While Zhang Tianhai and others were preparing for the next battle, the Japanese army also took action.
September 16, 1938, Jiujiang County. grab, grab, grab
As the pace of Japanese aggression slows down, as the commander of the southern front troops, Lieutenant General Okamura Neiji is not in a general hurry.
"Baga! The damn China Army can withstand such a ferocious attack by our imperial army! It's incredible!" Neji Okamura cursed.
This is the Nth time Okamura Neiji has cursed after De'an and Hoshiko continued to lose in front-line battles.
"Your Excellency, Commander, now that our frontline troops continue to stagnate, should we adjust our frontline offensive strategy?" said a major general next to him.
"What do you mean, Mr. Watanabe? In which direction should we attack?" Okamura Neji grasped the key point.
"Which direction?" Major General Watanabe was stunned for a moment, and then immediately responded: "I feel that our offensive direction is still focused on the direction of De'an, but we must make further adjustments in the specific combat strategy. Otherwise, we will be in big trouble!"
"Watanabe-kun, please tell me your opinion directly." Okamura Neiji said sternly. Regarding the front-line attack, he also considered attacking in the direction of Baishui Street west of De'an, but he thought the time was not yet mature, so he wanted to hear Listen to Watanabe.
"Your Excellency, Commander, I think it's time for us to attack White Water Street. If we can capture White Water Street, it will undoubtedly be a very good thing for us." Major General Watanabe said.
"Take White Water Street? Isn't the time ripe yet?" Okamura Neji frowned slightly.
"Your Excellency, Commander, we can't delay any longer. Even if the time is not mature enough, we have no choice." Turning around, Major General Watanabe said with a ferocious face, "Our goal is to capture Wuhan as soon as possible. If we cannot capture Germany, If it is safe, our supply lines will be threatened by the Chinese army, which will be very detrimental to the attack on Wuhan! Please consider it carefully, Commander!"
Major General Watanabe's move was undoubtedly similar to an attempt to force the emperor into the palace, but there was no other way. In the Japanese army, it was not uncommon for the Japanese to overpower their superiors.
What's more, what Major General Watanabe said makes sense...
Okamura Neiji pondered for a while, and after some consideration, he finally made a decision: "Instruct Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma, the commander of the 27th Division, to immediately lead the attack of the 27th Division Baishui Street must be captured in the shortest possible time!"
Okamura Neiji's decision is traceable. After all, in his opinion, it is indeed unwise to attack Baishui Street at this time - Baishui Street is located to the west of De'an County, and the enemy's troops are gathered near De'an. Well, if we are reckless and aggressive at this time, I am afraid that we will most likely fall into the trap of the national army.
But under the instigation of Major General Watanabe, Okamura Neji was indeed moved: because the war in northern Jiangxi was already in a stalemate at this time, and if a new breakthrough was not opened, the war here might continue for another month or two. .嘘戅Miaobifang戅
For a month or two, Okamura Neiji really couldn't afford it - for the Japanese base camp, their best strategy was to capture Wuhan with frontline troops and prompt the Nationalist Government to surrender, rather than fighting a protracted war with the Chinese army. . Once it falls into the deep pit of fighting a protracted war, the Japanese army cannot afford to waste its war potential.
The senior leaders of the base camp were very anxious, so they put all pressure on the frontline troops, especially the Southern Route Army, which was dominated by the Eleventh Army of Neji Okamura.
Why suppress the Eleventh Army? Do the people in the base camp have opinions about Commander Okamura Neiji? That's why the pressure was put on him?
In fact, this is not the case, mainly because the Eleventh Army started early, which started two months ago.
Let’s look at the Northern Route Army headed by the Second Army? They started taking action a month ago. If not, the result might not be like this.
If you are not convinced, look at the Central Army led by the Sixth Division? Don't be embarrassed, they have already stormed to the outskirts of Wuhan with just one division, let alone the 11th Army that has assembled four or five divisions.
Because of this, Okamura Neji had to be impatient, so he tried to invest the 27th Division to see the effect and see if it was possible to open up a new situation.
Before the fighter plane arrives, what factors make Neji Okamura feel confident? That's because the 106th Division, which is ready to recover, is just north of De'an. Once the troops on Whitewater Street fall into a bitter battle, Matsuura Junrokuro can quickly send a large army to support them.
If not, how could Okamura Neji dare to easily let a newly established division serve as a stepping stone for the outpost?
"Hai! Your Excellency, General, is wise!" Watanabe flattered him loudly.
…
South of Ruichang, Dong Town.
I believe everyone knows that Ruichang is the holy land of revolution. Dong Town was once one of the important towns in Ruichang, and it has a strong red flavor.
But at this time of September 16, 1938, this was not an era dominated by the great red - because this place was occupied by the evil Japanese invaders.
The Japanese troops occupying this place were no other troops, but the 27th Division, a new division established two months ago.
Yes, the 27th Division was established on June 21, 1938, five days shy of three months.
As a unit adapted from the Chinese infantry brigade in the garrison, the 27th Division is not very strong - it is a three-unit division.
Yes, the three-unit division is a division composed of three regiments. In the Japanese army, the regiment is the unit of calculation.
At this time, Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma, the commander of the 27th Division, can be said to be very happy and happy. As the division commander of a newly promoted unit, the division's strength is not strong, and its combat effectiveness is far inferior to those of those individuals. Coming from the 106th Division composed of steel workers in Kumamoto Prefecture, from a modern perspective, Honma Masaharu is indeed not very motivated.
However, even if Honma Masaharu makes progress, so what? With the strength of the 27th Division, there is no way it can get into the eyes of Commander Neiji Okamura. Those who fight the tough battle must be the main forces such as the 106th Division and the 101st Division.
To put it bluntly, who is the leader of the 27th Division?
Therefore, Honma Masaharu was happy to have some peace and quiet - if they won the battle, their 27th Division could follow them to gain military exploits; but if they lost the battle, what would it have to do with their logistics division? Isn’t it caused by the ineffective fighting of your main forces such as the 101st Division and the 106th Division?
Many things become much simpler once you think about them. This is the case with Masaharu Honma.
However, many things happened that people did not want - a telegram from the Eleventh Army Headquarters broke the temporary "good times" of the 27th Division.
"Your Excellency, the division commander, Commander Okamura Neiji called and ordered our 27th Division to march to the front line!" A Japanese major appeared at the door of Masaharu Honma's office.
…
PS: The third update is here!
Thanks to Qidian book friend James Leggeshen for the 200-point reward!
Thanks to Qidian Book Friends_Passengers for the 100-point reward!
