chsdbacks Chapter 6: Resolve to Sacrifice Everything
Chapter 6: Resolve to Sacrifice Everything
The principal used the word "good" three times in a row before continuing, "Jiansheng truly lives up to his name as the Little Zhuge Liang. I think even Zhuge Liang himself would be no better here!"
This plan was meticulously crafted, taking advantage of the Japanese army's arrogance while maximizing the strength of our existing forces.
Using two units of the 62nd Division as bait, feigning weakness to lure the enemy deeper into the territory, then forming an encirclement with the main force of the Central Army and the Tax Police Corps, and finally using the Yangtze River Fleet to scuttle the river and cut off their retreat, this is a risky move that puts them in a do-or-die situation, but it is also the most likely brilliant move to turn the tide of the war under the current circumstances!
Following Jian Sheng's instructions, Yu immediately issued operational orders in the name of the Military Commission, demanding that every unit arrive at its designated location within the stipulated time, without the slightest delay!
The principal slammed his hand on the table, his previously furrowed brows finally relaxing, and a long-lost sharp light flashed in his eyes, as if he could already see the Japanese army's miserable state of being surrounded in Quangongting.
Seeing this, He Yingqin and the others also stood up and echoed him. The heavy atmosphere in the command room was finally replaced by a hint of excitement before the decisive battle. The clock on the wall continued to turn, each tick as if counting down to the upcoming life-or-death struggle.
In the early morning of November 25, just as recorded in history, the entire northern shore of Hangzhou Bay was shrouded in thick fog. Under the command of Major General Itagaki Junyo, the commander of the Japanese 11th Army's Itagaki Detachment of 6000 men quietly approached the Quangongting mudflats by landing craft.
The fog, thick as milk, enveloped the sea, completely concealing the Japanese army's movements in a hazy mist, with only the low rumble of engines faintly visible in the fog.
The sentries of the 62nd Division stationed on the front of the mudflats, despite keeping their eyes wide open and scanning the sea surface vigilantly, could only see a vast expanse of white. It wasn't until the landing craft was less than 100 meters from the shore that they vaguely sensed the movement of dark shadows.
With a command from Rear Admiral Itamoto Jun'yori, the commander of the detachment, the large-caliber guns of the Japanese Combined Fleet opened fire, launching a continuous heavy artillery bombardment of the positions of the 184th Brigade of the 62nd Division of the Hunan Army at Quangongting..........
Half an hour after the artillery barrage began, 6000 Japanese soldiers surged out of the landing craft like a tidal wave, charging towards the beach positions with bayonets fixed. The dense gunfire instantly shattered the silence of the early morning.
Soldiers of the 184th Brigade of the 62nd Division of the Hunan Army, stationed at Quan Gong Ting, quickly entered combat mode under the command of Brigade Commander Zhong Guangren. Light and heavy machine guns spat fire, and hand grenades exploded in the Japanese troops, creating plumes of smoke. However, the Japanese army, with the fire support of naval guns and its numerical superiority, quickly broke through the forward positions. The two sides then engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand battle between the mudflats and sand dunes.
The two sides fought fiercely for only half an hour before Zhong Guangren, the brigade commander of the 184th Brigade, immediately ordered his troops to "immediately retreat to Longbei Mountain." When this order was issued, Tan Rengda, the commander of the 371st Regiment, and Li Yan, the commander of the 372nd Regiment, were stunned!
Li Yan, the commander of the 372nd Regiment, whose left arm was already wounded, immediately turned red in the eyes and said angrily, "What? Brigade Commander, what did you say? Withdraw? Withdraw your mother's advance! If China is to perish, the people of Hunan will be the first to die out!"
We carried the expectations of the people of Hunan. When we left Hunan, countless fathers, women, and children sent us off to the battlefield with drums and gongs. Are we going to collapse at the first sign of trouble? Become deserters? How can we face our elders and fellow villagers? Are the guns in our hands just sticks for burning? The blood of our brothers cannot be shed in vain! He ripped off the bandage, revealing a still-bleeding wound, his voice hoarse with emotion.
Regiment Commander Tan Rengda of the 371st Regiment clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white: "Brigade Commander, when has our 184th Brigade ever deserted? Brothers, let's fight the Japanese devils to the death!"
Zhong Guangren's face turned ashen. He suddenly drew his sidearm from his waist, fired two shots into the air, and then shouted fiercely, "Old Li, Old Tan, how long have you been following me? I'm not afraid of death! I'm not a coward!"
But this is a military order! It's a military order from the Supreme Military Commission! We can't tell you in advance just because of secrecy. Anyone who disobeys this order will be court-martialed!
His gaze swept over the two agitated regimental commanders, his tone softening slightly but still carrying an undeniable resolve, "I know you're both frustrated, but now is not the time for reckless brute force! Our mission is to lure the enemy deep into our territory, buying time for the main force to encircle them. Retreating now is for a better chance to fight back later!"
After saying this, he drew the "Zhongzheng Sword," symbolizing the "top student of Whampoa Military Academy," and slammed it heavily against the wooden stake beside him. "Pass on my order: each regiment will take turns providing cover and must withdraw from the position within half an hour, abandoning supplies along the way to create the illusion of a rout! Anyone who dares to delay will face my ruthlessness!" Li Yan and Tan Rengda exchanged a glance. Although they were unwilling, they could only grit their teeth and accept the order before the military command. They then turned around and went to relay the order.
Soon, the soldiers of the 184th Brigade, filled with doubt and anger, began to retreat in an orderly manner towards Longbei Mountain. Some soldiers cursed, "Those damn officers are just afraid of dying, they've disgraced all Hunanese people, fuck them..." They left behind a large number of guns, ammunition, and supplies that they couldn't take with them on the mudflats, as if they were truly a defeated army.
Seeing how easily the Chinese army was defeated, the Japanese were overjoyed. Major General Itamoto Jun'yori, the detachment commander, immediately ordered a full-speed pursuit. Six thousand Japanese soldiers pounced on the retreating 184th Brigade like hungry wolves.
When the remnants of the 184th Brigade retreated to their pre-arranged positions on Longbei Mountain, the buried weapons and ammunition were quickly unearthed and distributed. The dejection on the soldiers' faces was instantly replaced by determination. Brigade Commander Zhong Guangren drew his Zhongzheng sword and pointed it straight ahead. His hoarse roar echoed through the valley: "Brothers, the time for revenge has come!"
Let those Japanese devils know how tough the bones of us Hunanese are! Give them a good beating! This Longbei Mountain has beautiful scenery, it's a treasure trove! I'll die here today! Fight...!"
Just as the 184th Brigade was fighting desperately at Longbei Mountain with the determination to die, Sun Liren's Tax Police Corps had already marched quickly and quietly arrived outside Quangongting Port, with the cold muzzles of their guns aimed at the Japanese army's retreat route.
Meanwhile, the two divisions of the 77th Army of the Central Army had arrived on both the left and right flanks almost simultaneously and immediately launched an attack!
"Commander, it's terrible! We've been ambushed!" A Japanese staff officer scrambled into Major General Chunliang's temporary command post, his face ashen.
Itagaki Junryo abruptly looked up from in front of the map, his previously relaxed expression, which had been slightly relieved by the successful pursuit, instantly freezing. He grabbed the staff officer by the collar and demanded sharply, "Baka! What happened? Wasn't the main force of the Chinese already defeated?"
The communications soldier pointed tremblingly toward Longbei Mountain: "Sir, the Chinese army that we have already defeated has gained a foothold on Longbei Mountain, and their firepower is exceptionally fierce. They were clearly prepared!"
Meanwhile, large numbers of Chinese troops were spotted on both sides of our detachment. Judging from their firepower, they were definitely elite German-equipped divisions of the Chinese Central Army. Our vanguard had been cut off and surrounded! Gunfire also came from the port behind us, as if Chinese troops had cut off our retreat!
In summary, the intelligence regarding our landing at Jin Gongting has been completely obtained by the Chinese army! This was a planned and premeditated operation to lure the enemy deep into our territory!