Chapter 713: Driving Them into the Xiangjiang River
In the waters south of Dongting Lake, the captain's room of the Japanese Chunlai transport ship.
Okamura Ningchi was sleeping soundly, snoring loudly.
"Commander! This is bad."
Ono Chika rushed in shouting.
Okamura Ningchi was startled and sat up. He was still immersed in the beautiful dream of marrying a wife, and said very unhappily:
"Ono-kun! Can't you come in later?"
Ono Chika cried and said: "All our army's food, supplies, weapons and ammunition in Miluo City were blown up by the troops of the 34th Army of China."
Okamura Ningchi was so angry that he almost fainted. After a long while, he cried out in shock:
"All gone?!"
Ono Chika nodded and said, "All gone!"
Okamura Ningchi was so angry that he jumped up and shouted loudly: "Baga! A reinforced battalion couldn't defend Miluo City. How many troops did the 34th Army of China send?"
Ono Chika shook his head and said, "A cavalry regiment, before our reinforcements arrived, they defeated the Ishikawa Battalion stationed in Miluo City, blew up all the baggage, and took away a large amount of weapons and ammunition."
Okamura Ningchi sighed and said, "Alas! A reinforced battalion of a Type A division can't even defeat a cavalry regiment of the 1th Army. Now that our army's weapons, ammunition, food and supplies have been lost, how can we defeat the Chinese 34th Army?"
Ono Chika suggested: "Commander! Why not notify all divisions to launch an attack at dawn with all their might and drive the 34th Army into the Xiangjiang River in one fell swoop."
Okamura Ningchi shook his head and said, "Chu Xi is not an ordinary Chinese general, and the 34th Army is well-equipped. Even if we attack at dawn, it will be difficult to annihilate them."
Ono Chika smiled and said, "Commander-in-Chief! At dawn, the Chinese army must be in the deepest sleep. If our army attacks with all its might, it may be able to achieve miraculous results."
Okamura Ningchi thought for a moment and ordered, "Okay! Order all divisions to launch an attack at dawn. We must spare no effort to drive the Chinese 34th Army into the Xiangjiang River and into Changsha City in one fell swoop."
"Hello!"
Ono Zhihua accepted the order with firmness.
North of Yuelu Mountain, 34th Army Command Post.
Xiang Chu held the telegram sent by Li Tong in his hand and said sadly: "In order to blow up the Japanese baggage, the commander of the 3rd Division Cavalry Regiment and his thousand brothers, the 1st Division Reconnaissance Company, and annihilated a Japanese reinforced battalion, all of whom died heroically."
Kong Ling sent a battle report to his superiors and comforted them, "Her father! I have reported this to the higher-ups. Don't worry! They will issue a pension and award medals."
"Well! It must be commended."
Xiang Chu nodded and said thoughtfully, "We destroyed the baggage in Miluo City. Okamura Ningchi must be determined to fight quickly. No! Our army must immediately retreat to the left bank of the Xiangjiang River. When the enemy's food and ammunition are exhausted, we will immediately cross the river and pursue them."
Yu Xiaowan nodded and said, "Yes! This way, we can avoid bloodshed and greatly reduce casualties."
Kong Ling shook his head and said, "No! The Supreme Command ordered our army to block the right bank of the Xiangjiang River and not to retreat."
At the critical moment, she showed the serious side of the inspector.
Xiang Chu held her in his arms and begged, "Five thousand of them! Please ask the Supreme Command and tell them that the enemy's food and ammunition have been blown up by me. We want to make a quick decision. Most of our troops will retreat to the left bank of the Xiang River, and a small part will continue to stay in the north of the river to harass. Wait for three or two days, and the enemy's food and ammunition will be exhausted. Then our army will go north to pursue them."
Kong Ling said angrily: "I'll just post it, why are you being so affectionate?"
After saying this, she sat down happily and sent the telegram.
Soon, a reply was received: "In order to prevent the Japanese from harassing the surrounding people and looting supplies, your troops will continue to fight on the right bank of the Xiangjiang River and fight to the death to stop the Japanese offensive."
After reading the telegram, Xiang Chu shook his head and said, "If we save the people but lose the land, both the people and the land will be saved; if we save the land but lose the people, both the people and the land will be lost. How can I command the war with such blind command from above?"
Kong Ling comforted him, "Her father! Don't be angry, let's fight first, and if it doesn't work, we can retreat to the left bank of the Xiangjiang River."
Yu Xiaowan echoed, "Brother Chu! Sister Kong is right. It would be hard to explain to the people of Hunan if we retreat without fighting."
"Okay! Let's strike first and gain the upper hand."
Xiang Chu nodded and told Shima,
"Shima! Inform all troops, we will launch an attack on the Japanese just before dawn, and after fighting for a while, withdraw to our positions."
"Yes!"
Shima hurriedly accepted the order.
Xiang Chu sent a telegram to Li Tong asking: "Li Tong! Where are you now? Is the journey safe?"
Soon, a reply was received: "Junior Master! We have arrived at the south of Yuchi Mountain. We have had a safe journey and are expected to return to the troops before dawn."
Xiang Chu said with emotion: "The Cavalry Regiment and the 1st Reconnaissance Company made great sacrifices to save our 34th Army."
Kong Ling said angrily, "Her father! Stop sighing and take a rest."
"Yes!"
Xiang Chu said happily.
At dawn, everything was silent.
"Boom! Boom!"
The 88mm artillery of the Hongyi Heavy Artillery Regiment took the lead in launching an attack on the Japanese positions.
"kill!"
The eight divisions of the 34th Army rushed out of their positions at the same time and launched an attack on the Japanese.
The Japs had just gotten up and were not ready for the attack yet, so they were all stunned.
However, they reacted quickly and were in combat mode within 1 minute.
The officers and soldiers of the 34th Army were also shocked. The Japanese reacted too quickly.
The two armies exchanged fierce fire in astonishment, and the dawn here was filled with continuous artillery fire.
The commander of the Kyushu Division, Qiu Zuka Goro, was so angry that he shouted: "The 34th Chinese Army is really an outlier among the Chinese armies. Why did they also imitate the Imperial Army and launch an attack at dawn?"
Fengdao Meinan smiled mysteriously and said, "Your Excellency the Division Commander! Could it be that the 34th Chinese Army has learned of our intelligence and knows that our army will launch a general attack at dawn?"
Qiu Zukago rolled his eyes at him and shouted, "Nonsense! If the 34th Chinese Army learned of the intelligence, they would definitely launch an attack in advance. Why would they wait for us to get up?
You must immediately fire all your artillery shells to suppress the offensive of the Chinese 34th Army."
"Hello!"
Toyoshima Mion hurriedly accepted the order.
Soon, dozens of mountain artillery fired at the same time, and the troops of the 34th Army retreated back to their positions.
In this dawn raid, no one gained much advantage.
The captain's room of the Chunlai ship on the Dongting Lake.
Okamura Ningchi received the battle reports from the three divisions and sneered, "Chu Xi is really a talented general. He was worried that our army would attack at dawn, so he actually attacked a moment earlier.
However, his troops retreated at the first blow, which just exposed their cowardice and lack of combat experience. Such troops are actually strong on the outside but weak on the inside and can't withstand a single blow! "
Ono Chih-hua suggested: "Commander! After fighting for a while, the 34th Chinese Army will surely go back to sleep. Why don't we launch a general offensive immediately and drive them into the Xiangjiang River?"
Okamura Ningchi said happily: "Yoshi! Your idea coincides with that of this commander. Immediately notify all bombers of the Army Aviation to take off and bomb the positions of the 34th Chinese Army.
Order all divisions to immediately launch a general attack on the positions of the Chinese 34th Army, drive them into the Xiangjiang River, rush into Changsha City to grab supplies, and capture Chu Xi alive to dance the summer festival. Haha!"
"Hello!"
Ono Zhihua took the order excitedly.
On the right bank of the Xiangjiang River, there was a rumble of artillery fire.
The Japanese army's three divisions, numbering nearly 3 men, launched a fierce attack on the positions of the 34th Army.
34 soldiers of the th Army rose up in resistance, and a bloody battle began on the north bank of the Xiangjiang River.