20demayo Chapter 465: Pursuit Operation
Chapter 465: Pursuit Operation
465 Pursuit Operation
Soon, the commanders of the Japanese divisions and brigades on the front line received news of the retreat.
This news was a bolt from the blue for the Japanese soldiers in the southern mountainous areas who had lost their supplies and were struggling to hold on until now.
The Japanese senior generals knew that their strategy had failed.
However, the lower-level officers and soldiers of the Japanese army did not know so many inside stories.
They really didn't understand the actions of the Japanese high-ranking officials.
They could have been forced to retreat as soon as they lost their supplies.
At that time, the ammunition stored by the Japanese on the front line was enough for them to complete the battle of breaking out to the north.
As a result, they were forced to continue fighting for several days.
During these three or four days, tens of thousands of Kuomintang troops were constantly consuming their forces, and their stockpiled ammunition was about to run out.
It would be a stupid decision to let them break through at this time.
"There are really a bunch of idiots in our headquarters."
In private, some of the Japanese low- and middle-level officers complained with dissatisfaction.
Unfortunately, there is no other way facing the tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers on the front line.
In addition to following the orders of the old Japanese soldier Matsui Iwane, they immediately broke out to the north, overcame the blockade of the 208th Division, and left the mountainous area in southern Zhejiang.
They had no second choice.
Otherwise, time will continue to drag on.
Not to mention, once their ammunition runs out, they will become prey for the national army to hunt at will.
Just without rations, many Japanese soldiers would starve to death.
On the night of the 7th, after a day of preparation, the Japanese troops began to retreat quietly to the north.
As a result, due to Ye Qingshan's order, several armies of the National Army on the front line took turns attacking the Japanese.
Soon, the Japanese retreat was discovered by the National Army attacking on the front line.
As a result, the Japanese retreat soon turned into a complete defeat.
"Commander-in-Chief, urgent news from the front.
The Japs were completely defeated, and their various units were fleeing northward overnight."
Xiao Shanling rushed in and told Ye Qingshan the good news.
"So fast?"
The speed at which the Japanese were defeated was even faster than Ye Qingshan had expected.
Originally, Ye Qingshan thought that the Japanese could hold out for another two days.
Therefore, Ye Qingshan assigned Zhang Fa and Lin Fengtian's two divisions to rush to the front line in two days to prepare to participate in the final counterattack.
As a result, just one day later, the Japanese army collapsed completely.
Ye Qingshan still overestimated the Japanese on the front line. The consumption of ammunition and food on their side was even more serious than Ye Qingshan expected.
At this time, most of the Japanese soldiers on the front line had no intention of fighting and just wanted to leave the mountains as soon as possible and return to Hangzhou.
If morale collapses and military spirit is weakened, even the most capable army will become lambs.
"Let the 25th and 73rd Armies continue the pursuit.
Inform Zhang Fa and Lin Fengtian that it’s time for them to set off.”
Ye Qingshan also stood up excitedly, finally the hardship had paid off.
In this battle, when he took over at the very beginning, the 209th Division and the 76th Division were surrounded by the Japanese, and the situation was unfavorable to them.
By now, the Japs had been defeated across the board, and they launched a pursuit and counterattack.
Ye Qingshan spent more than a month
Soon, Zhang Fa in the north of the city received an urgent order from the headquarters.
"Commander, what did the commander-in-chief say?"
Lu Dahai stared at the telegram in Zhang Fa's hand, wanting to take a look, and couldn't help asking.
"Ha ha.
The Japanese were defeated on all fronts, and the commander-in-chief ordered our entire division to move north immediately.
Participate in the pursuit of the devils. "
Zhang Fa burst out laughing.
The other officers of the 209th Division around were also extremely excited after hearing this.
"Fuck it, we finally have a chance to take revenge on the Japs."
Lu Dahai roared.
"Send the order, assemble the entire division.
Ask the logistics department to provide each soldier with a week's rations and sufficient ammunition.
An hour later, the entire army set out overnight."
"Yes!"
As Zhang Fa issued orders, the military camp where the 209th Division was stationed quickly became busy.
With the thousands of veterans that Ye Qingshan had added to the division, the 209th Division was now fully staffed again.
It took Zhang Fa four days to defeat all the 28 veterans from the th Army assigned to him by Ye Qingshan.
Assigned to his 209th Division.
Originally, when the 209th Division retreated from the front line, there were only about people left.
Excluding those who were injured and unable to participate in the battle, there were nearly six thousand people.
Just the same number as the new veterans, half and half.
With the elite troops of the 209th Division as the combat backbone and supplemented by veterans, the reorganization was completed.
It is enough to allow the 209th Division to quickly restore its combat effectiveness.
Just as the 209th Division was assembling, Lin Fengtian's 76th Division, not far away, was also assembling.
Ye Qingshan fulfilled his promise and let the 76th Division participate in the final counterattack.
However, compared with the 209th Division, which has been fully staffed again, the 76th Division cannot do this.
At this time, the 76th Division, which had been supplemented with veterans, had only expanded to the size of a brigade, with less than people.
This is because, when the 76th Division withdrew, there were only people left in the entire division.
Their losses were too heavy, and the two thousand promoted people could not support them to expand to full strength in a short time.
Otherwise, are they the 76th Division or the 28th Army?
The 76th Division quickly expanded to nearly people with its last combat backbones, which was already its limit.
"Old Lin."
In the second half of the night, when the 209th Division was marching all night, Zhang Fa also met Lin Fengtian.
"Commander Zhang, this time we can fight side by side again."
Lin Fengtian said to Zhang Fa with a smile.
"Ok.
This time, let’s go together to seek revenge on the devils.
They surrounded us before but failed to eat us.
Now, offense and defense have changed.
It's our turn to counterattack and pursue them.
This time, the commander-in-chief gave us a death order, to pursue them recklessly and kill all the Japanese soldiers we caught up with.
Try to destroy as many of the Japanese as possible before they escape from the mountains in southern Zhejiang.
We must turn these endless mountains into the devil’s grave.
Are you ready?"
"Don't worry, Commander Zhang, our 76th Division will never let you down.
I asked the soldiers to bring enough food for seven days, and this time we must kill them thoroughly.
I want to avenge our commander and the countless brothers who died in battle!"
The fighting spirit and motivation of Lin Fengtian's 76th Division at this time were no less than those of Zhang Fa's 209th Division.
"Let's go, let's try to get into the northern mountains before daybreak.
Otherwise, if the devils get away, it will be difficult to catch up with them. "
Without further ado, the two of them quickly led their troops north.
After a night of forced march, by daybreak they had returned north along the river valley and entered Jiyang.
At this time, Jiyang was still in the hands of the Japanese.
"Commander, command from headquarters.
Order our troops to capture Jiyang as quickly as possible.
According to intelligence, the main force of the Japanese 40th Division was retreating northwards towards Jiyang.
The 25th Army's pursuit troops were blocked by the Japanese in the Zhaitou Mountain area and could not continue the pursuit.
The subsequent pursuit of the Japanese 40th Division will be mainly carried out by our division. "
"understood!"