Chapter 468: What Were You Doing Earlier?

At this moment, in the 9th War Zone, Chen Cheng had just finished sending a telegram to Yu Hua, and he hurried toward the headquarters without stopping.

When the Japanese 11th Army moved south, he had obtained intelligence and sent it to the Sichuan Army immediately; he had not yet reported it to Chang Kaishen or the many generals of the 9th War Zone!

Just as he reached the door, Chen Cheng heard the hearty laughter of Sun Zhen, Commander-in-Chief of the Sichuan Army 22nd Group Army!

"Hahaha..."

"Gentlemen... this time, my Sichuan Army, in coordination with the 26th Group Army and the Central Army, surrounded and annihilated the Japanese 6th Division, achieving remarkable results."

Seeing Sun Zhen smiling, Chang Kaishen asked, "What kind of results have been achieved?"

Immediately, Sun Zhen began to introduce, "The Sichuan Army, with fifty or sixty thousand men, successfully surrounded and annihilated the Japanese 6th Division in Hulu Valley."

"The 6th Division's headquarters was wiped out directly by the Sichuan Army's artillery; almost no Japanese soldiers from the entire division managed to break through."

In an instant, everyone's gaze fell upon Chen Cheng.

"Among them, four full-strength Type A Adjustment Divisions of our Central Army participated in this battle and also achieved impressive results during the fighting."

The Japanese wanted to retreat, and the Sichuan Army also wanted to retreat, so both sides fought while moving; many Japanese soldiers felt it was due to their brigade's valiant charge, combined with attacks from tanks and armored vehicles.

Far away in Shanghai, Okamura Yasuji felt that Yamamoto Tatsuyama's plan was indeed feasible; he had Yamamoto Tatsuyama Brigade wait for the troops moving south, and then advance south in three columns, forming a 'pin' shape to capture Madang Fortress, Jiujiang, and other places.

"There is a Chinese proverb that says a gentleman taking revenge is not too late even after ten years; now that our army has achieved results and a phased victory, we cannot continue to consume ourselves like this with the Japanese Army."

"In three hours, the sky will be bright, and with the Japanese aircraft covering the sky, fighting during the day will be very disadvantageous for our army."

"Thirty minutes ago, Wang Yaowu, Feng Shengfa, and others sent back a telegram stating that their fight against the Yamamoto Tatsuyama Brigade was very smooth, having annihilated at least one Japanese regiment."

"Retreat!" Bai Zhuge said loudly, "We must retreat now; we cannot continue fighting."

After Yamamoto Tatsuyama retreated to a safe area, he received a telegram from Commander Okamura Yasuji, stating that one division was moving south, followed closely by a reinforced brigade, and ordering the Yamamoto Tatsuyama Brigade to launch a proper counter-charge to hold back the Central Army.

He sent a telegram back to Commander Okamura Yasuji, stating that he had already broken through, and furthermore, according to the Sichuan Army's combat patterns, the Sichuan Army had likely already slipped back into the mountains to hide.

The remaining generals also all said that they should retreat.

After extensive consultation among the generals, the withdrawal plan was unanimously passed, and the telegram was successfully issued to all units.

"With one Japanese division annihilated, the little devils won't have enough troops to move south and attack Wuhan."

"Good, good, good..." many generals began to cheer: "Fought well, you've displayed the prestige of our Republic of China soldiers."

The devils attacking the First Division and the 78th Division also seized the time to cover more soldiers retreating on the road, and thus both sides quickly disengaged from the battlefield.

Bai Zhuge's eyes narrowed, and he continued, "I have also just received a report from the 26th Group Army in Anqing; the Hada Detachment and the Japanese Naval Landing Force, the devils who came ashore, have all been completely annihilated by our army."

In this battle, the Sichuan Army took the initiative to attack without reporting to the War Zone; it was only later that the 26th Group Army accidentally let the matter slip, which then drew the attention of the 9th War Zone.

When Wang Yaowu and others of the Central Army received the telegram from the 9th War Zone, they also followed the withdrawal plan previously formulated by the Sichuan Army, retreating from the battlefield while fighting.

"Retreat!" Cherepanov said in Russian, and the interpreter immediately translated.

Seeing this telegram, Yamamoto Tatsuyama was so angry his eyes turned red!

Yu Hua led his troops to a great victory; the captured Japanese supplies alone were too numerous to count for a time, and several divisions received orders to head to the Wanjialing area to rest.

After Cherepanov's interpreter returned, he translated the situation that had occurred on the battlefield to Cherepanov, and the interpreter also translated the sudden change that had just occurred.

"The Japanese 11th Army has dispatched a division and a reinforced brigade to move south and reinforce Anqing."

He knew it must be that the Republic of China Army on the front line had achieved a major victory, which was why these soldiers were so happy.

The Republic of China Army guarding Jiujiang, Madang Fortress, and other places must be weaklings that the Imperial Army could take at will.

Just as everyone was immersed in this joy, Chen Cheng pushed the door open and said loudly, "The Japanese 11th Army has sent reinforcements."

He Yingqin, standing to the side, saw that Dai Chunfeng's flattery was truly well-executed; the battle had now transformed into one directed by the Chairman, when it was clearly the Sichuan Army that had taken the initiative to reinforce Anqing and then used a point-to-surface approach to lure the enemy deep.

Although they could not defeat the Sichuan Army and the Central Army, Yamamoto Tatsuyama proposed that the Imperial Army could capture Anqing City, Madang Fortress, Jiujiang City, and so on.

Making the Sichuan Army and Central Army guarding the road unable to resist; the enemy was currently readjusting their defenses.

Damn it... I had already successfully broken through, and only then did you send a telegram telling my unit to hold back the Central Army—what were you doing earlier!!

It was already impossible for Yamamoto Tatsuyama to go back and pursue the Sichuan Army now.

According to Yamamoto Tatsuyama's deduction, the Republic of China Army that came to ambush the Imperial Army this time must be elite forces; after the great battle, these elite forces were likely suffering from significant casualties and would need time to reorganize and replenish.

The battlefield situation changes in an instant; the Chinese army was doing well just a moment ago, but now they were at a disadvantage, and Cherepanov still provided his candid opinion.

Chen Cheng came to the hanging map and quickly drew on it, marking out the current strategic situation.

"After all, in terms of national power, the Japanese Army is still much stronger than the Chinese side."

It was absolutely impossible to pursue the Sichuan Army and the Central Army now.

"I have already ordered the Sichuan Army and the 26th Group Army to judge the situation at their discretion and make corresponding adjustments."

At this moment, Cherepanov very much hoped his interpreter would return quickly from the restroom; he wanted so much to know what the Chinese officers on the scene were discussing and what the situation on the front line was really like.

"According to the Japanese Army's troop transport speed, they will arrive in about three hours."

"Continuing to fight will be very disadvantageous for our army."

"Old Bai is right." Sun Zhen nodded: "We have already achieved the results; the Yamamoto Tatsuyama Brigade is a reinforced brigade, and being able to eat up a small portion of them is already quite good."

In an instant, the various generals in the conference room were also very happy!

Also participating in this meeting was the military advisor from the Soviet Union; as a military advisor, although Cherepanov did not understand what the Chinese generals were saying, he could tell from the happy expressions and waving arms of the Chinese generals.

Dai Chunfeng also stood up at this time: "Gentlemen, this great battle was a major victory achieved under the leadership of our Chairman."

About to retreat to the rear to rest, Yu Hua had to leave some good things for 9th War Zone Commander Chen Cheng; he reported all the various combat methods the Japanese Army would adopt in the upcoming Wuhan Battle in one go.

After the telegram was sent, Yu Hua thought to himself, hoping his suggestions could cause some changes to the entire Wuhan Battle.

(End of this chapter)