Chapter 350

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko led his troops out of the Dabie Mountains and returned to Huangchuan County to focus on dealing with the Youth Army and Hu Gongnan and Song Xilian.

As a result, the pressure on the operational forces of Li Zongren's Fifth War Zone on the north bank of the Yangtze River suddenly decreased, and they no longer had to worry about the Imperial Japanese Army Second Army crossing the Dabie Mountains and appearing behind them.

"The Imperial Japanese Army is currently attacking Wu Xue on the north bank of the Yangtze River, and our army is carrying out a blocking battle step by step," Chief of Staff Bai Zhongxi said.

Li Zongren looked at his command headquarters; he was currently inside the Tianjiatun Fortress.

After the Imperial Japanese Army captured Wu Xue, they would directly face this Tianjiatun Fortress.

Tianjiatun Fortress was the headquarters of Li Zongren and Bai Zhongxi, a small town on the north bank of the Yangtze River.

It seemed ordinary, yet had a rich history; because it controlled the Yangtze waterway, many great wars had taken place nearby throughout history, and Li Zi Cheng and the Taiping Army had once roamed freely in the vicinity.

At this moment, Ma Dang Fortress stood firm on the south bank of the Yangtze River; while Tianjiatun Fortress was the most solid fortress in the north bank region, with a large number of first-class national defense works built.

Li Zongren said solemnly: "Ma Dang Fortress has not fallen to this day, and the Imperial Japanese fleet cannot continue to advance upstream along the Yangtze River; our Tianjiatun Fortress must take Ma Dang Fortress as an example!"

Bai Zhongxi looked at the combat map: "Wei Yue created many favorable conditions for us, ensuring our rear would not be ambushed by the Imperial Japanese Army Second Army, preventing the Imperial Japanese fleet from directly attacking us, and forcing Imperial Japanese Gangcun Ningci's 11th Army to only attack us head-on from land;

In this decisive battle, we must change the norm of our army losing cities and territory!"

"The Imperial Japanese Army, affected by Ma Dang Fortress, cannot penetrate deep into the south bank region of the Yangtze River; the Ninth War Zone's forces are relatively ample, and can let Zhang Fakui's Second Corps at Jiujiang send troops to support us; we must block the enemy at Tianjiatun!"

Li Zongren nodded: "Transfer the Second Corps' Artillery Eighth Regiment, Artillery Tenth Regiment, Artillery Fourteenth Regiment, and the Banbi Mountain Fortress Guard to support us!"

The ships available to the Central Navy can also advance forward to attack the Imperial Japanese infantry near the riverbank."

On the north bank of the Yangtze River, the Xia Guo Army's determination to defend Wuhan was unprecedentedly high, and various troops set out for designated areas according to orders.

And in Huangchuan at the north foot of the Dabie Mountains, Imperial Guard Division Commander Lieutenant General Iida Sadakazu heard that Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko had actually led troops back to rescue him, and suddenly felt the sky was falling.

"This is simply absurd! Victory and defeat are common matters in warfare; the First Regiment being annihilated is just an accident! If we turn back to support Huangchuan, what about the plan to capture Wuhan?!

If the Wuhan campaign fails because of this, wouldn't we become sinners of Emperor Chuo?!"

Fifth Division Commander Lieutenant General Itagaki Seishiro said after hearing this: "Iida Sadakazu-dono, do not be too confident in yourself.

Have you not yet seen your situation clearly? Your so-called glorious and great Imperial Guard Infantry First Regiment has already been declared destroyed;

If you remain stubborn like this, the entire Imperial Guard Division might perish at your hands!"

Lieutenant General Iida Sadakazu was stunned; within Huangchuan City, only Lieutenant General Itagaki Seishiro at this moment dared to stand up and question him directly.

"You... how dare you! The Imperial Guard Division cannot fail!"

"Still dreaming! You were directly commanding from the rear, and witnessed all the battles with your own eyes; facing the Youth Army's tank clusters, how powerless were your Cishou Infantry Company? Facing the Youth Army's artillery fire, your reinforcements could not be transported at all! Facing the Youth Army's air superiority, the Heavy Artillery Brigade could not be deployed at all!"

Wake up, Division Commander Iida Sadakazu!"

Lieutenant General Itagaki Seishiro vented his dissatisfaction over the past few days fiercely.

Division Commander Iida Sadakazu thought for a moment; he had already fallen behind the Youth Army in all aspects, and finally lost his former vigor and pride.

The aura he had propped up had completely disappeared under the Youth Army's strikes and Itagaki Seishiro's exposure.

"Then what should we do now?!" Division Commander Iida Sadakazu asked dejectedly.

"What else can we do? Hold the defense and await reinforcements, contract the defense, and wait for Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko to lead the 16th Division and the 108th Division to support us."

"Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko came to rescue Huangchuan because the Imperial Guard Division fought poorly... If the Wuhan campaign fails, it is because Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko came to rescue Huangchuan...

We... are all sinners of Emperor Chuo..."

By this time, Division Commander Iida Sadakazu's view of the Xia Guo battlefield had completely changed.

He no longer regarded his Imperial Guard Division as number one in the world.

Even Emperor Tenghuang's Imperial Guard Division might lose this war!

Bang!

Someone kicked the door open, scaring Iida and Itagaki into turning around at the same time.

"You've become weak, old thing!" The speaker was Cavalry Brigade Commander Lieutenant Colonel Fushimi Takeo, who had been listening to the two men's conversation outside the door.

Lieutenant Colonel Fushimi Takeo commanded the Cavalry Brigade, was a prince, and was related by marriage to Emperor Tenghuang.

Division Commander Iida Sadakaru was very dissatisfied with this prince's approach, but still suppressed his anger: "Mind your words, Brigade Commander Fushimi, this is Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko's decision!"

Major General Fushimi snorted coldly, turned and left directly, leaving Division Commander Iida Sadakazu and Lieutenant General Itagaki Seishiro to discuss the later defense plan within the headquarters.

An hour later, a staff officer ran into the headquarters and reported to Division Commander Iida Sadakazu: "Report, Division Commander-dono, Prince Fushimi Takeo has led the Cavalry Brigade out; before leaving, he asked me to tell you that he wants to recapture the positions lost by the Imperial Guard Infantry First Regiment!"

"What? The Cavalry Brigade has attacked? Without my order, how dare he!" Division Commander Iida Sadakazu flew into a rage.

The staff officer stammered: "Prince Fushimi also asked me to tell you... you have handed over the honor of the Imperial Guard Division... to others... you are not qualified to command the Imperial Guard Cavalry... he will lead the Imperial Guard Cavalry to recapture the honor of the Imperial Guard Division..."

Hearing this, Lieutenant General Itagaki Seishiro of the Fifth Division sighed: "The pride of the Imperial Guard Division has indeed seeped into the bones; even after persuading you, the Division Commander, we cannot make the entire Imperial Guard Division behave."

Outside Huangchuan City, the moon was bright and stars were sparse.

"That old thing Iida Sadakazu is completely unambitious!" Baron Kurojima Morita, commander of the Imperial Guard Cavalry First Regiment, said resentfully while riding a horse.

"Staying with that pessimistic fellow Itagaki Seishiro every day, he has completely failed to fulfill his responsibility to uphold the Emperor's honor!" Colonel Sen Wu Liu, commander of the Imperial Guard Cavalry Second Regiment, was also very dissatisfied with Division Commander Iida Sadakazu.

Major General Fushimi of the Cavalry Brigade rode on a horse, quietly listening to the two men discussing Iida Sadakazu.

The news of the annihilation of the Ushijima Regiment greatly stimulated the Imperial Guard Division up and down; everyone wanted to attack for revenge, but Division Commander Iida Sadakazu only thought of contracting the defense and passively taking a beating.

Most importantly, the situation in Huangchuan had seriously affected the victory of the Wuhan campaign.

The Cavalry Brigade of the Imperial Guard Division had two cavalry regiments, one cavalry artillery regiment, and a supply train; there were more than four thousand six hundred men and more than four thousand seven hundred horses and mules, and their combat power was quite formidable.

"Speed up! Under the cover of night, recapture the outer positions west of Huangchuan City!"