binnovel Chapter 451 It’s Time to Give Up
Chapter 451 It’s Time to Give Up
The attack of the new 210th Division began as before. With the support of mortar fire, the Chinese officers and soldiers continued to roar and launched a rapid charge.
This time the morale of the officers and soldiers of the attacking force of the new 210th Division was even higher. After all, they had just eliminated a lot of Japanese troops. This tangible result also greatly stimulated the confidence of the officers and soldiers of the new 210th Division. Under such battlefield conditions, the Japanese army could not exert its maximum combat effectiveness, and the Japanese army did not have any heavy firepower support. This kind of battle with an advantage in firepower was the first time that the officers and soldiers of the new 210th Division encountered.
If this had been based on the previous battle pattern with the Japanese army, the Japanese army always had an absolute advantage in firepower, using artillery and aerial bombardment to suffocate the Chinese troops. It feels like a dream to think that they have never been suppressed by the Chinese firepower like they are now.
The current battlefield situation was specially designed by Commander Xue of the Ninth War Zone based on the combat characteristics and weapon advantages of the Japanese army. The artificially created mud prevented the Japanese army's heavy weapons from providing effective support to the front line in a timely manner. At the same time, it also prevented the Japanese army's logistics and ammunition supplies from arriving in time, greatly weakening the Japanese army's combat capability.
Under the attack of the new 210th Division's offensive force, the defense line of the nd Battalion of the th Regiment of the Japanese Army was defeated after only minutes. The remaining officers and soldiers of the nd Battalion, led by the battalion commander, Major Haruno Okubo, retreated while fighting.
The attacking force of the new 210th Division also held on to the retreating Second Battalion, followed the retreating footsteps of the Japanese Second Battalion, and rushed to the defense line behind the Japanese army without any stop.
Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba, commander of the 6th Division, stood barefoot in the mud, looking solemnly toward the rear of the troops, listening to the sounds of gunfire and explosions as the 24th Regiment was fighting fiercely with the Chinese army's pursuit troops. Although he could not see the actual situation on the battlefield over there, Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba knew just by listening how much pressure the 24th Regiment was under.
"Sir, you should follow the troops to the Xinqiang River first. You can command the troops to fight and retreat there. I believe that the commander of the 24th Regiment, Colonel Ikuro Kawakatsu, will lead the troops to delay the pursuing Chinese army." The division chief of staff, Major General Sadatsumi Nozaki, also comforted the division commander, Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba.
The division chief of staff, Major General Sadatsumi Nozaki, felt that the division commander's current position was not very safe. If the Chinese troops on both wings began to attack the defense line on the Xinqiang River, who could say how long the defense line on the Xinqiang River could hold out? If by that time the Chinese troops occupied the pontoon bridge on the Xinqiang River and the division commander had not yet crossed the Xinqiang River, then the division commander would be in great danger.
After all, the casualties of the soldiers below are just a number that can be whitewashed, but the death of a division commander is a very big deal. This battle has already failed. Under such circumstances, the headquarters and the 11th Army Command would never allow another division commander to be killed by the Chinese army on the battlefield.
"Mr. Nozaki, how long do you think the commander of the 24th Regiment, Colonel Ikuro Kawakatsu, can lead his troops to delay the pursuing Chinese army? Three hours? Four hours?" The division commander, Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba, seemed not to have heard the consolation of the chief of staff, Major General Sadatsumi Nozaki. He did not make any response, but instead asked a very difficult question.
"This..." The Chief of Staff Major General Nozaki Sadamizumi was stunned for a moment, and then he didn't know how to answer the question from the division commander. But after thinking for a while, the Chief of Staff Major General Nozaki Sadamizumi said again: "Your Excellency the division commander, the commander of the 24th Regiment, Colonel Ikuro Kawakatsu, will definitely lead the troops to delay the pursuit of the Chinese army for as long as possible. For the safety of the 6th Division and you, please withdraw to the other side of the Xinqiang River as soon as possible, and let Colonel Ikuro Kawakatsu take charge of the battle behind you."
Chief of Staff Major General Sadatsumi Nozaki also gave a vague answer to the question of the division commander Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba, and then continued to explain the pros and cons, urging the division commander Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba to retreat to a safe area as soon as possible.
The division commander, Lieutenant General Inaba Shiro, glanced at the chief of staff, Major General Nozaki Sadatsumi, who was standing respectfully beside him. He knew that his chief of staff was concerned about his safety. Indeed, the current situation was still quite dangerous. It was hard to say when the Chinese army would be able to complete the encirclement and surround the 6th Division and other attacking forces.
However, there are still a large number of heavy weapons slowly advancing on the road of retreat. It would be such a waste if these precious treasures of the Japanese Empire were discarded like this.
"Mr. Nozaki, I understand what you mean. I will withdraw to the north bank of the Xinqiang River as soon as possible and command the troops to retreat and fight there. You are right. I should trust the commander of the 24th Regiment, Colonel Ikuro Kawakatsu, and the officers and soldiers of the 24th Regiment." The division commander, Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba, looked at the chief of staff, Major General Sadatsumi Nozaki and said lightly.
Upon hearing that the division commander agreed to his suggestion, Chief of Staff Major General Sadatsumi Nozaki breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the division commander could withdraw safely, the 6th Division could be replenished quickly no matter how heavy the losses were.
"Also, Mr. Nozaki, if the defense line of Colonel Ikuro Kawakatsu, commander of the 24th Regiment, is breached by the Chinese army, order the troops to abandon all heavy weapons and retreat quickly. Do you understand?" As the division commander, Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba, turned around and walked north, he also issued an order to abandon heavy weapons when necessary.
The division commander, Lieutenant General Inaba Shiro, also made up his mind that if the situation became hopeless, then he should give up. Otherwise, the heavy weapons would not be preserved and the troops would suffer heavy losses, which would be a huge loss.
Colonel Ikuro Kawakatsu, commander of the 24th Regiment, is in a very bad mood now. The defense line of his Second Battalion was defeated by the Chinese Army before the original defense time. Now the Chinese Army has attacked the defense line of his Third Battalion. The original goal of delaying the Chinese Army for four hours seems to be impossible to achieve.
The attack force of the new 210th Division, following the retreating Japanese nd Battalion, also rushed directly into several defense lines of the Japanese rd Battalion. The commander of the th Regiment, Colonel Ikuro Kawakatsu, also realized the unfavorable situation of the battle, so he quickly ordered the commander of the nd Battalion, Major Haruno Okubo, who had just retreated, to reorganize the troops and temporarily set up another line of defense in the rear.
The commander of the 24th Regiment, Colonel Ikuro Kawakatsu, felt that the Chinese army would eventually get tired after charging and fighting so fiercely, so he would just retreat slowly. As for how long he could hold out, that would depend on God's will. He had already done his best.
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