Chapter 668: The Divisions Followed and Chased
Doihara Kan'er and Okamura Ning'a hurriedly boarded the boat and escaped.
But the telegram they sent had already caused an uproar.
The Japanese troops from Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi and other places headed straight for the Miluo River overnight.
Gupei Town, 34th Army Headquarters.
Yu Xiaowan received a telegram from a large number of Japanese troops and said in surprise:
"Brother Chu! We're not rowing dragon boats now, why are we all running to the Miluo River?"
Xiang Chu smiled bitterly and said, "Needless to say, they definitely want to encircle and annihilate us."
Kong Ling handed him a telegram and said anxiously, "Her father! The Supreme Command has ordered our army to fight to the death to encircle and annihilate the Japanese Sendai Division and capture Okamura Ningchi and Doihara Xian'er alive."
Xiang Chu took the telegram and shook his head, saying, "If the 34th Army really encircles and annihilates the Sendai Division, it will definitely suffer heavy losses, and will definitely be counterattacked by the Japanese troops that arrive later."
Kong Ling said worriedly: "But if you disobey the master's order, you will ruin your future."
Xiang Chu smiled bitterly and said, "Okamura Ningchi! Doihara Xianer! Why did you two run into my encirclement? And you even sent a clear message asking for help."
Yu Xiaowan reminded him, "Brother Chu! Earlier, Doihara Xian'er sent a clear message to the Japanese Yangtze River Fleet, asking them to send a motorboat to pick him and Okamura Ningchi up. Could he have already escaped on the motorboat?"
Xiang Chu sneered and said, "Don't worry! Lu Xiong's 4th Division is guarding the lower reaches of the Miluo River and will fire if a motorboat passes by."
Shima said anxiously: "Commander! According to your instructions, I have notified the 4th and 5th divisions to cross the river to encircle and annihilate the Japanese Sendai Division."
"what?!"
Xiang Chu and the other two looked at each other.
This is equivalent to giving Okamura Ningchi and Doihara Kan'er a chance to live.
Shima was a little stunned and realized that she had conveyed the wrong order.
Xiang Chu hurriedly said: "Yes! I just said that."
Yu Xiaowan said anxiously, "Brother Chu! Why don't we have Hongyi send people to search the river for the Japanese motorboats, and immediately sink them when we see them."
Xiang Chu nodded and said, "Okay! Shima, notify the 10th Division and have them search for the Japanese motorboats on the river and sink them immediately if they find them."
"Yes!"
Shima hurriedly took the order and spoke directly in the Bai language.
Xiang Chu walked towards the map and said thoughtfully, "It would be better if Okamura Ningchi and Doihara Xian'er escaped. I can deliberately leave a loophole to let the Sendai Division escape and leave behind the heavy weapons and equipment."
Kong Ling smiled and said, "You want to kill two birds with one stone. You don't want to disobey the order of the Supreme Command, but you also want to reduce your own casualties and let the five main divisions withdraw from the north bank of the Miluo River to the south bank."
“No one knows a man better than his wife!”
Xiang Chu praised and said to Shima,
“诗玛！通知1、3、4、5师加大攻势，2师减弱攻势，做好向两侧散开让鬼子北逃的架势。”
Yu Xiaowan said anxiously, "Brother Chu! Don't rush to give orders. I'll ask Ji Qiu whether Doihara Xian'er has escaped by boat."
Kong Ling nodded and said, "Yes! We can increase the offensive, but we can't let them off the hook right now. We can no longer decide the battle ourselves. We must consult with the higher-ups."
Xiang Chu said helplessly: "Okay! I'll listen to you two."
A radio signal came from the 34th Army's call sign radio.
Kong Ling hurriedly copied and translated the message and handed it to Xiang Chu, saying with a smile: "Look! The Supreme Command said that the enemy reinforcements are coming from all directions to surround Miluo River, and asked our army to increase the offensive, hurry up to annihilate the Japanese Sendai Division, and capture Okamura Ningchi and Doihara Xian'er alive."
After reading the telegram, Xiang Chu ordered: "Shima! Notify the 1st to 5th divisions to increase the offensive against the Sendai Division."
"Yes!"
Shima hurriedly accepted the order.
Soon, Hongyi shouted: "Commander! The Miluo River is too dark and foggy. We can't find the Japanese motorboat on the river."
Xiang Chu responded: "Forget it! You guys continue to bombard the Sendai Division."
Hongyi smiled bitterly and said, "There are only 30 or so heavy artillery shells left, and the Type infantry gun can't hit it."
Xiang Chu said helplessly: "The newly purchased shells have not been delivered yet, and 30 rounds are reserved for dealing with the Japanese tanks."
Yu Xiaowan received the message from Yamashita Yoshiaki and said with a wry smile, "You two! I asked Yamashita Yoshiaki, and he, Doihara Ken'er, and Okamura Ning'chi have already left the Sendai Division by motorboat and are traveling along the Miluo River to Dongting Lake."
Kong Ling shook his head and said, "This means that our army has failed in the encirclement and annihilation. We cannot report to the higher-ups that these two people have escaped."
Xiang Chu smiled and said, "No hurry! I bet Doihara Ken'er will soon issue a coded telegram, saying that he and Okamura Ningchi have been in Wuhan. The coded telegram is just a trick to confuse the enemy, and its purpose is to encircle and annihilate our 34th Army."
Kong Ling shook his head and said, "I really don't believe it!"
Yu Xiaowan echoed: "I don't believe it either!"
Soon after, Shima received a plaintext telegram and reported loudly: "Commander! Doihara Kenji issued a telegram claiming that he and Okamura Ningchi had been in Wuhan and had not gone to Miluo River. The plaintext telegram was to attract the main force of our army and then encircle and annihilate them."
Xiang Chu laughed and scolded: "I have never seen such a shameless person!"
Kong Ling said angrily, "How shameless he is! I will send a telegram to the Supreme Command immediately. In order to prevent the enemy from counterattacking, our army's strategy will change from encircling and annihilating the Sendai Division to driving it away."
Xiang Chu smiled and said, "Drive away! Very good."
Kong Ling excitedly sent a telegram, but received an angry reply: "Don't drive them away, encircle and annihilate them!"
Kong Ling was so angry that she yelled, "Can you please stop giving blind orders?!"
Xiang Chu patted her shoulders and said with a smile, "Fifty thousand of them! We have the right to speak for ourselves. We can just say that we encircled and annihilated the enemy instead of driving them away. Anyway, we have killed tens of thousands of enemy soldiers."
Kong Ling clapped her hands and laughed, "That's right!"
At this time, Shima reported urgently: "Commander! The 2nd Division said that the Japanese Sendai Division used poison gas bombs on them. They don't have enough masks. To avoid casualties, it is recommended to leave a hole for the Japanese to escape north, and then follow up and attack."
Xiang Chu nodded and said, "Okay! I agree to let them go and follow them."
"Yes!"
Shima hurriedly took the order and shouted to the 2nd Division.
On the north bank of the Miluo River, the Japanese Sendai Division Headquarters.
There were sounds of gunfire all around, and Taro Asano was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
Moreover, all the troops were asking him for help and requesting to break out to the north.
If he tried to break through, he would inevitably leave behind large weapons and equipment, which would be hard for him to do.
He pointed at the telegraph officer and roared, "Baga! Tell me, how many divisions has the 34th Chinese Army sent to besiege our army?"
The Japanese telecommunications officer shook his head and said, "Your Excellency the division commander! The telecommunications soldiers of the 34th Chinese Army are using a minority language, which we cannot understand!"
At this time, a regiment commander shouted in person: "Your Excellency the division commander! We have killed all the Chinese troops in the north with poison gas bombs and opened up the road to the north. Please issue the retreat order quickly."
"this......"
Asano Taro couldn't help but hesitate.
"Boom!" a sound.
Another shell landed in front of the command post, killing the Japanese soldier on guard.
The Japanese officers at the headquarters shouted in unison: "Your Excellency the Division Commander! Retreat quickly."
Taro Asano gritted his teeth and roared, "Doihara Ken'er has escaped. Order all troops to destroy the heavy equipment that cannot be taken away and retreat to the north!"
"Hello!"
The Japanese officers in the command post responded in unison.
Under the cover of night, the Japs fled northward frantically.
Xiang Chu was relieved when he received this information, and happily issued an order: "All divisions follow and pursue!"