Chapter 322: Thoughts of the Old Era

The other Sichuan Army generals were also very curious.

"Old Pan, Old Deng, what does the telegram from the Nanjing Command say?"

"What is this about 'the drunkard's heart is not in the cup'?"

Seeing everyone asking, Deng Xihou let Pan Wenhua explain it to the group.

Old Pan spread his hands, signaling everyone to be quiet.

"The Nanjing Command has sent a telegram inviting our high-ranking Sichuan Army generals to go to Bianliang in the First War Zone to attend a supreme military conference."

"The range of generals invited to this conference is very broad: the Northwest Army, the Northeast Army, the Sichuan Army, the Yunnan Army, the Lu Army, and so on."

"Troops from two war zones, the First War Zone and the Fifth War Zone."

After all, developing and building oneself, growing big and strong, and then vying for the Central Plains—every warlord has such thoughts in their heart.

It was entirely configured according to the equipment of his five divisions; calling it a regular army would not be wrong.

At that time, a brigade of the Japanese Army under the 109th Division attacked Jiyang, and Old Han brought along a pistol brigade and a logistics battalion.

The idea of preserving his strength became increasingly prominent in Old Han's mind after Li Delin left Qizhou.

Originally, the task given to Han Fuqu by the Fifth War Zone was to defend the Japanese Army in the northern section of the Jinpu Line.

But, before even engaging, retreating along the entire line truly had a bad impact.

At this time, after being fiercely attacked by the Japanese Army on the north bank, Old Han discovered that the little devils were as strong as an ox.

The south bank could be defended even less!

A Hongmen Banquet specifically set for Han Fuqu.

However, it was precisely because of this battle that Old Han was completely stunned.

Han Fuqu then began to gather his troops and head south, having no intention of resisting the Japanese Army at all.

His Third Group Army could not withstand the fierce attacks of the two Japanese Army routes.

At the time, the Japanese Army found it inconceivable; in Shandong Province, one of their squads or a company could occupy a county seat.

"Isn't that very normal?"

Therefore, he ordered his troops to cross the Yellow River, return to the south bank, and blow up the Yellow River Bridge.

And while the Japanese Army was crossing the Yellow River;

Because the Third War Zone was in a tight spot, and the Japanese Army was reinforcing the Third War Zone at this time, the Republic of China Army's artillery was at a disadvantage.

In fact, in that era, Old Han's thoughts could reflect many meanings.

With a gun in hand, one has the right to speak; they understood this principle very clearly.

Everyone's thought was: my territory, I am the master, and no one else should try to interfere.

He understood in his heart that this was definitely Old Chang using the Japanese Army to eliminate dissidents.

Its combat effectiveness was considered quite good in the Fifth War Zone;

For this reason, the Nanjing Command specifically appointed him as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth War Zone.

Unfortunately, as someone who went his own way, Old Han didn't listen at all.

"In the Fifth War Zone, officers at the group army level, as well as those at the brigade commander and division commander level and above, must all attend."

However, in this War of Resistance, this loose alliance formed by this group of people.

The 29th Division collapsed rapidly!

The battlefield situation deteriorated instantly, and the Third Group Army on the north bank also suffered varying degrees of casualties.

Fan Shaozeng heard this and was confused, "This conference!"

After all, he had resisted the Nanjing Command many times, and the two sides had fought several wars;

Facing the orders of the Nanjing Command and the Fifth War Zone, he also didn't take them to heart.

Specifically attacking the Japanese Army that had crossed the Yellow River to block the Japanese Army from continuing south.

"Do you see any trick to it?"

In his first battle against the Japanese Army, Old Han did take his troops and fight a battle against a Japanese Army brigade.

Before the Japanese Army on the Jinpu Line had crossed the Yellow River, Old Han's troops were on the north bank of the Yellow River.

The two men's conversation ended on a sour note.

Plus, there were also the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Route People's Militias, totaling over 60,000 people.

What a pity!

Regarding this Bianliang supreme military conference, Yu Hua of course knew that this was a Hongmen Banquet.

Old Han had reorganized and trained his troops in Shandong Province.

"Unless there is an important matter, no absence is allowed."

Because the Commander-in-Chief had an influential role, although there were generals below who tried to remonstrate with Old Han.

Every local warlord was also in a semi-independent state, very similar to the warlord separatism of the late Tang Dynasty.

In the past chaotic wars, he was considered a tiger general, and after he took charge of Shandong Province.

The Yellow River in the Fifth War Zone was known as a natural barrier; the north bank was higher than the south bank, and if the north bank was not defended.

Old Han discovered for the first time that the Japanese Army's fighting was different from the previous chaotic wars.

Since the north bank had already been abandoned, Li Delin emphasized that after the Third Group Army's defeat in Qizhou.

The entire army retreated to the Yimeng Mountains area, following the combat style of the Sichuan Army 23rd Group Army of the Seventh War Zone.

First of all!

This retreat by Old Han completely ceded Shandong Province to the Japanese Army.

Qin Shi Huang unified the world and ascended the throne; as warlords, they also had such thoughts in their hearts to become such people.

These four routes of People's Militia, although they were local armed forces privately expanded by Old Han, their Weaponry.

Old Han's position was that of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth War Zone;

he concurrently served as the Provincial Chairman of Shandong Province, and was also the Commander-in-Chief of the Third Group Army.

Because of this, the thought of not resisting grew even heavier in Old Han's heart.

Local warlords resisted the Central Army entering their territory, and at the same time, they also resisted other warlords entering their territory.

The tactics used during the previous civil wars were completely useless under the aircraft and artillery of the Japanese Army.

As Old Han, who commanded over one hundred thousand mercenary troops, he was considered to have sufficient manpower in defending the northern section of the Jinpu Line against the Japanese Army.

Hearing this, Deng Xihou smiled and looked at Yu Hua: "Brother Yu."

Some generals still possessed patriotic sentiments and national spirit, and in the face of the Japanese Army's fierce attacks, they were able to put up stubborn resistance.

As long as one had guns and men in their hands, there was still the possibility of a comeback, so the desire to preserve one's strength naturally arose.

Lacking artillery for defense, Old Han saw that the Japanese Army's artillery fire was intense.

"The telegram also requires the Fifth War Zone Commander-in-Chief, Li Delin, to notify all units without fail."

Furthermore, Old Han was originally a veteran of the Northwest Army.

"Generals of Division and Brigade rank are attending, there's nothing special about that, is there?"

As an old-style military man, and one who held a high position, Old Han was accustomed to having the final say.

After the Third Group Army retreated to the south bank, Li Delin learned of it and made a special trip to Qizhou to discuss the battle plan with Han Fuqu.

The troops under Old Han's command consisted of five Divisions and one Independent Brigade.

Moreover, the 29th Division under Cao Fulin, who was under his command, also suffered a fierce attack from the Isoya Rensuke 10th Division.

If not for the protection of the personal guards by Old Han's side, he himself would have nearly been captured alive by the Japanese Army.

Previously, several Divisions of his Third Group Army had also suffered heavy casualties after being attacked by the Japanese Army on the north bank.

Some generals would simply retreat again and again to preserve their strength.

Consequently, a Heavy Artillery Brigade defending the Yellow River was transferred away.

It was hoped that with a formidable enemy at the gates, Old Han would strive to kill the enemy and defend the country.

In this era, many of the warlords maintained a detached relationship with the Nanjing Command.

Who would have known that when they fought a battle against this force of the Japanese Army, the Lu Army was simply no match; as soon as the two sides made contact, the entire line collapsed in retreat.

This resulted in the Japanese Army's Isoya Rensuke 10th Division and a Brigade under the 109th Division sweeping across Shandong Province.

Faced with Li Delin's proposal to conduct operations in the Yimeng Mountains region, Old Han did not take it to heart at all.

If we fight the Japanese Army and then retreat after a failed operation, it is also understandable.

Rebelling today and supporting tomorrow—this cycle of rebelling and supporting was very common in this era.

Besides, Tang Shengzhi, who defended Jinling, lost Jinling, and wasn't he fine?

Old Han did not want to be a Traitor, but he also did not want to fight a bloody battle, so he could only preserve his strength.

(End of chapter)