Subsequently, Han Tiansheng announced that the Huben Division 1 was stationed in Weifang, and the Huben Division 2 was stationed in Zibo. They were deployed along the Jiaoji railway and highway to prevent the Japanese from counterattacking from the Jiaodong direction.
The six divisions of the Tiger Troop were stationed in Qufu, Jining, and Tai 'an. At that time, these three places had already become the rear of the Tiger Troop, so there was no need for too many troops to be stationed.
The task that Han Tiansheng gave Gu Liangmin was to let him maintain the local security and be in charge of recruiting new soldiers in the middle and southwest of Lu to continue to develop the Tiger Troop.
The 3rd and 4th divisions of the Tiger Troop moved north of Jinan. They spread out along the south bank of the Yellow River at the Yellow River ferry and the two wings of the railway bridge to build a defense line.
To prevent the Japanese army from invading from the north of the Yellow River, the Yellow River Bridge had been blown up by Han Fuqu when he evacuated.
However, later, in order to restore the smooth flow of the northern line of the Jinpu railway to ensure its logistics supply transportation, the Japanese army organized forces to repair the bridge.
After the Japanese army retreated from Jinan, they did not blow up the bridge again because they still wanted to counterattack and recapture Jinan.
As for the Tiger Troop, they were planning to cross the river and attack Huabei in the near future, so they didn't plan to blow up the bridge.
Thus, the two sides faced each other across the river.
The Tank Regiment and the Rocket Artillery Brigade were stationed at Jinan Airport. Firstly, they were responsible for guarding the airport, and secondly, they were the reserve force.
The 5th division of the Tiger Troop, cavalry regiment, guard regiment, and other logistics troops were stationed in the Urban area of Jinan.
While Han Tiansheng was recruiting and preparing for war, the reinforcements of the Japanese army in North China had also arrived at the front line.
Other than the tens of thousands of reinforcements that had already entered the Jiaodong Peninsula by sea, the rest of the people were still in the sea.
The Japanese army in North China also transferred four mixed regiments and five puppet divisions from Hebei, Shanxi, Suiyuan, and other places, totaling more than 70,000 people. They had already arrived on the north bank of the Yellow River and confronted the Tiger Legion across the Yellow River.
Meanwhile, on the Jiaodong Peninsula, the 5th, 10th, and 14th divisions, which had been reorganized from the Japanese army, were also in place.
Itagaki Seishiro was still the commander of the 5th Division and the former commander of the Japanese army in Shandong.
Even though Itagaki Seishiro had lost to Han Tiansheng once, it was not enough to erase his previous glorious battle achievements.
Therefore, the North China Japanese Army Command still appointed him as the highest commander of the Japanese army in Shandong, responsible for the counterattack and encirclement of the Tiger Legion.
Three days later, the Kwantung Army sent an additional division and a heavy artillery regiment, more than thirty thousand people, along the Jinpu railway to reach Dezhou on the north bank of the Yellow River.
At this point, the Japanese army had gathered more than 100,000 Japanese troops on the north bank of the Yellow River.
The reconstructed 5th, 10th, and 14th Divisions, as well as a batch of artillery and tanks, had also gathered in Jiaodong Peninsula. The total number of troops exceeded 100,000.
The 114th division sent by the Hua Zhong front army had also arrived in Hai Province to join forces with the 108th division.
At this point, Itagaki Seishiro could command six A Divisions, four mixed regiments, five puppet infantry divisions, one heavy artillery regiment, and a batch of tanks, engineers, and logistics troops. The total number of troops exceeded 240,000.
Itagaki Seishiro first ordered the 108th and 114th divisions to attack from Haizhou to Xuzhou.
They would make a strategic feint to coordinate with the main force of the Central China Front Army on the southern front to contain the main force of the 5th Battle Area in the Xuzhou area.
After that, he personally led the 5th, 10th, 14th divisions and other troops to set off from the cities of Shandong, Shandong, and other places.
Along the Jiaoji railway, they attacked Jinan on a large scale.
The 100,000 Japanese puppet troops on the north bank of the Yellow River were also lined up, ready to cross the river and counterattack at any time.
Jinan, Tiger Legion Headquarters.
Han Tiansheng, He Siyuan, Zhou Weiguo, Sun Tongxuan, the Book Exhibition Hall, Cao Fulin, and the other generals were gathered together and discussing countermeasures.
Chief of Staff Zhou Weiguo stood in front of the battle map and pointed at the map with a wooden command pole.""According to the intelligence reports from the reconnaissance teams of the various divisions.
At present, the 100,000-plus Japanese forces in Jiaodong have already begun to advance into the territory of our Tiger Legion.
Their vanguard is less than a hundred miles away from the 1st Division's frontline!”
"There are also more than 100,000 Japanese troops on the north bank. They are already stationed on the shore and can cross the river at any time to invade Jinan!”
After Zhou Weiguo finished speaking, He Siyuan looked at Han Tiansheng and asked,""General, I wonder if you have any good strategy to repel the enemy?”
" Of course," Han Tiansheng said with a relaxed look." Send a telegram to Long Wenzhang and Li Yunlong first. Order them to lead the first division and the second division to defend Weifang and block the main force of the Japanese army that is advancing westward."
The 5th Division, the Tank Armored Regiment, the Cavalry Regiment, and the Rocket Artillery Brigade immediately gathered in the north of the city and moved to the south bank, preparing to attack the enemy on the north bank!
The guard regiment will stay in Jinan!"
"General, are you going to attack?" He Siyuan asked in surprise.”
"That's right!" Han Tiansheng nodded.
"However, our Tiger Legion Corps has just been formed, and half of them are new recruits. Under such circumstances, shouldn't we defend our position? He Siyuan stated his opinion.
Han Tiansheng smiled and said," Director He, you are too cautious. Although our army is newly formed, our weapons and equipment are far ahead of the Japanese.
Especially artillery tanks and air forces, they could definitely crush the Japanese!”
"However, we lack enough crossing equipment. If the Japanese army blows up the Yellow River Bridge after our troops cross the bridge or halfway through, wouldn't our troops be in danger?”He Siyuan said.
Sun Tongxuan and Cao Fulin also agreed with He Siyuan's point of view. They couldn't help but nod silently, but they didn't object.
Instead, he looked at Han Tiansheng, hoping that Han Tiansheng would have a reasonable response.
"Chief He, you're thinking too much. From today onwards, we will have absolute control of the air!"With my absolute ground and air superiority firepower, the devils will never have the chance to blow up the Yellow River Bridge again!”
With that, Han Tiansheng turned to Ming Lou, who had been standing behind him, and instructed,""Think of a way to get the deployment of the enemy forces on the north bank. It's best to find their artillery positions.”
"General!" " Ah Cheng and Yan Shuangying have already brought people to the north bank last night. I believe there will be good news soon!" Ming Lou said with his head lowered.”
As soon as Ming Lou finished speaking, a high-ranking agent of the Agency of Special Affairs quickly walked in and whispered something into Ming Lou's ear before respectfully bidding farewell and leaving.
Minglou immediately reported to Han Tiansheng,""Commander, we have already grasped the enemy's deployment and artillery positions on the north bank.
The enemies on the north shore were mainly the 2nd Division of the Kwantung Army, four mixed regiments, five puppet infantry divisions, and a heavy artillery regiment.
Although the five puppet infantry divisions did not have many people, they were all a motley crew and were not worth worrying about.”
"Very good. Immediately deploy the enemy's forces and the location of the Heavy Artillery Brigade. Inform the Rocket Artillery Brigade and the Air Force to work together and take out all the enemy's heavy equipment on the north bank!" Han Tiansheng immediately ordered.
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