Chapter 41 Chapter 40 "Operation No. 1" ends here

When the counter-offensive operations in northern Myanmar and western Yunnan were in progress, the Japanese army launched a large-scale offensive in the direction of Guangxi, China. In just over 20 days, the Japanese army advanced more than 700 kilometers to the hinterland of southwest China. , and the vulnerability of the Chinese defenders and the rapid loss of the country not only caused an uproar in domestic public opinion, but also shocked the Allied forces. The Japanese army attacked the defense area of ​​China's Fourth Theater. There has been no fighting in the fourth theater for more than three years.

The Fourth Theater of China originally governed the provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi.After the Battle of South Guangxi in early 1940, Chiang Kai-shek felt that it was inconvenient to fight on two fronts in one theater, so he separated Guangdong Province and established the seventh theater, and appointed Yu Hanmou as the commander-in-chief.As a result, only Guangxi Province remained in the fourth war zone, and the commander-in-chief was Zhang Fakui. Guangxi is Bai Chongxi's territory, and the main force of the defenders is the Guangxi troops. The generals obey Bai Chongxi's orders, and Bai Chongxi handles all affairs involving Guangxi, no matter how big or small. Therefore, the Cantonese general Zhang Fakui wisely adopts the strategy of forbearance. Let Bai Chongxi or Chiang Kai-shek worry about it.In addition, after the Japanese army withdrew from Guangxi in 1940, there was no enemy situation in Guangxi, and Zhang Fakui lived a leisurely life in the fourth war zone.

If there is still defense in the fourth war zone, it is necessary to be vigilant against the Japanese troops stationed in the Leizhou Peninsula and in the direction of Vietnam.Zhang Fakui allocated the main defensive forces in the war zone to the coastal line from Nanning to Qinzhou, Fangchenggang, and the Sino-Vietnamese border area. As for the east and north of Guangxi at the junction of Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hunan, he thought that since it bordered the seventh and ninth theaters, there was no problem. It is also the matter of Yu Hanmou and Xue Yue, there is no need to deploy troops in the fourth theater.In the summer of 1944, Changsha and Hengyang fell one after another. Zhang Fakui thought that Xue Yue would transfer the main force of the Ninth Theater to Xiangxi, with Guizhou and Guangxi as the rear, so that the Fourth Theater would still be under the protection of the Ninth Theater. It will threaten Guangxi under his jurisdiction.However, Xue Yue retreated to southeast Hunan instead of western Hunan.

Zhang Fakui suddenly realized that the gates of northern and eastern Guangxi had been opened, and the Japanese army might rush into Guangxi from Hunan or Guangdong at any time, so he urgently mobilized troops to deploy defenses.Due to the fact that there had been no fighting for a long time, Zhang Fakui discovered just before the battle that the fourth war zone, which claims to have nine armies and twenty-one divisions, has actually been dismantled by the Chongqing Military Commission because of the battle between Changsha and Hengyang: Ninth The 13th Army needs to rush back from the direction of Qijiang, Sichuan; the 31st Army that participated in the Changheng Battle is retreating and is training; the 64th Army needs to be transferred back from Guangdong; the 20th Army and the 26th Army The 46th Army, 62nd Army, and 79th Army must enter northern Guangxi from Qiyang on the Xiangjiang River and its southwest area.Most of the above troops have gone through the Changheng Battle, the officers and soldiers are exhausted, and the personnel and equipment urgently need to be replenished. The total number of troops that can support the battle is less than 100,000.As for the vigilance in the direction of Leizhou Peninsula and Vietnam, it can only be undertaken by the security group and local militia groups.

The Japanese army prepared to attack Guangxi with a huge force: the 3rd, 13th, 34th, 37th, 40th, and 58th divisions of the Japanese Eleventh Army in the direction of Hunan, as well as the independent tank regiment, The 14th Heavy Artillery Regiment, the 104th and 22nd Divisions of the 23rd Army of the Japanese Army in the direction of Guangdong, and the independent and mixed 22nd Brigade, and the independent and mixed 23rd Brigade in the direction of Leizhou Peninsula.A total of more than 100,000 Japanese troops will attack Guangxi from the northeast, east, and southeast directions, and they will smash the ferocious situation in China's Fourth Theater in one fell swoop.

The eleventh army, the main force of the Japanese army, immediately launched an attack on Guangxi just after the bloody battle in Hengyang. Its motivation, determination and ability to fight continuously cannot be explained by ordinary military common sense. "June and July in the 19th year of the Showa era (1944) was the time when both Japan and Germany encountered the greatest suffering since the war began." On the European battlefield, after the Allied forces successfully landed in Normandy, an internal crisis broke out again in the German High Command. An assassination incident against Hitler occurred in July, and the purpose was to stop the war immediately.At the same time, the Allies broke through the German "Atlantic Wall" and liberated Paris in August.On the Soviet-German battlefield, the Soviet army won the Battle of Leningrad. During this period, it carried out more than ten large-scale blitz attacks, annihilating two million German troops and driving all the invaders out of the Soviet Union.After that, the Soviet army quickly pursued and invaded Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia, and its forwards approached the German mainland.

In the Pacific battlefield, the Japanese army's situation is gone.MacArthur formulated the "Reno" combat plan, and decided to use the 7th, 24th, and 96th Infantry Divisions and the 1st Cavalry Divisions of the US Army and other service units with a total of 200,000 troops to attack the 10th Army of the Japanese 35th Army. 6. The 12th Division implemented a large-scale landing on Wright Island, which was defended by only 30,000 people.In order to save the war situation, the Japanese base camp formulated the "Operation Jiehao" plan: General Yamashita Fengwen, commander of the 14th Front Army, will be in charge of a ground decisive battle with the U.S. Army on Luzon Island in the Philippines; The lieutenant general is responsible for the defense of the central and southern parts of the Philippine Islands; the air cover for ground operations is the Fourth Air Force, which still has more than a thousand fighters.At the same time, the Japanese Navy will gather its last strength to annihilate the US Navy's Pacific Fleet. ——The Japanese army's "Operation Jiehao" plan, "with the nature of a decisive battle", is the last effort of the base camp to ensure the defense circle of the homeland.

Wright Island in the Philippine archipelago is surrounded by Samar Island in the east, Cebu Island in the west, and Mindanao Island in the south. Once the Allied Forces capture the island, it will divide the Philippines into two.The landing fleet led by MacArthur was very large: 20 aircraft carriers, 12 battleships, more than 100 cruisers and destroyers, carrying nearly 200,000 officers and soldiers, and under the escort of thousands of fighters, overwhelmingly attacked Wright Island. go.At 9:45 a.m. on October 20, the carrier-based aircraft that almost covered the sky first bombed the beachhead, followed by the US 1st Cavalry Division, 24th Infantry Division, 96th Infantry Division, and 7th Infantry Division Line up in turn, began the largest beach landing in the history of the Pacific War.The Japanese army quickly lost its ability to resist under the indiscriminate bombing of the US military, and the US landing force swept across the east coast of Wright Island like a tide.At 2:30 in the afternoon, MacArthur approached Wright Island in a landing craft, and then surrounded by a large number of fighting reporters, he stepped on the sea water and set foot on the Philippine territory again. ——"I'm back!" MacArthur said that he had already prepared and was sure to publish the words on the headlines of the world's major newspapers.

Simultaneously with the landing battle was the Great Battle of Leyte Gulf. After the loss of a series of islands in the southwest Pacific, if Japan loses the Philippines and Taiwan, the sea transportation lines for transporting war materials and supplies will be cut off.Deputy Takeshi Toyoda, commander of the Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet, is determined to eat up the US Pacific Fleet and the Wright Island landing force.The decisive battle at sea he planned was full of the meaning of breaking the boat in a desperate situation: Four aircraft carriers, two battleships, three cruisers and eight destroyers of the Northern Fleet commanded by Ozawa Jisaburo went south from Japan to the Philippines, luring the U.S. Navy No. The three fleets went north and fought decisively with them; the three battleships, two cruisers, fifteen destroyers of the central fleet commanded by Takeo Kurita, as well as the last aces of the Japanese navy, the "Musashi" and "Yamato" giant battleships, set off from Brunei in secret Sailed into Leyte Gulf and wiped out the U.S. landing force that had lost the cover of the surface fleet; two battleships, a heavy cruiser and four destroyers of the Southern Fleet’s vanguard unit commanded by Nishimura Shoji, plus two of the rear guard unit commanded by Shima Seihide. A heavy cruiser, a light cruiser and four destroyers departed from the Ryukyu Islands to join the encirclement of the US Pacific Fleet.

The U.S. military did not expect the Japanese navy to come out in full force.Fortunately, the two patrol submarines "Sea Crucian Carp" and "Minnow" saw suspicious echoes on the radar screen near Palawan Island in the west of the Philippine Islands. Captain McClintock Lieutenant Colonel And Lieutenant Colonel Claget quickly determined that it was not a rain cloud.Approaching the suspicious target and raising the periscope, they saw giant ships like tall buildings on the sea not far away—the "Musashi" and "Yamato" of the Japanese Navy's Central Fleet, which were the largest battleships in the world at that time. When advancing at full speed, the huge waves raised by the bow are like hills.After the two lieutenant colonels reported the enemy's situation to Halsey, Commander of the Third Fleet, they fired six torpedoes towards the Central Fleet of the Japanese Navy.

These six torpedoes opened the prelude to the largest naval battle in the history of human warfare. The flagship "Atago" of the Central Fleet of the Japanese Navy caught fire in an instant and then sank; then, the heavy cruiser "Takao" was severely damaged, the "Maya" was blown into two pieces and sank, and the "Oriental" was hit by a torpedo in the tail.This was a moment when both sides fell into chaos: the Japanese army had suffered heavy losses before they even started fighting, and more importantly, they wanted to advance in a concealed manner, but now they may be attacked by the carrier-based aircraft of the US aircraft carrier at any time due to their whereabouts being exposed; Upon receiving the report that Kurita Takeo's fleet sailed from west to east into the Sibuyan Sea, he immediately ordered the aircraft carrier battle group of the Third Fleet to attack.What is quite dramatic is: Ozawa Jisaburo's Northern Fleet was originally used as a bait, but it sailed with great fanfare but was not discovered by the US military; while Kurita Takeo's Central Fleet, which was advancing secretly, was exposed in advance. On the morning of October 24, the U.S. carrier-based aircraft took off and directly attacked the giant battleship "Musashi" of the Japanese Navy's Central Fleet.Although the heavy cruiser "Palace" escorting it was severely damaged in the fierce attack and withdrew from the battle, the "Musashi" which was hit by three torpedoes only shook a few times.Until seven U.S. carrier-based aircraft used the cover of clouds to carry out the fifth attack, two bombs each weighing 250 kilograms penetrated the front and rear decks of the "Musashi" and exploded in the cabin.As the "Musashi" caught fire, U.S. torpedo planes swarmed in, and dozens of bombers dropped bombs in turn. Within half an hour, the "Musashi" was hit by eleven torpedoes and seventeen aerial bombs.At dusk, the huge battleship, which took five years to build, finally couldn't hold on anymore. The huge 263-meter-long hull turned over and sank into the sea together with more than 1,000 Japanese naval officers and soldiers who had died.At the same time, Kurita Takeo's heavy cruiser "Myoko" was seriously injured, battleships "Yamato" and "Nagato" were shot and their speed dropped, and destroyers "Hamakaze" and "Kyoshimo" also returned due to injuries .Kurita Takeo had to order his fleet to turn immediately in order to quickly escape the attack circle of the US aircraft carrier. Halsey's task force left in the San Bernardino Strait to the east of the battlefield began to be attacked by carrier-based aircraft of the Northern Fleet of the Japanese Navy.Although the artillery of the U.S. fleet is powerful, the officers and soldiers were shocked that the Japanese fighter planes not only did not avoid the anti-aircraft fire, but also swooped down on the deck of the warship to face the fire.A Japanese plane crashed into the deck of the "Princeton" aircraft carrier, igniting the ammunition depot. With the loud explosion, fragments of steel and limbs flew into the air. The "Princeton" was on the verge of collapse and completely lost its combat capability.The light cruiser "Birmingham" next to it leaned over to try to rescue, but another explosion from the "Princeton" caused the "Birmingham" to catch fire.Halsey decided to go north immediately to face Ozawa Jisaburo's aircraft carrier fleet.For the first time, Halsey dispatched 130 carrier-based aircraft. After nearly an hour of attacks, the heavy aircraft carrier "Zuihe" of the Northern Fleet tilted severely, and the other two battleships were damaged.For the second time, Halsey dispatched 170 carrier-based aircraft, sank the "Chitose" aircraft carrier and the "Akizuki" destroyer, and severely damaged the "Zuifeng" and "Chiyoda" aircraft carriers as well as the "Tama" light cruiser. In the evening, the Southern Fleet of the Japanese Navy sailed into the Surigao Strait south of Wright Island, where the Seventh Fleet of the U.S. Navy launched an attack on it.It was the largest battleship battle in the history of world war.The accuracy and firepower of the U.S. naval guns have an absolute advantage. Although the carrier-based aircraft cannot fight at night, the U.S. military has dispatched large-scale torpedo boats to this water area. ——The Japanese naval battleship "Fuso" was hit by a torpedo and exploded, the hull broke and sank, and the "Yamashiro" was hit by a torpedo and exploded, and the bridge collapsed and sank.The heavy cruiser "Mogami" caught fire and was eventually sunk by the US military.The destroyer "Yamagumo" exploded and sank after being hit by a torpedo, the bow of the "Asagumo" broke and sank after being hit, and the "Manjo" and "Shigure" were injured by torpedoes... The Southern Fleet of the Japanese Navy overnight The interval ceased to exist, and the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet lost only one torpedo boat. Just as the Seventh Fleet was engaged in night battles, the severely damaged Japanese Navy Central Fleet returned.Kurita Takeo believes that the main force of the U.S. fleet is being pinned down by the Southern Fleet, and his return to the carbine will have an unexpected effect.However, because he did not receive a telegram from Ozawa Jisaburo, he did not know that he was already behind Halsey's Third Fleet.At dawn on the 25th, in the waters of Samar Island north of Wright Gulf, the observation post of the Central Fleet reported that Halsey's Third Fleet had been spotted.In fact, what the Japanese found was a small force of the Seventh Fleet—a detachment of six small aircraft carriers and four light destroyers under the command of Rear Admiral Sprague. Cover the army's landing operations. ——Rear Admiral Sprague is determined to entangle the Central Fleet of the Japanese Navy with his weak strength. A loud noise pierced through the morning fog, and a giant shell fired from the giant battleship "Yamato" flew towards Sprague. Before the giant bomb fell, the carrier-based aircraft on the light aircraft carrier took off urgently. Sprague didn't have cannon and armor-piercing shells for battleships, he had torpedoes and normal shells.Ordinary shells had no effect on the battleships of the Japanese Navy, but the torpedoes damaged Kurita Takeo's heavy cruisers "Kumano" and "Haguro".During the battle, Sprague's light aircraft carrier "Gambier Bay" was sunk by Japanese naval artillery, and the flagship "Fangshaw Bay" aircraft carrier was seriously injured.Near noon, Sprague couldn't hold it anymore, and Kurita Takeo's central fleet rushed into Wright Gulf in one fell swoop.It was a grim moment, and one of the most inexplicable in the Pacific: between Kurita and MacArthur, there was only this small Sprague squadron.If Takeo Kurita rushed into Wright Gulf, MacArthur's landing force could only be attacked by Japanese naval guns, and the US military might fail the landing battle in Wright Gulf because the rear route was cut off.However, Takeo Kurita suddenly ordered the fleet to turn around and head north, that is to say, the Central Fleet suddenly withdrew from the battlefield when it was expected to win.So far, there are still people arguing about Kurita Takeo's order: perhaps he learned that Halsey's main fleet was heading south and was preparing to fight him; The next huge trap was waiting for him to throw himself into it.In short, the last fighter plane of the Japanese Navy was lost silently. Halsey's main force was indeed heading south, for he had received urgent orders to reinforce Sprague.However, when Halsey's fleet arrived, Kurita Takeo's central fleet had already fled north. In the Wright Gulf naval battle, the Japanese Navy sank four aircraft carriers, three battleships, six heavy cruisers, four light cruisers, eleven destroyers, and one submarine, and the rest of the participating ships also suffered varying degrees of damage.The Japanese Navy also lost more than 500 fighters of various types, and more than 10,000 naval officers, soldiers and carrier-based aircraft pilots died. The Japanese army headquarters finally realized that the war might be at its last moment, and began to think about the consequences of Japan's defeat: "It is hopeless to save the defeat through combat", "It will gradually fall into a dead end in the future. In order to end the war as soon as possible, we have to rely on political strategy to seek The only condition for the settlement of the war at this time is to maintain the state system.” The Japanese army in desperation used a very special attack method: suicide attack. The Japanese suicide attack team was called "Kamikaze". Established in October 1944, the "Kamikaze Special Attack Force" was initiated by Lieutenant General Onishi Takijiro, commander of the First Fleet of the Japanese Navy.Facing the crisis of defeat across the board, on October 1st, Onishi Takijiro convened a meeting with the pilots of the air force and decided to organize a special attack team of "flying a plane into a ship"-driving a plane carrying 1,000 kilograms of high explosives to track the target and fight with it. perish together. The members of the "Kamikaze Special Attack Team" are all young people between the ages of 18 and 25, and they can get along with relatives or women for three months before performing tasks.Before the attack, the suicide note was written, and then it was closed in the cabin; there was no parachute when taking off, and the landing gear used for landing fell off by itself after takeoff-as long as it flew into the sky, there was no other option except to dive. The suicide attack started by the Japanese army in the second half of 1944 is extremely symbolic, because at this time the Great Japanese Empire really had no other choice but "jade broken".This can explain why when the general situation is over, even though no one in the Japanese base camp or the generals of the Chinese occupation army can tell what benefits opening up the communication line in mainland China will bring to the impending collapse of the war situation, the Japanese still stubbornly insist on This large-scale field battle must continue.On the Pacific battlefield, Japan's "absolute defense circle" has been broken by the U.S. military both at sea and on land; on the Chinese battlefield, the counter-offensive operations of the expeditionary force have driven the Japanese army out of western Yunnan, and the anti-Japanese armed forces of the Communist Party are launching a counter-offensive in North China.In order to defend the Japanese mainland, the southwestern islands, Taiwan, and the Philippines, the Japanese base camp decided to "carry out the Hunan-Guangxi operation as planned in China, use mainland traffic to make up for unsafe sea traffic, and implement war against the United States (mainly air combat) Preparations for battle". ——The Japanese stubbornly believe that as long as the railway line running through the mainland of China is opened up, a defense line with a huge maneuvering depth can be established to ensure the security of Japan's homeland, allowing Japan to maintain the passage and space for free advance and retreat in the crisis of war . Although the battle started from the banks of the Yellow River has already reached Hunan, and will continue to fight southward, the delay in troop replenishment and material supply cannot be avoided.What's more serious is that with the continuous extension of this long front, the Japanese dispatched troops to China have been unable to effectively guide the Hunan-Guangxi operation that is about to go deep into the hinterland of southwest China.In view of this, in August 1944, the Japanese headquarters decided to establish the Sixth Front Army on the Chinese battlefield, and unified command the Eleventh Army in Central China, the Twenty-third Army in South China, and the Thirty-fourth Army in Wuhan. Ningji Okamura, the commander of the North China Front Army, was changed to the commander of the Sixth Front Army. "On August 25, 1944, I was dismissed as the commander of the North China Front Army and assumed the post of Commander of the Sixth Front Army. This kind of extremely ordinary personnel change is not surprising at all. But it was only three months later I was surprised and dissatisfied with the frequent changes in the position of the commander of the important front army.” Neiji Okamura only stayed in the Sixth Front Army for three months before being transferred to Nanjing to serve as the commander of the Invasion of China. Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Army (that is, the Chinese Expeditionary Force).The chaotic personnel changes in the base camp revealed that the core military institutions of the Japanese army were out of order.Neiji Okamura couldn't help thinking of the fortune-telling that a Japanese monk told him at the beginning of the year: "This year is completely different from the previous two or three years, and the fate will change greatly." - Neiji Okamura doesn't know whether his fate is That is the fate of Japan. What made Ningji Okamura even worse was what he saw and heard on the way to his post.The headquarters of the Sixth Front Army of the Japanese Army was located in Wuhan. During the Battle of Wuhan, he served as the commander of the Eleventh Army. At this time, Wuhan was as desolate as ruins, and "not even a Chinese figure could be seen in the whole city."In the hotel that specially entertained Japanese pilots, "young military officers often went out because of frequent expeditions, and some of them never returned."Because the Japanese army completely lost its air supremacy, "in the past, between Hankou and Jiujiang, there were often 30 to 40 large transport ships traveling to and from the inland, but now even small steamships of about ten tons have been bombed by the enemy's US air force."The combat headquarters of the Sixth Front Army is located in Hengshan, Hunan. Originally, it took half a day to get there by plane from Wuhan to Hengyang and then change cars. Now it takes at least three days. Escorted by several fighter jets.The 23rd Army that wants to go south to Guangzhou is even more dangerous. It has to fly around Taiwan to barely reach it. Otherwise, Okamura Neiji may become the second Yamamoto Fifty-Six. Because the previous battle in Hunan was very difficult, the time to capture Hengyang was more than a month later than the "Operation No. 1" plan. It was unrealistic to capture Guilin and Liuzhou in Guangxi in mid-September. "The plan has been revised: the 23rd Army in the direction of Guangdong will launch an offensive from both sides of the Xijiang River in early September, advance westward, capture the area near Wuzhou at the junction of Guangxi and Guangdong, and complete preparations to attack Liuzhou before late October; The 11th Army in the direction launched an offensive from near Hengyang in late September, marched southwest, captured Quanzhou at the junction of Hunan and Guangxi, and completed preparations to attack Guilin before October.In November, the 23rd and 11th armies launched an encirclement offensive to capture the main force of China's fourth war zone, capture Guilin and Liuzhou, and pursue them in Guizhou as appropriate.Then, with the strength of three divisions, they captured Shaoguan, Guangdong, and completely opened up the southern section of the Guangdong-Han Railway; at the same time, the Eleventh Army captured Nanning, opening up the international traffic line to French Indochina. On the Chinese battlefield in 1944, Chiang Kai-shek had to face not only the Japanese army's battle to penetrate the mainland communication line from the Central Plains to the southwest, but also the Chinese army's inroads into northern Burma and western Yunnan to open up the Sino-Indian Highway and the Burma Highway. Combat, the dangerous situation on both sides of the east and west put the Chongqing Military Commission in a situation where both the front and back needed to fight hard. As early as when the Japanese army besieged Hengyang, Bai Chongxi reminded Chiang Kai-shek that after the Japanese army captured Hengyang, they must continue to advance to Guangxi, so that after occupying Pinghan Road and Changheng Road to control the northern section of the Guangdong-Han Railway, they would open up the control of the second line of Hunan-Guangxi and Guangdong-Guangxi. The southern section of the Guangdong-Han Railway.Bai Chongxi believes that the city of Guilin is surrounded by rocky mountains, and there are many caves where soldiers can hide to resist Japanese shelling or bombing; and in order to prevent the Red Army from entering Guangxi during the Long March, the Gui army built many strong fortifications at the junction of Hunan and Guangxi.Therefore, Guangxi can defend it.It's just that the troops in the fourth theater are not enough, and the seventh and ninth theaters must cooperate with it.Chiang Kai-shek immediately ordered the Military Commission to draw up a battle plan for Guiliu, and at the same time ordered the Fourth Theater to quickly mobilize troops to Quanzhou and Huangsha River at the junction of Hunan and Guangxi to prepare to stop the Japanese army.On August 24, the Guiliu combat plan was promulgated. At least Cong wrote that the three theaters were operating jointly: Phase 1 (before the enemy breaks through to the west of Hengyang and we now set up our main position) 1. The Ninth War Zone: (1) All the armies east of the Xiangjiang River will continue to attack key points according to the current situation, contain and consume the enemy, and destroy them at will. (2) The armies west of the Xiangjiang River shall be adjusted as follows: 1. Li Yutang (under the command of Wang Yaowu) commanded the 37th Army (the main force of the army is engraved on the east bank of the Xiangjiang River), the 62nd Army, the 79th Army, and the new 19th Division of the 46th Army And Peng Bisheng's department, with a strong one, occupied the forward position in the current position and contacted the enemy; its main force occupied the main position along the line of Maodong Bridge and Xinqiao; and deployed a force near Jilong Street to actively prepare and build a reserve position .However, the main force of the 37th Army should be temporarily controlled in the southwestern area of ​​Songbai and connected with the right wing of the main position. 2. Wang Yaowu directly controls the 73rd Army, the 74th Army, and the 100th Army. (1) The 74th Army (owing to the 57th Division), occupied the advancing position at the current position to contact the enemy, and its main force occupied the main position on the west bank of Zhengshui, north of Xinqiao; and placed it in Jinlan Temple In the area, actively prepare and build a reserve position.After the 57th Division arrived in Shaoyang, it chose to build fortifications, actively repair them, and prepare for mobile use. (2) The 100th Army attacked the enemy southeast of Yongfeng with a part, and its main force was controlled in the Jieling area (between Yongfeng and Shaoyang), actively prepared and built a reserve position. (3) The Seventy-third Army attacked the enemy in its original posture. (3) Forty-sixth Army, one division of the 46th Army will be selected first to assemble in Liuzhou and take charge of Liuzhou's defense. Stay in touch. (4) In addition to fulfilling their original missions, all armies in Hunan should form a majority of guerrilla units with small units, attached with necessary engineers and explosive equipment (the strength of each army should not exceed two regiments), and adopt Avoid the actual attack and false warfare method, attack the enemy's water and land transportation in turn, and cooperate with the air force to make it difficult for the enemy to resupply. 2. The Fourth War Zone: (1) One division of the 46th Army was transferred to Liuzhou, and the 31st Army (owed to the 135th Division) was moved to Guilin to serve as a solid defense. (2) The 93rd Army, occupying the Huangshahe position with a part, and defending the whole prefecture with the main force. (3) All units south of Nanning defend their current positions and continue to strengthen their fortifications. (4) Mobilize local armed forces, actively organize and train them, and set up agencies separately to achieve the effect of unified command. (5) The roads south of Nanning and Yulin (Yulin) and the communication lines that can be used by the enemy should continue to mobilize the people to completely destroy them, and earnestly evacuate the strong men, food and materials on each communication line, and strengthen the defense of the walls and clear the fields. (6) To expand and repair Dushan Airport so that our air force can exert its power, the Aviation Committee will formulate another method for approval. 3. Seventh War Zone: (1) Prevent the enemy with the current situation (that is, those in the southern section of the Yuehan Road, use the main force to use the northern and southern mountain dangers and established positions, and fight for a long time), and use six regiments (must use one organic division as the backbone) to hold firm Qu Jiang. (2) According to the situation, first deploy two divisions, go secretly to Lianshan and Wuzhou to build fortifications, and stick to them. The second period (when the enemy broke through our current position on the west side of Hengyang and aggressively invaded Guangxi) 1. The Ninth War Zone: (1) The 37th Army led by Li Yutang moved to the west bank of the Xiangjiang River, the 62nd Army, the 79th Army and Peng Bisheng's troops moved to the area south of the Xianggui Road, while the armies directly under Wang Yaowu were stationed in Xianggui In the area north of the road, use Shaoyang as a base (it must be defended with a strong force), actively flank and flank the enemy who invaded the west. (2) All other units in the ninth war zone should also attack the enemy on the west side of the road to contain and consume them. (3) The guerrilla units should continue to harass and trouble the tired enemy and cut off the supply traffic in the rear. 2. The Fourth War Zone: (1) The task of the Ninety-third Army is to occupy the Huangsha River with one part and kill the main force. (2) If the enemy penetrates deep into the vicinity of Guilin, the 46th Army and the two divisions converted from the 7th Theater will be deployed in due course to join forces with the defenders to encircle and annihilate them. (3) The units south of Nanning adopt mobile tactics, but if possible, they still rely on the established strong fortifications to try their best to prevent the enemy, so as to be able to cover our rear traffic west of Liuzhou. (4) If the northern Vietnamese enemy invades Hetian Road, the Guisui Independent Third Regiment (the main force is in Longzhou, and one part is in Jingxi) will turn to Tiandong one by one to stop the enemy. (5) Use local force to cooperate with the regular army to actively attack the enemy. 3. Seventh War Zone: (1) Prepare to lead two divisions with one army commander to participate in the decisive battle of Guilin in due course. (2) One division in Wuchow is still standing there, and the advancing troops and local teams on both sides of the Xijiang River are preparing to attack the enemy advancing westward along the river. When the Japanese Eleventh Army besieged Hengyang, Chiang Kai-shek mobilized five or six Chinese armies to help Hengyang.After the Battle of Hengyang, in order to further attack Guangxi, the Japanese Army's 37th Division headed southwest from Changsha to Shaoyang in mid-August; the 3rd Division and the 13th Division crossed the Xiang River and the Chongling River respectively Attack Changning and Baishui to the west; the 40th Division and the 8th Division near Hengyang attacked westward along the Hunan-Guangxi Railway—the Japanese 11th Army tried to sweep away the Chinese troops gathered on the outskirts of Hengyang and diverted the attack The striker pushed to the Guangxi border.The Chongqing Military Commission immediately ordered Wang Yaowu's 73rd, 74th, and 100th armies to shrink from the battlefield west of the Xiangjiang River to the Xinhua area in central and western Hunan in order to guard the gateway to Sichuan and Guizhou; 2. The Seventy-ninth Army gradually retreated westward along the Hunan-Guangxi Railway, steadily stopping the Japanese troops advancing westward and gaining time for the preparations for the Fourth Theater. On September 8, the 79th Army retreated to Dong'an and Lengshuitan at the junction of southern Hunan and northeast Guangxi, trying to delay the advance of the Japanese 13th Division.The first part of the Japanese army, dressed as Chinese officers and soldiers, detoured to the vicinity of the headquarters of the 79th Army with the plainclothes team. Commander Wang Jiaben ordered the 98th Division to fight hard, and at the same time led the personnel of the military headquarters to quickly transfer.At dawn on the 9th, when the headquarters of the 79th Army and the pistol platoon entered Shankou Village between Honglusi and Dong'an, they suddenly encountered the Japanese army.Commander Wang walked in front of the guard battalion, and the troops behind him were still two to three hundred meters away. When he saw the Japanese army in front of him, because the Japanese army was wearing the uniform of the Chinese army, Commander Wang mistook them for friendly troops and continued to move forward. It was tens of meters before realizing that the situation was wrong, and he drew his gun and fired. The Japanese machine gun bullets flew densely in front of him. He killed General Wang Jiaben with Dasao. Immediately after that, my follow-up troops arrived and repelled the enemy." Forty-three-year-old army commander Wang Jia was originally from Yunnan. He graduated from the Artillery Division of the 14th Period of the Yunnan Lecture Hall in his early years. He joined the Yunnan Army and participated in various battles in the Northern Expedition. The 98th Division served as the division commander, and graduated from the general officer class of the Army University.After the outbreak of the All-out Anti-Japanese War, Wang Jiaben led his troops to fight against the enemy and made many military exploits. He once led the 98th Division and the third detachment of the New Fourth Army to jointly attack the Japanese army in Xuancheng, Anhui.Participated in the Changsha Battle three times in a row. In the second battle, he led his troops to block the Japanese army for two days and three nights. After the war, he was hailed as "Hard Battle General Wang Jiaben", and was soon promoted to the commander of the 79th Army. On the 13th, the 104th Regiment of the 13th Division of the Japanese Army advanced to the vicinity of the Huangsha River at the junction of Hunan and Guangxi—"The resistance of the Chongqing Army was weak, and the first-line squadron easily rushed into the enemy's position. However, the main body of the position is the Concrete construction and covered firepower points, the regiment leader said at the time that it was "really carefully constructed", but he was somewhat puzzled. The Chongqing Army seemed to be completely unaware of our army's advance, and the equipment was not completed. The troops from the rear arrived, and there were constantly soldiers standing there in a daze." On the same day, the 34th Regiment of the Japanese 3rd Division and the 3rd Field Artillery Regiment advanced southward along the bank of the Xiaoshui River and the mountains west of the river bank. Although it was repeatedly bombed by U.S. fighter planes along the way, it still captured Dao County, the traffic hub from southern Hunan to northern Guangxi. On this day, Bai Chongxi made the following deployments for the defense of Guangxi: the 93rd Army advanced to the whole prefecture at the junction of Hunan and Guangxi, and did not retreat without orders; the 62nd Army and the 79th Army continued to block along the Hunan-Guangxi Railway The Japanese army; the 20th and 26th armies quickly advanced towards Dao County, stopped the enemy's invasion from the side of the southward Japanese army, and prepared to participate in the decisive battle of Guiliu; the 31st and 46th armies gathered in Guilin and nearby areas, Build fortifications and prepare to defend to the death.At the same time, Bai Chongxi asked the whole province of Guangxi to mobilize, promote the strong people's style, compile a backbone force of 50,000 people, apply for equipment and military pay from Chiang Kai-shek, and organize a supplementary division for the 31st and 46th armies. Then set up two separate columns.Bai Chongxi's reason is: once the reinforcements cannot arrive as scheduled, "these troops can immediately participate in the battle."In view of the precarious situation in Guangxi, Chiang Kai-shek asked the Military Commission to hand over the amount as requested by Bai Chongxi. However, before Bai Chongxi's deployment was implemented, there was news of the fall of Quanzhou. In order to defend the frontiers of Guilin and Liuzhou in Quanzhou, Chen Munong's 93rd Army was ordered to use defense fortifications to hold on for three months.However, when the 13th Division of the Japanese Army crossed the Huangsha River, the security troops of the 90th Army retreated after a little resistance.The Japanese army took the opportunity to detour to the side of the 93rd Army's defense line, and Chen Munong commanded the troops to fight all night and then retreated.According to historical data, the retreat order of the 93rd Army was issued by Zhang Fakui, the commander in chief of the war zone, on the grounds that the state's flank and rear contact lines were threatened.The 93rd Army retreated along the Xianggui Railway to the Darong River north of Guilin.The forward of the 13th Division of the Japanese Army was the 2nd Squadron of the 1st Brigade of the 104th Regiment. When the squadron conducted an armed search forward, it found that the defensive positions laid by the Chinese army were very strong. Four kilometers away, there are several barbed wire fences and some tanks in front of the position.However, there was silence around the position.Squadron leader Lieutenant Miyamoto Xue judged: The Chinese army is likely to have retreated, but it cannot be completely ruled out that there are traps.于是潜入全州县城——“城内并无重庆军，只在路上见到不久前像是敌军本部的地方，内有凌乱桌椅等物。宫本大尉证实敌已退却，立即以无线电报告联队，并扫荡了城内。”九月十四日，日军占领全州。 全州是进出湘桂两省的军事隘口和险要孔道，第九十三军的不战而退致使广西面向湖南的门户洞开。 之前，第九十三军军长陈牧农曾电呈重庆军事委员会，详细报告了他的部队在全州构筑工事、周密设防的情况： （一）全州附近情形，刻黄沙河已构筑之工事，职已亲赴各实地视察完毕。 （二）以固守全州附近，遵构四个团之工事，已于二十六日开始构筑。 （三）工事配备，自全县车站北方之金背岭，亘东南地区经白竹塘、蛇公坝、龙眼塘……蒋家、西瓜坪、雷公岭之线，构筑闭锁式子母堡之主阵地。在主阵地带前方三公里内，扼要构筑警戒阵地；在主阵地带内方及车站附近，沿城西南各高地至雷公岭四周，构筑核心工事…… （四）兵力部署拟以新八师全部固守主阵地带及核心，以第十师之四个营附战防炮一排，守黄沙河。该师主力将控制于全州车站以西地区为预备队，准备由铁路两侧阵地前方出击。 （五）粮弹集积已开始准备中。 蒋介石立即批复：“发给军临时费洋五十万元，准该军实报实销可也。”——事实是，第九十三军既没有严阵以待，更没有全力阻敌，陈牧农的报告随之成为一纸空文，国民政府拨出的经费也随即付诸东流。 蒋介石震怒，命令将陈牧农就地正法。 有人认为，陈牧农当时应向张发奎要一纸命令，以便事后证明第九十三军的撤退是奉命而为。可陈军长说，长官的指示就是命令，怎么能对长官的命令索要证据呢？——陈牧农认为，张发奎必会出面向蒋介石解释，但他很快就发现自己必死无疑： 张发奎派一个军官带着宪兵乘坐吉普车向大溶江附近第九十三军军部驶去，说是要接陈牧农到柳州去开会。听说陈牧农的部下有人提醒他不要去，陈牧农认为他是按照长官的指示行动的，为什么怕去见长官呢？不去反而不好。可是吉普车并没有把他带去柳州见张发奎，而是到桂林后就送到桂林防守司令部交给韦云淞执行枪决。韦云淞叫总务处长韦士鸿去对陈牧农说明奉司令长官（张发奎）转委员长（蒋介石）的电令，因为他“擅自撤退”，由桂林防守司令枪毙他。“以昭炯戒”！并问他对部队有什么话要交代，对家属有遗嘱没有。陈牧农说：“张长官害了我，没有什么话可说的！”他还能说什么呢？蒋介石不叫把陈牧农押解到重庆去交军法审判，张发奎也不把陈牧农带到柳州去交军法审判，而是交给桂林防守司令韦云淞执行枪决，是因为交军法审判，蒋介石怕张发奎所玩弄的把戏就会被揭露出来。同时，杀一个陈牧农来警戒韦云淞及桂系防守桂林的部队，要桂系部队只能“死守”，不能逃跑。 桂柳会战刚刚开战，中国军队就死了两位军长。 杀了军长就能挽回部队消弭的战志吗？ 全州失守，导致桂林暴露在日军面前。 十七日，美军第十四航空队炸毁了桂林机场的跑道以及其他航空设施，从桂林撤往昆明。 从湖南、广东以及雷州半岛三个方向侵入广西的日军，一路不停，昼夜猛进：日军第十一军占领全州后，主力集结在全州、道县地区准备进攻桂林。同时，为消除侧翼的威胁，在湖南南部，日军第三十七师团在第一一六师团一部的册应下，击退中国军队第一〇〇军的阻击，二十七日攻入邵阳；日军第三十四师团击退中国军队第三十七军第六十师而从广东向广西推进的日军第二十三军，其第一〇四、第二十二师团以及独立混成第二十二旅团，沿着西江两岸平南地区攻击前进，另以独立混成第二十三旅团攻取平南南面的丹竹机场。第四战区在这一方向上兵力薄弱，仅有第六十四军的两个师。日军第一〇四师团兵分三路合围梧州：沿西江北岸推进的第一六一联队攻占德庆；第一三七联队占领梧州，该联队的第三大队击退中国军队第一三五师的阻击，二十八日攻取丹竹机场沿西江南岸推进的日军第二十二师团，二十四日攻占罗定，二十五日攻占郁从雷州半岛出发的独立混成第二十三旅团，二十二日攻占容县，二十八日攻占平南。——自此，广西东部所有的军事屏障全部失守，桂林和柳州均已处于日军的刀锋之下。 长期懈怠的中国第四战区，仍在忙于回防广西的军事调动：第二十七集团军总司令杨森指挥的第二十军在道县附近与日军接触，第二十六、第三十七军正向湘桂边境的龙虎关、恭城靠近；战区副司令长官兼第十六集团军总司令夏威指挥第三十一、第四十六军负责桂林外围和城内固守；第九十三军移至义宁附近，暂归第二十七集团军副总司令李玉堂指挥，与第七十九军一起参加桂林保卫战；第三十五集团军总司令邓龙光指挥第六十二、第六十四军，集结在位于桂林东南、柳州东北的平乐附近，作为战区机动部队。——以上部队，大多刚从湖南进入广西，久战之后官兵疲惫，行动缓慢，士气不佳，因此均没能按时赶到预定位置，对日军向桂林和柳州的逼近没能起到阻挡作用。 十月九日，鉴于整个广西的危局，第四战区把能够指挥的部队编成四个兵团：桂林方面军，由夏威任总司令，指挥第四十六、第三十一、第九十三、第七十九军，其中一个军守桂林，两个军守桂林外围防线，一个军布防桂林以南；荔浦方面军，由杨森任总司令，指挥第二十、第二十六、第三十七军以及湘桂地区游击部队，以一部袭击南下日军的侧后，一部在荔浦以南经二塘至柳州一线担任警戒，主力配备在平乐、荔浦以及新圩地区；西江方面军，由邓龙光任总司令，指挥三个师、一个团和两个纵队，配置在桂东南的桂平、大湟江口地区；战区直辖兵团，由第六十二和第六十四军组成，控制在柳州以及柳州至荔浦以北地区。——面对日军的三面合围，第四战区除了分兵把守之外，没有任何作为。 冈村宁次的部队尽管推进顺利，但官兵们普遍心情不佳。一是天气变得恶劣起来，秋雨比往年来得都早，连绵阴雨“已经超过两旬”，道路泥泞，人马不堪其苦，饥病交加，部队“必须走遍从未经历过的极端难行的道路”。二是太平洋战局恶化的消息不断传来，大本营甚至向冈村宁次提出警告，千万“避免重蹈英帕尔覆辙”，一定要确保后方补给的畅通到位。而冈村宁次反倒因此更加坚定了寻找挽救败局突破口的决心。 十月十一日，冈村宁次下达了攻击命令： 一、第十一军应于十一月三日大致从道县、全州一线出发攻占桂林，然后与第二十三军互相呼应，攻占柳州。攻柳州时无需注意夺取城市，应以军主力从柳州北方地区深入柳州西部地区，向敌背后挺进，与第二十三军相配合，围歼敌主力。 二、第二十三军十一月三日以后，大致从三江圩（柳州东南偏南一百一十公里）、桂平（柳州东南偏南一百四十公里）一线出发，以一支兵力攻打柳州，以主力向柳州西北地区挺进，册应第十一军围歼该方面敌军主力。在此期间派一支兵力做好攻占南宁的准备。 冈村宁次下达作战命令的这天，从雷州半岛一路北进的日军独立混成第二十三旅团强渡黔江，于十月十二日攻占桂平和蒙圩；从广东出发沿着西江一路西进的日军第一〇四师团一部，从丹竹机场出发逼近平南以西的大湟江口。——日军已经接近了桂柳战场的侧背。 面对日益紧迫的敌情，第四战区不得不改变策略，制订出一个反击计划，其核心是：集中主力歼灭从广东进犯的日军，以解除对柳州侧背的威胁，得手后再转进桂柳方向与日军决战： 一、战区以确保桂、柳，并掩护柳州空军基地之目的，决以有力兵团于荔浦、桂林各附近地区，拒止湘桂路及龙虎关方面之敌，以优势兵力集结于武宣东南附近地区，先击破进犯西江之敌，以利尔后作战。西江方面会战日期，预定十月二十日以后。 二、敌如以主力向西江方面进犯时，集结有力机动部队于武宣、来宾以南地区，乘敌进出浔江、郁江北岸，兵力分离与态势不利之际，即取攻势，一举而击破之。此时荔浦及桂林方面军，各拒止当面之敌，极力迟滞敌人，俾西江方面之作战顺利。但荔浦方面军应以有力一部，册应西江方面之作战。 三、敌如以主力向荔浦方面进犯时，应在平乐、荔浦、阳朔间地区，竭力拒止敌之进犯，并予迟滞消耗。不得已时，应确保修仁隘口。 四、敌如以主力向桂林方面进犯时，外围军应协力防守军，极力拒止敌之进犯。不得已时，以有力部队确保永福隘口。在敌采取上述二三项行动时，西江方面于集中完毕后，索敌而击破之。 五、如敌在西江、荔浦、桂林三方面同时进犯，并以有力一部由越南分向歡龙路进犯南宁及田靖路时，蒸浦及桂林两方面，极力拒止敌人之进犯，另集结并转用有力兵团，先击破西江方面之敌。靖西、南宁两指挥所，指挥地方团队，利用地形，极力拒止敌之进犯，依情况转用有力一部，击攘该方面之敌，确实掩护黔桂路，以策后方安全。 ... 第四战区的御敌方案，犹如典型的中国式官样文章在一系列“如果”之后，皆为笼统的以“有力一部”拒敌进犯。——虽然难以落到实处，好处却是无论胜败部署都没错。可对于中国军队而言，“有力一部”到底是谁？前出到哪里拒敌是最佳位置？采用正面强攻还是两翼包抄？主攻是谁协同是谁册应又是谁？此时，冈村宁次的部队在攻击方向上没有先后主次之分，是明显的多路同步向心突击。即使如同第四战区的判断，广东方向的日军为突击先锋，那么把中国军队的主力集中于这一路，即使能打上一阵子，想必这边还在打的时候，那边的日军第十一军早已突到桂林城下了。第四战区的御敌方案等于什么也没说，只有“不得已时”，也就是无法拒敌进犯时，那些必须要守的“隘口”倒是说得很具体。所有的将领都很清楚，这实际上是在指示脱离战场时的路线或方向。 广西之战，是中日战争的一个典型缩影：中国方面无论是战略还是战术，都停留在“兵来将挡，水来土掩”的简陋状态。只是，中国第四战区置湖南方向的日军第十一军于不顾，把局部反击对象选定为从雷州半岛过来的独立混成第二十三旅团，这既出乎了冈村宁次的预料，也令独立混成第二十三旅团有些措手不及。 位于广西东南部的桂平，处于黔江与郁江的合流处，是从南面屏障柳州的战略要地。该城的北、东、南三面环水，西面则是连绵的高地，而西南面的蒙圩则是卡在贵县（今贵港）到桂平公路上的交通要点。日军独立混成第二十三旅团占领桂平和蒙圩后，独立步兵第一二九大队（野野木大队）、第一二八大队（谷村大队）和第一三〇大队（竹之内大队）开始构筑阵地，准备参加北上攻击柳州的作战。他们没有预料到会遭遇攻击，因为根据情报显示，当面只有从桂平撤下来的中国军队第一三五师一部。 十月十九日，鉴于第六十四军主力已抵达反击战场，第四战区随即下达了作战命令：第六十四军和桂绥第一纵队附炮兵部队，反击桂平和蒙圩；第三十一军第一三五师和桂绥第二纵队向平南和丹竹出击，迟滞日军第一〇四师团的推进；第四十六军（欠第一七〇师、新编第十九师和一个炮兵连）附第三十一军第一八八师向反击地域推进待命。 十九日，天刚蒙蒙亮，日军野野木大队的阵地正面突然落下密集的炸弹和炮弹，中美联合空军的多架战机以及第六十四军的火炮开始了火力突袭。蒙圩四周都是农田，日军依村庄修筑的据点“立即为猛烈的炮火硝烟所笼罩，一片农田瞬间化为黑色。在此之前，附近曾是一派翠绿的菜田。野野木大队虽在各个阵地奋力防御，但第一线当天即被突破”。掌握着战场制空权的中美联合空军，给与了日军独立混成第二十三旅团以严重杀伤，旅团指挥部与上下级之间的通讯联络被炸断，野野木文雄大队长被炸成重伤。“二十日夜，旅团长下河边宪二少将指挥竹之内大队主力（步兵两个中队）向蒙圩前进，二十一日拂晓到达该地东北端，但因敌机猛烈轰炸未能进入蒙圩，在山脚下隐蔽了一天”。晚上，第六十四军对蒙圩形成了包围态势，日军第一三〇大队大队长竹之内繁男组织反击，两军在桂平西侧的高地上混战一夜未分胜负。 二十二日，天色阴沉，第六十四军军长张弛决心不等空军助战，命令部队出击。在炮兵的掩护下，桂绥第一纵队攻占新德村一线，当面日军向后退守。第一五五师和第一五九师也击垮了当面日军。下午，天气转晴，中美联合空军的战机来了，但日军吸取教训把阵地设在隐蔽的山地中，致使来自空中的轰炸效果不佳。晚上，经过激战的双方形成对峙。 二十三日，第六十四军各部队逐渐向蒙圩压缩，日军独立混成第二十三旅团指挥部撤到数里之外，并开始动员勤杂官兵确保后方安全。第一三〇大队第一中队刚刚攻占桂平西南十公里处的新安山，中美联合空军的战机就来了，中国官兵急忙铺设对空标志，竹之内繁男立即命令向中国军队的阵地发射烟幕弹，结果导致战机将炸弹扔在了中国官兵头上。一阵混乱后，中国官兵对新安山日军阵地发动了凶狠的袭击，第一三〇大队第一中队中队长被打死，全中队最后逃出阵地的官兵不足二十人。 因独立混成第二十三旅团对外联络的中断，日军对中国军队发起的反击一无所知，第二十三军的后续部队还在按预定计划向前推进。中国军队第一八八师的一个团和第六十四军的一个师奉命前去阻击，以掩护反击战场的侧翼。日军第二十二师团第八十五联队派出的先头部队，试图与独立混成第二十三旅团取得联络，但在桂平附近被中美联合空军发现，遭到轰炸后绕道前行，结果在蒙圩附近被卷入中国军队反击的旋涡。日军的这支先头部队没带任何工具，仓促中只能用饭盒挖掘掩体，但每隔半小时就有战机对其轰炸，日军很快坚持不住开始溃退。——第二十二师团这才知道，独立混成第二十三旅团正在遭受围攻。 从二十四日开始，中国军队继续对独立混成第二十三旅团实施压缩。被炸成重伤的野野木大队长被抬下战场，在一个山洞里继续指挥作战，但该大队的阵地还是相继失守，躺在担架上的野野木心情焦躁：旅团的对外联络中断，目前部队各自为战，官兵对中美战机的轰炸十分恐惧，当面中国军队重炮的射击精准度也令他们惊慌失措。二十六日，中国军队再次发动攻击，第六十四军一部冲入蒙圩，在残垣断壁中与残存的日军展开巷战。但是，日军第二十二师团从第六十四军的右翼靠近了蒙圩，日军第一〇四师团也从黔江方向开始攻击中国军队第一五师和桂绥第二纵队。 二十八日，鉴于日军第一〇四师团的靠近，统一指挥反击作战的第十五集团军总司令邓龙光决定停止攻击，命令第四十六军接替第六十四军继续与日军独立混成第二十三旅团周旋，第六十四军则紧急向柳州以南、桂平以北的武宣方向移动以阻截日军。——战后资料表明，日军独立混成第二十三旅团已到了山穷水尽的地步了，最严重的是弹药告罄，迫使“旅团长以下，造竹枪准备突击，但中国军未能乘机予以歼灭”。 天气恶劣，山洪暴发，道路一片汪洋，当第六十四军官兵冒雨抵达武宣时发现为时已晚。 日军第一〇四师团试图绕到中国军队的背后，但他们必须通过险要的大藤峡，中国官兵长途奔袭扼守要道令日军难以逾越。于是，第一〇四师团绕路大瑶山，穿越荒无人烟的山岭，沿途再次与中国守军发生激战，双方都打得筋疲力尽，日军“计战死者约八十名，负伤者约一百名。战死者中有第三大队大队长难波正六少佐。自本作战开始以来，该少佐在联队战斗中经常奋勇当先，积极作战，铃木师团长等对其战死甚为痛惜。此外，联队长上野源吉大佐、第一大队长高柳克已少佐亦负伤”。十一月四日，日军第一〇四师团终于绕过中国军队，攻占了桂平以北的重要支撑点武宣。 暴怒的白崇禧下令把负责据守武宣的团长曹震枪毙了——如果枪毙个军长，需要向蒋介石打招呼，枪毙个团长他还是能独断的。 就在白崇禧枪毙曹团长的时候，日军第二十二师团在付出了战死两名大队长的代价后，攻占了武宣南面的贵县。 武宣位于桂平和蒙圩的西北方向，贵县位于桂平和蒙圩西南方向，两地的失守令中国反击部队的左右两面侧背都有了日军。 此时，在战场的北面，横山勇指挥的日军第十一军第五十八、第四十、第三十四、第十三、第三、第三十七师团，沿着湘桂线一路南下，已全面逼近桂林。 中国第四战区随即决定：放弃桂平和蒙圩的反击作战，调集部队保卫桂林和柳州。 中国第四战区对桂平和蒙圩的反击，虽在付出极大伤亡代价后重创了日军独立混成第二十三旅团，但从战场全局上看，反击作战顾此失彼，导致了广西战局的急转直下。 十月二十六日，日军第六方面军下达命令，决定采取正面佯攻、侧翼迂回的战术向桂林发动全面进攻。 桂林盆地，居越城、九岭、苍梧诸山间，民国后为广西省府，人口十余万。全面抗战爆发，随着难民的涌入，人口增至六十余万。桂林城区地势平坦，道路纵横，湘桂铁路和公路经此直达柳州。桂林城外石山林立，岩洞幽深，桂军利用这些天然岩洞修筑的环城堡垒，可以抵御一百毫米加农炮弹和五百磅航空炸弹的攻击，其中漓江东岸的七星岩堡垒更是坚固且强大，岩洞里储备的粮秣弹药可供半年使用。美国副总统华莱士来桂林视察时，白崇禧曾向华莱士夸口说，桂林是“东方的凡尔登”，守上半年绝对没问题。 白崇禧任命桂系宿将、第十六集团军副总司令韦云淞为桂林防守总司令。他之所以向蒋介石推荐韦云淞，是因为一九三〇年桂军和滇军打仗时，韦云淞率三千桂军死守南宁三个月，守军把城里的存粮吃光后用黑豆充饥，直到白崇禧在柳州训练的部队前来反攻，最终才挫败三万滇军保住桂系的地盘。桂军一直以死守南宁为荣耀，把韦云淞的部队在南宁开始吃黑豆的那天，称为“黑豆节”。——白崇禧要求韦云淞发扬桂系的“黑豆精神”，死守桂林。 只是，桂系的将领们发现，蒋介石命令桂系死守桂林，命令粤系死守柳州，而那些中央军的部队却在贵州境内整训，大家都明白这是蒋介石有意在保存自己的实力。同时，桂系将领们还认为，现在与从前不一样，对手是异常凶狠的日军，而且是日军的六个主力师团，无论是桂林还是柳州，守住的可能性很小。韦云淞上任的第一件事，便是组织防守司令部，却发现没人愿意跟着他一起守桂林，最后还是桂系老将陈济桓自