Chapter 121: Severe Punishment Without Mercy
Seeing Bai Chongxi’s self-mocking expression, Su Yaoyang’s mouth twitched, but he didn’t know what to say.
Forget it, he’s just a small fry, better not get involved in the fights between the big shots, just honestly fight the Japanese devils.
Once the War of Resistance ends, immediately take his wife and run away with greased soles.
After sighing for a bit, Bai Chongxi turned his head and saw Su Yaoyang nearby with his eyes on his nose and nose on his heart, feeling both angry and amused. “Mingxi… can I call you that?”
Su Yaoyang nodded: “Of course… General Jian Gong, you are both my superior and elder, so naturally you can address this junior that way.”
“You don’t need to be so cautious. The matters between me and the Committee Chairman won’t involve you. Just rest assured.”
Su Yaoyang touched his nose: “Well… with my small arms and legs, even if I wanted to get involved, I couldn’t.”
“You brat, where’s the courage you had to argue with me just now? How did you chicken out so quickly?”
“That was then, this is now. Things are different now.”
“Fine… you’re sharper than a monkey with fur on, I’m too lazy to talk to you.” Bai Chongxi impatiently rolled his eyes.
But he wasn’t really angry. Human nature is inherently selfish. The reason he and Li Zongren could support each other was due to decades of friendship forged through life and death.
Su Yaoyang was a total stranger to him, neither kin nor friend, so why should he bare his heart to him?
An attitude like his now was the normal one.
After the teasing, Bai Chongxi asked: “Mingxi… do you know why De Lin and I called you here today?”
“I don’t know.” Su Yaoyang replied.
“According to aerial reconnaissance and our internal intelligence, just yesterday, the Japanese 16th Division, originally in Rizhao area, suddenly advanced toward Linyi.
After discussing with De Lin, we both agree that the 16th Division is heading for Tai’erzhuang… that is, toward you. Do you have any thoughts?”
“Thoughts?” Su Yaoyang gave a bitter laugh. “What thoughts could I have? Even if I had heaven-defying skills, I couldn’t handle two divisions.”
Bai Chongxi frowned: “Brat… don’t be so sarcastic there. De Lin and I called you here precisely to hear your thoughts.
Because your and the Nanjing Security Regiment’s next actions and insights will determine the course of the Tai’erzhuang and even Xuzhou Battles.”
Su Yaoyang smiled bitterly: “General Bai, please don’t say that. I’m just a small security regiment commander, I can’t shoulder such a heavy responsibility. But since you’ve asked for my views, I’ll venture to speak.”
With that, he cleared his throat. “Currently, our army and the Japanese 10th Division are in a stalemate at Tai’erzhuang. It’s just a matter of who holds out first.
The key for our army to seize the initiative lies in the 20th Army Group. As long as the 20th Army Group takes the lead to attack, striking the Japanese 10th Division from the flank and rear, thoroughly defeating or even annihilating it, the siege of Tai’erzhuang will be lifted immediately.
Thereby allowing our army to gain battlefield initiative and calmly deploy troops to counter the Japanese attacks.”
Bai Chongxi and Li Zongren exchanged a glance, then asked: “So how do you think we can win the Xuzhou Battle?”
“We can’t win.”
Su Yaoyang’s words were beyond the two men’s expectations.
Bai Chongxi’s face slowly darkened: “Why… if we can defeat or even annihilate the 10th Division, won’t the battlefield situation open up? How can we not win this campaign?”
“Because the Japanese have massive industrial support. They can continuously pour manpower and weapons into the battlefield, but we can’t.”
Su Yaoyang explained: “Currently, although the Xuzhou region has gathered our 600,000 troops, this is already the result of our all-out effort.
The Japanese are different. They can rely on their complete reserve mobilization system to continue conscripting and gathering supplies, continuously pouring forces into the Xuzhou battlefield.
If we continue transferring forces from other theaters, the happiest would be the Japanese, because they excel at large-scale corps operations with their strong industrial strength and mechanized troops.
If China and Japan both posture for a decisive battle, putting all their forces and resources on the table, once we lose, the consequences will be catastrophic. We can’t afford another defeat like the Battle of Shanghai.
So the wisest approach is to defeat or even annihilate the 10th Division protruding at Tai’erzhuang before the Japanese main forces converge.
Then withdraw all main force units from Xuzhou, and as Mr. Baili said, trade space for time.
Employ the method of enemy advances we retreat, enemy halts we harass, enemy tires we attack, enemy retreats we pursue, slowly wearing down the Japanese until they are dragged thin, worn out, even dragged to death!”
“Good!”
Bai Chongxi slapped the table and shouted approval, muttering to himself: “Enemy advances we retreat, enemy halts we harass, enemy tires we attack, enemy retreats we pursue. This method is great. Mingxi, you’re truly a strategic genius.”
“Hey hey… Jian Gong, don’t praise me randomly. The one who first proposed this method is someone else. I’m just parroting others.” Even with thick skin, Su Yaoyang didn’t dare claim the instructor’s credit and quickly waved his hands.
“Who proposed it doesn’t matter. What’s important is that this method has great guiding significance for our future combat strategies. When I get back, I must propose it to the Committee Chairman.
Use this suggestion as the guiding principle for our future operations against Japan, especially for those units operating behind enemy lines, who must study this method well.”
Seeing Bai Chongxi’s excited look, Li Zongren could only steer the topic back: “Alright, Jiansheng, we’ll talk about that later. Now let’s first discuss this pressing issue: how to annihilate the 10th Division at Tai’erzhuang.”
At the mention of this problem, Bai Chongxi’s face also darkened.
After thinking for a long time, he said: “Alright, De Lin, you and I will jointly send a telegram to the Committee Chairman, giving him a detailed report on the current situation, and also explaining Tang Enbo’s hesitation that has delayed the battle.
And clearly state to him that if the 20th Army Group still stays in Zaozhuang without moving, there will be no need to continue the Xuzhou Battle.”
“Good…” Li Zongren also stood up and snorted coldly: “We’ll both jointly telegram the Committee Chairman. If I can’t even move one army group, then I won’t bother being this nominal theater commander. Whoever wants it can have it.
Additionally, send a telegram to Tang Enbo, telling him: He must launch a general offensive from behind the enemy at Tai’erzhuang with the army group’s main force before dawn on April 2. Military orders are like mountains, military law merciless. If he disobeys and delays the battle, he will be severely punished for insubordination!”
Listening to Li Zongren emotionlessly read out the telegram, Su Yaoyang clearly saw in the eyes of this commander, renowned for his magnanimity, a trace of undisguisable killing intent…
