attempt to fight a decisive battle with the Japanese army, thus making the battle passive in the later stage. Despite this, this battle consumed the vitality of the Japanese army and delayed the speed of the Japanese attack. ”

The generals nodded again and again, agreeing with Zhang Ying's fair comments.

"Compared with the remarkable Battle of Xuzhou, the Battle of Lanfeng can only be described as a defeat!"

Wu Ming took Zhang Ying's baton, pointed to the Lanfeng area on the map, and said with a sigh: "In Lanfeng and the surrounding areas, Xue Yue gathered the twelve divisions of the Central Army of the Eastern Henan Corps, and in the face of the attack of the two divisions of the Japanese army, first Gui Yongqing led his troops to retreat to Kaifeng and Qixian, and then Long Muhan of the 88th Division abandoned the city and fled without authorization, causing the Japanese army to occupy Lanfeng, a strategic place on the Longhai Road, without a fight. At the same time, Bai Huizhang, commander of the 102nd Division of the Eighth Army, also ordered to abandon his position and flee westward, and then he fled all the way, and was chased by the Japanese army like a lost dog! ”

"Finally, these invincible Central Army also dug up the Yellow River embankment at the mouth of the garden——"

Wu Ming's face was blue, and he snorted coldly: "After the Yellow River embankment was dug up, although it hindered the attack of the Japanese army, it also caused great harm to the people along the coast, hundreds of thousands of Chinese people lost their lives, and tens of millions of people went bankrupt, which is sad and lamentable!" ”

After Chiang Ching-kuo left, Major An Zhiguo, deputy director of the General Staff Office of the Army, who was in charge of propaganda, graduated from the first phase of the Kaihua Political School and was a native of Jiangshan, Zhejiang. Do you want to publicly disclose the truth to the public? ”

"No, the excavation of the Yellow River puts the Nationalist Government at a very disadvantage, politically, economically, and morally. If it is exposed, it will be extremely detrimental to the overall situation of the entire Anti-Japanese War. Moreover, the relations between our New Second Army and the Nationalist Government are quite unpleasant, and if a dispute breaks out at this time, it is very likely that the Japanese army will have an opportunity to take advantage of it. ”

Speaking of this, Wu Ming scolded hatefully: "What a group of guys who gave birth to sons and had no **** children, they actually did such a thing that lost their conscience." No matter how much the central government propagandizes, history will give them a fair judgment. ”

The atmosphere in the conference room was a little depressing, Zhang Dongning coughed lightly, pinched the document in his hand and said:

"Military seat, since the new formation of the Second and Third Divisions, our New Second Army now has three main divisions, as well as two reserve divisions, in addition to the Maoliangwu militia has 12 regiments, plus the expanded troops behind enemy lines, in terms of the entire strength, our New Second Army has reached 120,000 people."

Dai Ziran said with a fluttering eyebrow: "Military seat, you don't know what to do, the hot-blooded young people who participated in the New Second Army are about to break our threshold." Now whether it is the army or the militia group, it is full, and the officer below said, as long as you agree, with the golden signboard of our new Second Army, we can recruit as many soldiers as we want! ”

"There are not many soldiers, but they are fine. At present, there is no shortage of soldiers, but the quality of officers and men has shown a downward trend, and the most important task at present is to continue to train the troops and train them to be elite! ”

Wu Ming stood up, looked around, and his last gaze fell on Zhang Dongning and Dai Ziran: "How are you preparing for the next stage of the regiment-level exercise at the Phoenix Mountain base?" ”

"Everything is ready, just wait for the order from the military seat!"

Zhang Dongning and Dai Ziran replied with their heads held high, their faces full of confidence.