Songhu: Never Give Up

Chapter 269: Counterattack on the Southern Front (2)

South City Outskirts, Third Division Headquarters
Fujita Susumu's expression was so gloomy that water could drip out of it. The chief of staff, Colonel Toshio Tajiri, accompanied him cautiously at his side. He also received the battle report from the northern front.

The 10th Division captured Tengxian County and headed straight for Taierzhuang. In his opinion, the small Taierzhuang could not withstand the attack from both the 10th Division and the 5th Division.
Once Taierzhuang was captured, Xuzhou would be exposed to the attack of the North China Front Army.

Compared with the rapid advance on the northern front, the Nancheng Corps had been stuck at the Huaihe River line without making any progress. They were three first-class divisions, and Fujita Susumu, the commander, was somewhat embarrassed.
People are afraid of comparison. The Central China Front Army has always been arrogant and no one wants to lose to the North China Front Army.

Colonel Tajiri, who was very smart, could understand Fujita Susumu's thoughts, but he had no way to break the current deadlock. This would not work.
So he racked his brains to think of a solution, and suddenly he had an idea, and said as if he was offering a treasure:
"Mr. Commander, you should know the story of Tian Ji's horse race, right?"

After Colonel Tajiri finished speaking, he glanced at Fujita Susumu tentatively, which aroused his dissatisfaction. He snorted coldly and said:

"Stop keeping us in suspense. If you have something to say, just say it. If you have something to fart, just fart it!"

Colonel Tajiri saw that the division commander was swearing at the Chinese language, and he immediately said in a serious tone:
"Bengbu City and the right wing battlefield are like Tian Ji's horse race. Since the right wing battlefield cannot make a breakthrough, it is better to transfer the 9th Division or the 13th Division to Bengbu City to fight, so that the balance will be broken;

As long as we defeat the 88th Division in the north city, it won’t be too late to help the 13th Division on the right wing cross the river.”

Fujita Susumu had thought of this plan a long time ago, but he was too embarrassed to do it. After all, the 3rd Division looked down on the other two divisions.
Now that they were being called in to help in the battle, Fujita Susumu was a little hesitant to speak.

His face was important, but the life and death of the 3rd Division was more important. With nothing else to do, he decided to adopt Colonel Tajiri's opinion. After all, it was Colonel Tajiri who proposed it, and his agreement would not affect his reputation.

After pretending to think about it for a while, he agreed to Colonel Tajiri's suggestion and decided to transfer the 13th Division to help.
Although both of them were defeated by the 88th Division and the omen was not good, the 13th Division managed to preserve its organization after all, which was slightly better than the th Division which lost an entire regiment.

Just as Colonel Tajiri was about to send a telegram to the 13th Division, there was a rumbling sound of artillery fire from the left wing, that is, the west, and faint shouts of killing were heard;
Fujita Susumu's expression changed, an ominous sign surged into his heart, and he shouted angrily:

"Bagayalu, what kind of work is this?"

Colonel Tajiri couldn't give him an answer either. Fortunately, a staff officer from the divisional headquarters ran in in a panic and reported to him:
“Your Excellency, the Chinese on the western front have launched a counterattack, numbering several thousand;

A part of the 68th Regiment responsible for blocking the enemy was defeated, and the tank unit and cavalry brigade have already sent reinforcements. "

Fujita Jin did not expect that the Chinese would launch the first counterattack. He had not paid much attention to the enemy on the western front before, thinking that they were just a few remnants of the enemy in the south city and were not worth fearing.
Now when he heard that there were thousands of people, he became anxious and glared at the Japanese staff officer and said:

"Damn it, there are only a thousand remaining enemies on the western front, where did these thousands of people come from?
You'll die if you lie about military intelligence!"

The Japanese staff officer was about to speak when he was dismissed by Colonel Tajiri. None of his staff officers dared to lie about military intelligence, so they quickly said:
"Your Excellency, division commander, don't forget that to the west is the Chinese's defensive depth. Further west is the Pinghan Road, where heavy troops are gathered. It is possible that they will send a unit to harass the division headquarters."

This result was actually what Fujita Susumu was worried about. As a well-known tactical master of the Japanese, how could he not see this?
At least there is this possibility. If his main force is there, he would not be afraid even if there were 100,000 or 20,000 people.

Now he has only 2 infantrymen around him. Although he has a cavalry brigade, a heavy artillery brigade, and a division headquarters, these are not infantrymen. Facing the elite Chinese troops of more than people, he is still not sure.

"Your Excellency, the division commander, a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. It is too late to transfer the 6th Division here now. It is better to let the th Regiment withdraw. They have been in a stalemate with the Chinese on the right wing. They are stuck in a dilemma and are useless.

It would be better to withdraw them back to protect the division headquarters, and then let them cross the river after the 13th Division arrives, breaking the deadlock in one fell swoop!"

Fujita Jin was moved after hearing this. This could be said to be the safest way. He nodded immediately and said:
"The 6th Regiment's flanking maneuvers have achieved nothing, and joining the street fighting in the North City will not change the status quo. It is better to let them withdraw;
Order the Cavalry Brigade and the 68th Regiment to stop the Chinese counterattack, and wait for the 6th Regiment to come to the rescue before defeating the Chinese in one fell swoop.

Also, send a telegram to the 13th Division, ordering them to rush to the rescue and cross the river at the junction of Bengbu and the 51st Army's defense line."

Colonel Tajiri excitedly took the order and left. After making adjustments, Fujita Susumu continued to stare at the map and think about how to break the deadlock. He did not consider whether the 6th Regiment could withdraw smoothly.

East of Bengbu City, the 2nd Battalion of the 528nd Detachment (th Regiment was reduced) blocked the position, and the air was filled with smoke.

The Japs' attack was repelled again, leaving behind hundreds of dead bodies, which were of no value;
The two sides have reached a stalemate and neither can do anything to the other.

The three infantry battalions of the 1nd Detachment were deployed in a half-moon shape, with the 527st Battalion (th Regiment) stationed on the east side to prevent the Japanese from disrupting the friendly defense line;

The 2nd Battalion blocked the enemy head-on, and the 3rd Battalion (Supplementary Regiment) was on guard against the Japanese on the western front, but it did not block the 6th Regiment's entry into the North City, but only prevented them from cutting off the North City's retreat.

The artillery battalion was deployed on the front to assist the 2nd Battalion. The 6th Regiment attacked several times but failed to break through the front line, and instead suffered hundreds of casualties;
The 6th Regiment itself was not at full strength even after reinforcements, and suffered hundreds of casualties. Currently, there are only more than 2600 people left. It did not gain any advantage in a single fight against the nd Detachment.

Faced with such a dilemma, the commander of the regiment, Kawanami Mi, frowned, and the senior staff officer, Dobashi Ichiryu, hesitated to speak. Colonel Kawanami snorted coldly and said:
"If you have something to say, just say it!"

Dobashi Ichiryu then said:
"Sir, the two sides have now reached a stalemate, and the strategic intention of cutting off the Chinese retreat route is difficult to achieve;
The North City, where the 18th and 34th Regiments had been fighting with the Chinese for a week, was now a mess and there was no need to enter.

I always feel that the Chinese still have some strength left. I have carefully calculated the strength of the guerrilla column. They still have some direct troops that have not participated in the battle, such as the most threatening artillery battalion and a mysterious training battalion—"

After suffering a loss from Yue Qianli, Kawanamichi is no longer as arrogant as before, but is now somewhat paranoid;
Hearing what Dobashi Ichiryu said, he interrupted Dobashi reflexively and said:
"Tsuchihashi-kun, are you sure they still have a training battalion? And the artillery battalion didn't participate in the battle?"

"Sir, there are different opinions about the organization of the guerrilla column. The Imperial Intelligence Department has obtained three infantry detachments, as well as a reconnaissance battalion, a baggage battalion, a replenishment battalion, an artillery battalion, etc.
The supplementary battalion (actually the supplementary detachment) has been deployed to the North City battlefield, but I heard from my old classmates that they also have a most elite training battalion. "

Colonel Kawanami cursed:
"Baka, Yue Qianli is so cunning, the training battalion must exist. If we add the baggage battalion, reconnaissance battalion, and artillery battalion, they do have the ability to fight back!
Tell us your suggestions! "

"Send someone to control the ferry in advance and be ready to retreat at any time."

At this moment, the communications staff came to report:
"Your Excellency, Commander, an urgent message from the division headquarters!"

(End of this chapter)