Chapter 405: Army Corps Commander Tang, Your Face Is Swollen and It Looks Ugly

Pang Bingxun made up his mind to quit smoking, and he looked at Yu Hua, "Brother Yu, I have taken your words to heart."

"After I go back, I will take the lead and set an example in the army!"

Sun Zhen, who was on the side, also spoke up: "Old Pang, this opium, it really must be quit."

"My Sichuan Army is now quitting opium and enforcing strict military law; anyone who dares to smoke opium in private must be severely punished."

"In this way, the troops now have strict discipline, and after quitting opium, it is good for the soldiers, and their morale and appearance have taken on a brand-new look."

Zhang Zizhong also spoke at this time: "Old Pang, we have been entangled in this warlord infighting for more than twenty years; at the time, it was also a last resort, with our own people attacking one another."

"Everyone was spinning in this vortex; such a life, for us, was truly meaningless!!"

"However, it is different now. The little devils are invading us, giving us a chance to kill the enemy and serve the country. Fighting for the nation and the people is the highest honor for a soldier."

"You and I are both men in our forties or fifties. If we can achieve merit in the War of Resistance, or die on the battlefield, then for us, we will not have failed as soldiers, and we can end our lives this way!!"

Hearing these words from Zhang Zizhong, Pang Bingxun was also filled with deep emotion, because during the warlord infighting, he and Zhang Zizhong were mortal enemies.

At the Siege of Langya, Zhang Zizhong's rescue, disregarding past grievances, brought tears to Old Pang's eyes. It seems this opium really must be quit!

Afterwards, the group talked to one another along the way and arrived at the conference room!

Here were the three giants of the Fifth War Zone: Li Delin, Bai Zhuge, and Xu Zuyi!

After everyone had arrived, Li Delin first let everyone take their seats, and then his gaze swept over everyone.

"Gentlemen!!"

"According to the latest intelligence, the Japanese Army is preparing for a major offensive in the Xuzhou area. The Japanese Navy has mobilized many transport ships from the country to ship a large amount of supplies to Jin City!"

"The first to arrive in Jin City were four steamships: the 'Third Tong Maru', 'Fifth Tong Maru', 'Duoxia Maru', and 'Lishan Maru'."

"According to the reconnaissance of our scouts, the supplies transported in these are all military goods: machine guns, rifles, as well as grenade launchers, mortars, and other weapons."

"At the same time, the acting Commander of the Japanese Army stationed in Jin City, Gangqi, is now also sitting in Jinan. This old devil has mobilized many Japanese troops to concentrate toward Tai'an."

The situation introduced by Li Delin all indicated that the little devils were now about to take the latest type of action against the Xuzhou area.

This battle is very likely to be an unprecedented major battle; after all, the devils have mobilized seven or eight divisions, plus the Jing'an Army, totaling about more than 300,000 people.

Although troops like the Jing'an Army are used by the little devils as cannon fodder, under the pressure of the Japanese Army, the Jing'an Army can still consume part of the defenders' firepower and can also play a certain role on the battlefield.

Bai Zhuge stood up at this moment, "The Japanese Army is concentrating its forces to attack Xuzhou this time; our task is very arduous."

"First of all, on the North Line, I must commend the Sichuan Army for achieving the great victory at Teng County and annihilating the Japanese Army's Chongteng Detachment and Yamashita Regiment; this is a great joyous event."

"In addition! Zhang Zizhong and Pang Bingxun's units in Langya also fought well, blocking the 10th Division and the Sakamoto Detachment for a month; they are worthy of praise."

After the praise was finished, Bai Zhuge now began to emphasize, "Old Sun, your 22nd Group Army must continue to make persistent efforts!"

Seeing Bai Zhuge call his name, Sun Zhen stood up and said: "Chief of Staff Bai, my Sichuan Army 22nd Group Army fought a bloody battle at Teng County for nearly a month. Now the 122nd Division has been battered and has no combat effectiveness left."

"The 123rd Division and the 124th and 125th Divisions have also suffered varying degrees of losses. Now the little devils gathering toward Teng County number as high as two and a half divisions."

"With such a massive force, my Sichuan Army is truly feeling a bit powerless."

According to the previous order from Pingjin Area Army Commander Terauchi Hisaichi, the 10th Division and the Sakamoto Detachment, plus the Segaya Detachment, and a detachment drawn from Isoya Rensuke's 10th Division;

The little devils' troops besieging Teng County number as high as two and a half divisions. Although the Sakamoto Detachment was weakened in the battle of Langya, its combat effectiveness still cannot be underestimated.

Regarding Sun Zhen's words, Bai Zhuge also understood in his heart that the Sichuan Army was under great pressure at Teng County!

However, at present, the Japanese Army has mobilized heavy troops to encircle Xuzhou; whether on the South Line or the North Line, no unit can be moved, unless they abandon Teng County, open the gate, and wait for the Japanese Army to drive straight in.

"This..." Bai Zhuge let out a long sigh; it was difficult for him to speak now, as the Fifth War Zone's forces were already in a weak position.

Yu Hua spoke at this time: "Chief of Staff Bai, Commander Li, Chief of Staff Xu, I have an idea."

In an instant, everyone's gaze turned to Yu Hua. Li Delin said: "Adjutant Yu, if you have any ideas, feel free to speak your mind."

The Sichuan Army's battle at Teng County was of the utmost importance. Yu Hua enjoyed a great reputation in the Second Route Army, and Deng Xihou, Pan Wenhua, and others were all willing to listen to his opinions.

Li Delin was still prepared to see what kind of good ideas Yu Hua could come up with.

Yu Hua came to the huge hanging map and picked up the command stick: "Gentlemen, please look. These places—Liangxiadian, Zou County, Teng County, and Qufu—are now the defense zone of my Sichuan Army 22nd Group Army."

"This is the front where the Japanese Army is moving south along the Jinpu Line. My idea is that when the Japanese Army concentrates its superior forces to move south, my Sichuan Army should conduct segmented resistance and then move toward the mountainous areas on the flanks of the Jinpu Line."

"After the little devils rout our Sichuan Army units, they will certainly be eager to advance recklessly and capture Xuzhou."

Seeing Yu Hua say this, Tang Enbo spoke up: "How can you be so certain that after the Japanese Army captures Teng County, they will definitely be eager to advance recklessly and move south to Xuzhou?!"

"What if the little devils' several divisions advance side by side and don't follow your theory?"

"If we abandon Teng County and the Japanese Army easily captures Xuzhou, who will take responsibility for this?"

Speaking of this, Tang Enbo curled his lip and said sarcastically: "Adjutant Yu, is it that your Sichuan Army sees the two and a half Japanese divisions besieging Teng County and is now afraid?"

"You don't dare to fight them and want to preserve your strength, right? I have heard that the Sichuan Army dislikes others preserving their strength the most; how is it that when it is your Sichuan Army's turn, you are playing such tricks yourselves?"

"Your Sichuan Army's methods really have opened my eyes!!"

Seeing Tang Enbo refute him, Yu Hua glanced at this old fellow. This old fellow always had a stiff mouth whenever he encountered the Sichuan Army and wanted to lock horns with them!!

Now he was even throwing mud at the Sichuan Army; this was simply unreasonable.

Yu Hua looked coldly at Tang Enbo, "I say, Army Corps Commander Tang, I haven't finished speaking yet, don't be in such a hurry to jump out and get beaten!"

"When your face gets beaten until it's swollen, it will look quite ugly! Because you yourself aren't very good-looking to begin with."

Seeing Yu Hua say this, Tang Enbo was so angry that his face turned black, and he was breathing heavily through his nose.

"Hmph... I would like to see what kind of logic you Sichuan Army people can come up with."

Xu Zuyi immediately stood up and said: "Alright, alright... Adjutant Yu, Army Corps Commander Tang, our meeting this time is to discuss the upcoming operations, not for people to quarrel."

"Harmony is precious... We must value harmony. With the enemy at the gates, all grievances should be put aside first!"

(End of chapter)