Chapter 1527 Going Home!

With the arrival of the 74th Army and the 27th Group Army, the war in Hengyang has been decided!

In the following days, due to the support of the two divisions, the main force of the Japanese 11th Army gradually got rid of the pursuit of the Chinese main force and retreated to the vicinity of Tanzhou. The main force of the hundreds of thousands of Chinese troops crossed Hengyang and successively recaptured important cities such as Xiangtan and Zhuzhou. , and confronted hundreds of thousands of Japanese troops near Tanzhou.

The mainland line was not opened, but the Japanese army, which was threatened by the Chinese army because of insufficient troops, had to urgently ask for help from the Kwantung Army and transferred two more divisions southward. The Japanese North China Front Army could only send two mixed brigades southward for support.

That is the current maximum capability of the Kwantung Army and the Japanese North China Front. Although the Mao Xiong Kingdom is still focusing on how to deal with its most powerful opponent, it still has the Siberian Army with hundreds of thousands of troops in Siberia. May send troops against the Kwantung Army at any time.

The Japanese North China Front Army is now even more unbearable. Zhongtiao Mountain and Taihang Mountain have become insurmountable barriers for them. In Jin Province, out of the 102 counties occupied during the period when the army was at its strongest, only 67 counties are left, including Yuncheng and Linfen. Such important cities were recaptured by China;

In Ji Province, although most of the cities are still in the hands of the Japanese army, the vast rural areas are almost all under Chinese control; Lu Province is also being copied by the Chinese with an almost similar model. The Japanese army now basically only controls the cities and major areas. Transportation and roads, that's all, depends on the mood of the Chinese people. If they are not honest, roads and railways will be interrupted at any time.

To put it bluntly, the current Japanese North China Front has achieved good results in defense. The strategy of advancing southward has long been thrown into the trash can. Now it is dispatching two divisions and two brigades to go south. This is purely because Okamura Koji has just been promoted. As the commander of the China Expeditionary Force, he did not want to see the war situation in chaos, so he gritted his teeth and did it.

Otherwise, if anyone could send a division south when he was the commander of the North China Front, it would be because he felt guilty about having an affair with Wada Junroku's wife.

China also officially sent a notification to all China and its Eastern and Western allies seven days later: The 113-day defense battle of Hengyang was a victory!

Chinese people in the Chinese-controlled areas took to the streets one after another, beating gongs and drums, lighting firecrackers, and cheering to celebrate this hard-won victory.

Mainstream media outlets in countries such as the United States, the Empire on which the Sun Never Sets, the Rooster of Gaul, and the Furry Bear Country also expressed their praises and introduced on their main pages this heroic city defense battle that took place in a poor and backward ancient oriental country.

The Mao Xiong Kingdom even compared this battle to a famous defense battle that took place on its own land, and named it the "Oriental Moscow" defense battle.

This famous defensive battle that took place from September 1941 to the beginning of 1942 was hailed as the turning point of the Woolly Bear Country's anti-aggression war. That is to say, after this battle, the myth of the Germanic Empire's invincibility was completely shattered, and the Woolly Bear Country began its great war. Counterattack mode.

The Mao Xiong Kingdom compared the Defense of Hengyang and the Defense of Moscow to express their recognition of China's current allies. This also allowed a group of Western countries, led by the United States, to treat China as an equal ally for the first time.

More than 20,000 regular troops and tens of thousands of civilians actually resisted successive attacks by Japan's most powerful field army. This is a record that no country has ever achieved on any battlefield.

Even though the United States has defeated the Japanese on the Pacific battlefield, perhaps only the Americans themselves know that what defeated the Japanese was not the bravery of the American boys, but the extremely powerful industrial capabilities. .

In fact, on the battlefields of the Pacific islands, the Japanese Army made Americans heartbroken.

The Battle of Guadalcanal broke out in 1941. The American army invested 60,000 ground troops, dozens of ships, and more than 1,000 aircraft. Japan invested more than 30,000 army troops. The final result was that nearly 8,000 American soldiers died in the battle. Only More than 400 pilots died in the battle before Guadalcanal was finally captured.

In 1943, there were only more than 2,300 Japanese engineers on Attu Island. The Japanese troops on the island were shivering with cold on the cold island, and they were not considered to have much combat effectiveness at all. In order to deal with the more than 2,000 Japanese troops, the American army sent out the famous 7th The infantry division also used sneak attacks.

As a result, the Japanese army was completely wiped out, but the American army suffered nearly 2,000 casualties, and 2,000 people had to withdraw from the battle due to frostbite.

Perhaps the Americans at this time did not know that the battle for these islands was just a foreplay before the climax. The real bloody battle would be more than half a year later, the battle of Okinawa, the island closest to the Japanese mainland, even if there were thousands of warships , thousands of fighter planes provided support, and the 100,000 Japanese troops still managed to kill almost as many Americans as they did.

However, it was that battle that made the top leaders of the United States realize that if they continued to fight like this when attacking the Japanese mainland, a generation of young people in the United States would be completely sacrificed. The Fat Man bomb that had been successfully tested was included in the military plan.

But no matter what, at least at this time in 1944, the top brass of the US Army already knew that the Japanese Army might still not be a match for the US Army, but in terms of combat will and tactical execution, it was definitely an opponent that the Americans did not want to encounter on land. one.

But the Chinese actually did it. With a strength ratio of 1:5, without having an advantage in firepower, they used a small city to cripple the most powerful field army of the Japanese Army.

"I firmly believe that our Eastern allies can become our most reliable partners in the East, because their soldiers have a will stronger than steel! Because they have the best mid- to low-level and even grassroots military commanders in the world!" China Chief of Staff Stilwell said bluntly at the press conference.

"We need to strengthen ties with our Eastern allies and give them enough respect and more assistance. This will help end the war early!" Admiral Mike Asher, commander of the US Far East, wrote in a message to the US President. road.

One month after the victory of the Hengyang Defense War, the U.S. Congress approved an interest-free loan of up to 1 billion U.S. dollars to China. A large amount of arms and other various materials continued to enter China from Myanmar.

The original loan amount was only US$300 million, which still had interest, and required the government to provide important ports and well-known mines as guarantees.

However, the victory of the Hengyang Defense War allowed the world to see the determination and strength of Chinese soldiers to defend their homeland.

On this planet of natural selection, the only way to win respect is through strength and fists!

In Japan, there was a wailing. The civilians and the military were full of accusations against Tian Shunroku, the commander of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, and Yokoyama Isamu, the commander of the 11th Army. They believed that it was their command and judgment errors that led to the Hengyang defeat. , the Battle of Henan, Hunan and Guangxi was destroyed.

Some radicals even held demonstrations with blood letters, demanding that these two unlucky men be responsible for the defeat. They should open their stomachs to apologize to His Majesty the Emperor and all the people.

Tian Shunroku left his post long ago and was only a temporary replacement, so after his successor Okamura Koji arrived in Jiangxia for a simple handover, the guy flew straight to the Gulf Province and claimed to be ill because of illness. He neither returned home nor stayed in China. , hiding.

Tian Junliu is an army general after all. He was awarded the title of field marshal in time and space because of the smooth advancement of Yu Xianggui. He was also one of the top figures in the Japanese army. Everyone was hiding, who could do anything to him?

In the end, in order to calm domestic public opinion, Tian Shunroku was appointed as the commander of the Western Army of Japan. The so-called Western Army is synonymous with the reserve force. Due to the large loss of young men, the Western Army was mostly made up of weak soldiers and women, and even a few items could not be used. It is difficult to collect all the equipment.

Tian Junliu only took those weak soldiers and women to practice bamboo spears, and there was no chance of being reused. This was originally the position that belonged to Yokoyama Isamu in time and space.

Isamu Yokoyama, who was robbed of his position, suffered this time. He was ordered to resign and return to his hometown to report on his work. As a result, he had conflicts with Okamura Koji. Okamura Koji also deliberately used public opinion to torment his old rival. , on the pretext that there was no transport plane, he was asked to take a tank train transporting battle supplies to Jincheng, and then take a boat to the mainland from there.

When the train stopped at a county in North China, Yokoyama was in a depressed mood. He ordered his guard captain to get off the train to get some meat and wine to relieve his boredom. As a result, he was accidentally targeted by the guerrillas of the Eightyth Army. It's a junior officer, so there must be at least a senior commander on the train?

In line with the simple idea that if you can't become a colonel, you can still be a major. The armed brigade of the 80th Army did not report to the superiors. They buried three large explosive packs 10 miles in front of the train and detonated them manually.

One of the explosive packs exploded just below the No. 4 carriage in which Isamu Yokoyama was riding. Isamu Yokoyama, who was still drinking in the carriage, was directly injured and seriously injured. He was rescued by the Japanese troops who arrived and was not even sent to the county for treatment. Amaterasu reports.

It wasn't until news from the Japanese army leaked a long time later that the armed brigade knew what colonel they had killed. Chunchun had killed a Japanese Army Lieutenant General, and he was almost a Lieutenant General who became the commander of a Japanese front army.

The captain of the civilian armed brigade who made the decision directly received 30 rifles and a crooked light machine gun as a reward. The armed brigade was directly transformed into an infantry company under the 683rd Brigade Independent Regiment, and turned into a regular army.

Such incredible luck.

Yokoyama Isamu: This unlucky guy, if he had known that he was going to die at the hands of a bunch of unknown people, he might as well have died in Hengyang!

After all, there are still a number of famous Chinese generals like Fang Xianjue, Zhao Zili, and Tang Dao there.

There was great joy at home and abroad because of the victory in the Hengyang Defense War, and the war entered a new situation.

But in Hengyang, it was not all joyous. On the one hand, the Hengyang garrison suffered heavy casualties. On the other hand, it was because Tang Dao, the fifth-ranked Operations Director of the Hengyang Command, died on the last day of the Battle of Hengyang. He was seriously injured and fell into coma during the battle.

In order to save his life, the famous Western doctor at Hengyang Field Hospital performed an operation on him personally. The operation lasted eight long hours and more than ten shrapnel fragments were removed, but he still could not guarantee his life safety.

Fang Xianjue, Zhao Zili, and Ge Youcai, who was still being carried on a stretcher, and other important generals waited at the field hospital for most of the night. What they finally saw was Tang Dao with a swollen face and wrapped like a rice dumpling. Tantai, who had always been strong, Mingyue cried into tears.

After receiving the news, the Military Commission urgently dispatched a special plane with three American doctors from Shancheng to Guicheng, and then arrived in Hengyang, intending to treat Tang Dao and take him to Shancheng.

However, this time it was not because of any small thoughts, but because Tang Dao and the Four Elements Regiment became famous both at home and abroad again because of this Hengyang defense battle. From a national strategic perspective, this flag must not be allowed to fall down like this.

However, the Hengyang Field Hospital was completely taken over by the sad and angry officers and soldiers of the Fourth Army Regiment at this time. Not to mention the American doctors who were not allowed to enter, even the representative think tank surnamed Chen who came with Tang Dao was not allowed to enter.

Reason! Although Chief of Staff Leng who was personally in charge of the field hospital did not say so clearly, the expression on the face of Battalion Commander Cai Yongguan, who was still guarding the door of Tang Dao ward with a loaded gun even after losing one ear, said it all. All the officers and soldiers of the Four Lines Regiment did not trust him. certain people.

In the face of the lives of regimental commanders, all military orders have no effect on them. Didn't they see that Commander Xue, who came in person with the think tank surnamed Chen, was disappointed?

But even the arrogant Commander Xue did not use military orders to ask them to let them go.

Let’s not talk about the military exploits of the Fourth Army Regiment in the Hengyang Defense War. Let’s just talk about the tactical deployment of the thousands of remaining soldiers of the Fourth Army Regiment around the field hospital. How many people will it take to conquer it?

Even if the statistics have not yet been fully calculated, according to the most conservative estimates of the Hengyang Command and Staff Department, there must be at least 50,000 Japanese soldiers killed or injured at the hands of the Four Lines Regiment, accounting for half of the Japanese soldiers killed and wounded in the entire Hengyang defense battle.

That is definitely a number that can make any commander above the army level stand on end. It means that if you want to kill this terrible infantry regiment, you have to pay the price of annihilating at least two infantry corps.

Finally, under the leadership of Tantai Mingyue, a think tank named Chen and an American doctor entered the ward and briefly checked Tang Dao's physical condition.

"Unfortunately, Tang's life has entered a countdown. His heartbeat, blood pressure, blood oxygen and other vital indicators are only one-third of normal people. Such a person should have died before we came, but maybe Because as a soldier, Tang is physically stronger than ordinary people, so it is already a miracle that he is still alive. Compared with Dr. Norman's medical skills, I admire Tang's tenacity. "That American doctor. He shook his head and sighed.

. . . . . . . .

"Is Tang Dao's injury really that serious?" The think tank who looked at him was instinctively doubtful.

"Yes, Dr. Michelle personally checked Tang Dao's various indicators. His vital signs are extremely weak. Mrs. Tang has applied to Commander Xue to transport Tang Dao back to Taihangshan Hospital for treatment later if his condition is stable. If he Unfortunately, he died, so his coffin will be buried in the martyrs' cemetery of the Si Xing Regiment in Taihang Mountain. Commander Xue doesn't dare to make the decision, so let me consult you on his behalf," the think tank surnamed Chen replied.

"With such a serious injury, even if it is saved, it will take a year or two to recover. Who will be the leader of the Four Lines Regiment? This is an elite army!" The man lowered his head and thought for a moment, then murmured to himself.

"The Four Lines Regiment has been disabled, with less than 800 officers and soldiers still able to fight. There are as many as 2,000 disabled soldiers, and more than 2,000 have been killed in the battle. And from what I can see, these officers and soldiers have suffered heavy casualties, and the regiment leader is also seriously injured and dying. They are all war-weary. The mood was so strong that even Commander Xue and I were in a low mood when we went to express condolences. I am afraid that restoring its combat effectiveness cannot be accomplished in a year or two. After this battle, the reputation of the North China First Infantry Regiment is just a false one. That's all." The think tank surnamed Chen sighed.

"Oh?" The man's face was heavy, but there was a sense of relief in his lowered eyelids.

"Then what arrangements does the 9th Theater have for this incomplete infantry regiment? Even if they no longer have combat effectiveness, they still contributed in the Battle of Hengyang, and they have meritorious service."

"Commander Xue believes that they must either continue to be placed on Hengshan Mountain to supervise the work, or they can go back and forth wherever they want. The Ninth War Zone still has to fight the Japanese army. Military expenses are tight and there is no way to support more than 2,000 disabled soldiers and these engineers, but they cannot be left cold. It has won the hearts of all the officers and men in the army, and no one should be less commended for their military merits.”

"What about the Four Elements Group? Have you ever asked their regimental staff for their opinions?" the man asked after pondering for a moment.

"Leng Feng, the chief of staff who is currently in charge of the military affairs of the Fourth Army Regiment, will replenish them with enough troops and equipment. It is best to go to the front line of Yunnan Province to fight the Japanese army again and avenge the dead officers and soldiers! The position of the regiment leader is temporarily vacant until Tang Dao recovers from his injury. Come back." Zhitan surnamed Chen replied.

"Haha! This Chief of Staff Leng is very smart. He knows that Bai Ling will not reuse them. He wants to work under Stilwell and use Laura's relationship to obtain advanced American equipment and become a strong army." The man's eyes were filled with confusion. He let out a hint of ridicule, tapped his finger on the table of the waiter, and said coldly.

"However, Bai Ling's words really won my heart. I must not chill the hearts of the soldiers. I told the Ministry of Military Affairs that Tang Dao was promoted to the director of the Southern Hebei Agency, which is under the jurisdiction of the Southern Hebei Security Brigade. The Four Troops suffered heavy losses and needed to rest and recuperate. , all its personnel who participated in the war were promoted to the first-level military rank, and those who were army colonels were given the rank of major general. It was renamed the Jinan Garrison Brigade Independent Regiment, and the personnel strength was tentatively set at 2,500. "

"This" the think tank surnamed Chen was slightly startled.

What could be more ridiculous than this kind of ups and downs? Can you convince the public?

"For an infantry regiment that has been beaten to death, what else do they care about its title? They should be very satisfied with being able to rest and recuperate in their old garrison. Why do they need the establishment of a special regiment?" That person? Eyes flashing.

"But this is just an order within the military. Externally, we still need to publicize the Si Xing Regiment more, and the Military and Political Department of the Second War Zone must explain it specifically.

To show caution, Yanji, I have to trouble you to make another trip to award honors to the meritorious troops in Hengyang for me, and help me tell the officers and soldiers of the Fourth Army Regiment that I hope they will train well on the northern battlefield. I look forward to them making new achievements. ! "

"Yes" the think tank surnamed Chen lowered his head and agreed.

A special plane flew through the sky under the escort of four fighter jets, carrying medals, bonuses and a military order.

The Four-Line Regiment, after leaving North China for nearly three years, was going home!