Yangjiashan was lost, and the positions of Chenjiaqiao and Tangshan were lost and fell one after another. The entrance to the lake mouth was opened, and the Japanese army drove straight in, intending to take the lake mouth directly. And this is also what Luo Zhuoying hopes. As long as the Japanese army is at a stalemate in Longtan Mountain, the encirclement on all sides will inevitably inflict heavy losses on the 106th Division.

At this time, the commander of the 11th Army, Okamura Ninji, left Nanjing and personally went to Madang to take command.

At the headquarters, Okamura Ninji received good news from the 106th Division, but he did not feel a trace of joy.

Okamura had a hunch that this was a trap, a huge pocket array. There is a high probability that the 106th Division will be surrounded by 9 enemy divisions.

So, Okamura immediately called Shigeichi Hauda to his command room to learn about the specific situation at the mouth of the lake.

"Hata-kun, you're here."

Okamura stood up from his seat as a sign of respect.

Hata's expression was serious, he stood straight in front of Okamura, bowed his head and asked, "General, what is the matter with looking for a humble position?" ”

Okamura's expression is easy-going, but his eyes are deep and full of wisdom. It was another pair of eyes that could see through everything, after all, he was one of the "three feathered blacks" of the Japanese army.

Okamura is still a China expert. During the warlord wars of the twentieth century, he served as a military adviser to the Beiyang warlord Sun Chuanfang. This person has also made great achievements in espionage.

Okamura Ninji, who was meticulous in his view, noticed that Shigeichi Harata had a strange expression, and there was a slight resistance and dissatisfaction on his body, so he was not in a hurry to ask about the Hukou battle, but asked: "What do you think of the Nanjing incident?" ”

Hakuda replied with two words: "Stupid." ”

Okamura asked again, "What do you think of this battle at Madang Fortress?" ”

Ha Tian thought for a moment and replied, "It's also stupid, and this stupidity belongs to the other party." ”

After listening, Okamura Ninji sighed, "Not exactly. If it weren't for the intelligence provided by those 'Chinese friends', would you have launched an attack on the 24th? ”

Shigeichi Habata was silent. He didn't understand if the commander had come here to discuss this.

While Hatada was confused, Okamura continued: "The Chinese are stupid and the nation is humble, but they are big and numerous. I have always believed that the aggression of force is not terrible, but the aggression of the mind. They had been under foreign rule for hundreds of years and had become accustomed to being slaves. But excessive killing will only make them angry and awake! Once a powerful and once glorious nation awakens, it is very terrifying. ”

Only then did Shigeichi Harata understand the commander's intentions. He was blaming himself for the massacre of Anqing at the beginning of the war. So this time, the vanguard task of attacking Pengze County and Hukou County was given to the 106th Division.

Ha Tian nodded apologetically: "My subordinates are very sorry, I understand the commander's hard work." ”

"Yo Xi ~ I have high expectations for the Botian detachment, it is not luck to attack Anqing and occupy Madang, but your strength."

After encouraging Hatada, Okamura returned to his position, picked up the telegram on the table, and said, "This is also the information sent to us by our Chinese friends, the 16th Division of the Shina Army is moving towards the area of Pengze. Hata-kun, I wonder what you think? ”

Without thinking, Hakuda said, "The intention is obvious. The purpose of occupying Pengze and recapturing the Yangshan position at the gateway to Hukou was to cut off the rear route of the 106th Division and block reinforcements. The superior forces were then used to inflict heavy losses on the 106th Division in the Hukou area. ”

"Very thorough." Okamura Ninji immediately ordered: "The Hatada detachment quickly reinforced the Matsuura Division, and the Zeng soldiers Peng Ze must not let the enemy's encirclement form." As for the water dredging, leave it to the 101st Division. ”

Bo Tian lowered his head and said vigorously: "Hi~ subordinates will live up to the commander's expectations." ”

Okamura finally reminded Shigeichi Harata that there could be no more massacres until the fighting in Wuhan was over.

Hakuda left Okamura Ninji's headquarters and quickly led his troops to Pengzawa. Consolidation of the rear of the 106 Division.

Luo Zhuoying was disappointed when he learned of the disappearance of Peng Ze, a soldier of the Botian detachment. Just one step away, as long as the 16th Division can capture Pengze, they will be able to block the Botian Detachment and buy enough time for the encirclement and annihilation of the 106th Division.

"Report!" A correspondent came to Luo Zhuoying with a telegram and said: "There is a call from the front, after the main force of the Japanese 106th Division captured the Tangshan position, it stopped moving."

Luo Zhuoying ordered: "Call back and continue to monitor their movements."

The staff officer on the side sighed: "The battlefield is changing rapidly, and it is impossible to develop according to the predetermined plan. The commander, his subordinates, thought that the 106th Division was waiting for the Botian detachment, and then the troops were united to capture Longtan Mountain. ”

Luo Zhuoying looked at the map intently, and didn't seem to hear any sound.

Longtan Mountain will be the key to the defense of Hukou. If the Japanese army is united, they will have enough troops to attack Longtan Mountain.

However, does it take so many people to attack Longtan Mountain? Well, where will the other army go?

Luo Zhuoying has been thinking about the Japanese army's combat intentions. In the middle area of the map, there are three commanding heights, which are Majiling, Twin Peaks, and Judges.

If the Japanese occupy these three commanding heights in the middle of the lake, their troops will be unable to move as if they have been pointed. The Japanese army could capture Longtan Mountain without any scruples, and then occupy Hukou.

This is the final conclusion reached by Luo Zhuoying after deduction.

"Someone."

"Here!"

Luo Zhuoying issued three orders through the heralds:

First, the 16th Division was ordered to abandon the attack on Pengze and go to reinforce the 77th Division, which was based on the three commanding heights of Majiling, Shuangfengjian, and Judge's Peak;

Second, the 11th Division was ordered to rush to the junction of Penghu and prepare to counterattack Tangshan and Yangjiashan to recapture the commanding heights.

Third, the 26th Division was ordered to make every effort to defend the Longtan Mountain position.

An additional unit of the Botian detachment came to Pengze, and learned that the 16th Army had changed its course of action, so it was decided to leave and go to Tangshan to join the 106th Division.

Both sides are actively deploying their forces, and both sides need time.

At the Longtan Mountain position, the 76th Brigade of the 26th Division had already been waiting for the battle, but the vanguard of the 106th Division was not seen for a long time.

In the end, the division headquarters called, and the brigade commander Zhu Zaitang understood everything. Division commander Liu Yuqing ordered Zhu Zaitang not to leave the position without authorization.

Shao Fei, Chen Haotian, and Zhu Zaitang were at the brigade headquarters behind the position, discussing the next plan.

Chen Haotian said first: "It seems that they are waiting for the Botian detachment, and then the troops will unite and attack us."

"I'm not calling for this, what I care about is the river."

Shao Fei said and pointed to the map: "Zhongjiakou, this is the most suitable place for landing." No matter how well we fight on land, if we don't control the Yangtze River, their reinforcements will come in a steady stream, and all our plans will be in vain. ”

Zhu Zaitang asked, "Then what should we do now?"

Chen Haotian said: "What else can Zeng Bing do." In the middle of the mouth of the key deployment, in addition, in the Hukou fortress fort also had to be strengthened. ”

"I'll report the situation to the headquarters and see if I can transfer troops from Meilankou."

Zhu Zaitang ordered the signal corps to send a report to the headquarters to explain the situation and ask for instructions on whether to send troops to blockade the river.

On this day, the troops on both sides were busy moving, and there was no fighting. They revolve around three points in the Hukou area:

First, Yangjiashan and Tangshan, the gateway of Hukou;

second, the three commanding heights in the center of the lake;

Third, the last line of defense of Hukou, the Longtan Mountain position and the Meilankou position.

But there is another huge hidden danger lurking in the national army, that is, the Japanese fleet on the river. And will Luo Zhuoying pay attention to it?

Now wait for all the troops to be in place, and the big war is about to break out.

(End of chapter)