In the front enemy headquarters of the Sixth Corps, a communications staff officer rushed in with excitement. Before everyone in the headquarters could react, the excited voice of the communications staff officer reached everyone's ears...
"Reporting to the commander and chief of staff, the 53rd Division has reported success. The Japanese army's third line of defense has been breached by our army..."
"The third line of defense has been broken. What happened..." Chief of Staff Han Liancheng quickly asked.
"After two hours of attack, our 53rd Division successfully occupied the Japanese third line of defense and wiped out more than 5,000 Japanese defenders. At present, the troops have handed over the battle line to the follow-up troops and begun to build fortifications. 53rd Division
Division Commander Zhang asked for instructions whether the troops should continue to attack..." Facing everyone's puzzled looks, the communications staff officer replied.
After hearing the communications staff officer's answer, Commander Chen Geng quickly walked to the huge combat sand table and began to think deeply...then asked the chief of staff behind him.
"Old Han, after occupying the Japanese third line of defense, how many lines of defense are left in front of us? How is the situation of the defenders? Also, how far is it from the Japanese third line of defense to the final city wall...
..”
"There are still two last lines of defense, and the defenders are all in the same brigade. However, because the Japanese army used a tight exterior and a loose interior in the entire defense of Wuhan. Compared with the third line of defense we just occupied, these two lines of defense are
It's much simpler. Apart from a large number of permanent reinforced concrete fortifications, these two lines of defense do not have any field fortifications. The little devils of the two brigades also huddled in these fortifications for defense..." Han Liancheng
the chief of staff replied.
"In addition, from the currently occupied third line of defense to the outer city wall of Wuhan, judging from the map, there is still less than three kilometers away..."
"How is the progress of the other attacking forces?" Chen Geng nodded and continued to ask.
"There is still a confrontation with the Japanese army on the third line of defense. However, judging from the latest battle report reported by the headquarters, three offensive forces captured the Japanese army's third line of defense, which is what happened tonight..." Han Liancheng said.
Just as he finished speaking, Chief of Staff Han Liancheng seemed to have thought of something and quickly added.
"Commander, do you think we should slow down the pace of the troops' attack and be consistent with the other troops..."
"It is certain to be consistent. After all, the tactics used by the troops now require all our offensive troops not to stand out too much during the attack. Otherwise, once they become the key counterattack target of the Japanese army, the trench group under our feet, even if it is built
No matter how good it is, it cannot withstand the continuous attacks after the Japanese army concentrates its air power and artillery power... Therefore, our four offensive forces must advance together to force the Japanese army not to dare to concentrate its forces. Because once the Japanese army concentrates all its forces, it will be broken.
Our tactics and the entire attack have all been in vain. And we have to retreat to the starting point a few days ago..." Chen Geng replied with a thoughtful look on his face.
After thinking for a short time, Chen Geng did not hesitate and gave a serious order to Chief of Staff Han Liancheng beside him.
"Old Han. Immediately issued an order to the 53rd Division of the Frontier. Asking the attacking troops to slow down the pace of the attack. However, the entire attack cannot be stopped and the Japanese army cannot be given any breathing time... In addition, the follow-up troops are ordered to follow the predetermined plan.
Give me the time to repair the trenches, and the task must be completed before the Japanese air force arrives at dawn..."
"Yes, Commander..."
The sound of gunfire outside Wuhan has not ended yet. This indicates that the attack at night is still continuing. However, amidst the rumbling sound of gunfire outside the city, one after another, telegrams for help and farewells are like snowflakes.
, floated to the headquarters of the Kwantung Army's southward dispatching force.
After quickly reading the messages one after another in his hand, the face of the commander, General Mijiro Umezu, could be said to be flushed. Because he did not expect that the East China Field Army, a force that had just been established less than a year ago,
, under the leadership of his old rival Liu Hua, he actually has such a strong combat effectiveness... And the elite soldiers he led, the Kwantung Army, known as the most powerful combat force of the Imperial Japanese Army, actually fell under the attack of the opponent one after another.
Frustrated, unable to defend even the most basic line of defense….
Thinking of his current situation, and then thinking of the scene in the Northeast battlefield a year ago, when he was beaten by the Northeast Field Army led by Liu Hua and fled. General Umezu Mijiro seemed to have aged several years all of a sudden, facing the people around him.
The chief of staff asked with a helpless look.
"Sakai-kun, is it true that Liu Hua, the highest commander of the East China Field Army, is the God of War that our Kwantung Army can never defeat...Why, why do we always lose every time we fight against him..."
Regarding the commander's question, seeing the desperate commander in front of him, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ichiro Sakai could only answer with silence.
A few minutes later, under the gaze of the commander's red eyes, Lieutenant General Sakai Ichiro replied with a low expression.
"Your Majesty Commander, judging from these battle reports, these failures are not due to our incompetence, but because our opponents are too cunning... Now, the third line of defense in the south has been completely lost, and the third line of defense in the other three directions has been completely lost.
We are also in a precarious situation... Your Excellency, Commander, I believe that our urgent need now is to find a way out for the remaining hundreds of thousands of troops in the Wuhan area..."
"Otherwise, if the fight continues like this, within half a month, the hundreds of thousands of Kwantung Army elites in the entire Wuhan area, including our headquarters, will become history..."
"Escape..." After saying these two words, General Umezu Mijiro, a general with hundreds of thousands of troops in his hands, immediately showed a self-deprecating smile. He said with a sarcastic face.
"Sakai-kun, do you think we still have a way out after this battle? Will our old rival Liu Hua leave us a way out this time..."
"Before the war, it was originally thought that our Kwantung Army had captured the dispatched troops. After receiving domestic reinforcements, we could rely on our strength and air force superiority, coupled with the indestructible defenses of several of our strongholds, to defeat the East China Field Army and the New Fourth Army.
Hundreds of thousands of troops were dragged to death in the two lakes area. In the end, after causing huge damage to them, they were forced to retreat, severely damaging the vitality of the East China Field Army and the New Fourth Army. With the loss of a unit of our Kwantung Army, we gave
I have gained enough time to rest, reorganize and replenish the Japanese army that invaded China..."
"But now, less than a week after the battle started, the advantages in troops and geographical advantages we have have been broken by our opponents using various means. Even the air superiority, which we only relied on and had great expectations for, has been destroyed.
The opponent's seemingly very simple trenches were cracked... You tell me, what capital do we have now that we can use to fight against the East China Field Army..." As he spoke, a look on the face of General Umezu Mijiro
, it can be said to be a look of helplessness.
However, as a veteran who has been on the battlefield for decades, she has already seen through her own life and death. In the entire headquarters, after a brief opportunity, the face of General Umezu Mijiro returned to normal for the first time.
The seriousness and majesty that a superior person should have.
"Sakai-kun, there is definitely no way to retreat. The entire Wuhan has been surrounded by enemies. Breaking through will fail faster than defending the city. However, as the Kwantung Army with the most powerful combat capabilities in the Empire of Japan, our unit has been fighting for several years.
I have fought in almost half of China during my career. It can be said that I have already prepared to die on the battlefield." Just when everyone thought that the commander in front of them was about to issue a decisive battle order. General Umezu Mijiro in front of them changed the subject.
, continued to speak.
"However, even if we die on the battlefield, we must inflict maximum damage on the East China Field Army outside the city, reduce the pressure on the defense of several other units in the Lianghu area, and try our best to drag China's most powerful elite troops into the Lianghu area.
, to complete the tasks assigned to us in the country..."
Hearing General Umezu Mijiro's answer, Lieutenant General Sakai Ichiro's eyes, which were dim just now, immediately flashed with light. Then, facing the commander in front of him, he asked urgently: "Your Excellency, Commander, what are you doing in the city now?"
The positions outside have been repeatedly missed. Seeing that the East China Field Army is about to attack the city, do you already have any good ideas..."
"There is no good way, but there is a desperate way..."
Seeing the puzzled Lieutenant General Sakai Ichiro in front of him, General Umezu Mijiro continued to speak.
"Judging from the battle situation in the past two days, it is obvious that going to the East China Field Army to fight in the field outside the city is not worth the loss. Therefore, I decided to keep all but one of the three divisions stationed outside the city and continue.
Hold on and delay the East China Field Army's offensive for two days. The remaining two divisions will all be transferred into the city..."
"Your Excellency, Commander, you want to engage in street fighting with the East China Field Army..."
"Yes, it's street fighting..." As he spoke, a strong murderous look appeared on the face of General Umezu Mijiro.
"Only in street battles with the East China Field Army in the city, the artillery superiority possessed by the East China Field Army cannot be brought into play. But our Kwantung Army, with sufficient weapons, ammunition and troops, can fight with the East China Field Army in the streets and alleys of the city.
Real street fighting, killing a large number of its limited troops, and dragging the East China Field Army into the city..." General Umezu Mijiro continued to explain.
"Ha Yi, your Excellency, Commander, is wise...Please, Your Excellency, Commander, issue an order..."
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