Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

It was true. Marshal Nie had no idea what the Japanese were going to do. He was not good at judging the Japanese army's movements. He had misjudged the Japanese army's movements several times in history, including when he lost the Hebei Military Region during the May 1st mopping-up operation.

During the rectification meeting, many cadres in Jin-Cha-Ji criticized Marshal Nie, saying that he made too many mistakes in judgment.

Marshal Nie was completely confused by the Japanese army's actions.

But Wei Hongjun was very surprised.

Originally, Wei Hongjun thought that history had changed a lot, the current situation in North China was so unstable, and the strength of the North China Front Army had declined so much.

The Japanese army should not launch "Operation Number One", but unexpectedly, the Japanese army really did launch "Operation Number One".

The Japanese army is really stubborn.

There is no change in strategy.

However, the current situation in North China was unfavorable, and the Japanese army did not directly deploy troops to launch operations as they had done in the past. Instead, they sent a large number of their newly formed independent guards and field replacement teams to North China. Only then did they begin to deploy troops from the North China Front Army.

The Japanese army used independent guards and field reinforcement teams to protect cities and transportation lines, and then sent field troops out to fight.

"How do you judge?"

"Judging from the current deployment of the Japanese army, they should be targeting the Nationalist troops in Henan. But we still don't quite understand what the Japanese army wants to do. Although the Japanese army has dispatched 19 independent guard teams and 10 field replacement teams to North China, with a total of more than 13 people, it seems like a lot. But in fact, these troops have no combat effectiveness, and are even worse than the previously formed 115th Division, 131st Division, and 132nd Division. With so many Japanese troops in northern Henan, it is really hard to think of any other possibility except targeting the Nationalist troops in Henan.

Marshal Nie looked at the map and nodded.

The Japanese army's deployment of so many divisions to northern Henan was definitely aimed at the Nationalist troops in Henan. If they were planning to sweep the Eighth Route Army base, the Japanese army would definitely not act like this. They would gather in northern Henan for no reason. The 129th Division did have a number of bases in northern Henan, but that wouldn't have been enough to force the North China Front Army to deploy so many divisions.

Judging from the current situation, the Japanese army has dispatched six divisions to the Yellow River in northern Henan.

Together with the 36th Division and the Tank Division already in Xinxiang, the Japanese army concentrated seven infantry divisions and one tank division there, totaling nearly 7 men. With so many troops, there were no nearby Eighth Route Army bases that needed to be swept by so many.

Whether it was the base in northern Henan, the base in southern Hebei, or the base of the 129th Division in Taihang Mountains, the Japanese army could not transfer its main force to northern Henan if it wanted to sweep it.

"The Japanese army is in a disadvantageous situation right now and shouldn't be launching a battle of this scale."

Marshal Nie really couldn't guess what the Japanese army was thinking.

Currently, the US military was overwhelming the Japanese in the Pacific. Especially after the Battle of Guadalcanal and the Marshall Islands, the Japanese were already at a significant disadvantage in the Pacific. To stop the US, the Japanese army had drawn a large number of troops. With no more troops available for the battlefields in the interior, they had to draw from the Kwantung Army.

In addition to the setbacks in the Pacific battlefield, the Japanese army is not performing well in the Burma Campaign.

The Japanese army is currently mobilizing 100,000 troops in the Battle of Imphal. However, the situation is not going smoothly. It can be said that the Japanese army is now fighting everywhere and needs troops everywhere.

At the beginning of 1943, the diary showed that a large number of troops had been withdrawn from the Kwantung Army. However, the situation was now unfavorable, and the Japanese army was preparing to withdraw more troops from the Kwantung Army. How could the Japanese army organize such a large-scale battle at this time?

I really can’t figure it out.

Or was this just a trick played by the Japanese army?

Everyone was wondering why the Japanese army suddenly wanted to fight the National Army in Henan.

The situation was that the majority of the Nationalist army had received news that the Japanese were suffering heavy casualties at the hands of the US. The situation in Burma, where they were fighting the British, was also not going so well. Therefore, the Nationalist army knew that the Japanese were not going to be able to continue their struggle. With the day of Japanese surrender drawing near, no one was willing to risk their lives.

They were all waiting for the US military to defeat the Japanese army.

So over the past year, the relationship between the National Army and the Japanese Army was basically one of "I won't move unless the enemy moves."

Why would the Japanese army attack the Henan National Army at this time?

Wei Hongjun, observing everyone's expressions, suddenly understood why the Henan-Hunan-Guangxi Campaign had been such a failure. To put it bluntly, the Nationalist army had become complacent. They all believed that the Japanese army, in its current state, could no longer launch a large-scale offensive. This sentiment was shared not only by the Nationalist army but also by the Eighth Route Army. They believed that the Japanese army was incapable of launching a large-scale offensive.

The Japanese army is in such a bad situation now, and no one believes that the Japanese army will launch a campaign like "Operation Number One".

The Japanese army had been preparing for several months, but everyone was complacent and did not believe it at all. As a result, when the Japanese army launched "Operation No. 1", many troops fled.

Because I was totally unprepared.

"Commander, I want to say a few words.

Marshal Nie nodded immediately when he saw Wei Hongjun.

Wei Hongjun's strategic judgment has always been very good. Whether it was judging the direction of Gangcun Ningci's attack or the Japanese army's sweep of the Yizhong Military Region, Wei Hongjun did a good job.

So when he saw Wei Hongjun was about to speak, Marshal Nie immediately said, "Go ahead."

"Commander, I believe this isn't a minor move, nor a smokescreen, but a truly major one. Judging from the current situation, the US military has been overwhelming the Japanese in the Pacific. At sea, the Japanese are completely at a disadvantage and are no match for the US. The US Navy already holds an absolute advantage, coupled with air superiority and even bombing the Japanese mainland. The current situation threatens to block the Japanese sea routes, which would then separate the Japanese mainland, the Kwantung Army, the China Expeditionary Army, and the Nanyang Army from various locations, completely cut off. Once this happens, these Japanese forces will be forced to fight independently, unable to form a unified, coherent strategic alliance. Ultimately, they will be easily annihilated. To avoid this, the Japanese have no other options at sea, given the US military's overwhelming advantage. They can only seek a solution on land. The only solution is to open a land route in China, linking the Japanese mainland, the Kwantung Army, the China Expeditionary Army, and the Nanyang Army. This land route would allow the Japanese forces to unite if the situation becomes unfavorable."

A strategy that seems crazy.

The Japanese army's current sea routes were about to be cut off by the US military. In order to avoid the division of its troops on various battlefields, the Japanese army fought separately.

So we are preparing to open up a land route to connect all these troops.

This was the Japanese army's "Operation Number One".

"Overland passage?"

Yang Quanwu listened to Wei Hongjun's words and thought deeply. He stood up and walked to the front of the map.

Looking at the map, he said, "If the Japanese army really wants to open up a land route, then they must follow the railway. The land route is inseparable from the railway. In this case, the first route the Japanese army must open up is the Pinghan Railway. Currently, the Henan section of the Pinghan Railway is in the hands of the National Army in central Henan, cutting off the connection between the North China Front Army and the Central China Front Army. So the North China Front Army is currently deploying so many troops along the Yellow River in order to attack the National Army in central Henan and open up the Pinghan Railway. But this is not enough. After opening up the Pinghan Railway, their next step must be to open up the Yuehan Railway and the Hunan-Guangxi Railway. Only when these three railways are opened up can the Japanese army's China Expeditionary Army's several fronts be fully connected. And only by taking Guangxi can they connect with the Southern Army. This is no ordinary small battle."

Yang Quanwu was very surprised as he spoke.

Because if it is true as Wei Hongjun judged, this is the Japanese army's attempt to open up a land route. Then how many national army troops would have been there along the way if the Japanese army had to open up the Pinghan Road, Yuehan Road, and Hunan-Guangxi Railway.

Along the way were the First War Zone, the Fourth War Zone, and the Ninth War Zone, with more than one million national army troops.

How many people would the Japanese army need to mobilize to open up these passages?

One hundred thousand, two hundred thousand, three hundred thousand.

Or mobilize 400,000 people?

If a war breaks out, it will be the largest battle launched by the Japanese army since the Battle of Wuhan. It will even be the battle with the largest number of troops deployed by both sides since the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War.

After Yang Quanwu finished speaking, he took a deep breath.

Not to mention the other cadres present.

Marshal Nie, Luo Qirong, Cheng Zhihua and others also looked very serious. Because if this judgment is correct, it will change China's anti-Japanese situation.

"I think the analysis of Comrade Wei Hongjun and Comrade Yang Quanwu is still reasonable."

Guo Tianmin, commander of the Yanbei Military Region, approached the map and said, "The Japanese army has been short on manpower for the past few years, but there hasn't been any talk of large-scale troop reinforcements. However, in the past few months, the Japanese army has sent an additional 130,000 troops to North China. They are all a mess of independent guards, field replacement teams, and other such units. After arriving in North China, these troops quickly entered important cities and transportation lines. In some important cities, such as Peking, Taiyuan, and Shijiazhuang, the Japanese army even deployed two independent guards. Their purpose in coming to North China is to stabilize the important cities and transportation lines in North China. Now that the Japanese army has gathered on such a large scale along the Yellow River, it can't be a deception. They are determined to attack the Nationalist troops in Henan."

Everyone had already judged that the Japanese army would definitely attack the national army in Henan.

So the troops were deployed along the Yellow River.

It’s just that no one understood what the Japanese army wanted to do before.

But after Wei Hongjun said this, many people suddenly understood.

This time, the Japanese army gathered on the banks of the Yellow River, not just to fight the Nationalist army in Henan, but to launch a major war.

If you think about it this way, you can guess a lot of things that will happen next.

The Japanese attack on central Henan was just the beginning. If they wanted to open up the mainland transportation line, they would have to attack Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi and other places.

Deng Guodao, commander of the Jireliao Military Region, said, "If this is true, then it's a good thing for us. The Japanese army has withdrawn so many troops to attack central Henan this time, leaving behind those independent guards and field replacement teams in North China. Although they have deployed a large number of troops, these troops have poor combat effectiveness and can only huddle in large cities and transportation lines. This gives us a great opportunity for development. It is a good opportunity not only for us, but also for all units of the Eighth Route Army. If the Japanese army really wants to open up the so-called mainland transportation line, then they will not only withdraw troops from us, but also from other places.

This is a good thing for both our Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army."

Deng Guo was even able to fight back and forth with the Japanese 59th, 29th and 71st Divisions in Jidong and Rehe.

What are those independent guards?

Can you fight?

Moreover, if the Japanese army really wanted to open up the so-called mainland transportation line, they would inevitably draw troops from all over the country on a large scale. Not to mention developing bases and troops behind enemy lines, which was the specialty of the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army.

Deng Guo was a general with great vision.

They took into consideration not only Hebei and Shanxi, but also other regions, and even the New Fourth Army.

"If only these independent guards remain in cities like Shijiazhuang and Baoding, we can fully prepare to take over these cities."

Huang Yong, commander of the Hebei-Shandong Military Region, was very excited.

In the past, these cities had Japanese divisions, so it was not easy to capture them. But now that the Japanese army has withdrawn a large number of divisions to the south, leaving only a few independent guards, they will of course consider attacking these large cities.

“In fact, if a fight really breaks out, it will be best for the 129th Division.

Yang Quanwu pointed at the map.

"The 129th Division currently has bases in Zhongtiao Mountain, southern Shanxi, and northern Henan. If the Japanese attack the Nationalist forces in central Henan, it will be a great opportunity for them to develop. The bases in Zhongtiao Mountain, southern Shanxi, and northern Henan can be connected, and they can even send troops south to the Yellow River and into the Central Plains.

Everyone spoke out their opinions.

Jinchayi had many cadres who were both civil and military.

Officers like Yang Quanwu, Deng Hua, and Guo Tianmin were all capable of fighting, conducting rectification work, and possessing excellent strategic foresight. Huang Yong, despite his bad temper, was also a skilled and capable general.

Their judgment of the situation and even their military capabilities are actually better than Marshal Nie's.

Marshal Nie's strengths were his ability to open up and build bases, and to place his generals in appropriate positions to play their roles. When conflicts arose between them, he was able to appease them.

Marshal Nie listened quietly to their analysis.

He looked at Luo Qirong and Cheng Zhihua beside him and said, "What do you think?"

"I think it makes sense."

Cheng Zhihua said: "According to normal logic, the Japanese army is currently short of everything. There shouldn't be such a large-scale military operation at this time, but they have mobilized so many troops to station in northern Henan. With so many troops moving, how much logistical supplies will be consumed. It can't be just for show. But why are they moving? Why are they suddenly attacking the Chinese army in Henan? What will happen if they fight? I just couldn't figure this out before, and I didn't know what the Japanese army was going to do. But now I think what Comrade Wei Hongjun said should be more reasonable. The Japanese army's current situation at sea is very bad, and there is a risk of having their sea route cut off by the US military.

Once the sea route is cut off, many Japanese troops will be separated and fight on their own. The only way is to open up the land transportation line."

Luo Qirong also nodded slightly.

Wei Hongjun's judgment is the most reasonable.

Luo Qirong was initially confused when he heard about the Japanese troop movements, but following Wei Hongjun's line of thought, he soon connected everything.

Marshal Nie thought for a moment and said, "Then we will prepare according to this idea. All units should be prepared for a major counterattack. If the Japanese army really invades central Henan and fights the Chinese army there, then apart from a few important cities and some important transportation lines, we will be able to capture all other places, including those county towns. Therefore, all military regions must be well prepared in this regard, and the next step is to actively expand the base area. But this is just speculation, and everyone must also be prepared for the Japanese army to suddenly strike back at us."

"Yes."

"Go back and get ready."

After the meeting, Marshal Nie, Luo Qirong, Cheng Zhihua, Yang Quan, Wu, and Deng Guo stayed behind. Marshal Nie said to them, "Let's write a report to Yan'an and tell them our speculation. If the Japanese army really wants to open up the land transportation line, Yan'an may even notify Chongqing."

Chapter 549: Heartless Cannon

Battle of Henan, Hunan and Guangxi.

This was the last struggle of the Japanese army.

After this struggle, the War of Resistance Against Japan was truly about to usher in victory.