Devil's Army

When the Japanese major and some commanders from Hankou arrived in Jiangling County in gunboats hidden along the riverbank, the First Squadron of the First Army Navy dispatched a squadron of its fleet to provide support.

The three Japanese gunboats that fled from Shishou ran right into the gunboats and small warships of the First Army Navy Squadron.

The ships of the First Naval Squadron quickly formed a battle formation and surrounded the three Japanese gunboats, launching a fierce bombardment.

More than half an hour later, two of the three Japanese gunboats were sunk and one was captured.

The Japanese army major and some commanders also perished at Yasukuni Shrine.

The waterways between Shishou County and Jiangling County are well-developed, with a crisscrossing network of waterways.

The Japanese deputy battalion commander led a large force to retreat back to Hankou by land. The First Brigade pursued them closely.

The Japanese deputy battalion commander arranged for his troops to take turns providing cover for the main force's retreat.

The soldiers of the brigade were unable to stop the retreating Japanese troops for the time being.

Upon receiving intelligence, the 1st Company of the 1st Flotilla of the 1st Navy of the 1st Army came to outflank the retreating Japanese troops by water and quickly discovered them, and then opened fire to intercept them.

The Japanese deputy battalion commander knew the consequences of being intercepted by the devilish warships.

He led his troops in a continued retreat, braving artillery fire from a large naval force.

Soon after, the Japanese deputy battalion commander, who had fled into the mountains, escaped the shelling of the naval warships, but his troops suffered heavy casualties. Moreover, most of the Japanese troops responsible for covering the rear were annihilated by the 1st brigade.

After eliminating the rearguard Japanese troops, the brigade continued to advance towards Jiangling County and soon entered the county's territory.

Jiangling County was originally the area where the 15th Brigade of the Fifth Division of the New Fourth Army operated.

After the battle of Wuxue County began, the 15th Brigade, under the orders of Division Commander Li, went south to reinforce the area. Only a small number of troops remained in Jiangling County to continue guerrilla warfare.

After the First Brigade entered Jiangling County, the remaining troops of the 15th Brigade of the Fifth Division of the New Fourth Army joined the First Brigade.

The main force temporarily moved into the Xiangnan Anti-Japanese Base Area, preparing to recapture Jiangling County.

Political Commissar Guo, who remained in Jiangling County, briefed the brigade commander on the situation of the Japanese troops in Jiangling County.

The following day, a brigade of soldiers, led by soldiers of the Fifth Division of the New Fourth Army who were stationed in Jiangling County, split into three groups to attack the Japanese and puppet troops in Jiangling County.

Upon receiving intelligence, the New Fourth Army's Jiangling Independent Battalion and Jiangling County Brigade also launched an attack on the Japanese and puppet troops in the Jiangling Y-corner and Qianjiang areas.

The fierce battle lasted for a day and two nights. Most of the Japanese troops in Jiangling County were wiped out, while a small number withdrew to Jianli County with the Japanese troops in Hankou.

At that time, Jianli County was a key battlefield in the anti-Japanese war in the Jianghan Plain, and also an important military stronghold for the Japanese army to control the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and attack Hunan, Hubei and Chongqing.

The Japanese army built a relatively complete defense system based on its core strongholds.

Zhuhe Town was an outpost for the anti-Japanese army, while Bailuoji, due to its location along the river and controlling the road, became a key military stronghold for the Japanese army. The Bailuoji Airport built by the Japanese army there could allow warplanes to reach Changsha and Yichang for bombing within half an hour.

Even after the Japanese lost air superiority, a small number of Japanese warplanes remained at Bailuo Airport.

In addition, the Japanese army deployed more than 4000 soldiers to garrison the county town, Yanjiapu and other places, and another 5000 puppet security forces and Huang Weijun were stationed in various places.

Bailuo Airport was defended in shifts by Xigang troops, with Huang Weijun stationed at Luoshan and Yanglinshan to provide support.

The entire Jianli County had more than 12,000 Japanese and puppet troops, plus more than 5,000 Japanese and puppet troops who retreated from Jiangling County. The total strength was 5,000 to 6,000 more than a brigade, and they occupied the advantageous terrain, making them a tough nut to crack.