Chapter 676 Falling apart
Yuchi Mountain, 34th Army Command Post.
Xiang Chu called Gan Rong over and ordered, "Old Gan! Send out the shadow spies overnight to fully grasp the dynamics of the battlefield, especially the Japanese brigade pretending to be our elite commandos. We must find out who these demons are."
Gan Rong smiled and said, "Commander! No need to check, it's definitely that guy Doihara Ken'er."
Xiang Chu nodded and said, "Yeah! Maybe, but we need the exact location. We have to kill him."
"Yes!"
Gan Rong hurriedly took the order, turned around and ran out of the command post.
Kong Ling received a message and said with a smile:
"Fifty thousand! The commander of the 81st Army, Chen Shuo, reported us to the higher-ups, saying that Lu Xiong's 4th Division was withdrawing too slowly, affecting their construction of new fortifications."
Xiang Chu was puzzled and asked, "The positions west of Miluo City are all ready-made. The 81st Army can only reinforce or expand them at most. Why do we need to build new fortifications?"
In this small cave, telegrams are frequently exchanged.
Yu Xiaowan handed another telegram to Xiang Chu and said angrily, "My dear brother! None of these three armies think highly of the fortifications we built. They are all ingenious.
The 71st Army also complained to the Supreme Command that we only knew how to fight to the death, and that they had already abandoned their defense positions on the Miluo River and retreated to Miluo City to defend it.
Xiang Chu said worriedly: "If their three armies continue like this, the Miluo defense line will soon collapse, and we will have to clean up the mess later."
Kong Ling waved his hand and said, "Don't exaggerate. Three armies are not three divisions. Let's think about how to deal with those three devil assassins."
Xiang Chu said disapprovingly: "Old Liu has released the news, and the three assassins will definitely turn their targets to the commanders of the three armies. Do you believe it?"
Kong Ling said without hesitation: "I don't believe it!"
Yu Xiaowan echoed: "I really don't believe it!"
Xiang Chu laughed and said, "I don't believe it either! Just go to bed."
"How dare you fool people!"
The roars of Kong Ling and Yu Xiaowan echoed in the cave.
Wuhan, the office of the commander of the Japanese 11th Army.
Ono Shika handed Okamura Ningchi the telegram of commendation sent by Doihara Kenji and said bitterly: "Commander! Doihara the bastard stole your imperial seal and secretly mobilized the Linxia Brigade to be under his command. He pretended to be the elite commando of the 34th Army of China and defeated the 91st Regiment of the 1st Division of the 1st Army of China. Now he is so proud of himself."
Okamura Ningchi took the telegram and read it, then shook his head and said, "Since Doihara Ken'er has won the battle, I cannot say anything about him. Let him command the Linxia Brigade.
But Ono-kun! Chu Xi and the other two were really assassinated."
Ono Zhihua nodded and said, "According to the imperial intelligence officers lurking in the south of Miluo City, the reconnaissance company of the 34nd Division of the 2th Chinese Army said in person that the reason they retreated to Changsha was because Chu Xi and the commanders of the 1st and 2nd Divisions all died for their country."
Okamura Ningchi nodded and said, "Yoshi! Without Chu Xi's 34th Army, the 71st, 81st, and 91st Armies of China are just a bunch of rabble. The five divisions of the Empire will definitely be able to annihilate them in one fell swoop and rush into Changsha City to plunder supplies."
Ono Shika corrected him, "Commander! The Sendai Division has been destroyed. The Empire only has four divisions participating in the war: Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Hokkaido, and Kyushu. The other divisions that were heading to Xiangbei have all returned."
Okamura Ningchi said with a smile: "Didn't Doihara Kan'er claim that his battalion was worth a division?"
Ono Chika smiled and said, "According to this calculation, our army should still have five divisions participating in the battle."
Okamura Ningchi stood up and walked to the map, picked up the pointer and ordered: "Ono-kun! Now that all the troops have arrived at the front line, first order the Kagoshima Division to cross the Miluo River overnight and occupy Miluo City. This commander is going to hold a combat meeting in Miluo City at noon tomorrow.
Also notify the three assassination experts to assassinate the commanders of the 71st, 81st, and 91st Chinese armies respectively. It would be best if the heads of the three Chinese commanders can be seen by all the generals attending the combat meeting at noon tomorrow."
Ono Chika bowed and said, "Commander! If you capture the Chinese city of Miluo, you should hold a press conference to announce to the world the great victory over the Chinese 34th Army."
Okamura Ningchi frowned and said, "But the 34th Army has retreated to Changsha."
Ono Chih-hua said disapprovingly: "Our army deliberately trampled on the 34th Army."
Okamura Ningchi nodded and said, "Very good! Go and send a telegram."
"Hello!"
Ono Zhihua hurriedly accepted the order.
Chongqing, combat research conference room.
Chen Guo said angrily: "Everyone! The 34th Army's retreat from the Miluo front is too slow. It has affected the deployment of the 71st Army, the 81st Army, and the 91st Army."
No one spoke up, knowing that he was making unreasonable complaints.
Minister Wu echoed, "Yes! The 34th Army built some rubbish fortifications, forcing the other three armies to dig new fortifications."
Commander Lin shook his head and said, "The 34th Army actually abandoned Miluo City and stayed by the Miluo River. Wouldn't it be over if the Japanese heavy artillery bombarded it? I ordered the 71st Army to abandon the river defense position and directly enter the city to defend it."
陈果补充道：“据说鬼子一个大队还扮演34集团军的精英突击队，袭击了91军1师1团，34集团军若是早点离开前线，1团还能上当？”
Minister He couldn't help but laugh and said, "Old Chen! The Japanese pretended to be the elite commandos of the 34th Army to launch a sneak attack. What does this have to do with the 34th Army?"
陈部长忍不住说：“34集团军报告了，他们的部队是在71、81、91三个军先头部队到达时撤退的。至于鬼子扮演精英突击队袭击你说的1团，那是34集团军1师撤离后两天之后才发生的事情。”
Minister Wu said helpfully: "Let's wait and see whether the 34th Army is better at fighting or the 71st, 81st, and 91st Armies are better."
Commander Lin said loudly: "From the point of view of abandoning the Miluo River defense and turning to defending Miluo City, the command level of the 71st Army Commander Li Mi is much higher than that of the 34th Army Group Chu Xi."
Everyone couldn't help but agree:
"Well! It's better to defend the city than the river."
"Li Mi is a talented general and should be promoted to general."
Song Xi and Ning Caiwei were sitting at the back of the conference room, their teeth itching with hatred.
At this time, Ma Chunfang appeared at the door of the conference room with a telegram folder.
Minister He waved his hand and said, "Director Ma! Just read the telegram if you have one."
"Yes!"
Ma Chunfang hurriedly accepted the order, unfolded the telegram and read:
"To the Supreme Command! Two Japanese divisions forced their way across the Miluo River and attacked Miluo City. Army Commander Li Mi was killed by a Japanese sniper. Our army suffered heavy casualties from fierce enemy artillery fire. In order to avoid being surrounded, we had no choice but to retreat from Miluo City and are now heading towards Dongmufu Mountain, waiting for an opportunity to counterattack. Chief of Staff of the 71st Army!"
After the telegram was read, the conference room fell silent.
As soon as the 34th Army withdrew, the Miluo Defense Line collapsed.
"Pig! Why don't you defend the Miluo River defense works?"
A very stern voice came from behind the brown glass.
Earlier, on the south bank of the Miluo River.
The Japanese Kagoshima Division quietly crossed the Miluo River.
The river defense position was so quiet that the Japanese soldiers were very confused.
A Japanese squad leader bravely rushed into a bunker and found it empty.
He shouted happily: "The China River Defense Position is empty! Empty!"
"Yoshi! Long live the boss!"
The Japanese soldiers were all very excited and cheered.
The commander of the Kagoshima Division ordered: "Chief of Staff! Bombard Miluo City for 20 minutes, and then launch a full-scale charge."
The Japanese Chief of Staff suggested: "Mr. Division Commander! The Imperial Olympic Moving Target Shooting runner-up Daxiong Xiao is assassinating the commander of the Chinese 71st Army in the city. Why don't we wait a while?"
At this time, the Japanese telegraph soldier reported loudly:
"Your Excellency, Division Commander! Daxiong Xiaozheng called and said he has successfully shot and killed Li Mi, the commander of the 71st Chinese Army."
"Yoshi!"
The commander of the Kagoshima Division jumped up with joy and shouted,
"Chief of Staff! Bombard Miluo City for 20 minutes, then launch a full-scale charge."
"Hello!"
The Japanese chief of staff accepted the order in a decisive manner.