Chapter 417: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 427: Forces Concentrated in One Place

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

At this very moment, the commander of the 37th Division, Hirata Kenbu, had fled back to Yuncheng, recalling a scene he would never forget for the rest of his life.

He saw his soldiers powerless to counterattack before the tanks, and saw that nightmare-like force advancing like broken bamboo.

"It's over... the 37th Division... is no match at all!"

Inside the headquarters, everything was in chaos; Lieutenant General Hirata Kenbu leaned both hands on his office desk, not knowing what to do.

Commander Xiao Zhukazuo had demanded he hold Shanxi's first great gate—Fenglingdu—but he had failed to hold it.

Commander Xiao Zhukazuo had demanded he retake Shanxi's second great gate—Hanyang Town—but he had failed to retake it!

Under these circumstances, he could indeed commit seppuku.

Hirata Kenbu had originally intended to commit seppuku, but in the end he was still unwilling.

Although in less than two days he had successively lost Fenglingdu and Yuncheng.

But... did Commander Xiao Zhukazuo not bear any fault?!

Where were the promised reinforcements from all quarters?

From beginning to end, only his own 37th Division, along with the local Collaborationist Army and Lv Muzhi's troops, had been fighting.

"Yuncheng is about to fall! Connect me to Commander Xiao Zhukazuo!"

The phone was soon connected.

Division Commander Hirata Kenbu made his demand righteously: "Commander Xiao Zhong! Please send reinforcements to me immediately!"

"From beginning to end, only my 37th Division has fought alone; I don't understand why this is?"

"Is this war supposed to be my 37th Division's war alone?!"

"Is my 37th Division not part of the Shanxi First Army?"

On the other end of the phone, Xiao Zhukazuo, questioned, flew into a rage at once.

Because Xiao Zhukazuo was in the same predicament as Hirata Kenbu.

The reinforcements promised to Xiao Zhukazuo by the Commander of the North China Area Army had likewise not yet advanced into Shanxi!

Xiao Zhukazuo imitated Hirata Kenbu: "Don't ask me; if you have the ability, go ask Commander Sugimoto Gen!"

"Ask Area Army Commander General Sugiyama Moto—is this war supposed to be our Shanxi First Army's war alone?!"

Hirata Kenbu was stunned; Commander Xiao Zhukazuo had passed the buck.

If that were the case, couldn't General Sugiyama Moto likewise question the Imperial General Headquarters?

And who would the Imperial General Headquarters question in turn?

"Your Excellency Commander, further words are useless!"

"The Pa-chin army's tank forces have already broken through Hanyang Town! They will soon reach Yuncheng!"

"The enemy possesses extremely strong armor firepower and long-range artillery; my division has already been weakened in the previous war of attrition, and Yuncheng... truly cannot be held!"

On the other end of the phone, Lieutenant General Xiao Zhong Yi Nan's brain raced madly.

He was pondering: what should be done to turn the tide of the Shanxi war situation?

After thinking for a long time, Xiao Zhukazuo was quite certain:

"Since Yuncheng cannot be held, then don't hold it!"

"If Lv Muzhi's tank cluster fully deploys on the Southern Shanxi Plain, then the various garrison divisions of the First Army will be defeated one by one."

"Hirata-kun, don't engage in meaningless attrition at Yuncheng."

"Lv Muzhi has concentrated his forces; his fist is already clenched."

"While our forces are scattered, appearing to defend everywhere, yet everywhere there are gaps."

"I order you: immediately abandon Yuncheng."

"The remaining forces of the 37th Division shall retreat to Linfen at the fastest speed."

"The 41st Division is right there; the two of you concentrating your forces will make your strength greater!"

Hirata Kenbu was stunned; he had thought he would be ordered to live and die with the city, but unexpectedly received a retreat order.

"Commander, are we to simply hand Yuncheng over like this?"

"You must see the big picture, Hirata-kun." Lieutenant General Xiao Zhong Yi Nan's tone was urgent.

"Linfen's terrain is strategic: to the west is Lv Liangshan, to the east is Taiyue Mountain, and the Fen River and railway run through the city."

"In terms of defending a city, the advantage compared to flat-as-a-palm Yuncheng is several times better!"

"There, the forces of two divisions can be deployed, and heavy firepower and fortifications can exert maximum effectiveness."

"At Linfen, do your best to hold down Lv Muzhi, and wait for our reinforcements to enter Shanxi and support!"

Hirata Kenbu took a deep breath, bowed his head heavily: "Affirmative! The 37th Division understands; executing the retreat plan immediately!"

With Hirata Kenbu's order issued, the several thousand Japanese troops in Yuncheng, originally standing ready for battle, began a large-scale commotion.

One unit after another of Japanese soldiers abandoned the city and fled north, directly abandoning this great city of Yuncheng.

By the time Sun Liren's tank forces arrived at Yuncheng, without any effort at all, they directly took this city.

Sun Liren looked at his watch: "Since Commander Lu issued the river-crossing order, we have successively boarded Fenglingdu, broken through Hanyang Town, and captured the 30th Division's garrison at Yuncheng."

"The time spent totaled forty hours."

"In less than two days, successively capturing three major strongholds!"

A staff officer asked: "The remnants of the Japanese 37th Division have already fled in defeat toward Linfen; should we pursue them in victory?"

Sun Liren shook his head: "Don't pursue a desperate enemy; we left in a hurry."

"The fuel supplies we carried are only enough for us to fight in Yuncheng."

"If we continue pursuing north for over a hundred kilometers, it's very easy to fall into a desperate situation of insufficient supplies."

"Better to first stand firm in Shanxi; that is the most important matter."

"Still, obey Commander Lu's orders; wait until our weapons and supply train of one hundred thousand men have all crossed the Yellow River and boarded at Fenglingdu before we speak again!"

The news of the Youth Army entering Shanxi caused a nationwide sensation.

Especially the paratrooper unit's surprise attack on Hanyang Town, which caused heated discussion among the major powers.

Although Lv Muzhi's paratroopers received training in the United States, the United States also did not expect that this paratrooper force would rely on civilian aircraft to play such a great role in this war.

Thus, whether the civilian aircraft DC-3 produced by Douglas Company is actually suitable for parachute operations and for use as a military transport aircraft?

On this question, the United States military had great interest.

At the same time, both Old Russian and the United States decided to send personnel at a set time to conduct an on-site inspection of the specific details of this parachute operation.

At Kunnanpo, after War Zone Commander Yan Laoxi received the battle report, he was even more amazed.

"In less than two days, the Youth Army directly crossed the Yellow River and in one stroke drove the Thirty-Seventh Division out of the Yellow River."

"Just what kind of people did this Lv Muzhi bring to fight with!"

"And that paratrooper... truly a god descending to earth."

Zhao Daiwen stood by silently as well; he knew that from this moment on, the old order of Shanxi would probably change.

And on the Taihang Mountains in Jin Dongnan, at the 129th Division headquarters, several people stood in a circle in the courtyard.

Chen Geng carried a bucket of cold water, hesitating: "Political Commissar, this is already the third bucket; let's not do it anymore, this water is cold."

In the depths of winter, this division political commissar Chen Geng spoke of actually liked taking cold baths naked.

At this moment this political commissar was surrounded by several people, bare-chested, his whole body "steaming."

Facing Chen Geng's hesitation, the political commissar had no suspicion, snatched that bucket of cold water, held it over his head, and poured it onto his back with a backhand.

The cold water struck, and more white vapor rose from his back.

"I've never feared cold water; bring another bucket!"

After speaking, the political commissar handed the water bucket to Chen Geng, asking him to draw another bucket of water from the well.

Jiang Xiangyun at the side asked: "Lv Muzhi's Youth Army has already advanced into Shanxi; Political Commissar, do you think he will be our enemy?"

The political commissar looked at Chen Geng, then at Jiang Xiangyun: "You are classmates; shouldn't I be asking you this?"