Chapter 435: The Original Recipe, the Familiar Taste

Kanzaki Kaichiro's proposal also received a response from other generals of the Navy Marine Corps; at the same time, some officers of the Hada Detachment also advised Hada Chongyi to use the Imperial Army's special smoke.

To strike the Chuan Army inside the city, the current mission of the Hada Detachment is to first occupy Anqing City!

Inside the conference room, Hada Chongyi pondered for a long time, then immediately, he agreed to the request for the Japanese Navy Marine Corps to use special smoke.

"Yoshi!" Kanzaki Kaichiro smiled happily: "Major General Hada Chongyi, it should have been like this long ago. Once the special smoke is out, Anqing City will be in the pocket of the Imperial Army."

Hada Chongyi looked at Kanzaki Kaichiro, "Shenqi Jun, you should contact the Imperial Navy units now!"

"I hope your proposal is correct; let us test together whether the Chuan Army truly possesses special smoke."

"Hai!" Kanzaki Kaichiro nodded, then left the conference room and came to the communications department. He sent a telegram to the Japanese Navy on the river, ordering the Navy to carry out a special smoke strike on Anqing City.

Rao Guohua and Liu Yuqing had both come along with the vanguard troops; upon seeing Yu Hua, Liu Zhangqing, and Guo Xunqi, the few of them embraced one another.

Just as Chu Ming was about to speak, suddenly, outside the command post, a sharp whistling sound came from the sky!!

"It really is time to reorganize!" Guo Xunqi's gaze sharpened: "Otherwise, we will be the ones to suffer a great loss."

He had not expected that in the few months he had returned to Sichuan Province, the frontline troops, while fighting the Japanese Army, had actually neglected the item of anti-gas defense.

Hada Chongyi widened his eyes; such a result was completely beyond his expectations!

"In the streets and inside the rooms, a large number of Chinese soldiers were found foaming at the mouth; they all died under the Imperial Army's special smoke."

"Sigh..." Liu Zhangqing let out a long sigh: "It seems that we of the Chuan Army must reorganize!"

To the side, Kanzaki Kaichiro raised the corner of his mouth, revealing a haughty arc: "Major General Hada Chongyi, you see, the Chuan Army units have no special smoke at all."

"Yes... Regimental Commander, we will go together; there are no cowards in our Chuan Army!"

Also participating in this meeting was Zhang Yungang. Ever since his unit and the Chuan Army ambushed the Japanese airport last time and achieved results, the Chuan Army had shared the battle merits, allowing the 26th Group Army to also show its face before the national public.

"You lead the troops to block the Japanese Army from entering the city; I will follow shortly. We shall walk the road to the Yellow Springs together!"

Inside the mountain cave!

Yu Hua spread out the map, "Brother Rao, Brother Liu, tonight, we are going to strike Inaba Shiro's 6th Division."

The few grown men, hugging and embracing, did not mind, and after exchanging pleasantries for a while, Yu Hua led everyone into the mountain cave.

"Brother Yu! This brother has missed you to death."

"Daniu, from now on, you immediately lead the troops, gather the soldiers, and block the Japanese Army from entering the city. Can you complete the mission? Are there any difficulties?"

"There is still sporadic fighting inside the city; the enemy force is only about a hundred men. Regiment Commander Inoue is currently clearing out the remnants, and he guarantees that he can completely take Anqing City in one hour!"

Seeing that all units of the Chuan Army had received their combat missions, Zhang Yungang sought out Yu Hua: "Adjutant Yu, what is our regiment's mission?!"

After all, during the last training session, a company under this regiment, over a hundred men, was almost wiped out by a Japanese squad.

27th Group Army Command Post!

"My scheduled attack time is twelve o'clock!"

After reading the telegram, Xian Guangjun cursed loudly: "Those dog-Japanese devils actually used poison gas bombs."

Inside the mountain cave!

Chu Ming gathered the various Battalion Commanders for a meeting: "Gentlemen, according to news brought by the assault team, the Independent Brigade raided the Japanese airport, and now the Japanese 6th Division has gone to defend the airport."

"It is not a solution for us to always be on the receiving end of beatings! Counterattack, we must counterattack, and let the devils see that our Chuan Army is also a force that dares to take the initiative to attack."

"We have lured the 6th Division over, and Yang Sen has dispatched an assault team to make contact with the Chu Ming Regiment. The defenders' food and ammunition in the city have been replenished; logically speaking, this Anqing City should not have fallen so quickly."

"This phenomenon must be rectified, otherwise it will cause a huge impact."

"Fine!" Chu Ming nodded heavily: "Brothers, the Japanese Army suddenly launched poison gas bombs, and our regiment is finished. I will first make a brief combat summary to report to Commander Yang."

In the command post, Chu Ming organized his regiment's combat briefing and had the Communications Soldier send it to Commander Yang.

Upon hearing this, Yu Hua looked at Liu Zhangqing: "Can do!"

This gave the Chuan Army soldiers a feeling that the Japanese Army would not use poison gas. Everyone thought this way, and therefore, these gas masks were not worn on their persons.

After the sun set, at six o'clock in the evening, the vanguard troops of one regiment each from the Rao Guohua Division and the Liu Yuqing Division arrived at the Independent Brigade.

Yu Hua and Guo Xunqi were looking at the map when a Communications Soldier stepped forward, interrupted the two, and gave the telegram to Yu Hua.

Let them reorganize the Chuan Army so that a situation like the Chu Ming Regiment does not happen again!

"Strike!" Guo Xunqi gritted his teeth and said: "Must strike, to avenge the thousands of brothers in Anqing City, and also let the little devils taste the power of poison gas."

However, the telephones to many key high-ground positions and checkpoints could not be connected. At this moment, Chu Ming understood that the soldiers at these places were mostly gone.

"Now that the Japanese encirclement has shrunk, we can also obtain new supplies; we must still hold Anqing City."

Previously, they were trapped in a heavy Japanese encirclement, and their ammunition and food were exhausted. Now that the troops had replenished their ammunition and food, and the wounded had received treatment, everyone had the confidence to continue holding Anqing City.

"Two brothers, does your force need to rest for a while after the rapid march before launching an attack on the Japanese 6th Division? I can postpone it until two o'clock in the morning."

Xu Yuanquan also gave orders to Zhang Yungang, telling him to cooperate more with the Chuan Army to strike the Japanese Army along the Anqing City line and strive to gain more face for the 26th Group Army.

"This 6th Division is the fat meat in our mouths tonight; it must be eaten."

The combat effectiveness of the 6th Division is also very strong among the seventeen Permanent Divisions. Regarding the combat effectiveness of the Zhang Yungang Regiment, Yu Hua was somewhat worried, fearing that they would not be able to withstand the pressure of the Japanese Army.

"What!?" Xian Guangjun widened his eyes: "How could it be lost?"

Ever since Sichuan Province became capable of manufacturing poison gas bombs and gas masks, Deng Xihou and Pan Wenhua had publicized that if the Japanese Army dared to use poison gas, the Chuan Army would definitely strike back in retaliation.

"It seems that if we of the Chuan Army don't teach the devils a lesson, they will treat what our Chuan Army says as fart."

"Great!" A group of officers learned that the Group Army was not short of troops now, and everyone was very happy in their hearts, "Regimental Commander, once the reinforcements arrive, let us also start counterattacking the Japanese Army and give the little devils a sound beating."

"Artillery fire! The Japanese Army is shelling!"

"Here!" Wang Daniu immediately stood at attention.

Liu Yuqing also stood up: "Brother Yu, my 26th Division can likewise launch an attack on the Japanese 6th Division according to the scheduled plan."

"If they possessed special smoke, they would have already launched a retaliatory strike against the Imperial Army by now."

"With our three divisions, one Independent Brigade, plus the poison gas we are releasing on the devils, eating up the 6th Division is no problem at all."

Hada Detachment Command Post!

A Communications Soldier came to Hada Chongyi's side: "Report to the Detachment Commander, the troops entering the city are advancing very smoothly."

After the communications soldier of the 27th Group Army sent the telegram back to Sichuan Province, Deng Xihou and Pan Wenhua also immediately issued telegrams to the Sichuan Army in each war zone.

Seeing the 1st Battalion Commander speak this way, Chu Ming felt even better about him; one must know that the 1st Battalion Commander had previously been clamoring to retreat.

The current battle for Anqing City has sounded an alarm for the Sichuan Army!

Yang Sen called over a communications soldier: "Immediately forward this telegram to the 2nd Route Army Command, and at the same time, tell the Independent Brigade and the New 144th Division to be careful of the Japanese Army's poison gas warfare."

"Yes!" the communications soldier nodded!

After the documents at the Regiment Headquarters were burned, Chu Ming personally picked up a Type 26 Submachine Gun, pulled the bolt, and chambered a round. "Brothers, follow me to kill the devils!"

"In my opinion, the Sichuan Army's external propaganda that they possess a large amount of special smoke, and can even manufacture it, is all fake—a deceptive trick."

Seeing Kanzaki Kaichiro say this, Boda Chongyi nodded slightly: "Yosh, this time we owe it to Shenqi Jun for letting us see through the Sichuan Army's conspiracy."

The officers of the Chu Ming Regiment were one by one rubbing their hands, preparing to have a big fight with the Hada Detachment.

"Now that I am full of energy, our division can launch an attack on the Japanese 6th Division according to the original plan."

Seeing everyone's high enthusiasm, Chu Ming felt warm inside; he reached out his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet: "Everyone! The Independent Brigade is now less than thirty kilometers away from us; we are not fighting alone."

Yu Hua looked at the map, "Tonight, we will hit the 6th Division at the airfield, and we will also give the devils a poison gas bombardment."

"Our regiment is willing to obey the Sichuan Army's command; Adjutant Yu, our regiment also wants to participate in this battle."

"Ten minutes from now, the entire fleet's artillery will conduct a fifteen-minute bombardment on Anqing City!"

Yang Sen received an urgent telegram from Anqing City, and after reading it, he said to Chief of Staff Xian Guangjun: "Old Xian... Anqing City is lost!"

"Old Yu, let's play big tonight!" Liu Zhangqing's eyes burned: "The troops led by Rao Guohua and Liu Yuqing will be able to rendezvous with us at twelve o'clock tonight."

After discussing finishing off the 6th Division, Yu Hua began to plan the campaign!

Inside Anqing City!

Commander of the Japanese Navy's 11th Squadron, Kondo Eijiro, after receiving the telegram from Kanzaki Kaichiro, called for his Adjutant: "Yamada, immediately order the fleet to prepare the special smoke for me."

"Hai!" Yamada Jiro nodded heavily, then went to execute the order.

Seeing the two brothers pat their chests, guaranteeing they could reach the designated location tonight and launch the attack on time, Yu Hua issued the task map.

"Let me see the telegram!"

Several Battalion Commanders patted their chests and said: "Regimental Commander, don't worry; now that we have supplies, we are not lacking in grain, fodder, or weapons and ammunition. If these little devils want to take Anqing City, they will have to break their own front teeth."

Red smoke permeated the city; many Sichuan Army soldiers did not have time to put on their gas masks, and after inhaling the poison gas, they convulsed a few times, foamed at the mouth, and fell to the ground.

"Regimental Commander, you should reply to Commander Yang and state that our regiment can still hold on; we don't need reinforcements, we must prioritize the overall situation."

"Don't say that!" Rao Guohua waved his hand, "Brother Yu, my New 145th Division doesn't need to rest; the brothers have slept enough on the train."

The communications soldier and several staff officers of the Regiment Headquarters, as well as Chu Ming's guards, all held weapons and went to reinforce the position of Wang Daniu and the others.

Zhang Yungang wanted to participate in this battle, but Yu Hua frowned slightly; first of all, Zhang Yungang's regiment had many new recruits, and this ambush on Inaba Shiro's 6th Division was against one of the seventeen standing divisions of the Japanese Army.

Liu Yuqing and Rao Guohua, after getting the task map, flipped through it, and the two looked at each other and smiled—it was the same old recipe, the familiar taste.

"Report to the Regimental Commander, the mission can be completed, no difficulties."

Guo Xunqi, Liu Zhangqing, and Yu Dazhu were also full of confusion: "This shouldn't be!"

Therefore, in the Seventh War Zone, the Xuzhou Battle, and the Niangziguan Campaign, when the Sichuan Army and the Japanese Army fought, the little devils never dared to use poison gas.

Now, the Chu Ming Regiment, whether officers or soldiers, were very optimistic about the upcoming battle situation!

"Daniu, don't worry, our Group Army's strength has now been replenished; the New First Army has returned, and we are temporarily not lacking in troops. The reinforcements arriving are a regiment of the New First Army."

"Moreover, after Commander Yang learned of our regiment's situation, he dispatched reinforcements to save Anqing City!"

This resulted in the remaining two thousand-plus people having only about two hundred soldiers who carried gas masks with them;

The soldiers without gas masks soon died in the poison gas; Chu Ming and several Battalion Commanders put on the gas masks in the command post and began to contact the defenders in the city by phone.

"1st Battalion Commander, Wang Daniu!"

Because this was a sudden artillery bombardment and poison gas bomb deployment by the Japanese Army, coupled with the fact that some gas masks of the Chu Ming Regiment had been damaged in previous battles, and some had been left in the previously fallen city districts.

When the Japanese artillery shells landed in the city, a cloud of red smoke instantly spread out; Chu Ming saw it and shouted hurriedly: "Poison gas... this is poison gas!"

"Anqing City has fallen!"

"Everyone, hurry and take cover!"

"Old Yang, it seems our troops have been lax lately, thinking the Japanese Army wouldn't dare use poison gas bombs, so many soldiers didn't take their gas masks to heart."

When Guo Xunqi first arrived in the Wuhan area, he also strictly required his troops to carry gas masks with them while training in the rear.

"The Japanese Army outside the city consists only of the Hada Detachment and the 11th Squadron of the Japanese Navy's 3rd Fleet; although the devils have retreated, we are still at a disadvantage in terms of troop strength."

After speaking, Chu Ming saluted the several Battalion Commanders; Wang Daniu and the others quickly returned the salute to Chu Ming, then turned and left.

Yang Sen nodded; he agreed with Xian Guangjun's statement because the telegram from Chu Ming had already summarized the fall of Anqing City, and the first point was that the Sichuan Army had neglected poison gas warfare and had not taken the gas masks issued to the troops to heart.

Yu Hua looked at everyone: "The Hada Detachment used special smoke, and the Chu Ming Regiment inside the city, due to carelessness, had many soldiers who did not wear their gas masks on their persons, leaving them in the barracks."

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!! ——"

"The little devils have released poison gas, everyone prepare to put on your gas masks, defend against the gas!!"

After the telegram was sent, Chu Ming said to the communications soldier: "Burn the important documents of the Regiment Headquarters immediately!"

Coupled with the hot weather, the soldiers felt uncomfortable carrying gas masks with them, so many soldiers threw their gas masks in their barracks.

The 1st Battalion Commander frowned slightly: "Regimental Commander, Commander Yang is sending reinforcements; our Group Army's defensive line is already wide, and drawing troops like this is disadvantageous to our overall operations."

The Sichuan Army soldiers and officers shouted, each looking for a place to hide.

If it weren't for the proper command of the Sichuan Army's grassroots officers, the defensive line being drilled at the time would have completely collapsed.

Thanks to big brother "20220512224222367" for the tip, thank you big brother for your support. At the same time, thanks to all the big brothers for the votes. As a small-time author at the beginning of the month, I kowtow to all the big brothers, dong, dong, dong...

(End of this chapter)