Yang Zhen's voice fell, and the chairman waved his hand and said: "They are not in a hurry, before the ground contact is completely opened, it is still suitable for the current equipment for the time being." The transportation channels for ground materials have not been opened, and there is no place for them to get gasoline. Relying solely on your air freight is the style of a loser. ”

"The work of changing the uniforms of the various brothers on the battlefield in the Guannai will wait until the end of this battle, depending on the development and changes of the situation. The core question now is how to fight this battle with all our might. For us now, it is a matter of life and death. It's easy to say anything if we win this battle, but if we lose, we can only stick to the mountains. If you want those tanks and artillery, there is no use. ”

"Comrade Yang Zhen, I will make three requests to you in this battle. First, when you deploy troops, you must do what you can, and you absolutely must not jeopardize the security of the old areas of North Manchuria. The modern industry being built there is the hope for our future development. The North China Battlefield must draw sufficient forces, but the Northeast Battlefield must not be lost. ”

"Second, on the issue of strategy and tactics, you have to pay more attention. In synthetic warfare, you are the first person in the army to eat crabs, and you still have enough experience in this area. This battle is of great importance to the development of our army, and I hope you will consider it carefully. Be bold with your experience, but don't be too blind and risky. ”

"Thirdly, and most crucially. Now that you have made up your mind to fight, you must win the battle in one go. We can't afford to pay the price, continue to be untenable on the Jizhong Plain, and be driven back by others. The price is to be paid, but it must also be won. ”

Yang Zhen smiled somewhat bitterly after listening to the chairman's several requests. The first request was a must, and he was not surprised that the Chair made it. However, the latter two requirements clearly told him that he would be the commander of the Jizhong battle. But this errand is undoubtedly a chore.

The battle involved three of the four major enemy base areas in North China. If we add the southbound troops of the Anti-Japanese Alliance, it can be said that the four major field armies are cooperating on the same battlefield. With so many formed troops, fighting on one battlefield is not a very worry-free thing.

The four major field armies are very different in terms of equipment. It is easy to say that the Jin-Cha-Ji and Jin-Hebei-Luyu troops are all equipped by the Anti-Japanese Federation. However, the troops under the Shandong Military Region are still unfamiliar to the Anti-Japanese Federation. As the richest and most troop Shandong Military Region among the various base areas in North China, Yang Zhen did not understand it at all.

There is also a big difference in the application of tactics and strategies. The coordination and coordination relationship alone can be described as extremely complex. It is really not an easy task to command these units in a unified manner. Moreover, many of these cadres have qualifications far beyond themselves. The synergistic relationship on the battlefield is much more complicated.

Looking at the few old handsomes around him, Yang Zhen touched his nose but did not immediately answer the chairman's words. It's not that he's afraid of difficulties, it's that the coordination of the relationship is too complicated. This battle is completely different from the battle in '42. It is difficult for each to fight in sub-regional operations without forming an overall operational command as a whole.

Perhaps seeing that Yang Zhen was a little hesitant in his heart, the boss smiled at the chairman and said: "It seems that Comrade Yang Zhen is still a little hesitant, is he a little afraid that he can't command us old guys?" With the chairman and I backing you up this time, what do you have to worry about? In addition to the Anti-Japanese Federation, the other three field armies, according to the overall plan formulated this time, the central authorities have unified arrangements. ”

"The chairman and the central authorities have decided to transfer all the troops from the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei and Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Regions that participated in the advance army. In addition to the seven brigades currently being trained by you, plus eleven regiments, they will be reorganized into two field armies and placed under your command. ”

"These troops cooperated with you in last year's battle, so you don't have to worry about command and coordination. As for the tasks of the Shandong Military Region, we will talk about it when the detailed plan is come out. So, I don't think your concerns are at all necessary. ”

Yang Zhen hesitated for a moment and said: "Boss, I think the two field armies can first use the military region as the formation to organize the column level under the condition of strict secrecy. However, in my opinion, we should not rush to conclusions about the tasks of the various departments and the division of operational areas for the time being, and we should wait until the plan is formulated. ”

"After all, this war is the first time that our army has concentrated such a large-scale combat operation. It is not too late to wait for the detailed combat missions and operational areas of each unit to be distributed after the plans are formulated. I suggest that when the major strategic regions divide their tasks in detail, they should not focus on the changes in the enemy situation they are facing, but should be fully mentally prepared that they will be transferred out of the war. ”

"In this way, I asked Chief of Staff Guo to stay behind and work out a unified combat plan with the staff officers drawn from the Central Military Commission and the major strategic regions. Chief of Staff Guo is a careful person who thinks about things thoroughly. However, I wonder if we can get the chiefs of staff of several major regions to stay with them. ”

"The chiefs of staff of each unit know best about the combat effectiveness of their own troops. The use of strategy and tactics is also the purview of the chiefs of staff of the troops. So I suggested that the chiefs of staff of the various units stay for the time being, and if they don't come, I will send a plane to pick them up. All military regions are dispatching a number of elite troops to strengthen the future, and together with the General Staff Headquarters of the Central Military Commission, they will come up with an operational plan. ”

"In addition, in view of the fact that this battle is a coordinated operation of the four major field armies, I suggest that a general front committee be set up, and a person with strong political principles and strong ideology should be selected as the secretary of the general front committee, and the center should coordinate the coordinated operations of several major field armies. At the same time, it is also necessary for the central authorities to carry out gatekeeping and supervision in terms of the overall strategy. ”

Speaking of this, Yang Zhen hesitated for a moment and said: "I am transferring some communication equipment and a batch of ammunition to the Shandong Military Region from the northeast, and at the same time, I am transferring another batch of anti-infantry mines and anti-tank mines to the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei and Shanxi-Hebei-Luyu troops, and I am transferring a batch of flamethrowers. ”

"Since this battle is about our life and death, we promise to meet everyone's needs as much as possible. Everything is in order to fight this battle well, and make the most thorough preparations. When we returned, we began to make arrangements to increase the reserves of fuel and ammunition that would be transferred and transported into the customs. ”

"This includes increasing the amount of grain dispatched and transported, and ensuring that several major strategic areas, especially the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region, have a certain amount of war-ready grain reserves. It also mobilized a number of heavy artillery units and tank units, as well as a group of staff officers, to secretly enter the customs first and make preparations before the battle. ”

Regarding Yang Zhen's suggestion to set up a general front committee, the chairman pondered for a while, but finally did not give Yang Zhen a clear answer. However, at this operational meeting, the general policy has been decided, and all that remains is to formulate tactics. Now that the central government has agreed to transfer the chiefs of staff of each strategic zone to draw up battle plans, the major princes must also return to their respective territories to start preparations.

After the princes returned to their respective jurisdictions, the chairman left Yang Zhen behind. A detailed study of certain strategic aspects has been conducted. When Yang Zhen was leaving, the chairman hesitated for a moment and finally told Yang Zhen that the Central Committee had decided to transfer the commander of the New Fourth Army to the post of deputy commander of the Northeast Military Region. The commander of the New Fourth Army was changed to the original captain.

Yang Zhen was somewhat surprised by the central government's decision, but then he understood the central government's intentions. Regarding the military commander's decision to work in the Anti-Japanese Federation, Yang Zhen expressed a pleasant welcome. However, in the conversation with the chairman, Yang Zhen also proposed that he was not suitable for the position of acting first secretary of the Northeast Bureau.

Yang Zhen suggested that the commander-in-chief should still be the chairman of the Northeast People's Government during the period when the central government participated in the rectification movement. Yang Zhen thinks that he is too young, he is not yet thirty years old, and some things are still very immature, and his consideration of problems is also very one-sided. He also has no experience in presiding over the overall work of the party, government, and military.

Moreover, the military and foreign aid matters have already kept them busy. I really don't have much energy to take care of the local work. The most important thing is that Yang Zhen thinks that as a soldier, meddling in local affairs will give many people the impression that he commands the party.

Yang Zhen means that his main work is still mainly in the military. As for the work at the local level, it would be better for the local government to be responsible. His ability is limited, and he is not very familiar with political work, so I am afraid that I will not be able to do it as the first secretary. Even if it's an agent, I'm afraid it's hard to do a good job.

Yang Zhen's rejection of the first secretary's idea was directly rejected by the chairman without even considering it. The chairman's attitude is very resolute, and the first secretary is still represented by Yang Zhen. As for whether to turn into a regular or not, it still depends on the development of the situation. The chairman told Yang Zhen that he would take care of the party, government, military, and diplomatic affairs in the northeast.

In particular, he must personally grasp the work of the Soviet Union, and report directly to the central authorities if there are any problems that he cannot solve by himself. But the chairman also reminded Yang Zhen not to be too rigid with the Soviet side. In the work, it is necessary to hide needles in the cotton, be soft and rigid, and don't always come hard. Especially when the Soviets now have the only external channel for the Anti-Japanese Federation, they should not easily get into a stalemate with the Soviets. During the period when he was fighting in the south, he had to appoint a good agent for the job.

The meaning of the chairman's words made Yang Zhen feel a little sad in his heart. After the chairman finished speaking, he clearly knew that it would be difficult for the commander-in-chief to return to work in the northeast after he came to the central authorities to participate in the rectification movement. The sudden transfer of the commander-in-chief made Yang Zhen very reluctant.

Since the cold winter of 38, since he met the commander-in-chief in the Ning'an secret camp, the commander-in-chief has always been like a father and brother with a broad mind, silently caring for himself and supporting himself behind him. Without the trust and support of the commander-in-chief, it would be difficult for him to reopen the situation in the Northeast in such a short period of time.

For this elder who is like a father and brother, Yang Zhen has always been quite respectful, and it can even be said that he has some dependence. Now that the commander-in-chief was suddenly transferred, Yang Zhen felt a little dazed. Although the central government has not yet made an official announcement, it is actually a foregone conclusion.

After talking to the chairman, Yang Zhen, who learned that the commander-in-chief had been transferred, said that although he did not say anything, his mood was obviously a little low. Moreover, the position of the first secretary who is in charge of the party, government, and military power in the northeast also made him very uncomfortable and adaptable. For becoming the king of the Northeast at a young age, Yang Zhen has no joy of promotion.

Compared to Yang Zhen, who felt a lot of pressure. After arriving in Yan'an, Guo Bingxun, who had not failed to attend the meeting of the Central Military Commission, worked out a detailed battle plan with the chiefs of staff of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei, Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Regions, and a group of the most capable operational staff officers of the Anti-Japanese Federation transferred from northeast China.

After talking to the chairman, Yang Zhen was not in a hurry to return to the Northeast. Instead, he talked with Guo Bingxun and the chief of staff of the Central Military Commission and a few other people about some of their own ideas for this battle. After the arrival of the chiefs of staff of each strategic area, Yang Zhen organized and convened a joint operations meeting.