Devil's Army

Occupying Yanglousi would also prevent the Japanese army in Linxiang from advancing north to attack Hubei.

But this is a bit of an overreaction. At this point, the Japanese army was already like grasshoppers in autumn, preoccupied with its own survival. Where would it find sufficient troops and energy to attack the areas occupied by the First Army?

Because the area where Yanglousi is located has a well-developed water system, including rivers such as the Xindian River.

In order to stop the attack of the 2nd Brigade of the Devil Unit, the Japanese army in Linxiang risked deploying its remaining navy, which traversed the network of rivers and waterways to launch a fierce bombardment against the soldiers of the 2nd Brigade.

When the 1st Air Force arrived, the Japanese troops immediately hid in the reeds upon hearing the roar of the planes.

In order to deal with the Japanese navy in Hunan, the First Squadron of the First Army Navy was ordered to enter Hunan.

The First Naval Battalion of the First Army divided its four squadrons into different areas for search, leaving no Japanese naval remnants hiding in the reed marshes of various rivers with nowhere to hide.

After two days of fierce naval battle, the remaining Japanese navy in Hunan was completely wiped out.

Meanwhile, the artillery of the Second Brigade also arrived at their designated positions and launched a fierce bombardment of Yanglousi.

At this point, the water network obstacles originally intended to block the Second Brigade's attack turned into a firepower network supporting the Second Brigade's infantry attack due to the arrival of the First Navy Battalion.

Gunboats from the First Squadron of the First Army Navy shuttled through the waterways, continuously bombarding Japanese positions to support the Second Brigade's attack.

The Japanese defense line at Yanglousi finally collapsed under the combined attack of the army, navy, and air force.

After the First Regiment of the Second Brigade occupied Yanglousi, it continued its offensive towards Linxiang.

At this time, the Second and Third Regiments of the Second Brigade also broke through the Japanese defense lines at Huanggaihu and Maishi and surrounded Linxiang.

After the three regiments of the Second Brigade surrounded Linxiang from three sides, the brigade commander ordered the recapture of Linxiang.

At this time, the Japanese army's main base in Hunan, Yueyang, Linxiang, and the north of Huarong were all subjected to fierce attacks by the First Army.

Just as Yokoyama Isamu was about to move troops from the south northward to reinforce, Xue Yue's Ninth War Zone troops began to cross the Dayun Mountain and Xinqiang River, launching a fierce attack on the Japanese troops stationed in Hunan.

This put Commander Yokoyama Isamu in a dilemma.

To avoid continuing to fight on two fronts, Commander Yokoyama Isamu ordered the troops in the north to find advantageous fortifications and strongholds to resist the attack of the devilish forces.

On the other hand, they concentrated their forces and launched a fierce attack on General Xue's Ninth Military Region troops, attempting to crush the Ninth Military Region government forces in one fell swoop and prevent them from advancing north.

However, this was merely wishful thinking on the part of Commander Yokoyama Isamu.

The Japanese army's attack on the government forces of the Ninth Military District was met with fierce resistance from General Xue's troops.

General Xue's troops were not only not defeated, but also showed a trend of becoming more and more courageous in battle.

Based on intelligence sent by General Xue and information gathered by air reconnaissance, a brigade commander learned that a large Japanese force had been transferred south to intercept the Nanjing government forces. He then ordered his troops to intensify their offensive.

The artillery of the 1st Brigade, the 2nd Brigade, and the 4th Brigade of the Independent Division poured shells on Yueyang, Linxiang, and Huarong, decimating the stubbornly resisting Japanese troops.

The 4th Brigade of the Independent Division was the first to break through the Japanese defenses in Huarong County and rush into the county, where they engaged in fierce street fighting with the Japanese.

Subsequently, the Second and First Brigades also broke through the Japanese defenses in Linxiang and Yueyang.

Commander Yokoyama Isamu then considered sending troops north to reinforce the area.

However, General Xue's Ninth Army Corps was in hot pursuit, and he was unable to extricate himself from the battlefield.

However, at this time, the Japanese army in Hunan was surrounded by Hubei, Jiangxi, and Changsha, Hunan, all of which were the territory of the First Army and the Nanjing government army, so the Japanese army had no way to retreat.