Chapter 994 Water Zhuge
Xiang Chu walked out of the command post and pointed to the other side of the river and said:
"Lao Gan! The water level of the Juzhang River has risen sharply recently. There is a low-lying area across the woods. We should dig a few more water diversion channels to the center of the low-lying area like we did in the Xiyang Valley, and then blow up the dikes to drown the Japanese."
Gan Rong said excitedly: "Commander! It's true. I will lead a regiment to move immediately."
Xiang Chu ordered: "Also, send shadow spies to pretend to be Japanese scouts and lure them into a trap if necessary."
"understand!"
Gan Rong gladly accepted the order.
Liu Zhengxiong laughed and said, "Boy! Zhuge Liang liked fire attacks, and you like water attacks. You can be called Water Zhuge."
Xiang Chu shook his head and said, "This game is set. Ikeda Zhisan is not as easy to please as Kumamoto Nihe. Let's wait and see."
Yichang City, residence of the commander of the 77th Army Group.
Qing Mu Lian Hua said with satisfaction: "Not bad! The Imperial planes bombed the 77th and 78th Divisions, as well as the 34th Army. I have made a huge contribution to the Imperial Holy War. It is not long before I replace Nanzō Yunko."
Shi Poxiong said worriedly: "Miss! Doing this will make the Chinese suspicious of us."
Qing Mu Lianhua waved her hand and said, "Don't worry! You won't doubt me. I have very good reasons. The redeployment of the 77th and 77th Divisions of the 78th Army has greatly strengthened the rear defense line of the 34th Army."
Shi Poxiong said with a smile, "I know! The young lady wants to cut off the retreat of the 34th Army."
Qing Mu Lianhua nodded and ordered: "Shi Po Jun! Call Xiao Lin Zhiye and Wang Sheng. If the 34th Army is defeated by the imperial army, immediately enforce battlefield discipline and kill all stragglers."
Shi Poxiong said worriedly: "Miss! Xiaolin Zhiye is one of us, so it's easy to deal with, but Wang Sheng is Chinese, can he execute this order?"
Qing Mu Lianhua sneered, "You don't know Wang Sheng. He is jealous of talented people and hates the brilliant achievements of the 34th Army. As long as he receives an order from the group army, he will definitely execute it unconditionally."
Shi Poxiong bowed and said, "Miss! I suggest that after we annihilate the 34th Chinese Army, we will assassinate this man and then put all the blame on him."
Qing Mu Lianhua shook her head and said, "No! There is no need to send people to assassinate them. The imperial army will advance by land and sea, and there will be a troop that will attack the 78th Division from behind.
If this man is captured, he will surrender. If he escapes, he will be used as a scapegoat. Send a telegram immediately!"
"Hello!"
Shi Poxiong hurriedly accepted the order.
Qixingtai, the headquarters of the 78st Regiment of the 1th Division.
The bombing by the Japanese bombers also caused considerable losses to the 1st Regiment.
Division Chief of Staff Guo Fang rode over on horseback and asked with concern:
"Captain Su! What are the losses of your troops?"
Su Yongqiang shook his head and said, "Hundreds of people were killed or injured."
Guo Fang looked at the Japanese plane flying away in the sky and said bitterly:
"This damn Japanese plane! Our 78th Division just arrived at Qixingtai for a rotation and it came over to bomb us. Is there a Japanese spy in our unit?"
Su Yongqiang whispered, "Chief of Staff! I also wonder if there is something wrong with the division commander?"
Guo Fang scolded, "Don't be suspicious. The division commander is an instructor at the military academy. What could be wrong? But he asked me to come here to give you an order. If the 34th Army is defeated and retreats by the devils, all deserters must be killed without mercy."
Su Yongqiang said with a smile: "Haven't we been defeated enough by the devils? If they really killed without mercy, we would have been killed by our own people long ago."
Guo Fang said helplessly: "I also raised objections. The division commander said it was an order from the group army and he dared not disobey. You can execute it when the time is right."
Su Yongqiang nodded and said, "I understand! But if the 34th Army can't stop the enemy's attack, won't our army come forward to help?"
Guo Fang shook his head and said, "The commander has given orders! We cannot go forward to help."
Su Yongqiang smiled bitterly and said, "Then why are we staying behind them?"
Guo Fang changed the subject and pointed to a place not far away and warned: "Captain Su! If the Japanese troops landed at Liyu Beach on the Yangtze River by boat and attacked our division, the consequences would be disastrous.
Send a battalion to keep watch there and stop the landing Japanese soldiers, so as to give the main force a chance to escape."
Su Yongqiang smiled bitterly and said, "We can escape, but the 34th Army can't. This order is really speechless."
Guo Fang shook his head and said, "This is what the higher-ups have decided. I can't do anything about it. Alas! We have been fighting for four years, losing cities and territories, and even our access to the sea. Now the Japanese are about to reach Chongqing, and we may all have to sacrifice ourselves."
Su Yongqiang consoled him, "Senior! It doesn't matter if I die. Xiang Chu, the most outstanding of our classmates, has sacrificed his life. I don't care if I will follow in his footsteps one day."
Guo Fang nodded and said, "Yes! Only a few of our classmates have died. It is an infinite honor to sacrifice for the country. Let's go! We must protect Liyu Beach."
After saying this, he patted Su Yongqiang on the shoulder, jumped on his horse, and ran towards the defense zone of the 2nd Regiment with his guards.
East of Juzhang River, in front of Yangliuwa.
Ikeda Jizo led an infantry regiment and an artillery regiment and arrived here on a forced march.
This Japanese has been through hundreds of battles and has made outstanding achievements, but he was not promoted to division commander because he has too bad a temper.
He saw a depression in front of him and a river behind the depression.
Surrounded by dense forests, it felt like a dangerous place, so he shouted:
"All troops stop advancing, and scouts move forward to scout the surrounding situation."
"Hello!"
Dozens of Japanese scouts responded in unison.
The Japanese artillery commander suggested: "Captain! There is no need to send so many scouts out for reconnaissance. The artillery regiment can just fire a few shells at those mountains and forests, which will surely make the Chinese army flee."
Ikeda Jizo rolled his eyes at him and scolded him, "Captain of the Artillery Regiment! The Empire's artillery shells are used to kill the Chinese, not to scare the Chinese. If you dare to talk nonsense again, I will spare you."
The Japanese artillery regiment commander forgot his bad temper and hurriedly apologized: "Sir, I know I was wrong, please forgive me."
Ikeda Shida yelled, “Get lost!”
"Hello!"
The Japanese artillery regiment commander quickly stepped away, trying to stay as far away from this "chameleon" as possible.
Ikeda Jizo ordered the radio operator: "Quick! Send a message to the 39th Division, where are they now?"
"Hello!"
The Japanese radio operator hurriedly took the order and sent the message.
Soon, I received a reply:
"Ikeda Detachment! Our troops will be divided into two groups. We will go directly to Liyutan by water and attack the rear of the 34th Army and 78th Division of China. We will assist your detachment in attacking the 34th Army by land."
Ikeda Jizo said angrily: "Baka! You are asking a question that is irrelevant. Where is the 39th Division?"
At this time, a scout ran over and reported loudly:
"Sir, there are no Chinese troops ahead or around us."
Ikeda Zhizan wondered, "In such a dangerous place, the Chinese 34th Army didn't set up an ambush?"
The Japanese infantry regiment commander could not help but say: "Sir, our army has been advancing westward from Jingzhou as if it were in an empty land. When the Chinese army heard that you were coming, they were so scared that they fled."
Ikeda Shizo was a stubborn guy who didn't like flattery, so he shouted:
"Infantry Regiment Captain! You are just flattering and boasting. If all the officers of the Empire are like you, how can they fully occupy China? If you continue to talk nonsense like this, this detachment commander will definitely put you on the spot..."
The Japanese infantry regiment commander didn't expect that even a nice word wouldn't work, so he hurriedly apologized:
"Your Excellency, Captain! I know I was wrong. I am willing to lead the troops forward and annihilate the 34th Chinese Army."
He accidentally interrupted Ikeda Zhizo's words, which aroused Ikeda Zhizo's anger.
Ikeda Zhizan yelled without thinking: "Get out!"
"Hello!"
The Japanese infantry regiment hurriedly received the order.
Needless to say, he thought Ikeda Jizo agreed to his proposal.
He rode back to his regiment and shouted:
"Warriors of the Empire! Follow this commander and destroy the Chinese 34th Army."
After he finished speaking, he drew his command knife and rode his horse down the depression first.
A regiment of Japanese soldiers followed his horse and rushed towards the depression below.
Gan Rong saw this scene from a big tree on the other side of the river and called out on the radio:
"Commander! The devils have gone down into the depression. We can blow up the dike and release the water to drown them."
Xiang Chu laughed and said, "I never thought that old devil Ikeda would be so easily fooled."