Chapter 289

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Teng County, Isogai Tenth Division frontline.

With orders from the North China Area Army Headquarters, Isogai Rensuke's offensive grew even bolder.

Recalling the previous Songhu Battlefield, Xia Guo continuously sent reinforcements to Songhu, totaling seven hundred thousand troops before and after.

Only pity that in the end the enemy's main force escaped, while the Japanese Army itself suffered severe losses instead.

Now, Xuzhou seems to have become a second Songhu.

Early this morning intelligence arrived: Xia Guo began transporting reinforcements to Xuzhou via the Railway Line, clearly the Japanese offensive against Xuzhou had taken effect, forcing Xia Guo to raise the stakes.

"Strengthen the offensive against Teng County, let the Sichuan Army taste the power of our artillery fire, we must make the Chinese feel immense pressure, make them beg their own commanders for reinforcements!"

The Tenth Division's field artillery units advanced their positions; over seventy cannons aimed at the Sichuan Army positions on Teng County's outer perimeter, including no few 105mm howitzers, beginning a continuous two-hour artillery preparation.

The shelling paused slightly, and the Japanese tank battalion's Type 95 light tanks and Type 89 medium tanks burst from the smoke and dust, followed by infantry advancing in a crouch.

But the devils never expected that even under such intense shelling and assault, these Sichuan Army troops still clung dead-fast to their positions.

The Tenth Division's offensive, like a fist gradually clenching tight, smashed fiercely toward Teng County, yet was blocked in one go by the Sichuan Army units garrisoned here.

Linyi Direction

Itagaki Seishiro stood outside the Temporary Command Post, gazing at the distant smoke-shrouded battle line.

The Fifth Division's offensive was indeed fierce — Infantry Brigade 21, supported by a tank squadron, continuously assaulted Pang Bingxun's Third Army Group defensive line; Infantry Brigade 9 pressured Yu Xuezhong's 51st Army flank. Artillery preparation, tank charge, infantry follow-up — a standard and ferocious set of procedures.

But the problem lay in... it was too standard.

Every time their own firepower increased by a magnitude, the enemy's firepower would correspondingly increase.

Itagaki Seishiro did not know that his tactics and firepower structure had already been thoroughly studied by Liao Yaoxiang and the others opposite.

The devils strengthened firepower; Liao Yaoxiang would coordinate roughly equivalent firepower from the Youth First Army to go support, keeping Linyi from being breached.

Linyi City maintained a state that looked extremely anxious.

"Continue strengthening the offensive, commit all artillery and tanks, the Youth Army looks strong, we must pin them down here!"

Order issued, the Fifth Division's attack grew even more frantic.

Pang Bingxun paced anxiously in the command post — although Yu Xuezhong's 51st Army shared part of the pressure, the Third Army Group's casualty figures were rising rapidly.

He once again requested support from the Youth Army Command by telephone; whatever the case, the Youth Army's fire support was always very effective.

Liao Yaoxiang seemed to see through Itagaki Seishiro's thinking: "The Linyi battle has turned into turn-based combat; the Fifth Division seems to be deliberately dragging out the war's tempo, wanting to keep us here. I believe it's to cover Isogai Rensuke's Tenth Division, letting him advance south boldly, all the way to Xuzhou City's gates."

Chen Minren frowned: "Then what do we do? Isn't our mission just to stay here?"

Chu Yunfei said: "We can't just watch; Old Ghost Itagaki strengthened his offensive, so we'll accompany him in the act."

Liao Yaoxiang ordered: "Order the First Division's 105mm Howitzer Regiment to advance and support, fire coverage, continuous suppression, hold the friendly positions!"

Order swiftly relayed; one hour later, the Youth Army First Army First Division's 105mm Howitzer Regiment opened fire.

Boom—!

The sharp shriek of shells tearing through the air came from the rear, immediately followed by clusters of firelight erupting on the Japanese frontline positions.

The devils' offensive was trapped in the artillery fire, completely unable to advance.

Even Itagaki Seishiro in the command post felt the ground tremble: "Nani?! This is absolutely 100mm-plus caliber heavy artillery; my every move has been precisely countered by the enemy......"

"Division Commander!" Chief of Staff Sakurada Takeshi rushed in: "Chinese artillery suddenly strengthened firepower, intensity at least double the previous! Our left wing 21st Regiment reports assembly area suffered heavy artillery coverage, attack plan already cancelled!"

Itagaki stared at the continuously rising smoke columns in the distance, feeling the Youth Army First Army before him was far from simple; without employing some measures, it might delay Isogai Rensuke's advance plan.

"Send telegram to North China Area Army Headquarters: enemy facing Linyi suddenly strengthened firepower, Youth Army main force artillery engaged! Our division under immense pressure, request reinforcements!"

North China Area Army Headquarters

Terauchi Hisaichi received Itagaki's telegram while discussing details of encircling Xuzhou with Hata Shunroku.

He read the telegram and, far from anger, laughed instead — just the pretext to continue adding troops to the front.

I add troops, pressure rises, Xia Guo will probably also add troops.

When the time comes, the more people inside Xuzhou, the greater the battle results I can reap.

Hata Shunroku read it and mused: "This also shows the Youth Army First Army is indeed firmly pinned at Linyi; we should continue upping the ante on the Linyi front, forcing the enemy to also reinforce, at least pin down the Youth First Army;

simultaneously Isogai Rensuke's Tenth Division accelerate offensive, create immense pressure on Xuzhou, the enemy will further reinforce."

"Precisely." Terauchi Hisaichi walked to the map, tapped the Linyi position, "Since Itagaki says pressure is great, we'll add another chip for him, order the 16th Division to immediately move south, rush to reinforce Linyi!"

The Sixth Division's large-scale movement was naturally detected by the Xia State Army.

Xuzhou, Li Zongren received an important guest.

"Chairman, during operations on the Jinpu Road, if there are any instructions, you can directly order Zongren; by no means should you personally......"

The one arriving at the Fifth War Zone was the Old Man himself; Japanese forces currently committed near Xuzhou had reached four divisions, with two Japanese divisions appearing in the Linyi direction, so the Old Man personally came to the front.

Hearing Li Zongren's words, the Old Man knew what Li Zongren wanted to say — nothing more than his previous bypassing of the War Zone Headquarters to mobilize Tang Enbo.

"Fine fine, Old Germany I still trust; Tang Enbo fought five days at Zou County, I never once interfered."

Li Zongren nodded after hearing: "Right, sending Wei Yue to the front is enough; he'll act on your behalf, why trouble yourself."

The Old Man said solemnly: "I cannot simply sit in the rear either; two Japanese divisions have appeared in the Linyi direction, I have already dispatched one Army of reinforcements to join the Xuzhou Battlefield; we must maintain troop superiority and crush the Japanese conspiracy!"

"Come, let's go sit in your command post together!"