Regarding the old marshal's concern about the security of the central government because of the blank in the river defense after the main force of the Jinsui Military Region participated in the war, Yang Zhen walked to the map that had been prepared for him on the wall and said: "Boss, don't worry about this. After the campaign was launched, we were mainly responsible for the operations in the previous stage, and our army in the northwest of Shanxi did not have to go north for the time being.

"According to the requirements of our entire operational plan, the Jinsui Military Region should secretly assemble in the north of Guanshui Mountain and the Outer Great Wall in the first stage. With a part of the army, it was deployed along the northern part of the Tongpu Railway, and the remaining troops of the Taihang Military Region and the Taiyue Military Region were jointly responsible for containing the First Army of the Japanese Army in Shanxi, instead of moving the whole army north into the battle at the beginning. ”

"Boss, the Japanese army does not have the habit of not saving when they die. It has always been that we will be saved when we attack the head and tail, and we will be saved when we attack the tail. With the existing strength of the Mongolian garrison army, it can be said that it is more than self-preservation, but its offensive strength is insufficient. In addition to the 26th Division stationed in Datong, the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade stationed in Zhangjiakou, and the cavalry group under the jurisdiction of two cavalry wings stationed in Baotou. ”

"And after the end of this year's campaign, because our army in Western Manchuria has reached the area east of the Hunshandak Sands. Most of the 26th Independent Mixed Brigade in Zhangjiakou, the main force of the 26th Division stationed in Datong, has been transferred eastward to the front line of Zhengbai Banner and Sunit Right Banner in an attempt to block the westward advance of our army. ”

"In the vast areas of Chaxi, Suidong, and northern Shanxi, there is now only one wing of the 26th Division, and some independent garrisons. This cavalry group stationed in Baotou has become the largest and only strategic reserve of the entire Mongolian army. ”

"Once our army advances westward, this only strategic reserve of the entire army stationed in Mongolia will inevitably be transferred eastward to participate in the war. Then I am afraid that in addition to a small number of Japanese troops in the entire Baotou area, a large area will basically become a blank. The puppet army in the entire Suiyuan area, in addition to being mainly cavalry and more mobile, is relatively weak in combat effectiveness. ”

"The three forces under the current jurisdiction of the entire puppet Mongolian army, the strongest puppet army under Li Shouxin's department, have already suffered a blow from us on the front line of the Keshiketeng Banner. If they want to regain their vitality, even if the Japanese give them more weapons and equipment, I am afraid they will have to do so by this time next year. And King De's power is originally inferior to Li Shouxin's puppet army, and basically it will not pose much threat to us. ”

"As for the Han Righteous Army under Wang Ying's command in Suixi, under the repeated blows in the backset, although there are many troops now, there is nothing to fear. Baotou is a strategic place for the Japanese army to invade the Houtao area and outflank our rear from the north, and it is also the starting point of the attack. The Japanese army will definitely not give up control of Baotou lightly. ”

"In a situation where the puppet army is not enough to fight, and it is not very considerable. If we launch a campaign, then the Japanese army in North China will definitely do everything to reinforce it. Compared with the Japanese army in the Hebei and Pingjin areas, the First Army of the Japanese North China Front, which was stationed in Shanxi and connected to Datong with the Tongpu Railway and the military area stationed in Mongolia, would be the first choice for the Japanese army to send reinforcements. ”

"For our strength, the North China Front of the Japanese Army should have a certain understanding from the Kwantung Army. If the First Army reinforces the Mongolian garrison, they will inevitably mobilize the main division to participate in the battle. As long as a large number of field troops of the First Army are transferred north, the pressure on the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningbo border region on river defense will not increase in a short period of time, but will still decrease. ”

"In this way, our left-behind troops in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningbo border area can deal with the surrounding situation as long as they deal with the surrounding situation. At present, Chongqing is also making every effort to seek assistance from the United States and Britain, and they will not take the initiative to provoke at this time. The Americans demanded that we not provoke a civil war after we got their equipment, and this was the premise of their assistance to us. ”

"The Americans want to blackmail us with equipment, so why can't we come to blackmail the Americans to order Chongqing. What Americans fear most now is the outbreak of a civil war within ourselves, and the Americans will put some pressure on them on this matter. It's not that I, Yang Zhen, admire foreign countries and rely on foreign countries to respect ourselves, the reason why we do this is just a leverage. With the pressure of the Americans, Chongqing does not necessarily dare to act rashly. ”

"So boss, then you don't have to worry about the security of the central government. Even if there is a certain risk, then the existing strength of the remaining corps is enough to deal with the crisis. In the period leading up to the campaign, we will also airlift about 20,000 weapons and equipment to the central government. ”

"With these equipment, the central government can mobilize and form a reserve force on the basis of the local armed forces and basic militias in northern Shaanxi. Before the campaign is launched, the central authorities will expand the number of troops left behind in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningbo Border Region and make preparations for safeguarding the security of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningbo Border Region. ”

"At the same time, we are solving some equipment for the Jinsui Military Region, and we hope that the Jinsui Military Region will be able to expand the strength of several field brigades before the campaign is launched. In order to ensure that in the course of the campaign, the main force of the Jinsui Military Region will either stay in the base area after participating in the battle, or cooperate with the main force to fight. ”

"In the first stage after the campaign was launched, what we need the Jinsui Military Region to do is to coordinate with the two strategic areas of Taihang and Taiyue to contain the Japanese army's forces north of Taiyuan, destroy the Tongpu railway line, cut off the channel for the Japanese army to reinforce the north in southern Jinnan, and delay the time for the main force of the First Army to reinforce the Mongolian Xinjiang Army as much as possible."

At the same time, a number of elite armed forces were transferred to the Daqingshan area to enhance the strength of the Daqingshan guerrilla detachment. And the most crucial point is to closely monitor the movements of the Japanese army in the Baotou area. As soon as the main force of the Japanese army in the Baotou area was reinforced to the east, the main force of the Jinsui Military Region immediately crossed the Pingsui Railway and seized the Baotou area before the Suixi side moved. ”

"If the Japanese troops stationed in the Baotou area did not move east to participate in the war, then the main force of the Jinsui Military Region in the north would seize the strategic points and commanding heights around Baotou with the main force, and adopt the strategy of infiltration and encirclement around Baotou to prevent other parties from interfering in the Baotou battlefield."

"Considering the current situation of the Jinsui Military Region and the tasks that need to be undertaken in the future, boss, we will provide the troops of the Jinsui Military Region with 20 92 infantry guns, 6 mountain artillery, 12 94 anti-aircraft guns and 82 mortars, and a batch of explosives and ammunition, so as to enhance the ability of the Jinsui troops to attack fortified positions."

"Boss, Baotou is not easy to fight. It was the core area of the front line of the confrontation between the Mongolian Xinjiang Army and the Wuyuan and Yikezhao Alliances. Although we don't know the actual situation yet, the fortifications are definitely very strong. It was precisely in consideration of the fortification group of the enemy army in Baotou that we managed to transfer another batch of artillery to the Jinsui Military Region from the captured trophies. ”

"Boss, at the beginning of the campaign, before the Japanese cavalry group in Baotou was not transferred eastward, we had only one request. No matter how earth-shaking the battle is in other places, as long as the Japanese army does not forcibly cross the Yellow River and directly attack the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningbo border region, it will absolutely not be able to attack. ”

"Your goal is Baotou, don't care about other directions. Let the killing sound around him shake the sky, and your hidden troops around the outer Great Wall can only go in one direction. In any case, there is a time difference to win Baotou before the back set and Suixi react. ”

"The commander on the back set is a veteran soldier who has been on the battlefield for a long time and has a lot of actual combat experience. His troops were also the first units in the Jin Sui Army to fight against the Japanese army. Not to mention that the battlefield sense of smell is extremely sensitive, and the cavalry under this person has an extremely strong ability to quickly assault,"

"The Wuyuan they recovered last year was across the Wuliang Suhai from the Baotou area, and they could reach Baotou in one day after crossing the Wuliang Suhai with the rapid assault ability of their cavalry. The Ningma 81st Army, which occupied the Yikezhao League in the Ordos Plateau in Suixi, also confronted Baotou across the river. Compared to us, they are much closer to Baotou. ”

"Ningma's Eighty-first Army was not very strong in combat and poorly equipped, but their cavalry moved just as quickly. And the headquarters of the 35th Army in Wuyuan was the strongest army in the Jin Sui Army. Once they seize Baotou first, then we will be passive on all fronts, both militarily and politically. ”

"Therefore, I hope that the troops of the Jinsui Military Region will closely monitor the enemy forces in the Baotou area after the battle begins. As soon as it was discovered that it was moving eastward, it immediately attacked north with all its strength and took Baotou as quickly as possible. If they can't be taken in a short time, then they must be surrounded first and seize the Guyang line. ”

"Of course, we can't rule out that the Japanese army in order to control the strategic town of Baotou, the battle has not yet reached a desperate time. Only the Japanese troops in the Pingjin area of North China were dispatched, and the First Army was sent to reinforce the main force of the Mongolian Xinjiang Army north of Zhangjiakou. The cavalry group stationed in Baotou will not be lightly dispatched. ”

"It's probably not nothing, it's quite big, so we have to be prepared for that as well. If this really happens, we also hope that the troops of the Jinsui Military Region will be able to rely on the mountains around Baotou to launch an attack on Baotou. It's just that in this way, we are participating in the infantry-based troops. When facing this cavalry group, the battle will be quite passive. ”

"Of course, siege was not the best option for us. It would be best if we could choose to surround the enemy forces in Baotou but not fight, or bluff to force them to abandon Baotou on their own initiative. In fact, judging from the relatively complex environment around Baotou, it is best to take the siege without fighting, and it is our best choice to trap this Japanese cavalry group in Baotou City. ”

"Whether it's a breakout or a decisive battle with it, it's not a good option for us strategically. With the main force of this cavalry group in Baotou, even if we complete the encirclement of it, then the rear set will inevitably have some scruples, and will not make a rash sortie, which can reduce the pressure we may face in political affairs in disguise. ”

"According to the boss's advice, if we launch an attack during the Lingxun period, then the Ningma troops in the territory of the Yikezhao League will inevitably not be able to participate in the battle because of the barrier of Lingxun. And if we have some scruples in the latter part, then we can avoid many risks of military conflict. ”

"When we finish capturing the Baotou area, even if they react, they can only do nothing. At most, it's just a fight with us, if you don't talk about whether they have the strength or not, and grab food from our mouths, even if it is political, they will fall behind. It's just that in this way, the Japanese army, which is mainly cavalry, will bring heavy military pressure to our troops participating in the siege. ”

"However, as long as the main force of the Jinsui Military Region lasts for half a month at most, our cavalry mechanized rapid cluster should be able to reach the front line of Baotou. At the same time, we will also try our best to provide air support for the Jinsui Military Region, which is fighting in Baotou in the north, and the fraternal units that attacked the Tongpu Railway during the campaign. ”

"Boss, this battle actually has one requirement for the Jinsui Military Region, that is, the action must be fast. In any case, it is necessary to rush ahead of the back set and Suixi to complete the encirclement of Baotou. Especially in the stage of encircling Baotou, even if we pay a big price, we must hold on until our reinforcements arrive. “