Chapter 501: Focus

Facing such a predicament, Matsuura Junrokuro had no choice but to order the remnants of the Japanese Army to occupy the high ground and hold firm until dawn!

He then immediately requested reinforcements from the Commander of the 11th Army, Okamura Yasuji!

Jiujiang!

After Okamura Yasuji received the telegram from Matsuura Junrokuro, he was so enraged that he kicked over his office desk.

"Baka yaro!! —"

"This pig Matsuura Junrokuro, he has truly disappointed me too much!"

"He has completely disgraced the face of the Imperial Army."

Regarding this, many Japanese Army generals could only remain silent, quietly waiting for their own Commander to vent.

Immediately, Dai Chunfeng gave it to Principal Chang; the old man took a look, pondered for a moment, and agreed at once.

The Japanese Army's artillery cover also bought time for the remnants of the 106th Division to shift toward the mountains.

Once the Japanese Army planes arrived, they immediately gave the trapped little devils a shot of adrenaline, and the little devils began to cheer.

Okamura Yasuji closed his eyes, and after a long while, spat out two words from his mouth: "Proceed!"

"The Wuchang Uprising anniversary is approaching; annihilating the Japanese Army 106th Division in its entirety will be the best celebratory gift!!"

Relying on the terrain, the Japanese Army units stubbornly blocked the charges of the Republic of China Army; for a time, the frontline units were actually unable to take the Japanese Army's positions!!

The battle at Wanjialing had been fought for an entire night, and such a massive commotion also drew the special attention of the high commands on both the Chinese and Japanese sides.

At the same time, the Aviation Volunteer Group dispatched by Old Maozi Country to the Republic of China also took to the skies!

In Jiujiang, Okamura Yasuji once again received a telegram from Matsuura Junrokuro; the old devil Matsuura stated that due to his division having fought many battles.

The little devils still had a large number of regimental and battalion-level artillery pieces, which caused no small number of casualties to the Republic of China Army on the path of their charge.

Soon, the 11th Army Headquarters immediately sent a telegram to Matsuura Junrokuro, ordering him to lead the remnants to hold the positions and await reinforcements!!

Therefore, Matsuura Junrokuro led the remnants to hold firm in the surrounding mountains, and all the regimental and battalion-level artillery within the division were now fully covering the division's units as they moved up the mountain.

The Sichuan Army units had an Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Battalion, and as soon as the Japanese Army planes arrived, they aimed and swept across them!

After the Japanese Army planes arrived in the skies over Wanjialing, the Chinese Air Force also rushed over!

The escorting fighter planes from both sides began to fight as soon as they met!

Okamura Yasuji also knew the importance of the matter, so as soon as the sky brightened, the Japanese Army's Army Aviation arrived in the Wanjialing area.

"According to the combat assessment from last night, the Japanese Army 106th Division is now estimated to have only fifteen thousand men left."

Many junior officers have been killed in action, and now many soldiers have been promoted on the front lines, lacking combat experience; the unit's combat effectiveness is already failing.

Yu Hua stood up: "Commander Chen, although we now have the 88th Army as a mobile force in our hands, the daytime is the domain of the Japanese Army's aviation."

"Pull up completely... do not resist the flight, the enemy possesses anti-aircraft weapons!!"

Just like that, the Republic of China Air Force stationed in Hankou took off and headed for Wanjialing.

The failure of the Wuhan Strategy, this is a supreme humiliation.

"Let us have them hold firm, and wait until dawn!"

After the devil planes pulled up, they began to drop bombs on the ground.

Xue Yue also understood the importance of the Air Force, and he said: "How about this, Lao Chen and I will jointly send a telegram to the Principal, stating the difficulty of the war situation and that the Japanese Army's aviation is harassing our army."

The Republic of China Air Force in Hankou now has a new batch of aircraft models, which are not weak compared to the Japanese Army's planes!

Hearing Yu Hua's words, Sun Zhen nodded in agreement: "Lao Xue, Lao Chen, the Japanese Army planes are causing a lot of trouble; if our Air Force can sortie, it can greatly boost our morale."

The devil plane leader grew anxious and shouted: "Pull up!"

However, the Imperial General Headquarters was now focused on the battle at Wanjialing, and Okamura Yasuji had to comply.

The little devil planes resisted by circling and flapping their wings to cheer on the Japanese Army on the ground, then flew toward the positions of the Sichuan Army, Guangdong Army, Northeast Army, and Central Army.

Yu Hua, standing to the side, heard this; Xue Yue and Chen Cheng were willing to take action, and furthermore, Wanjialing had now become the focus between China and Japan.

Daytime arrived, and the devil planes were rampant; Yu Hua moved his command post into a naturally formed cave.

"Implore the Principal to dispatch our country's Air Force to come and assist!!"

One must know that this time the Army Aviation came to assist, only twenty-five planes flew in, and now five had already been shot down.

Implore the Commander to air-drop a batch of junior officers to help the 106th Division stabilize the war situation!!

After Okamura Yasuji saw this telegram, he felt his head swell; this Matsuura really treated him, Okamura Yasuji, as a nanny.

"The casualties we pay for attacking will be even greater, and besides, the 11th Army Commander Okamura Yasuji will certainly mobilize other units to relieve the siege."

The Imperial General Headquarters ordered Okamura Yasuji to rescue the 106th Division at all costs.

He immediately drew a batch of junior officers, totaling over two hundred people, and ordered these men to rush to the airport immediately, then be air-dropped into Wanjialing.

Ikeya Hanjiro and the acting Chief of Staff Yoshimoto Teiichi, who were on the side, also agreed with Miyazaki Shuichi's opinion:

"Your Excellency Commander, order Matsuura to hold firm; holding out for reinforcements is the best choice right now."

"If we want to annihilate the Japanese 106th Division before this morning, we must have the assistance of our country's Air Force."

Miyazaki Shuichi spoke first: "Your Excellency Commander, the 106th Division currently still has nearly twenty thousand men!"

"During the day, the Imperial aviation can assist and provide cover for the 106th Division, increasing the unit's morale."

Soon, the Nanjing Command in Hankou received the telegram from Chen Cheng and Xue Yue, and Minister He gave the telegram to Dai Chunfeng.

Especially with the 11th Army's 106th Division trapped at Wanjialing, and furthermore, facing the crisis of being surrounded and annihilated by the Chinese side, the Imperial General Headquarters was anxious.

Principal Chang would certainly dispatch the Air Force; if they won, the old man's face would also be saved;

At the 22nd Group Army Headquarters, Yu Hua received intelligence from the front line that the old devil Matsuura had given up on breaking out and was now choosing to hold firm.

The resisting devil planes were suddenly shot down by five!

"Gentlemen!" Chen Cheng said: "The Principal just sent me a telegram, ordering us to annihilate the Japanese Army 106th Division in its entirety."

Planes shuttled through the clouds, machine gun bullets sprayed out continuously, and in the sky, planes kept falling—some were Republic of China planes, and some were Japanese Army planes.

After all, in this battle, his Central Army had also moved up; once they won, he could promote it extensively.

The Japanese Army planes dropped their Bomb and flew away; at the same time, Xue Yue, Chen Cheng, Sun Zhen, Yu Hua, and the others walked out from the air-raid shelter.

Upon learning that the Japanese Army planes had departed, they immediately took advantage of this time to relocate the command post.

After the fierce fighting by the frontline troops, Matsuura Junrokuro's 106th Division is now entrenched in the villages on several hilltops, including Leimingguliu, Bijijie, Pancun, and Tianbusujianlusu!

"We must end the battle as soon as possible, preferably by completely annihilating the 106th Division this morning."

This air battle lasted for twenty minutes and ultimately ended with the victory of the Republic of China Air Force.

On the ground, the Republic of China Army saw the Japanese Army planes slinking away, and everyone cheered happily.

(End of this chapter)