binnovel Chapter 335 Occupation of Xinye
Chapter 335 Occupation of Xinye
Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei, commander of the 13th Division of the Japanese Army, now looked very bad. The sun was about to set, but his troops still failed to occupy the defensive positions of the Chinese army.
The Chinese army's position had been shaky since the morning, but they had managed to hold it until now. The 58th Regiment had gained nothing except some casualties.
"Mr. Ishikawa, how do you think the Chinese army did it? How could they hold their positions until now?" Lieutenant General Ogisu Rippei of the 13th Division asked a soul-searching question to the chief of staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma, with great emotion.
Chief of Staff Major General Takuma Ishikawa now didn't know how to answer. According to his previous estimate, the 58th Regiment should be able to capture the Chinese army's defensive positions by noon at the latest, and the 58th Regiment should be in Shinno City now.
"Your Excellency the Division Commander, the Chinese army should have received a death order. They are well aware that the gain or loss of Xinye is related to the life and death of the main force of their Fifth War Zone, so their resistance will be very tenacious. In addition, our division suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Three Towns. Now the army has a lot of new recruits, and the combat effectiveness of the troops has also been greatly affected." Chief of Staff Major General Takuma Ishikawa could only find details from both objective and subjective perspectives to answer the question of Your Excellency the Division Commander.
The Fifth War Zone troops guarding Xinye are actually exhausted. There are no organized troops left in Xinye City. Even the cooks and grooms have been reinforced to the defensive positions. Now all the surviving officers and soldiers on the positions are looking forward to one thing, that is, for it to get dark quickly so that they can retreat alive.
Colonel Kurabayashi Kototo, commander of the 58th Regiment of the 13th Division of the Japanese Army, also had a face full of smoke. Since noon, he personally came to the front line to command his troops to attack the defensive positions of the Chinese army, but the effect of the attack was getting worse and worse.
Colonel Kunito Kurabayashi knew that the division commander who was watching the battle from the back must have a gloomy face, but he did try his best. Without a large amount of artillery support, the officers and soldiers in his regiment could only charge the Chinese army's positions. Throughout the day, they had fought seven or eight hand-to-hand combats.
Colonel Kunin also asked the officers and soldiers of his regiment to have a good rest. He planned to launch a night attack after dark. They had been attacking the Chinese army's positions for a day, and the officers and soldiers were already very tired. They could only rely on the night attack. As long as they could capture the Chinese army's defensive positions before 10 o'clock in the evening, they would be able to report to the division commander.
When Colonel Kurayashi Konin sent someone to report his plan to the division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Tachibei, he also obtained the consent of Lieutenant General Ogisu Tachibei.
The division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Tatsuhei, knew that without sending new troops to replace the 104th Regiment's attack, the troops in front could only let the rest and replenish their strength. At the same time, Lieutenant General Ogisu Tatsuhei also ordered the th Regiment to draw out a battalion of troops to be ready to reinforce the th Regiment that was rushing to the Chinese army's position at any time.
When it got dark, the Fifth War Zone troops guarding Xinye organized the remaining officers and soldiers to quickly withdraw from Xinye towards Deng County. After this battle, this unit was basically wiped out and would not be able to continue fighting for less than a year.
At eight o'clock in the evening, the commander of the 58th Regiment, Colonel Kototo Kurayashi, ordered all officers and soldiers to launch a night attack on the Chinese army's defensive positions. Even the commander of the regiment, Colonel Kototo Kurayashi, led the troops in the charge.
However, what made Colonel Kotobukatsu happy was that the Chinese army had retreated from the defensive positions, and he had finally completed the combat mission assigned to him by the division commander on time.
If they failed to capture the Chinese army's defensive positions before ten o'clock, the 13th Division would have lost face, and the troops of the 16th Division behind them would definitely laugh at the 13th Division.
At that time, how could the division commander hand over the battlefield to the commander of the 16th Division, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke?
"Go and report to the division commander that the 58th Regiment has completely occupied the Chinese army's defensive positions and the Chinese army has retreated from the positions. The 58th Regiment will continue to attack Shinno City until it is completely occupied." The regiment commander, Colonel Kunito Kurabayashi, said loudly to the signalman beside him.
When the division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Tachibei, and the chief of staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma, received the news from Colonel Kurayashi Kototo, they both breathed a sigh of relief. They could now wait with peace of mind for the commander of the 16th Division, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, to arrive with his troops to take over the battlefield.
"Mr. Ishikawa, tell the people at the division headquarters to get ready. After completing the handover with Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke at 10 o'clock, we will go to Changshoudian overnight. Let Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke take care of the rest. Also, send a telegram to the 11th Army Headquarters to tell them that Shinno's outer defense positions have been occupied by our 13th Division, and the retreat route of the Chinese government's Fifth War Zone troops has been successfully cut off." Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei ordered the chief of staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma, with ease.
In the headquarters of the 11th Japanese Army, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi excitedly took the telegram he had just received to the side of the commander, Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji, and reported: "Your Excellency the Commander, the commander of the 13th Division, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuei, sent a telegram that they have occupied the outer defense positions of the Chinese army in Xinye, and the retreat routes of the Chinese government's Fifth War Zone troops in Zaoyang and Suixian have been cut off. Our encirclement plan has been successful."
When Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura heard the news that Shinno had been basically occupied, a smile finally appeared on his tense face.
Now, the troops of the Fifth War Zone of the Chinese government have been surrounded by their own troops. All that remains is to launch an attack on the Chinese troops in the encirclement. The combat plan they formulated before the war has been half successful.
"Very good, Mr. Yoshimoto, let the commander of the 16th Division, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, lead his troops to act according to the plan made before the war, and strive to have the 16th Division launch an attack on the 31st Army of the Chinese government in Zaoyang tomorrow morning. In addition, notify the 3rd Division that they can launch an attack on Sui County tomorrow." After being happy for a while, the commander, Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji, quickly gave orders to the chief of staff, Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi.