Chapter 23 Quality is more important than quantity

It is better not to be able to steal.The fact that they were close at hand, yet untouchable, made the 106th Division of the Japanese Army really itchy.Just when they were thinking hard about a good plan to break the formation, an opportunity that was usually not easy to detect appeared. Due to the emergency on the front line of the Ruiwu Highway (Ruichang to Wuning), the First Corps transferred part of its troops to this area.After the adjustment, the troops between Nanxun Road and Ruiwu Road became weaker, and there were correspondingly large gaps in the defensive deployment.The Japanese Eleventh Army Headquarters in Jiujiang obtained this important information through aircraft reconnaissance.

If there is a gap, you can drill through it. On September 20, the 11th Army of the Japanese Army ordered the 106th Division to avoid the frontal position of the "Wushimen Line" and carry out a surprise attack from the side along this gap.The Japanese estimated that if all went well, this move would be able to kill two birds with one stone, that is, it would catch the Nanxun defense line by surprise, encircle more than 20 divisions of the Chinese army, and relieve the Japanese army from being blocked on Ruiwu Road. On September 26, the 106th Division of the Japanese Army left less than 2,000 troops in its original position, and the main force marched towards the Wutailing line where there was a gap.In order to meet the needs of the mountain surprise attack, all the attacking troops are lightly equipped: each rifle is only equipped with 200 rounds of ammunition and two grenades, which will be used for the whole journey in the future; Mountain artillery and mortars; food fodder and luggage are also carried by each squadron themselves, and the rations carried can only be used for six days.

With such a light outfit, the speed of the march was greatly accelerated.On the same day, the 106th Division of the Japanese Army easily broke into Wutai Ridge, and quickly advanced to the depth of the "Wushimen Line" in two ways. On September 27, the vanguard of the 106th Division of the Japanese Army was discovered and intercepted by the first part of the Cantonese Army on the left side of the defense line. The temporary retreat doesn't matter, the important thing is that the Japanese 106th Division's "surprise attack" has lost the word "odd", and the Chinese army has the possibility of counterattack.

Previously, the First Corps had reduced the first-line garrison troops and increased the second-line control troops.These control forces are concentrated near De'an, and they are the main mobile forces that Xue Yue can control and dispatch, including the 74th Army. After the Battle of Minshan, Chiang Kai-shek personally called to transfer the 74th Army to Changsha for rest.Xue Yue replied: "I can't transfer it down." Chiang Kai-shek called again: "The Seventy-Fourth Army suffered heavy casualties in Minshan, so it should be lowered and supplemented." Xue Yue also replied again: "All the armies in northern Jiangxi have been fighting longer than the Seventy-Fourth Army, and their casualties are greater than those of the Seventy-Fourth Army. None of the armies has been adjusted to make up for it. Please delay the adjustment of the Seventy-Fourth Army. Make up."

The Seventy-Fourth Army was eventually left in De'an.Xue Yue’s reasons for not being able to transfer the Seventy-Fourth Army to Chiang Kai-shek were all obvious reasons. What he didn’t want to say was that once the Seventy-Fourth Army was absent from the battlefield in northern Jiangxi, it would be like cutting off its arm. . I don't know whether it is a legacy of the past warlord era, or it is influenced by the unique national conditions and human conditions. The Chinese military, especially the troops of the Kuomintang system, are the most particular about factional hilltops, and the generals are more willing to control and command the troops they are used to.When someone receives an order to assume the command responsibility of a certain aspect, the first thing he thinks of is to transfer the troops he has led before.

Xue Yue belonged to the Cantonese army, so he would naturally feel comfortable commanding the Cantonese army. Correspondingly, there were a large number of Cantonese troops in the First Corps.However, none of these can dispel Xue Yue's emphasis on the 74th Army as the central army. It was the Battle of Minshan that greatly reflected the value of the 74th Army on the battlefield. From a military point of view, it is not always better to have more troops in battle. The key still depends on the battlefield conditions. Sometimes it needs to focus on weight, and sometimes it needs to focus on quality.For example, on the plains like the Lanfeng battlefield, it is more suitable for large corps to fight, while the northern Jiangxi mainly fights mountain warfare.

In this case, quality is more important than quantity. Whether a main force is of high level or not has enough attack power often directly determines the success or failure of a battle.In a very simple sentence, if any of the armies in northern Jiangxi were sent up at that time, even the Cantonese army, they might not be able to take Minshan from the mouth of the Japanese.Knowing the pros and cons of the process, Xue Yue resolutely refused to let go of the 74th Army, even Lao Jiang's face. To be a handsome person, the necessary stubbornness is very important, otherwise what can be used to destroy others now?

After gaining insight into the Japanese army's intentions, Xue Yue decisively decided to turn passive into active, and transferred the 74th Army from De'an to the front to fight.At this time, the 106th Division of the Japanese Army had rushed to Wanjialing, trying to take advantage of the momentum and go south after breaking through the defense line of the Cantonese Army. On the afternoon of September 30, the 348th Regiment of the 58th Division arrived at Wanjialing in the rain and immediately attacked the Japanese army. Although limited by traffic conditions and movement after the rain, the Seventy-Fourth Army could only launch one regiment first, but the same regiment had a completely different effect in mountain warfare.If it is a weak regiment, not only can it not be counted on to defeat the enemy, on the contrary, it may also be defeated by the enemy. At this time, the follow-up troops have not had time to deploy, and the front and rear troops trample on each other, and the result is that the road is blocked. Follow-up troops cannot step forward to join the battle.

If it was the regiment sent by the Seventy-Fourth Army, although it might not guarantee that the Japanese army would be defeated, it could at least contain the opponent.Even if they take a step back and are really unable to resist the enemy, with the military quality of the Seventy-Fourth Army and strict battlefield discipline, this regiment will not collapse. Chances of winning. The performance of the 348th Regiment is a perfect verification of this conclusion.Fighting until the end of the day, the regiment wiped out more than 500 Japanese troops who had broken into the Cantonese Army's position, and established a foothold in Wanjialing.

The opening is always the most vigorous time, the Japanese soldiers who just rushed up are all like wolves and tigers, and one of them can fight you several times.During the fierce battle, the two battalion commanders of the 348th Regiment both failed. So far, Xue Yue has a clear understanding of the changing trend of the entire battle situation.In the overall defensive battle, launching a counterattack against the aggressive enemy and using superior forces to fight a beautiful encirclement and annihilation battle is almost the dream of every Chinese commander. However, due to the strong mobility of the Japanese army and erratic actions, the defenders were withdrawn Difficulties, so even if you encounter such a good opportunity, you often have to miss it in person.

Missed the battle of Lanfeng, Wanjialing must not be missed again.Xue Yue issued a transfer order without hesitation, ordering the main forces of the three lines of Dexing (from De'an to Xingzi), Nanxun, and Ruiwu to gather in Wanjialing and encircle and suppress the 106th Division of the Japanese Army. Xue Yue's decision is crucial.Commentators believe that if he hadn't seen through the enemy's situation and quickly seized the opportunity, he would probably be counted by the enemy. Once the 106th Division of the Japanese Army broke into the back of the Nanxun Line, "there would be no battle to fight at all, and there would be no Wanjialing victory". The stage is set, folks, copy guys.