Chapter 981 Who guards Jingzhou?
The gates of Xiangyang City were closed.
Smoke signals were burning on the city walls, towers and inside the city, making it impossible to see the exact situation.
The Chief of Staff of the Japanese 11th Army, Hideo Yokoyama, rushed over from Wuhan to take command personally.
Four Japanese divisions tightly clamped down on the city of Xiangyang from land and water.
At this time, Yokoyama Hideo and other high-ranking Japanese officers, including division commanders and detachment commanders, were on a steamer of the Japanese 1st Expeditionary Fleet to China, inspecting the Han River north of Xiangyang City and studying strategies for siege.
Yokoyama Ying glanced at him and said sarcastically, "Doihara Xian'er kept saying that he wanted to take Xiangyang first, but at the critical moment, he was nowhere to be seen."
The commander of the Japanese 39th Division, Murakami Kizuo, hated Doihara Ken'er for stealing his credit and echoed, "Doihara Ken'er wants to wait until we finish fighting the Chinese 34th Division before coming over to steal the credit."
Yokoyama Hideo sneered, "That's definitely what the fat pig Doihara thinks!"
All the Japanese officers laughed, immersed in the pleasure of belittling Doihara Ken'er.
Murakami held his telescope with both hands and handed it to Yokoyama Ying, saying respectfully: "Your Excellency Chief of Staff! Xiangyang City is full of smoke. Please use the telescope imported from Germany to observe."
Yokoyama Ying took the telescope and looked through it, and said with satisfaction:
"Yoshi! The Germans are really smart. Huh?! Why do I feel like there are no defenders? Could it be that the Chinese 34th Division has already retreated?"
The commander of the Japanese 3rd Division, Yamabe Shintaka, said hurriedly: "Your Excellency Chief of Staff! Our four divisions have surrounded Xiangyang City. There is not a single gap. The Chinese 4th Division cannot escape even if it has wings."
The commanders of the 13th and 39th divisions also echoed in unison:
"Yes! The Chinese 34th Division cannot escape even if it has wings."
The commander of the Japanese Ikeda Detachment, Ikeda Jizo, was the commander of the 6th Brigade of the 11th Division. He had more seniority than most division commanders, was very cunning, and liked to raise objections.
He said bluntly: "No! There are gaps between the divisions."
Yokoyama nodded with satisfaction, pointed to the east of the city where the smoke was everywhere, and said with a wry smile: "Everyone! If the Chinese 34th Division leaves the city through that gap, which unit of yours can detect it?"
Yamabe Shintaka smiled and said, "Mr. Chief of Staff! Instead of making random guesses here, why not send a squadron to charge the city gate? Just verify it."
Yokoyama Ying had been waiting for someone to step forward, otherwise it would be difficult to appoint someone, so he nodded hurriedly and said:
"Yoshi! Commander of the Shanlei Division, send a squadron close to the city wall and launch a exploratory attack."
The other division commanders and detachment commanders were afraid that the credit would be taken away by Yamawabe Shintaka, so they all hurriedly said:
"Mr. Chief of Staff! We should attack the city simultaneously according to the areas under the jurisdiction of each unit."
Yokoyama Hideo nodded and said, "Okay! The steamer will dock and all the troops will attack the city at the same time."
"Hello!"
The Japanese officers all obeyed the order in unison.
They rushed to send out elite troops to attack Xiangyang City.
However, before they reached the city walls or gates, they triggered the chain mines laid by the 34th Division.
The sound of mine explosions came one after another, echoing outside the city of Xiangyang.
The Japanese soldiers who first attacked Xiangyang City suffered countless casualties in the bombing.
In order to steal Murakami Osamu's German telescope, Yokoyama Hideo followed the 3rd Division's Yamabe Shintaka.
The Japanese soldiers suffered heavy losses as soon as they came up, so he immediately picked up the radio and gave orders:
"The artillery fire of each division and detachment covered the area outside Xiangyang City, destroyed the minefields, and blasted open the gates of Xiangyang City."
Shanlei Zhenlong hurriedly reminded: "Your Excellency Chief of Staff! The gate of Xiangyang is always open."
Yokoyama Ying picked up the telescope and looked, and was stunned. He said in surprise:
"Really? It seems that the 34th Division has no intention of defending the city."
"Boom! Boom!"
The Japanese troops bombarded the outside of Xiangyang city crazily.
The minefield has been cleared by the Japanese, and this is tantamount to a waste of artillery shells.
After an hour of shelling, the Japanese troops launched another sudden charge.
They rushed through the city gates and streets, which were empty and deserted.
Moreover, there are mines and chain grenades everywhere.
The arrogant Japanese soldiers triggered the fuse, and explosions rang out one after another.
Yokoyama Hideo finally climbed up the city wall, looked at the city and said angrily: "Damn China's 34th Division, they actually evacuated all the people in the city and laid so many mines, killing and injuring thousands of imperial warriors."
Yamarabe Shintaka reminded: "Your Excellency Chief of Staff! According to investigation, the Chinese 34th Division retreated from the East Gate and should have gone south along the Han River.
In the south, there are only two half-crippled divisions led by Kenji Doihara, who are heading to Xiangyang along the Han River embankment. He will definitely meet the Chinese 34th Division on a narrow road. "
After receiving the reminder, Yokoyama Ying immediately became excited and ordered: "Quick! Send a telegram to Doihara Kenji and tell him to stop the Chinese 34th Division."
"Hello!"
The Japanese radio operator hurriedly received the order and sent a telegram to Doihara Kenji.
South of Xiangyang City is Songpo, Shili.
Kenji Doihara and Dai Takahashi were stealing pine nuts from squirrels in a pine forest.
Countless squirrels were jumping and calling on the pine branches, as if condemning the fat man.
Doihara Kan'er became upset after hearing what he heard, so he pulled out his pistol and shot a big squirrel.
He shot the squirrel, and it fell from the pine branch to the ground.
Takahashi Taisho rushed over, picked up the squirrel, and said with a grin:
"Your Excellency the Fake General! This giant Chinese squirrel must be delicious when grilled."
Doihara smacked his lips and said expectantly:
"Yoshi! I'll shoot another squirrel, and good things come in pairs."
At this time, the Japanese radio operator ran over and reported loudly: "Your Excellency the division commander! Chief of Staff Yokoyama called and ordered our army to stop the Chinese 34th Division and prevent it from moving south."
Doihara Kan'er's heart trembled, and he suddenly felt that the troops moving south along the Han River embankment were the 34th Division. He accidentally let go of the enemy he wanted to wipe out.
He was filled with regrets in his heart, but his face was calm as he asked with a smile:
"Radio operator! Have you reported our army's position to Yokoyama Isamu?"
The Japanese radio operator shook his head and said, "No!"
Doihara Xian'er said with a smile: "When you go back, call Chief of Staff Yokoyama and tell him that our army is in Jingzhou, not on the Han River south of Xiangyang."
The Japanese radio operator looked at the Han River below and said helplessly: "Ha! I will send the message right away."
Doihara Kan'er continued to order: "Taisho! Gather the troops immediately and rush south to Jingzhou. I will fight a decisive battle with the Chinese 34th Division in Jingzhou City."
Takahashi Taisho reminded him, "Your Excellency the False General! Jingzhou City has been captured by the Imperial Army. By the way, you should also issue an order to the entire division, no one is allowed to mention that any troops had previously passed through the Han River embankment."
Doihara Kan'er said disapprovingly: "Taisho! It is better to guard against the mouths of soldiers than against rivers. The more you forbid it, the faster it will spread. Anyway, I didn't see any troops passing the Han River embankment. Did you see it?"
Takahashi Daisho was deeply shocked by the lie that came out of his mouth and shook his head, "No!"
Doihara Ke'er looked at the frightened squirrel on the pine branch and said thoughtfully, "Little squirrel! How come the commander of the 34th Division is so powerful? How could he lead the 34th Division and sneak away from under my nose?"
At this time, the Japanese radio operator ran back and reported loudly:
"Your Excellency, Division Commander! Chief of Staff Yokoyama called and said that the 34th Division of China has captured Jingzhou City, and the squadron guarding Jingzhou has been annihilated. The Chief of Staff ordered our army to immediately recapture Jingzhou City from the 34th Division of China."
Doihara Xian'er exclaimed: "Who is guarding Jingzhou? Are you so careless?"