binnovel Chapter 421: Subsequent Advances and Retreats
Chapter 421: Subsequent Advances and Retreats
Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi looked at the sand table and thought for a while, then whispered to the commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji: "Your Excellency Commander, perhaps we can retain some of the previous combat results. We will withdraw the 13th Division and its attached troops from Changshoudian and return them to the control area before the war. In addition, we will let the previously attached 3rd Division troops return to the original division's combat sequence to strengthen the 3rd Division's combat capability, and let all the 3rd Division's forward attacking troops withdraw to Sui County. We only need to defend the county seat of Sui County, and this can be regarded as some combat results."
Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura was thinking about the feasibility of this plan in his mind as Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto explained the sand table.
I have to say that the idea of Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi was a good one. There was no large city near Changshoudian, so there would not be much loss even if it was given up. Sui County was a county town after all, so what was written in the battle report would have some weight.
The most important thing is that this will concentrate the troops and prevent the Chinese army from creating another tragedy like the 16th Division.
Although this would result in very little outcome for the entire battle, it was still better than getting nothing at all. At least this battle did capture a county town of the Chinese government, so it was not a complete loss.
"Well, Mr. Yoshimoto, your suggestion is very good. Let's do it according to your idea. Send a telegram to the commander of the 13th Division, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei, ordering him to immediately withdraw all troops from the Changshoudian area and return to the defense zone before the war. The troops assigned to him by the 3rd Division must return immediately. Order the commander of the 3rd Division, Lieutenant General Fujita Susumu, to immediately withdraw the offensive forces to the vicinity of Suixian county seat for defense. The safety of Suixian county seat must be guaranteed." Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji directly issued an order to adjust the troops.
Just as Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto had expected, with the complete destruction of the Japanese 16th Division, Commander Li of the Fifth War Zone began to turn his attention to recovering lost territory.
"Commander Li, the new 100th Division has successfully retreated from the Xiang-Zao Highway. After occupying our blocking positions, the Japanese reinforcements did not send troops to continue attacking, but stayed where they were. The Japanese Third Division also stopped attacking the th Army and began to withdraw its troops to Sui County." Chief of Staff Xu also reported the current movements of the Japanese army to Commander Li.
After listening to Chief of Staff Xu's report, Commander Li walked to the large military map hanging on the wall and began to think carefully. Originally, Commander Li planned to let the troops rest for one or two days, and then launch an attack between the Japanese 3rd Division and the 13th Division, trying to encircle and destroy another group of Japanese troops.
Now that the Japanese army's strength is very weak, it is a rare opportunity to annihilate the enemy, but the commander of the Japanese 11th Army, General Okamura Yasuji, has also discovered the current problems of the Japanese army and has begun to adjust the deployment of the Japanese army so decisively.
"Brother Yan Mou, it seems that General Okamura Neiji has also seen their current problems. The 3rd Division's cessation of attack and retreat means that the Japanese army is preparing to retreat. The Japanese troops on the Xiangzao Highway have also stopped advancing, and it seems that they may retreat at any time. It is estimated that our idea of continuing to annihilate the Japanese army will be difficult to achieve." Commander Li said to Chief of Staff Xu with emotion, pointing to the map.
"Yes, Commander Li, it seems that the Japanese army is preparing to retreat. I estimate that the Japanese army will abandon some of the places they have previously captured, withdraw their forces, and ensure the defense of certain important locations. This will be in line with the current strength of the Japanese army." Chief of Staff Xu also looked at the map and gave his analysis.
Commander Li also smiled at Chief of Staff Xu and said, "Yanmou, I think your analysis is correct. What do you think the Japanese army will do next?"
"Yes, then let me tell you my humble opinion. I think that the 11th Japanese Army will withdraw all its troops on the Xiangzao Highway, and even abandon Changshoudian, and retreat completely to the pre-war defense zone, relying on complete defensive fortifications to defend. At the same time, the Japanese Army will withdraw part of the troops from Changshoudian and dispatch them to the 3rd Division in Sui County to strengthen the defense of Sui County and prevent our army's possible attack on Sui County in the future." Chief of Staff Xu also picked up the baton and began to analyze the map on the wall.
Commander Li listened to Chief of Staff Xu's analysis and nodded frequently to show his agreement. After Chief of Staff Xu finished his analysis, Commander Li also said seriously: "Brother Yan Mou, your analysis is very accurate. The current distribution of Japanese troops is like a big dumbbell. The two ends are okay but the middle is very weak. If they don't shrink their troops, we will concentrate our forces to break through the middle. The Japanese troops in Changshoudian don't have any complete defensive fortifications, so they are the easiest to be surrounded and annihilated by us. So, if I were the commander of the 11th Army of the Japanese Army, General Okamura Neiji, I would definitely let the troops retreat from Changshoudian to the original occupied area with complete defensive fortifications for defense. There is no need to take the risk of defending in Changshoudian."
"As for Sui County, this is the only achievement that the Japanese army can show off in this battle. The Japanese army must do its best to ensure that Sui County is in their hands. If Sui County is also lost, then the Japanese army will have fought for so long with heavy casualties and will have gained nothing. Then the commander of the Japanese 11th Army, General Okamura Yasuji, will not be able to explain to his country. For the sake of his own official hat, General Okamura Yasuji must also ensure that Sui County has enough troops to garrison it and make sure that Sui County is under his control." Following Chief of Staff Xu's words, Commander Li completed his analysis of the Japanese army's next move.
"Yes, Commander Li, then should we send troops to launch an attack to recover the lost territory?" Chief of Staff Xu also asked Commander Li for instructions on the subsequent combat operations.
Commander Li looked at the map and thought for a while, then turned to Chief of Staff Xu and said, "Attack, order all troops to rest for two days, then the 31st Army will turn around, head south from Zaoyang to join the 11th Army, and then attack Suixian County, and recapture all the areas north of Suixian County. If the Japanese army has a tight defense near Suixian County, stop the attack, order the 2nd Army to attack southwest, and defend on the spot after recapture Changshoudian. The new 22nd Army will follow the 2nd Army as a reserve."
Commander Li was also prepared to try his best to restore the battle line to the state it was before the war when the two sides confronted each other. If the Japanese troops in Sui County had sufficient manpower and tight defense, then there was no need to recapture Sui County for the time being. His own troops were already very tired and did not have the ability to take back Sui County from the heavily defended Japanese army.
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