Chapter 47: Investigating and Soothing

  In the evening, in the official residence conference room, I sat in Chiang Kai-shek's seat, looking at Fu Zuoyi's secret telegram that had just arrived, listening to Zhang Zhizhong, who had just taken office, report on the comprehensive report and battle analysis.

  "The Shanghai area has been relatively calm since last night, with only a few instances of Japanese reconnaissance planes appearing at a distance, mainly in the Wusong area. The enemy is intensifying its construction of fortifications and laying mines in the predicted landing areas; the Pudong Garrison has completed the deployment of the 55th, 57th, 62nd, 63rd, and 79th Divisions; the Puxi Garrison has completed the deployment of the 6th, 11th, 14th, 61st, and 67th Divisions, with the 56th Division responsible for guarding the Yangtze River. The Punan Garrison will complete its deployment in the south tomorrow with the 45th, 46th, and 52nd Divisions. Our reserve forces in the Shanghai area include the 3rd, 8th, 18th, and 19th Divisions, as well as the Taxation General Corps. The Navy continues to lay mines in the waters west of the Yangtze River and Huangpu River; according to air reconnaissance reports, only a few enemy ships, led by the Ryūjō Maru, have been spotted about 260 kilometers northeast of Shanghai, heading northeast, but no main force or landing fleet has been found. Other matters include: Japanese soldiers who escaped into the Shanghai International Settlement have been disarmed and imprisoned; it is rumored that Nagatani Kiyoshi is among them; foreign embassies have again refused our request to deploy naval mines in the lower reaches of the Huangpu River."

  "These bastards! We gave them so many benefits for nothing! Not only did they not provide assistance, but they also didn't agree to this small matter!" Old Jiang vented a few sentences and took another sip of water. "Continue with Wen Bai."

  "Staff analysis, the Japanese naval aviation fleet has suffered heavy losses for 15 days and is now heading north to receive carrier-based aircraft replenishment from Korea. It is estimated that combat operations in the Songjiang area will resume by tomorrow noon or later; The Japanese landing fleet, as the Japanese troops in Songjiang have been completely eliminated by us, and under the threat of our submarines, is also transferring to the southern waters of the Yellow Sea, waiting for the reinforcement of the Japanese follow-up troops. The Japanese landing operation may be postponed for 3-5 days before it can break out, and the estimated landing area remains the same."

  "What does the High Commission think?"

  As I looked around, Old Jiang added: "Zi An, it's you!"

  "Me?" How did I become the representative of the High Participation Group? But thinking about it, it makes sense. "Chairman, I estimate that the landing should take place on the 18th at dawn in the Gaqiao area, rather than waiting for the domestic ground forces to reinforce again before landing. The reasons are: First, the Japanese army needs a victory as soon as possible to regain its face after several consecutive defeats; Second, the Japanese army needs an airport to make use of its air superiority; Third, the Japanese reinforcement fleet is estimated to have set sail, traveling at a speed of over 25 knots, and will arrive outside the Yangtze River estuary on the evening of the 17th; Fourth, the Japanese army is arrogant and believes that two regular divisions and affiliated units are sufficient to complete the landing and cover deployment tasks; Fifth, the enemy ground forces cannot maintain combat effectiveness on ships for a long time; Sixth, our military strength in the Pudong area is insufficient."

  "Hmm? What Zi An said makes sense, can we take down this Japanese army?"

  I stared at Old Chiang in astonishment, how could he say such things? "The enemy's landing is covered by the main fleet and air force, within 10 kilometers of the landing area, our army is completely under the suppression of the enemy's heavy artillery, it is impossible for us to launch a large-scale counterattack; unless the enemy leaves the landing site before their follow-up troops arrive and goes deep into the interior, otherwise we have no chance of annihilating the enemy's main force." Seeing Old Chiang's face was not pleasant, I could only add: "However, our army can use air force to launch a counterattack on the day of the landing, and the army and navy can also launch a counterattack at night, which can eliminate some of the enemy, if they show weakness, we can even defeat the enemy... but it is unlikely that our army will be able to drive the enemy out of the beachhead."

  "Ah, that's right. Wen Bai, you and Zi An will go prepare after this."

  "Yes. Chairman, actually before returning to Beijing, we had discussed with Xiu Fu the counterattack action when the enemy landed, and several relevant plans were also handed over to Xiu Fu." Zhang Zhizhong said.

  "Hmm, you've thought of everything! Next is the North China aspect."

  "Yes. The Pingjin front has been relatively calm from last night to this evening, with only a few small-scale skirmishes occurring, all of which were units below the regimental level continuing to nibble away at our controlled areas. The enemy continues to reinforce its troops in the Pingjin area by sea and from outside the pass, with an estimated 2.5 divisions or more deployed on our front line, with the main force facing south; it is estimated that within 3-5 days, after the enemy's follow-up troops of about 2 divisions are deployed in the Pingjin area, they will launch a large-scale attack on Pingjin and Pingxi. However..." Zhang Zhongzhong looked somewhat embarrassed.

  "What's going on? Isn't it just Song Mingxuan and them still being unclear about the enemy? Still fantasizing about local autonomy!" Old Jiang said angrily.

  "Zi'an, what's your idea."

  "It was thought that only by implementing the 'Cavalry Operation' could the enemy's offensive deployment in North China be disrupted, and the 29th Army and other armies would take a stand to jointly counter the enemy's invasion."

  "'Cavalry action'? Is it Baili and your plan for a cavalry charge and raid on the enemy?"

  "Yes, with the chairman's consent, I have handed it over to General Fu. Before I left for Shanghai, the chairman had already ordered preparations for implementation."

  "Hmm, I think it's time! Zi An, what time do you think we should start?"

  "Please instruct Chairman Fu to take full responsibility for the operation now, and as for the specific implementation time, it depends on the weather conditions. If possible, we can start tomorrow."

  Chiang thought for a moment and stood up, saying: "Well, appoint Fu Zuoyi as the commander-in-chief of the 7th Group Army, commanding the 35th Army, Cavalry Army No. 1, Cavalry Army No. 5, and the remaining troops in Suiyuan; responsible for the counterattack operation against Chahar and Suiyuan. We will go to Erlian."

  "Yes, and also request Chairman to assign a squadron of reconnaissance planes to General Fu."

  "Uh-huh."

  Four days later, I had dinner with Soong Mei-ling again. After listening to her nagging about not going to the front line, "Third brother, Han wants to come back, how will you arrange it?"

  I thought for a moment and said, "Wait until next month, after Huan Zhang suffers a crushing defeat in Hebei, we can try to take his place; if Han Ying is not afraid of her brother-in-law inviting him to eat prison food."

  "What can you do?"

  "Han Ying can just hide in the Northeast Army." I still want to go back and accompany Yun Yan.

  Fu Zuoyi, Zhao Chengshou, Ma Bufang and Men Bingyue had already gathered together.

  "The commander-in-chief's attack order has just been issued, and the weather forecast is also available. Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow are expected to be overcast with light rain, which meets the weather conditions for our military operations." Fu Zuoyi looked around and repeated again: "I will lead the main force of the 35th Army and affiliated units in the first wave of attack, defeating the first line of Manchurian-Mongolian puppet troops; In the second wave, Xiang Wen brother will lead the 7th Cavalry Regiment to advance eastward from the north, Yin Fu brother will lead the 1st Cavalry Army to bypass and attack southeastward, with Zhangbei as the target. The main force of the 5th Cavalry Army will take advantage of the weather and the battle in the south to launch a surprise attack from the north side of the 7th Cavalry Regiment; Zi Yun, you will lead the 5th and 12th Cavalry Regiments to raid the area around Guyuan, and the 11th Cavalry Regiment will enter Rehe to disperse and harass the enemy's rear. Xiang Wen brother will continue to advance after sweeping through the central part of Chahar Province to meet up with the main force."

  At 5:20 on July 17, the outer ring of Shangdu. The 218th Brigade of the 73rd Division of the 35th Army was discovered by the enemy while scouting, and gunfire suddenly broke out. As soon as they were exposed, the 12 mountain guns of the 1st Battalion of the 25th Artillery Regiment immediately began to roar, and the enemy's barracks were instantly shrouded in smoke, with people, horses, and equipment debris flying into the air. The three regiments of the 218th Brigade advanced steadily towards Shangdu under the leadership of Dong Qiwu from three sides, and the weak sentry posts and array positions on the outer ring collapsed at once, with people and horses constantly pouring towards the city center; On the main array position near the city, it was still chaotic, and those who entered the array position to prepare for defense and those who retreated from the front line to prepare for escape were crowded together in the symbolic fortifications; As the 35th Army approached under the cover of mountain guns, the joint defensive line of the enemy's 2nd and 3rd Divisions collapsed after only ten minutes of resistance, with hundreds of cavalry fleeing westward, and the 4th Cavalry Regiment pursuing them. The rest of the enemy troops surrendered after a brief resistance in the chaos. In less than six hours, the gunfire gradually stopped, and Shangdu was recovered.

  At the same time, the news of the 7th Cavalry Regiment approaching under the leadership of Men Bingyue came, and the defending pseudo-Mongolian army was in a mess. Later, they gathered together to retreat eastward, fleeing to Kangbao. Soon, the 7th Cavalry Regiment continued to pursue after passing through Xinming.

  Later, the Southern Righteous Army faced an attack by Zhao Chengyou's 1st Cavalry Division. Although a small number of vanguard troops gave their lives to provide Li Shoushen with ten or more minutes of warning time, allowing the 1st Division of the 1st Corps to form up, it was impossible to stop the 3,000-strong cavalry of the 1st and 2nd Divisions from forming a traditional cavalry charge line and launching a surprise attack on the over 2,000 Southern Righteous Army troops who had just awakened. The Jin-Sui army's cavalry fired their guns in a horizontal queue, sweeping away the Southern Righteous Army's cavalry, which was only partially formed up. The subsequent attack can be described as a massacre, with large numbers of cavalrymen being killed or wounded by gunfire and the impact of 3,000 horses from the Yellow River region. Li Shoushen's troops, who lacked regular cavalry combat training, were unable to form up in time and could only put up scattered resistance with their sabers and lances for ten or more minutes before being almost completely annihilated, with only a small number of cavalrymen escaping.

  At around 10:00, the 1st Division of the Jin Army approached Gonghui Village while pursuing the enemy; at this time, the vanguard of the 1st Cavalry Brigade of the Rì Army, which had set out from Zhangbei to reinforce the north, had also approached the area. The two sides met on a narrow road without preparation, and the terrain was not conducive to deploying both wings. Neither side's follow-up troops could be deployed. In this situation, Sun Changsheng and the commander of the opposing Rì Army cavalry regiment both chose to charge forward without prior agreement. After a row of horse guns fired, dozens of cavalrymen from both sides collided violently while accelerating, with Chinese sabers clashing against Western cavalry swords, sturdy Hetao horses against tall Western-bred horses. The cavalrymen on both sides continued to swing their battle knives and slash each other, with men and horses falling down together; the Jin Army was clearly inferior in skill, and their horses and sabers were also inferior to those of the Rì Army, being beaten back step by step. However, soldiers continued to pull the pins off hand grenades and throw them, even self-detonating, causing repeated explosions that eventually separated the two sides. In the end, only hundreds of human and horse corpses, as well as many wounded war horses, were left on the battlefield. Seeing that they could no longer continue the cavalry battle, both sides withdrew.