Chapter 426: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 436: No Retreat Possible

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Sun Liren saw Lv Muzhi waving from behind, propped himself up with one hand on the tank hatch, and nimbly jumped down from that Type 3 tank.

He walked quickly to Lv Muzhi, stood at attention, and saluted.

Lv Muzhi gestured for him to stand at ease, then the two walked away from the crowd.

"Your tactics were well explained. With you as my First Army Chief of Staff, I save myself a lot of trouble."

Sun Liren stood at attention: "It's all thanks to Commander Lu's favor; otherwise, how could I be Chief of Staff of the main-force Youth First Army?"

Lv Muzhi nodded: "Just now I saw you on the platform going on and on. I'm asking you one thing now: do you have the confidence to wipe out the enemy army right in front of us?"

Sun Liren looked back at the armored troops and tanks behind him and replied:

"Commander Lu, I have confidence. The armored troops are ready at all times!"

"As for tank performance, the devils' Type 97 Kai has improved firepower, but its armor protection is still fragile skin, using riveted armor. I think our tanks are comprehensively superior to Japanese tanks."

"With the powerful firepower and high protection of the Type 3 Assault Gun lined up there, as long as our formation isn't disordered, no matter how many Japanese tank divisions come, I'll eat them all."

Sun Liren then analyzed the current battlefield situation.

"The Japanese army is now deploying a three-sided encirclement at Xiaoyi, Fenyang, and Pingyao. They look imposing, but they're actually very timid."

"This three-sided encirclement tactic is meant to trap us in Jiexiu so we can't move."

"However, Qiu Qingquan's Second Army is already outflanking Taiyuan in southeastern Shanxi."

"The initiative on this battlefield has always been in our hands."

"The longer it drags on, the greater the pressure on the devils behind them."

"Once Colonel Qiu's Second Army charges out, the devils will throw themselves into disorder."

Saying this, Sun Liren paused, his tone becoming decisive.

"Even without waiting for the devils to throw themselves into disorder, as long as Commander Lu orders a strong attack, I, Sun Liren, am confident of directly smashing through the Japanese tank division!"

After hearing this, Lv Muzhi pondered for a moment.

He had originally planned to wait until Qiu Qingquan outflanked into position before launching a combined attack, but with these words from Sun Liren, his own confidence rose.

Lv Muzhi patted Sun Liren's shoulder: "That's exactly what I want to hear. The Japanese may desperately block Qiu Qingquan's Second Army; we can't just wait for him to outflank them—we must find a way to open a breakthrough ourselves."

"Pass the order down: the troops will rest and refit for two days, transport the tank supplies from southern Shanxi up here, and at dawn two days from now, launch a full-scale attack on the enemy forces on the front!"

"The entire First Army will mobilize, forcibly break north along the Tongpu Railway, and press straight to the gates of Taiyuan City!"

Lv Muzhi then summoned the confidential staff officer.

"Send a telegram to Qiu Qingquan immediately. Even if the roads in southeastern Shanxi are difficult, I want to see his troops charge out from southeastern Shanxi within five days and appear on the ground of Taigu County!"

Lv Muzhi was preparing supplies for the armored troops, while Xiao Zhukazuo was already anxious in Taiyuan City.

Inside the headquarters of Commander of the 1st Army Stationed in Shanxi Xiao Zhukazuo, another operational meeting was convened.

Commander of the Independent Mixed 4th Brigade Major General Katamura Taro sat in his seat, his legs under the table shaking incessantly.

Unease was written plainly on his face, and his palm pressed down on a latest reconnaissance report.

"Commander, Qiu Qingquan's Second Army is moving extremely fast, having attacked from Changzhi to Wu Xiang County. My troops are blocking them there."

"Even though the terrain there is rugged and favorable for defense, with the help of the Eighth Route Army, Qiu Qingquan's troops will soon charge out from southeastern Shanxi, thrusting their spearhead between Taigu and Yuci."

Commander of the 36th Division Lieutenant General Jing Guanren followed up:

"If the battle at Jiexiu cannot be resolved in a short time, the rear of the Tank Division will be attacked by Qiu Qingquan's large army."

"Although Qiu Qingquan's troops are light-equipped and lack strong armored forces, their anti-armor capability is far superior to ours;"

"Not only is their anti-armor capability strong, their individual firepower is also very powerful. Even more terrifying is that Qiu Qingquan's Second Army has fifty thousand men..."

Lieutenant General Jing Guanren did not continue, but all the generals present understood his meaning.

Commander Xiao Zhukazuo's face was gloomy.

He kept gathering his troops, concentrating strength, to avoid his forces being defeated one by one.

But now the war situation had developed to this point; although the troops were finally concentrated, they still could not defeat the Youth Army!

For now, we must open a breakthrough somewhere!

Xiao Zhukazuo turned his head to look at Commander of the Tank Division Lieutenant General Xiyuan Yice, seated to his right.

"Xiyuan-kun, did you hear? We don't have much time left."

"I ask you: is there any way to inflict a heavy blow on Lv Muzhi's First Army before Qiu Qingquan completes his outflanking?"

Lieutenant General Xiyuan Yice kept his head down, his originally proud eyes now full of distress.

The First Army was Lv Muzhi's heavy armored force, the greatest threat on the Shanxi battlefield.

Only by eliminating this armored force could the current war situation be reversed.

Now Xiyuan Yice led the Tank Division, coordinating with two infantry divisions, to launch a three-sided encirclement of Jiexiu where the Youth First Army was garrisoned, but found he dared not make a move at all.

"Commander, Lv Muzhi is too steady. After entering the Taiyuan Basin, even though the terrain is flat as a plain, he has never launched an attack against us."

"The current Xiaoyi, Fenyang, Pingyao defensive line is essentially defensive in nature."

"If we wait for Lv Muzhi to charge into the encirclement on his own, our army should be able to take advantage."

"But if we launch a large-scale attack now, I'm afraid we'll suffer losses."

Commander Xiao Zhukazuo rubbed his sore eyes:

"Lv Muzhi has been holding his troops in place these past few days, waiting for Qiu Qingquan to outflank us. The longer it drags on, the worse it is for us. I need someone to open a breakthrough for me."

Commander of the 26th Division Lieutenant General Ganqiao Jutaro stepped forward, his tone full of concern.

"Your Excellency Commander, to prevent the situation from spiraling completely out of control."

"Perhaps our main force should withdraw to beneath Taiyuan City, and simply hand over the vast plains outside to Lv Muzhi!"

Xiao Zhukazuo flew into a rage and slammed the table hard.

"Withdraw to Taiyuan? How could you come up with such an idea!"

"Our army has retreated again and again, and now we must retreat once more?"

"Once Lv Muzhi reaches Taiyuan City, am I supposed to keep retreating?"

"I might as well retreat to Datong of the Garrison Mongolia Army, or simply return home!"

Tank Division Commander Nishihara Yice Lieutenant General nodded: "We cannot retreat any longer; the enemy is still one hundred kilometers from our headquarters here. If we retreat again, our defensive depth will be gone."

"We cannot lose Taiyuan. Once Taiyuan falls, Lv Muzhi will use the Zhengding Railway Line to advance east into Hebei, directly threatening Pingjin!"

Seeing Nishihara Yice support his words, Xiao Zhukazuo said: "Exactly. The strongest Tank Division is already in our hands; we must fight to the death!"

"Fenyang, Xiaoyi, and Pingyao have already formed a three-sided encirclement of Lv Muzhi's First Army at Jiexiu; Lv Muzhi now has his back to the mountains."

"This terrain is highly favorable for us to launch a surprise attack. Pressing from three sides simultaneously, we will drive Lv Muzhi's men to the foot of the mountains!"

"Division Commander Nishihara Yice, please defend the honor of the Imperial Armored Troops!"

Division Commander Nishihara looked at the hysterical Xiao Zhukazuo, knowing this superior had staked everything.

He stood at attention and brought his boots together.

"Since Commander Your Excellency has made up his mind, I will take the Tank Division and give it a try!"

Xiao Zhukazuo nodded:

"All remaining forces of the 37th Division and the 41st Division will launch a total attack in coordination with the Tank Division."

"The 36th Division will go to block Qiu Qingquan's troops, creating an opportunity for the Tank Division to smash Lv Muzhi's armored troops!"

"We must bury Lv Muzhi's elite forces completely beneath Jiexiu City before Qiu Qingquan appears!"

"I wish you all victory under your banners!"

The ten-plus Japanese Army general officers present all bowed their heads and saluted: "Hai!"