Traveling through 1937, starting from the Battle of Songhu

Chapter 420 The Siege Begins

On the battlefield of the 1st and 2nd Battalions, another Japanese aircraft squadron on a mission did not let go of the soldiers here, and bombarded the ground below with grenade after grenade!

When the Japanese saw their planes coming to help, they became even more crazy. They attacked the defense lines of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions without regard for their lives, but were directly taught a lesson by the soldiers, and their crazy offensive was pushed back.

Laiyuan, Hou Gongjun's support came just as quickly. After receiving Matsuura's request for help, he immediately sent out two battalions around him.

At this moment, there was almost no other defense force around him except the division headquarters, two squadrons of guards, and the wounded Japanese soldiers sent back from the front.

If someone took advantage of the two Japanese battalions going out to attack Laiyuan directly, Hou Gongchun would definitely be caught off guard.

However, according to Gong Chun's analysis, almost all the troops of the independent regiment were dealing with the 106th Division, and even the Eighth Route Army that was encircling him had gathered there, so he was confident that he was safe for the time being.

What he didn't know was that after Zhao Ziqing ended the encirclement and suppression of Huanglong Town, he immediately took the special forces and some personnel of the Eighth Route Army to Laiyuan, while Ji Guangshun led a large force to encircle and suppress the 106th Division, and all the 107 rocket launchers and artillery of the Eighth Route Army were taken away by Zhao Ziqing.

Zhao Ziqing’s idea was very simple. They were no longer needed on the front battlefield, and destroying the Japanese’s retreat was exactly what he wanted to do.

Another point is that according to the intelligence of the independent regiment, the headquarters of the 26th Division is still in Laiyuan, so a group of old Japanese devils are also likely to be there. So things are simple. Zhao Ziqing led the special forces and artillery to directly attack Laiyuan City and try to take it down directly.

On the battlefield of the Third Company of the Third Battalion, after attacking for half a day, the Japanese finally realized the reality that the high ground above was not something they could break through.

But since they couldn't break through, the Japanese had to change their tactics immediately and began to dig fortifications nearby.

Taking advantage of the rest time of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Independent Regiment, Matsuura quickly led the main force to move closer to the front troops. He was waiting for support...

"Battalion Commander, a telegram has arrived from the front. The Japanese have begun digging field fortifications, as if waiting for us to attack them."

Zhang Hao, the former company commander of the Seventh Battalion, looked at Wu Mazi and reported.

Wu Mazi immediately understood what he was talking about. He shook his head and said, "The Japs are probably waiting for reinforcements. But if that's their plan, it would be really fun."

The regiment headquarters had already passed the news of the Japanese invasion from Laiyuan to the front line, and he was now worried that the Japanese would not come.

The reason is very simple. The special forces have already set their sights on Laiyuan, and the support from the Eighth Route Army is about to arrive. In addition, Gu Changfeng has also brought the Fourth Battalion away from Xianyaling. What else does he have to be afraid of?

Wu Mazi thought for a moment and then instructed Zhang Hao, "Send someone to inform Battalion Commander Zhang and Battalion Commander Deng to hold their ground. Tell the two company commanders on the front line to ignore the Japanese and let them deal with it on their own."

Wu Mazi just wanted to block the Japanese outside the canyon and prevent them from passing through. The first and second battalions were already in place, and the trouble was with the Japanese, not them.

Once Gu Changfeng and his men arrive, and with the support of the Eighth Route Army, the two battalions in Laiyuan will be nothing.

At the Japanese temporary command center, Matsuura and a group of Japanese officers were discussing countermeasures. The first to speak was Nishizono, the staff officer of the 106th Division.

"Your Excellency, the division commander has suffered heavy casualties. Now there are only about 9,000 warriors able to fight, and many of them are lightly wounded!"

"The Imperial Army's food and ammunition can only last for three days at most, and it cannot be used for high-intensity combat."

After Xiyuan finished speaking, he looked at Matsuura's expression cautiously.

In fact, the combat-capable personnel he mentioned also include all other arms, including those who can hold guns. Nearly half of the old Japanese soldiers in the true sense of the word had died long ago, so there were not so many left.

"Your Excellency, Division Commander, please request tactical guidance from the headquarters!"

The other old Japanese soldiers bowed deeply to Matsuura, obviously losing confidence in breaking out.

The strength of the independent regiment made them instinctively afraid, and they really couldn't understand why the battle turned out like this.

"Gentlemen, our 106th Division has entered its most dangerous moment. I suggest that all officers above the wing level sign a joint letter requesting tactical guidance from the headquarters."

"The Imperial Army has already lost too many troops in Jinzhong. Even the Second Mixed Brigade was completely wiped out, and the 26th Division was crippled. If we are all left behind, the Empire will lose face!"

Matsuura no longer cares about his reputation. Once this joint request for help is issued, his position as a lieutenant general and division commander will be over.

Even if they could break through, the credit would not belong to him, and he would have to bear the responsibility for the casualties of the 106th Division.

However, Matsuura was actually very clear that regardless of whether he could break through or not, his career as a division commander had come to an end.

Even the commander did not escape during the Jinzhong sweep, let alone him, the division commander?

Upon hearing this, the other old Japanese soldiers nodded in agreement. A few minutes later, a telegram for help sent by Matsuura and signed by a group of old Japanese soldiers from the 106th Division was sent directly to the First Army Headquarters.

Although Umezu Michijiro had died at this time, his chief of staff, Michitake Yamaoka, temporarily took his place.

It is impossible for the First Army to be left unattended, nor can it be directly governed by the Japanese headquarters, so staff officer Michitake Yamaoka became the best candidate. After all, he is more familiar with the situation here.

Of course, by this time, the new Japanese commander was also on the way, and a mess was waiting for him.

Inside the Japanese headquarters, Michitake Yamaoka stood under their flag, listening to the report from the Japanese second lieutenant of the communications department.

After a while, Yamaoka Michitake stumbled and almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, the Japanese soldier next to him saw the opportunity quickly, otherwise he would have been hit hard.

"Colonel, if there are no reinforcements, the 106th Division won't be able to hold out for two days. The warriors only have enough for two rice balls a day, and no more than fifty rounds of ammunition per person. They do have some artillery shells, but they will have to face the heavy artillery of the Laiyuan Independent Regiment..."

"Bagaya road!"

Yamaoka Michitake directly interrupted the Japanese second lieutenant. He really didn't know what to say at this moment. The three divisions evacuated in various ways, like a pile of loose sand.

The key point is that the 106th Division was surrounded, the remaining troops of the 26th Division were completely wiped out, and only the 6th Division was completely withdrawn. How could he command it? How could he provide support?

However, no matter how difficult it is, Yamaoka Michitake has to find a way to solve the problem. Otherwise, once the new commander arrives, he will basically lose his position. If he is not sent to a military court, it will be against the law that a new official should make three major changes upon taking office.

"Order the Taiyuan Air Wing and all fighter planes from Shijiazhuang to deploy and drop ammunition and food to the 106th Division daily."

"Order the 6th Division and the th Mixed Brigade of Shijiazhuang to reinforce at all costs..."

"Order the 106th Division to hold out for a week..."

Yamaoka Michitake was also in a state of panic. The food problem was easy to solve, but the problem was that he didn't even have the confidence to deal with the Laiyuan Independent Regiment. At this time, he could only try his best to mobilize troops from various places, hoping to rescue the 106th Division from the sea of ​​fire.

He knew very well that if the entire division was destroyed, it would be a huge blow to all the imperial troops invading China, and even the headquarters would be furious. He could not afford the consequences.