On the 15th day of the first lunar month, the traditional New Year Festival is over. The atmosphere of the New Year gradually fades away, and life gradually returns to normal.

The atmosphere in Jiangnan began to become more serious again, and large-scale military mobilizations occurred from time to time. All the people knew that after more than a year of rest and recuperation, the war machines of the Republican Army began to operate again.

Fighting the Yangtze River to the north is the goal of the Republic.

In the Meiguang Autonomous Region and Chongming Autonomous Region, these two large rear areas belonging to Chen Tianhua, the various reserve training bases suddenly increased their intensity. The officers and soldiers who were on vacation were urgently recruited one after another.

Taking advantage of this leisure time before spring plowing, various places quickly summoned a large number of civilians to repair and reinforce various roads. Merchants and factories in Meiguang and Chongming received a large number of military supplies orders in a short time and immediately started construction, and various military supplies were continuously transported to the military's rear base.

Military-industrial enterprises such as Hanyang Arsenal, Hanyang Iron and Steel Company, Chongming Shipyard and Taihu Shipyard have long resumed work and production.

The abnormal movements of the Wuchang Republican Army immediately spread to the north and Guangdong and other places through various channels. Almost all discerning people knew that Wuchang was going to take action.

But it is still unclear whether it is going to take action in which direction.

Because at present, Wuchang has heavy troops stationed in the borders of Hubei, Henan and Anhui and central areas of southern Jiangsu. It is difficult to determine whether it will sweep the Shanghai Shanghai army, or whether it will take advantage of the fact that the north has not yet stabilized and send troops to attack the Beiyang faction of the Qing Dynasty.

Spy probes from major forces flocked to Wuchang, Meiguang New City and other places, mobilizing their various hidden channels to inquire about the direction of the Republican Army's troops.

At this time, Chen Tianhua had secretly arrived in Xiaogan, Hubei, which was the combat headquarters of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Front, and Guangshui and Dawu counties were the starting points of the war.

Luo Erhu's more than 18,000 permanent victory divisions, more than 6,000 brigades of Jiao Dafeng, Hunan Army, and Luo Longyun, who was promoted to brigade commander for his contributions to the Suzhou battle, had just been transferred to Guangshui.

The southern Jiangsu defenders were still succeeded by Yang Shanxin Brigade. After several months of rest and replenishment in Zhenjiang, he returned to Suzhou Prefecture City.

Xiaogan, this is Luo Erhu’s headquarters station.

On the huge sand table at the command headquarters, red and blue flags marked the Republican Army and the Beiyang Army stationed in Henan. Standing by the sand table, it was obvious at a glance.

At this time, Luo Longyun, the chief of staff standing by the sand table, held the long pole in his forehand, pointing at the enemy and us on the sand table one by one, introducing Chen Tianhua the current deployment of the Republican Army and its goals at each point.

Listening to Luo Longyun's introduction, Chen Tianhua was still very satisfied. These young generals who had received regular military academy training were different. They were very skilled in using combat sand tables and military maps.

He was worried that Luo Erhu would have some resistance to Luo Longyun's arrival, because Luo Longyun is a junior, and served as the joint chief of staff of the headquarters and the commander of the reorganized 12th Brigade, and he was almost caught up with Luo Erhu.

The reorganized 12th Brigade consists of a cavalry armored regiment, an artillery regiment, three mountain infantry regiments, and an engineering battalion, with a total of about 8,000 people, equivalent to half of the Changsheng Division under Luo Erhu's command, and is very powerful in combat.

Two of them were selected from the Chongming Reserve Base and were good at mountain combat.

Now it seems that Chen Tianhua is thinking too much.

Luo Erhu is a simple general. He is quite clear about his strengths and weaknesses and has a strong desire for victory. Therefore, when Luo Longyun arrived, he felt like he had gained a treasure and immediately gave in to the full power of the army.

As the highest commander of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui War Zone, he only reserved himself the power to stamp a large seal.

Luo Longyun did not avoid suspicion at this time. He took the initiative to make considerable changes to Luo Erhu's original combat deployment.

One of them is simply eager for victory and the iron horses on the battlefield, and the other is grateful and eager to repay the general's favor for his goodwill, and at the same time he also has the intention of proving his own value.

The two hit it off and cooperated very well.

"Master, please see, opposite us, the Beiyang Army has a total of 100 battalions, with about 50,000 troops and horses distributed in Nanyang, Xinye, Tongbai, Xinxian and other places, relying on the Dabie Mountains to confront us."

"And our side has five reorganized brigades, with a total of more than 32,000 combat soldiers and nearly 20,000 auxiliary personnel such as civilians and husbands, all of which are collected locally."

"I have many enemies, but I am few!" Chen Tianhua said with a smile.

His words caused laughter in the war room.

"Master General, we are not underestimating the other side. The Beiyang Army began to expand during the Chinese New Year on the border of Henan, Shandong and Anhui. The original Qing army green camp and patrol battalion were the main body, and the weapons and equipment were improved. Based on the original 20,000 standing troops, it expanded to nearly 100,000 people at once. The combat effectiveness of this army is not even comparable to our reserves, and its weapons and equipment are much worse than ours." Luo Erhu said with a smile.

"There are many ants to kill the elephant, so don't be careless. The other party is fighting locally. The green camp and patrol camp are all old military ideas. Maybe this idea of ​​defending the home can arouse their considerable combat effectiveness!" Chen Tianhua reminded:

"Let's talk about your battle arrangement first!"

Luo Longyun nodded and said:

"In view of the huge gap in combat effectiveness between the two sides and their experience in large-scale battles, we appropriately revised the original combat plan, changed the comprehensive occupation to a long-term entry, concentrated troops to break through a little, and then left the enemy behind. The army rushed straight to Xinyang, Zhoukou, Fuyang, Anhui, and Suzhou. The ultimate goal was to encircle Xuzhou."

Chen Tianhua frowned slightly, "Then where are you going to choose a breakthrough?"

"Assault from Tongbai and Xinxian, and finally take Xinyang first." Luo Longyun said:

"Xinyang is the main force of the Beiyang Central Plains, with a total of more than 20,000 people. It is a military fortress, echoing Zhumadian, Zhoukou, Fuyang and other cities from the left and right. We encircled from here, took down Xinyang, and then rushed towards Zhoukou and Fuyang."

"What should we do if the enemy troops like Zhumadian, Nanyang, and Huainan?" Chen Tianhua asked.

"Occupying Xinyang in one fell swoop and leading Zhoukou and Fuyang will make the surrounding defenders frightened. Under the post, they still don't know our intentions. There are only two choices. One is to stick to the city where they are stationed, and the other is to stick to it, sending a small number of troops to reinforce, but they dare not advance rashly, and they can only follow our butt and eat dust."

Speaking of this, the staff inside laughed again.

Indeed, in terms of the mobility of the two armies, they are completely different from the same level. Not to mention the Republican Army, there are four cavalry regiments and more than 6,000 people, and even the infantry are equipped with a large number of mules and horses.

The cannons and ammunition of the entire army are pulled by mules and horses, in order to improve the army's mobility.
Chapter completed!