Chapter 437: Things Have Gone Sour

Seeing Commander Chen's resentful expression, Sun Zhen sighed and turned his gaze toward Chen Cheng: "Commander Chen, let me tell you, the Sichuan Army is going to encircle and annihilate the Japanese 6th Division and the Hada Detachment tonight."

"This matter... I didn't know about it either; if I hadn't gone to the War Zone Command, I wouldn't have known."

As he spoke, Sun Zhen's gaze swept over everyone: "So, do you all believe this?!"

Seeing Sun Zhen's expression, everyone was stunned for a moment. A Group Army Commander of the Sichuan Army didn't even know what his subordinates were doing? This was truly impossible.

Zhang Fakui joked: "Old Sun, you say you don't know, you aren't trying to fool us, are you? I know you Sichuan Army folks love to spin yarns."

Sun Zhen spread his hands and shrugged his shoulders: "I'm really not lying to you. Back during the Niangziguan Campaign, when my 22nd Group Army had just left Chuan, the soldiers were full of fighting spirit."

The Central Army is to participate in the battle, and we ask the Sichuan Army units to coordinate well to jointly encircle and annihilate the Japanese 6th Division and the Hada Detachment.

The little devils suddenly popped out an Independent Mixed Brigade; with so much manpower, the pressure is too great, and the Sichuan Army is afraid it won't be able to hold out.

After speaking on the phone with Yang Sen, Sun Zhen forwarded this telegram to Yu Hua, asking Yu Hua to think of a way to keep the Central Army people from coming to snatch the peaches.

Everyone in the command post laughed again; the little devils don't even have a Group Army organizational structure. In the history of this Second World War, only the little devils' unit organization is different from other countries; it's uniquely theirs, the dog-days bastards.

Before sending the telegram, Chen Cheng also asked Sun Zhen if the Sichuan Army—three Divisions and one Independent Brigade—really had the confidence to challenge a Japanese Division and wipe out the 6th Division.

When the Sichuan Army announces the combat deployment to the outside world, it must be specially emphasized that it is being conducted under the leadership of the Military Affairs Commission, highlighting the role of the Nanjing Command in coordinating the overall situation.

Right now, the Sichuan Army's three Divisions and one Independent Brigade are encircling and annihilating one Japanese Division and a Detachment. According to Sun Zhen's words, this really hasn't reached the level of a little devil army-level organization, so the Sichuan Army naturally didn't report it to the 22nd Group Army Command.

Immediately, Yu Hua sent a telegram to Sun Zhen and Yang Sen, indicating that they could accept the Central Army coming in, while also using code to tell the two that he had his own arrangements for the Central Army and they shouldn't worry too much.

"We also ask the th War Zone and the Nanjing Command to immediately provide troops, grain, and other supplies!"

"I'm sorry!" Zhang Yungang said very apologetically: "This time encircling and annihilating the Japanese 6th Division, Adjutant Yu, don't be stingy with my troops; even if the whole regiment is wiped out, it's fine. Since I made a mistake, I am willing to make amends."

Just as Yu Hua was preparing to decide whether to change the battle plan, the Independent Brigade's intelligence Staff Officer walked into the conference room.

When there's trouble, you lot are as immovable as mountains, but now that there's meat to eat, you damn well are more active than anyone else.

"This is an urgent telegram just sent over by our Sichuan Army Revival Office in the Songhu Region. This Independent Mixed Brigade deceived our reconnaissance personnel; if it weren't for the New Fourth Army in the guerrilla zone discovering the difference in the Japanese military trains..."

Chen Cheng rolled his eyes at Sun Zhen: "Old Sun, just stop talking about army-level Japanese units. You damn well might as well just say there isn't a Group Army of Japanese; stop bothering me with these trivial matters."

The implication was that the Sichuan Army belongs to the army led by the National Government and they are all National Revolutionary Army; no matter which battle it is, it should be conducted under the command of the Nanjing Command. Tonight, the Sichuan Army is encircling and annihilating the 6th Division, and the Military Affairs Commission wants to have a hand in this matter.

"Our internal security in the Sichuan Army is still decent, so that is why I am unwilling to proactively report battle plans for every engagement. The high-level intelligence system leaks like a sieve; I have to be on guard."

Yu Hua waved his hand: "If the higher-ups know, then they know. Don't talk like that about the night raid tonight; I'm just giving you a reminder, hoping you'll coordinate with me next time."

The total troop strength adds up to nearly 130,000 or 140,000. With so much manpower, if we fight well, we can completely restore the defensive lines previously lost by the 26th Group Army.

However, Yu Hua also emphasized to each Division that the Japanese 6th Division is very likely to be on guard, the night raid tonight will be more difficult, and this battle might be somewhat hard to fight.

"Fight!" Yu Hua's eyes shone with light: "We must fight tonight; we will give the little devils a taste of their own medicine."

In the previous few battles, Yu Hua had also reported to Sun Zhen how many Japanese troops were annihilated!

The 22nd Group Army wiped out three and a half Japanese battalions, and combined with Yang Sen's 27th Group Army, they took out a Japanese regiment in Anqing City. The 6th Division and the Hada Detachment have now lost nearly two regiments.

Yu Hua, Guo Xunqi, Rao Guohua, Liu Yuqing, Liu Zhangqing, and Zhang Yungang—everyone was also continuing to discuss the precautions for the night raid tonight.

Zhang Yungang widened his eyes. Seeing Adjutant Yu's cold gaze, he knew he had definitely committed a taboo, but he still braced himself and said: "Adjutant Yu, I am at fault for this matter; it is my mistake."

"The higher-ups let the Central Army participate, and I think this is a good thing. This way, our manpower is more sufficient, and it will be easier to fight."

Sun Zhen indicated it was a small matter. After the Sichuan Army left Chuan, they never fought a battle they weren't sure of. From Niangziguan to Taihu, and then to the Xuzhou Battle, the Sichuan Army has repeatedly annihilated the Japanese Army's effective strength, taking out over a hundred thousand Japanese troops.

By the time the devils coordinated, the Sichuan Army would have already finished the job.

Only when one's own strength is sufficient will one possess greater say; fighting over empty titles is not as important as capturing the little devils' supplies.

After Yu Hua finished reading this telegram, he knew things had gone sour. He looked coldly at Zhang Yungang: "Regimental Commander Zhang, next time you want to secure benefits for your Group Army, tell me."

You lot started eyeing this piece of fat meat, wanting to snatch meat from the Sichuan Army's mouth—what the hell is this all about!!

"The people below ask for instructions too much, and it annoys me to death. So, I told the people below: if the little devils don't have an army's worth of troops, don't you damn well come bother me."

"Report to Adjutant Yu, urgent telegram from the Sichuan Army Revival Office in the Songhu Region."

"When encountering little devils on the front line, asking for instructions left and right—relying on asking for instructions to fight a war, the opportunity will have long since passed. After all, the situation on the battlefield changes in an instant, and opportunities are fleeting."

Although the Wang Puppet Regime and elements within the National Government previously attempted to use the Sichuan Army's enemy-annihilation numbers as a falsehood to stir up conflict between the Sichuan Army and the public, the Sichuan Army annihilated the Chongteng Detachment in the Teng County battle, captured a large number of Japanese troops, and seized a large amount of weaponry.

"On the Anqing front, the Japanese Army has secretly mobilized troops. There is an Independent Mixed Brigade with a total strength of about 20,000, which can reach Anqing City by three or four in the morning."

"Since the generals at the Command think this is an opportunity and want to arrange for troops to participate in the battle, the Sichuan Army welcomes it at any time. At the same time, the Sichuan Army, having fought continuously for many days, is now lacking in troops, grain, and ammunition."

After settling the Sichuan Army, several high-ranking officials were now discussing how much manpower it was appropriate to use for this night raid on the Japanese 6th Division.

Among the Local Army, any unit that joined forces with the Sichuan Army to fight the little devils achieved impressive results, such as the 18th Group Army in the Niangziguan Campaign and Yan Laoxi's Jin-Sui Army.

The Independent Brigade's Communications Soldier ran in: "Report! Gentlemen, Adjutant Yu, urgent telegram from Commander Sun Zhen."

Taking the telegram from the intelligence Staff Officer's hand, Yu Hua took a look, and his eyes narrowed sharply.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yungang fell silent. He had heard of the situations Liu Zhangqing mentioned at the time, but this time, in order to save the 26th Group Army, he hadn't thought it through carefully.

When Sun Zhen and Yang Sen received this order, both were stunned for a moment. Previously, when it came to the defense of the Anqing City line, the Central Army wouldn't come to help, but now that they knew the Sichuan Army had the confidence to encircle and annihilate the 6th Division...

Now it was finally the Central Army's turn to fight in coordination with the Sichuan Army. The results of this battle would certainly be good, and the Central Army would definitely be able to reap quite a few benefits from this.

Yu Hua also replied to Sun Zhen and Yang Sen: "The Sichuan Army belongs to the National Revolutionary Army; this army is under the leadership of the National Government. Now that the Japanese Army is moving south, the Sichuan Army units have been locked in bitter battle with the Japanese for many days."

"From this, one can see that our Nanjing Command has already been infiltrated by the Japanese Army to a significant extent. Although the higher-ups conducted an internal purge not long ago, it is inevitable that it wasn't cleaned out completely, and there are still some Traitors selling intelligence to the Japanese."

"Doesn't the Nanjing Command want to dispatch the Central Army to participate in the battle? We will let the Central Army come in to relieve some of the pressure."

Three Divisions and one Independent Brigade now daring to challenge a Japanese Division—this takes guts of epic proportions.

The Nanjing Command in Hankou received the reply from the 22nd Group Army and the 27th Group Army. After several high-ranking officials took a look and saw that the Sichuan Army had relented, everyone was very happy.

"Brother Yu, then you tell me, should we fight the Japanese 6th Division tonight?" Guo Xunqi asked.

"You told Xu Yuanquan about our Sichuan Army's plan to encircle and annihilate the Japanese 6th Division. Now that the Nanjing Command knows about this matter and the higher-ups want the Central Army to get involved, this is not a good sign."

Furthermore, regarding the Central Army participating in the battle, Yu Hua decided he had to properly temper this army and let them exert the effect they should in this battle.

"Now that the troops have suffered attrition and combat effectiveness has declined, with the two armies in a standoff and the enemy revealing a flaw, the Sichuan Army must also seize the opportunity to strike hard. This is like a jujube tree; whether there are jujubes or not, you hit it three times to see the effect. Tonight is a good opportunity."

Inside the cave!

As for these empty titles, Pan Wenhua and Deng Xihou didn't care either and agreed to the Military Affairs Commission's request. To tell the truth, both of them had taken Yu Hua's words to heart; the most important thing right now was to annihilate a large amount of the Japanese Army's effective strength and strengthen themselves.

He had the two men follow his own reply to send a copy each to the 9th War Zone and the Nanjing Command; since someone in the higher-ups wanted to come and pick the peaches, the Sichuan Army would first demand some benefits from the other side before talking.

The Guangxi Clique Army in the Taihu Battle and the Third Group Army in the Xuzhou Battle—these units mentioned above also achieved good results, and at the same time, they shared a large amount of ordnance and supplies from the hands of the Sichuan Army.

Tonight, the Sichuan Army's Night Raid on the Japanese Army is a major battle, with the forces deployed by both sides exceeding one hundred thousand people; for such a large-scale battle, Chen Cheng, as the Commander of the 9th War Zone, immediately drafted a telegram and sent it to the Nanjing Command.

"We have really been kept in the dark by the little devils on this matter; we might suffer a great loss in tonight's Night Raid."

After discussing back and forth, everyone finally decided to use four Divisions to participate in the battle; these four Divisions were all units in the Central Army that had just completed reorganization, with each Division at full strength of fourteen thousand men, making the four Divisions over fifty thousand people.

Liu Zhangqing saw the change in Yu Hua's expression and asked aloud: "What is it?"

The 6th Division at the airport is such a large mass; once the entire Division strengthens its guard, this battle will not be easy to fight, and the casualties of the attacking troops might even double.

Minister He received the latest instructions and issued an order to Sun Zhen and Yang Sen, which was for the Sichuan Army units to encircle and annihilate the 6th Division and the Hada Detachment; for this battle, the National Government prepared to expand the results and mobilize troops to join in.

The Nanjing Command in Hankou learned that the Sichuan Army had agreed, and everyone was very happy; then they gave an order to Sun Zhen, telling Sun Zhen to quickly report some recent results of the 22nd Group Army.

Liu Zhangqing saw Zhang Yungang say this from the side, and he immediately stood up: "Regimental Commander Zhang, I am afraid you are mistaken; now that the Nanjing Command wants to get involved, this matter will be a bit difficult to handle."

"You have personally participated in the previous few major battles; our Nanjing Command's intelligence system leaks like a sieve. Just take the Battle of Songhu for example: Principal Chiang's wife took a car to the front line to visit the soldiers and was subjected to the Japanese Army's wild bombing and shelling."

For this reason, regarding the Sichuan Army's request for troops, grain, and ordnance, many high-ranking officials waved their hands to indicate approval and arranged for Song Wuming of the Hankou Railway Transportation Administration to transport supplies to the Sichuan Army on an expedited basis.

Within the 9th War Zone, the Sichuan Army had just arrived in the Wuhan area and caused such a big stir, which truly surprised many people.

Regarding tonight's Night Raid, Yu Hua felt that now that the Nanjing Command knew, the problem was not too big; even if someone in the higher-ups had betrayed the intelligence to the Japanese Army, it would still take the little devils a certain amount of time to coordinate.

This time, not only the reporters of the Republic of China but also the reporters from Europe captured many precious video and photographic materials, fully demonstrating that the Sichuan Army never joked about its own battle achievements!!

After the Nanjing Command in Hankou received the telegram sent by Chen Cheng, the military and political officials of the Military Affairs Commission also began to send telegrams to the Sichuan Army Second Route Army Headquarters.

Even the Nanjing Command had to be especially careful and urgently investigate why the Japanese Army appeared to have such military actions!!

Everyone could also hear that Sun Zhen was completely letting go and letting the people below do it; after all, when Japanese Army units appear on the front line, they generally act in units of Regiments, Brigades, and Divisions.

The Nanjing Command in Hankou looked at the map and saw that the location of Anqing City and the 6th Division could indeed be used to launch an ambush.

After finishing speaking, the Communications Soldier came to Yu Hua and handed the telegram in his hand to Yu Hua.

"Hahaha..." Everyone saw Sun Zhen say this and also laughed!

A Japanese Army force of one Army—this must be the little devils about to launch a large-scale offensive; after all, once a Japanese Army designation appears, it must be over one hundred thousand little devils, and this would not only alarm the Sichuan Army.

"Principal Chiang himself went to the front line of the Battle of Songhu to hold the highest military conference, and his car was also strafed by the Japanese Army."

The few Central Army units closest to Anqing also received orders from the Nanjing Command in Hankou to draw some troops from their own armies and move them into the defense zone of the Sichuan Army's 27th Group Army, as there was a major operation tonight.

When several Central Army officers received this order, they were also stunned for a while, but a soldier's duty is to obey orders, so everyone still honestly executed it.

(End of this chapter)