Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 248 The Rout of the Regiment

Anqing defense line.

27th Group Army.

After Jin Lei took over command, he was able to handle the situation with relative ease, thanks to his experience as a staff officer in the First Column and the assistance of the garrison staff.

Inside the busy command post.

The staff officer rushed over: "Sir, the Japanese offensive is too swift. Inland gunboats are anchored on the river and are launching a continuous bombardment of our river defense line. The troops below can't hold on!"

Jin Lei: "Pull up all the reserves to fill the gaps in the defense line, and retreat slowly. Don't let the Japanese army find an opportunity!"

"What is the situation regarding troop losses?"

The staff officer sighed, "Alas, the Sichuan Army brothers have a good fighting spirit, but unfortunately, they haven't been trained enough. I just went to the front line and saw that some soldiers have never received any training at all; they can't do anything except pull the trigger."
"The weapons and equipment are also inadequate. Over such a long period of time, the losses in each unit have been severe, and it's impossible to keep track of them all. Regiments have been reduced to battalions, and battalions to companies."

Jin Lei: "There's really no good way to deal with this. The Sichuan Army had the largest number of troops involved in the War of Resistance, but in the end, they were the least favored. No wonder Yang Sen couldn't move when he saw the battle achievements. For the Sichuan Army, winning a battle was harder than climbing to heaven."

It's no longer just a matter of training and weaponry.

The tactical command of the grassroots troops was even more of a mess.

Logically speaking, before the outbreak of the full-scale War of Resistance against Japan, China had experienced more than 20 years of warlordism, and the rank-and-file officers had exceptionally rich combat experience, a fact that was evident in other units.

But for now.

The original junior officers at the battalion, company, and platoon levels of the 27th Group Army were either killed or wounded.

The officers who were promoted on the front lines were just ordinary soldiers before, some of whom were illiterate. Letting such people command battles would only make things worse.

But there is no choice.

Jin Lei: "Order the troops that are currently withdrawing to move even faster!"

Staff Officer: "Yes, sir!"

------

The Qianshan defense line.

Wu Guangsheng was sitting in the command post of the 84th Army, making military deployments with Qin Lianfang.

"The 6th Division's command post has been destroyed. Perhaps we can devise a plan on how to launch a counter-offensive and retake all the lost positions!"

Qin Lianfang placed her hands on the table: "While you were away, the staff officer came to report that the Japanese offensive has not weakened. The Japanese may not believe this telegram in plain text."

Wu Guangsheng: "You don't need to worry about that. I estimate that right now, the brigades below are trying to make contact with the division. If the disconnection lasts too long, they will naturally realize that something is wrong. We just need to hold on for a little longer."

Qin Lianfang calmly replied, "I hope so."

After the 26th Army Group was routed in this battle, the 84th Army withstood almost all the pressure, but suffered considerable losses.

Even though these young men from Guangxi shed their blood on the battlefield for the greater good of the nation and its people, I still felt a pang of sadness after seeing it.

Wu Guangsheng handed him a cigarette: "Your Guangxi Army is all great. We fought alongside the 31st Army during the Battle of Xuzhou, and I still remember it vividly!"

Qin Lianfang struck a match, lit it, and took a deep drag: "You guys are pretty good too. I reckon you could never learn the tactic of raiding the 6th Division's command post in your entire life. The commander has keen insight, and the soldiers below him have first-class execution. No wonder you've won so many battles."

Wu Guangsheng laughed heartily: "You flatter me!"

"Reporting, sir!" The communications officer approached. "Urgent telegram from the rear!"

Qin Lianfang glanced at the telegram.

Wu Guangsheng: "What happened? Is there some news from the Japanese side?"

Qin Lianfang handed over the telegram: "It says that the Japanese 11th Brigade has become suspicious after receiving the telegram in plain text. They are just bluffing. They told us to hold on and prepare for a counterattack when the opportunity arises!"

Wu Guangsheng smiled and said, "That's excellent!"
"When it comes to military campaigns, our Commander Wang has always been incredibly insightful. Since he says so, the Japanese army probably won't last much longer!"

Qin Lianfang: "Yes, I'll go to the front lines to oversee the battle and try to stabilize morale!"

--------

On the hills along the river.

The sky was slightly cool, and a strong wind was howling. Wang Feng, wearing a coat, climbed to the top of the mountain.

Zhao Fangyuan stood to the side, holding a telescope. From here, he could see the battle taking place around Jiangxinzhou.

"Sir, it seems the plaintext telegram worked. Look, the Japanese 365th Brigade has slowed its offensive and the troops have stopped moving!"

Wang Feng nodded: "This is good news. With Inaba Shiro captured by us, the 60th Regiment is no longer capable of fighting. How is the situation with the Hata Detachment?"

Zhao Fangyuan: "It's not good. Their offensive is very fierce. On the Anqing defense line, most of the 31st Army has been transferred to the Jiangxinzhou line. It will be difficult for the 27th Group Army to stop the enemy with its strength alone."

Wang Feng: "Then withdraw them all and let the Hata Detachment in to fight!"

Judging from the current troop deployment, the 26th and 27th Group Armies, as well as two independent armies, are stationed on both sides of the Yellow River. In addition, the 23rd Group Army is also stationed along the Tongling line.

With the threat of the 6th Division eliminated, facing the Hata Detachment alone, the odds of victory are quite high, regardless of the tactics employed.

Zhao Fangyuan: "This is for the best. If the Hata Detachment isn't eliminated, it might cause a major problem!"

This unit was unlike any other unit in the Japanese Army; it was extremely adept at amphibious operations. Although it was called an army unit, its nature was more like that of a naval marine.
The soldiers were also exceptionally experienced, mostly veterans who had enlisted before the war began.

In the Battle of Wuhan, the Japanese army deployed its main forces along the Yangtze River. The Hata Detachment was like a sharp sword, serving as the vanguard. If it was allowed to continue to advance, it might pierce straight into the heart of the enemy.

Wang Feng: "Have the supplies from Wuhan arrived yet?"

Zhao Fangyuan: "We just arrived. In addition to the usual rifles, bullets, and grenades, there are also dozens of heavy machine guns!"

Wang Feng was overjoyed: "Good, allocate the funds immediately!"

Although this supply is still a drop in the bucket, even a mosquito's leg is still a piece of meat, and it's better than nothing!

--------

Anqing.

Shigeichi Hata stared at the troop deployment map, his brows furrowing deeply.

Although the battlefields of Anqing and Qianshan were not connected, they were very close to each other, and he also received Wang Feng's telegram in plain text.

Kawai Tadashi: "General, we absolutely cannot believe this telegram, but the Sixth Division has lost contact with us, which is very strange!"

Shigeichi Hata: "How do you think the 6th Division's command post is still safe and sound?"

Tadashi Kawai: "It's absurd that this division's command post, located in the rear, was so hastily annihilated."

Shigeichi Hata took a deep breath.

That was his initial thought as well.

But something felt off.

If the telegram is fake, why would their opponent go to such lengths? The two brigades under the 6th Division are both elite battlefield units, none of them easy to deal with. After receiving the clear message, they would definitely verify it.

It would be easily exposed. Even the worst student in a military academy, no matter how imaginative, would not come up with such a clumsy plan.

Moreover, his opponent was Wang Feng, whose fame had already spread far and wide.

Shigeichi Hata calmly asked, "How is the battle situation at our front lines?"

Upon hearing this, Kawai straightened his chest and said, "Reporting to the General, the Chinese are no match for us. In just one day, the battle line has retreated twenty miles. I estimate that the battle will be completely resolved by noon tomorrow!"

Shigeaki Hata nodded slightly.

That's not an exaggeration at all.

In operations along the Yangtze River, the most important factors are control of the river and air. Currently, we firmly hold both of these in our hands, and the Chinese army is extremely weak. It is only a matter of time before we completely defeat them.

Kawai Tadashi: "The main problem right now is with our allies. If this telegram is false and their attack is going smoothly, then after our unit breaks through the Chinese defenses, we can coordinate with the 6th Division to encircle and annihilate all the Chinese troops here in one fell swoop!"

Hata Shigeaki looked at the map.

The main objective of this campaign is to encircle and annihilate the Chinese army. After so many battles, including those in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Xuzhou, the General Staff now understands that simply conquering cities and seizing territory cannot win the war.

China is simply too large, with a vast territory and a large population; it is virtually impossible to completely conquer it.

The only way to resolve the war at present is to take advantage of the Battle of Wuhan, have the Nationalist government surrender, and then, like Manchukuo, become subservient to the Japanese Empire.

The war can then be completely ended.

This theory, at least in the view of the General Staff, is absolutely feasible.

The only way to force the Nationalist government to surrender was to annihilate all of its main forces, rendering it powerless to resist.

Shigeichi Hata never forgot this crucial mission. Even at the very beginning of the battle, he was looking for an opportunity to encircle and annihilate the Chinese army, but unfortunately, the enemy commander was too cunning.

It seems that no matter what happens, it can't escape the other party's notice.

Shigeichi Hata: "Yes, try contacting the 6th Division again. The Chinese would never send a telegram in plain text without reason. Ask them about the specifics of what happened!"

Kawai-kun: "Hai!"

------

now.

On the Anqing defense line.

Units under the 27th Group Army are withdrawing from the battlefield in large numbers.

"boom--!"

A large-caliber grenade flew across the river and landed directly in the crowd. The soldiers had no time to react and were immediately engulfed in the smoke of the explosion.

"Get out!"

"Withdraw immediately! The rearguard is about to collapse, the Japanese are catching up!"

On one side of the road, the officer anxiously checked the time and kept urging them on, but even so, the soldiers kept their heads down and paced slowly on the ground.

It's not that I don't want to leave.

Rather, his injuries were too severe, and he simply couldn't walk anymore.

On the battlefield, human life is the least valuable thing.

After the air raid, the Hata Detachment command was briefly without command, but this period was short. Two days later, the radio dispatched by the higher command arrived, and the first thing Hata Shigeichi did upon returning to his position as commander was to immediately launch a fierce offensive.

Compared to the 6th Division, it can only be said to be even better.

Although there was no air support, the naval gunboats remained anchored on the river, firing shells as if they were free, and never stopped except when the gun barrels overheated and needed cooling.

On such an intense battlefield, the casualties of the 27th Group Army can only be described as horrific.

If someone has a broken arm or leg, there's no need to send them to a field hospital.

Even if such severe injuries were transported there, the doctors wouldn't be able to do much due to the lack of medicine; it would just mean dying in a different place.

As for minor injuries, there's even less need to go.

The 27th Army Group was not able to build a large field hospital. A hospital that could only accommodate more than 3,000 people was required to provide field emergency care for tens of thousands of soldiers in the entire army group.

It's already overcrowded now, so going there is pointless.

"Hurry up!" A colonel galloped along the roadside on horseback. "The Japanese devils will catch up soon. Are you all out of your minds?"

The soldier looked up at him.

"It's Commander Sun!"

"There are no Japanese devils here, I'm too tired to walk anymore. If I could, I'd walk straight back to my hometown in Sichuan right now."

Commander Sun sat on his horse, looking down at the soldiers whose morale had completely collapsed, feeling powerless to do anything about it.

News had just arrived that the troops left behind to cover the rear had been overwhelmed by the Japanese charge. If things went as expected, the Japanese might use this gap to penetrate directly into the heart of the 27th Army Group.

The higher command has issued an order requiring all units to expedite the withdrawal.

"boom--!"

A grenade landed beside the official road, splashing mud all over Commander Sun. His warhorse was startled and paced back and forth restlessly.

The soldiers nearby immediately scattered. Seeing this, the fear in their eyes had long since vanished, replaced by endless numbness.

Artillery shells, you know.

It's not like we haven't been bombed before.
Commander Sun managed to calm his horse down, and a staff officer approached him: "Sir, orders from above!"

He took it and glanced at it.

It was sent from the headquarters of the 133rd Division.

Staff Officer: "Sir, the higher-ups have ordered us to move northwest. Should we comply?"

Commander Sun frowned: "Northwest direction?"
Is there a logistics station there?

The staff officer shook his head: "It seems not, sir. If we don't replenish our military supplies soon, we might have to fight the Japanese bare-handed!"

Commander Sun sighed.

He has been worried about this matter for the past few days.

It's not just the lower-ranking soldiers who lack ammunition supplies; even the upper-ranking officers are facing this problem. He now only has three bullets left in his sidearm.

After the fight, they'll probably have to pick up stones to use as weapons.

Commander Sun: "Let's carry out the orders first. I'll ask the higher-ups about the supplies later, but we need to prepare for the worst!"

(End of this chapter)