freenovelworld Chapter 557: Changing the Battle Target
Chapter 557: Changing the Battle Target
The Japanese Third Division first launched an attack on the defensive positions of the 99th Army of the Ninth War Zone in Hejiatang and Nandu on the north bank of the Miluo River. Under the fierce attack of the Japanese army, two companies of officers and soldiers of the 99th Army were destroyed along with the defensive positions, and then the offensive forces of the Japanese Third Division broke through the positions.
In the afternoon of that day, the main force of the Japanese 3rd Division began to force a crossing of the Miluo River. After a day of fierce fighting with the defensive forces of the 99th Army of the 9th War Zone, most of the Japanese 3rd Division successfully crossed the Miluo River. After the 99th Army of the 9th War Zone was breached by the Japanese 3rd Division, the entire army retreated to Dalupu, Lutangpu, Daniangqiao and Xinkaishi west of the Yuehan Railway.
After breaking through the defense line of the 99th Army of the 9th War Zone on the south bank of the Miluo River, the Japanese 3rd Division immediately turned eastward along the Daniang Bridge line according to the combat plan formulated by the 11th Army Command, preparing to encircle the 37th Army of the 9th War Zone.
The front of the 37th Army of the 9th War Zone was faced with the 6th Division and the 40th Division of the Japanese Army. These two Japanese troops launched fierce attacks on the defensive positions of the 37th Army in Xinshi and Changle Street respectively. However, due to the tenacious resistance of the officers and soldiers of the 37th Army, coupled with the rain and snow in recent days, the river water surged and they were unable to cross the Miluo River.
It was not until two days later, when the sky cleared up a little, that the Japanese 6th and 40th Divisions completed the construction of the pontoon bridge under the cover of the air force and began to cross the river.
After crossing the Miluo River, the Japanese 6th Division and the 40th Division attacked southward from Xiaoshunling and Changle Street respectively, while the flanking troops sent by the 3rd Division attacked eastward quickly under the cover of air force aircraft, preparing to encircle the 37th Army.
Faced with the fierce attack of such a large number of Japanese troops, all officers and soldiers of the 37th Army fought desperately, engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the Japanese attacking forces, and used all means to hold their defensive positions. After some defensive positions were lost, the officers and soldiers of the 37th Army still took advantage of the surrounding favorable terrain, lurking in the mountains and continuing to attack the enemy.
The fierce battle lasted until midnight. The officers and soldiers of the 37th Army suffered heavy losses, and the defensive positions were already in ruins. Therefore, the 37th Army began to use the cover of night to move eastward to the mountainous areas around Wukou, Sunjiashan, and Zhugongyuan, and came to the flank of the Japanese attacking force, harassing and attacking the Japanese attacking force from the flank.
At this point, the attacking forces of the Japanese 11th Army had captured most of the areas on the south bank of the Miluo River. After completing the combat orders of the theater command, the defending forces of the Ninth War Zone of the Chinese government moved to the mountains on the east and west sides, preparing to harass the attacking forces of the Japanese Army from the flank.
In fact, before the offensive forces of the Japanese 11th Army broke through the defense line of the Ninth War Zone of the Chinese government on the south bank of the Miluo River, the Japanese 23rd Army had already occupied Hong Kong Island. Therefore, the Japanese 11th Army was actually close to completing the goal of launching the third Changsha Campaign offensive.
However, when formulating this combat plan, Lieutenant General Anami Korechika, commander of the 11th Army of the Japanese Army, had the idea of taking advantage of the situation to capture the city of Changsha. Before the offensive force of the 11th Army of the Japanese Army broke through the Miluo River, Lieutenant General Anami Korechika, commander of the 11th Army of the Japanese Army, began to discuss it with his subordinates in the 11th Army headquarters.
Lieutenant General Anami Korechika, commander of the 11th Japanese Army, explained to his subordinates the necessity of attacking Changsha. He believed that if they took the opportunity to occupy Changsha City, it would pose the greatest military threat to the Chinese government. Secondly, it would tie down the Chinese government's forces that were gathering in southern China in northern Hunan and the northern regions, making the Chinese government worry that Hunan Province might be completely occupied by the Japanese army at any time.
In addition, it can also show the outside world that the Japanese army still has considerable offensive power, and it can also make the people of Hunan Province feel that the Chinese government's army is not reliable enough. It will be a good blow to the Chinese people's confidence in the war of resistance and can very effectively prompt the Chinese government to surrender.
At the same time, as the attack was going relatively smoothly, the 3rd Division proposed to the Japanese 11th Army Headquarters to continue the attack to the south and attack Changsha. Moreover, the Japanese Air Force reconnaissance also reported to the Japanese 11th Army Headquarters that the Chinese army was retreating towards Changsha City.
Therefore, Lieutenant General Anami Korechika, commander of the 11th Army of the Japanese Army, decided to change the original combat plan to encircle and annihilate the 37th Army of the Ninth War Zone of the Chinese Government, and ordered the 3rd Division of the Japanese Army, which was on its way eastward, to turn around and pursue the retreating troops of the Ninth War Zone of the Chinese Government in the south towards Changsha City.
He ordered the main force of the Sixth Division to attack toward the east of Changsha, and at the same time sent a part of the troops to pursue the defeated Chinese army in the direction of Changsha.
The 40th Division was ordered to march towards Kanei. In this way, the Japanese 11th Army, due to the personal decision of its commander, Lieutenant General Anami Korechika, temporarily changed its original plan in the middle of the war and made the capture of Changsha City the final combat goal of this battle.
This decision by Lieutenant General Anami Korechika, commander of the 11th Army of the Japanese Army, also caused different opinions within the 11th Army headquarters, especially among the officers in the logistics department. They felt that such a temporary modification of the combat objectives would cause a lot of difficulties for the logistical supply of the attacking forces.
The New 22nd Army was responsible for the defense of Changsha City. When the Japanese 11th Army was preparing to launch the offensive, Commander Xue of the 9th War Zone had already predicted that the Japanese army would attack Changsha, so he ordered the New 22nd Army to continuously strengthen the defensive fortifications in Changsha City.
The entire Changsha city is supported by the Xiangjiang River in the west, and forms a semicircle on the north, east and south sides, with fortifications built from the outside to the inside of the city. The new 100th Division is responsible for the northeastern line of Changsha City, the new 210th Division is responsible for the southeastern line, and the new 211th Division is responsible for entering the Changsha city wall and taking on the core garrison mission.
Yuelu Mountain on the west bank of the Xiangjiang River overlooks the city of Changsha. The Ninth War Zone ordered the 73rd Army to defend Yuelu Mountain and cooperate with the New 22nd Army across the river to deal with the offensive forces of the Japanese 11th Army.
After the attacking forces of the Japanese 11th Army began to turn and attack in the direction of Changsha City, the top government also sent a telegram to General Xue, commander of the 9th War Zone. In the telegram, the top government asked General Xue to guard against the Japanese army using part of its forces to contain Changsha City when fighting a decisive battle with the Japanese attacking forces near Changsha City, and then concentrate the main force to force a decisive battle with the troops of the 9th War Zone on the outer line in advance, and then after solving the 9th War Zone troops on the outer line, concentrate the forces to besiege Changsha.
The top government officials felt that Commander Xue should place the outer line troops in areas far away from the Changsha battlefield to maintain a favorable situation on the outer line. This would ensure the mobility and freedom of the outer line troops and force the Japanese offensive forces to attack Changsha city first.