freenovelworld Chapter 452: Commander, you have a vision
Chapter 452: Commander, you have a vision
The commander of the 24th Regiment, Colonel Ikuro Kawakatsu, led his troops in a retreat while fighting. Although he tried to delay the Chinese army's pursuit as much as possible, the reality was very cruel. The retreat speed of the 24th Regiment was much faster than the advance speed of the heavy weapons troops struggling in the mud.
As the division chief of staff, Major General Sadatsumi Nozaki, heard the gunfire and explosions getting closer and closer from the rear, he knew in his heart that it was time to make the final decision.
"Order all heavy weapons units to destroy damaged artillery and tanks and vehicles that are malfunctioning and unable to move quickly. Everyone must retreat towards the Xinqiang River as quickly as possible." After hesitating for a few minutes, the division chief of staff, Major General Sadatsumi Nozaki, finally issued the order to abandon heavy weapons.
The troops of the 6th Division executed the orders of the division chief of staff, Major General Sadatsumi Nozaki, quite well. A large number of artillery and vehicles were abandoned on the muddy road, and the exhausted officers and soldiers quickly retreated towards the Xinqiang River on foot.
However, the other heavy weapons units assigned here were somewhat disapproving of the order of Major General Sadatsumi Nozaki, Chief of Staff of the Sixth Division. These heavy weapons were their lives. Since they joined the Imperial Japanese Army, they were taught to cherish these precious assets of the Imperial Japanese Army and to protect these heavy weapons with their own lives.
Now, they are asked to destroy these heavy equipment with their own hands. These officers and soldiers are very resistant to this. They would rather die than destroy these heavy equipment with their own hands.
However, after issuing this order, the division chief of staff, Major General Sadami Nozaki, hurriedly led the officers and soldiers around him to retreat towards the Xinqiang River. After all, he still valued his life very much. What's more, the chief of staff, Major General Sadami Nozaki, did not expect that some troops would not execute the orders he issued.
After the troops in the Ninth War Zone responsible for the flanking attack on both wings dispersed their troops, the effect of the Japanese aerial bombing became almost negligible. Although the advance of some troops was slowed down by the Japanese bombing, the advance of some other troops was still maintained.
Now the vanguard troops on both wings are only two hours away from the Japanese defensive positions on the Xinqiang River. As long as they break through the Japanese defensive positions on the south bank of the Xinqiang River and control the pontoon bridge, the Japanese troops that have not withdrawn across the river will be completely surrounded and destroyed by the troops of the Ninth War Zone.
In addition to facing muddy roads, the Japanese army's retreat route also had to deal with guerrilla forces that had been staying behind the Japanese army also attacking everywhere, constantly harassing and attacking the retreating Japanese troops. These guerrilla forces also continued to shoot or launch fire raids on the Japanese army's retreat route.
When the Japanese army sent troops to fight, these guerrilla forces turned around and ran away, never having any direct contact with the Japanese army. After the Japanese army's pursuit troops withdrew, these guerrilla forces continued to harass in other places, making the already exhausted Japanese officers and soldiers even more nervous.
In order to retreat quickly, the Japanese army could only send out small groups of troops to drive away the Chinese guerrillas who harassed them. The Japanese army did not dare to pursue them too far. After all, if they pursued them too far, they would probably be ambushed by the Chinese army. Moreover, the main goal now was to retreat to the north bank of the Xinqiang River as quickly as possible. There was no time to encircle and suppress these Chinese guerrillas who were as small as flies.
Although the scale of each attack by these guerrilla forces was not large and would not seem to cause any major casualties in a single attack, the number of the guerrilla forces was too large. Under such piecemeal harassment by the guerrilla forces, the Japanese army suffered more than a thousand casualties from the guerrilla attacks alone, and the retreat speed, which was already slow, could not be accelerated.
At the headquarters of the 11th Japanese Army, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi also came to the commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji and whispered, "Your Excellency the Commander, the commander of the 6th Division, Lieutenant General Inaba Shiro, has safely retreated to the south bank of the Xinqiang River and can return to the attack starting position on the north bank via the pontoon bridge at any time. In addition, the division commander, Lieutenant General Inaba Shiro, has issued an order to abandon heavy weapons."
When Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura heard that the commander of the 6th Division, Lieutenant General Inaba Shiro, had basically reached a safe area, his somewhat nervous mood finally relaxed. This battle was already a complete failure, and none of the combat objectives set before the war had been achieved. Moreover, it now seemed that the casualties of the troops would certainly not be small. If a division commander's life was lost in this battle, it would be even worse.
The most important thing is that he has already determined the policies and plans for post-war settlement. If a division commander is killed by the Chinese army, then his post-war propaganda war plan will be completely ruined.
Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura felt that he could not say that this battle achieved the goal of striking the Chinese government's resistance forces, but he had lost so many soldiers and a division commander. In that case, was it he who struck the Chinese government's resistance forces, or was it the Chinese government that destroyed his armed forces? If he said that he was the victorious side, probably no one would believe it.
"Well, the commander of the 6th Division, Lieutenant General Inaba Shiro, has retreated to a safe area. Our retreat this time is more than half successful. The rest depends on how many officers and soldiers can be evacuated. As for heavy weapons, they must be abandoned. This abandonment is a preparation for greater victory in the future." Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura gave a brief message.
Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto rolled his eyes in his heart. This damn commander, Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura, was too good at deceiving people. He said that this failure was to lay the foundation for future victory. Why couldn't he see any so-called foundation? What kind of foundation had been laid? Was it just the foundation of getting familiar with the retreat route?
"Your Excellency the Commander is truly far-sighted. In addition, the Air Force reports that the Chinese troops encircling us from both wings are expected to reach our defensive positions on the other side of the Xinqiang River within two hours." After Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto flattered Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura, he quickly reported the latest situation.
After hearing the report from Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi, Commander General Okamura Yasuji also put away his smile and paused before asking, "Mr. Yoshimoto, how long will it take for our troops to completely cross the Xinqiang River and return to the original attack starting position?"