Chapter 290

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Xuzhou, Fifth War Zone Headquarters.

The old man got his wish and entered the Fifth War Zone Headquarters, standing before that massive combat map covering the entire wall.

Li Zongren accompanied him at his side, holding a command baton in his hand.

The old man suddenly spoke: "Wei Yue, that left-and-right hook plan you proposed earlier, quite an appetite.

Up north you want to eat up Isogai Rensuke's Tenth Division, down south you want to knock out Dizhou Libing's Thirteenth Division — this plan, how much confidence do you have?"

Li Zongren's face showed a modest smile: "This plan is indeed bold, seemingly risky, but actually step by step for the camp, divided into two steps in total.

The first step is, the northern front uses the Tang Army Group and Sichuan Army to lure the enemy, the eastern front uses the Youth First Army to hold down Itagaki, the southern front uses our Gu System Forces to fight while retreating, drawing the Thirteenth Division into the preset battlefield...

Currently it appears the first step has been preliminarily completed. Isogaya's Tenth Division in the north, under Wei Yue's deception, has already taken Teng County and is continuing to aggressively attack southward, and will ultimately be drawn into Taierzhuang for total annihilation;

The Thirteenth Division in the south, under my personal coordination, has already crossed the Huai River, taken Guzhen, and is now attacking Su County;

Next, we just wait for Wei Yue to deliver the final key blow, wait for the Youth Army to throw that heavy punch."

The old man stood with hands on hips, head raised looking at the huge map on the wall, a rare smile on his face: "Wei Yue employs troops steadily indeed. This kind of interlocking scheme, leaving it to you to operate, I'm very much at ease."

Li Zongren's smile deepened, and he said calmly: "These strategic conceptions were proposed by Wei Yue.

I merely coordinated and perfected them from the overall War Zone perspective.

To speak frankly, with Wei Yue coordinating the northern front on the front lines, coordinating the Tang Army Group and Sichuan Army, I can sleep a few points more soundly in Xuzhou.

With him there, you really needn't personally come to this shell-ridden Xuzhou to toil."

The old man gave an "mm," Li Zongren's words he took in, but deep in his heart that string remained taut.

Li Zongren was after all once the Gu System Leader, and had raised troops against himself multiple times; now holding the Fifth War Zone military power, he had to keep an eye on him.

Lv Muzhi was his own student, but also had to be careful of being poached by Li Zongren — this was also one of the reasons the old man came to the front lines!

But these words, the old man naturally would not say out loud.

Just then, the sentry outside the door announced loudly: "Ninth Group Army Commander Lu has arrived!"

The door opened, Lv Muzhi in full uniform strode in, saluting the old man and Li Zongren.

"Wei Yue is back?" The old man's expression brightened, he raised his hand gesturing for him to approach, "How is the frontline situation?"

Lv Muzhi walked to the map: "Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, Teng County direction, the Sichuan Army Twenty-Second Group Army Sun Zhen's unit has completed the five-day blocking mission as planned, main force has now turned south and moved to the Taierzhuang preset positions.

The Tang Enbo Army Corps' vanguard units have also arrived at Taierzhuang, currently coordinating with the Sichuan Army to construct fortifications.

The Japanese Tenth Division's vanguard has already occupied Teng County, its main force is swarming south along the Jinpu Road pursuing our troops. I think very soon, it will be our turn to strike!"

"Good!" The old man clapped his hands once, smile growing richer, "Tang Enbo fought well, the Sichuan Army didn't drop the chain this time either.

As long as we crush them at Taierzhuang, we can sweep away the decline of the Shandong resistance!"

Li Zongren took up the thread, command baton pointing north of the Huai River: "Wei Yue, Dizhou Libing's Thirteenth Division since crossing the Huai River has successively occupied Guzhen, currently its vanguard has neared the outer perimeter of Su County, fiercely battling our garrison.

Whether to immediately activate the left-and-right hook plan! On the northern front, with the Youth First Army main force, turning back from Linyi, maneuvering and concentrating at night in the regions north and east of Taierzhuang, joining with the garrison already deployed inside Taierzhuang, north-south pincer attack on Isogaya's Tenth Division;

On the southern front, with a strong portion of the Youth Army Second Army, relying on the railway line to rapidly move south, selecting favorable battlefield near Su County, implementing frontal blocking and flank envelopment against the rashly advancing Thirteenth Division, crushing or even totally annihilating that enemy in the region north of the Huai River, thoroughly smashing the Japanese delusion of north-south pincer advance to encircle Xuzhou!"

The old man was overjoyed: "Then what are we waiting for? Wei Yue, hurry up and deploy!"

Lv Muzhi thought for a moment and said: "Still cannot be anxious. The Tenth Division seems to have reservations, and hasn't committed entirely to the Taierzhuang battle."

North China Area Army Headquarters, General Terauchi Hisaichi with hands behind his back paced back and forth on the sand table, saying: "We cannot be too anxious!"

On the huge sand table, the blue small flag representing the Tenth Division had already been planted at Yi County north of Taierzhuang; another small flag representing the Thirteenth Division had crossed the Huai River, nearing Su County; Linyi had the Fifth and Sixteenth two divisions' forces and large numbers of enemy facing off, including the Youth First Army.

"Too fast..." Terauchi Hisaichi stopped his steps, shook his head, tone still dissatisfied, "Itagaki and Oshizu Tachibana, their desire for victory is overly impatient.

Especially Itagaki on the northern front, charging straight at Taierzhuang; Oshizu Tachibana's Thirteenth Division in the south, once they take Su County, will form a north-south encirclement of Xuzhou posture. Applying pressure this great, what if the enemy directly abandons Xuzhou? Where would I go find the enemy's main force?!"

Chief of Staff Major General Okabe Naosaburo stood to the side, cautiously interfacing: "Your Excellency, both division commanders also want to open the north-south corridor as soon as possible. Currently it appears the Chinese army's resistance though stubborn, is retreating step by step, with no counterattack capability."

Terauchi Hisaichi walked to the sand table, picked up the small flag representing the Fourteenth Division, gently placed it at the Jining position, "This won't do. I don't want Xuzhou city, I want the encirclement and annihilation of Xia Guo's main force! Total elimination of the Chinese people's last main force units!"

He drew a large circle with the command baton, encircling Xuzhou and its surrounding region inside: "Under our military pressure, Xuzhou is like a magnet. The greater the pressure we apply, the more reinforcements they transfer from all over into this pocket. But we cannot apply too much pressure too fast.

Must wait for the enemy to slowly add oil, continuously stuffing troops into this bag, letting them feel there's still hope to hold, still chance to counterattack, letting them willingly put their last capital all in!

Until the end, we tighten the bag's mouth, eat up all the enemy's capital!"

"Now I order!" Terauchi Hisaichi shouted.

All officers in the headquarters instantly straightened their bodies, focused and listening intently.

"Wire order Thirteenth Division Dizhou Libing: May occupy Su County, thereafter offensive must slow, consolidate the line, wait for Ninth Division to move north and join up, simultaneously also giving the enemy time to gather reinforcements, then later apply pressure toward Xuzhou!"

"Wire order Fifth Division Itagaki Seishiro, Sixteenth Division Nakajima: Linyi direction, maintain high pressure containment as main task, must firmly nail the enemy facing us, especially the Youth First Army, in place, absolutely not allowing them to detach troops to look west! Itagaki reported attracting another Chinese army? That makes four armies now, good. Tell them, entangle, dead entangle!"

"Wire order Tenth Division Isogai Rensuke: Taierzhuang is the Jinpu Road strategic pass, must capture. Thereafter troops halt at Taierzhuang to rest and reorganize, await next order, likewise giving the enemy time to gather reinforcements."