Chapter 157: Truly a Masterstroke!

Inside the 135th Division Command Post in Dingyuan County, Chen Qingzhi and Su Zuxin stood before the military map, speaking in low voices.

"Division Commander Su, take a look here!" Chen Qingzhi pointed at the map and said, "Right here in Dingyuan, the Japanese 9th Division attacking us has already been battered by my forces. We can say it is temporarily secure! If the little Japanese want to continue their offensive, relying solely on a half-crippled 9th Division to capture Dingyuan, which you are garrisoning, is quite impossible—barring any unforeseen accidents!"

"Under these circumstances, if our Independent Brigade were to continue holding Dingyuan indefinitely, it would result in a waste of military strength!" Continuing, Chen Qingzhi moved his finger to the location of Linhuai Pass and went on: "The Japanese 3rd and 13th Divisions, combining the strength of two divisions, are attacking Linhuai Pass in an attempt to seize the Huai River. Although the frontline at Linhuai Pass is guarded by Yu Xuezhong's 51st Division and the 173rd Division under the 31st Division, the possibility of it falling is not high. However, this battle will undoubtedly be extremely difficult. If the Japanese deploy large-scale aviation and tanks, the probability of Linhuai Pass falling will increase significantly!"

"You must bear in mind that once Linhuai Pass falls, we will have no other positions left to defend further back! This means that once the Japanese break through the Huai River, there will be nothing ahead of them but flat wilderness. The little Japanese will be able to drive deep and straight into the heart of Xuzhou. By then, the friendly forces north of Xuzhou will likely fall into a pincer attack from both front and rear, making the war situation even more arduous!"

Hearing this, Su Zuxin nodded involuntarily in agreement. Everything Chen Qingzhi analyzed was entirely accurate.

Just as Chen Qingzhi said, Linhuai Pass was indeed of paramount importance. If it fell, the situation in Xuzhou would undoubtedly take a sharp and dangerous turn for the worse!

At this thought, Su Zuxin could not help casting a glance at Chen Qingzhi, as he now faintly discerned what Chen Qingzhi intended to do.

At that moment, he heard Chen Qingzhi continue: "Division Commander Su, it is precisely because of this situation that I plan to lead the 3rd Regiment of our Independent Brigade on an offensive into the Japanese rear. I intend to execute a stratagem of 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao,' preventing the Japanese attacking Linhuai Pass from throwing their full might into the assault, and ideally drawing those little Japanese back. If we can achieve that, our situation here will become much more manageable!"

"Yet, if we wish to do this, the crucial point is that our forces must execute a rapid raid without being pinned down or pursued by the Japanese. That is precisely why I had to cripple the 9th Division, rendering them incapable of further combat!"

Chen Qingzhi stated, "Now that the 9th Division is already half-ruined, if we sally forth from the city to strike the Japanese rear, and the 9th Division dispatches troops to pursue us, their main force will certainly be left with very few men. Division Commander Su can then directly open the city gates and engage the Japanese in a decisive battle beneath the walls of Dingyuan!"

"And if the 9th Division does not pursue us, that would naturally be even better. Our 3rd Regiment will be able to successfully infiltrate the Japanese rear and sever their retreat routes. I refuse to believe the little Japanese will not turn back!"

"Division Commander Su, what do you think of this plan?"

Having listened to Chen Qingzhi's elaborate exposition, Su Zuxin was left utterly dumbstruck.

Although he had guessed that Chen Qingzhi was plotting something, he had never imagined that Chen Qingzhi was orchestrating a plan of such staggering magnitude!

Once this plan succeeded, the theater of war south of Xuzhou would be completely stabilized!

Thus, the Fifth War Zone would be able to concentrate its heavy forces without distraction to fight a decisive battle with the Japanese northern forces!

Recalling Chen Qingzhi's plan, Su Zuxin instinctively lit a cigarette, took a deep, fierce drag, and then said in a tone of sheer astonishment, "A brilliant stratagem to kill two birds with one stone!"

The look he cast at Chen Qingzhi was as if he were seeing the real Chen Qingzhi for the very first time, a trace of unmasked shock evident in his eyes.

To say nothing else, ever since the Battle of Dingyuan began, the Japanese 9th Division had remained entirely within the palm of Chen Qingzhi's hand. Step by step, he calculated against them; step by step, he whittled down the 9th Division until now, when it had been beaten to a pulp.

Earlier, when the Japanese command post was blown up, Su Zuxin had assumed that was the entirety of Chen Qingzhi's plan!

Little did he know that this was merely a prelude!

Merely a prelude!!!

Chen Qingzhi's true intent was merely to weaken the 9th Division so that it could no longer obstruct the smooth execution of his actual plan!

To put it simply, weakening the 9th Division was just a convenient side effect!

Once the 9th Division was debilitated, he immediately pulled out the 3rd Regiment of the Independent Brigade—which had been kept concealed and suffered minimal losses—to launch a rapid raid into the Japanese rear. This move could truly be called a marvelous strategy!

At this juncture, regardless of whether it succeeded or failed, the defenders of Dingyuan and the Independent Brigade would find themselves in an unassailable, invincible position!

If the 9th Division pursued them, it would inevitably have to dispatch at least one regiment, leaving very few troops behind. At that moment, the 135th Division could immediately open the gates and engage the remaining Japanese garrison in a decisive battle beneath the walls of Dingyuan, securing a guaranteed victory!

And if the 9th Division did not pursue, Chen Qingzhi would be able to execute his surprise raid on the Japanese rear unhindered!

In other words, regardless of whether the 9th Division pursued or not, they were guaranteed winners!

It was merely a question of winning by a large margin or a small one!

Realizing this, Su Zuxin could not help drawing another sharp gasp of cold air.

Such methods, such a master plan—it was nothing short of turning the clouds with one hand and the rain with the other, a calculation capable of subverting heaven and earth. This level of tactical scheming was truly terrifying!

Su Zuxin looked at Chen Qingzhi as if staring at a ghost, shock etched across his face.

Smacking his lips, he finally spoke in a deep voice, "In my view, this plan has an exceptionally high probability of success!"

"Good! In that case, matters of warfare brook no delay. I shall immediately lead the 3rd Regiment to raid the Japanese rear. The 1st Regiment has been battered, and the 2nd Regiment has suffered heavy losses; I will leave these two regiments behind in Dingyuan. Division Commander Su, the county town of Dingyuan is now entrusted to you!"

"Rest assured!" Hearing this, Su Zuxin replied, "The 9th Division has already been beaten to a half-ruined state, and our 135th Division will still be defending from behind fortified walls. If we still cannot hold under these conditions, I might as well go find a piece of tofu and bash my head against it!"

Having said that, Su Zuxin added, "My end is of little consequence, but Brother Chen... you must take utmost care of yourself!" Su Zuxin said, "Although raiding the Japanese rear does not carry excessive danger, you are taking only a single regiment. Should the little Japanese react a bit too quickly and manage to entangle you, this older brother of yours won't even be able to reinforce you, try as I might!"

Hearing this, Chen Qingzhi laughed heartily, feigning utter fearlessness as he said, "Brother Su, you underestimate me far too much! To my mind, the little Japanese who can take my life has not yet been born!"

With those words, Chen Qingzhi lingered no longer. He saluted Su Zuxin, turned sharply on his heel, and strode out.

Watching Chen Qingzhi's departing figure, Su Zuxin stood frozen for a moment before snapping out of it. He rubbed his face, shook his head, and sighed with emotion: "Truly, the waves behind the Yangtze River push the ones ahead. Today's youth are truly remarkable!"

"I am getting old, old indeed..."

The sigh drifted out from the command post and dissipated into the empty air.