Japanese Eleventh Army Headquarters at 14:00 pm on September 18th
Different from the busy headquarters of the 60th Regiment, although the staff in the headquarters of the Eleventh Army are also busy, it feels a bit busy but not chaotic. Although the staff are busy, everyone is relaxed.
Very gently, because they knew that their commander did not like noisy sounds when he was thinking about a problem, so most of the time the only sound in the operations department was the "beep-beep-beep" sound from the radio.
Okamura Neiji has been standing by the wall looking at the 100,000-to-1 military map for a full hour. Although he is motionless, everyone knows that he is thinking about the problem nervously. Now Okamura Neiji is thinking about it.
Naturally, it was the battle that took place in Guangji.
An hour ago, he had just received a request for help from Inaba Shiro. Inaba Shiro not only reported to him in the telegram that his artillery regiment had suffered all casualties and could no longer provide artillery support to the troops. He also claimed that if
If the reinforcements cannot arrive within two days, then he will not be able to guarantee that he will persist until the reinforcements arrive.
This kind of message is very rare in Okamura's decades of military career. A division commander will send such a message, which proves that the division commander has admitted that he is no longer sure about this battle. Okamura
I believe that the vast majority of division commanders would rather die in battle than send such a message, because it is really embarrassing for the Japanese soldiers who always like to save face.
"Shiro Inaba must have been in a very difficult situation in Guangji, otherwise he would never have sent such a message." Neji Okamura understood very well how a general felt when he sent such a message.
But Okamura Neji thought for a long time, but still couldn't think of any way to quickly rescue the Sixth Division.
He waved to Lieutenant Colonel Ichiro Miyamoto, the operational staff officer, and asked, "Miyamoto, where are the Second Division and the 106th Division now?"
A fat man with eyes immediately came over and replied without thinking: "The Second Division has arrived in Huangshi, and it is expected to reach Guangji in two days. The 106th Division also sent a telegram just now, and they are still there."
Go back to the Baizou Street area."
Okamura Neiji frowned, "It's too slow. In this case, we won't be able to reach Guangji in five days. The 106th Division... Well, no, the 106th Division has already been gone for a day.
Why are you still wandering around Baizou Street? Send a message again immediately to ask for their location!"
"Hai!" Ichiro Miyamoto quickly followed the order and left.
Okamura Neiji suddenly lost his mood, and immediately walked to the other side and said to several staff officers there: "Immediately report the movements of Xue Yue's troops in the past two days!"
After a while, a staff officer reported: "Xue Yue's troops are moving closer to the Wanjialing area, because we don't have our troops in that area yet. It's probably a general defensive adjustment."
Okamura looked at the map and said: "Xue Yue is a very difficult officer to deal with among the Chiang Kai-shek officers. He will not mobilize defenses for no reason. Please notify the Air Force quickly and go to the Baizou Street area to take a look at the 106th Division."
Is the regiment at the position they reported? Report to me in two hours!"
Some time ago, in order to reduce the pressure on the Yangtze River main attack force, Okamura had no choice but to order the 101st Division and the 106th Division, which had injured its vitality some time ago, to capture De'an and the area west of De'an. One of them
The mission of the 06th Division is only to coordinate the attacks of the 9th, 10th, and 27th Divisions.
After the failure of the Taierzhuang Battle, the 106th Division added more than 8,000 new soldiers and equipped a new mountain artillery regiment. Okamura also sent Sakurai, an effective intelligence staff officer, to the division to guide the operations. Okamura's intention
Obviously, we want this division to regain its confidence, restore its combat effectiveness, and complete its combat missions.
Just yesterday when Okamura ordered the 106th Division to move to Guangji, the 106th Division was heading towards the mountainous area in the Huimaling area. On the way, it was often attacked by the Chinese army. In addition, the road was narrow, and during the day
There was thick fog again, and the main force of the 106th Division began to get lost since the day before yesterday.
On the morning of September 18th, as soon as the sun showed a faint face from the thick fog, the commander of the Matsuura Division shouted in surprise: "Sakurai-kun, Sakurai-kun, what is going on?
We went back to where we were the day before yesterday."
Lieutenant Colonel Sakurai looked at the surrounding terrain and said, "The peak in the south looks familiar."
Matsuura pointed to an old tree in the distance and shouted: "Yes, I noticed this strange pine tree the day before yesterday. Why do I see it again now? No, we are lost. Please use the compass to test it."
our position."
Sakurai comforted: "Your Excellency, division commander, don't panic. Don't be afraid if you get tested. From now on, you will be fine if you take a test every half day."
After saying that, he took out the compass and measured it carefully, pointed at the map on the ground with his finger and said: "Your Excellency, Division Commander, our position is about eight kilometers north of Baizou Street."
Matsuura said in a panic: "Order the troops to turn around immediately. This is wrong. Why is the sun in the west? It is clearly morning."
At fourteen o'clock in the afternoon on the 18th, Miyamoto reported to Okamura Neiji: "The Air Force's investigation is that the Matsuura Division is now about fifteen kilometers south of Baizuo Street. That place is called Wanjialing."
Okamura Neiji quickly found the location on the map. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead when he saw it: "No, the 106th Division has already got into the pocket. Quickly order them to move to the north, and then
It's over late. Hurry up and order the right wing of the 106th Division of the 27th Division." After receiving the telegram, Matsuura said in surprise: "Strange, why did you run to the south? Sakurai-kun, you are measuring with a compass.
A test.”
Sakurai took another test, but the compass in his hand told him that the location of the 106th Division was still eight kilometers north of Baizou Street. After walking for more than five hours, it didn't even move. Apparently there was something wrong with the compass. He
He took out an iron box and put it next to the compass, but the compass needle didn't move. Sakurai's expression changed, "No, your Excellency, division commander, there may be magnetite mines here, and the compass is useless!"
Matsuura looked so frightened that he immediately shouted: "Immediately order all regiments to retreat north using the sun as a reference."
Unfortunately it's too late.
Xue Yue had noticed the lone army entering the 106th Division three days ago. He calmly commanded the four armies to conduct a tactical encirclement of the 106th Division.
Nanchang Eleventh Army Headquarters
Ichiro Miyamoto ran in in a panic and said to Neji Okamura: "Your Excellency, Commander, it's not good, the 106th Division is surrounded by four Chinese armies!"
At this time, Okamura was sitting at the table, staring blankly at the map in front of him, with a huge wave of excitement in his heart. Originally, Guangji's Sixth Division was being attacked by the Chinese 300th Division, and now Lian was about to go
The 106th Division that was rescuing was also surrounded by Xue Yue's four armies. Will heaven destroy these two armies?
"No, we must not just sit back and wait for death. There will definitely be a way."
Okamura Neiji was pacing and his mind was spinning rapidly. After a long time, he said with difficulty: "Miyamoto Ichiro, please immediately send a telegram to the commander of the Third Fleet, Lieutenant General Uchida Yamato, requesting the Third Fleet to immediately
Send no less than three battleships along the Yangtze River to Guangji, and bombard or bomb Tianjia Town and Guangji. The Sixth Division must hold on until reinforcements arrive. Remember that the wording of the telegram must be more sincere.
Let the Third Fleet agree."
"Commander!" Miyamoto was shocked and looked at Okamura in disbelief.
The feud between the Japanese Army and Navy has been going on for a long time, and now Okamura Neiji actually wants to bow to the Navy in a humble tone. If this goes out, a large number of Army generals will definitely be dissatisfied with him.
"Stop talking!" Okamura waved his hand with a majestic expression: "Now is not the time to discuss this. The most important issue now is how to rescue the 6th and 106th Divisions from the predicament. Do you understand?"
While Okamura was reprimanding Miyamoto, a staff officer hurried over and said to Okamura: "Your Excellency, Commander, unfortunately, the Sixth Division came to report that they were attacked by the China Air Force. The China Air Force used
A large number of incendiary bombs have turned the entire Makou Lake into a sea of fire, and most of the 11th Brigade stationed at Makou Lake has been killed or injured!"
"What!"
Okamura Neji was shocked. The pencil in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter. His body shook and he was about to fall. The staff officer beside him quickly stepped forward to support him.
"I'm fine!" Okamura waved his hand feebly and said to Miyamoto Ichiro: "Miyamoto-kun, hurry up and give it to the Third Fleet... otherwise it will be too late!"
Miyamoto Ichiro nodded solemnly. He knew the meaning of Okamura Neji's last words and ran out quickly.
Okamura Neiji stood up again and said to the staff officer on the side: "Immediately draft an order to order the fifth tank group to rush to Wanjialing immediately, without any mistakes. Then order the 102nd Brigade and the 17th Division.
Move closer to Wanjialing!"
"Hai!"
Looking at the headquarters who were busy working together, Okamura Neji's mood became suspicious again. He said nervously: "Amaterasu, don't you really bless me, the Empire of Japan?"
Just as Okamura Neji was lamenting in the headquarters, the 11th Brigade stationed at Makou Lake was caught in a sea of fire.
Thirty Stuka bombers taking off from Wuhan Xijiao Airport, loaded with incendiary bombs, just visited Makou Lake. They dropped dozens of tons of incendiary bombs, turning the entire Makou Lake position into a sea of fire.
The 11th Brigade in Hu was caught off guard and suffered heavy losses due to the high temperature of over 1,000 degrees. Two regiments of nearly 7,000 people were able to evacuate less than 2,000 people, and nearly 5,000 people were burned alive.
Died on the battlefield and in the bunker.
The fire burned for two hours, and then the 398th Brigade occupied Makou Lake in a swagger...
PS: Thank you Pastor Huanhuan for the reward! (To be continued. Please search Piaotian Literature, the novel will be better and updated faster!)