freenovelworld Chapter 383: Strengthen Again
Chapter 383: Strengthen Again
"Well, it seems that our previous judgment may be biased. The Chinese army should have deployed more than an army-level unit on the battlefield on the Xiangzao Highway. It seems that the troops allocated to Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuei are still a bit insufficient. The current force is not enough for Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuei to quickly break through the Chinese army's blocking positions." Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura also reflected seriously.
Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi, the chief of staff, also said with a distressed look: "But, Commander, we have already transferred all the troops that can be transferred. We don't have any extra troops to transfer to the commander of the Ogisu Ritsu Division."
Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura also knew that his 11th Army no longer had any extra troops to mobilize, and that he had already used his troops to the limit by mobilizing troops from these three divisions to fight this battle.
Originally, Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura wanted to launch a quick offensive, but he did not expect that the Fifth War Zone of the Chinese government had already been prepared. His troops launched a conventional offensive operation from the very beginning, and later fell into the trap prepared by the Fifth War Zone of the Chinese government.
But the current situation is really a headache. Judging from the current intelligence, the Chinese army's strength on the battlefield on the Xiangzao Highway is definitely much greater than what was judged before the war. It seems that the troop deployment there is not enough now.
"Mr. Yoshimoto, transfer another regiment of artillery or heavy artillery units from the 3rd Division to support the battlefield on the Xiang-Zao Highway. We don't have any extra infantry regiments to reinforce Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuei, but we can mobilize more artillery units to strengthen their offensive support firepower and consume the Chinese troops on the Xiang-Zao Highway battlefield more quickly." Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji also decided to withdraw troops again to reinforce the battlefield on the Xiang-Zao Highway.
"This... Commander, if the 3rd Division withdraws more artillery troops, their offensive will have a hard time making progress." Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto was still worried about withdrawing artillery troops from the 3rd Division again.
You know, now the Third Division in Sui County has only two understaffed infantry regiments. If one artillery regiment is withdrawn, the Third Division will basically lose the ability to continue attacking.
"Mr. Yoshimoto, with the two infantry regiments of the 3rd Division that suffered heavy losses, do you think they can break through the defense line of the 11th Army of the Chinese government and attack the rear of the 31st Army of the Chinese government?" Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura also asked the Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto.
After hearing the commander's question, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi was also stunned. Yes, the Third Division is actually playing a role of containing the Chinese army, using some attacks to deter the Chinese army and prevent the Chinese government from withdrawing troops from here to other battlefields.
As for asking the Third Division to break through the blocking line of the 11th Army of the Chinese government, that is a bit too optimistic. Even the always proud commander of the Third Division, Lieutenant General Fujita Susumu, does not dare to say that he will lead the troops to break through the blocking positions of the Chinese army and attack the 31st Army of the Chinese government.
From this perspective, it seems feasible to transfer another artillery regiment from the 3rd Division to reinforce the commander of the 13th Division, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei.
"I understand, Commander. I will send a telegram to the commander of the 3rd Division, Fujita Susumu, asking for another artillery regiment to be transferred out. Then, how should we respond to the commander of the 16th Division, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke?" Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi also asked the commander, Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji, how to respond to Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke.
Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji thought for a moment and said helplessly: "Tell Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke to do a good job of defense and hold on to the current position. The headquarters has once again sent reinforcements to the Xiangzao Highway battlefield. The reinforcements will definitely break through the Chinese army's blocking position as soon as possible. In addition, ask the Air Force to airdrop supplies and ammunition to the besieged 16th Division. The 16th Division must hold on."
However, inside the 13th Division Headquarters on the south side of the Xiang-Zao Highway, it was unusually quiet. There were no officers and soldiers coming and going as in the past, as if there was no one here anymore.
In the open space east of the division headquarters, all the officers and soldiers of the 104th Division were standing in neat rows. In front of them, an altar had been built. The division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Tatsuhei, and the chief of staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma, were wiping the tombstone representing the th Regiment.
The division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei, is still feeling a little sad. The officers and soldiers of his five battalions were lost, and they died near the 16th Division. This made Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei's hatred for the 16th Division reach its peak.
At the command of an officer presiding over the ceremony, the division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Tachibei, and Chief of Staff Major General Ishikawa Takuma, led all the officers and soldiers of the 13th Division around them to take off their military caps and bow to the altar. For ordinary Japanese soldiers, they felt very sad at the moment, knowing that perhaps they would become the ones being commemorated by others next time.
When the memorial ceremony was coming to an end, a staff officer quickly walked up to the Chief of Staff, Major General Takuma Ishikawa, and respectfully handed him a telegram.
"Your Excellency the Division Commander, Commander Okamura Neiji has transferred an artillery regiment from the 3rd Division to reinforce us, and asked us to break through the Chinese army's blocking positions as soon as possible to reinforce the surrounded 16th Division." Chief of Staff Major General Takuma Ishikawa took a look at the telegram, then whispered to the division commander Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei who was paying homage.
After hearing the whispered report from the Chief of Staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma, the division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Tatsuhei, did not make any response. He was still doing the memorial service, as if there was nothing that could concern Lieutenant General Ogisu Tatsuhei at the moment.
After the ceremony to commemorate the dead soldiers of the 104th Regiment was over, the division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuei, said to the chief of staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma, "Ishikawa-kun, today's attack should still be carried out according to the previous plan. You should keep a close eye on it. As for the newly transferred artillery regiment, it will not affect our plan, but our shell consumption will be higher. It seems that Fujie Keisuke should have sent an emergency telegram to Commander Okamura Yasuji."