On a hillock in the south of Huaiyin City, Japanese commander Yamaguchi Akasatsu stepped on the fresh green grass with his military boots and looked into the city with a telescope expressionlessly.
Inside the telescope, billowing black smoke rose straight into the sky from the ruins of the ruins. Countless houses were burning with thunderous fire amid the flames of war. Thick gunshots and mixed explosions came from the city from time to time.
"How long will it take to end the fighting in the city?"
After putting down the telescope, the Japanese commander Yamaguchi Akamatsu turned to ask the haggard combat staff officer.
The combat staff replied helplessly: "Your Excellency, Captain, we have divided and surrounded the remnants of the Chinese Army in the city, but their resistance is very tenacious, and their number is greater than what our intelligence knows. Therefore, we must completely eliminate the Chinese Army in the city.
It will take some time.”
"There are more people than intelligence knows?"
Commander Yamaguchi Akamatsu frowned and asked doubtfully.
"Yes, Your Excellency, Captain, the intelligence returned from the troops fighting with the China Army shows that there are at least four battalion-level troops of the China Army in the city. They should be the main force of the China Subei Guerrilla Corps." The combat staff officer said with a full face.
of seriousness.
"Isn't the main force of the China-Subei Guerrilla Corps in the area south of Baoying?" Commander Yamaguchi Akamatsu said with confusion on his face.
"I'm afraid that what the Watanabe detachment is besieging is just a small group of China Army that attracts attention. What we are facing is the main force of China Army." The combat staff stated his guess.
After hearing this, Captain Yamaguchi Akamatsu thought for a moment and felt that this was still possible.
The information they received was that there was only one battalion of the Northern Jiangsu guerrilla garrison in Huaiyin City. Logically speaking, the battle had already ended due to the surprise attack by one of their brigade.
However, the current battle in the city is still in a stalemate. The opponent has not been defeated and still maintains tenacious fighting power. This is indeed far from the known intelligence.
Thinking that his opponent had become the main force of the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps, Commander Yamaguchi Akamatsu felt a chill go down his back.
If our side hadn't caught the other side off guard with a night raid, judging from the current tenacious resistance in the city, it's really hard to say who would win. After all, the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps could have a precedent of annihilating an infantry brigade.
"The people in the intelligence service are really a bunch of losers -"
Thinking of this, Commander Yamaguchi Akamatsu couldn't help but curse in a low voice. He was almost tricked by people from the intelligence department.
"Captain, don't worry. Although there are more Chinese troops in the city than we thought, their main force has been defeated and dispersed by us. At the moment, there are only some small scattered troops in the city. We will soon be able to control the entire city.
City." The combat staff comforted him.
After hearing the words of the combat staff, Commander Yamaguchi Akamatsu's face softened a lot. This was a blessing in disguise.
They originally thought that there was only one garrison battalion of the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps stationed in the city, but now they unexpectedly defeated the opponent's main force. It must be said that their luck was particularly good.
Commander Yamaguchi Akamatsu couldn't help but get excited when he thought that if the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps, which was causing headaches to the headquarters, was defeated and eliminated by them.
The Watanabe detachment heavily attacked the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps but suffered heavy losses. He defeated the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps with just a single infantry brigade.
Comparing the two, he undoubtedly appears to be more heroic, which contrasts with the incompetence of the Watanabe detachment.
And now the commander of the Watanabe Detachment, Juichi Watanabe, was killed by the guerrillas in Baoying. If he can achieve meritorious service this time, he might be able to advance a step further and turn the Watanabe Detachment into the Yamaguchi Detachment.
"Order all the troops in the city to increase their attack intensity and clear out the remnants of the Chinese Army in the city. The battle must be ended before dark."
Now Commander Yamaguchi Akamatsu can't wait to capture Huaiyin and report victory to the headquarters.
"Hai!"
The Japanese messenger gave a heavy nod and immediately ran down the hillock to deliver the order.
At this moment, there was a roar in the distance as dozens of gray-headed Japanese cavalrymen rushed toward the hillock.
The Japanese commander, Yamaguchi Akamatsu, turned to look at the cavalrymen running over. He frowned when he saw that their bodies were covered in blood and their clothes were torn and dirty.
This cavalry squadron was temporarily deployed to their infantry brigade to enhance the strength of their brigade.
He had previously given an order to this cavalry squadron, asking them to go around to the north of the city to intercept the retreat path of the guerrillas in the city, but now they came back with a disgraced look as if they had lost the battle, which made Commander Yamaguchi Akamatsu look confused.
It sank.
The bloodstained cavalry squadron leader thought it was a simple mission, but who knew that they had underestimated the enemy and suffered heavy losses, and now they had to retreat.
The captain of the cavalry squadron dismounted, quickly ran up the hillock with a face full of shame, and stood in front of the squadron leader Yamaguchi Akamatsu.
"What happened? Why are you in such a mess?" Commander Yamaguchi Akamatsu asked with a sullen face as he looked at the bloodstained cavalry squadron leader.
"Your Excellency, Captain, we encountered a large group of Chinese troops in the north of the city. We...we were unable to win the battle and had to retreat." The cavalry squadron leader lowered his head heavily and said with shame on his face.
"How many people are there in the China Army?" Yamaguchi Chisong was also frightened and asked hurriedly.
The cavalry squadron leader reported hesitantly: "At least the size of an infantry battalion..."
"idiot!"
Hearing the size of the infantry battalion, Commander Yamaguchi Akamatsu couldn't help but slap his hand at the cavalry squadron leader, causing him to stagger.
Commander Yamaguchi Akamatsu said angrily: "A mere infantry battalion beat a squadron of your cavalry into disgrace. You have simply disgraced our Imperial Army of Japan! You are unworthy of the trust of His Majesty the Emperor!"
"Hi!" The cavalry squadron leader was also full of grievances after being scolded by Commander Yamaguchi Akamatsu.
"Captain, their combat effectiveness is amazing..." the cavalry squadron leader wanted to explain.
Commander Yamaguchi Akamatsu didn't want to hear his explanation. He interrupted him with a wave of his hand and gave a vicious order: "Now I order you to take your people and kill them back to wash away the shame!"
"Your Excellency Captain, the strength of the Chinese Army is stronger than we imagined. The cavalry squadron has just suffered a defeat. Let them rest and replenish temporarily before launching an attack. What do you think?" At this moment, the combat staff had to stand up and smooth things over for the cavalry.
Excuse the squadron's failure.
The captain of the cavalry squadron saw that the combat staff stood up and spoke in time, and couldn't help but look at him with gratitude towards his old classmate.
"Hmph!" Commander Yamaguchi Akamatsu snorted coldly and said to the cavalry squadron leader: "Go down and wait for orders."
"Hi!"
After the defeated cavalry squadron leader responded, he immediately led his men to rest in despair.
"Report to the headquarters that our troops attacked Huaiyin and encountered the main force of the China and Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps. Our troops fought bloody battles and defeated them. We are clearing out the remaining enemies in the city, but our troops are insufficient. A small group of China troops fled north and requested aviation
Provide tactical guidance to the troops and deliver a devastating blow."
The cavalry squadron suffered a defeat and retreated. After thinking about it, Commander Yamaguchi Akamatsu felt that the pressure on them would be much less if the aviation unit sent fighter planes to assist in the battle.