Chapter 317

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Commander-in-Chief of the First War Zone Cheng Qian nodded, saying via interface: "The German neighbor speaks truly.

The First War Zone can form another powerful army group, specifically responsible for defending the Longhai Line and blocking the Japanese army's westward offensive along the Longhai Line.

I suggest using Li Yannian's 2nd Army, Huang Jie's 8th Army, Li Xianzhou's 92nd Army, Liu Ruming's 68th Army, Feng Zhi'an's 77th Army, Pang Bingxun's 40th Army, as well as Luo Qi's 95th Division and Li Ying's 24th Division, etc., combined into the Yudong Second Army Group!"

This proposal received the agreement of most people.

Lv Muzhi said: "The defense of the Longhai Line is undertaken by the First War Zone's Second Army Group; as for the defense of the Northeast Heze direction, although my subordinate Qiu Qingquan's Youth Second Army is responsible, more troops still need to be added."

Li Zongren pondered for a moment, then added: "The Heze direction indeed cannot be ignored.

Tsuchiya Yuan came out from Heze; if the Japanese army comes from the northeast to rescue, Heze is a necessary place they must pass.

Currently only part of Qiu Qingquan's Youth Second Army is at Cao County monitoring Heze. Although the Youth Army is strong, it cannot be used to directly clash with the Japanese army's heavy troop group coming south to support.

I suggest forming another Third Army Group, responsible for the defense of the Heze direction.

As for this Third Army Group, it can be mainly composed of the Youth Army, with troops from several other armies attached; in that case, the Battle of Lanfeng should not be a problem."

The old man listened to everyone's discussion, his gaze sweeping back and forth on the map, finally landing on Lv Muzhi:

"This... the Central Army troops have all been allocated to the First and Second Army Groups, and the troops on hand are indeed tight; Song Xilian's 71st Army has been transferred to the First Army Group, and he has no other elite troops on hand... this Third Army Group...

Wei Yue, you say? For the Heze direction, which unit do you think should be sent to cooperate with your Youth Second Army?"

Lv Muzhi smiled and said: "Principal, there is no need to be embarrassed; I also do not need Central Army troops to cooperate with me.

The Sichuan Army's Twenty-Second Army Group under Sun Zhen performed excellently in the Battle of Taierzhuang, dares to fight hard battles, is full of tenacity, and is extremely loyal to the Central Government.

With the strength of two armies from the Twenty-Second Army Group, plus my Youth Army's two armies, forming the Third Army Group can ensure victory in this battle!"

The old man was very happy: "You are considerate of me; as long as the Sichuan Army can solve the problem, I don't need to deploy Central Army elites!

Good! The Third Army Group will participate in the battle with the strength of four armies; among them, the Youth Army's two armies, and the Sichuan Army's Twenty-Second Army Group's 41st Army and 45th Army, will be under Wei Yue's unified command!"

Lv Muzhi saw the old man had made the final decision, and said again: "Before the expedition, please have the Central Government replenish the weapons and equipment lost by the Sichuan Army in Xuzhou; otherwise, my Third Army Group would truly be too shabby!"

Commander-in-Chief of the First War Zone Cheng Qian smiled and said: "Where, where; you have two armies of the Youth Army; which of these three army groups can compare with yours? Even the most elite Xue Yue's First Army Group has fewer tanks than one of your divisions!"

The old man waved his hand: "Rest assured, I will immediately have He Yingqin arrange it; the equipment lacking by the Sichuan Army will be made up by all means!"

Outside Lanfeng City, the headquarters of the Yudong First Army Group.

Xue Yue stood in the forward observation post, holding binoculars; his field of vision was a field plowed by war and hastily modified.

The devils of the Fourteenth Division were digging fortifications there, attempting to build the last defensive line; many devils had lost their engineer shovels and had no proper tools, so they could only dig the frozen soil with bayonets, mess kits, or even their bare hands.

Xue Yue lowered his binoculars and looked at the group of Central Army elites behind him: "Hu Gongnan, Li Hanhun, two armies will attack Tsuchiya Yuan from the front;

Yu Jishi's troops will harass the left wing;

Song Xilian's troops will harass the right wing, ready at any time to enter the breakthrough and expand the results.

Gui Yongqing's troops will serve as the mobile reserve!"

Xue Yue's gaze swept over the Central Army generals in the headquarters: "In this battle, we must completely annihilate Tsuchiya Yuan's division, not letting a single soldier escape!"

"Yes!" The generals responded in unison, their faces all bearing high fighting spirit.

To participate in encircling and annihilating a reinforced Japanese division was a great honor.

Among the crowd, Du Yuming was especially excited.

Xue Yue noticed Du Yuming could no longer restrain himself and said: "Du Yuming's Mechanized 200th Division, with tank units attached to the frontal attack, must not let the Youth Army take all the limelight!"

Du Yuming's Mechanized 200th Division was a special force reinforced to the First Army Group this time.

The division was equipped with T26 light tanks purchased from the Soviet Union; compared to the armored corps Du Yuming had on the Songhu Battlefield before, it was worlds apart.

Du Yuming clenched his fist and said to his adjutant: "Tell the tank battalion to check the vehicles and stock up on ammunition! The humiliation of Songhu, this time at Lanfeng, we will wash away with Tsuchiya Yuan's blood!"

South of Tsuchiya Yuan's division, the assembly area of the Youth First Army.

The roar of engines was deafening, almost covering the distant cannon fire.

Liao Yaoxiang, Chu Yunfei, and Chen Minren stood on a small dirt slope, looking at the magnificent sight of the steel torrent before them.

The Panzer III medium tanks of the three divisions of the First Army were arranged in attack formation; the long 50mm gun barrels gleamed with a cold light under the sunlight.

There were also more agile and numerous T38 light tanks, like a group of cheetahs ready to pounce.

Armored vehicles, light anti-aircraft vehicles, trucks fully loaded with infantry, and tractors pulling various artillery pieces formed a long dragon, dust flying.

The soldiers wore M35 steel helmets, their gray-blue uniforms neat.

Buzz buzz buzz—

A familiar engine roar came from the sky; a squadron of BF109 fighters from the Southwest Air Force flew over the heads of the Youth Army's tanks and infantry, swooping toward the Japanese positions at Lanfeng to carry out a new round of reconnaissance and suppression missions.

"Xue Yue's First Army Group has already deployed on the north side." Liao Yaoxiang withdrew his gaze, his tone carrying a hint of ease.

Chu Yunfei smiled and said via interface: "That fat pig Tsuchiya Yuan; I see where he can drill this time; we must stew him skin and bones in one pot!"

Chen Minren also nodded: "I heard the order to form the Third Army Group has been issued; our Youth Army's two armies join the Third Army Group, and the army group commander is naturally Lu Commander; but... our Third Army Group only added two armies of the Sichuan Army; in terms of organization, it really cannot compare with the brother army groups; the First and Second Army Groups have many Central Army elites..."

Liao Yaoxiang said: "These Central Army troops all belong to the Central Government; under normal circumstances, after this battle, the old man will eventually take all these troops in the army group back to the Central Government for redeployment;

but the Sichuan Army is a local army.

I have worked with Lu Commander for a long time; I have a feeling that after the two Sichuan Army armies join us, we will work together for a long time, and the Third Army Group might become Lu Commander's permanent establishment."