Chapter 976 This is a signal gun
Song Xi was also at the meeting, and said loudly: "Everyone! This record is absolutely true."
Dai Nong, Ning Changde and others immediately echoed: "Yes! The results are absolutely true."
Zeng Yun sneered, "Five thousand killed four thousand, with so few sacrifices, how could it be true?"
Two factions formed at the scene, and the situation was at a stalemate.
Commander Feng was grateful to Chu Xi for sending the 38th Division to retrieve Commander Zhang's coffin, and hurriedly changed the subject:
"Minister He! Huang Baitao's 77th Army refused to cooperate with the 34th Division to encircle and annihilate the Japanese regiment, and used the entire army's strength to capture Xiangyang. Did they capture Xiangyang?"
Speaking in this way was tantamount to deliberately ridiculing Huang Baitao and missing the opportunity to make meritorious service.
Minister He shook his head and said, "No news has been sent back yet, but there is only one regiment of the Japanese in Xiangyang, so it shouldn't be a problem for the 77th Army to siege with 7 or 8 divisions."
Zeng Yun had leaked the information about the 77th Army's attack on Xiangyang, and knew that the Japanese 11th Army had transferred the Ananwei Division back to Xiangyang.
He deliberately agreed: "Minister He is right. Huang Baitao is known as the God of War. He should have taken Xiangyang."
Minister He shook his head and said, "Minister Zeng! I didn't say Huang Baitao was a god of war, but he captured Xiangyang and was able to effectively cover the 34th Division's retreat, which was considered a help to the 34th Division."
At this time, Lin Qiaoer ran to the door of the conference room, waved to Ma Chunfang, and whispered:
"Director! There is a telegram from the Fifth War Zone."
Ma Chunfang stepped forward, took the telegram folder from her hand and said:
"Deputy Director Lin! Give it to me, and have everyone strengthen the radio monitoring."
"Yes!"
Lin Qiaoer hurriedly accepted the order.
Dai Nong looked at Lin Qiao'er with a bewildered look on his face, and asked Ning Changde beside him:
"Changde! Is this Lin Qiao'er the one from our bureau?"
Ning Changde shook his head and said, "The three Lin Qiao'ers look exactly the same. I can't tell them apart no matter what. I think Xiang can do it."
At this time, Ma Chunfang read out loud: "Commanders! The 77th Army's attack on Xiangyang failed. The troops were defeated by the Japanese and are fleeing westward. Please send reinforcements to stop the Japanese offensive."
The meeting room was in complete silence. The 77th Army Group and Huang Baitao, who were favored by everyone, looked like such a mess.
Moreover, Huang Baitao reported to his superiors without taking the commander of the war zone seriously at all.
Minister He turned around and asked the staff officer behind him: "Which troops are there near Xiangyang at present? They can contain the Japanese."
The staff officer flipped through the roster and said anxiously, "Only the 34th Division is east of Xiangyang, but it is trapped in the enemy's encirclement and it is difficult to escape."
Another staff officer said anxiously: "Minister! If the 34th Division really wiped out a regiment of the Japanese, it would probably be regarded as a thorn in the eyes of the Japanese, and would probably attract a heavy Japanese army to encircle and suppress it."
His voice was louder, some people were happy and some were worried.
Zeng Yun smiled and said, "That's right! According to this staff officer, if the battle report of the 34th Division is accurate, the Japanese will definitely send heavy troops to encircle and suppress it. Otherwise, it would be a false report of military intelligence."
Xu Zeng agreed, "Yes! That makes sense. I just don't believe it. The rubbish 34th Division has transformed into the elite among the elite, the ace among the aces, in just a few days."
At this time, Lin Qiaoer sent another telegram over and handed it to Ma Chunfang.
Ma Chunfang simply read out: "Commanders! Doihara Kenji sent a telegram in clear code, severely condemning the 34th Division for burning and flooding its valley regiment in the Xiyang Valley, and also using poison gas bombs. He also piled all the Japanese corpses into a small hill and burned them. It was too inhumane."
The conference room was in complete silence. Those who had slandered, opposed, and looked down upon the 34th Division were severely slapped in the face.
Zeng Yun was so angry that his teeth itched. He shook his head and said, "Is this Doihara Xian'er stupid? He likes to invent code telegraphs to publicize his failures."
Minister He smiled and said, "No! He is venting his dissatisfaction. This is also a way to relieve stress. Director Ma! Call Minister Chen and have the 34th Division break out as soon as possible."
"Yes!"
Ma Chunfang hurriedly accepted the order.
At this time, Governor Jiang walked out of the secret room and handed a warrant to Minister He.
Minister He stood up hastily, took the warrant immediately, and read aloud:
"We hereby commend the 34th Division and expand it into an army. Please seek out and destroy the enemy forces during the breakout and effectively disrupt the enemy's westward advance into Chongqing."
Anyone with a discerning eye can clearly see that the 34th Division was originally a division under the 34th Group Army. The fact that it was separated out as a separate army indicates that the 34th Group Army will no longer exist.
Moreover, the 34th Division is now surrounded by heavy enemy troops, and it is not easy to annihilate the enemy and disrupt their deployment.
Song Xi couldn't sit still any longer, so he stood up and walked out of the meeting room. He returned to his office and sent a telegram: "Feng! Don't worry about any orders to disrupt the enemy's deployment, retreat westward as soon as possible. Ya!"
South of Xiangyang, on the left bank of the Han River.
Xiang Chu led the 34th Division, hiding during the day and moving at night, passing through the gaps in the Japanese troops and reaching the bank of the Han River.
Liu Zhengxiong looked at the mountains and dense forests on the other side of the Han River and asked with a smile: "Commander! What mountain is on the other side?"
Xiang Chu said without hesitation: "Xian Mountain in the south of Xiangyang! It was called Longwei Mountain and Huangshi Mountain in ancient times. It is rich in inkstone stones and stretches for hundreds of miles. The vegetation is quite lush and very suitable for hiding."
Liu Zhengxiong smiled and said, "If we can safely cross the Han River and enter Yanshan, we will be completely safe."
Xiang Chu shook his head and said, "Even if we cross the Han River, we can't say we are completely safe. There are many devils over there. Moreover, we have combat orders to disrupt the enemy's advance and deployment. We can't just run away."
Liu Zhengxiong said angrily, "Doihara Ken'er personally led a brigade to chase us, and you still want to complete the mission? Your wife sent a special message to let us escape first."
Xiang Chu smiled bitterly and said, "Is he still a soldier who is defending his country if he is only concerned with running for his life? But this Doihara Ken'er is really a scabby dog. He doesn't feel tired even if he follows me all day long."
Liu Zhengxiong slapped his forehead and said in surprise, "Boy! We haven't been able to shake off Doihara Ken'er. Is there a Japanese spy in our team? Leave a mark for Doihara Ken'er along the way?"
Xiang Chu smiled mysteriously and said, "Of course! But I asked Hu Changsheng to change the last sign, and led Doihara Xian'er to Xiangyang to have a verbal fight with Anan Weiji."
Liu Zhengxiong shook his head and said, "You kid! It turns out you knew about it a long time ago, but you didn't catch him."
Xiang Chu waved his hand and said, "Why catch him? He can be of great use at a critical moment."
At this time, the sound of a reconnaissance plane roared in the air.
Xiang Chu didn't say anything. He just waved his hand and the officers and soldiers of the 34th Division flashed into the woods nearby like ghosts.
However, one person moved very slowly and suddenly pulled out a different gun from his arms.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!" two sounds.
Xiang Chu suddenly threw out two darts, hitting the man's gun-holding hand and throat respectively.
The man's gun fell to the ground, and he fell down with his hands covering his throat, dead.
At the same time, Hu Changsheng and Lan Cheng rushed over like the wind and dragged the man into the dense forest.
Hu Changsheng handed the gun to Xiang Chu and asked doubtfully:
"Commander! What kind of gun is this?"
Xiang Chu took out the bullet and said with a wry smile: "This is a signal gun with a flare inside. If this Japanese spy fires it, we will all be finished."
Hu Changsheng reflected, "It's all my fault! I didn't keep a close eye on him, and it almost caused a disaster."
Xiang Chu smiled and said, "No! You watched closely, and the Japanese spy didn't take out the signal gun until now. Whether we can cross the Han River safely depends on this signal gun."