Chapter 168

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Around Huishan Wharf, the Tianya Brigade was organizing a landing, preparing to cut off the Jiangwan defenders' rear.

Meanwhile, the Jiangwan defenders, Sun Yuanlang's 88th Division and Chu Yunfei's Brigade, were in a precarious situation.

Although the Japanese navy's naval guns were deployed less, without this butcher of the sea, the army was not about to be helpless.

The army's heavy artillery was equally powerful; to deal with Chu Yunfei's Youth Army and Sun Yuanlang's German-equipped Division, the army deployed the Type 24 Howitzer.

The Japanese Type 24 Howitzer was actually a 305mm heavy cannon, weighing 123 tons, with a muzzle velocity of 500 meters per second and a maximum range of 14,800 meters.

This cannon weighed over a hundred tons, and its power was not small either.

When the Japanese previously attacked Yangxing Town, they used this weapon to severely damage the defending 98th Division.

Now Yangxing was in a melee, these heavy cannons could not be used, so the Japanese simply moved them to Jiangwan to deal with Lv Muzhi.

Once the Japanese land-based heavy artillery fired, it was 305mm caliber; the largest caliber in all of Xia Guo was Lv Muzhi's 155mm howitzer, and besides that, the Japanese also deployed a large number of other caliber heavy artillery, truly despairing.

At Central Route Army Headquarters, Lv Muzhi, Liao Lei, and Qiu Qingquan were discussing countermeasures.

Liao Lei had already transferred one of his Group Army's divisions to Jiangwan to support combat, and the area around Huishan Wharf also could not let down vigilance.

Lv Muzhi said: "Just as I thought, the Japanese are giving us a punch to the head at the front of Jiangwan Town, and want to give us a kick to the waist at this flank of Huishan Wharf; the Jiangwan defenders can retreat a bit, we can shrink our heads a bit, dodge this punch, then guard against this kick from the little Japanese."

Liao Lei asked: "Retreat? I'm afraid it's not that easy; west of Jiangwan Town are Miaohang, Dachang, etc.; Miaohang and Dachang are our connection point with Chen Cheng's Left Wing Army; if we give up Jiangwan, what if the Japanese fiercely attack Miaohang to the west?"

Don't forget, north of Miaohang is Yangxing; we still have six regiments fighting in Yangxing Town; our rear might be cut off by the Japanese.

Qiu Qingquan felt Commander Liao Lei made sense, then looked toward Lv Muzhi and said: "The biggest threat is still the Japanese heavy artillery; the Japanese have deployed a large number of aircraft and air defense weapons to cover the heavy artillery's actions; our fighters find it hard to approach the artillery positions, and can only be used to protect the heads of our infantry."

Lv Muzhi nodded: "No choice, we must make the Japanese infantry move; only when they move will there be openings; now the Japanese just place their heavy artillery behind their backs and only pour shells onto our positions; if we stubbornly defend the positions, it suits their wishes, and all our living strength will be bombed away by the Japanese;

If we retreat, the Japanese infantry advances, but artillery advancement is not that fast; I know their 305mm heavy cannons weigh 123 tons and will definitely lag behind the infantry; taking this opportunity, I will have Zhou Weiguo take tanks to cut off the little Japanese's artillery!"

Qiu Qingquan suddenly understood: "Yo! That's a method; now the little Japanese don't move, just squatting around the artillery, the Armored Tank Regiment can't find a chance to raid; if we give up Jiangwan Town, forcing the little Japanese infantry to move, once they move, openings will come!"

Liao Lei said with a smile: "Only Commander-in-Chief Wei Yue can use this method; if anyone else dared to give up Jiangwan Town, the President would definitely not forgive easily."

Lv Muzhi looked toward Qiu Qingquan: "You take the Third Brigade to hold Hongkou, block the route of the Japanese landing at Huishan Wharf, protect the rear of the Jiangwan defenders, and at the same time command and dispatch Chu Yunfei and Sun Yuanlang's actions; I will transfer two Wild Artillery Companies to you."

After speaking, Lv Muzhi looked toward Liao Lei: "Commander Liao, I need the Guangxi Army brothers of our Twenty-first Group Army to help."

Liao Lei nodded: "No problem, just right to have a solid clash with the little Japanese this time!"

At the Jiangwan Defense Command Post, Sun Yuanlang assessed the situation and thought that continuing to be bombed like this was not a solution.

Chu Yunfei stood to the side, using an Artillery Observation Mirror to observe the Japanese artillery strike effectiveness; the fortifications around Jiangwan were fairly sturdy, and the Japanese's first round of artillery strikes did not destroy the structure of the Jiangwan Position.

Sun Yuanlang and Chu Yunfei each stationed one regiment in Jiangwan Town, with the remaining troops serving as reserves for rotation.

Sun Yuanlang said: "We held the first round, but don't forget there are still the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth rounds! Let Brother Wei Yue think of a way!"

Chu Yunfei said: "Soldiers regard obeying orders as their heavenly duty; the order we received is to defend Jiangwan Town; before new orders are issued, it's better for the commander's mind not to be so unconventional, especially since the battle has just begun!"

"Report to the Brigade Commander, the infantry attack echelon of the enemy 101st Division has been repelled by us!" a Youth Army Regimental Commander came to report.

Chu Yunfei asked: "How are the brothers' casualties?"

The Youth Army Regimental Commander replied: "In this first round, approximately a hundred casualties......"

At this time, Xie Jinyuan, the Regimental Adjutant of the 524th Regiment of the 88th Division, also came to report the situation: "After one round of Japanese attacks, my unit suffered over one hundred thirty casualties!"

These casualties were already not small; over two hundred were gone in one wave of attack.

In the sky, the Xia Guo Air Force and the Japanese air force were dogfighting, protecting the sky above the ground infantry; these were the casualties suffered without being crazily strafed by Japanese planes.

"Mainly casualties caused by Japanese heavy artillery; the Japanese cannons' caliber is too large......" Xie Jinyuan supplemented.

Sun Yuanlang thought for a moment: "Hurry and transfer the Guangxi Army up to take over the positions; everyone takes turns guarding?"

Commander He of the 173rd Division of the Guangxi Army, who had just arrived at the position, nodded without objection: "Fine; you set an example on the frontline; we won't be vague either!"

Chu Yunfei nodded; this was Lv Muzhi's thinking; one cannot casually send people to fill the line just because others' equipment is somewhat inferior; wholehearted submission is best, otherwise subsequent work cannot be carried out.

"Commander Lu's call!" the Communications Staff Officer handed over a document.

Sun Yuanlang immediately took it to look, and then a smile appeared on his face: "Good! I said Commander Wei Yue has a way!"

"What did Commander Lu say?" Chu Yunfei asked.

"Can withdraw; my 88th Division withdraws west to Miaohang, you Chu Yunfei Brigade and Guangxi Army 173rd Division withdraw south, giving up Jiangwan Town; Commander Wei Yue will dispatch tank units to find an opportunity to attack the enemy's rear artillery units; as for the rearguard troops, Brother Wei Yue gave no instructions." Sun Yuanlang said.

After hearing this, the Commander of the 173rd Division immediately said: "You have all been in battle; I will block one wave of Japanese at Jiangwan to cover your withdrawal."

Chu Yunfei nodded after hearing: "Good! I will meet you two kilometers in the rear; at that time we will alternate covering the withdrawal."

All units immediately took action; the Guangxi Army 173rd Division entered the position, covering friendly forces' withdrawal.

Division Commander of the 11th Division Yamamuro Sōbu, hearing that the Youth Army and German-equipped Division showed signs of retreating, couldn't help but fall into thought: "How can they be so unable to take a hit?"

The 101st Division was very excited: "The enemy retreated! Pursue them with victory!"

"Wait! The Youth Army is not so unable to take a hit; one must still be more careful."

"Careful is careful, but Jiangwan Town has been given up; we can't just not take it, can we? We are the attacking side!"

At Miaohang, Zhou Weiguo's tanks, under the cover of camouflage nets, had engines fully open, ready to assault forward at any time, cutting off the Japanese artillery positions.