Chapter 165 Those Who Serve the Country

Those lucky, or rather, unlucky Japanese soldiers all died in the two hours of bombing.

The Japanese soldiers who were fortunate enough to survive felt dizzy, their hearts panicked, and they only wanted to run away and never hear the sound of exploding shells again.

They could only think about such things. In the current situation, running was impossible, they couldn't escape no matter what.

There was only one road up the mountain, and only one road down the mountain.

On such a mountain peak, even if they tried desperately, they would still be running on this small mountain peak, unable to escape their predetermined fate: to die on this mountain peak.

While the Japanese were running for their lives, the 3rd Regiment's attack began.

Company Commander Jiang Gao Dan personally led the team to charge. Although the artillery fire on this hill had lasted for two hours, attacking such a steep mountain peak was still a challenge for the 1st Company.

That's why Company Commander Jiang personally charged at the front to lead the way.

Junior Captain Koda Jiro watched as the long-awaited infantry attack finally came, but the Japanese soldiers and weapons he had prepared to block it were all gone.

Zheda Seisuke and Kashi Wuyong Zhi, such rookie soldiers escaped the artillery fire, but did not survive the machine gun strafing from the air.

In terms of terrain, they had the advantage! But the terrain they now occupied became worthless compared to the planes in the air.

The air-to-ground attack aircraft could completely see the entire Japanese army on the small peak, and the entire Matsushima Taiji Squadron had no secrets in the eyes of Hua Xiao and the others.

They could attack them however they wanted, such good targets were also the easiest to attack.

The Matsushima Taiji Squadron on the small peak was too busy running for their lives to even think about blocking the 1st Company that was charging up.

Squadron Commander Matsushima Taiji even had a thought of hoping that the 1st Company would rush to the top of the mountain quickly: only in this way could the two sides be mixed together, so that his squadron would no longer be subjected to machine gun strafing from the air.

Although Company Commander Jiang didn't know the true thoughts of Squadron Commander Matsushima, he was perfectly cooperating with this idea of the Matsushima Squadron.

When the 1st Company rushed to the small peak, Squadron Commander Matsushima Taiji had already organized all the Japanese soldiers to fix bayonets and launched a desperate counter-charge against the 1st Company.

These Japanese soldiers, with a determination to die, charged towards the 1st Company.

Jiang Gao Dan of the 1st Company didn't order the team to avoid them, but ordered the soldiers to continue charging.

The soldiers of the 1st Company had already fixed their bayonets and made all preparations for close combat.

But the bullets in the submachine guns were still plentiful, and the sound of "Da da da!" continued.

Squadron Commander Matsushima Taiji, who was counter-charging, died with eyes wide open!

He never thought that this team in front of him would be so lacking in martial virtue. He had clearly launched a counter-charge to fight them with bayonets, but they were still shooting.

Company Commander Jiang Gao Dan stepped forward, gave the Japanese lieutenant colonel another stab, and said with a sneer: "You want to fight, so I have to play along?

Dream on!"

After occupying the small peak, the 3rd Regiment continued to advance into the depths. Today's attack was not difficult at all.

The defense line of the Eguchi Ju Fu Brigade was broken through.

Regiment Commander Okamoto Yasuyuki didn't even have time to send out the reserve team, and the entire defense line completely collapsed.

He was a decisive commander: if things couldn't be done, don't force it!

Regiment Commander Okamoto Yasuyuki ordered: "The entire army retreats, retreats into Nanchang city to establish a defense line."

His regiment lost Huangxi at the cost of only two infantry battalions, which, in any case, was considered to have preserved most of its strength.

Ji Wudi had just occupied the Huangxi defense line of the Japanese army and was cleaning up the battlefield.

The New 11th Division of the 9th War Zone had already come to take over the defense. Ji Wudi had no dissatisfaction. The Special Operations Brigade didn't even take away the weapons and ammunition that had been gathered together while cleaning up the battlefield.

All of them were given to the New 11th Division. After receiving the report, the Commander of the New 11th Division, Lu Daoyuan, said to his Chief of Staff: "This team is amazing! Too upright! Such friends are worth making."

He certainly knew: Ji Wudi's purpose in leaving the weapons and ammunition behind was just to let them fight more Japanese.

Division Commander Lu Daoyuan personally drafted a telegram and sent a thank-you telegram to Ji Wudi.

At this time, Ji Wudi was already leading his troops back to the direction of Dacheng, covered in gunpowder smoke.

The 5th Regiment, which was guarding Shengmi Street, also received the order to hand over the defense line to the 16th Division. The 5th Regiment did not delay in any way and quickly handed over the defense line.

On the evening of the 26th, the 2nd Regiment, 3rd Regiment, 4th Regiment, and 5th Regiment met in Dacheng. The regimental commanders held a meeting to exchange combat experience since this operation.

On the morning of the 27th, all four regiments of the Special Operations Brigade withdrew from Dacheng, and the defense was handed over to the 9th War Zone. They retreated all the way back to Shanggao.

By the evening of the 28th, Ji Wudi's five infantry regiments had completely ended this mission to attack Nanchang. When she led the five regiments back to Shanggao.

Chen Cheng and Chiang Kai-shek finally breathed a sigh of relief, and even Xue Yue relaxed a little: he was also afraid that Ji Wudi would really be unwilling to give up the territory she had already taken.

This time, the five regiments of the Special Operations Brigade were as fierce as fire when they attacked and as swift as the wind when they retreated, leaving a very deep impression on the headquarters of the 9th War Zone.

After Commander Xue Yue knew that Ji Wudi's five regiments had completely withdrawn to Shanggao, he began to regret it again: if he had known that she was really just fighting the Japanese and had no intention of occupying territory.

He shouldn't have withdrawn her at such a critical time. Maybe if he had let her continue to attack Nanchang, Nanchang would have already been captured by now.

The 9th War Zone had been fighting very hard these days: without the Special Operations Brigade, this sharp force attracting the main force of the Japanese army.

In addition, the Japanese reinforcement troops that were sent later arrived one after another, and the Japanese tanks and artillery caused very heavy casualties to the officers and soldiers of the 9th War Zone.

Unfortunately, it was no longer possible to mobilize the troops of the Special Operations Brigade to continue the expedition. In any case, Chiang Kai-shek was unwilling.

He had long put himself in her shoes: if he had led such a team to capture the territory occupied by the Japanese, he would definitely not give up this territory.

He had been doing this all these years. Wherever the Central Army was stationed, those large and small warlords were all taken care of.

Ji Wudi was already writing a detailed report on this operation to Lin Fan, and Lin Fan received her report.

He also received the combat reports submitted by each regiment.

Seeing that Ji Wudi always took the lead in every battle and was always at the forefront.

He was both worried and envious: such a person was pure.

Since becoming the Brigade Commander, he seemed to have done less of taking the lead and setting an example for the entire army.

Lin Fan originally wanted to issue an order to Ji Wudi not to charge in person, but after thinking about it.

If Ji Wudi didn't do it herself, could she still be invincible?

In the end, Lin Fan issued a new order to Ji Wudi: "At Shanggao Airport, form a Special Operations Company, a Special Operations Company where everyone's skills can reach her level!"

This was originally a plan that had been proposed before, but this time it was just clarified in particular.

Lin Fan hoped that there would be such a company around Ji Wudi, so that next time she led the team to charge, there would be a group of people who could charge with her.

The counter-offensive in Nanchang in the 9th War Zone was still continuing, but Lin Fan was no longer paying attention to it.

He certainly knew Chiang Kai-shek's thoughts: the most difficult moment of the Anti-Japanese War had passed, and now it was time to prevent the expansion of various warlord forces.

The Special Operations Brigade, which had a complete industrial and commercial system and had established a base area in the most developed area, was of course regarded as a thorn in the side.

Although he understood Chiang Kai-shek's thoughts, Lin Fan couldn't explain it: everyone had ambition.

A person cannot be judged until after death. Just like the ancients said: "Duke Zhou feared the days of rumors, and Wang Mang treated the virtuous with courtesy. If he had died at that time, who would know the truth of his life?"

Although Lin Fan could be sure that his idea was very simple: to fight the Japanese, not many people could believe him now.

Even Commander Li Zongren of the 5th War Zone didn't quite believe it: the Special Operations Brigade was now engaged in such good industry and commerce and occupied such a large territory. If it were him, he wouldn't just give it away.

Thinking about how hard he had worked for so long, he had only occupied the territory of one or two provinces. Lin Fan had only used less than two years, and his territory was larger than the territory he had fought for for decades;

The population in his territory was several times larger, and the most important thing was that the economic development in Lin Fan's territory had become the strongest and most dynamic place in the country;

Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of soldiers under Lin Fan who were capable of fighting, this ever-victorious team was the capital for survival in this era.

According to the current development momentum of the Special Operations Brigade, as long as Lin Fan didn't have any accidents, the Special Operations Brigade would be a new and powerful political force after the end of the war, and could completely compete with President Chiang.

In fact, not only did he think so, but the Japanese also thought so. They had been trying hard to win over the Special Operations Brigade: the conditions for the Special Operations Brigade were also very broad, as long as the two sides did not fight, everything could be discussed.

The Japanese base camp was shocked by the combat effectiveness of the Special Operations Brigade these days: the Special Operations Brigade was getting stronger and stronger, and in front of them, the Japanese could only parry and had no ability to fight back.

That's why they thought that as long as the Special Operations Brigade could not fight the Japanese, they could retreat three times.

However, the conditions of the Special Operations Brigade had never changed: a full withdrawal of troops and war reparations!

This was another condition that the Japanese could not accept for the time being. Lin Fan believed that as long as they continued to fight, one day, the Japanese would accept such conditions.

Lin Fan was convinced of this!

The current strength of the Special Operations Brigade was still very important to the 5th War Zone.

Although President Chiang had ordered to limit the role of the Special Operations Brigade on the battlefield as much as possible, Li Zongren still let Lin Fan lead three regiments to be stationed in Xiangyang. With the rear stabilized, the 9th War Zone could fight more confidently in the front.

The National Army's April Offensive, the counter-offensive in the direction of Nanchang, had already begun.

The 5th War Zone specially transferred the 31st Army from the north of the Yangtze River to the south bank of the Yangtze River, with the sole purpose of cutting off the Pinghan Railway.

So that the Japanese 11th Army could not obtain a steady stream of supplies through the railway.

Before the "April Offensive" of the 9th War Zone had even begun, the Commander of the Japanese 11th Army, Neiji Okamura, received the news: the National Army would launch the "April Offensive" in early April.

The appearance of the National Army's 31st Army in the Sui County and Zaoyang area was also known by Neiji Okamura; the Japanese decided to "take advantage of the secret activities of the 5th War Zone troops, quickly and secretly make comprehensive preparations, in order to eliminate the enemy's combat effectiveness."

They formulated the "Operational Guidance Outline". In mid-April, the 33rd and 34th Divisions were transferred from the mainland and incorporated into the 11th Army, arriving in Wuhan.

The Japanese 11th Army quickly formulated the "Luju Operational Order No. 328", deciding "in order to strengthen and ensure the stability of the operational area, and further frustrate the enemy's will to continue the war, prepare to take advantage of their conspiracy to take an offensive posture, give a surprise attack to counterattack, and annihilate the enemy in the area east of Xiangyang in one fell swoop."

The participating teams mainly included the 3rd, 13th, and 16th Divisions, as well as cavalry regiments, aviation regiments, artillery, and tank teams.

Neiji Okamura learned from the lessons of the Wuhan Campaign that although he occupied the towns, he did not achieve the goal of eliminating the main force of the National Army. He specially ordered: this operation would not take the occupation of towns as the main purpose, but the elimination of the National Army's living forces as the main purpose.

The National Army's 31st Army was the absolute main force of the Central Army on the battlefield, and was different from other teams in the 5th War Zone.

Many teams in the 5th War Zone were local warlord forces, and their equipment and training were not as good as the Central Army.

It could be said that wherever the Central Army appeared, there would be a major battle. Neiji Okamura certainly knew this time that in the Battle of Taierzhuang, it was the 31st Army that launched a counterattack at the most critical moment, and the 5th War Zone cooperated fully, and finally achieved the great victory of Taierzhuang.

Now that this 31st Army had quietly appeared on the north bank of the Yangtze River, the Japanese 11th Army attached great importance to it. After research, the staff headquarters believed that this was a sign that the National Army was preparing to attack the Pinghan Railway.

Their judgment was correct, and their decision was also decisive: they immediately organized the 3rd Division, the 13th Division, the 16th Division, and the 4th Cavalry Brigade to attack the defense line of the 5th War Zone.

They wanted to defeat the National Army closest to the Pinghan Railway, directly destroy the 5th War Zone's April Offensive plan, and also find the National Army's 31st Army.

The 3rd Division and the 13th Division were the teams that were severely damaged by the Special Operations Brigade in the Jurong base area in late February and early March. After a month and a half of rest and troop replenishment.

Both Division Commander Masataka Yamawaki of the 3rd Division and Division Commander Shizuyo Tanaka of the 13th Division believed that the division's strength had been restored and that it could completely carry out new combat missions.

They also needed a new battle, a new victory to prove themselves and regain the confidence they had lost in front of the Special Operations Brigade.

It was precisely with such confidence and strength that their actions were very fast.

After the 5th War Zone learned of the Japanese deployment, it immediately ordered to stop the "April Offensive" and prepare to meet the enemy.

On April 30, the Japanese 3rd Division began to conduct tentative attacks on Haojiadian and Xujiadian. On May 1, it captured Haojiadian and Xujiadian.

From then on, they seemed to have opened a cheat, and captured Taerwan and Gao City all the way.

Another route, led by the 13th and 16th Divisions, advanced rapidly towards Zhongxiang, Changshoudian, and Dahong Mountain.

The Japanese two-way offensive was quite smooth, and they decided to annihilate the 31st Army northeast of Zaoyang.

The 3rd Division occupied Tongbai and Xinjie; the 13th and 16th Divisions and the 4th Cavalry Brigade occupied Zaoyang, Xinye, Tanghe, and Nanyang.

The National Army's 31st Army retreated before the battle this time. In order not to be surrounded and annihilated by the Japanese army, the 31st Army abandoned its original combat plan and slipped away from the gap in the Japanese encirclement in advance.

At this time, the National Army headquarters panicked: the good April Offensive had now turned into a May retreat.

In just ten days, the defense line of the 5th War Zone was full of holes, the rigid defense of the positions, the various units that did not support each other, and the defense lines that were repeatedly captured by the Japanese army.

Chiang Kai-shek was horrified, and he judged that the Japanese army would continue to attack Hanzhong and Yichang.

Then they would directly attack the hinterland of Sichuan and Shaanxi. He decided to withdraw the main force and focus on protecting the rear.

At this time, Lin Fan had been leading three regiments in Xiangyang for more than twenty days, and he was anxious to hear that the defense line of the National Army was retreating again and again.

He petitioned the War Zone every day, asking Li Zongren to send a receiving team to take over the defense.

The Special Operations Brigade requested to go to the front line, but despite the unfavorable situation on the front line, Li Zongren still did not dare to give this task to Lin Fan's team.

The National Army was already preparing to abandon this area, and had also formulated a plan for the 5th War Zone to carry out guerrilla warfare in this area that had just been lost.

This area could be abandoned, and guerrilla warfare could also be carried out here.

But the Japanese army was right here, what would they do if they continued to attack the gateway to Sichuan?

If Sichuan was also abandoned, where could the National Army retreat to next?

Chiang Kai-shek: If the Japanese army occupied this area, they would have the ability to open the gateway to Sichuan, which he could not bear no matter what.

If this area was taken over by the Special Operations Brigade, Lin Fan would at least not actively expand his territory to Sichuan, and would be able to block the Japanese army outside.

With this in mind, Chiang Kai-shek finally agreed to the Special Operations Brigade's request to fight.