gnovel Chapter 243 The Demise of the Japanese 8th Infantry Brigade
Chapter 243 The Demise of the Japanese 8th Infantry Brigade
At that moment, a deafening explosion came from the ground.
Those were 105mm howitzers from Li Jianghe's Third Column, launching a full-scale artillery barrage against the Japanese defensive positions.
According to Tani Hisao and Ogisu Ritsuhe's understanding of Li Jianghe, after the artillery barrage ended...
Immediately following, the ground mechanized forces of the Third Column launched a full-scale counterattack.
"Damn it! Our counterattack plan has completely failed; the enemy has launched a counterattack first!"
Tani Hisao angrily slammed his fist on the roof railing, his knuckles turning white from the impact.
He turned sharply to look at Ogishu Rippei, his voice carrying the last glimmer of hope.
"It seems our only hope now lies in reinforcements from the Imperial Guard Division and the 13th Division!"
Ogizu Rippei sighed helplessly, his face full of bitterness.
"That's true. After this battle, the air force will probably be unwilling to provide support to us again."
In the Third Column Command Post, dozens of kilometers away, Li Jianghe leaned back in his chair, a smile playing on his lips.
In his mind, he kept hearing notifications that his merit points were increasing, and they were jumping up by thousands at a time.
These merit points correspond to the Japanese warplanes and bombers shot down by anti-aircraft guns, as well as the Japanese pilots who died along with them.
In the past two days, the air defense forces have shot down at least fifty Japanese warplanes.
The total number of aircraft mobilized by the Japanese army for this battle was only a little over one hundred.
The number of warplanes shot down alone exceeded one-third of the total number of warplanes involved.
"The combination of the 88mm gun and the quadruple machine gun is brilliant. None of the Japanese pilots who were shot down gave it a bad review."
Li Jianghe thought to himself, his smile widening.
Just then, Lin Yongzhi strode in, holding a telegram in his hand, and saluted.
"Reporting to the platoon leader, an urgent telegram from headquarters!"
Upon hearing this, Li Jianghe immediately sat up straight, took the telegram, and quickly began to scan it.
As soon as he finished reading the last line, his brows furrowed slightly. He then immediately stood up and walked to the map.
"Send a telegram to Yang Ruifu and Bai Chengshan immediately!"
"Order them to cooperate with the Nationalist troops on the west bank and first wipe out all of Sei Takehira's remaining troops!"
"Then concentrate all forces and turn around to deal with the northward-bound troops of the Japanese Imperial Guard Division and the 13th Division!"
Li Jianghe's order was decisive and without the slightest hesitation.
At this moment, in the Fenshuiting Township area on the west bank of the Shi River, the vanguard of the Japanese army had already engaged in firefights with the defending forces of the Central Army and the Northwest Army.
This northward-bound Japanese army was large in number and had fierce firepower; it even called for air support.
The Central Army's multiple defensive positions deployed west of Fenshuiting Township were completely torn apart by the Japanese vanguard in less than two hours.
This demonstrates the ferocity and intensity of the Japanese army's advance.
Commander Li's meaning couldn't be clearer.
The Nationalist troops on the west bank must be able to wipe out the remnants of Sei Takehira's 8th Brigade as soon as possible.
Then, concentrate all forces and turn around to deal with the main force of the Japanese army on the southern front that was heading north to reinforce.
Li Jianghe was well aware that the battle had reached its most critical moment, and it was not the time to hold back.
Meanwhile, on the front lines in Madian Town, the sounds of gunfire and artillery never ceased.
Yang Ruifu's First Motorized Infantry Detachment
They have repelled numerous attacks by the Japanese army, and their position is as stable as Mount Tai.
However, due to limited manpower, they have been unable to launch a full-scale attack on the forces under Sei Takehira on the west side.
Just then, the deafening roar of engines came from the distant highway.
The tank detachment from Baicheng Mountain traveled north day and night and finally arrived at Madian Town, where they successfully joined forces with Yang Ruifu's troops.
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the determination to fight to the death in each other's eyes, and there was no more hesitation.
They immediately redeployed some troops to continue holding Madian Town and resisting the Japanese army from the direction of Huoqiu County.
At exactly noon, the remaining armored units launched a full-scale offensive against the remnants of the 8th Brigade of Sebuhira.
On the east bank of the Shi River, in the temporary command post of the Japanese 8th Brigade, the atmosphere had already dropped to freezing point.
Sei Takehira sat at the table, looking at the urgent telegrams coming from the front lines, his brows furrowed.
The Nationalist infantry units on the west side are launching wave after wave of fierce attacks.
Fortunately, he had built multiple layers of defensive positions in advance, and they can still barely hold on for now.
But when he encountered Qiu Qingquan's tank team, he was completely helpless and had a terrible headache.
Most of the anti-tank guns originally assigned to the 8th Brigade were transferred to the front line in Huoqiu County.
Now, he only has five anti-tank guns left at most.
Of these five cannons, he still had to spare two to defend against the armored forces of the Third Column in the direction of Madian Town.
Just as Sei Takehira was at a loss, completely overwhelmed by the map.
The brigade chief of staff rushed into the command post like a madman, his face pale and he could barely speak.
"Your Excellency, Brigade Commander..."
Sei Takehira's heart skipped a beat. He abruptly stood up, quickly went to meet her, and hurriedly asked.
"How is it? Have the reinforcements arrived?"
The chief of staff shook his head, his body trembling slightly, his voice trembling with tears.
"No...it's the armored forces of the Third Column...their reinforcements have arrived!"
"What?!" Sei Takehira was struck dumb, staggering back half a step and almost losing his balance.
"Damn it! Damn it all! What is the division headquarters doing?! Why haven't the reinforcements arrived yet?"
An unprecedented survival crisis instantly enveloped him completely.
Just Qiu Qingquan's team alone was enough to give him a major headache.
At present, the armored forces of the Third Column in the direction of Madian Town have also launched a full-scale counter-offensive.
With wolves in front and tigers behind, his remaining troops had no chance of resisting at all.
As Sei Takehira looked at the battle map on the wall, his vision went black, and he almost collapsed to the ground.
He knew all too well that the Eighth Brigade's doomsday had arrived.
Almost simultaneously, the sound of artillery shells exploding rang out, and this time, they were very close to his command post.
That was the roar of a German-made 105MM howitzer.
At the same time, Qiu Qingquan's tank convoy also launched an attack on the position where the Japanese 8th Brigade headquarters was located.
To the east, hundreds of armored vehicles from the First Motorized Infantry Detachment and Tank Detachment, along with more than a thousand infantrymen, advanced in unison, surging towards the Japanese army like a tidal wave.
As night fell, Sei Takehira's 8th Brigade, without the arrival of reinforcements, was completely wiped out in the area, with more than two thousand elite Japanese soldiers killed.
Qiu Qingquan's tank convoy successfully joined forces with Bai Chengshan's tank detachment.
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