Chapter 286

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Pang Bingxun was overjoyed: "That's great! The Japanese Fifth Division's offensive is too fierce; I can't hold out for two more days. Thank goodness you're here. Which specific unit are you sending into battle?"

Liao Yaoxiang said: "I plan to draw artillery from each regiment to form a mountain artillery regiment to support the frontline; draw machine guns, autocannons, anti-tank guns, etc., for coordinated defense......"

Pang Bingxun felt increasingly wrong as he listened—everything was long-range support fire. Although it sounded good, it just felt uncomfortable.

"Stop, stop, stop! I've listened for half a day and haven't heard mention of infantry. So your Youth Army doesn't plan to fight at all; you just hide in the rear and fire some cannons, and that's it? You want me, old Pang, to hold the frontline?"

Liao Yaoxiang explained: "That's not what we mean. As long as we're here, Linyi City cannot be breached."

"I originally thought Lv Weiyue and those direct-lineage forces from the Central Government were different, but now it seems they're birds of a feather, all thinking of preserving their own strength!"

As soon as Pang Bingxun said this, Chu Yunfei and Chen Minren were both furious, about to step forward to argue.

Another person walked into the headquarters from outside: none other than Yu Xuezhong, commander of the Eleventh Army.

The Eleventh Army belonged to the Northeast Army; Lv Muzhi had coordinated its deployment to the Linyi direction to help Pang Bingxun defend Linyi City.

"Commander Pang, calm down." Yu Xuezhong stopped Pang Bingxun, who was about to leave in a huff: "I've dealt with Commander Lu before; he's not the kind of person who only cares about preserving his own direct-lineage forces and ignores the lives of friendly troops."

Pang Bingxun still asked: "Not that kind of person? Then what kind? What do those people before my eyes count as?"

"My Third Army Group is fighting the Japanese bayonet-to-bayonet at the front; what about his Youth Army? Just setting up a few cannons in the rear to fire counts as helping? Commander Yu, you're also a commander—do you think that makes sense?"

Liao Yaoxiang corrected him: "Not a few. Just cannons above 37 millimeters number in the dozens, plus machine gun support—enough to stop the Fifth Division."

Yu Xuezhong glanced at Liao Yaoxiang, then turned to Pang Bingxun: "That's right, Commander Pang. Linyi City now has my Eleventh Army, your Third Army Group, plus the Youth Army's three divisions of artillery support; holding it shouldn't be a problem. As for why the Youth Army isn't sending infantry... perhaps Commander Lu has other arrangements."

"Hmph!" Pang Bingxun snorted coldly. "Fine, Commander Yu, don't speak for him anymore. Now that you've brought the Eleventh Army, we have two armies; even without his Youth Army, we can still defend Linyi City!"

"I want to see just how long that turtle of the Youth Army can keep its head tucked in!"

After speaking, Pang Bingxun limped out, the guards hurriedly following, and Yu Xuezhong also left.

Chu Yunfei was very depressed, his complexion not looking good either; Chen Minren clenched his fists.

Liao Yaoxiang was instead the calmest one, putting his military cap back on and walking to the map: "As just said, draw mountain guns, mortars, heavy machine guns, autocannons, anti-tank guns from each division to form four mixed firepower battalions, move forward to be attached to Pang Bingxun's and Yu Xuezhong's frontline positions to help friendly troops coordinate defense."

"What about our infantry?" Chu Yunfei still asked.

"Infantry stands by in place, ready to maneuver at any time."

Liao Yaoxiang continued smiling: "Actually, this is also good. Let the little Japanese think we're at odds internally, creating the illusion that the Central Army and local armies want to wear each other down."

"We'll just pin ourselves down here, letting the Isogaya Division on the Tianjin-Pukou Railway advance with confidence."

The orders were quickly passed down.

The Youth Army operated according to plan; cannon after cannon was pushed out, ammunition vehicles shuttled back and forth, and they were committed to Pang Bingxun's and Yu Xuezhong's positions for coordinated defense.

Meanwhile, the Fifth Division attacking Linyi City was now very unsettled.

Fifth Division Commander Lieutenant General Itagaki Seishiro held the freshly delivered intelligence summary, thinking he was seeing things; he rubbed his eyes and looked carefully once more.

One of his divisions was to fight three of the enemy's armies?!

"The Third Army Group's Pang Bingxun force is actually organized as one army; the Eleventh Army's Yu Xuezhong force, now plus the Youth Army First Army... three armies in total?!"

Itagaki handed the report to the Chief of Staff beside him, Colonel Sakurada Takeshi: "Sakurada-kun, we are one division; what virtue or ability do we have that the Chinese use three armies to deal with us, and one of them is Lv Muzhi's Youth Army!"

Sakurada Takeshi quickly skimmed the report, his expression turning grave: "The Youth Army First Army... is Lv Muzhi's direct-lineage main force."

"According to materials provided by the Central China Expeditionary Army, their equipment level and combat capability far surpass the Chinese elite Central Army."

"Their appearance at Linyi means our pressure will be very great."

Itagaki shook his head: "But the problem is, according to frontline reports and reconnaissance, after the Youth Army joined the battlefield, they mainly provided artillery support from the rear and did not commit infantry to large-scale attacks."

"Their main force seems to be watching and waiting?"

Sakurada Takeshi thought for a moment: "What does Division Commander-sama mean?"

"Within the Chinese army, factions have always been numerous." Itagaki walked to the sand table.

"The Central Army wants to wear down miscellaneous troops, and miscellaneous troops want to preserve their strength—this is their old problem. A few days ago, Tang Enbo's army corps quickly withdrew from Jinan City, which is also a manifestation of preserving strength. It seems even a legendary figure like Lv Muzhi, as long as he survives within this bureaucratic system of the Chinese government, cannot be free from this common failing!"

"I judge that Lv Muzhi has placed the Youth Army at Linyi: on one hand to stabilize the frontline; on the other... he probably wants Pang Bingxun, Yu Xuezhong, and these miscellaneous troops to wear us down first, so his Central direct-lineage forces can sit back and reap the benefits."

Sakurada Takeshi was somewhat worried: "But even so, with the strong Youth Army backing them up from behind, I fear it's impossible for us to take Linyi."

"No need to take it." Itagaki interrupted him, a glint of sharpness flashing in his eyes: "Our mission has changed now. We have already tied down three of the Chinese armies, including their elite Youth Army's entire force! How much strength does Li Zongren have left?"

"I think this is already a greater victory than taking Linyi. My Fifth Division, one against three, will surely win the praise of the China Expeditionary Army and the Imperial General Headquarters!"

Itagaki walked back to the desk and quickly drafted a telegram:

"Send immediately to Isogai Rensuke, commander of the Tenth Division: My Fifth Division has successfully tied down the Chinese Third Army Group, Eleventh Army, and Youth Army First Army—three armies in total—in the Linyi direction."

"The Central Army and local armies are not coordinating well; our army can take advantage of this. Please have the Tenth Division break through the enemy facing them with all strength and open the Tianjin-Pukou Railway."

"My forces will continue to apply pressure in the Linyi direction, preventing the three armies facing us from attending to other matters."

Zoucheng Frontline, Tenth Division Headquarters.

Isogai Rensuke held the just-translated telegram, reading it three times over, also with an expression of disbelief.

Finally, a smile broke out on his face, growing larger and larger.

"Good! Good! Itagaki-kun, my old classmate! I really underestimated him before! He actually tied down three armies including the Youth Army First Army!"