With the loss of Xuzhou, the headquarters of the Fifth War Zone had moved from Xuzhou to Tongbai Mountain.

Tongbai Mountain is located on the upper part of the Huai River, 15 kilometers west of Tongbai County, at the junction of Henan and Hubei provinces.

Since Li Delin went to Wuhan to report his work, Bai Jiansheng continued to act as the commander of the theater commander and command hundreds of thousands of troops in the fifth theater.

Now the combat areas of the Fifth War Zone have been changed to western Anhui, northern Hubei and southern Henan. Their responsibilities are to rely on the Dabie Mountains to assist the 9th War Zone and other units to block the Japanese army from advancing through Jiangxi and attack Wuhan.

At this moment, Bai Jiansheng was discussing the next strategic deployment with his senior staff members around the combat map.

At this moment, a communications officer suddenly rushed in from outside: "Sir, the Tiger Ben Group is in urgent need of telegram!"

Bai Jiansheng said: "What does Consultant Yang say?"

The correspondent said: "Guest Yang said that the 101st, 6th, and 106th Divisions of the Japanese army, totaling more than 80,000 troops, have all arrived in the east of Linjinzhai County and may launch an attack at any time.

The situation of the Hu Ben Regiment was very critical, so I asked where the reinforcements of the 26th Army and the 28th Army were now.

In addition, Consultant Yang also said that we must ensure the safety of their wings and the rear area!

Otherwise, there would be no need for Jinzhai County to stick to it!"

After pondering for a while, Bai Jiansheng asked with a serious expression: "Yang Jing's words are reasonable. Where have the 26th Army and the 28th Army?"

"Report to the commander!" An adjutant next to him lowered his head slightly and said, "The 26th Army of Xu Yuanquan's troops, the 41st Division, has arrived in Gushi this morning, and the 48th Division has also arrived in Gushi. At present, both units are repairing fortifications!

Liu Ziliang's 28th Legion is also rushing to Jinzhai, and it is expected that all of them will arrive the day after tomorrow!"

Bai Jiansheng said: "So, as long as Yang Jing leads the Hu Ben Regiment to hold on to Jinzhai County for one to two days, he will be able to obtain reinforcements?"

The adjutant bowed his head again and said, "Yes!"

However, as soon as he finished speaking, another communications officer ran in from outside with a hurried look.

Before he could salute, he pulled his neck and shouted loudly: "Sir, something is wrong! Gushi... Gushi is lost!"

"What's going on? Didn't the 48th Division have arrived in Gushi?" Bai Jiansheng and the senior officials around him were all shocked, and their expressions were suddenly hard to see.

The communications officer bowed his head and said, "It was less than two hours after the 48th Division arrived in Gushi. When it was repairing fortifications, the 13th Division of the Japanese army rushed over like a scattered sea of ​​planes and tanks, and launched a fierce attack on the 48th Division.

Because the fortifications of the 48th Division were not perfected, they were caught off guard and suffered heavy losses!

In the end, due to the heavy casualties, he had to retreat.

Gushi became an opponent because of this!”

"Waste! What does the 41st Division do for food? In less than half a day, Gushi was taken away by the Japanese army!" Bai Jiansheng said furiously: "Gushi is the back of Jinzhai. Once it falls, Jinzhai will be alone and the Tiger Group will be in danger!"

Know heroes and value heroes.

Most of the senior staff members around Bai Jiansheng are Guangxi generals, with a passion for serving the country. They have all seen Yang Jing's heroism and loyalty.

Therefore, they all admire Yang Jing's character and heroic deeds very much.

Immediately, they all spoke, "Sir, since Jinzhai County is already isolated and in a critical situation, why not order Consultant Yang to lead the Hu Ben Regiment to retreat!

It's too late, it's too late."

Bai Jiansheng did not respond immediately, but turned his head with a serious face, looked at the communication staff who came to report, and asked: "Where is the 48th Division now? What are the movements after the Japanese 13th Division captured Gushi?"

The communications staff bowed and said, "The 48th Division is retreating towards the mall. After the Japanese 13th Division captured the mall, it did not station on the spot, but continued to pursue the 48th Division of our army!"

Bai Jiansheng immediately turned around and looked on the map for a while before frowned: "The Japanese army's goal is very clear. It seems that he wants to follow our 48th Division to directly attack the mall!"

A senior staff member with the rank of major general looked at the combat map in front of him and said with concern: "If the mall is also captured by the Japanese army, the Tiger Ben will be really surrounded by the Japanese army, and the retreat will be cut off!"

Another senior staff member looked solemn and said worriedly: "But if the Huben regiment gave up Jinzhai at this time, the 80,000 Japanese main forces that launched the front attack would be able to advance straight into the army, join forces with the vanguard's enemy, and attack Guangshan and Huangchuan.

By then, we may not even have the opportunity to consolidate our defense line!"

Bai Jiansheng remained silent. He now faced two choices. First, let the Tiger Ben immediately withdraw from Jinzhai before the Japanese army blocked their retreat.

However, such consequences will lead to the Japanese army's long journey into Guangshan, Huangchuan and other places, and they will be broken by the Japanese army because the defenders have not yet established a stable foothold.

Once Huangchuan is lost, the Japanese army can cross the Dabie Mountains and directly attack Xinyang. After taking down Xinyang, they can cut off the Pinghan Railway, and then exit Wusheng Pass from north to south and attack Wuhan.

Therefore, once Huangchuan, as the gateway to Xinyang, is lost, the consequences will be unimaginable!

Second, let Yang Jing lead the Hu Ben Regiment to continue to defend Jinzhai, resist and restrain the main force of the Japanese army, gather for the fifth war zone to Huangchuan, build a second line of defense, and win time.

This will ensure that Xinyang is not lost and the safety of Wuhan’s northern wing.

However, the consequence is that the heroic unit of the Tiger Ben Regiment, a star-like hero, will be trapped in the four main divisions of the Japanese army, and the army will be encircled on all sides by more than 100,000 troops. The retreat will be cut off, and the entire army will be destroyed!

Bai Jiansheng was in a dilemma for a while.

"For the entire anti-Japanese plan, the Hu Ben regiment must be allowed to hold on to Jinzhai for one to two days, and slowly restrain the speed of the Japanese army's advance!"

Bai Jiansheng fought against the gods and thought for a few minutes, but finally decided to put the overall situation first.

Although he was also optimistic about Yang Jing and his Tiger Ben Regiment, and even once regarded the Tiger Ben Regiment as China's hope force, he also had high hopes for Yang Jing, a general who was rare in a century.

However, as the highest commander of the Fifth War Zone, he must put the national plan first.

Therefore, in the face of national interests and personal emotions, he can only choose the former.

A senior staff officer asked tentatively: "Sir, how should we issue orders to the Hu Ben Corps? Do we need to inform Gushi that he has lost and that reinforcements cannot arrive?"

Bai Jiansheng said dejectedly: "Tell them, Consultant Yang is very wise. I believe he should know how to choose and will definitely put the overall situation first!"

Another senior staff officer raised an objection: "But... people's hearts are unpredictable, so we have to be careful!

What if Yang Jing and his generals were unwilling to stand firm and choose to break through after learning the truth?

Then our entire deployment will be completely lost.”

It has to be said that the questioning of this senior staff officer is not unreasonable.

After all, Jinzhai County has been defeated from Gushi and the 48th Division has actually become a strategic death spot. Any force that continues to stick to will fall into a desperate situation of being surrounded by 100,000 Japanese troops on all sides.

Therefore, sticking to Jinzhai is a difficult task of dying for ten lives and putting one's heart on it. If it were the people present, they would probably think that the head of the Fifth War Zone would leave them in Jinzhai, which would be cannon fodder!

People are selfish, and the first thing they think of is mostly their own personal interests.

Therefore, they felt that Yang Jing and his soldiers would not have doubts, so they chose to give up Jinzhai and break through.

"Sir, even if Consultant Yang is open and honest, it is difficult to guarantee that the generals under his command will not have any ideas.

You know, Song Taizu did not have the intention to be emperor back then, and in the end his subordinates were put on the throne and put on the yellow robe.

Therefore, for the sake of strategic overall situation, Bei Zhi believes that the news of the Hu Ben Group should be hidden for the time being, Gushi lost and the mall was critical.

After our defense line in Huangchuan area has stabilized, we will notify them to retreat! This is more secure!"

Bai Jiansheng flatly refused and said, "Who do you think of Consultant Yang as? The situation in Songjiang County and Kunshan County at the time was only more critical than now, and how did Consultant Yang choose?

I can tell you no exaggeration that if we had not been the one who fought to the death without Consul Yang's desperate efforts, the casualties of our army would have probably doubled in the Battle of Shanghai!

Speaking of the battle of Teng County, Consul Yang could clearly stay in the safe rear, but he was willing to volunteer to go to Teng County, which led to an unprecedented victory in the Battle of Taierzhuang, almost annihilated the 10th and 14th Japanese elite divisions!

Later in the Battle of Linhuai Pass and Lanfeng, which time was not because of the existence of the Tiger Ben Group that our army won a great victory?

When did Consultant Yang volunteer and personally lead the Hu Ben Group to stand at the most dangerous frontier in the battle situation?

Although the Battle of Xuzhou ended with the defeat of our army, I can tell you very responsibly.

If it weren't for the fact that Consul Yang had turned the tide again and again in the Battle of Xuzhou, the reins of the building would have severely damaged the Japanese 10th, 14th, 114th, 3rd, 16th, 6th and 9th Divisions, and had gained more than a month of rest time for our army.

I’m afraid that now, the Japanese army has already arrived at the city of Wuhan!

Even the entire China will be in endless crisis!

At this moment, you actually judge the gentleman with the heart of a villain, and you doubt the loyalty of Yang Jing and Yang Consultant.

I am really disappointed and want to know, what are your intentions? What qualifications do you have to doubt Consultant Yang?

ah???"

It was rare for everyone to see Bai Jiansheng so angry. He was so scared that his face was pale and he didn't even dare to breathe for a moment.

"snort!"

Bai Jiansheng snorted coldly, and some sharp eyes swept across the faces of everyone present one by one, and finally froze on the face of the communications officer, and said in a deep voice: "According to my orders to generate electricity! Just say, Bai Jiansheng, please!

I believe Consultant Yang knows what to choose!

He will definitely not disappoint me. At the same time, I also believe that this time Consultant Yang will be able to successfully complete the task entrusted to him by the War Zone Chief Department!

Even if anything goes wrong, I will also take responsibility for it!

Go!"

"yes!"

The communications consultant nodded, turned around, trotted out of the conference room, and rushed to the confidentiality department.

…………

The picture is pulled to the Yishixia, and the Tiger Ben Tuantuan headquarters.

At that time, Yang Jing was holding a tense military meeting on the current situation.

The entire conference room was filled with people, and the battalion commanders of each battalion and the company commanders of each directly affiliated companies were almost all on the list.

At this moment, a communication soldier suddenly ran in from outside with a telegram, stood up and saluted Yang Jing and reported: "Captain Bai, Chief Bai called back!"
To be continued...