Chapter 338

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

North Foot of the Dabie Mountains, Huangchuan County.

Song Xilian's Seventy-First Army, two divisions, were desperately blocking the four divisions of Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko's Second Army. Huangchuan was crucial—within the Dabie Mountains south of the county lay a mountain pass; once lost, the Japanese could advance straight through the mountains and thrust into the northern side of Wuhan.

By then, the Fifth War Zone's main force deployed on the north bank of the Yangtze would be attacked from front and rear, facing the Second Army and the Eleventh Army.

Song Xilian's forces had fought all the way from the Battle of Songhu, losing nearly half their veterans.

Now facing the fierce bombardment of the Heavy Artillery Brigade under the Imperial Guard Division, the entire outer perimeter of Huangchuan trembled.

In the command post, Song Xilian's expression was grave.

The Chief of Staff beside him urgently reported: "The Eastern Suburb Position is under fierce attack by the Imperial Guard Division; the brigade stationed there can't hold out much longer!"

"Hold out even if we can't!" Song Xilian gritted his teeth. "The order from above is to hold for at least three days. Move all reserves up! Once the reserves are spent, throw my guard company in!"

The Chief of Staff looked troubled. Fighting like this, the Seventy-First Army might be wiped out, and the blood of the Thirty-Sixth Division would have to be replaced entirely.

Just then, a messenger brought a telegram.

Song Xilian opened it, and joy finally appeared on his face: "Reinforcements are coming soon!"

"Was it Commander Hu Gongnan who sent troops?" the Chief of Staff asked hurriedly.

"No, it's the Youth Corps heading south." Song Xilian exhaled in relief. "Order: the entire army will alternate covering, withdraw to Xinyang to join Hu Gongnan's forces."

The Chief of Staff was shocked: "Abandon Huangchuan? Then wouldn't the southern passage be handed over to the Japanese? Wuhan is in danger!"

"No matter, this is the War Zone Headquarters' instruction." Song Xilian pointed to the map. "That passage is just a mountain path in a canyon; the Fifth War Zone's Commander Li has already sent people to guard it."

"Our army retreats to Xinyang, joins Hu Gongnan's two armies, plus the two reinforced divisions of the Youth Corps about to head south—such a powerful force right behind Huangchuan. If the Japanese dare to all dive into that canyon, aren't we afraid we'll cut off their retreat?"

"Withdraw from the positions quickly. I want to see how the Japanese Second Army chooses!"

East of Huangchuan, Sixteenth Division Commander Iida Sadakata watched the retreating Seventy-First Army and couldn't help but feel disappointed: "Song Xilian of Whampoa Class 1 turns out to be no more than this."

He waved his hand and ordered: "Pursue! Don't let them escape!"

The Staff Officer beside him received the order and left.

Iida Sadakata touched the military sword at his waist, but felt somewhat empty in his heart.

His carefully organized "Cishou Xian Bing Company," those two hundred-plus spike mines, had yet to see any use.

Sixteenth Division Commander Iida Sadakata clenched his fist and said: "If the Youth Corps' tanks dare to come and offend, I'll make them taste our might!"

"Your Excellency, Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko urgently summons all division commanders." The Adjutant came to report.

Iida Sadakata roughly guessed the meeting's content, his expression darkened slightly, and he lost interest at once, but still immediately headed to the main camp.

Inside the Second Army command post, Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko was discussing the next move with four division commanders.

"Huangchuan has been successfully captured by us. According to the original plan, we should march south, pass through the valley to the south, cross the Dabie Mountains, and strike straight at Wuhan," the Prince said.

This matched Iida Sadakata's expectations: his Imperial Guard Division would remain in Huangchuan, and together with the Fifth Division guard the direction of Xinyang against Hu Gongnan's forces and the Youth Corps that might head south.

Itagaki Seishiro had no dissatisfaction with this. In his view, staying in the rear to secure the retreat route was far more stable than drilling into mountain gullies to find a fight.

If the Youth Corps really came south to attack Huangchuan, Itagaki Seishiro could still flee east back to Hefei, and saving his life was no problem.

But Sixteenth Division Commander Nakajima Imao raised concerns: "Song Xilian's forces withdrew to Xinyang without a death defense; obviously they want to join Hu Gongnan's forces. I see this as a conspiracy, no... an open plot!"

"The enemy forces in the direction of Xinyang include Hu Gongnan's two armies, plus the one army Song Xilian brought—already three armies!"

"Song Xilian deliberately withdrew from Huangchuan, giving up the passage south through the Dabie Mountains, to meet Hu Gongnan at Xinyang and watch us."

"If our main force advances deep into the Dabie Mountains now, and they suddenly sally out from Xinyang to block our retreat, what do we do?"

One Hundred Eighth Division Commander Shimomoto Kumaya also echoed: "We should first destroy the enemy entrenched at Xinyang before we can march south across the Dabie Mountains with peace of mind."

Sixteenth Division Commander Iida Sadakata said: "What's there to fear? The great Imperial Guard Division and Itagaki's Fifth Division are right here in Huangchuan. If the enemy at Xinyang comes to cut our rear, we'll block them!"

"Isn't that right, Lieutenant General Itagaki?!"

Itagaki Seishiro, hearing this, just gave a guilty laugh. After experiencing the Battle of Xuzhou, if the Youth Corps really came, he dared not guarantee he could hold the Second Army's retreat route.

The Sixteenth Division Commander and the One Hundred Eighth Division Commander, hearing Iida Sadakata's words, just shook their heads helplessly.

Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko sighed: "Your concerns are reasonable; I have the same worry."

"But General Hata Shunroku of the Central China Expeditionary Army has repeatedly urged our Second Army to speed up, and Gangcun Ningci's Eleventh Army on the north bank of the Yangtze is also struggling..."

"Dispatch Army Headquarters hopes our army crosses the Dabie Mountains, reaches the north bank of the Yangtze, and advances east-west with the Eleventh Army to pincer the main force of the Fifth War Zone."

He looked around at everyone and continued: "The Battle of Wuhan has lasted two months. The Eleventh Army has fought for two months without significant results; my Second Army has rested and refitted at Hefei for nearly two months, also without major results."

"The Naval Fleet is blocked by Ma Dang Fortress on the south bank of the Yangtze. Gangcun Ningci's Eleventh Army moved to the north bank of the Yangtze to fight, without naval gunfire support, its combat power is discounted. It urgently needs us to cross the Dabie Mountains, reach the north bank of the Yangtze, and pincer the main force of Commander Li Zongren's Fifth War Zone on the north bank of the Yangtze."

"If we don't speed up the combat progress, the enormous resources consumed by this campaign will all be wasted!"

Hearing Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko's words, the several division commanders had nothing to say. Leaving two divisions in Huangchuan to guard the retreat route, and two divisions marching south across the Dabie Mountains, was a compromise considering superior orders and the actual situation.

"Now I order! The Imperial Guard Division and the Fifth Division will remain in Huangchuan to secure my Second Army's retreat route;"

"The Sixteenth and One Hundred Eighth Divisions will immediately march south, break through the various strategic passes in the Dabie Mountains, and reach the north bank of the Yangtze via Machen."

"Huangchuan is entrusted to the two of you," Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko said solemnly. "If this place is lost, our army will be trapped to death in the Dabie Mountains."

After speaking, this Prince also bowed deeply to Iida Sadakata and Itagaki Seishiro.

Iida Sadakata stood straight, then bowed and said: "Your Highness, rest assured! The Imperial Guard Division will defend Huangchuan to the death. Whether it's Hu Gongnan, Song Xilian, or Lv Muzhi, none of them will advance south a single step!"

Itagaki Seishiro: "The Fifth Division is the same!"

At this moment, a communications soldier rushed in: "Urgent report! A large number of enemy troops have been discovered near Xiaojieling in the heart of the Dabie Mountains. They are forces under Sun Lianzhong of the Fifth War Zone's Third Corps, fortifying the Dabie Mountains defenses!"

Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko's expression turned stern: "Indeed... the enemy has already set up defenses in the mountains, but this is within my expectations. Smash them!"

"Our speed must increase. Take action immediately!"

"Hai!" the four division commanders answered in unison.

Simultaneously, at the Zhengzhou Youth Corps Headquarters.

Lv Muzhi had returned to headquarters, and the three divisions of the First Army were fully prepared and ready to depart.