freenovelworld Chapter 382: The Destruction of the 104th Regiment
Chapter 382: The Destruction of the 104th Regiment
That night, the Second Army and the New 22nd Army each dispatched four infantry regiments to launch a comprehensive night attack on the remaining two surrounded Japanese troops.
In this night attack, the Chinese army fully deployed its forces and launched attacks on the temporary defensive positions of the Japanese army from all directions. This was also to take advantage of the Japanese army's insufficient manpower, inability to provide comprehensive defense and timely reinforcements, and maximize the Chinese army's numerical advantage.
In addition, although everyone knew that the Chinese army would launch an attack at night, in order to confuse the Japanese army to the greatest extent and launch the attack when the Japanese army was relatively relaxed, the Chinese troops also did the opposite in the timing of the attack.
Under normal circumstances, night attacks are usually carried out at midnight or 2 a.m., which is the most tiring and sleepy time period. However, this time the Chinese army set the time at 9 p.m., suddenly launching a full-scale attack on the Japanese army at a time when the Japanese army least expected it.
This change in the Chinese army did indeed prevent the Japanese army from reacting in time. When the Chinese army's attack began, most of the Japanese officers and soldiers took the time to rest on the battlefield in order to prepare for the attack that the Chinese army might launch in the second half of the night.
The Japanese army, which was already weak in strength, was quickly rushed into the defense circle by the Chinese offensive forces under the sudden and comprehensive attack of the Chinese army. The remaining Japanese officers and soldiers were forced to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the large number of Chinese officers and soldiers who rushed into the defense positions.
As soon as the defense line was breached, the regiment commander, Colonel Tachibana Yoshio, led the flag guard squadron to burn the regiment flag, the translation book and the radio station. Then, the regiment commander, Colonel Tachibana Yoshio, led the flag guard squadron and the remaining officers and soldiers of the regiment headquarters into the battle.
Faced with the attack of the Chinese troops with an absolute numerical advantage, the Japanese defensive forces in the encirclement became fewer and fewer, and the remaining Japanese troops could only fight and retreat behind themselves. Finally, the Japanese troops retreating from all directions gathered together, and they had no place to retreat.
The commander of the regiment, Colonel Tachibana Yoshio, looked at the officers and soldiers who were forced to gather together. Just now, Colonel Tachibana Yoshio had roughly counted them and found that there were only more than 200 officers and soldiers here. It could be said that if the Chinese army launched another charge, their little force would be completely wiped out.
The Chinese attacking force did not give Colonel Tachibana Yoshio too much time to sigh. After seeing that the Japanese army had been compressed to a very small gap, they also rushed over along with the retreating Japanese officers and soldiers. As long as they could get rid of the remaining Japanese officers and soldiers, this night attack would be successfully concluded.
Colonel Tachibana Yoshio, the regiment commander, knew that his final moment was coming. In order to die like a samurai, he drew his command sword and led the remaining officers and soldiers in a desperate charge. This was related to the honor of the soldiers of the Empire of Japan.
Twenty minutes later, all the remaining Japanese troops led by Colonel Tachibana Yoshio fell. Under the bayonet and sword attacks of Chinese officers and soldiers who outnumbered them several times, it was difficult for these two hundred people to display their superb bayonet fighting skills that they had practiced hard.
The regiment commander, Colonel Tachibana Yoshio, was stabbed in the chest with a bayonet and his neck was chopped by a Chinese officer's sword. He lay on the ground with his eyes wide open and unwilling. The Chinese soldiers who were cleaning the battlefield took away his command knife, and then took off his rank badge and everything on his body, leaving him only a loincloth, allowing the regiment commander, Colonel Tachibana Yoshio, to leave in a very clean manner.
Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, the commander of the 104th Division, who had not rested all night, sat down weakly on the ammunition box the moment the gunfire stopped. He did not feel anything about the destruction of the 104th Regiment. This matter had basically been concluded after the th Regiment was surrounded.
What the division commander, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke felt regretful about was why the 104th Regiment didn't hold out a little longer. The defensive positions on his side had not been repaired yet, and facing the massive attack of the Chinese army, it would be difficult for these troops of his th Division to defend themselves.
The division commander, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, knew that the 16th Division had to resist the attack of the 31st Army of the Chinese government from the front, and would soon be attacked by the 2nd Army and the new 22nd Army of the Chinese government from the back. The troops he had now were simply not enough.
But now we can't run away with the troops. We can only hide here and wait for the arrival of reinforcements. This passive and uncontrollable situation is really unpleasant.
Yes, send a telegram to the 11th Army Headquarters, asking the commander, Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura, to urge Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuei to bring reinforcements as soon as possible. We must put pressure on Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuei. Who knows how long we can hold out?
At the 104th Army Headquarters, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi took the telegram from the communications staff and read it. He then whispered to Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji, the commander of the th Division, who was looking at the sand table, "Your Excellency the Commander, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, the commander of the th Division, sent a telegram saying that the surrounded th Regiment had just been annihilated in a night raid by the Chinese Army. Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke hopes that reinforcements will arrive as soon as possible."
Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Neiji looked expressionlessly at the flag representing the 104th Regiment that had been pulled out of the sand table, and asked calmly, "When will Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei be able to break through the Chinese army's blocking position?"
"Commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei continued to attack the blocking positions of the New 22nd Army of the Chinese government today, but the resistance of the Chinese army was very tenacious. Our troops attacked the blocking positions of the Chinese army many times, but were beaten back by the Chinese army every time. Judging from the ammunition loss of the artillery units, they really tried their best." Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadakazu reported the battlefield situation on the Xiangzao Highway.
Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura frowned after hearing the report from Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto. Judging from the battle situation on Lieutenant General Ryuhei Ogisu's side, the scale of the Chinese army used to block his reinforcements must be quite large. Even with so many artillery shells consumed, they were still able to hold their positions.
"Mr. Yoshimoto, how many Chinese troops are there on the Xiang-Zao Highway battlefield? Is the force we allocated to Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuei a little insufficient?" Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji also had doubts about the arrangements in the direction of the Xiang-Zao Highway.
Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi thought for a moment and said, "Commander, judging from Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuei's report today, the Chinese army was able to hold its blocking position despite our fierce artillery and infantry attacks. I estimate that the Chinese army has deployed at least a full army on the blocking battlefield on the Xiangzao Highway, and even some reserve troops."
(Thanks to Ming Zhiguang???, Wu Wen Xi Dong 11, Lu Sheng who loves to eat cold celery, the director of Shenlong Library, eating dumplings without vinegar, eating dumplings without vinegar, for their gifts! Thank you all for your support and encouragement!)