plumnovel Chapter 288 Okamura Neiji's Shock, the Besieged 3rd Division
Chapter 288 Okamura Neiji's Shock, the Besieged 3rd Division
They moved through the darkness, using the terrain and the cover of night, like a group of ghosts, striking and running away.
The artillery support that could be provided to the front lines was visibly decreasing and becoming increasingly sparse.
While the Japanese infantry on the front lines desperately needed artillery support, the artillerymen were fleeing in disarray, pursued by motorcycles.
They threw away their heavy equipment, even their guns, wishing they had two more legs.
In the Third Division headquarters, Yu Chuanxiang's brows were furrowed into a deep knot, like a scar etched on his forehead.
The sound of artillery fire grew closer, causing dust to fall from the roof of the command post and land on his epaulets.
"Report! All positions in the southern part of Minshan have collapsed. Enemy troops have entered the town and are engaging in street fighting with our forces!!!"
The messenger's voice trembled, like the last leaf in the autumn wind.
"Report! Huangkan Village has been attacked by enemy forces and suffered heavy losses. The main force has now retreated to the village. We request urgent reinforcements!!!"
"Report! A large number of enemy armored vehicles have been spotted on our flank and have begun attacking our positions and strongholds along both sides of the road!!!"
"Report! Several of our artillery positions have been attacked by the enemy. A large number of artillery pieces have been destroyed, and many shells have exploded, resulting in heavy casualties!!!"
Each message was like a sharp awl, piercing Yu Chuanxiang's heart, each one drawing blood.
Why? Yu Chuanxiang didn't understand; his mind was a complete mess.
Why do these enemies unleash such astonishing combat power?
Where did they get so many armored vehicles and infantry to participate in the attack?
Aren't those enemies on the other side already in dire straits?
Didn't they already suffer heavy losses under their combined ground and air firepower?
Weren't a large number of tanks destroyed, and the bodies not even collected?
Were those "corpses" left on the battlefield and those "tanks" destroyed all fake?
Why were they able to launch such a fierce, precise, and swift counterattack tonight?
This counterattack covered the entire battlefield, from south to north, from east to west, leaving no blind spots.
Without powerful artillery firepower and sufficient armor, this would be absolutely impossible.
The artillery barrage was so extravagant that shells rained down as if they were free.
The sheer number of tanks was astonishing; over a hundred charged through the night like a torrent of steel.
The command, so precise down to every single small position, was like a sophisticated machine at work.
Furthermore, the combat skills displayed during the battle were astonishing—reloading, coordination, shooting, and assault were all executed flawlessly.
These were things that Yu Chuanxiang had never seen before, and had never even imagined.
Only one regiment of the Japanese 3rd Division, the Takamori Regiment, participated in the Battle of Nanjing.
However, they never had any direct contact with Li Jianghe's third column.
I had only heard that several units of the 9th and 6th Divisions suffered heavy losses in front of this force.
They were beaten black and blue, looking utterly pathetic, like stray dogs.
At the time, Yu Chuanxiang didn't take it seriously, thinking that those divisions were too incompetent and that he certainly wouldn't have done it that way if he were in their shoes.
Now he realized that he was no different from them; just as arrogant and just as foolish.
"Commander, the troops at Huang... Huangkan Village have lost contact!"
Finally, the chief of staff's words struck Yu Chuanxiang like a heavy hammer, jolting him awake from his shock and confusion.
"What?" His voice changed, as if someone was choking him.
"There are over a thousand people there, and our reinforcements too. Didn't they go to help?"
Yu Chuanxiang asked coldly, his voice carrying the last glimmer of hope.
Huangkan Village was the only way for them to retreat to Chaisang. It was like a door; whether it was closed or open determined the life or death of everyone.
If the enemy were to capture that area, his 3rd Division, along with two heavy artillery regiments, would become easy prey for the enemy.
Just as they had originally planned to encircle the Third Column, they are now the ones who have been encircled.
We clearly had the upper hand in this battle, so why has the situation suddenly taken a turn for the worse?
Yu Chuan Xiangtai slumped into a chair, cold sweat dripping down his forehead like beads from a broken string.
He recalled his previous caution, the layers upon layers of strongholds and defenses, and the reconnaissance reports he had repeatedly verified.
Everything seemed like an elaborate hoax, and he was the most foolish spectator, watching with great interest from beginning to end.
The chief of staff reported, his voice trembling slightly, like a string about to snap.
"The surrounding troops were also attacked by the enemy or ambushed on their way to provide support, making it difficult for them to move an inch."
"Huangkan Village is now completely isolated and helpless. None of the three batches of communications soldiers we sent out have reached their destination."
Yu Chuanxiang suddenly stood up, his chair sliding backward and hitting the wall with a dull thud.
He strode to the map, repeatedly checking the direction of the road with his finger, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
He strode to the map, repeatedly checking the direction of the road with his finger, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"Request reinforcements from the Commander," he said in a low, urgent voice. "With our current forces, it will be quite difficult to break through the enemy's encirclement."
"Yes, sir!" the chief of staff shouted, turning and running toward the radio, his boots thumping on the floor.
In Chaisang, Okamura Yasuji has been getting a good night's sleep lately, as the advance in the direction of Mahuiling Town has been going quite smoothly these past few days.
He lay on his cot, a battle report he had just finished reading resting on his head, a slight smile still on his lips.
The legendary invincible Third Column proved utterly vulnerable under their fierce offensive, like a paper tiger.
He was lost in his dream of being promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the China Expeditionary Army and achieving great success, a dream filled with flowers and applause.
Suddenly, a series of urgent knocks came at the door, shattering all the beautiful fantasies like a hammer blow.
"Bang bang bang!!!" The door was shaken violently by the pounding, accompanied by the staff officer's anxious shouts.
"Commander, something terrible has happened! Huangkan Village has been captured by the enemy, and the Third Column is launching a full-scale counterattack!"
"The main force of our 3rd Division has been encircled in the Minshan Township area and is in a critical situation!"
These words immediately jolted Okamura Neiji, who had been somewhat confused, as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water.
He sat up abruptly, his eyes not yet fully open, but his mind was already racing.
He put on his wooden clogs and, without even putting on his coat, hurried towards the door, the clogs making a crisp sound as they tapped on the hallway floor.
"What's going on?" he asked as he walked, his voice filled with barely suppressed anger.
"Didn't the main force of the Third Column suffer heavy losses before? Why does it still have the ability to launch a full-scale counterattack?"
"I don't know," the staff officer said, jogging behind him, panting. "But Commander You Chuanxiang has already sent a distress telegram."