binnovel Chapter 405 He is too late
Chapter 405 He is too late
In the direction of the Xiangzao Highway, inside the headquarters of the 13th Division of the Japanese Army, Chief of Staff Major General Takuma Ishikawa was reporting to the division commander Lieutenant General Ryuhei Ogisu on the situation on various battlefields today.
"Your Excellency the division commander, today we attacked the blocking positions of the New 22nd Army of the Chinese government in the same way as before for a day, and suffered a total of thirteen casualties." Chief of Staff Major General Takuma Ishikawa first gave a brief report on the combat situation on his side as usual. There was really nothing to report on the battlefield on the Xiangzao Highway.
"In the direction of Zaoyang, today, the Chinese army concentrated tens of thousands of troops and used the several bridgehead positions captured in the night raid last night to launch a full-scale attack on the troops in the outer defense circle of the 16th Division. In the afternoon, the Chinese army completely defeated the defense of the 9th Regiment and drove the 9th Regiment's troops out of the defensive positions, while their 20th Regiment was surrounded by the Chinese army on the position. It is estimated that it has been completely wiped out now." When talking about the situation of the 16th Division, Chief of Staff Major General Takuma Ishikawa immediately became excited and became more and more excited as he spoke.
Upon hearing the tragic situation of the 16th Division, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei, the commander of the 13th Division, also raised his lips, and then asked the Chief of Staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma, "What is the reaction from the 11th Army Headquarters? Did Commander Okamura Yasuji send another telegram urging us to increase the intensity of the attack?"
Speaking of the situation at the 11th Army Headquarters, Chief of Staff Major General Ishikawa Takuma nodded and said, "Yes, your Excellency the division commander, Commander Okamura Yasuji sent a telegram urging us to advance the attack as usual. In addition, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi also sent a telegram asking us to break through the Chinese army's blocking position as soon as possible. At the same time, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi also said that Commander Okamura Yasuji intended to have him come to the Xiangzao Highway battlefield to assist your Excellency the division commander in commanding the battle."
When the division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei, heard that the chief of staff, Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadakazu, was coming to the Xiangzao Highway, he immediately started thinking about this matter in his head.
After thinking for a while, the division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei, smiled and said to the chief of staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma, "Ishikawa-kun, I think the arrival of Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi is just a gesture made by the commander. It seems that Commander Okamura Yasuji is very pessimistic about the prospects of the 16th Division, haha."
"Well, Mr. Division Commander, I think so too. However, if the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto, comes here, he will find many problems. Although the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto, is just here for show, we also have to do a good job." Chief of Staff Major General Takuma Ishikawa also reminded the division commander, Lieutenant General Ryuhei Ogisu, not to take it lightly.
The division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei, looked at the Chief of Staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma, with admiration, and then explained with relief: "Ishikawa-kun, since Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi sent us such a telegram first instead of coming here directly, it means that at least in tomorrow's attack, the headquarters will not interfere with us. Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi will only come after the attack is over tomorrow and if we have not made any progress."
"But, Ishikawa-kun, how long do you think the 16th Division can hold out given their current situation?" the division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei, continued to ask the chief of staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma.
Chief of Staff Major General Ishikawa Takuma immediately realized what the division commander Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuei said, and immediately replied: "With the current strength of the 16th Division, I estimate that it can only hold out for more than a day at most. The Chinese army will only increase its offensive power. After all, we can pose a threat to the Chinese army at any time."
"Yes, Ishikawa-kun. So, wait for the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi, to arrive here, which will be at the earliest tomorrow night or the morning of the day after tomorrow. I judge that the 16th Division will be gone by then, or it will be hanging on for its last breath. We can just launch a full-scale formal attack the day after tomorrow. The combat effectiveness of the New 22nd Army of the Chinese government on the opposite side is still good. Even if we attack with all our strength, it will take at least two days to break through the Chinese army's blocking positions. Do you think the 16th Division will still be able to exist by then?" The division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei, stated his plan with confidence.
Chief of Staff Major General Takuma Ishikawa also nodded in agreement. Their ultimate goal this time was to destroy the 16th Division with the help of the Chinese army. Now it seemed that no matter whether the Chief of Staff of the 11th Army, Yoshimoto Sadakazu, would come in the future or not, the fate of the 16th Division was already doomed, because it was too late in time.
"I understand, Your Excellency the Division Commander. I will make arrangements right away and try to delay the arrival of Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi." Major General Ishikawa Takuma, Chief of Staff of the 13th Division, also understood what he meant and said to the division commander Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei with a smile.
Inside the headquarters of the new 100th Division, Ouyang Heng excitedly reported to Zhang Wenwu, "Division Commander, our attacking force has completely occupied the outer defense line of the Japanese th Division today, and also captured a seriously injured Japanese colonel commander. Now the Japanese th Division has been compressed into a very small area. It seems that the battle should be over in a day or two."
"Brother Ouyang, it's really relaxing and comfortable to sit in the headquarters every day, waiting for good news, haha." Zhang Wenwu said happily to Ouyang Heng.
"However, Brother Ouyang, the faster the Japanese 16th Division is eliminated, the more likely it is that the Japanese reinforcements on the opposite side of us will launch a full-scale offensive. After all, the Japanese commander on the opposite side is not a fool, and he still has to do the superficial work he needs to do." Zhang Wenwu also reminded Ouyang Heng.
Speaking of the situation of the Japanese troops opposite his own troops, Ouyang Heng also put away his smile. He understood what Zhang Wenwu meant. Now the whole battle has entered the final stage. Whether the combat objectives set for this battle can be successfully completed depends on this final move.
"Division Commander, I have asked the 812th Regiment on the position to strengthen its vigilance. Once the Japanese army's actions are different from before, the troops on the position will be able to respond quickly and will never let the Japanese army attack the position." Ouyang Heng also confidently told Zhang Wenwu about the troops' preparations.
Zhang Wenwu also nodded to Ouyang Heng. As long as his troops remained vigilant enough, the Japanese army would have no chance of passing through their blocking position.