Several main infantry regiments of the Japanese 13th Division, assisted by field artillery units, launched a fierce attack on the Chinese defenders of Yichang.
Since the Japs had destroyed all military facilities during their previous retreat, the Chinese defense forces could only fight on the dilapidated positions while repairing them.
A regiment of the 199th Division came up with timely reinforcements. After a fierce battle, the position was finally stabilized. Yang Ling and his Lieyan Special Forces Brigade fought continuously and were ordered to hand over the position to this regiment. They retreated.
Rest and standby.
Part of the troops of the 75th Army also successfully crossed the river to support them. Officers and soldiers hurried to the front were everywhere along the way, and the wounded were also sent down in a steady stream.
The Japs' counterattack exceeded everyone's expectations. Fortunately, Yang Ling and others gave a timely warning, blocking the first wave of Japs' attack and buying time for the troops behind them.
"Hey, hey! Listen to me, stop the little Japs for me, and keep the Japs in the Jiangjun Rock area at all costs!"
In the headquarters of the 18th Army, the phones were ringing one after another, and Army Commander Peng Shan kept giving orders to his troops.
"What, Jingzhen Mountain has been lost?!"
"Immediately organize a counterattack with troops. You must take Jingzhen Mountain back to me! Otherwise, I will shoot you!"
The Japanese 13th Division had more than 20,000 soldiers, including generals Guangzu, and they also had cavalry units, field artillery units, and chariot units temporarily assigned to them. It can be said that their combat effectiveness was quite strong.
Now the Little Japanese's 13th Division is swooping towards Yichang again in three groups, putting great pressure on the 18th Army in front.
The 18th Army has already suffered heavy losses in the battles in the past few days. In particular, the 18th Division was responsible for several major positions. Not only did the troops suffer serious losses, but the casualties of the officers were also extremely heavy. Now they are basically lost.
The fighting force is being collected and collected at the Merchants Wharf.
Facing the Japanese's massive counterattack, the 11th Division under the 18th Army was rapidly marching from Dangyang to Yichang, trying to quickly return to the army to enhance the actual combat effectiveness of the 18th Army.
"Aangwu——"
When the front of Yichang was reduced to a mess, Japanese aircraft formations also flew in to assist in the battle, bombing and strafing the garrison positions everywhere.
With the loss of air superiority, the casualties of the defenders were rising rapidly, and the situation everywhere became increasingly critical.
As soon as Yang Ling and others evacuated from the fire line, they received a new order, which was to cooperate with the 199th Division to retake the Jingzhen Mountain position and stabilize Yichang's peripheral defense line.
"Okay, I just took it off and my butt is still hot, so I'm going to die again."
The officers and soldiers of the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade were holding their jobs to eat. After receiving the order, they had to put down their jobs, pack up their equipment, and prepare to go to the battlefield again.
"Sir Yang, these are more than 200 soldiers who have just been gathered. Now they are all handed over to you. The military department has ordered you to command reinforcements for the Jingzhenshan position."
Accompanying the orders from the 18th Army Headquarters were more than 200 soldiers who had been dispersed and re-accommodated from various units. They will be reorganized under Yang Ling's command and will be under the command of Yang Ling.
"I understand. Let's lead them to the Jingzhenshan position."
Yang Ling knew that the military situation was urgent and agreed without any hesitation.
There were more than two hundred soldiers from various units, and there were even more than a dozen policemen among them, all of them looking dusty and ragged, looking particularly embarrassed.
"Captain and company commander Sun Liangcheng was ordered to lead the team to obey Commander Yang's command and ask Commander Yang to give him a lecture!"
The leader of the more than 200 sheltered soldiers was a square-faced captain. When he saw Yang Ling walking past, he hurriedly trotted forward and stood up to salute.
Yang Ling nodded, raised his hand to return the military salute, and then walked to stand in front of these sluggish soldiers.
"I am Yang Ling, the commander of the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade. From now on, you will be under my command. I have only two requirements. First, obey orders absolutely! Second, obey orders absolutely!" Yang Ling looked around.
Circle them, shouting loudly and forcefully.
"Did you hear what I said clearly?!"
Yang Ling saw no response from the two hundred or so soldiers and asked again loudly.
"clear……"
These soldiers who had just been defeated and retreated were all weak and seemed to have low morale.
"Tell me loudly, do you hear me clearly?!"
"clear!"
"very good!"
"The order we have received now is to rush to the Jingzhenshan position immediately and assist Commander Luo Guoliang's 595th Regiment to retake the Jingzhenshan position! Do you have any questions?"
"No!"
This time the soldier's answer was particularly loud, which surprised Yang Ling.
"Sun Liangcheng!"
After Yang Ling finished speaking, he immediately turned his attention to the captain and company commander Sun Liangcheng who was standing at the head of the team.
"arrive!"
Sun Liangcheng stepped out and responded loudly.
"Brothers, have you eaten?" Yang Ling asked.
Sun Liangcheng was stunned for a moment, then shook his head in embarrassment: "We rushed over after receiving the order from the shelter, and we didn't even bother to eat."
"You can't do it without eating. Let the brothers go over there to eat. We'll set off in five minutes!" Yang Ling pointed to several sheds built not far away and ordered.
Yang Ling didn't know how long this frontline battle would last. If these officers and soldiers were allowed to fight on an empty stomach, their combat effectiveness would be compromised. There was another important reason, which was that they must sympathize with their subordinates and win the loyalty of these soldiers quickly.
feel.
Several large pots were set up around several sheds on the roadside, and more than twenty people were busy making fires to cook and then deliver them to the frontier.
Hearing that Yang Ling and his two hundred soldiers were about to go to the front and were still hungry, the common people directly gave them bowls and chopsticks to let them eat first.
These soldiers had been arriving in the suburbs of Yichang since last night. They started chasing the Japs early in the morning, and then were defeated by the Japs who counterattacked. They were already starving.
However, the logistics support of the Chinese *** team has always been poor. Their troops were defeated and they couldn't find anything to eat, so they were hungry.
Now that Yang Ling heard that they were hungry, he immediately made food for them. Although these officers and soldiers did not say anything, they were already full of good impressions of this new commander in their hearts.
While the officers and soldiers were eating, Yang Ling asked the brothers from the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade to get some ammunition and distribute it to the officers and soldiers. They were going to fight, and there was no need for insufficient ammunition.
These officers and soldiers were also hungry, chewing food hungrily, while the people nearby kept pouring water for them and rushing to serve them rice to keep them full.
"Brothers, look at how our fathers and fellow villagers treat us. They have given us all the good food and drinks. We have to beat up the little devil later, otherwise we will be sorry for the bowl of rice we eat!" Yang Ling said
It was to boost the morale of the officers and soldiers while they were eating.
"Sir, don't worry, I've eaten two bowls of rice, and I want to kill two Japanese!"
"Sir, we will beat the Japanese hard!"
…
As the soldiers had full stomachs and gained strength, they unconsciously regained some morale.
"This is what you said. If anyone dares to hold back later, don't blame me, Yang Ling, for being rude." Yang Ling smiled and vaccinated them.
The officers and soldiers knew that the military situation was urgent, so they ate very quickly. In just a few minutes, they finished eating and gathered again. Under the leadership of Yang Ling, they headed straight for Jingzhen Mountain where the gunfire was fierce.