Chapter 285

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Sun Zhen took it over, glanced at it twice, and smiled bitterly: "Tang Army Group's morale is high, but Isogaya Division's offensive is fiercer than the devils I met in Shanxi.

In open combat, the devils' mobility and firepower advantages can be fully brought to bear; this battle won't be easy."

Lv Muzhi raised his head and said: "Precisely because of this, we need our various units to coordinate with each other.

Our Youth Army can certainly repel Isogaya Division, but Isogaya Division also has tanks and automobiles; if they suffer losses they'll retreat, and once they run, the devils will send reinforcements, and then catching their main force will be troublesome.

I hope Tang Army Group and the Sichuan Army coordinate with each other, resist step by step, lure the enemy deep in, and then our Youth Army will have full confidence to seal off the Tenth Division's rear, achieving the greatest victory.

Of course, the battle merits belong to all participating units!"

Sun Zhen nodded, about to speak, when hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

The confidential staff officer came in holding a telegram, stood at attention and saluted: "Lu Commander, urgent telegram from the eastern front, sent by Division Commander Liao."

Lv Muzhi took the telegram and skimmed it quickly.

The telegram was sent by Liao Yaoxiang from the Linyi front; it wasn't long, but the meaning was clear: "The main force of Itagaki Seishiro's Fifth Division has already advanced to Linyi and is currently engaged in fierce combat with Pang Bingxun's Third Army Group, with a very fierce offensive.

My First Army's three divisions have already reached their designated positions according to plan; should they be committed to battle to repel the Fifth Division? Please instruct."

Lv Muzhi put the telegram on the table and thought it over again and again.

Sun Zhen asked: "The Fifth Division is moving too? Itagaki Seishiro wants to advance on both sides, and together with Isogai Rensuke pincer Xuzhou."

"He thinks too highly of himself." Lv Muzhi stood up and walked to the large combat map on the wall.

North side, a red arrow extends from Jining, representing Isogai Rensuke's Tenth Division, positioned at Zoucheng, currently executing the plan to lure the enemy deep in with Tang Enbo's Twentieth Army Group and the Sichuan Army; after success, the Youth First Army will turn around from Linyi, maneuver one hundred kilometers, and seal off the Tenth Division's retreat;

East side, another red arrow extends from the Qingdao direction, representing Itagaki Seishiro's Fifth Division, pointing at Linyi, currently engaged in combat with Pang Bingxun's Third Army Group, and our Youth Army First Army has also reached the rear of the Northwest Army;

South side, there is also a blue arrow advancing north from Bengbu, that is Dizhou Libing's Thirteenth Division; the two group armies of the Gui clique are executing the plan to lure the enemy deep in, and the Youth Second Army will launch a sudden strike against the Thirteenth Division.

Lv Muzhi said: "Given Liao Yaoxiang and their current positions, if they commit to the Linyi battle now and coordinate with Pang Bingxun's forces, they can repel Itagaki's first attack."

Sun Zhen also walked to the map and said: "Then I think we should fight? We'd also have fewer worries; eating up part of the Fifth Division would also reduce pressure on the eastern front."

Lv Muzhi shook his head: "If the Youth Army takes action, Itagaki's division probably can't hold out and will very likely immediately retreat to Qingdao; Qingdao has the devil navy, and we can't do anything about them."

Sun Zhen asked: "Then we don't fight?"

Lv Muzhi said: "We still have to fight!"

Sun Zhen was completely baffled: fight or not?!

Lv Muzhi picked up a piece of paper and began writing: "I now appoint Liao Yaoxiang as Frontline Commander-in-Chief of the Youth First Army, leading his troops into the Linyi battle to engage the Fifth Division, but he must not go all out; the troops only defend and do not attack, dragging Itagaki's Fifth Division at Linyi."

Sun Zhen understood: "So... the eastern front is showing weakness?"

Lv Muzhi smiled: "Not showing weakness, but knowing when to tighten and when to relax; my Youth First Army's main force stays at Linyi, so that Isogai's Tenth Division on the Tianjin-Pukou Railway can be reassured to advance south; we must make the deception complete, only then can we be sure."

Have the First Army hold Linyi, trade a feint with the devils, but not take the initiative to attack, leaving Itagaki's division there unable to advance or retreat.

Wait until Isogai's Division advances deep into the Tianjin-Pukou Railway line, then the First Army must immediately turn west and cut off Isogai's Division's rear."

The telegram was quickly drafted and handed to the confidential staff officer to send out.

Sun Zhen frowned: "This is interlocking step by step, targeting this Isogai Division; whether it's Tang Army Group or my Sichuan Army Twenty-Second Group Army, or the Youth Army, if any side doesn't do well, this plan will fail."

Lv Muzhi nodded, his expression unchanged, and only asked one question: "What about Tang Enbo? What is he doing?"

A staff officer behind the radio stood up: "Tang Army Group and Army Commander Guan are both commanding at the front; the troops are repairing fortifications under cover of night!"

Lv Muzhi nodded and said to the signalman: "Send Tang Enbo a commendation telegram, and tell Tang Enbo that I won't interfere with the command at the Zoucheng front; leave it to him to command with full authority;

I only want one result: Zoucheng must be held for five full days, then bring the devils to Teng County, and let the Sichuan Army take over!"

The staff officer acknowledged and left.

At the same time, the Linyi battlefield on the eastern front.

The three divisions of the Youth Army First Army were already in position; First Army Division Commander Liao Yaoxiang had been appointed Frontline Commander-in-Chief, and Second Division Commander Chu Yunfei and Third Division Commander Chen Minren were both waiting for orders.

"Division Commander Liao, what do we do now? Just stare at each other? Frontline Army Group Commander Pang Bingxun has repeatedly asked us to go support them!" Chu Yunfei asked urgently.

Chen Minren was also anxious: "Friendlies are fighting desperately at the front, and we're squatting in the back; this won't do!"

Liao Yaoxiang took off his cap and vigorously rubbed his crew cut; Army Group Commander Pang Bingxun had urgently requested the Youth Army's help to repel the Fifth Division; Lv Muzhi required the Youth First Army to stay at Linyi and maintain a standoff with the Fifth Division.

If the Youth Army exerted too much force and drove the Fifth Division away, what reason would the Youth First Army have to stay at Linyi?

Isogai's Tenth Division would start worrying that the Youth First Army would turn back; where would they dare to continue advancing deep?

Pang Bingxun's Third Army Group inside Linyi City, Liao Yaoxiang still had to help them; as for the degree of help, it had to be precisely controlled, otherwise it might very likely ruin everything.

If both the Fifth Division and the Tenth Division ran away, and not a single division's main force was caught, what responsibility could Liao Yaoxiang bear? This Frontline Commander-in-Chief was truly not an easy position to hold!

Chu Yunfei asked: "Should we explain our plan to lure the enemy deep in to Pang Bingxun?"

Liao Yaoxiang flatly refused: "No, as few people as possible should know about this matter; choosing who knows is the superiors' business; we subordinates cannot easily reveal it."

At this time, Third Army Group Commander Pang Bingxun came directly to the door.

"The Third Army Group is fighting hard at the front; please have the three division commanders send troops to support as soon as possible!"

Third Army Group Commander Pang Bingxun was fifty-nine years old and lame in one leg; he limped to the Youth Army's headquarters.

Liao Yaoxiang gritted his teeth, stepped forward and said: "The troops have been assembled and are ready to go to the front to support at any time."