The first thousand three hundred and seventy-three chapters set fire to the city
Beginning in the early morning of June 16, the Japanese troops followed the orders of the base camp and gradually withdrew from Yichang, carrying a large amount of captured supplies, and returned to their original bases.
The Japanese 13th Division was among the last batch of retreating troops. They were not only responsible for rearguard duties, but also responsible for destroying military facilities in Yichang City and carrying out sabotage activities.
The division headquarters of Shizuichi Tanaka, commander of the Japanese 13th Division, was attacked by the Fierce Flame Special Forces Brigade, and he himself was also injured in the attack.
Although he was extremely unwilling to do so and wanted to capture the Flame Special Forces Brigade that attacked them for revenge, he had to give up this idea because of the short time to retreat.
"Order the troops to carry out the burning mission and withdraw from Yichang!"
The injured Japanese commander Shizuka Tanaka gave a vicious order to turn Yichang into a ruin.
After receiving the order, the various Japanese troops immediately took action. Japanese soldiers with nuclear weapons and live ammunition took to the streets and began to burn Yichang and destroy military facilities.
Although the people in Yichang City tried to prevent the Japanese from burning Yichang, they were faced with Japanese soldiers armed with live ammunition. Anyone who resisted was shot dead, and screams and wailing continued for a long time.
"Sir, there's a fire in the city!"
A fire broke out in the city of Yichang, attracting the attention of Chinese troops outside the city.
After Yang Ling successfully escaped the pursuit and evacuated Yichang, he immediately reported the news to Peng Shan, commander of the 18th Army, that the Japanese might have to evacuate Yichang, and asked them to be prepared for counterattack at any time and to prevent the Japanese from setting fire to the city.
Although Peng Shan, commander of the 18th Army, found it a bit incredible, after all, the Japanese had just occupied Yichang, and they evacuated like this before they were even hot, which was not in line with common sense.
However, he faced pressure from the Chongqing Military Commission and his commander Chen Cheng who sent telegrams urging him to immediately send troops to counterattack Yichang.
Peng Shan, commander of the 18th Army, was still suspicious and deployed some troops on the outskirts of Yichang to prepare for launching a counterattack at any time.
Now that he saw the city on fire, Peng Shan, commander of the 18th Army, immediately realized that Yang Ling's report was not groundless. I am afraid that the Japanese were really about to evacuate.
"Launch a counterattack immediately and take back Yichang!"
Peng Shan, commander of the 18th Army, knew that it was a good opportunity to return to Yichang again without further delay, so he did not dare to neglect and immediately issued the order.
"yes!"
The communications staff officer looked excited and immediately turned around, preparing to convey the order.
After all, Yichang was lost in the hands of their 18th Army. It is said that wherever you fall, you will get up.
If they can retake Yichang, then they will be able to raise their heads again. Otherwise, they will be ridiculed by other troops for a long time in the future. They are well-equipped Central Army troops and have always been stared at by countless pairs of eyes.
However, this failure has made them unable to hold their heads high.
The 18th Army suffered heavy losses in the battle to defend Yichang. Its 11th Division was held back in Dangyang by other Japanese troops and had not yet arrived.
Now he only has part of the 199th Division and the 18th Division under his command. Once encountering a Japanese counterattack, it is very likely that the entire army will be annihilated.
"return!"
Army Commander Peng Shan stopped the communications staff officer who was about to leave.
The communications staff officer turned around with a puzzled look on his face: "Any other instructions from the military commander?"
"Order all troops to attack cautiously and retreat immediately if the situation goes wrong." Army Commander Peng Shan added after thinking for a while.
After all, the 18th Army has already suffered heavy losses. If another accident occurs, then he, the army commander, will become a mere commander.
"yes!"
The communications staff officer also understood how Commander Peng Shan was feeling at the moment. After all, he had been bitten by a snake once and had been afraid of well ropes for ten years. He had already suffered a defeat at the hands of the Japanese. If he suffered another defeat, then he, the commander, would not be able to survive.
My life is over.
While the units of the 18th Army were cautiously counterattacking Yichang, Yang Ling's Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade had already entered Yichang City first.
At this moment, there were still some Japanese troops in the city who were on a burning mission. They were setting fires everywhere. They never expected that the counterattack of the Chinese Army would come so quickly.
"Please, don't burn our house down."
Facing these devils holding torches, carrying gasoline, and setting fire to the troops, many people cried and howled, trying to stop them. After all, this is their home.
"Bagaya road!"
These crazy devils only have orders in their eyes, and they don't care about the life and death of the Chinese people.
The little devils kicked away the begging people, and then poured gasoline on the house. Just as they were about to light it on fire, officers and soldiers from the Flame Special Forces Brigade appeared on the street corner.
"Bang bang bang!"
The bullets whizzed towards the Japs, making them tremble all over, and streams of blood flew out.
"It's the Chongqing Army!"
Facing the flaming special forces that suddenly appeared at the corner of the street, the Japanese who set fire to the enemy dispersed to covertly fight back, and at the same time, they also shouted in panic.
"Destroy them!"
Facing these arson brats, Yang Ling's eyes were full of murderous intent.
The officers and soldiers of the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade were also filled with righteous indignation and launched an attack on these little devils.
Facing the powerful Lieyan special warfare brigade, these little devils were quickly defeated and had to flee in a hurry.
The main force of the Japanese army has withdrawn from the city. There are only a small number of arson troops in the city. Facing the attack of the Lieyan Special Forces Brigade, they thought that the main force of the Chinese Army had returned. Many Japanese soldiers had not yet come and burned their weapons.
The target, in order to avoid being surrounded, had to evacuate in a hurry.
"Split your operations and leave no one alone if you encounter the little devil who sets fire!"
Now that there are no large Japanese troops in the city, Yang Ling does not have to worry about them falling into a Japanese attack and suffering a devastating blow, so he boldly divides his troops.
"You immediately organize people to put out the fire. If the fire breaks out, no one's house will be spared!"
The houses in Yichang are all low-rise tiled houses, and many of them are made of wood. Once the fire cannot be controlled in time, it will cause inestimable losses. This is not what Yang Ling wants, so he asked the people to fight the fire together.
.
"Quick, put out the fire!"
The people were frightened by the sudden battle. After Yang Ling's reminder, they immediately reacted and hurriedly returned home to get buckets of water to start putting out the fire.
"Zhang Tie, immediately inform Commander Peng's troops that the Japanese have evacuated, and ask them to boldly enter the city and come over to help put out the fire."
"yes!"
Zhang Tie quickly called a brother over and asked him to ask for help. The figure of the brother quickly disappeared from sight.
Yang Ling and the others exchanged fire with the Japs' arsonist troops on Binhe Road, China Merchants Bureau and Huancheng South Road, and the fighting in the city became fierce again.
Facing the powerful officers and soldiers of the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade, many Japanese arson squads were wiped out, but fires were also ignited in many places.
A large number of people also organized themselves spontaneously and began to put out the burning fires.
But now it is the dry month of June, and under the blowing of the night wind, the fires in some places are becoming more and more fierce and starting to spread. The raging fires in Yichang City have reflected half of the sky red.