The Zhijiang defenders attacked blindly and suffered heavy losses, which further weakened the already stretched defense force.
Although Yang Ling and the Flame Special Forces Brigade have strong combat effectiveness, they are still weak in the face of the Japanese's aircraft and artillery.
The Japanese temporarily lost the ability to attack, but they did not leave. The remaining Japanese faced off against Zhijiang's defenders from a distance outside the city.
The Japanese planes came a few more times, bombing Zhijiang indiscriminately. Fortunately, most of the people evacuated the city in the morning. Except for the houses that were bombed into ruins, the people suffered less damage.
The commander of the Zhijiang garrison was killed in the first round of bombing by Japanese planes. Now the deputy commander takes over the command.
Yang Ling held a meeting with the deputy commander, and Yang Ling suggested that if reinforcements did not arrive before dark, they could only retreat.
Because the scouts reported that the main force of the Japanese 13th Division had arrived on the other side of the river, and they would arrive in a blink of an eye. Their small number of troops was not enough to defeat the Japanese.
The deputy commander was aware of the current situation and felt that Yang Ling's suggestion was right. After all, the people had almost withdrawn. If the Japanese follow-up troops came up, they would not be able to defend even if they wanted to.
However, the deputy commander is still more cautious. Although he has taken over the command now, he does not dare to order a retreat without authorization. If the superiors blame him, a deserter will be shot.
Therefore, after returning to the new command post, he immediately ordered the communications troops to contact Shangfeng to report the current situation in Zhijiang.
But now the Japanese's 3rd Division, 39th Division and 13th Division are attacking Yichang in three directions. Many units of the Chinese Army are still rushing back east of the Han River, but they encounter other Japanese troops.
The main battlefield was turned into a pot of porridge, and who could care about the small Zhijiang.
The defenders of Zhijiang have been unable to contact Shangfeng for a long time. Now they are staying here without any embarrassment, and are in a dilemma.
"The Japanese reinforcements have arrived."
In the evening, when Yang Ling went to the temporary command post of the Zhijiang garrison to inquire about the contact situation, a brother hurriedly reported bad news.
"You continue to contact Shangfeng and don't stop for a moment."
When the deputy commander heard that the Japanese reinforcements had arrived, he was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot. While ordering the communications troops to use the radio to continuously contact the peak, he hurriedly went straight to the renovated defense line with Yang Ling.
When Yang Ling and others rushed to the position, a large number of Japanese soldiers had already arrived on the opposite side. Under the dark dusk, military flags were flying, and there were many Japanese soldiers coming.
"I'm afraid there is a large group of thousands of people."
Seeing the longing figure in the direction of the Japanese position, the deputy commander of the Zhijiang garrison's heart sank to the bottom of his heart.
When their regiment withdrew from the front to Zhijiang, there were only two battalions left. In this day and night of fighting, those who were killed, those who were missing, and those who were injured were evacuated.
Now there are less than 200 soldiers who can fight, including the Flame Special Forces Brigade. There are simply not enough soldiers to fill the gap between the enemy's teeth, and their ammunition is also running out. This battle is no longer possible.
"We have to withdraw now, if we stay here we will all die."
Yang Ling saw two Japanese Type 92 infantry cannons through the telescope, and his face became serious.
Although the caliber of the Type 92 infantry gun is not large, it is a nightmare for Yang Ling and others who have no heavy firepower.
Besides, the Japs also had mortars and grenade launchers. I'm afraid they would lose more than half of them before the Japs could reach them.
Now that all the people in the city have been evacuated, even the wounded have been evacuated. Yang Ling knew that the two Japanese field divisions had approached Yichang from the east, and it was useless for them to defend Zhijiang in the south.
"But without the commander's order, retreating without permission will be a death penalty." This deputy commander is good at everything, but he is too timid.
Although they knew that they were in a difficult situation, they were still unsure about paying attention.
"Let's do this. If the boss comes down, just say it was my order."
Although Yang Ling could take the brothers of the Lieyan Special Forces Brigade and walk away, he couldn't bear the brothers of the Zhijiang garrison to die in vain. They fought side by side for a day and a night, but they still had feelings for them.
"I can't let you bear all the blame. If the blame is placed on the superiors, how about one person and half." The deputy leader was also embarrassed to let Yang Ling carry it alone. After thinking about it, he suggested.
"It's up to you, but we have to leave quickly. The Japs are about to attack. If it's too late, we won't be able to leave." Yang Ling reminded him when he saw the Japs' troops moving to the flanks.
"Commander Liu, go tell the brothers to pack your things and retreat in ten minutes."
The deputy commander did not dare to gamble with his own life, so he immediately gave instructions to the staff behind him.
"Vice-General, where should we evacuate?" Staff Officer Liu asked.
The deputy commander said: "Withdraw to Yichang. The 18th Army is guarding there. It should not be lost."
The 18th Army is the ace unit of the Chinese Army. Its combat effectiveness is strong, and it is comparable to the 74th Army that Yang Ling once belonged to. It is said that it is easy to enjoy the shade under the big tree, and the deputy commander is not stupid.
Yang Ling originally wanted to suggest retreating to another place, but he was not familiar with the enemy situation around him. It would be a joke if he took the wrong road and ran into the enemy's arms recklessly. Yichang should be Yichang, at least there are people over there.
friendly forces.
The order was issued quickly, and the Zhijiang garrison officers and soldiers, covered in gunpowder smoke and bloodstains, began to evacuate the city that was shattered by the bombing.
Perhaps the Japs noticed the unusual movements of the defenders. The defenders of Zhijiang began to withdraw, but the Japs' artillery shells were already flying over.
Yang Ling was worried that the combat effectiveness of the Zhijiang defenders would not be able to withstand the Japanese pursuit, so the brothers with the Lieyan Special Forces Brigade took on the task of breaking up the rear.
Seeing that the Japanese were firing at Zhijiang, infantrymen with bayonets were also pressing in from the south, and they didn't bother to fight the little Japanese.
"Escape to the city!"
Although the city was torn to pieces by bombing, they could barely hold off the Japs by relying on the buildings.
Without any hesitation, the brothers of the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade quickly left their position and entered the smoke-filled ruins of the city, seizing a favorable position and preparing to block the incoming Japs.
The Japanese spent a whole day and night in Zhijiang without being able to capture it. Now more than a thousand reinforcements have arrived, so they are sure to win Zhijiang.
The Japanese in charge of the attack quickly broke into the city from two directions and began to advance along the ruined streets like mercury pouring down the ground.
"boom!"
"boom!"
However, the Japanese's wishful thinking failed. The Lieyan Special Forces Brigade that retreated into the city did not leave. Instead, they hid behind the ruins and broken windows and attacked the Japanese head-on.
"Puff!"
"ah!"
Facing the bullets fired from those ruins, the arrogant Japanese quickly paid the price, and fell down on the rubble one after another.