Chapter 288: Breaking Out

Inside the command post of the Seventh War Zone!

A massive map was hung on the wall.

Marked upon it were red and blue arrows, currently representing the Sichuan Army's defense in the Seventh War Zone.

The map also had markings on it!

At the meeting.

Chen Cixiu decided that the various units of the Seventh War Zone must deploy their forces in echelons to intercept the enemy forces one by one.

At the same time, they must also be prepared to receive the troops withdrawing from the Seventh War Zone.

According to the withdrawal order from the Nanjing Command.

Powerful artillery fire, like a volcanic eruption, fell continuously upon the heads of the 67th Army.

The resistance was quite fierce; his troops had been blocked here for three days.

"The garrison inside the city cannot hold on any longer."

Just like that!

The 67th Army and the Japanese Army 23rd Brigade fought for an entire day.

He was very melancholy now!

That was Songjiang Town, where the troops he led encountered stubborn resistance from the Republic of China Army.

I am waiting for you here.

To completely blast Songjiang Town into ruins, so that the Republic of China Army inside would have no place to hide at all.

"Boom, boom, boom!! ——"

"Yoshi!"

The garrison in the Songhu Region, the left-wing combat army group, was to cover the withdrawal of the right-wing combat army group.

67th Army command post.

After the aforementioned two units withdrew, the 67th Army would immediately break out and retreat toward the Seventh War Zone.

In an instant, Wu Keren fell.

Following closely, a Communications Soldier of the 67th Army came before Wu Keren.

Which unit goes first, which unit goes last, and which unit provides cover.

After a sharp sound of airflow came from the sky.

The 23rd Brigade also took the opportunity to advance forward, occupying quite a few areas.

In the left-wing combat army group, Chen Cixiu also gave Luo Zhuoying and Xue Laohu a death order.

Without his command, anyone who retreats without authorization or abandons their position will be executed without mercy.

The 23rd Brigade launched a fierce attack in order to annihilate the garrison inside the city.

The offensive of the 10th Army was severely delayed by the Sichuan Army, along the line of Songjiang Strategic Town and Qingpu Baihe Port.

Therefore, the left-wing combat army group of the Songhu Region must first hold their positions until the right-wing combat army group has withdrawn.

A large-scale artillery battle took place between the two sides.

"Break out, fight our way back home!"

The artillery fire of three regiments, plus the artillery regiments of two brigades of the Jing'an Army.

"It seems our breakout plan has already been discovered by the devils."

According to the latest telegram from the Nanjing Command.

Following closely!

The battle between the two sides was exceptionally fierce, to the extent that both the Japanese Army and the 67th Army suffered relatively heavy casualties.

Wu Keren's 67th Army, acting as the covering force, blocked the advance of the 23rd Brigade.

The pontoon bridge that the 67th Army had just erected was also caught in this storm-like artillery fire.

"Order!"

Colonel Nozoe Masanori immediately stood at attention.

"The little devils have intensified their offensive."

And just at this moment.

Wu Keren issued a withdrawal order to the entire army.

"The Republic of China Army inside the city seems to be secretly breaking out."

Songjiang Town!

The Northeast Army 67th Army, the 61st Division, and the Sichuan Army 43rd Army successfully blocked the 23rd Brigade for three full days.

Because the general's uniform he was wearing was truly too conspicuous.

Now they were also fighting openly, with Liaoning-made 75mm Mountain Guns and 105mm Howitzers.

Many officers were also astonished.

The 67th Army withdrawing now was certainly not as good as the previous 61st Division and 43rd Army.

Under the cover of the artillery, the 67th Army's pontoon bridge was finally completed.

The Sichuan Army 43rd Army retreated toward the Seventh War Zone, and the 61st Division took a train to retreat toward Wuxi.

Now, Old Wu just wanted to tell everyone that I, as the Army Commander of the 67th Army, have not yet withdrawn.

"Hai!" Colonel Nozoe Masanori nodded.

And!

As Wu Keren's voice fell, all the officers in the 67th Army command post picked up their weapons.

"The 55th Regiment, the 56th Regiment, and the First Regiment of the Reserve Reinforcement Brigade."

"Under the powerful offensive of the Imperial Army."

"Army Commander!"

Resolutely executing the order, Wu Keren also issued a death order to the entire army.

"Army Commander..."

"At the same time!"

This resulted in the fact that when the more than 700,000-strong army withdrew from the Songhu Battlefield, they did not flee in a disorganized swarm like in the original timeline.

"Always being scolded by the common people, after the battle in the Pingjin Region, the common people's perception of us has changed."

In an instant, this battle entered a white-hot state.

"Report to the Brigade Commander!"

After learning that the pontoon bridge had been set up, Wu Keren immediately ordered the troops to begin covering each other's withdrawal.

The Sichuan Army 23rd Group Army had favorable operations west and south of Taihu.

They carried out carpet bombing in the direction of the 67th Army's breakout.

"Sooner or later, we will fight our way back home."

After the 67th Army received the order!

The 23rd Brigade under the 18th Division was still engaged in fierce fighting with the defensive troops in the Pudong area.

It snapped instantly, and many soldiers setting up the pontoon bridge were also killed by the Japanese Army's artillery fire.

Withdrawing toward the Qingpu and Baihe Port line southwest of Taihu.

"And the two brigades of the Jing'an Army, concentrate all artillery fire for me immediately."

67th Army Headquarters.

When each unit withdrew, they were also prepared to provide covering fire for one another.

The corners of Xiaoye Guifu's mouth lifted, revealing a mocking arc.

And this wait allowed the Japanese Army's scouts to discover General Wu Keren.

"However!"

Due to the withdrawal of the 61st Division and the 43rd Army, the defense line at Songjiang Town began to shrink.

"No matter what."

Only then could they retreat!

"Wanting to take advantage of the night to escape."

Even Commander Yanagawa Heisuke began to be dissatisfied with Xiaoye Guifu.

The Regiment Commander of the 55th Regiment, Colonel Yezhuchangde, quickly arrived at the Brigade Headquarters.

Wu Keren put down the telegram, "Gentlemen!"

"They are currently setting up a pontoon bridge."

"Our troops, ever since entering the pass."

Liujianxu's 10th Group Army, as well as Zhang Fakui's Eighth Group Army and other units.

This series of orders had also been issued by the Nanjing Command and notified to all units.

It won precious time to cover the withdrawal of the troops in the Songhu Region.

"Ground troops, strengthen the attack for me; you must block the enemy's breakout."

"Received a report from the frontline sentries."

"Therefore, tonight the 67th Army must tear through the Japanese Army's defense line."

Three Mortar shells exploded right beside Wu Keren.

The Japanese Army is calling for your artillery support.

"Block the breakout direction of the defenders in the city and destroy the pontoon bridge they set up."

The Mortars of the regimental units are now all launching a counterattack against the Japanese Army.

"Received a telegram from the frontline troops."

"Baka!"

The 67th Army fought very intensely against the Japanese Army in order to break out.

This Songhu withdrawal was carried out with alternating cover and an orderly retreat.

"Army Commander..."

"We must all break out."

Currently, no large groups of the Japanese Army have appeared yet.

"Everyone follow me, pick up your weapons, and kill the Japanese Army."

Seeing that the Japanese Army's artillery fire was so intense, everyone...

Following closely!

Xiaoye Guifu slammed his fist down hard on Songjiang Town; he prepared to have the Imperial Japanese Navy provide fire support tomorrow.

At the 23rd Brigade Command Post, Major General Xiaoye Guifu was looking at a map in his command post.

Most of the highways and Railway lines had not yet fallen, and the troops were withdrawing at a very fast speed.

By nightfall.

But Wu Keren insisted on waiting for another division to withdraw before he would cross the river.

After a division of the 67th Army had withdrawn, Wu Keren's Guard Company asked him to cross the river first.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes: "It seems!"

The 67th Army's artillery unit covered the engineers as they set up the pontoon bridge.

Inside the city!

We must block the 16th Division and cover the retreat of the Right Wing Combat Army Group.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!! —"

Seeing this scene, the soldiers of the 67th Army shouted one after another.

It is too painful; the previous chapters are under censorship and are still being revised, but they haven't been salvaged yet.

(End of this chapter)