Chapter 349: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 359 This Time, We Must Win

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Lv Muzhi had someone put the regimental flag away and handed it to a staff officer beside him: "Report our victory to the old man, and at the same time order Qiu Qingquan to keep advancing—we must wipe out the entire Imperial Guard Division!"

"Yes!" A staff officer accepted the order and left.

Lv Muzhi looked at the generals under his command and said: "According to frontline reconnaissance, the devils in the Lanfeng area to our east are getting restless—I think they want to make a move against me."

Zhang Fei walked to the map, pointing to both banks of the Yellow River: "Currently in the area north of the Yellow River, Chu Yunfei has recovered the land of three counties;

south of the Yellow River, at the northern foot of the Dabie Mountains, Qiu Qingquan annihilated the Imperial Guard Infantry First Regiment, scoring an opening victory and effectively supporting the Battle of Wuhan;

and in the Lanfeng area east of Zhengzhou, the Japanese 21st Division and the Kwantung Army's mixed Third and Thirteenth Brigades stationed there, taking advantage of our opportunity to fight on two fronts north and south, want to launch an attack on our Youth Corps headquarters.

And our Youth Second Army has advanced to Kaifeng, facing off against this enemy force entrenched in Lanfeng."

Liao Yaoxiang immediately stood up and said: "He dares?! I am willing to lead the Youth Second Army to smash the enemy army!"

Sun Liren, Chen Minren, Zhou Weiguo and others also looked eager to fight.

Seeing everyone's fighting enthusiasm so high, Lv Muzhi simply let these few men lead the Youth Second Army to deal with the Japanese harassment in the Lanfeng area.

"Fine, let Liao Yaoxiang be the frontline supreme commander, Sun Liren, Chen Minren, and Zhou Weiguo each lead a division, to meet the Japanese one division and two brigades.

Zhang Fei stays by my side, leading the newly formed Third Army and Fourth Army, responsible for the defense of the Zhengzhou headquarters."

Regarding the Japanese provocation against him in the Lanfeng area, Lv Muzhi did not take it to heart; what he truly valued was Qiu Qingquan attacking Huangchuan County.

As long as Qiu Qingquan fights hard and fast, Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko's Dispatch Army Second Army will not dare to cross the Dabie Mountains with full force, nor will they be able to cooperate with Gangcun Ningci's Eleventh Army on the north bank of the Yangtze River to attack the main force of the Fifth War Zone defending Wuhan.

The best scenario is that after Qiu Qingquan takes Huangchuan, he marches south straight for the Dabie Mountains, leaving Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko to be a savage in the Dabie Mountains;

the worst scenario is that Huangchuan cannot be taken after a long siege, and Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko directly breaks through the Dabie Mountains, joining forces with Gangcun Ningci's Eleventh Army on the north bank of the Yangtze River.

Lv Muzhi would rather believe in the best scenario, or something close to it; as long as the worst scenario does not happen, the situation of the battle might change.

"Send a commendation telegram to Qiu Qingquan, and send a train car of ammunition over there, tell him he must take Huangchuan County immediately, and destroy the enemy's attempt to cross the Dabie Mountains and attack Wuhan!"

Actually, while Lv Muzhi was worried that Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko would cross the Dabie Mountains, this prince had already secretly retreated with a division to the foot of the Dabie Mountains, and no longer had any thought of crossing the Dabie Mountains.

Therefore, the worst scenario Lv Muzhi considered would not happen.

Because the Dabie Mountains are high and densely forested, making air reconnaissance ineffective, for a time Lv Muzhi did not receive this news, and still thought the little devils were very determined to cross the Dabie Mountains.

Who would have thought that the Japanese plan to use the Second Army to cross the Dabie Mountains and annihilate the main force of the Fifth War Zone on the north bank of the Yangtze River with the Eleventh Army had already seriously deviated from its course.

Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko only left the 108th Division to feign an attack on Xiaojieling in the Dabie Mountains to deceive the Dispatch Army Headquarters, while he himself was preserving his own strength, always ready to leave the Dabie Mountains and adapt to circumstances.

Hearing the news that the Imperial Guard Infantry First Regiment had been completely annihilated, this prince immediately sent a telegram to Lieutenant Colonel Iida Sadakata, asking if he could still hold on.

Unexpectedly, Lieutenant Colonel Iida Sadakata was very stubborn, replying by telegram: "The Imperial Guard Infantry First Regiment suffered a defeat in battle; our army is adjusting its strategy, and is confident of not losing Huangchuan County, guaranteeing Your Highness's rear. Please break through the Dabie Mountains with all your strength and complete the plan to capture Wuhan!"

Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko was somewhat uncertain, looking at the Sixteenth Division Commander Lieutenant General Nakajima Imao beside him: "Do you think the Imperial Guard Division and the Fifth Division can hold Huangchuan County?"

"Should I disobey the orders of the Dispatch Army Headquarters, withdraw from the Dabie Mountains, and go to support Huangchuan?"

Nakajima Imao was stunned for a moment, truly not daring to make a rash judgment; affecting the battle, this huge pot he could not carry himself: "Hard to say; please make your own decision, Your Highness. The Sixteenth Division will certainly resolutely carry out the execution!"

Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko paced back and forth in the headquarters, thinking again and again; after a long while, he finally said: "Stop crossing the Dabie Mountains; return to support Huangchuan County!"

"Compared to the illusory goal of capturing Wuhan, what I should do more is preserve the flesh and blood of the Emperor Chuo Army, so that this war can continue!"

"Order the 108th Division attacking Xiaojieling to immediately withdraw from the Dabie Mountains, and together with me, march toward Huangchuan County!"

"I want to fight a battle to the death with the Youth Army!"

Inside the joint headquarters attacking Huangchuan County, Qiu Qingquan, Hu Gongnan, and Song Xilian were discussing combat strategy.

"Our forces have already taken the outer position west of Huangchuan County's city wall, and can launch an attack on the city wall at any time..." Qiu Qingquan said, pointing at the position of the Imperial Guard Infantry First Regiment just taken on the map.

Hu Gongnan's expression was not good: "The enemy's strength is still very great; the existing forces of the Imperial Guard Division and the Fifth Division combined still number around fifty thousand. This battle is not simple."

Song Xilian said: "It can still be fought. You have two armies, I have one army, Qiu Qingquan has two divisions; our forces are about twice the enemy's."

At this moment, a staff officer ran in quickly and said: "Report received: Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko's two divisions in the Dabie Mountains, the Sixteenth Division and the 108th Division, are withdrawing from the Dabie Mountains and rushing toward Huangchuan County!"

Hu Gongnan was greatly alarmed: "Now we will have to face four divisions! The enemy's forces even slightly outnumber ours!"

Song Xilian said: "It seems this Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko is worried that we will take Huangchuan County and cut off his rear; even if he doesn't fight for Wuhan, he absolutely will not take risks."

Qiu Qingquan, however, burst into loud laughter: "They're coming, finally coming!"

Hu Gongnan asked doubtfully: "Yuan, what are you laughing at? We are in great danger now."

"Send a telegram to Commander Lu: the Japanese Second Army has completely turned back from the Dabie Mountains; four divisions will gather at the battlefield at the northern foot of the Dabie Mountains!"

After speaking, Qiu Qingquan looked at Hu Gongnan and Song Xilian: "Our task was originally to support the Battle of Wuhan; now, pinning down their four divisions here at the northern foot of the Dabie Mountains—do you think this danger is worth taking?"

At the Youth Corps headquarters, seeing Qiu Qingquan's telegram, Lv Muzhi couldn't help but laugh heartily: "Although we couldn't block the Japanese army inside the Dabie Mountains, they have finally been lured out!"

"Send a report to Wuhan and to Commander Li and Commander-in-Chief Bai of the Fifth War Zone: the Japanese Second Army has abandoned its goal of crossing the Dabie Mountains; the rear of the Fifth War Zone is safe!"

At the Central China Expeditionary Army Headquarters, General Hata Shunroku directly overturned the table: "Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko is simply a bastard! Withdrawing troops without authorization, ruining our great undertaking!"

Li Zongren: "This time, we must win! ~"