frightfiction Chapter 936: Star City is about to fall
Chapter 936: Star City is about to fall
The Miluo River defense line was already shaky after only four days, which made the Japanese ecstatic.
At this time, the Japanese veterans on the front line had already discovered clues.
From the Battle of Jiangcheng to now, they have fought with the Ninth War Zone countless times.
The old Japanese soldiers all knew that although the enemy's weapons and equipment and the quality of their troops were inferior to theirs, their will to resist was absolutely tenacious. They still remembered the battle two years ago. When they reached the Miluo River defense line, they encountered unimaginable tenacious resistance. Some Southern Army soldiers even ran out of bullets and rushed directly towards the charging Japanese soldiers, hugged them tightly, and then desperately signaled to their comrades to shoot here.
Why is their defense so weak this time?
Some low-ranking officers also suggested that the Ninth War Zone might have ulterior motives, because the 37th and 10th Armies defending the Miluo River had defensive strength in many positions that had not reached the point where they could not organize resistance, but they actually organized a retreat and gave up their positions to the Japanese army in vain.
What is the intention?
Lure the enemy deep into your territory?
However, according to the telegrams intercepted by the Telecommunications Operations Room, a large number of telegrams sent from the front line to the Ninth War Zone Command contained the following contents: they were out of ammunition and food, the soldiers were exhausted, they could not continue to resist, and they requested to retreat.
Then the Ninth War Zone agreed to retreat.
In mid-September, a shocking news came that Xue Lao Hu's command headquarters was actually going to withdraw from Xingcheng and retreat to Jianning further south!
This news drove the Japanese crazy!
Even Anami Korechika couldn't help but sigh that he was going to go down in history. The Star City, where the empire had spent so much effort and even General Okamura had failed, was finally going to be taken by him!
His own frontal advance tactics, combined with the landing in the Xiangyin area, finally achieved results.
The enemy is no match at all!
This joy spread from the 11th Army Headquarters to the various divisions on the front line.
The Japanese's 3rd, 4th and 6th Divisions rushed forward with all their might, and they mechanized the roads that could be used for marching. However, the roads in most places had been destroyed by the troops retreating south. In addition, it rained for several days. In order to reach Xingcheng first, the Japanese began to abandon their baggage. Each person carried three days' rations and marched day and night.
They all understood the importance of Star City to the empire. If they captured Star City, the 11th Army would not have to be trapped in Jiangcheng. It could connect with the South China region in the south, concentrate its forces in the west to deter the mountain city, and attack from the north along the railway line with the North China Front Army, thus completely opening up the transportation line.
The most crucial thing is that in the past few years, the Japanese have been almost invincible, even taking down Jiangcheng, but have been repeatedly defeated in Xingcheng. If Xingcheng can be captured, it will greatly boost morale and allow the headquarters to see hope of ending the war in China!
Among them, the 3rd Division ran the fastest. They reached the saddle shop and then arrived at Fenglin Port in just one day.
As a result, there were defenders from the Ninth War Zone at Fenglingang again. This time, the 99th Army that withdrew from the west built a defense line, and the 10th Army that withdrew from the north harassed the east wing.
The 3rd Division was delayed again.
It took a whole day, and the other two divisions and the Zaoyuan Detachment also arrived.
This made the commander of the 3rd Division extremely anxious.
They only brought three days' worth of supplies. If they continued to drag on in Fenglin Port, even if they crossed the Laodao River, they would not be the first to enter Xingcheng. They could only watch the other divisions eat meat while they drank soup.
So the division commander thought of a quick solution!
You all want to attack Star City, then go ahead and fight for it!
After all the fighting, we might have to share the credit equally. Hasn't the command system of the Ninth War Zone been withdrawn to Jianning? Let's bypass Xingcheng and attack Jianning!
At this time, Anami Korechika had already realized that the troops were rushing too fast. The originally expected time of arrival at Star City was much later than it was now, and many subsequent supplies had not yet arrived!
So they sent telegrams frequently, asking the front-line troops to control the speed and advance steadily.
But several divisions have become completely overwhelmed and no longer trust each other. If I follow the headquarters' orders to slow down, what if the enemy breaks the rules and takes the lead?
By then, all the credit will belong to others!
The Third Division was even more ruthless. It directly sent a telegram, claiming that it had discovered the location of the enemy's command system and had been marching day and night to defeat the enemy's command system in one fell swoop!
They bypassed the Laodao River to the east, planning to go through Beishengcang, Yong'an City, and Jintan, and head straight to Jianning!
...........................
Jianning.
The Ninth War Zone Temporary Command.
"Commander! An urgent report from the Military Control Commission! They've intercepted an enemy telegram. The Third Division has bypassed the Laodao River and is heading straight for Beishengcang!"
Xue Lao Hu stood up suddenly. Even though he was a veteran of the battlefield, he looked excited at this moment.
There’s also an unexpected bonus!
Seeing the Japs heading south and getting into the "furnace" he had prepared for a long time, he was about to start the fire and roast them, but an appetizer popped out first!
Because the intelligence provided by the Military Control Commission had been flawless in the previous attempts, Xue Lao Hu simply gave the order this time. "Telegraph the 72nd Army in Wenjiachangwu and the 74th Army in Liuyang to advance towards Beishengcang. The 74th Army must intercept the enemy's 3rd Division north of Yong'an City, and the 72nd Army must cut off their retreat north of Beishengcang. Attack them from both sides and kill as many as possible! Even if we can't encircle them right away, we must hold them here!"
The staff officer next to him asked, "Two Japanese divisions are about to arrive at Xingcheng. Should we take action now?"
"No! At this point, we need to remain calm. They want to attack Star City, right? Then let them attack. Wear down their spirit and confidence! Then, I'll let them have a taste of my furnace!"
..................
That night, the Zaoyuan Detachment and the 4th Division finally crossed Fenglingang and marched all the way to the northeast of Xingcheng.
The Japanese commander was extremely excited!
The enemy is already at the gates of the city. The headquarters of the Ninth War Zone has fled. This Star City is about to fall!
Opposite them was the suburban defense line formed by the 99th and 10th Armies.
They also understood that tomorrow morning, the Japanese would attack them desperately.
Li Eryazi was no longer excited. He rested calmly in the trench. The damp and cold night could not disturb his sleep.
Behind him in the city, with his parents, he felt like he was back home and slept particularly soundly.
Some people can't sleep.
Many grassroots officers have already seen the clues. These days, they have been fighting and retreating, but friendly forces have not appeared yet.
Some veterans who had experienced the great battle two years ago had already realized that their team might be treated as discarded pawns to drain the Japanese's morale.
Some people feel sad.
Some people, on the contrary, feel a sense of heroism.
So what if I abandon a child?!
A good man will resist foreign aggression. As long as there is a chance to kill the devils, he will risk his life to let the devils see how brave the Chinese men are!