Chapter 436

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

The Youth Army advanced in a pincer movement, which was extremely dangerous for Xiao Zhukazuo's Shanxi First Army.

But at this moment, inside the First Army headquarters in Taiyuan.

On the face of Commander Xiao Zhukazuo, there was actually a hint of relief.

First Army Commander Xiao Zhukazuo was staring at the latest order sent by his superior, Commander Tada Shun.

In Xiao Zhukazuo's view, the order from Tada Shun was like a pardon: abandon Taiyuan, have the entire army withdraw east via the Zhengtai Railway Line, and retreat to defend Niangzi Pass.

These past days, worried that Lv Muzhi's armored cluster would push straight to the gates of Taiyuan City, Xiao Zhukazuo hadn't slept soundly for two days.

After all, if Taiyuan were lost, he could commit seppuku.

Now Commander Tada Toshin ordered him to retreat.

This meant he no longer had to keep playing a deadly game with Lv Muzhi in this doomed isolated city.

Niangzi Pass, as a strategic pass in the middle section of the Taihang Mountains, had long been the gateway to Shanxi and the throat of Hebei.

The Zhengtai Railway ran through it; if they could hold their ground here, even if Lv Muzhi swallowed Shanxi, he would never dream of easily stepping into the Hebei Plain.

Xiao Zhukazuo took a deep breath and began issuing withdrawal orders: "Order the Independent Mixed 4th Brigade to protect the Zhengtai Railway Line at all costs!"

"Tell them, the Zhengtai Railway is our army's lifeline for retreat; it must be kept open!"

Then he sent an urgent telegram to the garrison at Pingyao City: "Order the 37th Division, the 41st Division, and the Tank 3rd Division to immediately alternate covering the withdrawal to Taiyuan."

"Once in Taiyuan, board the trains directly and head to Niangzi Pass to reorganize the defensive line!"

Xiao Zhukazuo's troops had retreated all the way from Fenglingdu to Taiyuan, and now they wanted to retreat from Taiyuan to Niangzi Pass.

It could be said that the Japanese army's morale was nearly shattered.

In this great battle known as the Winter Counteroffensive, from the very beginning, facing Lv Muzhi, the Japanese army had entered a cycle of blocking, retreating, blocking again, retreating again.

The once triumphant Emperor Chuo Army now had to admit—the situation had reversed!

Inside Pingyao City, Commander of the Tank Division Xiyuan Yice, a Lieutenant General, sat motionless in a chair, as if contemplating life.

Beside him, 37th Division Commander Hirata Kenbu and 41st Division Commander Tanabe Moritake waited anxiously for a decision.

Lieutenant General Xiyuan Yice had originally been calculating to use the Tank 6th Brigade to harass Lv Muzhi's flanks, find an opening, and launch a final, jade-shattering level armored charge.

But now, Xiao Zhukazuo's withdrawal order had arrived.

Xiyuan Yice's grand ambitions had all become a joke; he himself should withdraw bearing the shame of defeat.

"Your Excellency Xiyuan, this is Commander Xiao's latest dispatch, requiring us to immediately turn toward Taiyuan," Hirata Kenbu reminded him.

"After arriving in Taiyuan, take the train to Niangzi Pass to continue fortifying!"

41st Division Commander Tanabe Moritake was somewhat anxious, urging:

"Xiyuan-kun, don't hesitate anymore."

"Even your strongest Tank Division has been defeated by Lv Muzhi; for us infantry divisions staying here, besides feeding his Youth Army, what meaning is there?"

"Lv Muzhi is too strong, strong enough to make one despair; turning back is the only honorable choice now!"

Xiyuan Yice looked out at the gray window and finally let out a sigh of extreme unwillingness.

"If my Tank Division had been established two years earlier... would Lv Muzhi be my match?"

"Why was Zhou Yu born when Zhuge Liang was born!"

Hirata Kenbu couldn't listen anymore, thinking this comparison was too far-fetched: "Now is not the time to say these things; we should quickly preserve our strength."

Xiyuan Yice closed his eyes, submitted to the situation, and issued the contraction order.

"Order the Tank 6th Brigade, currently maneuvering on the flank, to immediately contract northward, retreat to Taiyuan to preserve strength."

However, a staff officer beside him stammered: "The Tank 6th Brigade... cannot be contacted right now!"

"We've been calling since fifteen minutes ago; Brigade Commander Takagi Kazuo has not responded at all..."

Xiyuan Yice widened his eyes: "What?! Could my last armored force also be devoured by the Youth Army?"

By the banks of the Fen River, it was now completely covered by thick smoke and the fires of war.

The Tank 6th Brigade, led by Major General Takagi Kazuo, had originally wanted to be a hyena waiting for fighter planes, seeking loopholes on Lv Muzhi's flank.

But Lv Muzhi gave Takagi Kazuo no chance at all; his first move was a thunderous destructive strike.

Two anti-aircraft battalions, two anti-tank battalions, one elite infantry regiment, plus seventy-five tanks and an entire rocket artillery battalion for follow-up support.

This configuration was aimed at annihilating the Tank 6th Brigade.

On the battlefield, an 88mm gun mounted on a half-track chassis belonging to the Youth Army was roaring.

Every recoil of that long barrel meant a Japanese tank ahead might be destroyed.

A Japanese Type 97 Kai Medium Tank fleeing desperately was directly penetrated by an 88mm armor-piercing shell, the entire hull turning into a fireball.

The Youth Army was hunting down the Tank 6th Brigade, which was maneuvering alone outside.

Tank 6th Brigade Commander Major General Takagi Kazuo was now curled up inside an armored command vehicle, fleeing desperately north along the Fen River.

Through the narrow observation window, the scene he saw was enough to make him lose his soul.

The tanks escorting him were like lining up for self-immolation, exploding and breaking down one after another.

The Mobile Infantry 3rd Regiment, which had originally operated with the Tank 6th Brigade, had already been used as a rearguard to cover.

But the Youth Army still caught up; judging by this, the Mobile Infantry 3rd Regiment was likely doomed.

The Mobile Infantry 3rd Regiment belonged to the Tank 3rd Division, was the benchmark of the Japanese Army regiments, specifically used to match the Youth Army's mechanized infantry regiment, and was equipped with a large number of armored vehicles and trucks.

But under the power of the Youth Army's rocket artillery crazily washing the ground, after being hit by two wheels of the Youth Army's infantry regiment, the Japanese Mobile Infantry 3rd Regiment's defensive line directly collapsed.

It can be said that Lieutenant General Xiyuan Yice's Tank 3rd Division was originally built to match the Youth Army.

Its two subordinate Tank Brigades, plus a Mobile Infantry Regiment, were the Japanese Army's hope for victory.

But they were all destroyed one by one by Youth Army troops.

Inside the Armored Command Vehicle, Tank Brigade Commander Major General Takagi cursed frantically: "Bastard! Faster! Faster! Drive into Taiyuan!"

Boom—!

With a dull cannon blast, a Youth Army Panzer III Medium Tank's 50-millimeter cannon struck Major General Takagi's vehicle.

The shell, carrying a deathly shriek, directly penetrated the rear armor of that Armored Command Vehicle.

The explosion and shock wave swallowed every life inside, and ended Brigade Commander Takagi's military career.

Tank Brigade 6, one of the two main forces of the Japanese Tank Division 3, was officially declared totally annihilated at this moment.