The War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Begins in Songhu

Chapter 366 Some are happy, some are sad (Bonus chapter 3050 for the emergence of pornographic photographers)

At the same time, in the Qianjiang area of ​​central Guangxi Province, the Nationalist Army Guilin Headquarters, which had recently moved there, was also present.

A heated argument is taking place between two senior staff officers of the Guangxi Army in the command post, including several major generals and colonels.

However, their current argument is not about how to retake Nanning, the most important city in southern Guangxi.

Instead, it was Hu Biao and his partners, along with another independent regiment from northern Jiangsu that they had just assembled at an astonishing speed, almost overnight.

The reason I say "again" is that there is another independent regiment of 10,000 men in northern Jiangsu, which is currently in northwestern Shanxi.

A colonel, looking excited, started shouting:

"That's all settled! Hu Biao and Commander Hu are known for their excellent defense. With him leading the troops to hold Gaofeng Pass, this place is safe for the next few days."

What we need to do now is immediately reinforce our troops and equipment there, firmly grasp this place in our hands, and facilitate future military operations against Nanning City.

The words had barely faded when another colonel spoke with unusual disdain:
"How can you be so naive? You finally managed to drive away the Japanese, only to find that there's an independent regiment from northern Jiangsu still refusing to leave southern Guangxi."

Think about it, their main force is still in northwestern Shanxi, controlling several counties, giving Yan Xishan a real headache.

I think we don't need to worry about anything. We should even strictly order each army to manage its own logistics personnel and not sell weapons to others for profit. Once ammunition supplies run out, no matter how capable Hu Biao is, he'll have no choice but to retreat with his men.

"Bullshit! Commander Hu is practically one of our own in the Guangxi Army. Back at Dunwu Temple..."

The content of the dispute between the two parties is quite simple, to put it bluntly.

There is no doubt that Hu Biao and the Northern Jiangsu Independent Regiment are capable fighters; but there is even less doubt about their ability to recruit troops and mislead the local people.

No one can guarantee how big a thorn in the side of the Guangxi clique if these people are allowed to stay in the southern Guangxi region for a year or two.

If Hu Biao stays and doesn't leave, it will be an even bigger problem.

Throughout the argument, Bai Jiansheng, who had received a promise from the bald-headed principal two weeks prior, was given full command of the Guilin Headquarters and was in charge of the Guinan Campaign.

This senior officer from the Guangxi Army remained silent and expressionless, but he was clearly quite depressed.

The reason for this is that Hu Biao refused his and Li Delin's offer of recruitment outside of Taierzhuang. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so worried today.

In addition, there is a point he considers even more crucial:
He clearly sensed that, more than two years into the full-scale war of resistance against Japan, the mindset of the high-ranking officers of the Guangxi Army under his command had changed.

Unlike the Battle of Shanghai, when they were united and determined to fight the Japanese to the death regardless of the consequences, the Chinese side, with its continuous defeats and retreats, focused on conserving its strength and wanted to wait and see.

Even at this critical moment when the Guinan region was occupied by the Japanese, many high-ranking generals were still reluctant to lead their troops to fight the Japanese to the death.

If things continue like this, Bai Jiansheng has no confidence at all that they can retake Nanning City in this battle.

Finally, as both sides stuck to their own versions of events, and the argument escalated to the point of near-physical violence, Bai Jiansheng spoke up:

"Stop it, all of you! We are facing a formidable enemy right now. What kind of behavior is this, arguing like this?"

Amidst the shouts and curses, everyone fell silent, and he continued speaking, outlining a preliminary plan for dealing with the situation involving Hu Biao and his group:
"I think we should postpone the support for Gaofeng Pass for now."

Our army is now severely dispersed, facing the enemy's advance in many areas and needing to defend them, and we cannot spare many troops to provide support.

Once the main force in Yangjiang, Kaiping and other places returns to reinforce, we will discuss how to support Gaofeng Pass.

As for the logistics departments of various armies doing business with them, given the huge profit incentives, I doubt that even if we talked about it, we couldn't completely stop them.

Spread the word: everything must be kept within limits, or military law will be merciless.

Bai Jiansheng's statement above essentially concluded that Hu Biao and his group would likely not receive any reinforcements for some time to come.

However, weapons and ammunition can still be replenished to some extent, but the quantity is destined to be limited, and the price won't be cheap either...

Regarding the above, Hu Biao and his men were already well-prepared. They were all too familiar with the complex, conflicted thoughts of the warlords and leaders of various miscellaneous armies during this stalemate phase of the War of Resistance.

What Hu Biao and his men didn't know was that an unexpected reinforcement was gathering and preparing.

At the same time, the great man asked those around him, "Have the comrades in the Telecommunications Department made contact with Hu Biao and the others yet?"

Faced with this question, our Party comrade codenamed 'Farmer' shook his head.

Upon hearing this, the great man quickly walked out of the cave dwelling, silently smoked a "Flying Tiger" brand cigarette under an apricot tree, and then made up his mind.

He asked the farmer, "What is our strength around Nanning City?"

"Comrades in Guangxi Province have faced significant challenges in their work due to the suppression by the Guangxi clique over the years, and their resources are relatively limited; the Nanning Special Branch has already withdrawn from the city and is currently operating in the Yongning area."

After locating Yongning on a map belonging to a leader, the great man issued an order:
"The telegram tells the comrades in the Nanning Special Branch to provide Hu Biao and his men in Gaofeng Pass with personnel, equipment and supplies at all costs."

Our own troops will absolutely not stand idly by.

Then continue to contact Hu Biao. Once you get in touch, tell him that we are like his family, and even if we are poor, we will always be his support...

*******
At the same time, but in a different location, the Fifth Army was currently advancing towards Nanning.

From a later perspective, the Fifth Army was full of brilliant generals. After receiving news of the Subei Independent Regiment's great victory in its first battle, they all had quite a few interesting expressions.

After putting down the telegram, Du Yuming, the commander of the Fifth Army, said with great interest:
"No wonder he almost made my old superior, Yan Laoxi, defect to the Japanese. Hu Biao is indeed worthy of his reputation."

After saying that, he didn't pay any more attention to the situation, because all his thoughts were now focused on getting to Kunlun Pass and defending it.

If the Japanese were to occupy this area, the entire Fifth Army would be trapped north of Nanning and unable to launch a full-scale counterattack with peace of mind.

Commander Dai Anlan of the 200th Division waved his arm forcefully: "My remnants of the 600th Regiment, following Hu Biao, have not been wasted at all, it was worth it."

Zheng Dongguo, commander of the First Honorary Division: "If there is an opportunity in the future, I must have a good drink with Hu Biao and his comrades."

Qiu Qingquan, commander of the newly formed 22nd Division: "Hu Biao? He's just so-so."

Although he had some skills and achievements, he was ultimately just a self-taught individual who had never even attended a military academy.

"Mr. Qiu graduated from the second class of the Whampoa Military Academy and also studied at the German Army University with excellent grades; in the combat of this kind of mechanized force, we still need to rely on those of us with formal training..."

As for how the Japanese side reacted after receiving the news.

After receiving news that the regimental commander, Yoshinobu Watanabe, had been killed in action, and that his battalion had been almost completely wiped out in a single encounter, he was deeply disappointed.

Ando Rikichi, the commander of the Japanese 21st Army and the overall commander of this Guinan campaign, let out a long sigh.

An hour earlier, he had learned that Nanning City had been easily captured and Kunlun Pass would soon be taken.

Believing the overall situation was settled and there was no need for him to personally command anymore, he immediately announced that all participating troops would form the Yongqin Corps, under the command of the 5th Division Commander, Imamura Hitoshi.

He himself plans to fly back to Guangzhou tomorrow to take charge.

What happened? After receiving the news, he instinctively knew that yet another damned variable had arrived, and his original plan to return to Guangzhou had come to nothing.

Subsequently, an order was issued:
"The air force will bomb Gaofeng Pass with all its might, and then the remaining Watanabe Regiment will launch an attack at all costs to capture this strategic location."

But after issuing the order, even he himself knew a little bit.

Even with more troops and air support, the remaining forces of Watanabe's regiment have no chance of capturing Gaofeng Pass.

Letting them launch a full-scale attack was merely a way to weaken the Northern Jiangsu Independent Regiment before the 5th Division could divert other units to take over the offensive...

(End of this chapter)