Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 236 "Delay"

Hata Detachment.

Thick dust filled the ruins after the explosion. Shigeichi Hata coughed twice, brushed the sand off his body, and could still hear a buzzing sound in his ears from time to time.

This is a consequence of the bombing.

Although they managed to take shelter in the air-raid shelter in time and escaped the disaster, the temporary air-raid shelter was of poor quality. It was already a blessing from Amaterasu that it did not suddenly collapse.

Kawai Tadashi's symptoms didn't improve much either.

"General, all communication facilities have been destroyed, and we are currently unable to receive any information from the outside world."

Shigeichi Hata steadied himself, enduring the dizziness from the shockwave: "Is the messenger still alive?"

Tadashi Kawai: "Only half is left."

The actual organization of the Hata Detachment was equivalent to an elite brigade. With such a large command post, there must have been more than one messenger. However, the Chinese bombers had a clear target, and under the dense fire coverage, the soldiers' survival rate was very low.

Shigeichi Hata urged urgently, "Baka! Quickly send messengers to contact each regiment and inquire about the battlefield situation!"

Tadashi Kawai: "How should we maintain contact with the Central China Command?"

Generally speaking, to ensure communication security, the army uses multiple codebooks. One codebook is used for communication between the frontline command post and frontline troops, while another codebook is used for communication with the rear command headquarters.
Now all the communications soldiers have been killed in action, and the codebooks have probably been burned to ashes.

Shigeichi Hata's face was ashen: "Go and rendezvous with the first-line brigade!"

At this point, there's no good solution.

Kawai glanced at the surrounding ruins and hesitated for a moment: "General, the regimental command post is too close to the front line."

"Our opponent is Wang Feng. The location of the command post has already been leaked. What if that man deploys artillery?"

"Then tell me, what other options do we have now?" Shigeichi Hata said, getting angrier as he spoke. "Are we supposed to retreat?!"

Kawai came up with a compromise: "General, I will borrow a batch of radios from the various regimental command posts, and you will rebuild the general command post."

"In that case, even if the Chinese use artillery for precision strikes, you will not be in any danger!"

Hata Shigeaki glanced at his adjutant: "Yoshi, Kawai-kun, if the Empire had more pure samurai like you, it would only be a matter of time before it completely conquers China!"
Kawai Tadashi bowed slightly: "Hai!"

Shigeichi Hata: "Furthermore, we must find the spies in the military. If they are traced back to the Navy, report to me immediately!"

------

Forward command post.

Zhao Fangyuan: "Sir, news from the front lines indicates that the Anqing military airport has been successfully destroyed!"

Wang Feng already knew about it, and upon hearing the news, he casually replied, "Well done. Let them withdraw. The objective has been achieved; continuing the fight will only result in pointless sacrifices."

Zhao Fangyuan: "Sir, in the direction of Qianshan, our troops have engaged in fierce fighting with the Japanese 6th Division, and the results are not ideal."

Wang Feng took a deep breath.

He was fully aware of the situation at the front and had been thinking about this issue long before the General Staff received the news.

With the dual incentives of speeches and money, the morale of the troops was barely restored. Their courage was commendable, but their combat capabilities were hardly impressive.

He had just witnessed a main force regiment of nearly two thousand men launch an attack on a position defended by only one Japanese company for two full hours.

Corpses littered the foot of the mountain, and the entire regiment suffered more than half its casualties. In the end, an ordinary platoon leader was promoted to battalion commander on the spot after his superiors were killed one after another.

Even so, after paying such a heavy price, the Japanese positions remained unmoved.

If the fighting continues, we fear we will truly be routed.

Wang Feng sighed: "Let them withdraw too, and build a defensive line with their backs to the Yangtze River. Hold out for two more days at all costs!"

Between Qianshan and Anqing, there is a dense network of waterways, which forms a natural barrier. However, given the capabilities of the 6th Division, even without any troops stationed there, it is estimated that the advance regiment will be able to rendezvous with the Hata Detachment in less than a day.

In that case, the situation becomes difficult.

Zhao Fangyuan: "The Japanese army is extremely good at flanking maneuvers and surprise attacks. They can block the enemy's flanking routes by fighting with their backs to the river. But if we are defeated on the front, we will have no way to retreat."

Wang Feng gritted his teeth and sighed, "We can't worry about that now. There will always be sacrifices in war, that's unavoidable. Only by not being afraid to sacrifice and daring to sacrifice can we reduce the number of sacrifices!"

He understood the principle of loving soldiers like a king, but using them like dirt.

Zhao Fangyuan: "Sir, your insight is excellent. In addition, news has come from the rear of the Japanese army that the 23rd Army Group has assembled two divisions and has captured Tongling. We request strategic instructions from the General Headquarters!"

Wang Feng had already prepared his plan: "Order them to immediately block the Yangtze River waterway!"

Zhao Fangyuan looked at the strategic map on the wall and his eyes lit up: "Sir, are you planning to encircle and annihilate the Hata Detachment?"

Wang Feng shook his head: "It can't be called an encirclement and annihilation. The army I command is extremely weak in combat. If we want to fight an encirclement and annihilation battle, we need our troops. Everything I'm doing now is just to delay the Japanese army's advance!"

With the Sixth Division looming on their flanks, Tang Shizun's troops alone could not possibly launch a brilliant blocking battle like the Battle of Lanfeng or the Seventh and Eighth Columns.

On the main battlefield, Yang Sen's troops were also unable to serve as the main force for attacking.

Although the 23rd Army Group had penetrated the rear supply line of the Hata Detachment, Wang Feng estimated that this situation would not last long.

Once the Japanese frontline command post restores communications, any regiment that can be dispatched, along with the remaining river gunboat, will be able to repel the 23rd episode.

Wang Feng: "Even if we can annihilate the invading Japanese army in Anqing, it will not change the strategic situation and will cause huge casualties to our side. No matter how strong the Hata Detachment is, it is just an elite brigade. Compared with the hundreds of thousands of Japanese troops in the rear, it is just a drop in the ocean."

"How could a war of this scale possibly stop because of the loss of a single unit?"

"To command such a battle, one must have a long-term vision. The Zhanggufeng Incident delayed the Japanese army's offensive, but that is not enough. Hata Shunroku wants to annihilate the main force of the National Revolutionary Army in Wuhan, humph! Wishful thinking!"
"A head-on fight is not advisable. I will fight and retreat simultaneously. Fang Yuan, in large-scale warfare, we must not act rashly!"

As he spoke, Wang Feng took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and put it in his mouth.

In the past, unless there were special circumstances, he would not touch a single cigarette.

But there's no other way; the pressure of the current operations is just too great.

Even with an aerial view, there is no guarantee of success in a battle of this scale.

The situation is changing, and the Japanese army's strategy is also changing. What we knew in the past can only be used as a reference. We cannot follow the textbook and command blindly.

If that happens, we're afraid we'll lose everything!
Furthermore, going four or five days without sleep is something the body simply cannot withstand.

Wang Feng: "To fight the Battle of Anqing, relying entirely on the Madang Fortress behind us is tantamount to driving ourselves to our death."

"What I'm most worried about right now is the direction of Qianshan."

"The Sixth Division is completely disregarding supply depletion; their initial offensive is far too aggressive."

Sometimes, he also wished he could be like Chiang Kai-shek and directly intervene in command, bypassing his superiors.

Zhao Fangyuan: "Sir, how about we transfer the First Column over there?"

Wang Feng took a drag of his cigarette and paced slowly on the ground: "The First Column doesn't have many troops, so the decision to move them must not be made hastily. Let the front-line troops hold their ground for a day and see how things go. "The Qianshan direction is important, but it's only the flank. The real battlefield is in the Anqing direction."

"Yang Sen's forces are slightly stronger, but they are still a rabble. It's not the critical moment yet, so we can't rush to put all our chips on the table."

The closer he got to the critical moment, the more he felt that war was a gamble.

We gambled on the morale and fighting spirit of our troops, on the strategic command of the Japanese army, and on the nation's determination to resist Japan!

When you have a regiment, your troops are very streamlined and your battle lines are short. Even if there are problems with the defense lines, you can react in time and plug the loopholes immediately.

But now, if something goes wrong on the battlefield, even if we can get the news in time, it will be difficult to respond effectively.

The battle line spanning hundreds of kilometers is no joke. Transporting supplies takes time, and mobilizing troops takes time. By the time the support troops arrive, the Japanese army will have already completed its combat mission and will be waiting in place to wait for the enemy to attack.

Zhao Fangyuan saluted: "Yes, sir!"

------

Wuhan.

Chen Cheng met with He Yingqin, who had come from afar.

Inside the office.

Two people are sitting on the sofa.

Chen Cheng offered him a cigarette: "Jingzhi, come and try it. It's American-made. These things are in short supply right now."

He Yingqin smiled and took the cigarette, then said, "Cixiu, you've been fighting for Wuhan, and now you probably won't even be able to go home."

He noticed it as soon as he entered the office: in one corner, there was an iron bed, and on the windowsill, besides piles of documents, there were also scattered personal belongings.

Chen Cheng smiled and said, "If we fail to achieve our strategic objectives in this campaign, we may even perish as a nation. How can we then talk about taking care of our families?"

He Yingqin: "The Chairman is very concerned about this campaign and has allocated a batch of supplies from the southwest rear. It should take a long time for them to reach Wuhan."

Chen Cheng took a few deep drags and stubbed out his cigarette: "Jingzhi, the situation at the front is urgent. The telegrams sent to the garrison command every day are stacked up to be half a person high. Let's get straight to the point. Did the Chairman give you any orders for coming to Wuhan this time?"

He Yingqin exhaled a puff of smoke and said with a smile, "Cixiu guessed correctly. The Chairman asked me to come and ask you specifically about the Ninth War Zone's operational guidelines."

Chen Cheng frowned: "The battle of Anqing is critical. Let's discuss the matter of the Ninth War Zone later."

He Yingqin: "The deployment of the theater command should be prepared in advance. If it is rushed, the combat effect will inevitably be less than ideal."

Chen Cheng hesitated for a moment: "I'll send a telegram about this in a bit. This matter is of great importance, and I'm afraid I can't make a decision on my own."

He Yingqin nodded: "That's excellent!"

Chiang Kai-shek, perhaps out of suspicion, specifically summoned him to deliver a message, inquiring about Chen Cheng's defense of the Ninth War Zone.

But having risen to the position of Chief of the General Staff, he was already well-versed in the art of flexibility and adaptability. As long as the defense arrangements were submitted on time, Chiang Kai-shek would not interfere with the process in between.

With a formidable enemy at hand and the Japanese army pressing in with overwhelming force, if a wave of suspicion were to rise among the high command of the military, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The peace faction could simply turn their backs and become the Japanese lackeys, and Chiang Kai-shek could also, by virtue of his position as commander-in-chief, become a puppet president under the Japanese, just like Puyi.

But the situation is much more difficult for the generals and staff officers who advocate war.

Although they will not be purged, their political status will certainly be greatly diminished.

He Yingqin could clearly weigh the pros and cons, and Chen Cheng could also distinguish between them.

------

7 month 15 day.

early morning.

Wang Feng sat in the command room, picking at his food while scanning the telegrams sent from Wuhan.

The text above concerns the defense of the Ninth War Zone.

"With the Japanese army amassed along the Yangtze River, Li Zongren's position immediately became a flanking battlefield. The real strategic decisive battle would take place south of the Yangtze River."

Wang Feng muttered to himself.

Compared to the overall strategy, the Battle of Anqing was merely a prelude. To thwart the Japanese army's strategic intentions while preserving the maximum number of personnel, it was simply impossible to do so with just one or two battles.

Sighing in frustration, Wang Feng put the telegram aside and rubbed his temples. He had many plans in mind, but none of them had a 100% chance of success.

After thinking it over, Wang Feng switched his perspective to the overhead view and his attention was quickly drawn to a battlefront.

In the direction of Qianshan.

The 26th Group Army front.

The progress bar representing the organization level was already bright red. Zooming in, we saw that the Japanese army had launched a mass assault on the Qianshan position. Under the fierce artillery fire, our own machine gun positions were almost wiped out, and the soldiers were fighting on top of the corpses of their comrades.

Wang Feng glanced at the position of a battalion and found that there were fewer than two hundred men still putting up a resistance.

All signs indicate that the battle lines are about to collapse!
As soon as his perspective shifted to reality, he saw Zhao Fangyuan holding a telegram in his hand, striding towards him.

"Sir, Qianshan is in dire need of help!"
"I'm afraid we won't make it through tonight!"

Wang Feng stood up and made a decisive decision: "Order the unit to retreat, and have the First Column take over the position and work with the 84th Army to cover the rear and rebuild the position along the river!"

Zhao Fangyuan: "Yes!"

Wang Feng turned to look at the chart. The Qianshan defense line collapsed too quickly, lasting less than ten hours under Japanese artillery fire.

That's a bit too much.
Zhao Fangyuan: "Sir, once the Sixth Division crosses the Yangtze River, it is very likely that it will cooperate with the Hata Detachment to encircle and annihilate our troops. Should we order the Anqing defense line to retreat as well?"

Wang Feng frowned: "Don't retreat yet. After crossing the river, use the natural barrier to block the Japanese army!"

A large-scale military conflict broke out between Japan and the Soviet Union in the Zhanggufeng area, and it was foreseeable that the Japanese army in Central China would be unable to receive supplies.

The Sixth Division's offensive was so swift, but it was just a three-pronged attack. If they could hold out for a while longer, their offensive would inevitably weaken in the later stages.

Others might not know, but these days, Wang Feng's focus has been on the logistics and supplies of the Sixth Division.

More goods are leaving the warehouse than entering.

Based on the current consumption level, we can only last for another three days at most.

Retreating hastily now would only play into the hands of the Japanese army.

Wang Feng: "Tell the front-line troops that no one is allowed to retreat. The Japanese army's strategy of quick victory comes at a price. Both sides are enduring, and it's a matter of who can hold out longer."

"Furthermore, order the Air Force to deploy immediately tomorrow morning."

(End of this chapter)