Chapter 337

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

The massive shift in the frontline situation quickly reached Wuhan.

The old man frowned deeply, pointing at the map as he said to Lv Muzhi: "The Japanese Second Army is advancing west with all its strength, clearly intending to strike Wuhan from the northern flank. Their offensive is fierce right now; I'm worried Hu Gongnan and Song Xilian... won't be able to hold."

Lv Muzhi asked: "Then what do you mean to do?"

"We still have to transfer the Youth Army south as quickly as possible to block the Second Army." The old man's tone was heavy. "The Second Army in the north has four divisions, among which there is even a Guards Division;

that is their Emperor's Imperial Guard, its combat power is no ordinary matter. Hu and Song's two units will likely find it difficult to resist."

Lv Muzhi pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked: "Those words aren't wrong, but I have an idea..."

Lv Muzhi paused, looking at the old man's puzzled eyes, and continued: "Do you want to... take the opportunity to recover lost territory?"

The old man froze, thinking he had misheard: "What did you say?"

"I mean," Lv Muzhi repeated clearly: "Do you want to take this opportunity to recover part of the lost territory in North China?"

The old man's face was full of astonishment: "Opportunity? Wei Yue, you're not talking nonsense, are you? Right now the Japanese are fiercely attacking Wuhan, I simply cannot spare the attention..."

Lv Muzhi shook his head, walking to the map: "The Central China Expeditionary Army is fiercely attacking Wuhan; the North China Area Army has lent considerable troops to participate in the Battle of Wuhan. Currently in North China, the North China Area Army has adopted a defensive posture, its main force huddled in Jinan, Xuzhou, Beiping, and the major cities of Hebei and Shanxi.

At the same time, the Japanese have also dispatched a force to monitor my Youth Corps; in the Lanfeng area east of Zhengzhou alone, they have deployed one division plus two Kwantung Army brigades to monitor us."

His finger moved north on the map: "But there is a new situation now: a portion of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army is launching a large-scale sabotage raid along the Daoqing Railway on the Yellow River's north bank."

The old man immediately leaned forward to examine the map, muttering: "You mean the 386th Brigade? Isn't the Brigade Commander Chen Geng? Chen Geng's troops are sabotaging the Daoqing Railway in North China?"

"Precisely." Lv Muzhi nodded. "The Daoqing Railway connects the two cities of Jiaozuo and Xinxiang, mainly transporting coal resources. It lies on the Yellow River's north bank, separated from my defense zone by only a river.

The Japanese, relying on the Yellow River as a natural barrier, with the fierce battle in Wuhan raging and heavy troops monitoring the Lanfeng area, have determined that my Corps would not easily move north. My target is Jiyuan on the Yellow River's north bank, located west of Jiaozuo. That small city is guarded by only a single Japanese regiment."

The old man's eyes brightened. The attention of the Japanese hundreds of thousands of troops was concentrated on Wuhan; North China was strictly guarding major cities and monitoring the Youth Army, leaving many small cities empty. This was indeed a rare opportunity.

Even more critical was that around the Daoqing Railway, there were both Eighth Route Army guerrilla units and National Army guerrilla units active.

In the mountainous areas near Jiyuan, there were also the First War Zone's left-behind regular troops behind enemy lines — the 95th Division — occasionally engaging the Japanese in combat. In April this year, the 95th Division even carried out the Litun Ambush, destroying over seventy Japanese vehicles. They are also a force with combat power."

Lv Muzhi continued analyzing: "Jiyuan lies west of Jiaozuo City. To the south it faces the Yellow River, to the north it leans against Wangwu Mountain, to the west it connects to the Zhongtiao Mountain defensive line. Its position is strategically vital. As long as we take Jiyuan, our army will have a forward base on the North China Plain on the Yellow River's north bank.

Currently Chen Geng's unit is conducting sabotage raids on the Daoqing Railway east of Jiyuan. If we can dispatch an elite force to cross the Yellow River northward and launch a surprise attack on Jiyuan while they tie down Japanese reinforcements, the chances of capturing Jiyuan City are very high."

"How many troops do you plan to send?" the old man asked.

"Only need to send one division of the Youth Corps, for attacking and subsequently defending Jiyuan — that is more than sufficient." Lv Muzhi answered crisply. "My main force must remain to guard the Henan Defense Zone south of the Yellow River, to prevent a counterattack by the Japanese North China Area Army;

in the Jiyuan area there is the First War Zone's 95th Division to cooperate. If necessary, we can also ask First War Zone Commander Cheng Qian to send another division to prevent the Japanese from dispatching a large army to reinforce.

With one division of my Youth Corps as the main attack, taking Jiyuan is no difficult matter."

The old man was quite excited. With the nation in peril, if they could recover a piece of lost territory, it would be a tremendous boost to army morale.

But he then immediately pointed worriedly at the Dabie Mountains North area, which was one of the main battlefields of the Battle of Wuhan: "But the Japanese Second Army's four divisions are fiercely attacking Huangchuan County! Song Xilian's 71st Army is holding on bitterly. Once Huangchuan falls, the Japanese can head south via the highway through the Dabie Mountains, crossing from the Dabie Mountains' north foot to the south foot, and dash straight at Wuhan's northern flank.

At that time, my ten-odd divisions on the Yangtze River's north bank would likely suffer a pincer attack from the Japanese Second Army and Gangcun's Eleventh Army!"

"No need for worry." Lv Muzhi's tone was calm. "Regarding this, I have long had a plan.

My Corps' First Army has been in a state of combat readiness. All three divisions of the First Army: one division will cross the Yellow River northward to cooperate with First War Zone forces to attack and take Jiyuan, supporting the Wuhan battlefield;

the other two divisions will move south to reinforce, joining with Hu Gongnan's two armies and Song Xilian's one army to deal a heavy blow to the Japanese Second Army."

Lv Muzhi emphasized: "The two divisions of the Youth Corps moving south have both tanks and artillery specially reinforced, configured specifically for this operation.

As for the bulk of the Youth Corps, they remain in Henan on defense, strictly guarding against the North China Japanese taking advantage of a vacancy to enter."

Seeing the old man's expression ease slightly, Lv Muzhi continued analyzing: "As for Gangcun Ningci's Eleventh Army on the eastern side, even though they have used poison gas shells, they still have not captured the Ma Dang Fortress. My Jiang Defense Marine Corps has also brought a large amount of Lewisite chemical weapons onto the battlefield; the Bo Tian Detachment is already nearly exhausted;

I infer that next, Gangcun Ningci may choose not to rely on naval power, but have his main force bypass the Ma Dang Fortress from the Yangtze River's north bank and approach Wuhan from the Yangtze River's north bank;

the Yangtze River's north bank area has the Fourth Army Group, the Twenty-first Group Army, the Twenty-fourth Group Army, the Twenty-ninth Group Army and other units, all under the command of Fifth War Zone Commander Li Zongren. Gangcun Ningci won't be able to break through for a while.

So even if part of the Second Army's forces pass through the Dabie Mountains southward to approach Wuhan, circling to the rear of the Fifth War Zone, they still cannot link up with Gangcun Ningci's 11th Army to launch a front-and-rear encirclement against the Fifth War Zone's main forces.

Moreover, Hu Gongnan's tens of thousands of troops are still blocking Xinyang in the northern Dabie Mountains. Without breaking through Hu Gongnan, the Japanese Second Army must leave troops to guard against or attack Xinyang. The forces truly reaching Wuhan's northern flank will inevitably be limited.

At that time, my two reinforced divisions moving south — as long as Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko isn't stupid — he won't dare advance recklessly."

To prevent anyone from not knowing where the Dabie Mountains are, I drew a map. In the novel it can roughly be divided into three battlefields: the Yangtze River's south bank, the Yangtze River's north bank, and the Dabie Mountains' north foot.

Hearing this analysis, the old man felt much relieved: "The Youth Corps jumping outside the Wuhan battlefield, sitting firmly on the Central Plains land of Henan, can indeed give the Japanese more concerns;

I only hope this battle can thoroughly crush the Japanese offensive will and reverse the situation."

"It certainly will!" Lv Muzhi stood up. "I shouldn't stay in Wuhan long; I must return to Zhengzhou immediately, organize an offensive in North China, create chaos in the Japanese rear, so they won't dare attack Wuhan with full force."

"Go quickly, go back and deploy quickly." The old man nodded repeatedly.

Lv Muzhi saluted, turned to leave.

"Wait!" The old man suddenly called him back.

Lv Muzhi turned: "Do you have any other instructions?"

The old man hesitated a moment, then said in a low voice: "If you cross the Yellow River northward, your subordinate generals might encounter Chen Geng... pass a message for me: here, I'm still keeping a position for him."

Hearing this, Lv Muzhi just smiled and shook his head.

Lv Muzhi wasn't unwilling to pass the message; he just felt it would be a waste of breath.

The old man was somewhat displeased: "Wei Yue, what are you laughing at?"

"Nothing." Lv Muzhi restrained his smile and said seriously: "I just suddenly remembered, in this campaign, the Ma Dang Fortress on the Yangtze River's south bank has already held firm for nearly two months, far exceeding the plan to hold for one month. It hasn't fallen to this day; presumably there won't be any major changes in the future either.

The Yangtze River's north bank needs more caution; there is no second Ma Dang Fortress there. If you have any difficult decisions, please listen more to Commander Li's and Chief of Staff Bai's opinions.

As for the battlefield between the Dabie Mountains' north foot and the Huai River, I will send troops into the fray; no need to worry."

"Understood." The old man waved his hand. "Go quickly. If you see Chen Geng, don't forget my words."

Lv Muzhi finally gave a bow, turned, and strode away.