In the early morning of March 5, 1943, the combat hall of the 3rd Army Command of the Hu Ben Army in Zhao County.

After half a month of continuous attack, the 3rd Army experienced countless bloody battles and conquered more than 20 towns in a row. Finally, it advanced the front near Shijiazhuang and formed a three-sided encirclement.

Zhao County is only 40 kilometers away from Shijiazhuang. After being regained the day before yesterday, in order to facilitate command of the Shijiazhuang battle, Wu Kexiang decided to move the Group Army Command here.

Based on the original basis of the Japanese army headquarters, after two days of emergency repair and transformation, this temporary headquarters is small and complete, and it is quite similar.

At this moment, senior officers such as Wu Kexiang, Chief of Staff Ye Chenmin, Commander of the 7th Army, Commander of the 8th Army Zhang Zhenshu, Commander of the 9th Army Dong Zhehong and other senior officers were looking at the electronic screen on the wall with interest.

What is played on the screen is not a movie entertainment film, but a live screen of the Japanese defensive positions in Shijiazhuang that are transmitted in real time by drones.

Shijiazhuang, also known as Shimen, is located at the intersection of three railways, Shide (Shijiazhuang-Dezhou), Pinghan (Beiping-Hankou), and Zhengtai (Zhengding-Taiyuan), and is a strategic location in North China.

Over the years, under the increasing military pressure of the Chinese Tiger Army, the Japanese army began to repair fortifications in Hebei a long time ago, especially important strategic towns such as Shijiazhuang, Baoding, and Cangzhou, which have left no stone unturned.

So far, the Japanese army has formed an extremely complete circular defense system based on the fortifications built by the original national army after years of renovation.

From the suburbs to the city center, three defensive positions have been set up with outer city ditches with a width of 8 meters and 6 meters deep, inner city ditches with a depth of 5 meters and main buildings in the city.

There are 12 armored vehicles on the circular railway between the inner and outer cities and ditches, and 1 tank division, which can be used for mobile combat.

The city has a commanding height Yunpan Mountain in the northeast, and a military airport in the northwest is convenient for air support.

As for the fortifications such as castles, tunnels, air defense bunkers, etc. hidden in the dark, there are naturally countless.

The Japanese army stationed in Shijiazhuang had more than 70,000 Japanese divisions, two of which were the former Kanto Military Division with strong combat power.

It is not difficult to see from this that the Japanese army was determined to defend Shijiazhuang and fight an endless urban street battle with the Chinese Hu Ben Army here.

The Japanese army attempted to turn Shijiazhuang into a meat grinder and a flesh-and-blood mill, and relied on urban street fighting to greatly consume the vitality of the Chinese Tiger Army.

"Shijiazhuang has an extremely important strategic position. As long as it is occupied, it can not only remove a strategic point of the Japanese army in North China, but also provide an extremely solid fulcrum for further attacking the Japanese invaders in Shanxi and North China!"

After everyone was almost done, Wu Kexiang cleared his throat and began to speak, "But the same way, the Japanese army would never give up such a strategic location easily. They not only built an extremely solid and complete defense system, but also had at least 40,000 Kwantung Army with tenacious fighting will and fierce style.

These veterans of the Japanese were deeply poisoned by the Bushidao. In a sense, they were a group of emotionally unsatisfied war machines, so they would definitely hold on to the end, use all conditions to deal with us, and do their best to kill us!"

"So, without saying anything, everyone should be clear that regaining Shijiazhuang is a supreme and glorious historical mission, and it will also be an extremely arduous combat mission. The time for everyone to test our army has finally come!"

After Wu Kexiang finished speaking, the commander of the 7th Army Xie Kangquan said in a loud voice: "Please rest assured, the commander, all the soldiers of our 7th Army have been fully prepared. As long as you give your order, we will ensure that we will resolutely and thoroughly complete the combat mission!"

Zhang Zhenshu, the commander of the 8th Army, also quickly agreed: "That's right, we have a thousand days of raising troops for a while. Now we have all the right time, place, and people. Even if the Japanese resist stubbornly, they will be dead in the end!"

Dong Zhehong, the commander of the 9th Army, followed and said, "Please rest assured, commander, we will never embarrass you. Our 3rd Army will definitely fight a beautiful city battle and pull out this fang from the Japanese's mouth!"

Chief of Staff Ye Chenmin also smiled and continued: "Well, I also firmly believe that we will definitely win this battle. No matter how crazy the Japanese are, they will only be defeated and death.

Now the situation at home and abroad is very good, we will win completely soon. Brothers, let’s work together!”

"Very good, the morale of the army is available!"

Wu Kexiang nodded happily, and then said seriously, "This is the first large-scale city battle since the establishment of our army. Not only is the general manager watching us, but the brothers are also watching us!

We have air supremacy and a variety of state-of-the-art weapons and equipment, which can be said to have an absolute advantage. Therefore, I have never doubted or worried about the victory of this battle.

But what I want to say is that we need a more pleasant and beautiful victory, rather than a tragic victory that kills one thousand enemies and loses one hundred. Do you understand what I mean?"

"I understand! Exchange the minimum price for the greatest victory!"

"Please rest assured, commander, we know what to do!"

"Make sure to capture Shijiazhuang beautifully!"

Xie Kangquan and Zhang Zhenshu nodded seriously. They naturally knew that the people-oriented concept of the Hu Ben Army in China would never recklessly attack the sea of ​​people and fill their credit book with the blood of the soldiers!

"Very good! Next I will announce the combat missions of each unit!"

Wu Kexiang nodded, then looked at Xie Kangquan and said, "The 7th Army will serve as the main attacker in the southwest and west directions!"

Xie Kangquan immediately stood up and said, "Yes! Ensure that the task is completed!"

"Um."

Wu Kexiang then looked at Zhang Zhenshu and said, "The 8th Army launched an assist from the northwest and was responsible for building a defensive position in Hunlu County and preparing to block the aided enemy in Shanxi!"

"Yes! Ensure the task is completed!"

Zhang Zhenshu immediately stood up and received the order.

"Um."

Wu Kexiang then said, "The 9th Army was responsible for assisting from the southeast and east directions, and was responsible for building defensive positions in Ding County and Xinlejian, and preparing to block the aided enemy in Baoding direction!"

"yes!"

Dong Zhehong stood up to accept the order!

"Okay! The general attack time is scheduled for 5 a.m. the day after tomorrow. You can now arrange your actions separately!"

After talking about the key points, Wu Kexiang didn't know anything and immediately handed over the remaining time to the three of them to let them play freely.

Xie Kangquan and the other two were senior generals who had been promoted through merits and had a very good idea of ​​specific strategies and tactics. They were all commanders and each had a set of staff think tanks.

Therefore, Wu Kexiang really does not need to take the exams one by one. As the commander of the army, he only needs to outline the overall strategic tasks.
Chapter completed!