Chapter 85 Chapter Eight Fighting to the End with Destiny (Battle of Xiangxi)

Known as "the gateway of Yunnan and Guizhou, the throat of the whole Chu", Zhijiang in western Hunan is the main road leading to the southwestern provinces.During the period of the Republic of China, this place was regarded as an important military town. Jiang Baili, a famous military strategist, once suggested that once the Sino-Japanese War broke out, China should set up its wartime headquarters in Zhijiang. Most of Jiang Baili's suggestions have been fulfilled.By 1945, there were more than 200 troops and military institutions stationed in Zhizhi, ranging from the military and political department, army headquarters, front army headquarters, to small anti-aircraft artillery companies and air defense checkpoints.The small county town with less than 30,000 people suddenly increased to more than 100,000 people.

In addition to the Chinese army, the army stationed in Chih also has the U.S. Air Force. The latter has more than 6,000 ground and air crews at most, thus forming an "American Street" full of traffic and crowds. The Zhijiang Airport used by the Chinese and American Air Forces is located one kilometer to the east of the county.The airport has been reinforced and expanded many times during the war. It is the second largest military airport used by the Allied forces in the East in addition to Chengdu Xinjin Airport, and it is also the secret advance airport of the Chinese and American Air Forces.

After the "Operation No. 1" ended, the Chinese and American air forces further expanded the range of mobile attacks on the Japanese army.According to incomplete statistics from historical data, in the four months from the beginning of December 1944 to the end of March 1945, the Sino-US Air Force Mixed Regiment stationed at the Zhijiang base alone dispatched 88 batches of fighter jets for a total of 784 sorties, providing a total of 784 sorties to the north-south communication lines. The Japanese army dealt a heavy blow. Zhijiang Airport is surrounded by mountains and is far away from the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway. Its location is very hidden and it is a key unit of military secrecy.At that time, all reports related to Zhijiang Airport were replaced by "Hongyan Airport", "Xiangxi Base", "somewhere in Xiangxi" or code names.Through the Battle of Zhejiang and Jiangxi, the Japanese army captured all the airports along the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Railway, but the occupied area was still bombed, and then successively occupied Hunan and Guangxi through the "Operation No. 1", and occupied the Laohekou Airport in northern Hubei through the Battle of Laohekou. However, the situation It has not been improved, and it was not until early 1945 that they learned that the forward airport was in Zhijiang.

The Japanese air force launched several attacks on Zhijiang Airport, but the performance of the Mustang fighter jets used by the Chinese and American air forces was much better than that of the Japanese Zero. Under the continuous sabotage and attacks by the Chinese and American air forces, the Hunan-Guangxi and Guangdong-Han railway lines have not been able to open to traffic smoothly, and the Yangtze River shipping from Wuhan to Nanjing and Shanghai has not been smooth.The Japanese army's so-called opening up the mainland communication line was to connect Northeast China, North China, and Southeast Asia into one piece. Now that even important railways and shipping are paralyzed, most of the previous efforts can only be reduced to a dream.

Okamura took it for granted that Zhijiang Airport was a serious problem.His primary purpose of sending troops to Zhijiang was to destroy the Zhijiang Airport and occupy this strategically important place. The second reason was that he had already gotten word that the Chinese army was replacing American weapons and equipment and was waiting for a counterattack. He wanted to take advantage of the opponent's use of American weapons. When you are not proficient, come to strike first. The news of the Chinese army changing clothes is true.Because Stilwell was fighting with him for power, Jiang Tuqiong showed up with a dagger and formally notified the U.S. government that if Stilwell was not replaced, China would not hesitate to withdraw from the allies and fight alone.In this case, Roosevelt was forced to agree to recall Stilwell.The new Chief of Staff of the China Theater, Wedemeyer, was cautious and did not hold back the Chinese like Stilwell did.After his truthful report, the U.S. government finally realized the severe situation and difficulties China was facing.

In the winter of 1944, in order to enrich the anti-Japanese forces of the Chinese army and launch an early counter-offensive operation in coordination with the US Far East operations, the US decided to provide 25 divisions in China with American equipment.In order to preside over this work, the Chongqing government specially set up the General Command of the Chinese Army, which is headquartered in Yunnan and the Chief of Staff He Yingqin is also the commander-in-chief.The command structure has four front armies under its jurisdiction.Wang Yaowu, former commander-in-chief of the 24th Army Group, was promoted to commander of the Fourth Front Army.

In addition to the original 74th Army, 100th Army, and 73rd Army, the Fourth Front Army also includes the 18th Army.The 18th Army was a unit that competed with the 74th Army for the title of "Attack Army" in the early years. Although it was overtaken by the 74th Army later, it is still a powerful force in the country.Among the four armies, part of the 74th Army, the 18th Army, and the 73rd Army have been replaced with American equipment. Due to transportation relations, the other part and the 100th Army have not been able to change their equipment for the time being. equipment. American equipment is not a panacea, but for the Chinese army whose morale is extremely depressed after suffering setbacks, it is tantamount to injecting a shot in the arm. In addition, after half a year of supplementary training, the number of soldiers is basically full. The world is not what it used to be.

The headquarters of the Fourth Front Army is located in Hongjiang City, southeast of Zhijiang.Wang Yaowu set up a general school class in Hongjiang to train officers above the company.He is also the teacher in charge of the class, and every period he selects a teacher from a different teacher to serve as the team leader.During the course of running the class, he and the director of personnel made an appointment to meet with the trainee officers every night to investigate and understand the situation of each unit. The general school class took three weeks each, and a total of three sessions were held.This form laid a good foundation for Wang Yaowu to master and command the entire front army during the war.

In March 1945, through reconnaissance by air and search forces, Wang Yaowu discovered that the Japanese troops in Hunan, Guangxi, and Guangdong were frequently mobilized.From the rear of the Japanese army to the front all the way: from Wuhan to Changsha, water and land transportation began to be busy; from Xiangtan to Zhuzhou, armored vehicles and tank troops were gathering; from Guilin to the west of Shaoyang, infantry columns moved north; On the roads of Shaoyang, vehicles full of fighters and equipment were constantly coming and going. The soldiers and horses have not moved, and the food and grass have gone first. The Japanese army will not go to war for no reason.Wang Yaowu immediately smelled a familiar smell.

At this time, the commando of the front army captured a Japanese cavalry captain alive in Qiyang County on the Hunan-Guizhou Railway. After a comprehensive analysis, Wang Yaowu judged that the various arms of the Japanese army in front of him had a joint attempt to launch a large-scale attack on China. After the information was reported, the Military Commission not only agreed with Wang Yaowu's analysis and judgment, but also determined that the Japanese army's attack target was Zhijiang Airport.The Army General Command immediately dispatched troops and generals. He Yingqin personally served as the commander-in-chief and authorized Wang Yaowu to actively prepare to meet the enemy.

Wang Yaowu immediately announced that the school classes would be suspended, and all teachers and students would return to the original department.At the same time, the headquarters of the front army was moved forward from Hongjiang to Anjiang to facilitate overall command of operations.