Chapter 500: It Is Hard to Hold Out Until Dawn

It is now impossible to completely annihilate the 106th Division.

Because Ou Zhen's 4th Army failed to plug the gap, and the Japanese Army that withdrew has already marched toward De'an.

At the same time, the Japanese Army in De'an has also begun to dispatch troops to provide support.

Regarding this, Xue Yue spoke up: "Commander Chen, although we failed to completely annihilate the 106th Division this time."

"However, we have heavily damaged the 106th Division, and these devils have left behind a lot of supplies."

"Most of the Japanese Army that escaped were light infantry; they left behind a massive amount of baggage and supplies."

"Especially the Japanese Army's horses, artillery, food, and medicine, etc.; these are things we are in urgent need of."

Upon hearing this, Matsuura Junrokuro closed his eyes: A three-sided encirclement... this is a battle of annihilation!

He led his troops and managed to escape from the encirclement with great difficulty, only to be trapped again by the Republic of China Army.

The remaining troops on the West Line lived up to expectations and finally wiped out the Japanese Army's rearguard; everyone immediately began to detour toward the East Line, preparing to block the Japanese Army's retreat route on the East Line.

This is the first time the 106th Division has tasted the flavor of the Sichuan Army's landmines and explosives!

The front-stepping rear-exploding mines, chain mines, and mother-child mines, etc., from just now, indeed brought no small amount of deterrence to the devil soldiers of the 106th Division.

"We are now consuming the Japanese Army's money and grain; we can slowly drag the little devils down, exhaust the Japanese Army's foundation, and ideally make them as poor as us."

Seven or eight tanks and armored vehicles were blown up, lying helter-skelter on the highway, making it difficult for the entire army to advance.

Sakurai Ryozo came to report: "Your Excellency Division Commander, our contact with the remaining troops has been cut off."

"After I did this, I really didn't expect it, my 88th Army."

"Just now we were all still regretting that we could only heavily damage the 106th Division, and you arrived with your army; you can truly be called a timely rain."

Because this road had been laid with landmines and explosives by the Sichuan Army.

As they spoke, Sun Zhen, Xue Yue, Chen Cheng, and others left the command post; just as they reached the entrance, they saw Fan Shaozeng arriving on horseback with his Guard Platoon Leader.

The Japanese Army's motorcade was already blocked on the highway, obstructing Matsuura Junrokuro's hope of fleeing east.

"If there is any mission, brother, just say it directly; I will definitely follow through:"

"Suddenly having fifty or sixty thousand troops, I was startled myself when I was assembling the troops, brother."

Liu Zhangqing's Independent Brigade, upon learning that reinforcements had arrived and blocked the Japanese Army's route of escape to the east.

Yu Hua smiled: "Brother, we will talk about this later; right now, the annihilation of the 106th Division has reached a critical moment."

"Have them act as guides for your division and move immediately to the position of the Big and Small Jin Mountains to intercept the devils retreating toward De'an."

Old Fan saw Sun Zhen and the others welcoming him at the entrance; he felt a bit flattered, quickly dismounted, and came before Sun Zhen and the others.

The Japanese Army troops remaining on the East Line, facing the artillery fire of the Sichuan Army and the 74th Army, are now in a weak position.

At this moment, on the highway leading to De'an, Matsuura Junrokuro is extremely depressed!

Because the road ahead has already been occupied by a sudden army, and his main force has been blocked.

This is a heaven-sent good thing!

"Let's go..." Sun Zhen spoke: "We will go to welcome Old Fan ourselves."

Hearing this, Chen Cheng walked a few steps, "I know what you are saying too!"

Ji Zhangjian's 6th Reserve Division and Feng Zhanhai's 91st Division suffered relatively heavy casualties in the battle on the West Line, but the two still commanded their troops to rush to the aid of the East Line.

After taking the Japanese Army's artillery position, the Japanese Army on the East Line had no more fire support, and Yu Jishi's 74th Army immediately launched a major counterattack.

That is to clear the highway, use landmines and explosives to block the Japanese Army's armored vehicles, tanks, and trucks, and trap the Japanese Army.

Finally, he came to Yu Hua and gave him a hug: "Brother Yu... the suggestion you gave me..."

"I was just complaining; I am already very happy in my heart to have such a great result."

The crowd is now cheering; the arrival of three divisions at Wanjialing is undoubtedly a shot of adrenaline for the Republic of China Army.

"This group of devils must be blocked at the Big and Small Jin Mountains; not a single soldier or officer can be let through."

"My soldiers are not afraid of fatigue and can immediately be thrown into battle." Fan Shaozeng wiped his cheek, "Brother, give the order!"

Sun Zhen, who was to the side, nodded: "Commander Chen, Old Xue is right."

The Japanese Army remaining on the East Line, after such a long battle, had almost exhausted their ammunition;

Especially the Japanese Artillery Regiment, which was suppressed by the firepower of the Artillery Battalion of Liu Zhangqing's Independent Brigade.

Immediately!

"Brother Sun..." As he spoke, Old Fan immediately shook hands with Sun Zhen, and then shook hands with Sun Zhen and Chen Cheng.

Buy time for the army to encircle them, and furthermore, do not fear casualties when intercepting!

Old Fan gladly accepted; his 88th Army is now equivalent to a Group Army, and with so many troops, Old Fan is not worried about the issue of personnel at all.

In the pitch-black night, the burning tanks and armored vehicles lit up the road ahead, and the soldiers did not dare to approach;

"The three divisions he is leading are less than two kilometers away from us; Army Commander Fan Shaozeng is riding a fast horse and has already arrived at the entrance of the command post."

"It can also be considered a pretty good victory; the war between us and the Japanese Army is a protracted war."

"Rear troops report that many Republic of China Army troops are encircling from the northeast and due south, carrying torches."

He began to command the Artillery Battalion to conduct fire suppression against the Japanese Artillery Regiment on the East Line;

Then the entire brigade's infantry began to charge, preparing to take out this eyesore of a Japanese artillery position.

In addition, with the divisions of Feng Zhanhai and Ji Zhangjian detouring from the West Line, as well as the divisions of Chen Zongjin and Chen Dingxun of the Sichuan Army, after the Japanese Army remaining on the East Line continued to resist stubbornly for thirty minutes, they were completely annihilated.

"Good..." Yu Hua clapped his hands happily: "Brother, I will attach the Guard Battalion of the 22nd Group Army to your three divisions."

Fan Shaozeng stood at attention: "Brother, you can rest assured; even a bird will not be allowed to pass through my position."

Immediately, Yu Hua gave Fan Shaozeng several suggestions.

The Japanese Army's artillery could not lift their heads at all; twenty minutes later, the Japanese Artillery Regiment's position was wiped out by Liu Zhangqing's brigade.

Just as everyone was sighing over this, a Staff Officer ran into the command post, shouting: "Commander-in-Chief Sun, Commander Xue, Commander Chen!"

The current situation of the battle is already very clear; the annihilation of the Japanese 106th Division is a certainty... it is only a matter of time!!

However, many of the Japanese Army were still putting up a desperate struggle, and the battle between the two sides remained intense!

In the pitch-black night, gunfire was dense in the Wanjialing area, shells fell incessantly, and soldiers from both sides kept falling.

On the road, seven or eight of the Japanese Army's Armored Vehicles and Tanks had been blown up.

"Our reinforcements have arrived, Army Commander Fan Shaozeng of the 88th Army is here!"

The Guard Battalion of the 2nd Group Army followed the three divisions of Fan Shaozeng's 88th Army in their movements, rushing rapidly toward the Big and Small Jin Mountains.

Thirty minutes later, the three divisions of Fan Shaozeng's 88th Army had successfully intercepted the Japanese Army.

"War is like that; sometimes minor slip-ups occur, and besides, fighting a war is also about spending money and provisions; this time we have captured so many supplies from the Japanese Army."

Ou Zhen's 4th Army, under the cover of the Chuan Heavy Artillery, finally captured the Japanese Army's main position and began to coordinate with Guo Xunqi and the Rao Guohua Division to launch a pursuit of the Japanese Army.

The mental state of the majority of the Imperial Warriors was already very poor, according to his estimation of the Republic of China Army's troop strength.

It is estimated that the 106th Division will find it difficult to hold out until dawn.

(End of this chapter)