Devil's Army

The major ordered the troops that had already crossed the river to retreat. However, the wooden bridge had been destroyed, and the Japanese troops were unable to retreat.

The major ordered the surviving artillerymen, who had already moved to a new position, to bombard the devilish troops' artillery positions with all their might, in order to cover the engineers as they rebuilt the wooden bridge.

To the major's utter dismay, the Devil Force's air force arrived to join the battle at that moment.

The Japanese troops, who had not yet recovered from the bombing by the devilish artillery, were then subjected to a barrage of bombing by the devilish air force.

The major had no choice but to abandon the troops that had already crossed the river and order them to continue their retreat.

Seeing this, Commander Wu ordered the soldiers of the First and Second Battalions to launch a counterattack against the remaining Japanese troops on Lion Mountain Beach.

Seeing this, the second regimental commander also ordered the soldiers of the first and second battalions to flank the enemy from the side.

Under the pincer attack of the 38th Regiment of the New Fourth Army and the 2nd Regiment of the Southern Independent Division, the Japanese soldiers who crossed the Baizhang River were either annihilated or driven into the river to feed the fish.

While the Japanese army was being driven back by the First Army Air Force, Regiment Commander Wu and the Second Regiment Commander quickly built a wooden bridge to cross the Baizhang River and pursue the fleeing Japanese army.

During their retreat, the Japanese troops attempted to halt the 38th Regiment's advance. However, they were unable to withstand the fierce attacks from both the 38th and 2nd Regiments.

The 38th Regiment of the New Fourth Army seized the opportunity to recapture the Lion Mountain ridge position lost the day before.

Meanwhile, the second regimental commander led his soldiers across the mountain ridge and continued to pursue the Japanese army.

The soldiers of the Second Regiment pursued the fleeing Japanese troops all the way to the outskirts of Xishui County.

At this time, the First Regiment, a brother unit of the Second Regiment, had already launched an attack on Wuxue County, Hubei Province.

After resting for an hour outside Xishui County, the Second Regiment Commander also split his troops into two groups and launched a fierce attack on Xishui County.

The Japanese army in Huangmei County amassed nearly a battalion of troops and advanced towards Huanggang County with artillery.

When the Japanese troops arrived at Qilinmiao Valley, they were blocked by the 15th Brigade of the 5th Division of the New Fourth Army.

Qilin Temple Valley is located at the junction of Xiaoxi Mountain and Longping Mountain in Huangmei County, Hubei Province.

To its north lies the steep cliffs of Honghuazhai, and to its south, Huaguoshan, located at the northern foot of Duoyun Mountain. In the middle is a narrow valley with a small river running through it. Along the river is a winding road, which is the only way to enter Longping Mountain from Xiaoxishan.

This terrain, with two mountains flanking a ravine, was easy to defend and difficult to attack. Once the Japanese troops entered, it was like entering a pocket, from which they could hardly escape.

The 44th Regiment of the 15th Brigade of the New Fourth Army built its first line of defense here, waiting for the Japanese army to enter the trap.

The 45th Regiment of the New Fourth Army also planned to advance directly from Huandao Ridge into Chitang Mountain to prevent the Japanese army from returning to Longping Mountain to reinforce; the 39th Regiment was ready to cross Duoyun Mountain at any time and outflank the Japanese army from Dongliu Dawu on the north side of the mountain.

Brigade Commander Wu of the 15th Brigade has brought the entire brigade's forces to participate in the battle, preparing to wipe out the Japanese troops in Huangmei County.

When the Japanese troops arrived at Xiaoxishan, they were met with resistance from the vanguard of the New Fourth Army. The battle ensued.

The Japanese artillery fiercely bombarded the New Fourth Army's positions at Xiaoxishan.

The 44th Regiment of the New Fourth Army "retreat in panic" under heavy bombing by the Japanese army.

The Japanese captain in Huangmei was overconfident, having encountered an easy target so early in the battle, and ordered his troops to accelerate their pursuit.

Because the path along the river was narrow, the Japanese troops had to form a long column and enter the valley of Xiaoxi Mountain.

Soldiers of the 44th Regiment of the New Fourth Army repeatedly stopped to block the pursuing Japanese troops during their retreat.

However, the narrow path prevented the Japanese army from spreading out their forces to encircle and block the New Fourth Army, which infuriated the captain.