The gunfire at Baihu Pass had already alarmed the Japanese in Zezhou City. Not only did the old ghost Chaoxiang not have a trace of fear, he actually looked excited. He could finally feel the atmosphere of the battlefield up close!
Lieutenant General Okamoto, the commander of the 25th Division, also joined in the fun and did not mind the trouble, and did not propose to withdraw the main troops who were mopping up outside.
"Okamoto-kun, the Eighth Route Army suddenly surrounded Baihu Pass and made a gesture of attacking our Zezhou City. What do you think?"
Lieutenant General Asaka was actually in the mood to take an exam for his little fanboy, Lieutenant General Okamoto. He had the style of a famous general who knew all his wisdom and was not surprised when the mountain collapsed.
When Okamoto heard that His Highness the Prince was testing himself, he quickly organized his language and replied:
"Your Highness, one of China's thirty-six strategies is to surround Wei and rescue Zhao. It seems that the Eighth Route Army's base area cannot withstand the imperial army's attack!"
After hearing this, Chaoxiang Laogui nodded his head very affirmatively. His posture was very much like an old master approving a child who answered a question - Confucianism can be taught!
"Yoshi, I didn't expect Mr. Okamoto to have such in-depth research on the ancient culture of the Chinese people, and he has the style of an ancient Confucian general!"
After being praised by His Highness the Prince, Okamoto's face flushed, and he was trembling when he spoke with excitement. Of course, it was not clear whether he was pretending or not.
"His Royal Highness, you are so complimentary. It's all because of your good teaching!"
The conversation between the two people made other members of the observation group so sick that they wanted to vomit, and they all said with contempt in their hearts:
"Sir Okamoto, you are a lieutenant general after all. You are so shameless and flattering regardless of your status. How do you ask us to flatter you!"
Major General Naoji Sakai couldn't help but hummed to express his disdain.
The Eleventh Army is the only strategic offensive group among the Imperial Army's Chinese Expeditionary Forces, so it is normal to look down upon a garrison like the First Army;
If the base camp hadn't sent them here to observe, he wouldn't have bothered to watch these people's disgusting performances, they were just a group of guerrillas!
"Sakai-kun, do you have anything to add?"
Chaoxiang's heart is like a mirror, but he will not point it out. The superiors will not mind if the people below them have some discord due to jealousy, as long as it does not harm the dignity.
Subordinates who are too united are not what superiors want to see.
Sakai dared to be rude to Lieutenant General Okamoto, but he still had to answer the question of His Highness the Prince respectfully:
"Your Highness, I also agree with His Excellency Okamoto's judgment. The Eighth Route Army's move is intended to allow us to transfer back the main force that was raiding their base areas."
"Yoshi, in Chinese terms, this is called heroes seeing things alike. Okamoto-kun and Sakai-kun are indeed the most famous generals of the empire. So what should you do with them?"
This question completely stumped the two famous generals. No one wanted to take the initiative to tell the answer. The answer was actually very simple, but no one dared to say it for fear of taking responsibility.
His Royal Highness has only one regiment of guards around him. No one dares to propose sending reinforcements to Baihu Pass. If an accident occurs, none of them will be able to bear the responsibility.
Of course Chaoxiang Laojiazi understands the meaning behind it. In his opinion, there is no need to leave an entire regiment of guards around him, one brigade is enough;
Besides, if Baihu Pass is lost, Zezhou City will have to face the Eighth Route Army directly, it’s the same!
"Okamoto-kun, send a large group of reinforcements to Baihu Pass and defeat the Eighth Route Army from the flank!"
Chaoxiang decided that it would be better for him to issue this order himself, hoping that no one would take the responsibility until nightfall.
"Hi!"
Okamoto, a little fanboy, felt no pressure at all to carry out the orders. He also believed that the two brigades in the city were completely enough.
Half an hour later, the first battalion of the 158th Regiment of the 25th Division came out from the gate of Zezhou City, bypassed the flank of Baihu Pass, and went straight to the third company.
A fierce battle broke out between the two sides, and the third company fled in panic, leaving behind a large amount of equipment, including several Type 92 heavy machine guns.
When Major Xiong Er of Kawashima of the First Battalion saw that the Eighth Route Army was defeated, he abandoned his helmet and armor, and even discarded the 92-heavy machine gun that he regarded as a treasure. This shows how embarrassed he was to escape!
"Pursue! Quickly, destroy them all!"
Kawashima has long forgotten the commander's order not to pursue, and he will not accept his life...
All of these Japanese are familiar with China, and not everyone can resist the temptation of military glory.
The Kawashima Brigade chased the Third Company all the way and fought. The Third Company ran behind and even threw away the infantry cannon. The Kawashima Brigade did not have time to pick it up. It was important to eliminate the Eighth Route Army.
The three consecutive defeats were so realistic that even Meng Jiaqi, who was secretly watching the excitement from the outside, was deceived. She was so anxious that she cursed secretly in her heart:
"This Chu Xiong is so crazy that hundreds of people dare to attack Zezhou City. Now, even the original capital has been lost!"
She could only do things in a hurry. The first and second companies did things so secretly that they did not attract her attention, and she thought they had withdrawn.
The Kawashima Battalion covered their heads all the way and chased into the pocket formations set up by the 1st and 2nd companies. The Kawashima Battalion's formation was very scattered, and they fell into the trap unprepared.
When the Japs' vanguard entered the pocket, Li Qing did not launch an attack, leaving them to the Third Company. He did not suddenly attack until the Japs' large force completely entered the pocket!
The Kawashima Brigade in pursuit was caught off guard. The troops were too scattered and could not be gathered together.
The firepower of the first and second companies was very fierce. There were dozens of light and heavy machine guns, as well as a large number of grenades and grenades. The Japanese were quickly defeated and suffered heavy casualties.
After wiping out most of the Japs, the First and Second Companies chased the remaining Japs all the way towards Baihu Pass and defeated them. Zezhou City did not dare to accept them for fear that the Eighth Route Army would take advantage of the situation and attack the city.
The Kawashima Brigade suffered a big loss this time. They were defeated all the way, and the bodies were lost all the way. In the end, only more than 200 people were left and fled into the White Tiger Pass. What they didn't know was that the Tiger Squad 1 led by Chu Xiong also put on Japanese military uniforms. He fled into Guanzhong with them.
Not long after the Kawashima Battalion escaped into Baihu Pass, the first and second companies were killed. They didn't even stop and launched a fierce attack on Baihu Pass.
The remnant soldiers of Kawashima threw themselves into the defense battle of Baihu Pass before they could reorganize themselves. As the battle deepened, the two groups of Japanese soldiers basically merged together. No one noticed the addition of more than a dozen people in the middle, thinking that they were the other side's troops.
The Eighth Route Army's attack lasted until late at night, and the Japanese finally had time to rest;
Kawashima and Nakamura finally had time to sit down and discuss strategies to fight the enemy. After a day of fighting, the two groups of Japs only had more than 200 people left in total. They must work together to defend Baihu Pass. It is impossible to send any more in the city. Reinforcements are coming.
Kawashima was about to go back to reorganize his troops. There was another fierce gunshot outside. The Eighth Route Army launched a night attack. The offensive was very fierce. The Japanese in the pass were exhausted and could only let all the soldiers stay on the battlements. Kawashima Plans to reorganize the troops also failed.
Let’s hold on until dawn first!
The Eighth Route Army's attacks would come every half hour, making the Japanese in the stronghold exhausted;
News that the Kawashima Brigade was ambushed also reached Zezhou City. The situation in the city became tense, and there were only two brigades left!
"Your Highness, please use the Eighth Route Army base area to bring back troops. The safety of you and the observation group is the most important!"
Lieutenant General Okamoto also became nervous. The offensive outside the city was extremely fierce. The White Tiger Pass was in danger. Once the White Tiger was lost, Zezhou City would be attacked!
"Yoshi..."
Chaoxiang Laojiazi is still hesitating whether to recall the main force of the imperial army in the security war in the Eighth Route Army base. Once recalled, the security war will be considered a complete failure.
The old devil was unwilling to give in, and at the same time he was taking chances...
