Chapter 495: A Slight Adjustment

Yu Hua was still trying to figure out what the Japanese Army's true intentions were!

However, the 74th Army and the 4th Guangdong Army on the East Line discovered that the Japanese Army was contracting its defensive lines.

Facing this situation, Yu Jishi and Ou Zhen immediately reported to the 22nd Group Army headquarters.

Sun Zhen and Xue Yue learned that the Japanese defensive lines on the East Line had already contracted by two layers, and now the 74th Army and Ou Zhen's 4th Army were moving forward.

The two of them also requested to move the headquarters forward to continue the encirclement and annihilation of the 106th Division, and to tear open the last two defensive lines of the Japs.

Yu Hua, who was on the side, found his brain struggling to keep up after learning about the situation on the East Line, because the Japanese command was truly rather muddled.

The Japs' breakout on the West Line didn't look like a breakout; if you want to break out, you should just lead your troops and run, so why divide your forces to outflank the rear of my West Line troops?!

"Attack the flank of the Republic of China Army on the West Line, and additionally, bring along the replacement troops for the 106th Division; this batch of personnel has already landed at Jiujiang!"

Regarding this, Okamura Yasuji had no choice but to trot back to the headquarters and have Staff Officer Miyazaki Shuichi brief him on the specific situation.

They had already captured two of the Japanese defensive lines and were currently attacking the third line with all their might!

At the same time, the two Bofors Mountain Artillery Regiments of the Central Army also sent telegrams to Chen Cheng and Xue Yue, requesting to move their artillery positions forward.

"Rice buckets... they are all rice buckets..."

Time returns to one hour ago!

Matsuura Junrokuro discovered that after his army tore a gap from the West Line, the Japanese Army on the East Line contracted their defenses according to his instructions, preparing to choose an opportune moment to withdraw.

"I implore Your Excellency the Commander to provide tactical guidance!!"

This was extremely disadvantageous for the Chinese troops who were already in the midst of an encirclement battle!

How did the division fall into such an unfavorable state in the blink of an eye, with the risk of being encircled and annihilated?

Especially after the Japanese Army dispatched a regiment to outflank the rear of the New 144th Division, two more Japanese battalions outflanked the rear of Jin Jizhong's brigade of the 122nd Division.

On this East Line, the Japs were still stubbornly contracting their defenses, preparing to continue fighting the Central Army and the Guangdong Army to the end!

Soon, news also came from other Chuan troops on the East Line that they also wanted to move their headquarters forward, and the 187th Division Commander Sun Kequan also sent a telegram requesting to move the headquarters forward.

Just at this moment, a staff officer of the Group Army came to report!

"Report!"

In an instant!

The officers inside the headquarters all stood up in front of the map!

"According to the combat situation, in order to encircle and annihilate the 106th Division, the Republic of China Army has diverted many troops; after we rescue the 106th Division, let the 27th Division and the 106th Division coordinate."

"Two infantry battalions, totaling over three thousand three hundred men."

Inside the headquarters, another high-ranking officer of the 11th Army, Ikeya Hanjiro, said: "General, I oppose Miyazaki Shuichi's opinion; I believe that we should rescue the 106th Division at this moment."

The Japanese Army on the East Line reported that if they withdrew at this time, the Imperial Army would easily be latched onto by the enemy.

Miyazaki Shuichi spoke up: "General, our current troop strength is clearly insufficient; I oppose rescuing the 106th Division!"

"We can defeat the Republic of China Army in one stroke, outflank the enemy's rear, and open up the current passive situation."

The Central Army, the Guangdong Army, and the Chuan troops were advancing very quickly, especially the 74th Army, which was particularly capable of fighting, leaving the Imperial Army in a passive position.

"Just received news from a brother unit; Huang Wei of the 18th Army telegraphed that the Japanese 27th Division has dispatched a cavalry regiment and two infantry battalions."

To put it bluntly, this telegram was Okamura Yasuji saying: hurry up and come rescue me!

Otherwise, I'm going to be finished here tonight!

"Your Excellency the Commander, I think it would be better to order Honma Masaharu to dispatch a cavalry regiment, two infantry battalions, plus some transport and engineering troops, to form a Detachment!"

An expression of disbelief appeared on his face, because the 106th Division had only recently sent a congratulatory telegram about capturing quite a few enemy positions.

Regarding Ikeya Hanjiro's opinion, Miyazaki Shuichi immediately retorted: "Ikeya-kun, you must not forget:"

"Now that the Imperial Army is gradually being surrounded by the Republic of China Army, in tonight's bloody battle, a portion of the Imperial Army broke out, but they cannot retreat unscathed..."

"As well as other transport, engineering, and other units, forming a Detachment, which is currently closing in on the 106th Division!"

Huang Wei's 18th Army had always adopted a defensive posture when facing the attack of the Japanese 27th Division; now the 27th Division had dispatched troops to detour to Wanjialing.

Yu Hua rubbed his head; he was also a bit "confused" now and couldn't figure out what kind of tricks the Japanese Army was trying to play.

Facing this situation, Sun Zhen looked at Yu Hua: "Brother Yu, do you think the Japs are playing the 'luring the tiger away from the mountain' trick?"

"Even if the combat effectiveness of the 106th Division is poor, from Matsuura Junrokuro's telegram, we know that the 106th Division has not yet collapsed!"

"They are currently in a standoff with the Republic of China Army, and they have also inflicted significant damage on the Republic of China Army."

The old Jap Matsuura only now discovered that it was impossible for his army to completely extricate itself from the Republic of China Army!

"Let the 106th Division continue to remain in a stalemate with the Republic of China Army; when daylight comes, the Imperial Army's aviation corps will provide support and airdrop weapons, ammunition, and supplies."

"Our previous mission for Matsuura Junrokuro was to detour to the enemy's flank and outflank the enemy's rear."

Late at night, at the Japanese 11th Army headquarters in Jiujiang, Okamura Yasuji had only just fallen asleep.

The passive situation of the 122nd Division and the 91st Division also made Yu Hua suspect that this might also become a breakout direction for the Japanese Army!

Yu Hua had a headache; he rubbed his cheeks, trying to sort out the threads of the situation.

His adjutant suddenly called Okamura Yasuji from his bed: "Your Excellency the Commander, the 106th Division has been surrounded by the enemy and is currently in an unfavorable state."

"Nani..." Okamura Yasuji widened his eyes.

"Once we withdraw the majority of our troops from the 27th Division, this will very likely give Wang Lingji and Huang Wei an opportunity; by then, rescuing the 106th Division will be impossible."

After learning the specific combat situation, Okamura Yasuji cursed Matsuura Junrokuro: "Baka yaro!"

"Currently, Wang Lingji's 30th Group Army of the Chuan troops has diverted a portion of its forces to reinforce Huang Wei's 18th Army."

"The 27th Division has fallen into a passive state again!"

He lowered his head and said nothing; Okamura Yasuji, who was on the side, also had a massive headache.

The acting Chief of Staff of the 11th Army, Yoshimoto Teiichi, had not interjected and kept rubbing his hands on the side; now that the headquarters had fallen silent, he stepped forward:

The front of the West Line had already been breached by the Japanese Army;

There was also Feng Zhanhai's 91st Division and Wang Mingzhang's 122nd Division at the junction of the East and West Lines; although the gap here had been plugged, the Japanese Army's counterattack force was very strong.

Facing this situation, Ikeya Hanjiro truly had not expected it.

He said to Sakurai Ryozo, "Sakurai-kun, immediately send a telegram to Commander Okamura Yasuji, stating that the enemy at the front and flanks of the Division has repeatedly attacked the Imperial Army at night..."

Everyone looked at the map on the wall; the Twenty-seventh Division had dispatched troops, which was bad news for everyone.

"The face of the Imperial Army has been completely lost by Matsuura Junrokuro!!"

Upon hearing this, Okamura Yasuji beamed with joy: "Yoshi!"

"This operational plan is perfect, I approve it; furthermore, this needs to be readjusted, I have an even better idea in mind."

(End of this chapter)