Cross the Songhu battlefield and rise to become the most powerful warlord

Chapter 423 Prepare for a rainy day

423 Prepare for a Rainy Day

However, what the Japanese high-ranking officials such as Matsui Iwane did not expect was.

The reinforcements they sent out had not yet had time to set off.

The 209th Division on Ye Qingshan's side had already taken action in advance.

Zhang Fa led the 209th Division and the 12th Garrison Brigade, and when the 208th Division moved south, they set out from Yandang Mountain to attack Taizhou.

The one defending Taizhou was a regiment of the Japanese 21st Division.

It's impossible. They are no match for Zhang Fa's 209th Division.

Originally, Zhang Fa was prepared to completely wipe out this Japanese regiment.

As a result, the Japanese regiment commander also slipped away quickly.

They decisively abandoned Taizhou and retreated to the north of Lingjiang River, fortunately avoiding being annihilated.

In fact, this Japanese regiment had long wanted to abandon Taizhou.

There is a Lingjiang River between Taizhou and the Japanese in Ningbo to the north, which would be vulnerable if attacked by the 209th Division.

It would take a long time for them to get reinforcements.

I am a member of a regiment, and I have to stay under the care of Ye Qingshan, a living devil, every day.

It's hard not to be nervous.

If it weren't for the disagreement of the Japanese high-level officials, the Japanese regiment in Taizhou would have retreated.

This Japanese regiment had already run away.

Now, Zhang Fa has just sent out troops with the 209th Division and has been preparing to escape with the Japanese commander from Taizhou.

He immediately found an excuse and ran away.

He was also very unhappy after Zhang Fa led his troops to occupy Taizhou.

"Damn it, the Japs defending Taizhou at least have a regiment.

How could he just run away without firing a single shot?

Are these still the same arrogant little devils from before?"

Zhang Fa said through gritted teeth.

Especially when I think about the fact that Zhou Pingkou led his troops to annihilate two Japanese regiments on the way to attack Fuzhou.

Although we have completed the task of occupying Taizhou.

However, he did not annihilate any Japanese troops, which made him very angry.

However, Taizhou was taken back by Zhang Fa.

At this time, Ye Qingshan had completely mastered the coastal area covering hundreds of kilometers from Taizhou all the way to Fuzhou.

At this point, the Japanese no longer had the ability to blockade Ye Qingshan’s base.

Unless the entire Japanese navy is mobilized and does nothing else but blockade Ye Qingshan.

If that were the case, Ye Qingshan would be happy to see it happen.

"General, Zhang Fa's 209th Division has already captured Taizhou.

A regiment of Japanese soldiers stationed in Taizhou escaped across Lingjiang River without firing a shot. "

Chief of Staff Xiao Shanling walked towards Ye Qingshan with a smile and reported the good news.

"Then the rules will be very irritating."

After hearing this, Ye Qingshan also laughed.

"Yes, so Zhang Fa asked for battle in the telegram, wanting to go north to attack Ningbo.

But I rejected it.”

"Well, Chief of Staff, you were right to reject it.

It is most appropriate to take back Taizhou and deploy defenses south of Lingjiang River at this moment.

It is not enough for us to go north to recover the Songhu area with just one army.

That’s what Gu Zhutong and the others were thinking about.”

“However, let Zhang Fa and the others be prepared at all times.

Although Lao Zhou and his men had already reached the city of Fuzhou.

However, how to capture Fuzhou remains a difficult problem.

If Lao Zhou's attack in Fuzhou fails, or the Japanese send reinforcements to land in Fuzhou to support him.

At that time, their 208th Division would be needed to quickly support Fuzhou and participate in the war.

Therefore, I decided to place the 12th Garrison Brigade in Taizhou and garrison the northern part of Yandang Mountain.

Withdraw the 209th Division of Zhangfa and place them on standby."

Ye Qingshan stared at his staff officers who had just made a detailed sand table of the surrounding area of ​​Fuzhou City, and spoke to Chief of Staff Xiao Shanling with a serious expression.

The war in Taizhou was going smoothly, and Ye Qingshan was no exception.

In fact, Ye Qingshan had anticipated this before the fight started.

The Japanese only had one regiment of troops stationed in Taizhou.

Ye Qingshan knew that the Japanese high-ranking officials did not defend Taizhou for a long time.

The Japanese high-ranking officials may know that Ye Qingshan in Taizhou will be taken back sooner or later.

How can you allow others to snore on the side of the bed?

The actual situation now is indeed like this.

Now that the Taizhou issue in the north had been resolved, Ye Qingshan's 209th Division was freed up.

They can go south to provide support to the Fuzhou battlefield at any time later.

Xiao Shanling also followed Ye Qingshan's gaze and saw the Fuzhou terrain sand table in front of him.

There are many small red flags on it.

That represents the location of the 208th Division's troops outside Fuzhou City at that time.

"The commander is worried that the Japanese will send reinforcements to Fuzhou?"

"Yes.

After the Battle of Wuhan, the Japanese will be able to free up at least 200,000 troops.

The Japs now have the ability to reinforce Fuzhou."

“The commander’s concern is justified.

However, the best way for the Japanese to support Fuzhou was to land on the beach.

But the military commander withdrew the 209th Division back to Wenzhou.

The chief was not only worried about the Japanese sending more troops to Fuzhou.

Are you still worried about the Japanese attacking our rear base?"

Xiao Shanling asked with a smile.

Ye Qingshan looked up at Xiao Shanling and laughed, "The one who knows me best is the Chief of Staff."

"Chief of Staff, didn't you say that?

It is not easy for the Japanese to support Fuzhou.

Southern Zhejiang and most of Fujian Province are now in the hands of our troops and Gu Zhutong's troops.

To support Fuzhou, the Japanese can only go by sea.

They also need the assistance of their naval fleet and the beach landing.

Mobilizing such a large force just to save Fuzhou is not worth it.

But the Japs have a second solution.

That is to besiege Wei to save Zhao.

Directly attacking our base, forcing the 208th Division to return for support, would also help lift the siege of Fuzhou.

In fact, the Japanese might turn their fake play into reality at any time and launch a large-scale attack on southern Zhejiang.

The more than 200,000 Japanese soldiers evacuated from Wuhan were the greatest confidence of the old Japanese soldier Matsui Iwane at this time.

So, I will temporarily place Zhangfa’s 209th Division in Wenzhou.

Let’s see the specific movements of the Japanese troops that were withdrawn from Wuhan later.”

"Haha, Commander, I think your worry is unnecessary.

The Battle of Wuhan is over.

However, the Japs are not made of iron.

They also need to rest.

Without a few months of rest, the hundreds of thousands of Japanese troops on the Wuhan front would have found it difficult to continue fighting.

Xiao Shanling felt that Ye Qingshan's worries were unnecessary.

At this time, Ye Qingshan walked to the table next to him, took out a telegram from his notebook and handed it to Xiao Shanling.

After seeing this, Xiao Shanling's expression changed instantly.

"Are the Japanese really withdrawing troops to the rear on a large scale again?"

What was written in the telegram was that several Japanese divisions had been transferred back from Wuhan over the past month.

After Wuhan was captured by the Japanese.

The front line no longer needs to maintain a large force of more than 300,000 Japanese troops.

The old Japanese general Matsui Iwane began to transfer some Japanese divisions on the front line back for rest and reorganization.

Replenish the reserve troops sent from the country and restore the combat effectiveness of these main divisions of the Japanese devils.

"This information was sent by the Military Control Commission?"

Xiao Shanling asked.

Ye Qingshan did not answer, but said: "Don't worry, Chief of Staff, this information is absolutely correct.

Over the past month, the Japanese have quietly withdrawn at least five divisions from Wuhan.

These divisions suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Wuhan.

After a short rest at the front line, they were withdrawn by the old Japanese soldier Matsui Iwane to be supplemented with new soldiers.

This would have been normal.

But now, we are fighting Fuzhou.

So, who can guarantee that these Japanese divisions that were withdrawn by the old Japanese soldier Matsui Iwane will be able to retreat?

Can you please not attack us from the north?

Once the action starts, can Gu Zhutong really stop them with the army stationed in Jinhua at this time?

So, Chief of Staff, I have to be on guard."

"I see.

Therefore, the military commander asked Deputy Commander Zhou to secretly expand the size of the militia and recruit more reserve soldiers.

Are we on guard against the possibility that the Japanese will really use large-scale military operations against us in southern Zhejiang?"

Xiao Shanling suddenly said this.

Ye Qingshan was also stunned, and then he realized that Xiao Shanling had already noticed this matter a long time ago.

Unexpectedly, at this moment Xiao Shanling also associated his expansion of the militia with the Japanese's withdrawal of a large number of troops from the Wuhan front.

This is a good thing.

Ye Qingshan didn't know how to explain it.

"Haha, it turns out the Chief of Staff already knew about it.

Yes, Zhou Xinghai expanded the militia.

In fact, it is to increase our reserve forces.

After all, if the Japanese really use large-scale troops against us in southern Zhejiang.

By then, the fight may take a long time.

Moreover, the war will be very brutal, leaving us no time to recruit and train more soldiers.

I can only plan ahead.”

Xiao Shanling had a blank expression on his face regarding Ye Qingshan's words, not knowing whether he believed it or not.

This made Ye Qingshan feel a little guilty.

"Chief of Staff, think about it.

The devils hate me so much now.

Anyway, I think the probability that the Japanese will use large-scale military forces against us in southern Zhejiang is still very high."

Ye Qingshan added.

After a moment, Xiao Shanling also nodded slightly.

“The commander’s concerns are justified.

I used to think that the Japanese had no interest in southern Zhejiang and Fujian Province.

This place has always been a hotly contested area for military strategists.

However, the arrival of the military commander made the situation here completely different.

It is really possible that the Japanese will find a way to use military force against us after defeating Wuhan.

If the Japanese really march south in large numbers.

The military strength of our Third War Zone is indeed too small.

Therefore, when Deputy Commander Zhou expands the militia in the future, he can just do it openly.

Don’t hide it from me.”

"That's right, I've already told Zhou Xinghai about this.

There is no need to hide this from the Chief of Staff. He will definitely understand."

Ye Qingshan said righteously.

That’s right, it was Zhou Xinghai who did this, but it was not my, Ye Qingshan’s, instructions.

The matter was just put to rest.

Xiao Shanling was not the petty person, so he did not dwell on this matter any further.

"Commander-in-Chief, Chief of Staff.

Commander Zhou's telegram.

That afternoon, Ye Qingshan received a telegram from Zhou Pingkou.

“Hey, this is the detailed battle plan for the siege that Lao Zhou and his team have drawn up.

Chief of Staff, take a look."

After reading the telegram, Ye Qingshan handed it to Xiao Shanling.

Xiao Shanling read it carefully and nodded, "Well, the siege deployment formulated by Commander Zhou is very reasonable.

It is crucial to capture Wushan and Jiuxianshan first.

I agree with their battle plan."

“Okay, since the Chief of Staff says it’s okay.

Then inform Zhou Pingkou by telegram.

Let them proceed with their plan.

Two days later, a general attack on Fuzhou City was launched. "

That's why we have to wait for two days.

The main thing is to wait for the heavy artillery regiment and the rocket artillery regiment to arrive, because these two units cannot run as fast as the infantry.

Until now, we have not yet arrived outside the city of Fuzhou.