Devil's Army

In order to capture Macheng County as soon as possible, the brigade commander and the brigade commander of the 15th Brigade of the New Fourth Army intensified their offensive.

In order to defend the first important gateway to Wuhan, the Japanese army transferred troops from Hankou to reinforce the city.

The reinforcements from Hankou carried heavy weapons such as artillery and deliberately chose to march at night to avoid the air force of the "Devil's Army".

While the Japanese troops in Macheng County were desperately resisting the attack of the First Brigade and the 15th Brigade of the New Fourth Army, the Japanese troops in Hankou arrived in Macheng County with heavy artillery.

Just then, the air force of the First Army returned to base, and the Japanese artillery in Hankou immediately launched a fierce bombing attack on the soldiers of the First Brigade and the 15th Brigade of the New Fourth Army who were attacking.

Encountering a sudden bombardment by artillery reinforcements from Hankou, soldiers from the 1st and 15th brigades retreated one after another and called for air support.

(The First Naval Squadron of the First Army on the Yangtze River was too far out of range to provide assistance to the attacking troops, and the area outside Macheng County was mostly hilly and mountainous.)

Soon, the air force of the First Army arrived to provide support. However, the cunning Japanese artillery immediately stopped bombing upon hearing the roar of the planes.

Seeing that the Japanese artillery fire was suppressed, the soldiers of the First Brigade and the New Fourth Army immediately launched an attack on Macheng County.

Using the city wall fortifications, the Japanese troops fiercely fired and threw grenades at the attacking First Brigade soldiers and New Fourth Army soldiers.

The Japanese mortars also flexibly shifted their positions and fiercely bombarded the soldiers of the First Brigade and the New Fourth Army who were attacking the city.

The two sides fought fiercely across the city wall for most of the day. The First Brigade and the New Fourth Army suffered heavy casualties, but still failed to capture Macheng County.

At this time, a New Fourth Army squad led the 4th Regiment of the 1st Brigade into Henan Province, crossed the mountain ridge from Shangcheng County, and launched a surprise attack on the north gate of Macheng County.

At this time, the main force of the Japanese army was concentrated at the east and south gates of Macheng County to block the attack of the First Brigade and the New Fourth Army. There were not many Japanese troops stationed at the north gate of Macheng County.

The Japanese troops at the North Gate were suddenly attacked by the Fourth Regiment and immediately called for reinforcements. However, the Fourth Regiment's attack was all about surprise.

The fourth regimental commander concentrated his regiment's mortars and rocket launchers, fiercely bombarding the Japanese firing points and fortifications on the north gate of Macheng County.

Under the cover of light and heavy machine guns, the soldiers also launched a fierce attack on Macheng County.

The Japanese troops were pinned down by the fierce firepower of the Fourth Regiment and were unable to raise their heads.

Two rocket soldiers from the Fourth Regiment approached the city gate and fired two rockets in succession, causing the city gate to collapse.

Then, the soldiers of the Fourth Regiment charged into the city with shouts and engaged in fierce fighting with the Japanese army.

The Japanese army could hardly withstand the ferocious attack of the Fourth Regiment.

The fourth regimental commander, who rushed into the field, divided his troops into three routes: one route continued to pursue the Japanese troops retreating into the city, while the other two routes attacked the Japanese troops at the east and south gates of Macheng County.

With the support of the Fourth Regiment, the Second Regiment at the East Gate quickly broke through the Japanese defenses and pursued the fleeing Japanese troops deep into the enemy territory.

The loss of the North Gate and East Gate left the Japanese army with no way to resist the First Army's attack, and they suffered repeated defeats.

Upon receiving a telegram from the division commander requesting reinforcements, the Japanese commander in Hankou dispatched reinforcements again.

In order to save time, the Japanese troops in Hankou did not choose to reinforce at night.

The First Air Force, which had been on alert of the Japanese troops in Hankou, quickly spotted the Japanese troops who were marching rapidly to reinforce them. They immediately swooped down and launched a fierce bombing and strafing attack on them.

The Japanese troops in Hankou were thrown into disarray and scattered during the intense bombing by the First Army's air force.