freenovelworld Chapter 349 A good start
Chapter 349 A good start
"Retreat, everyone retreat southward, everyone retreat to the position of the Third Battalion, quickly." Seeing that it was impossible to hold out until the reinforcements of the Third Battalion arrived, the battalion commander, Major Takeuchi Eiki, decisively ordered the remaining officers and soldiers to withdraw from the position.
Major Eiki Takeuchi led the remaining officers and soldiers and ran desperately to the south. This was the only direction for them to escape the pursuit of the Chinese army. As long as they ran to the position of the third squadron, they would be safe.
The officers and soldiers of the attack force of the new 100th Division also followed the retreating Japanese army out of the position. They were originally going to the south to meet up with the attack force over there, and now it was just on their way.
Besides, there are only so few Japanese soldiers left now, and this is a good time to strike hard at the downfall. Killing a Japanese soldier will get a huge reward, so we can't miss such a good opportunity to make money.
Major Eiki Takeuchi fled all the way with the remaining soldiers. The Chinese soldiers chasing behind him kept shooting at their small troops. From time to time, officers and soldiers were hit by bullets and fell on the road of retreat.
However, Major Takeuchi Eiki couldn't care less about all these now. He thought that whoever could survive would be the best. Facing the attack of so many Chinese soldiers, he no longer had enough strength and ability to deal with the current situation.
As long as some people can survive, the structure of the First Battalion can be preserved. This is the only thing he can do for his troops at present.
Suddenly, intensive gunfire rang out not far from both sides of the fleeing Japanese soldiers. Major Eiki Takeuchi, who was running hard, felt a sharp pain in his stomach at the moment the gunfire rang out.
Major Takeuchi Eiki knew that he had been shot, but he did not stop running because of the bullet. He touched the painful spot on his stomach with his hand, then Major Takeuchi Eiki looked down at his right hand covered in blood.
Damn it, the Chinese army actually has an ambush here. It seems that the signalman I sent out before may not have reached the position of the third squadron. Damn Chinese army, they are going to wipe out my first battalion.
The troops that ambushed the Japanese army here were the suicide squad led by Hao Jian. The communications soldier sent by Major Eiki Takeuchi had run directly into the guns of the suicide squad and was shot dead on the spot.
Hao Jian originally wanted to lead the suicide squad to launch a surprise attack on the Japanese defensive positions from the south, but no matter how hard they tried, they could not reach the south of the Japanese defensive positions before the attack force of the new 100th Division launched the attack.
So Hao Jian asked everyone to rest here in the south, and set up an ambush circle here, waiting for the arrival of the retreating Japanese troops.
Major Takeuchi Eiki still fell on the way of retreat. The speed of his short legs was really no match for the speed of bullets. As the number of retreating Japanese troops continued to decrease, Major Takeuchi Eiki, who was running fast, became so conspicuous in the eyes of the suicide squad officers and soldiers.
Major Takeuchi Eiki was aimed at by more than 20 rifles of the suicide squad soldiers almost at the same time, which made him walk very smoothly without feeling any pain. Of course, due to the inertia of running, Major Takeuchi Eiki finally landed on his face, which did not look very good.
When the last running Japanese soldier was knocked down, Hao Jian waved the German mirror box in his hand and rushed forward with all the suicide squad officers and soldiers. This battle was not satisfying for Hao Jian and the officers and soldiers of the suicide squad.
Only a small number of Japanese soldiers ran out from the position, and these retreating Japanese soldiers had no intention of stopping to fight, which made the officers and soldiers of the suicide squad feel no counterattack firepower. They basically just kept pulling the bolts and shooting at moving targets.
In the Fifth War Zone Headquarters, Chief of Staff Xu walked quickly into the operations hall where Commander Li was, holding the telegram he had just received.
"Commander Li, Xinye has been taken. The troops of the new 210nd Army are pursuing the remnants of the Japanese 100th Regiment who escaped from Xinye. The Second Army has begun to attack from the southeast of Xinye toward Zaoyang. The new th Division of the new nd Army has advanced from the south of Xinye toward Zaoyang. In addition, the new th Division has captured the Japanese positions on the north side of the Xiangzao Highway. At the same time, all the Japanese troops between Xinye and Xiangzao Highway have been wiped out. Our first step of the plan can be said to be a great success." Chief of Staff Xu happily handed the telegram to Commander Li.
After reading the contents of the telegram, Li smiled and said to Chief of Staff Xu: "Okay, bring it quickly. The Japanese did not discover our troops' gathering before. They were not prepared at all. Now the new 100th Division is in the south to resist the Japanese reinforcements and buy time to eliminate the Japanese th Division in Zaoyang area."
Chief of Staff Xu understood that this was only the beginning of the battle and that tough fighting was still to come. However, this was a very good start for the subsequent battles and he believed that the subsequent battles would proceed smoothly.
"Send a telegram to the troops in Xinye, asking them to eliminate the remnants of the 58th Regiment of the Japanese Army as soon as possible, and then concentrate their forces to launch an attack on the 16th Division of the Japanese Army in Zaoyang as planned. At the same time, tell the 31st Army Group in Zaoyang about the situation here in detail, so that Commander Tang can have some peace of mind." After being happy for a while, Commander Li turned his attention back to the battle behind.
"Understood. I will send a message to each unit right away. By the way, Commander Li, do you have anything to tell the New 100 Division?" After Chief of Staff Xu recorded the order, he also asked Commander Li if he had anything to convey to the New 100 Division. You know, the New 100 Division will be responsible for a very important defensive task.
Commander Li looked at the location of the Xiangzao Highway on the map, thought for a moment, and then said, "There is nothing much to explain to the new 100th Division. They are well aware of the importance of their rear defense."
At the Japanese 100th Army Headquarters, from the moment the new th Division began to attack the defensive positions on the north side of the Xiang-Zao Highway, the commander, Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji, was awakened from his sleep by someone sent by the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi.
Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura was not overly worried about the Chinese army's attack on the positions on the north side of the Xiang-Zao Highway. He put on his military uniform and then walked into the command hall which had already become bustling.
"Mr. Yoshimoto, what's the situation now? Don't be nervous. Even if the positions on the north side of the highway are occupied by the Chinese army, they will not be able to hold on there. What we need to pay attention to now is whether this move of the Chinese army is intended to open a retreat channel for the 31st Army of the Chinese government surrounded in the Zaoyang area. The 31st Army must not be allowed to escape from the encirclement." Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura said calmly to Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto.
(Thanks to Ming Zhiguang???, the director of Shenlong Library, eating dumplings without vinegar, Wuwenxidong11, and the Duke of Wei who loves beef jerky for their gifts! Thank you all for your support and encouragement!)