Chapter 194: Relying Entirely on Spirit to Hold On

Yu Hua stepped forward, "Marshal."

"Don't be angry anymore, this matter is easy to handle."

Deng Xihou walked up to Marshal Liu, "Marshal, since Yu Hua has spoken, then it is easy to resolve."

"Let us first listen to his plan."

"You must not ruin your health; your health is not good to begin with."

Sun Zhen also persuaded from the side: "Marshal, this kid Yu Hua, don't you understand him?"

"He is the type who only takes advantage and never suffers a loss."

After hearing Yu Hua's analysis, everyone felt that the little devils would really come this way.

The Guangxi Army 21st Group Army from the original timeline.

"Once the 10th Army lands at Jinshanwei, the defending troops in the Songhu Region will inevitably retreat."

"A rout will be a matter of time."

Speaking of this, Yu Hua moved again, drawing on the map.

Everyone agreed with what Yu Hua said.

"Eighty percent... will follow what is written above."

Yu Hua nodded, "Indeed."

"Although Chang Kaishen will assign these soldiers to our Seventh War Zone, if we cannot withstand the Japanese assault."

"If some units receive a retreat order, while others do not."

"Clarify the importance of the Seventh War Zone to him, and demand that the Sichuan Army 23rd Group Army be dispatched to the Seventh War Zone as soon as possible."

"It is very likely that we will not be able to withstand the Japanese offensive."

Yu Hua pointed the command stick in his hand at the arrow.

The Sichuan Army officers and soldiers present understood very well what Yu Hua was saying.

Yu Hua had the Staff Officer hang up the map of the Songhu Region.

That was a single day, and the little devils had already knocked them down.

In any case, the retreat order had already been issued from above; leaving early or leaving late was the same, so they might as well retreat first.

"At this point, in order to get rid of the devils early, the soldiers will definitely retreat in a swarm."

"22nd Group Army, now everyone knows that you, kid, are capable of both pen and sword."

"This matter, I guarantee to handle it beautifully for you."

However, facing the Japanese pursuit, the routed soldiers coming down from Songhu had already lost more than half of their will to fight.

"Marshal, you can rest assured."

In the matter of fighting a war, besides Weaponry, there is also the morale of the troops, their spirit, and so on.

Speaking of this, Yu Hua scanned everyone present.

"You are all veteran generals who have been through many battles; everyone now knows about our soldiers in Songhu."

The more than 700,000-strong army currently in the Songhu Region should take the initiative to withdraw.

Sun Zhen understood a bit: "According to what you say, the Seventh War Zone will definitely accept the units fleeing in a rout from Songhu."

Hearing this, Yu Hua nodded, "Commander-in-Chief, you are right."

"Tell us, how should our Sichuan Army resolve this difficult problem at present?"

"The other route is to head south, sweeping through the surrounding Republic of China Army along the west bank of Taihu."

"One route of the devils heads north, coordinating with the Shanghai Expeditionary Army to launch an encirclement against our army."

Instead of letting the Sichuan Army take the hit.

"Then the devils heading south will bypass along Taihu to the east and head north."

"If it were an orderly retreat, there wouldn't be any major chaos."

23rd Group Army, it is estimated to take only one day.

Seize the time to prepare for war and build fortifications.

"The 10th Army will land at Jinshanwei."

"We will also publicize to the people of the whole country that the Sichuan Army 23rd Group Army is defending the Seventh War Zone."

"If Chang Kaishen does not agree."

"Once the little devils press in with heavy troops and the whole line truly cannot hold, Chang Kaishen will definitely order a retreat."

Yu Hua drew a few more arrows on the map.

The generals present also nodded slightly.

"Our troops' communications, as everyone knows, differ greatly between local armies and the Central Army."

"This is undoubtedly consuming the elite strength of our Sichuan Army to achieve the goal of reducing our Sichuan Army's power."

Marshal Liu nodded, "Hmm!"

This was also the reason why Marshal Liu was so angry; Chang Kaishen was just using the 23rd Group Army to take the hit.

Facing the vicious devils, the 23rd Group Army was quickly routed.

Jinshanwei... flat as a pancake, there were no decent combat fortifications at all.

"Now it's all relying on a breath of spirit to hold on!"

Facing the Japanese Naval Gun and Aerial Bomb, how could the Sichuan Army 23rd Group Army, lacking heavy weapons, block the Japanese landing?

"The routed soldiers have had their spirit drained; they have no heart to fight the devils at all."

"Yanagawa Heisuke will definitely have the 10th Army split its forces."

"After all, the telegram Chang Kaishen gave our Sichuan Army says so above."

After everyone spoke at once for a while, Marshal Liu looked at Yu Hua.

"He wants the frontline troops to hold firm for seven to ten days, waiting for the Nine-Power Treaty conference."

"Marshal!" After a pause, Yu Hua looked at the other Sichuan Army generals, "Gentlemen."

This is also extremely important; the troops in the bloody battle of Songhu are currently able to hold a stalemate against the Japanese devils.

"Everyone also agreed with my prediction last time."

"To annihilate our Jinling garrison in one fell swoop, leaving them with no path of retreat to speak of."

Once the Japanese Tenth Army lands, the Sichuan Army 23rd Group Army will only be able to resist with their flesh and blood.

"It is to defend Jinling; it is absolutely not out of cowardice or fear of death that we are not going to the Third War Zone."

Since everyone knows the Japanese devils are very likely to land at Jinshanwei, based on the combat effectiveness comparison between Republic of China soldiers and the devils.

"He is also quite an expert at propaganda."

"Chang Kaishen wants my Sichuan Army 23rd Group Army to block over a hundred thousand Japanese devils."

The other generals also told Marshal Liu not to be angry, as he needs to recuperate.

Once they flee in defeat, this momentum dissipates, and wanting to fight the devils properly becomes truly difficult.

"With him devising strategies, how could our Sichuan Army troops possibly suffer losses?"

"In this way... what kind of retreat situation it would be, you should know better than I do."

"You mean the Japanese devils will bypass along Taihu, mopping up the garrison of our Seventh War Zone."

"Once the Tenth Army lands at Jinshanwei, their subsequent operational plan."

"But, once the troops fall into chaos, it will lead to a total rout."

If friendly forces retreat and one's own troops have not yet received the order to retreat, the unit commander will likely retreat as well.

"With the Japanese devils pursuing the fleeing troops from behind, if our Sichuan Army does not prepare early."

Furthermore, if Chang Kaishen issues a death order, forcing the Sichuan Army to block the Japanese landing.

It relies on a burst of spirit, a resilient morale, and tenacious fighting will.

In the original timeline, the Sichuan Army of the Seventh War Zone, together with the routed soldiers coming down from Songhu, blocked the Japanese devils from mopping up the Taihu Region.

"Finally heading north to Jinling, cutting off the retreat of the Jinling garrison."

"It is very easy for the Japanese devils to complete the encirclement and head north to Jinling."

After Deng Xihou finished drawing, he immediately realized the devils' operational intent.

"Marshal!" Yu Hua grinned and said, "Let's report the battlefield trend to Chang Kaishen."

From the time the Tenth Army began landing until December 9th, in one month's time, the positions of the Seventh War Zone all fell.

Looking at Yu Hua, he said, "As for this propaganda matter, you should handle it."

In this way, in order to protect Jinling, the Sichuan Army 23rd Group Army should all the more re-equip early and head to the Seventh War Zone.

Yu Hua smiled, "Yes!"

Added to this, the Sichuan Army 23rd Group Army was swindled by Chang Kaishen and was not given equipment.

Tens of thousands of Sichuan Army soldiers were lost, and the 23rd Group Army was annihilated.

He walked to the map and picked up the Command Stick.

"Explain clearly to the public that the Seventh War Zone concerns the success or failure of the Battle of Nanjing."

The 23rd Group Army suffered heavy losses, and the remnants were also transferred to Jinling City to fight the defensive battle.

Marshal Liu personally sent a telegram to Chang Kaishen, clarifying the importance of the Seventh War Zone to Chang Kaishen.

Demanding that the Sichuan Army 23rd Group Army only be allowed to head to the Seventh War Zone.

(End of chapter)