Chapter 107: Obeying Orders But Not Proclamations
The Japanese army’s movements naturally could not escape Li Zongren, who was constantly monitoring them.
Looking at the telegram in his hand, Li Zongren was overjoyed.
“Good grief, even the 8th Brigade has been mobilized. Teng County, so vast, is left with only one battalion to garrison it. Does Isogai Rensuke really not fear that I will cut off his rear?”
Sun Lianzhong at the side said wistfully, “Perhaps in Isogai Rensuke’s view, we no longer have the strength to cut off their rear?”
“Hmph!” Li Zongren threw away the pencil in his hand, put his hands on his hips and paced back and forth a few times, then said gravely, “Immediately telegraph Tang Enbo, tell him that the Japanese army in Teng County has urgently been transferred to Tai’erzhuang, and order him to dispatch a division immediately to recapture Teng County.”
“Also telegraph the 40th Army and 59th Army, ordering them to seize the time to rest and reorganize in Linyi, and to closely monitor the movements of the Japanese army’s 5th Division. Report immediately if there is any unusual activity.”
“Yes!”
“To 20th Army Group Commander Tang Enbo:
According to reliable reports, the main force of the enemy 8th Brigade garrisoning Teng County has been ordered to urgently move north to reinforce Isogai’s division at Tai’erzhuang. The remaining enemy garrison in Teng County is only one battalion and some puppet troops. The city defenses are weak and the security is in chaos. This is a heaven-sent opportunity!
You are ordered to immediately draw capable troops and strike Teng County with the speed of thunder. Once the city is captured, it will not only cut off the enemy’s rear at Tai’erzhuang but also threaten the flank of the enemy 5th Division at Linyi, reaping multiple benefits in one stroke.
This battle values speed above all. Strive to take it in one go. If delayed and the opportunity is missed, allowing the enemy time to return to defense, the good chance will be lost, and regret will be too late!
Fifth War Zone Commander-in-Chief Li Zongren
March 24, Republic of China Year 27″
At the 20th Army Group headquarters over 50 kilometers south of Zaozhuang, Tang Enbo looked at the telegram in his hand and could not help sneering, “What on earth is wrong with our Commander Li? He even issues such baffling orders?
And he wants us to send a division to recapture Zaozhuang? Does he really think the Japanese are made of clay?”
Guan Linzheng, army commander of the 52nd Army at the side, could not help saying, “Army Group Commander, didn’t Commander Li say it? Because the battle at Tai’erzhuang is intense, the 8th Brigade garrisoning Teng County has urgently rushed to reinforce Tai’erzhuang. Now is the perfect time to recapture Teng County.”
“Hahaha…” Tang Enbo could not help laughing loudly, glancing sideways at Guan Linzheng: “According to the intelligence we received yesterday, the 31st Division defending Tai’erzhuang has been fighting since the 13th until now, with only less than 3,000 left out of 8,000.
Now you’re telling me the Japanese army attacking Tai’erzhuang has suffered heavy losses. Tell me… is this true?”
“This…”
Guan Linzheng hesitated for a moment.
After all, this matter was too fantastical. Tai’erzhuang, which had originally been barely holding on, suddenly launched a counterattack against the Japanese army, inflicting heavy losses on them, and even forcing the Japanese to urgently mobilize troops for reinforcement. No matter how you look at it, it seemed more like a Japanese plot.
Seeing Guan Linzheng silent, Tang Enbo snorted coldly: “If we send troops now to recapture Teng County, who knows if the Japanese will strike from behind?
Once the main force of the army group is exposed, wouldn’t that put the 70,000 officers and men of the 20th Army Group in danger?”
Tang Enbo’s words made many generals nod repeatedly. The 10th Division’s actions were indeed too abnormal. Who could guarantee this wasn’t a trap to lure the enemy? On the battlefield, all sorts of schemes and tricks were used without restraint. If the 20th Army Group fell for it, tens of thousands of troops might be in peril.
Seeing no general objecting, Tang Enbo showed a complacent look on his face, raised his right hand to the telegraph operator and said, “Reply to Commander Li… saying that the enemy situation is unclear at present, the main positions of the Japanese army are not yet clear, and the consequences of falling into a trap would be unimaginable.
To ensure the smooth progress of the Xuzhou Campaign, the 20th Army Group must bide its time and fight the Japanese to decide victory only when the timing is ripe.”
“Bastard… utter bastard…”
Upon receiving the telegram from Tang Enbo, Li Zongren was furious.
“This Tang Enbo, cowardly and afraid of death, missing the battle opportunity, is not fit to be the commander of the 20th Army Group!”
Sun Lianzhong frowned: “Commander Li, should we send him another telegram to urge him? Make the tone stricter?”
“No use.” Li Zongren sighed deeply, “The 20th Army Group is Chairman Jiang’s direct troops, and Tang Enbo often considers himself a disciple of the emperor.
Believe me, if I dare reprimand him, within hours, Chairman Jiang will telegraph to plead for him, and might even transfer the 20th Army Group out of the Fifth War Zone.”
“No way?” Sun Lianzhong was dumbfounded, staring in disbelief with wide eyes.
“Nothing is impossible.” Li Zongren smiled bitterly and shook his head. He knew too well that old rival he had fought for years. Based on his understanding of Old Jiang, the other side was absolutely capable of such a thing.
“Since Tang Enbo refuses to attack, what should we do?”
Li Zongren pondered for a moment, then shook his head regretfully: “Now troops are stretched thin everywhere, really no other units can be spared to reinforce Tai’erzhuang. We can only rely on Mingxi himself.
But we can’t idle either. Hasn’t the 31st Division already withdrawn to the south bank of the Yunhe? I’ll immediately have the depot send 3,000 new recruits and a batch of weapons and ammunition to the 31st Division. You must complete the reorganization at the fastest speed. Understood?”
Sun Lianzhong looked at him in surprise: “No… my Commander Li, the 31st Division just withdrew. Let us catch our breath. Don’t work them to death.”
“Catch our breath?” Li Zongren showed a wry smile: “Brother Fang Lu… I give you a breather, but who gives me one?
The Japanese are pressing step by step, Tang Enbo disobeys orders. What can I do?”
Looking at Li Zongren’s worried face, Sun Lianzhong sighed lightly. As a senior general, he certainly understood the pressure on Li Zongren’s shoulders. Don’t be fooled by his position as the war zone commander-in-chief, second to none with over 600,000 troops under him, always surrounded by attendants wherever he goes.
But once the battle situation turns unfavorable, he as war zone commander would bear the brunt, and then the spittle of the entire nation’s people would drown him.
Just as Li Zongren and Sun Lianzhong looked worried, Su Yaoyang was commanding three battalions, with the tank company’s support, to launch a counterattack against the 33rd Brigade inside Tai’erzhuang.
Unlike other Nationalist troops, Su Yaoyang’s security regiment had an extremely brutal combat style.
First call in artillery for intensive bombardment of the Japanese positions, then have the tank company advance, with infantry following behind the tanks to protect their flanks. When encountering fire points or resistance, either the tank fires a shot, or the rear infantry sets up 60mm mortars for covering fire on the target.
In short, if ammunition can solve it, never fill it with lives.
This combat method also made the defending 33rd Brigade very unadapted. When did Chinese troops start using artillery coverage? Isn’t that something only the Great Japanese Empire is qualified to do?
