On the southern front, the squadron retreated. Situ Fei commanded the 103rd Division and retreated, leading the Japanese army to the southern foot of Dahong Mountain; the 77th Army gave up Anlu and retreated to the right wing of Dahong Mountain. Ji Xingwen commanded the 37th Division and the 104th Division to launch fierce battles on the Dayanpo line; Liu Guangyu commanded the 109th Division to fight one day with Zhongxiang and the 13th Division, and gave up Zhongxiang, and retreated into Dahong Mountain through Yangzi; the Japanese army followed and pursued, Zhang Ximin commanded the 108th Division to block the Japanese army at Miaokanzi and Weijiaping. The west coast of the Han River, Kanda commanded the 6th Division to attack fiercely, Hu Guangxiang commanded the 106th Division to respond heavily, blocked the Japanese army on a large scale for one day at Anjiao. Then, with Zhang Lingfu's response, he withdrew from the battle and retreated to Yicheng. Kanda rushed to pursue the troops relentlessly.

The situation on the northern line was completely opposite. The outer periphery of Xinyang was filled with artillery fire, and the sound of killing sounds were heard. The squadron attacked Xinyang from three directions. In the sky, the Chinese Air Force was unobstructed, tons of bombs fell from the sky, and the Japanese position was fired. After two days of fierce battle, Panjiawan, an important support point on the periphery, was lost one after another. The 34th Regiment, which was stationed on the outer first line of defense, retreated to the second line of defense.

"Yoxi, Yoxi, the Thirty-Sixth Army has appeared on the battlefield, very good, very good!" After listening to Kinoshita Yuki's report, Anan Weiji was not worried about the fall of Xinyang's periphery, but was quite satisfied.

Kinoshita Yuki smiled bitterly. So far, the battle situation was still under control. The Chinese General did not mobilize his troops south and was still sticking to his plan. However, he did not know that this plan had long been under the control of the Imperial Army. The 40th Division of the 36th Army appeared in the southwest of Xinyang, and the Chinese General could not hold back.

However, the worrying areas of Xiangbei and Nanchang are still very calm. These two areas have weak troops, especially in Xiangbei. The weak 40th Division is fighting against more than 500,000 elite troops in the Ninth War Zone.

"Kitashita, the first step has been completed," Anan Weiji turned around and looked at the map, waving his fists excitedly: "Order Uchiyama to take action, and tell Uchiyama that the Empire hopes to be in his assault!"

With the order of Anan Weiji, Lieutenant General Hideo Uchiyama commanded the 13th Division. The 9th Mixed Brigade and Yamamoto's troops suddenly left behind the 102nd Army that was retreating to Dahong Mountain. They followed the jungle on the east bank of the Han River and went north to seize the ferry crossing of Liushui Town. They crossed the Han River at night and suddenly appeared in the southwest of Yicheng.

The 6th Division commanded by Kanda continued to attack and firmly stuck to the 101st Army. Lieutenant General Kailin Sora led the 17th Division to drill into the mountains to the west and deviate to the 101st Army flanking.

Just as Hidetaro Uchiyama turned, the 39th Division, which was pursuing the 60th Army, abandoned the 60th Army and rotated to the left, crossed the Kedian Town to attack the 108th Division of Zhang Ximin, and the 58th Division occupied Wujiazui, Greenland and chased into the southern foot of Dahong Mountain.

"The situation is very clear now. Anan Weiji is roughly the same as we expected. He aired the center line, which just met our requirements." Xu Zuyi suggested to Zhuang Jihua after comprehensively combining the battlefield situation: "We can start the Cultural Revolution."

Looking at Xu Zuyi's face flushed due to excitement, Zhuang Jihua chuckled. He shook his head and said, "Don't worry, Anan Weiji's strength is still sufficient, and his combat power is not weakened. Let him attack for a while and telegraph Du Yuming that from now on, the 102nd Army and the 60th Army will not retreat in an instant. The two B Divisions, only tens of thousands of people, cannot even stop such an attack, so I will withdraw them."

Zhuang Jihua said as he stood up and put the scenery button on it: "Let's go, Chief Xu, let's go to the war room."

Xu Zuyi smiled, of course he knew what Zhuang Jihua was going to do. One by one, one behind, hurried into the war room. In the war room, He Wei stood in front of the sand table with an annoyance, while Sun Xiaochuan sighed frequently, while the staff members greeted Zhuang Jihua silently.

"It's nothing great." Zhuang Jihua looked at the situation chart and cheered everyone indifferently: "Anan Weiji is still playing the same trick. Four divisions. Anan really respects Wang Guobin. He told Wang Guobin to hold on to me and drag the Kantian to the west bank of the Han River. He ordered Sun Lianzhong to strengthen the offensive and told him that within two days, he would hit me at the city of Xinyang. If Anan Weiji didn't go back, I would take Xinyang."

"Commander!" He Wei finally couldn't help but explode: "Anan Weiji is using Xinyang to drag our main force, and the 101st Army is under attack from four divisions and 80,000 Japanese troops. The situation on the southern front is in danger! We should be transferred to the 22nd Army and the 36th Army to move south as soon as possible, and we can no longer delay."

"No, order Sun Lianzhong to put all the 36th Army into battle, take down Xinyang, and cut off the Pinghan line." Zhuang Jihua was still unmoved: "Order the 22nd Army to prepare for combat. Next, the Japanese are likely to move troops from North China to reinforce Xinyang."

"Commander," Shangguan Jun stood up again and advised with great painstaking advice: "The Japanese army in North China had just finished the attack on the Hebei-Chahar War Zone, and also dispatched two mixed brigades to go south, without any strength to go south to reinforce. Beizhi believed that at least the 22nd Army could be transferred south, including the Second Army, the 36th Army, the Fifth Army, and the Three Army were on the Northern Line, and Xinyang could be captured."

"Yes, the commander, Bei Zhi believes that the advice of the Shangguan General Staff makes sense, and the 22nd Army can be transferred south." Sun Xiaochuan also suggested.

Zhuang Jihua knocked on the table impatiently: "Don't look back and forth. This attitude cannot win this war. I need you to do your best. Chief Xu, draft the order according to the order just now."

After saying that, he raised his legs and walked to the door, turned his head and ordered: "Telection to Du Yuming, the 101st Army defended Yicheng, the 102nd Army and the 60th Army defended Dahong Mountain, the 77th Army must block the 104th Division and tell them that success or failure will be achieved in one fell swoop."

After saying that, Zhuang Jihua left the war room without looking back. The staff in the war room looked at each other. The battle had developed to a critical moment, but the commander who commanded the overall situation was not in the war room. How could this battle be fought?

"Everyone, the commander's determination has been made, everyone should do their duties." Xu Zuyi seemed a little discouraged, reminded everyone indifferently, and then drafted an order to issue it.

Just when Zhuang Jihua was in the war room, Ji Feixiang and several Western journalists were outside the Catholic church in the city. With Zhuang Jihua's habit, reporters would be controlled at the beginning of each battle, and news reports were strictly scrutinized. However, the reporters accompanied by Ji Feixiang were extraordinary, New York Times reporter Foreman, Times reporter Bai Xiude, and Washington Post reporter Graeme.

These three newspapers are the most famous newspapers in the United States. Foreman and Bai Xiude just reported on the drought in Henan. Their reports caused a huge response in the United States, making the National Government extremely embarrassed and attracted the attention of the Central Propaganda Department. Before they arrived at the Fifth War Zone, the telegram from the Propaganda Department arrived, requiring the Fifth War Zone to receive them well.

Forman and Bai Xiude came from Henan together. In less than two weeks, Grame came with the US military advisory group and did not spend much time in the Fifth War Zone.

Some refugees were receiving porridge in the porridge shed at the church door. Forman was taking photos of them. Ji Feixiang sighed: "These refugees have all fled from Zhongxiang'anlu recently, and the Japanese are attacking these two cities."

Bai Xiude's eyes were full of pity, and he sighed: "Ms. Ji, we submitted our application for an interview on the southern line as soon as we arrived. I wonder when we will be able to approve it?"

"There is no approval before the end of the battle," Ji Feixiang smiled sweetly: "The war on the southern front is in urgent need. The reporter may encounter danger in the past. Mr. Bai Xiude, if you want to go to the Xinyang front, I can think of a solution for you."

"We have been coming from the North Line for a few days," Foreman put down his camera and stood up and said, "I thought there was no war in Xinyang at all. Miss Ji, I have heard of General Zhuang in Chongqing, and their evaluation of him is very different. My colleague, Mr. Weber, highly praised him and believed that he was the best general in China, but the generals of the American Advisory Group thought that he was a very stubborn person and was difficult to deal with. Miss Ji, I really wanted to give him an exclusive interview. I don't know when it would be possible?"

Ji Feixiang smiled and said, "I can go back and report it, but I guess it's a big deal. Our army counterattacked Xinyang and the Japanese army attacked Dahongshan. The commander may be unable to do anything."

Bai Xiude shook his head lightly: "Ms. Ji, I think the counterattack against Xinyang is probably a restraining action. When Mr. Forman and I came some time ago, the road was full of military vehicles heading south, filled with soldiers, stretching for more than ten miles. Miss Ji, the real battle must be on the southern line."

This was like a huge thunder blew in Ji Feixiang's ears. The military vehicles filled with soldiers flew south for more than ten miles. How large is this? There are so many troops in the war zone with only the 36th Army and the 22nd Army. There may be a Logistics Transportation Office, but the Logistics Transportation Office is transporting materials.

"You may have read it wrong." Ji Feixiang calmed down. Forman and Bai Xiude entered the Fifth War Zone eleven days ago. At that time, the Imperial Army's attack had not yet begun.

"No, we met on Suitong Highway, although it was night," Foreman was very determined: "But we still saw that the gun behind the military vehicle was still dragging a 105 howitzer."

Forman's words completely destroyed Ji Feixiang's confidence, and her mind was suddenly confused. Suitong Highway, 105 howitzer, 33rd Army and 22nd Army, but was it the 22nd Army or the 36th Army? Or did both armies go south? But more than ten days ago, the movements of the Imperial Army were not determined yet? What was the problem? Is there a Chinese spy inside? But according to the order issued by Zhuang Jihua, the 36th Army and 22nd Army were both on the northern line? Why did he hide it? Why didn't Bai Juhua find it? Or was Bai Juhua already judged? No, if Bai Juhua is judged, why would she stay? Leave the Hekou Teahouse? Leave the Radio? This is unreasonable.

A series of questions appeared in Ji Feixiang's mind. Her mind was completely confused, so she didn't notice Foreman's subsequent problems, let alone the two middle-aged people in short jackets and unshaven beards chatting not far away. Their eyes observed her from time to time.

..
Chapter completed!