The War of Resistance: My Expedition, My Country

The 2nd Division, a veteran Class A division of the Japanese Army, was newly organized to include the 4th, 16th, and 29th Infantry Regiments, along with auxiliary regiments such as cavalry, field artillery, engineers, and supply troops. Furthermore, the 31st Mixed Brigade was assigned to the 2nd Division, participating in the battle.

Okazaki Seizaburo, commanding 2.5 troops, was filled with arrogance and hubris. He considered Idegang merely a small swaying peg, while Chittagong was his true goal. Okazaki stood before a map, gazing with complacency, as if he could see through it his future victory.

Meanwhile, Chief of Staff Colonel Yuo Suzuki was reporting on the progress of the various units. Upon learning that the 31st Brigade had fallen behind, more than 20 kilometers east of Songmu, he was overcome with anger. His eyes widened, and he shouted at Suzuki, "What's going on? Why is this happening?"

Suzuki explained, "Sakamoto Shintaro has just taken over the 31st Brigade, and the troops haven't fully gelled yet."

Okazaki was furious upon hearing this. He immediately ordered Suzuki to give orders to the cavalry commander, Fujita Shigeru, who was in Ukiya: "Tell Fujita that the 31st Brigade must arrive in Matsumu tonight! If necessary, assist Sakamoto in enforcing military discipline!"

Jiu Ben was currently scolding several of his captains, "Don't make excuses. No cars, no transportation?! That's no reason to delay military orders!"

Sakemoto then pointed at Lieutenant Colonel Kyuukura Kyoda, the infantry commander, and said, "Kyuukura, you will immediately lead the 1st and 2nd Battalions to gather all the pack horses and vehicles at the brigade headquarters. The tank squadron will also be under your command. You must reach Songmu tonight!"

"Kameda, Xinbu, and Jiukui, you must immediately organize an enforcement team to enforce military discipline against anyone who delays the march for any reason! These people are unworthy of being Imperial soldiers and are a disgrace to them!"

Just as Sakamoto was furious, Fujita, commander of the 2nd Division's Cavalry Regiment, had already entered Sakamoto's command tent. Completely ignoring Sakamoto's rank as a major general, he rudely interrupted him, saying, "Division Commander Okazaki has ordered me to oversee the 31st Brigade's march. The entire 31st Brigade must arrive in Matsumu tonight and assume rearguard duty for the nd Division!"

"Mr. Sakamoto, military law is not limited to soldiers. At critical moments, any delay in military orders should be dealt with immediately!" Fujita added.

Sakamoto was very dissatisfied with Fujita's intrusion and replied coldly, "Fujita-kun, I will handle the affairs of the 31st Brigade myself. I am very clear about Lord Okazaki's orders. The 31st Brigade will arrive in Matsumu on time!"

Then, Sakamoto winked at the Chief of Staff, Colonel Kaga Shiji. Kaga understood and immediately shouted to his men, "Hurry up and act! Are we going to have to wait for Lieutenant Colonel Zhifu to come and enforce discipline again?"

The Japanese 31st Brigade rushed towards Songmu in a chaotic manner. The Allied 38th Division's 112th Regiment, moving lightly, had already arrived at the outskirts of Songmu. At this time, Songmu was guarded by a battalion of more than 2 people from the Japanese 900nd Division's Supply Regiment, of which more than 70 combat-capable people were directly under the battalion's reinforcement squad!

Without hesitation, Regimental Commander Cai Yong launched an immediate assault, annihilating the entire Japanese supply brigade. The entire regiment then quickly deployed in Songmu, with the engineering platoon beginning to lay mines and explosives along the route. The entire regiment (except for the mountain artillery company, which had not yet arrived) began earthwork, rapidly establishing numerous defensive positions.

Upon receiving the news that Songmu had been captured, the Japanese immediately ordered the 31st Brigade to quickly follow up and launch an attack from the east. A battalion from the 29th Regiment also turned around and launched an attack from the west. The Japanese army's intention was obvious: to use a two-pronged attack to annihilate the unstable 112th Regiment on the spot.

这时的112团，拥有3个营和直属坦克连、炮兵连，防空连、发坦克排、工兵排。全美械豪华装备，兵员3500多人，拥有M2t坦克12辆、装甲车18辆、75MM山炮8门，120mm迫击炮8门,20mm速射炮6门，37mm反坦克炮4门，M18 57mm 无后坐力炮18具，团属火焰兵分队还拥有M1 型火焰喷射器4具，各营属105mm、连属82mm迫击炮32门，各类机枪数十挺，班排配置有大量汤普森冲锋枪和M1卡宾枪。战力完全可以硬抗日军早期的一个旅团。

The battle entered the most intense decisive battle as soon as it began. Under the cover of four 2mm howitzers of the 4nd Division Artillery Regiment, the Japanese army launched a fierce attack from the west. The 155st and 31nd Battalions of the 1st Brigade, which arrived first, also attacked Songmu from the east under the command of infantry commander Jiucang.

After about an hour of fighting, the 1rd Battalion of the 29th Regiment of the Japanese Army discovered the enemy's formidable strength, which was simply beyond the reach of a single battalion. Two squadron-level assaults were nearly annihilated by the enemy's counterattacks. If it weren't for the support of their heavy artillery, the entire battalion might have been wiped out.

Battalion Commander Major Kimura didn't hesitate and immediately requested tactical guidance from the regiment. Colonel Kazuaki Obara then realized that the enemy forces seizing Matsumu weren't just a small group. Based on the incoming reports from the front, Obara roughly estimated that the enemy was most likely part of the Allied Chinese 38th or 28th Divisions, or at least a regimental-level unit.

The Japanese intelligence network already had a preliminary understanding of these opponents and knew that the strength of a single regiment of the 38th and 28th Divisions was equivalent to that of a Japanese regiment. Furthermore, they were heavily equipped with American weapons and equipment, making it impossible for a single battalion to defeat them. Obara quickly made a decision, dispatching another battalion to reinforce them while urgently reporting the situation to the division commander, Okazaki.

"What? An entire enemy regiment has captured Songmu?" Okazaki exclaimed in astonishment. This sudden arrival of the enemy had clearly disrupted their deployment, and based on current intelligence, this regiment was most likely one of the 38th or 112th Regiments of the Chinese Army's 113th Division. At this moment, only these two elite divisions possessed the strength and courage to undertake such a daunting mission!

Okazaki quickly calmed down and began to think about countermeasures. He realized that if the coalition forces occupied and consolidated Matsumu, the 2nd Division's offensive against Ideoka would be restricted, and if things went wrong, the 2nd Division would face the danger of being surrounded by the coalition forces.

He decisively ordered Ohara Kazuaki to personally command the front and transferred all eighteen guns of the division's artillery battalion to Songmu to strengthen the offensive in that area. At the same time, he sternly demanded that the Sakamoto Brigade exert all its might and accelerate its advance to completely encircle and destroy the Chinese army at Songmu.