Chapter 415: Not Normal, Definitely a Problem

At this time, in Lincheng of Shandong Province.

Yu Hua received a telegram from the 28th Group Army; the assault on the Songhu Region tonight was very smooth.

Currently, the 28th Group Army is attacking the Japanese Concession with full force, and the Japanese Army is contracting its forces.

"Brother Yu, what are the results of the battle over at Guo Rudong's side?!"

Sun Zhen came to Yu Hua's side; tonight's counterattack in the Songhu Region was the Sichuan Army's coordination with the Fifth War Zone.

"Brother Sun, everything is proceeding smoothly; the Group Army's pace of advancement is very fast, and they are fighting quite well."

"There are also quite a few antique paintings and calligraphies, as well as some cultural relics and classics—things like the Yongle Encyclopedia, the Siku Quanshu, the Twenty-Four Histories, and so on; these devils have looted all of them."

Guo Xunqi first took a big gulp of water with a gulping sound, "Old Pan, Old Deng."

Pan Wenhua looked at Guo Xunqi; this was good, they could finally get rid of Guo Xunqi.

The Japanese Army in the concession had built tall defensive fortifications, almost all of which were reinforced concrete structures, making it very difficult for the Sichuan Army to fight.

A Staff Officer stood out, "The enemy's firepower is too strong, and our army has already lost two defensive lines; however, please rest assured, Commander-in-Chief, the frontline troops are launching a counterattack against the Sichuan Army, the enemy has already been routed by the Imperial Army, and the Imperial Army is recapturing the lost positions!"

After receiving the order, Guo Xunqi said with a beaming smile, "Old Deng, Old Pan, I'm off! You two go ahead and get back to your work."

This counterattack by the Sichuan Army left many foreign ambassadors sleepless for the night, and everyone began sending telegrams to the Nanjing Command in Hankou.

"Guo Xunqi, listen to the order!"

Guo Xunqi was eager to have the arrangements for leaving Sichuan to resist the war settled tonight; ever since he had broken away from the 23rd Group Army and returned to Sichuan Province, he had been so idle lately he was almost getting sick.

"Old Deng!"

Deng Xihou and Pan Wenhua looked at Guo Xunqi, "Old Guo!"

"As for the Third Group Army, I think they should all stay behind; it just so happens they can be together with our Sichuan Army and look out for each other."

The Third Group Army received an order from the Nanjing Command in Hankou, requiring the Third Group Army to leave half of its main force in Shandong Province and Henan Province to conduct guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines.

"The Xuzhou Battle is almost over; you two promised me last time."

He muttered to himself that this warfare behind enemy lines required elite troops and strong generals; if these thirty thousand men stayed behind and survived for three to five years, wouldn't that explode into an army of three hundred thousand!

As for the banks, that was even simpler: just use Explosive to blast the vaults open, and after blowing them open, snatch all the banknotes.

At the same time, Sichuan Province, Chuan-Kang Pacification Office.

This commotion is truly big enough; they've gone and done it all the way to Shanghai!

The Third Group Army fought bloody battles for several months, and the main force is still retreating one after another; the Third Group Army currently has to cover the eastern route of the Japanese Army that is flanking from Henan Province.

There are almost no Japanese soldiers left in the territory outside, so when the main force of the Central Army came out, the Puppet Army was beaten directly into excrement.

"After the Xuzhou Battle is over, you give me the transfer order and let me take my troops out of Sichuan to resist the war."

Especially the Chinese people who had fled into the concession; seeing the Japanese warships anchored in the Huangpu River being hit by Chinese artillery fire and sinking into the river one after another, everyone let out cheers.

At the same time, Sun Tongxuan also sent a return telegram to the Nanjing Command in Hankou, expressing his willingness to lead the entire Group Army to stay in Shandong Province for guerrilla warfare.

Dizhou Libing was so angry! But there was nothing to be done now, so he had to order the entire army to return to reinforce Songhu and save Songhu.

When you finished making them in one place, the Chinese in the next place would start shouting again, which really wore the foreign police out.

Sun Zhen also told Yu Hua about the call information between himself and Sun Tongxuan and others; after hearing Sun Zhen's account, Yu Hua said softly, "This matter really needs to be thought through carefully."

However, the Commander-in-Chief actually ordered Dizhou Libing to hurry back with his army; their home had been stolen by the Sichuan Army.

But just now, Sun Tongxuan and Yu Xuezhong of the Third Group Army and others had made a phone call to Sun Zhen.

Yu Hua waved his hand, "Brother, don't worry about the troop strength; we are retreating now, and the Japanese Army, in order to occupy Xuzhou, will certainly not send out a large number of pursuit troops like they did in the Battle of Songhu."

In the original timeline, after the Fifth War Zone withdrew its troops, the Third Group Army did indeed stay in Shandong Province, and the Nanjing Command in Hankou let them maneuver with the Japanese Army to conduct warfare behind enemy lines.

"The 22nd Group Army, the 28th Group Army, and the 27th Group Army—these three group armies fought the Japanese Army; after this great battle, the troop losses were not small; couldn't you just stuff me in there somewhere?"

"These scumbags really don't turn anything away; they're looting our country's cultural relics and classics—this is to cut off our roots!"

At this time, Guo Rudong arrived at a pier; next to the pier was Hongqiao Airport, where the Sichuan Army was doing cleanup work.

The Sichuan Army actually fought their way into Shanghai?!

You must know that when Li Delin of the Fifth War Zone contacted the Nanjing Command before, he said to let the Third War Zone coordinate with the Fifth War Zone's withdrawal and just cause a little commotion in the Jiangzhe area.

Sun Tongxuan and Yu Xuezhong and others were certainly unwilling in their hearts, because the Third Group Army had over one hundred thousand men, and after fighting bloody battles with the Japanese Army for these few months, half of them had already been lost.

After Yu Hua explained it, Sun Zhen thought about it; leaving three Divisions in Shandong Province and, after the troops withdrew, having Guo Xunqi and Rao Guohua and others replenish the 22nd Group Army was completely feasible.

"Load the ships!" Guo Rudong shouted, "Load all our things onto the ships and transport them back to Sichuan Province."

Especially since the majority of the Japanese Army's forces were transferred north and the Japanese Concession was besieged by the Sichuan Army, Hata Shunroku had contracted his forces to protect the expatriates.

"We will definitely arrange this departure from Sichuan to resist the war; you go back first."

"Splitting off so many people at once is a major blow to my 22nd Group Army!"

"Yes!"

Especially the banks and shops set up by the Japanese Army; the Sichuan Army would catch the devils and shoot them directly, then enter the shops and take everything away.

Because ever since the Incident, the Chinese withdrawal from Songhu had already been several months ago; now that gunfire and artillery sounds were ringing out in Shanghai again, it could only mean that the Chinese army had fought their way back.

In an instant, Guo Xunqi stood straight as a ramrod.

The two of them looked helplessly at Guo Xunqi; this old rascal had smelled the scent so quickly and knew the movements of the 28th Group Army of the Third War Zone.

"The Japanese Army at Hongqiao Airport has been completely annihilated by our Sichuan Army; thirty Japanese aircraft were destroyed, and the airport runway has been blown up by us; it will take at least three or four months to restore operations."

"Within three days, Guo Xunqi's unit is to prepare to leave Sichuan and be replenished into the 22nd Group Army."

Yu Hua held up three fingers, "At least three Divisions."

"The entire Third Group Army stays behind?" Sun Zhen's eyes widened, "Won't that be too many troops?"

"Brother Sun!" Yu Hua looked at Sun Zhen, "You are now the top leader of Shandong Province; this province is one we took with great difficulty."

"Besides, Rao Guohua and Guo Xunqi and others in Sichuan Province have trained quite a few troops; three Divisions of men can definitely be raised."

"Good, good, good..." Hearing this, Sun Zhen clapped his hands happily.

Deng Xihou and Pan Wenhua heard the urgent telegram from Sun Zhen and thought something had happened to the 22nd Group Army, so they hurried forward.

That is to dispatch superior forces to the Japanese Army's territory to plunder; after the Central Army launches an attack, they will target the Japanese Army's stations and strongholds to raid them.

The 28th Group Army can now give the little devils a good beating, which can greatly relieve the pressure on the Fifth War Zone.

It is just that fighting behind enemy lines is arduous, and coupled with the suppression from the Nanjing Command, the Third Group Army has been set up to suffer terribly.

At the same time, the commander attacking Hongqiao Airport also arrived beside Guo Rudong, "Commander-in-Chief."

Hearing that the frontline troops had successfully counterattacked, a slight smile appeared on Hata Shunroku's face.

After Yang discovered this problem, he directly abandoned the plan to continue encircling the Japanese Army in the concession, switched from offense to defense, and ordered his troops to begin plundering the wealth of the Japanese Army in Shanghai.

At this moment, the Division Commander of the Japanese Army's 13th Division, Dizhou Libing, is leading his army to capture Su County, and is currently only one day's journey from Xuzhou.

According to the retreat plan previously established in the Xuzhou region, the Sichuan Army 22nd Group Army needs to break out in the direction of Anhui Province.

Sun Zhen was also astonished for a short while, because the Sichuan Army currently has fourteen thousand men at full strength per division; for three divisions, this is equivalent to the troop strength of a group army of other units.

Three divisions!!

Previously, Sun Tongxuan told Sun Zhen that once the cover mission was completed, the Third Group Army would have no more than thirty thousand men left who could still lift a gun.

With over thirty thousand men remaining, this is quite enough for fighting behind enemy lines!

Yu Hua waved his hand, "Not many, not many!"

When the shelling first began, some foreigners were still afraid that shells would fall into the concession, and everyone hid in their rooms feeling guilty.

Pan Wenhua was about to say something when a Communications Soldier hurriedly ran in at this moment.

"Report, an urgent telegram from Commander-in-Chief Sun Zhen of the 22nd Group Army."

Ever since Guo Rudong led the 28th Group Army in a Night Raid on Songhu, the fighting had gone exceptionally smoothly, and Gu Zhutong of the Third War Zone also began to harbor selfish motives.

The Songhu Region is currently being attacked by a large number of Chinese troops, and furthermore, it is the Sichuan Army and the Central Army of the Third War Zone together.

"Moreover, rest assured, Commander Li Delin of the Fifth War Zone is adept at coordination; our retreat will certainly not result in the phenomenon of various units fleeing in a panic."

The New 2nd Army of the 28th Group Army Chuan-Kang Pacification Office, Yang, led his army to attack the Japanese Army concession; after discovering that the devils had retreated to the concession, the fighting here became unfavorable for the group army.

At the same time, some foreign ambassadors in the Japanese Concession immediately reported to their own countries that Chinese troops were counterattacking Shanghai.

"Report, Commander-in-Chief!"

"Commander-in-Chief, at this wharf, we have confiscated a large amount of gold, silver, and treasures; these were all looted by the little devils from our country."

"Brother, isn't this too many people? Our 22nd Group Army has just finished the Xuzhou Battle, and the various units have suffered severe attrition!"

Chang Kaishen was overjoyed after learning of this and directly approved it.

"What is the situation now?" Hata Shunroku's gaze was as cold as the dead of winter, extremely icy, as he looked at everyone present.

However, he actually did not know that the Japanese Army's smooth counterattack was actually intentional on the part of the Sichuan Army.

"We've struck it rich, we've struck it rich!"

Who would have thought that after taking the telegram and looking at it, he discovered it was actually Sun Zhen reporting on the fighting behind enemy lines, as well as the request for Sichuan Province to dispatch three divisions out of Sichuan to reinforce the 22nd Group Army.

At this time, Shanghai!

Whether it was the Chinese, the Japanese Army, or the people from the Europe countries, upon hearing the constant whistling of gunfire and artillery, everyone was stunned.

Subsequently, Yu Hua spoke to Sun Zhen again, telling him to go and communicate well with Sun Tongxuan.

"Although the main army has retreated, we still must leave troops behind to maneuver against the Japanese Army on the battlefield behind enemy lines."

Lao Sun talked on the phone with Sun Tongxuan for an hour and finally got this matter settled; Sun Tongxuan's Third Group Army would remain in Shandong Province to fight as guerrillas.

Saying this, Guo Xunqi walked away quickly and did not linger at the Chuan-Kang Pacification Office.

In the Pingjin Region!

After Terauchi Hisaichi in Beiping received the urgent telegram from Hata Shunroku, he was stunned.

"The Third War Zone has already provided support for the Fifth War Zone's operations, which indicates that the Xuzhou Battle has already ended. Our side is currently withdrawing troops. I, Guo Xunqi, am not picky; as long as I can leave Sichuan to resist the war, I do not covet being an Army Commander, Army Corps Commander, or anything of the sort."

"Why have you come again? It has been dark for so long; you staying here all the time is not right! You had better go back and sleep quickly!"

This bitterness of fighting behind enemy lines is not something everyone can endure, and furthermore, the Nanjing Command does not need to issue military supplies for fighting behind enemy lines; everything depends on oneself.

"Brother, our Fifth War Zone is withdrawing troops; how should my Sichuan Army 22nd Group Army be arranged?!"

"Commander-in-Chief!"

If half of the troop strength were left behind, then this Third Group Army would likely be truly ruined.

One must know that the 18th Group Army fought behind enemy lines for eight years and expanded its forces to over a million; this fighting behind enemy lines has great potential.

"What else is there to discuss or think about? Isn't it just a matter of one sentence!"

Even if some foreign police in the concession saw the Chinese shouting, they could not stop them, because if you made the Chinese stop shouting here, the Chinese in another place would start shouting again.

"These people are all restless characters; they run to the Chuan-Kang Pacification Office all day long, wanting Deng Xihou and Pan Wenhua to issue orders to leave Sichuan."

The Army Commander of the New 2nd Army of the Chuan-Kang Pacification Office, Li Xiubai, came to Guo Rudong's side.

Now, except for the Japanese Concession, other concessions had not been hit by Chinese firepower at all; it was not that the foreigners had grown bold, but everyone had gathered together again, drinking coffee and chatting while enjoying the fish being blown up in the Huangpu River.

Chang Kaishen in Hankou was also stunned after receiving the telegrams sent by the ambassadors of various countries.

"Tonight, Guo Rudong led the 28th Group Army to raid Songhu to support the Fifth War Zone's retreat."

At this time, inside the Japanese Concession, the former Japanese Navy headquarters building had now become Hata Shunroku's temporary command post.

Soon, the Nanjing Command sent a telegram to the 28th Group Army, telling Guo Rudong that he must be careful; counterattacking Shanghai is fine, but he must absolutely not touch the foreigners, and must pay attention to the Republic of China Government's influence internationally.

Guo Rudong cursed loudly: "The damn little devils, last time Brother Yu said the Japanese Army is just a bunch of robbers; they want whatever they see."

The Xuzhou Battle had been fought for several months, and the strength of the Third Group Army had already been consumed by Lao Chang to the point of exhaustion. Now that they were voluntarily staying behind to fight behind enemy lines, Lao Chang believed that the Third Group Army would definitely be eaten clean by the Japanese Army.

"Lao Guo!" Deng Xihou grinned, "I know you are anxious, but don't be anxious yet."

"Baka yaro!"

"How many men should my Sichuan Army 22nd Group Army leave behind to cooperate with the Third Group Army?"

Upon hearing this, Guo Rudong was in a great mood, "Good, good, good; this Night Raid on Shanghai was worth it."

Hata Shunroku, hiding in the Japanese Concession, discovered that in the following half hour, the Sichuan Army's combat style had changed drastically, and his brows furrowed slightly.

There is definitely a problem in here; this is not normal!

(End of chapter)