Songhu: Never Give Up

Chapter 268: Counterattack on the Southern Front (1)

Seeing that the southern half of the East Gate was difficult to capture, the Japanese changed their attack direction and attacked other directions, but they were also stubbornly blocked by the defenders, killing everyone.
Relying on their superior military strength, the Japanese launched successive attacks on Dongguan, Zhengdong Gate, the city, Xiguan Railway Station and other places, and the disadvantage of the defenders' small number of troops was exposed.

Although each company fought bravely, the defense lines were still in danger of being attacked. They were all fighting to the death with their lives. The casualties of the defenders were increasing, and they gradually became unable to cope.

In the following day, the defenders repelled nine attacks by the Japanese, killing a large number of them but also suffering heavy casualties.
At this time, all transportation and communications between Teng County and the outside world were cut off, and the command system was in chaos. Commander Wang had no choice but to order the outer city to be abandoned and all troops to retreat into the inner city to fight the enemy to the death.

Lieutenant General Isogai Lianjie did not expect the Japanese to suffer such heavy casualties and was very angry. That night, he mobilized heavy troops with the assistance of artillery and tanks to launch a general attack on the east, south and north sides of Teng County.

The defenders fought desperately, and after a night of fierce fighting, more than half of their troops were killed or wounded.

After daybreak, the Japanese continued their attack, and planes also rushed over to join the battle. More than 50 planes bombarded the defenses of Teng County, causing heavy casualties among the soldiers and civilians in the city.

At the most critical moment, Commander Wang brought the division's special forces platoon to reinforce, and only then were they able to barely repel the Japanese attack.

After the afternoon, under the fierce attack of the Japanese, the city walls began to be in danger one after another, and some Japanese had already rushed into the city;

Commander Wang had to take the last members of the division to reinforce. On the way, they were strafed by the enemy aircraft. Commander Wang was hit by 7 bullets and died heroically.

Also killed with him were the 122nd Division Chief of Staff Zhao Weibin, Adjutant Luo Jiaxin, Major Staff Officer Xie Dayong, the 124th Division Chief of Staff Zou Mutao and several guards and followers, a total of more than ten people.

After Commander Wang died, the main force of the Japanese invaders attacked the city from multiple directions. The remaining defenders engaged in street fighting with the Japanese invaders in the city and fought until dark.

At this time, the Japanese had occupied the east, south, and west walls, with only a small number of troops still holding out in the north.
At around 9 o'clock in the evening, under the command of Hou Ziping, deputy battalion commander of the 727rd Battalion of the 235th Regiment, and Hu Shaozhang, company commander, soldiers on the north city wall broke open the blocked north gate, broke out, and were able to retreat safely to the rear.

This was the only unit of the defenders that broke through, which was considered to be a partial seed preservation. The other soldiers all died in the subsequent fierce fighting.

By noon on the 18th, the last soldier who held his position in the city was killed, and Teng County fell.

In the battle of Tengxian and the peripheral battles, the 22nd Army suffered nearly 2 casualties and killed Japanese soldiers, allowing the arrogant th Division to witness the loyalty and bravery of the Sichuan Army.

After the Japanese occupied Tengxian, they rushed to Lincheng along the railway, and a part of them continued to move south along the Jinpu Road to contain the main force of the Chinese army.

Another part went directly to Taierzhuang from the Linzaotai branch road, attempting to cut off the Longhai Road and block the retreat route to Xuzhou.

Because the defense of Teng County delayed the 10th Division's southward advance, Tang Keqin and Sun Lianzhong's troops were able to arrive in the Taierzhuang area in time to deploy defenses and participate in the war, buying enough time for the subsequent Taierzhuang Battle.

South Front, Guerrilla Column
Yue Qianli also received the latest battle report on the loss of Teng County. General Li asked them to follow the example of General Wang and the Sichuan Army and defend the Huaihe River defense line at all costs. They must not let the Japs on the southern front affect the war situation on the northern front.

Tengxian's sacrifice made everyone feel bad, Yue Qianli was also not happy, but he could do nothing;
This is the sacrifice of the entire nation. There will be many more in the future. In national wars where the enemy is strong and we are weak, sacrifices will be everywhere, and the same is true for the soldiers fighting in Bengbu City.

"Brothers, don't be sad. General Wang and the Sichuan Army soldiers have achieved what they wanted. They have used their lives and loyalty to fulfill the solemn oath they made when they left Sichuan to fight the war. They died for a good cause.

At present, the enemy's front is heading straight for Taierzhuang. Commander Li wants to fight the enemy in Taierzhuang and requires us to defend the Bengbu and Huaihe River defense lines in the south at all costs. The street fighting in the north city has been going on for a week. The Third Division has sent reinforcements to the city several times and even deployed more than 20 tanks, but still cannot break the deadlock;

Fujita has almost played all his cards, now it's our turn!"

Everyone was stunned at first, then they were delighted. This was the rhythm of launching a counterattack. The independent detachment leader Duan Yulin was even more excited and asked for a fight:
"Captain, this time it's our independent detachment's turn to take the field, right?
The brothers from other detachments were fighting the devils, and we were just standing there watching helplessly. The battalion commanders asked me to fight every other day, and my brain was about to explode! "

Yue Qianli could imagine that he was just going to hold back on the independent detachment, and when the time was right, he would vent it all on the devils;
When the street fighting in the North City was the most difficult, he wanted to send in the independent detachment as reinforcement several times, but he held back in the end.

Now the time is ripe, he said solemnly:
"Why rush? You'll have your chance to shine!
It’s just that the first shot of the counterattack should be fired by the first team, and they have been holding back for a long time on Hill 385 in the south city. "

As Yue Qianli's die-hard fan, Duan Yulin reacted instantly and said in surprise:
“The 68th Regiment and the troops directly under the division headquarters that were previously protecting the rd Division Headquarters were transferred in large numbers to reinforce the North City. There won’t be many troops left now.

And Zhu still has at least 5 men. If they launch a fierce attack on the Third Division Headquarters, there is a real hope of destroying Fujita Susumu's lair and making him the second Ogisu Rikpei.

As for the North City, if we also send in the independent detachment, the balance of the street fighting will surely be broken, and a great victory can be expected!"

Chen Zhongyuan, Tian Yuanxi and others also looked at Yue Qianli excitedly, waiting for his orders;
Yue Qianli no longer kept the secret and waved his hand:

“There is also a cavalry brigade and a heavy artillery brigade around the Third Division Headquarters, so they are still very strong;

The cavalry brigade in particular is not cavalry in the traditional sense, but a cavalry that is incorporated with a large number of combat vehicles and tanks. It has no problem protecting the division headquarters.

The counterattack of the first team only forced Fujita to make adjustments. As long as Lao Zhu put enough pressure on them, Fujita would not dare to take risks.
There is a high probability that the 6th Regiment on the right wing of Bengbu City will be withdrawn, even if it will cause the morale of the troops to fluctuate!
The independent detachment's counterattack was not launched into the city, but on the right wing, assisting Lao Gao's Second Detachment in driving the Seventh Regiment into the river;

The artillery battalion and the training battalion have also joined the counterattack. It’s time for these rookies to get used to the atmosphere of actual combat.”

After hearing this, the training battalion commander Zhao Tianci was delighted and his face was full of joy. It was finally their turn to go to the battlefield.

Before he could open his mouth, Yue Qianli warned him:
"You guys launch the last wave of counterattacks, follow the independent detachment to clean up the remaining enemies, and give the Japs some finishing blows;

These students are the future of the independent column. I would be heartbroken if any of them were injured!"

After hearing this, Zhao Tianci's face dropped, and his expression became as long as a donkey's. Yue Qianli was not used to his bad habits, so he said directly:
"Can you do it? If not, just don't go."

When Zhao Tianci heard that they were going to be deprived of their right to participate in the war, his horse face immediately turned into a round one, and he said in a flattering tone:
"Let's deal with the remaining enemies. At least we can follow the independent detachment and gain some experience."

When everyone saw his expression change faster than Sichuan Opera, they couldn't help laughing, and the atmosphere before the war became more lively.

(End of this chapter)