Devil's Army

The reconnaissance soldiers of the New Fourth Army's Jiangnan Advance Detachment, who had been keeping a close eye on the Japanese army's situation, discovered this. However, due to the rudimentary communication conditions at the time, they were unable to send the intelligence to headquarters in a timely manner.

That night, all the air force units returned to base, unable to detect the movements of the Japanese troops.

Commander Yokoyama Isamu successfully led his troops back to Yueyang City.

At 7:00 a.m. the next day, the First Air Force began to intensify its bombing of the north and west gates of Yueyang City.

The Japanese fortifications at the north and west gates of Yueyang were once again destroyed by the First Army Air Force.

No sooner had the bombing by the First Army Air Force ceased than the Third and Fourth Regiments of the First Brigade launched a fierce attack on Yueyang.

Japanese reinforcements continued to pour into Yueyang City, heading towards the North and West Gates.

They lay in ambush behind the collapsed fortifications, fiercely resisting the attack of the Third and Fourth Regiments.

The battle continued into the night. The 3rd and 4th Regiments of the 1st Brigade suffered heavy casualties, but still failed to break through the Japanese defenses in Yueyang City.

While the First Brigade launched a fierce attack on the Japanese army from the south, the Second Brigade also moved south from Yanglousi, Huanggaihu, and Maishi to launch an attack on Linxiang.

Yanglousi is a long and narrow area with a terrain dominated by mountains and hills. It is bordered by the Yangtze River and Huanggao Lake to the north, and Yaogu Peak to the south. It is flanked by green mountains along the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway and National Highway 107. It has been a strategic location fought over by military strategists since ancient times.

Moreover, Yanglousi is a strategic pass between Hunan and Hubei provinces, with several narrow passes and important roads within its borders. For example, Jianshanpu is a pass between the Yuehan Railway and the highway, with hills on both sides of the road.

The Japanese army set up its first line of defense at Jianshanpu and established artillery positions on the Jianshanpu hill.

The vanguard of the 1st Regiment of the 2nd Brigade arrived at Jianshanpu and was met with fierce fire from the Japanese army.

Before the First Army Air Force arrived, the Japanese artillery launched a fierce bombing raid, killing many soldiers of the Second Brigade.

The 1st Regiment of the 2nd Brigade was forced to retreat and called for air support.

The Japanese artillery immediately ceased firing upon hearing the roar of the aircraft.

Taking advantage of the weakened Japanese firepower, the regiment quickly followed up and launched a fierce attack on Jianshanpu.

The Japanese troops at Jianshanpu had just been subjected to a brutal bombing raid by the devilish air force, and now they were under the fierce attack of the First Regiment. Finally, they could not withstand the attack and retreated to the second line of defense—Zhao Liqiao Pass.

Zhao Liqiao Pass is located on the border of Hunan and Hubei provinces, where the railway and highway run side by side.

The Japanese army used the high ground on both sides to set up crossfire and used abandoned train carriages as cover to block the route for the devilish troops to move south.

The Second Regiment of the Second Brigade replaced the First Regiment and then advanced steadily and surely towards the Zhao Liqiao Pass.

The Japanese army was running low on manpower and requested reinforcements from Commander Yokoyama Isamu.

Commander Yokoyama Isamu informed them that Yueyang City was also under attack from the main force of the Demon Army and was preoccupied with its own defenses. He instructed them to find every possible way to repel the Demon Army's attack.

This simply tells the division commander that they have no soldiers and no ammunition, and he has to find his own way.

However, to the east of Linxiang City is Xiushui County of Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province; to the west is Chibi City of Xianning City, Hubei Province; and to the north are Chongyang County and Tongcheng County of Xianning City, Hubei Province.

These three places are currently occupied by the devil's army, with only the south side connected to the friendly forces in Yueyang.

Moreover, Yueyang is currently surrounded by a large force of devil troops, and they have no way out but to defend it to the death.

The second brigade commander knew that Yanglousi was the first stop from Hubei to Hunan, and that the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway and the national highway ran through its heartland, making its transportation location extremely important.

Controlling Yanglousi would be equivalent to cutting off a vital transportation line for the Japanese army to enter Hunan from Hubei, which would have a significant impact on their logistical supply.