Chapter 345

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Imperial Guard Infantry First Regiment Commander Ushijima Katsuji stood at attention and said: "Rest assured, Your Excellency, my unit will hold this position for two days; the enemy is completely suppressed by my Heavy Artillery Brigade and infantry firepower, unable to shift the position an inch."

Iida Sadakata nodded in satisfaction and reminded him: "Ah! Do not underestimate the enemy."

"I have heard that Lv Muzhi has sent his capable subordinate Qiu Qingquan, leading two divisions of the Youth Corps south to join Hu Gongnan and Song Xilian's forces; we will soon be fighting them."

Ushijima Katsuji said arrogantly: "Rest assured, Your Excellency, I will certainly make Qiu Qingquan taste the might of the Imperial Guard Division!"

"Our Cishou Infantry Squadron has been fully upgraded."

"In addition to being equipped with Spike Mines, six 25mm Machine Cannons and six 37mm Anti-tank Guns have been added, making our anti-tank capabilities more complete."

"Together with the twenty-plus tanks cooperating with my division, we will surely cut Qiu Qing down from his horse!"

Lieutenant General Iida Sadakata was very pleased with Regimental Commander Ushijima Katsuji's performance, believing that Regimental Commander Ushijima had considered everything very thoroughly.

"Besides every man having a Spike Mine, the firepower of the Cishou Infantry Squadron has been upgraded, forming a more comprehensive anti-tank Cishou Infantry Squadron."

"With his self-created Cishou Infantry Squadron, Lieutenant Colonel Iida Sadakata's confidence was even greater."

At this moment, a Communications Soldier delivered a telegram: "Urgent telegram from Prince Tōgū Toshihiko."

Iida Sadakata took the telegram and read it, sighing somewhat regretfully.

Ushijima Katsuji asked: "What instructions does His Highness the Prince have?"

Lieutenant Colonel Iida Sadakata handed him the telegram and said: "His Highness the Prince is worried that we cannot withstand the joint offensive of the Youth Corps and Hu Gongnan, and has slowed the action of crossing the Dabie Mountains;"

"and has withdrawn the Sixteenth Division to the foot of the mountains north of the Dabie Mountains; once Huangchuan is in danger, the Sixteenth Division can come to the rescue at any time."

"If the situation worsens further, the Second Army may even withdraw its entire line back to Hefei; it can be said that His Highness the Prince has already changed the operational objective of crossing the Dabie Mountains, turning instead to preserving the fighting strength of our Second Army as the primary objective."

Ushijima Katsuji slammed his fist into his palm: "Ai ya! His Highness the Prince is simply too cautious! With my Imperial Guard Division here, and the Fifth Division assisting, why worry about our rear being attacked by the Youth Corps?!"

"Please immediately telegraph the Prince, urging him to lead the Sixteenth and 108th Divisions to break through the Dabie Mountains with all their might and pincer the main force of the Fifth War Zone with Ji Jun Zhang Jiaogang Village's Eleventh Army."

"Thus, the situation in the Wuhan theater can be decided!"

Iida Sadakata nodded: "Those words make sense; that is also my meaning!"

"I will send a telegram immediately, asking His Highness not to worry about the Imperial Guard Division and Huangchuan County, and to go all out to cross the Dabie Mountains!"

"By the way, Regimental Commander Ushijima, you must lead the Imperial Guard Infantry First Regiment to hold the position, and let His Highness see with his own eyes that my Imperial Guard Division is enough to intimidate those Chinese scoundrels!"

"Hai!"

On the position of Hu Gongnan's Seventeenth Corps, Li Zhengxian, division commander of the First Division of the First Army, finally breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Qiu Qingquan leading reinforcements, especially the seventy-plus tanks accompanying the army.

After Li Zhengxian and Qiu Qingquan met, they became quite familiar, as both were graduates of Whampoa Second Phase and were old classmates.

The difference was that Qiu Qingquan followed Lv Muzhi of Whampoa First Phase, while Li Zhengxian followed Hu Gongnan of Whampoa First Phase.

Two Second Phase juniors each followed a First Phase senior classmate.

Now Qiu Qingquan had risen to the rank of Major General Ji Jun Zhang, commanding the Youth Army; Li Zhengxian's promotion was considered fast, having reached the position of division commander, specifically the division commander of the First Division of the First Army, a unit of special significance.

Yet even so, comparing people always infuriates people.

If Lv Muzhi was the one doing best among Whampoa First Phase, then Qiu Qingquan was the one doing best among Second Phase.

Seeing the strong and vigorous Qiu Qingquan, Li Zhengxian felt a thousand emotions and said with a smile: "This time I must trouble Senior Brother Yu'an; the artillery fire of the Imperial Guard Division is indeed fierce."

Qiu Qingquan shook hands and said: "The Imperial Guard Division's cannons are fierce, but my cannons are not lacking either."

Li Zhengxian laughed heartily: "That is natural; I have long heard of the Youth Army's firepower and combat record."

"Thirteen years since graduating from Whampoa, I feel quite deeply about it."

"They say men fear entering the wrong profession, women fear marrying the wrong husband; Senior Brother Yu'an following Lu Commander truly has a bright future."

"Where is that?" Qiu Qingquan waved his hand, "You follow Corps Commander Hu; your future is equally promising."

"Xia Guo is vast in territory, and now with the Japanese invaders invading, you and I each have a world to display our talents."

After the pleasantries, Li Zhengxian got to the point: "I take it Senior Brother Yu'an means to use artillery fire to suppress the Japanese artillery?"

Qiu Qingquan pondered slightly: "Not in a hurry; let's give the devils some appetizers first."

He turned to the Staff Officer: "Send a telegram to ask Lu Commander if Chu Yunfei's side is finished?"

The Staff Officer sent a telegram quickly, and after a while received a reply: "Chu Yunfei has already recovered three counties west of Jiaozuo; the Youth Army Air Corps has a Fighter Battalion on standby, and the Bomber Battalion can also sortie at any time."

"If support is needed, you can call directly."

Qiu Qingquan hesitated not at all: "Immediately apply for air support, focus on striking the Imperial Guard Division's artillery positions!"

In the eastern suburbs of Huangchuan City, on the position of the Imperial Guard Division's Field Heavy Artillery Brigade, it was busy.

Type 38 150mm Howitzers and Type 96 150mm Howitzers stood with their short, thick barrels raised; artillerymen were unloading heavy shells from ammunition vehicles, preparing to deal with a new round of attacks by the Xia State Army.

Major General Matsuzaki Katsuzaburo, brigade commander of the Heavy Artillery Brigade, stood on the heavy artillery position and felt very reassured.

To deal with air strikes, the devils' Anti-aircraft Regiment's anti-aircraft firepower had deployed a tight firepower deployment, and air reconnaissance was also done very carefully; Tokugawa Yoshitoshi's Air Corps could also arrive in time to provide support.

It could be said that the Imperial Guard Division's heavy artillery position was well protected.

At the same time, the Heavy Artillery Brigade's heavy artillery also protected the Imperial Guard Division's position and infantry very well, preventing Hu Gongnan's First Army from advancing a single step.

"All of you work hard for me, handle the shells gently and place them gently; what we represent is the honor of Emperor Tenghuang!" Major General Matsuzaki Katsuzaburo shouted loudly while inspecting the artillery position.

However, the Youth Army's fighter planes did not give the devils face, and the air raid alarm sounded just in time.

"Friendlies report, reconnaissance has detected Youth Army fighter planes approaching!"

"Anti-aircraft Regiment take combat positions, prepare for air defense combat!"

"Apply for air support from Tokugawa Air Corps!"

"Artillerymen immediately transfer, enter cover!"

The Imperial Guard Division reacted quickly, moving with great urgency to prepare for their first battle against the Youth Army.

The Japanese Army's air raid sirens were loud enough that even Qiu Qingquan heard them from his own position.

Li Zhengxian asked, "Judging by the noise, it looks like the little devils have already prepared their air defenses. By the time our planes arrive, their artillery must have already hidden, right?"

Qiu Qingquan laughed, "If the little devils' heavy artillery force hides, the infantry in the position will lose their heavy artillery support. Isn't that more convenient for us to assault the little devils' position?"

Li Zhengxian widened his eyes, feeling this made sense, and immediately seized the opportunity: "Good! Taking advantage of this time difference, I will immediately order my troops to launch another assault on the Imperial Guard Division's position!"

"Slow!" Qiu Qingquan stopped Li Zhengxian: "Division Commander Li, don't be anxious. The little devils' infantry aren't made of vinegar. The terrain here is open, and blind assaults easily lead to losses. Let my artillery go first!"

After speaking, Qiu Qingquan ordered his adjutant: "Order the artillery to sortie, aim at the Japanese Army Imperial Guard Division's frontline main position. The 155mm Heavy Artillery Regiment, the 105mm Howitzer Group, the 75mm field guns and mountain guns—bring them all up and bombard!"

Order the Tank Assault Group to prepare. Once the artillery fire stops, immediately attack the Japanese Army position under air cover!