RPAGF Chapter 268 One division is not enough; at least two divisions must be wiped out.
Chapter 268 One division is not enough; at least two divisions must be wiped out.
It wasn't just the 106th Division; there were also Japanese troops transferred from the mainland who had already entered the Jiujiang area by boat.
The fleet of ships stretched across the river like a moving landmass, pressing in from all directions.
"No wonder. So reinforcements have arrived. Okamura Neiji is planning to open up a new battlefield."
Chen Cheng looked at the map and said in a low voice, as if he were talking to himself.
His finger traced across the map, from Jiujiang to De'an, from De'an to Wanjialing, each place name rolling under his fingertip.
Xue Yue spoke directly, his voice devoid of any beating around the bush:
"If it's just the 106th Division, it's not a big deal. But if we add one or two more Japanese divisions, then the Wanjialing line will be difficult to defend."
He currently has limited troops at his disposal. Twenty divisions may seem like a lot, but few are truly capable of fighting, and ammunition is in short supply.
He was 70% confident he could annihilate a division.
Two divisions, that's less than one-tenth of the total.
It's like someone wanting to eat a piece of meat, but the meat suddenly grows to twice its size, while their mouth remains the same size. How can they possibly swallow it?
Chen Cheng pondered for a moment, then tapped his fingers on the edge of the table a few times, as if he were tapping an abacus.
"Send a telegram to Li Jianghe."
He raised his head and his gaze fell on Xue Yue's face.
"If his third column can reach the flank and rear of the Japanese army and cut off the connection between the 106th Division and other Japanese troops, then the chances of winning this battle are still 70%."
Xue Yue nodded, his gaze returning to the map, his tone carrying an undeniable certainty:
"It's only Li Jianghe's troops left."
When those words were spoken, both of them knew in their hearts that this was not a choice, but the only choice.
In the command post of Li Jianghe's Third Column, the light of the kerosene lamp swayed gently in the night breeze, like a restless heart.
He held the telegram from the Ninth War Zone in his hand, his eyes scanning back and forth between the lines several times.
The telegram was very polite and literary, but it boiled down to one thing: a Japanese unit had penetrated deep into the Wanjialing area.
The Ninth War Zone intended to annihilate it, but unfortunately, it lacked sufficient troops and had no one to cut off its retreat.
This translates to: The meat is already on the table, but no one can close the door. Are you coming, Li Jianghe?
"This job is great."
Long Wenzhang leaned over to glance at the telegram, a half-smoked cigarette dangling from his mouth, revealing a set of white teeth through the swirling smoke.
"The 106th Division is just easy prey. Commander, what are we waiting for?"
As he spoke, his finger made a cutting motion in the air, as if he were cutting an imaginary steak.
But Li Jianghe was clearly not so optimistic.
He looked up, his gaze shifting from the telegram to the map, his brow furrowing slightly, as if he were calculating a complex account.
"If it were just a division, we wouldn't even have a chance to get our hands on this piece of meat."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a calming power.
"The reason they called us over is because this piece of meat is a bit tough to chew."
As he said this, he tapped the map with his finger on Jiujiang City, making a dull thud as his knuckles fell.
"Here. The latest intelligence indicates that the Japanese reinforcements have begun landing. Once they complete their assembly, they should be able to reach Wanjialing in a few days."
His finger moved slowly along the route on the map, like a hunting dog tracking a scent.
"At that point, the forces of the Ninth War Zone alone definitely won't be able to hold out. That's why they called us to block the gate."
After listening, the light in Long Wenzhang's eyes did not dim; instead, it shone even brighter.
"I see. But anyway, we can at least have a couple of bites of this meat."
He stubbed out his cigarette on the sole of his shoe, and sparks flew out like tiny fireflies.
Wang Dayong, who had been standing to the side for a long time, could no longer contain himself. He took a step forward, his voice as rough as sandpaper grinding iron:
"Captain, shall we get them or not?"
These three simple words are like a stone thrown into a pond, creating ripples all around.
All eyes in the command center were on Li Jianghe.
Li Jianghe smiled calmly, his smile unhurried and composed, as if he were talking about something perfectly ordinary.
"Make it up. Of course we need to make it up, and it can't be a small change, it has to be a big change."
He paused, his gaze returning to the map, his voice now tinged with a chilling killing intent.
"One 106th Division isn't enough. It would be best to wipe out some of the Japanese reinforcements that come later; that would be truly satisfying."
As he spoke, a rough battle plan had already been sketched out in his mind.
If we only focus on one division, it can only be considered a local victory at best.
But if we open the door wider and let the Japanese reinforcements in, and then close the door again—that would be a real wipeout.
One division was not enough to satisfy Li Jianghe's appetite.
Two people are barely enough to fill us up.
Thinking of this, Li Jianghe raised his head and glanced at everyone present.
"Order the troops to set off the night after tomorrow."
Thinking of this, Li Jianghe raised his head and glanced at everyone present.
"Order the troops to set off the night after tomorrow."
His voice was calm and steady, as if he were issuing a perfectly ordinary daily command.
"The engineers will set off tonight to repair bridges and roads along the way, clearing passages for subsequent troop movements."
Li Jianghe did not intend to march hastily, but rather to proceed slowly.
If he moves too fast, he'll expose himself before the Japanese soldiers even get into his trap, and then the whole charade will fall apart.
It would be best to wait until both Japanese divisions have poured into the Wanjialing line before cutting off their retreat.
Outside the window, the night was as dark as ink. The wind rustled through the treetops outside the command post, as if whispering secrets.
Two days later, the Japanese 7th Division, which landed in the direction of Jiujiang, completed its preparations and assembly.
The soldiers, carrying heavy packs and rifles, lined up in neat rows under the officers' orders.
They marched tirelessly toward Wanjialing, their steps quick and powerful, making a "pattering" sound as they stepped on the muddy road.
Over the past two days, the Nationalist troops in the Wanjialing direction have completed the deployment of their defensive lines.
The soldiers lay prone in the damp mud, their guns pointed at the approaching Japanese troops, their fingers on the trigger guards, their eyes bloodshot from exhaustion.
However, just holding off the 106th Division's fierce frontal attack had already depleted a considerable amount of their mobile forces.
When the shells fell, the earth trembled, and soil was thrown into the air before falling back down like raindrops.
Some of the soldiers hiding in the trenches had their ears bleeding from the shockwave, while others had half their faces sliced off by shrapnel, but the rest were still gritting their teeth and persevering.
They simply couldn't spare any extra troops to block the Japanese army's retreat.
Every battalion and every company was pinned to the position, like nails that couldn't be pulled out.
If the Japanese 7th Division had also entered the Wanjialing area, the outcome of the battle would have been predictable.