Chapter 291

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Finally, General Terauchi Hisaichi's command baton pointed at the Fourteenth Division's small flag that had just been put down: "Order Major General Tsuchiya Kenji of the Fourteenth Division to set out immediately with his main force and concentrate in the Jining area; a small advance detachment may be dispatched to support Major General Isogai Rensuke's Tenth Division, outwardly presenting themselves as the Tenth Division's reinforcements;

but in reality, the Fourteenth Division's main force under Tsuchiya Yuan must remain in Jining, await the opportune moment, and at the fastest speed force-cross the Grand Canal to the west, then drive south rapidly!

Cut off the Longhai Railway line west of Xuzhou! Completely seal the western exit of the Xuzhou battlefield, completing the final link of the encirclement!"

Chief of Staff Okabe recorded swiftly, a flash of realization in his eyes: "Your Excellency is brilliant! In this way, we apply steady pressure on Xuzhou, the enemy continuously reinforces, and finally the Fourteenth Division's powerful mobile force blocks Xuzhou's western face — Xuzhou will truly become an iron-barrel death trap."

A satisfied smile finally appeared on Terauchi Hisaichi's face: "When sending the telegram to Isogai, add a line: consolidate gains, guard against arrogance and impatience, maintain surveillance on the Youth Second Army inside Xuzhou city."

Twenty kilometers north of Taierzhuang, Yi County, Tenth Division Temporary Command Post.

Isogai Rensuke had just finished listening to Brigade Commander Seiya Kei's frontline report on attack preparations when the Front Army Headquarters' telegraphic order arrived.

He read the telegram twice carefully, then said: "General Terauchi is playing a grand game of chess; we must slow our offensive to draw in more enemies... it seems the Front Army is determined to fight an unprecedented annihilation battle at Xuzhou."

Chief of Staff Tei Bujakuki finished reading and mused: "Division Commander, the Front Army orders us to pause after taking Taierzhuang, and specifically mentions vigilance against Xuzhou's Youth Second Army."

Division Commander Isogai Rensuke walked to the map, his finger tapping Xuzhou's position: "Lv Muzhi employs troops craftily; his Youth First Army is tied down at Linyi, and the Second Army has yet to move — truly a variable.

However, Itagaki just sent more good news: they have deadlocked four Chinese armies at Linyi, and the enemy has committed another army's worth of strength, including the Youth First Army's main force.

The Front Army's overall layout has great spirit. We will act per orders: while attacking Taierzhuang, maintain strict vigilance toward Xuzhou to guard against the Youth Second Army moving north to reinforce.

Major General Seiya Kei, with the 33rd Infantry Brigade as core, allocated necessary artillery, tanks, and engineers, forms the Seto Detachment — go all out to seize Taierzhuang!

The 10th Infantry Brigade main force will remain to garrison Yi County and surrounding key points, serving as a mobile reserve to watch Xuzhou."

Xuzhou, Fifth War Zone Headquarters.

Li Zongren, Lv Muzhi, and the old man who had just personally taken position at the frontline.

Li Zongren and Lv Muzhi had not closed their eyes for a long time; their eyes were shot through with bloodshot veins.

The old man had also just gotten up; the three gathered around the latest situation map, faces grave.

On the map, the Japanese troop movements kept changing; two more Japanese divisions had moved: the Ninth Division entered the battlefield, beginning to cross the Yangtze River northward; the Fourteenth Division deployed to Jining.

"The Ninth Division has moved; its objective is certainly to link up with the Thirteenth Division."

Li Zongren tapped south of Su County with his pencil: "The Fourteenth Division has reached Jining; look at its deployment position... ill-intentioned. Its vanguard has already linked up with Isogai Rensuke's Tenth Division; appears to be the Tenth Division's reinforcement."

The old man's brows knitted tight: "The Japanese are upping the ante layer by layer, wanting to completely strangle Xuzhou. Pressure grows ever greater; to ensure operational success, I must dispatch more reinforcements."

Lv Muzhi stared at the Fourteenth Division's treacherous position — southward it could support the Tenth Division; westward across the Canal, it could seal off the escape route west of Xuzhou.

"The Japanese are adjusting their deployment, likely to lure us into continuously reinforcing Xuzhou; the enemy may have prepared massive forces with the ultimate goal of annihilating all troops gathered at Xuzhou — we cannot let them lead us by the nose."

The old man asked: "Then the reinforcements — do I still send them?"

Lv Muzhi said: "Still needed. On the Linyi front, once my Youth First Army is pulled out, the friendly forces there will face enormous pressure against two enemy divisions; you still need to move reinforcements into the Xuzhou battlefield, but pay attention to defense on Xuzhou's west side."

Lv Muzhi then pointed at Su County: "Right now, whatever plan Terauchi Hisaichi has, for us the greatest opportunity lies right here!

The Ninth Division has not yet linked up with the Thirteenth Division; distance and the Huai River natural barrier still separate them; the Thirteenth Division under Dizhou Libing is pinned down by the Su County garrison — a perfect chance; let's eat them up first!"

The old man's gaze sharpened: "You mean..."

Lv Muzhi's palm chopped decisively at the Su County position: "Decide instantly — with the currently available Youth Second Army, strike the Southern Front first! Use speed against slowness; before the Ninth Division crosses the Huai River, seize Dizhou Libing's Thirteenth Division and destroy it!"

Li Zongren laughed: "Finally made up your mind!"

Lv Muzhi called Qiu Qingquan in: "You lead the Youth Second Army; tonight under cover of darkness, move at maximum speed via rail and road to Su County, link up with the Guangxi System Elite elements resting in that sector, and form the Southern Line Assault Corps.

At dawn tomorrow, employ armored forces to launch a counter-assault! Tear open the Thirteenth Division's battle line.

"Simultaneously, the Air Force at daybreak tomorrow will go all out simultaneously; targets are all bridges and ferry crossings on the Huai River! Blow up the floating bridges, destroy the ferry boats!

This cuts off the Thirteenth Division's retreat route and also blocks the Ninth Division's northward rescue!"

Qiu Qingquan snapped to attention: "Yes! The Second Army has waited long enough; we are ready at all times!"

The old man's breathing quickened slightly; the only thing he could do was dispatch his air force to assist: "Good, good, good — I'll immediately commit that whole batch of Soviet-aid aircraft, blow up the Thirteenth Division's escape route!"

Li Zongren's spirits also rose greatly, but as War Zone Commander he considered more broadly: "What about the north, the Taierzhuang direction? Isogai Rensuke is quite cautious — only sending the Seto Detachment to attack fiercely while keeping half his strength withdrawn in the rear; should the Youth First Army return from Linyi to outflank them?"

Lv Muzhi smiled: "No need to rush against Isogai's Tenth Division; once my Youth Second Army leaves Xuzhou to attack the Thirteenth Division, Isogai Rensuke will lower his guard, perhaps even increase attacks on Xuzhou — at that time the odds of outflanking the Tenth Division will be even greater!"

That night, the Youth Second Army began rapid operations inside Xuzhou city; tanks and cannons were loaded onto freight cars, soldier after soldier crammed into the stuffy carriages.

Due to limited train capacity, many soldiers had to cling to the outside of the trains, some sitting on the roofs, heading south along the Tianjin-Pukou Railway line in the black night, straight for Su County seventy kilometers away.

Meanwhile, soldiers the trains couldn't hold moved by automobile, armored vehicle, and warhorse; some remained in place waiting for the next dispatched train.

The Tianjin-Pukou Railway's southern line instantly became extremely busy; dust billowed on the roads, steam permeated the rails.

But all this, Dizhou Libing's Thirteenth Division still knew nothing — only when dawn broke and the Youth Army appeared before their eyes would the devils realize calamity had arrived!