noffsinger Chapter 816: Airborne Brigade Defends Hengyang
Chapter 816: Airborne Brigade Defends Hengyang
If we follow the style of the central government in Chongqing, we will beat you with three sticks and shatter your sincerity!
But Li Muzhi decided to go out and take a look. He walked alone to the angry crowd, like a lone swordsman facing tens of thousands of troops.
He said nothing, and looked coldly at the red-faced crowd, allowing them to curse, slander and even push him, until they felt bored, their voices began to lower, and finally turned into silence.
Li Muzhi dusted off his body, patted the footprints on his trouser legs, and then walked up the stairs.
"Everyone, can you listen to me now? I know why you are here. You just don't understand why the independent column didn't just go straight to Hengyang like a sharp knife, and watch those people in dire straits die without helping them?"
Looking at the people who were still silent, Li Muzhi already understood in his heart.
“The reason is simple. Although the independent column has a very powerful armored unit, if it advances deep into the enemy’s territory alone and cannot replenish its fuel and ammunition, the troops will be annihilated!
As the saying goes, two fists are no match for four hands. Even an armored unit can be killed by the Japanese.
Our soldiers are all born and raised by their parents, and are also sons, husbands, brothers, and even fathers of others. As the commander of the army, it is impossible to take the risk of letting them sacrifice in vain!
However, I can guarantee that the independent column will never ignore the lives of ordinary people just to grab territory. If you are willing, wait here and we will wait for the battle report from the front together!"
At this time, the spies lurking in the crowd began to make trouble, shouting in the crowd:
"No, we must let the independent column immediately abandon the surrounding land and advance to Hengyang! Otherwise, it would be stealing the country!"
Li Muzhi followed the sound and found a short and wretched man who looked like a hooligan.
He was about to open his mouth to refute, but someone in the crowd immediately fought back.
"Why rush? Since he has said so, let's wait a little longer and give him a chance. If there is no result today, it will not be too late to protest later!"
The spy shut his mouth in dismay, but Li Muzhi tilted his head and said to his comrades beside him:
"Make him disappear completely and stop wasting China's food!"
Li Muzhi was waiting anxiously, while Li Zongren, who was equally anxious, was being ridiculed by Chang Guangzhou at a regular meeting of the Ministry of National Defense.
"Some people do not distinguish between positions and consider issues from the perspective of other parties, causing divisions within the party, which has a very bad impact! Not only did this fail to save the country, but it also caused large areas of land to lose control!
The Japanese pirates will be driven out sooner or later, but once these provinces are taken over by others, they may never be able to get rid of them! "
Li Zongren's face was gloomy as he listened to the chattering discussion. Although no one was mentioned by name, every word was meant for him. He now began to reflect on whether he had fallen into the Independent Column's plan to alienate him, although this was also his own fault.
If he did not have evil ambitions, he would not have taken the lead in criticizing the Chongqing government and supporting the Independent Column South. He just wanted to increase his political capital.
However, he was now on pins and needles. If the independent column took part in the battle and failed to lift the siege of Hengyang, he was afraid that the reputation and prestige he had accumulated from running back and forth all these days would be wiped out.
The regular meeting venue became deserted, while thousands of miles away in Hengyang, the tranquility was shattered by bursts of gunfire.
Under the unified command of Isamu Yokoyama, the 34th Division, 68th Division, 40th Division and 58th Division launched attacks in succession from the four directions of southeast, northwest, northeast and southwest.
The 34th Division first launched an attack on the east side of Hengyang City, but they soon felt that the defenders in the east were particularly tenacious and no longer the weak force they had been yesterday.
Are you kidding? The more than 10 remnants of the original 3000th Army in the city, after having enough food and water and replenishing their ammunition, all gathered at the East Gate and relied on fortifications. How could they not be tough?
The 34th Division immediately reported the situation to Isamu Yokoyama.
"Yoshi, it seems they are planning to break out from the east, then enter the Xiangjiang River Basin and flee to the south! In this case, order the 68th Division, the 40th Division, and the 58th Division to attack with all their might and try to capture Hengyang City in one wave!"
Yokoyama Isamu was determined to capture Hengyang before the main force of the independent column crossed the river, so he made a desperate move.
The Japanese troops in the north, southwest and three directions agreed to launch an attack on Hengyang City at 10 a.m. with the strength of an independent infantry battalion each.
Especially the 58th Division in the north, they had already broken through the city wall and were preparing to attack the city, so its division commander, Lieutenant General Mori Suehiro, made a bold statement that he must be the first to plant the general flag in the center of Hengyang City!
Therefore, he quietly sent out two teams to rush directly into the north gate.
In order to deal with the serious situation at the north gate, Monk Wei brought his reconnaissance company to supervise the battle here in person, waiting for the Japanese to arrive.
Monk Wei had a battalion and a company of more than 700 people at the north gate, while there were two battalions attacking, and Monk Wei had no heavy artillery support.
So, when Monk Wei looked at the vast expanse of shit-yellow color coming like a tide, he felt extremely nervous!
"Mortar! Shell!"
Although the airborne troops were not equipped with infantry guns, they brought enough 81mm heavy mortars and 50mm light mortars, which were a considerable number.
Shell after shell fell on the 58nd and 51rd Independent Infantry Battalions of the 92st Infantry Brigade of the 93th Division.
Although a gap was opened at the Xiaobei Gate, it was only about 50 meters wide. Mortars continued to attack the gap, leaving the Japanese soldiers confused.
Aren’t the enemy’s main forces in the east?
Hadn’t they run out of ammunition and food after a month and a half of siege?
Was it a brick that hit them on the head?
The first wave of attack was thwarted, and the 92nd Infantry Battalion left behind more than corpses. Only one squadron was left to guard the gap, and the rest of the large force withdrew.
Maori Suehiro was puzzled. The firepower was unprecedentedly strong. Although there were no heavy artillery, the shells seemed to be free. The attack was even more difficult than in the previous few days!
"Contact the artillery team and bombard the enemy's position to cover the infantry charge!"
The 58th Division Artillery has three artillery battalions, each equipped with 12 75mm mountain guns.
As soon as the Japanese artillery group launched the attack, Wei Heshang and others were unable to raise their heads, and many fortifications collapsed.
The 58nd and 51rd Infantry Battalions of the 92st Brigade of the 93th Division advanced to meters in front of Wei Heshang's first line of defense under the cover of artillery fire.
"Damn it! If only our howitzer regiment was here, it would be great. The Japs wouldn't have a chance to complain here!"
Just when Monk Wei was feeling very upset, the sound of an airplane roared from the distant sky, and it seemed to be heading towards Hengyang.
Both the enemy and us are eagerly waiting...