Chapter 11: The Way to Cover (2)

Just as everyone was paying attention to the Huayuankou Burning Incident, the escort army had basically secured the victory of the Battle of Southwest Shandong.

Although the 109th Division deployed on the west bank of the canal has established a deep defense position, due to the short time of occupying the West Bank, the division was just to use the damaged old fortifications left by Sun Lianzhong's troops after the withdrawal of the army, and to renovate two trench defense lines about one kilometer apart.

During the early morning of the 27th, after the first trench near the canal was destroyed by the artillery fire of the guards, the surviving Japanese army retreated into the second line of defense. The Japanese army was still in shock, but the artillery fire of the guards extended, allowing the Japanese to experience what a life-threatening life is!

Because it was already a certain distance from the canal bank and the terrain was slightly higher, the water accumulation of this second line of defense was not serious. Although it was hit by artillery fire, there was no large-scale collapse like the first trench, which also allowed some Japanese troops to survive the artillery fire.

However, the Japanese artillery positions and most machine gun fire points have been destroyed by the Guardian artillery fire. Without effective combat methods, the surviving Japanese army did not perform well in the subsequent battles.

Unlike the infantry charge after artillery fire, the Guards were engineers and mobile strike forces first. After using crawler bulldozers to open up several paths from the wetlands that were bombed by artillery fire on the shore, the armored cars and air defense maneuverable firepower of the two armies of the Guards rushed to the second position of the Japanese army and carried out concentrated fire strikes on several surviving Japanese troops.

Although the Japanese army had the so-called Bushido spirit indoctrination, the 118th Brigade, which belonged to the 109th Division, had been destroyed by the escort army before. In addition, the heavy artillery fire attacks had just been suffered, these psychological shadows have not been removed, and they are facing the sudden attack of the armored assault forces of the escort army. The Japanese Japanese 31st Brigade couldn't help but feel a sense of despair from the bottom of their hearts.

However, after the armored forces of the escort army destroyed several resistance forces of the Japanese second fortification, they seemed to have no intention of continuing to expand their results. Instead, after the engineers filled several trenches, they divided their troops into several ways and roared into the depths of the Japanese army!

Many Japanese devils breathed a sigh of relief, but Nagae Sedo, the brigade leader of the 31st brigade of the Japanese 31st brigade who was responsible for the river defense of Jiaxiang, changed his face and shouted sternly to the communications staff: "Immediately, the commander of the division has broken through our army's defensive positions and is raiding deep into me with armor! The enemy's troops crossing the river are at least 50,000 and equipped with a large amount of heavy firepower. Our department urgently requests tactical guidance!"

Yamaoka Chonghou, the commander of the 109th Division, was stunned after receiving a telegram from Nagae Tanito! He really didn't expect that it was only about two hours since the artillery attack, and the escort army not only completed the bridge building and crossing the river, but also broke through two defensive lines! Such powerful combat power made Yamaoka Chonghou feel bone-chilling!

"Your Excellency, the enemy has broken through our second line of defense, and its troops and firepower are better than our army, and it has air advantages. There is no need for our division to have troops on the front line of the canal. It is better to shrink at a few key points as soon as possible!" Chief of Staff Colonel Shinjiurou suggested urgently, "At least, we must ensure several key points such as Cao County, Dingtao, Heze, Juancheng. At the same time, ask for tactical guidance from Higashijiugu Neihiko Higashijiugu!"

The line of the canal in southwestern Shandong is not included in Nanyang Lake, but to the west of Dushan Lake, the distance between Jiaxiang and Heihu Temple on the south bank of the Yellow River is about 85 kilometers. After the loss of the 118th Brigade, the 109th Division was added to the total loss of more than 20,000 people, and only key defenses can be implemented on this long canal defense line. Since the guards have crossed the river and have broken through two defense lines, there is no need for the entire canal defense line to exist anymore. The hills are also clear that the thick and thick mountains are also clear.

"It is indeed necessary to ask Hitoshi Kuagumiya Minorhiko to ask for tactical guidance. But it is a bit too early to retreat to the west now." Yamaoka Heihe hesitated, "The enemy has air superiority, and day retreat will suffer major losses. We also need to stick to it and buy time for the arrival of reinforcements."

The command headquarters of the 109th Division is located in Longjiji, more than 20 kilometers southwest of Juye County. It is the center of the southwestern Shandong region, about 70 kilometers away from the canal. The headquarters of Minqian's 2nd Army is located in Minquan County, eastern Henan. Although it is a bit far from Longjiji, the 28th Brigade of the 14th Division is resting between Heze and Dongming in southern Hebei. The unit is only about 40 kilometers away from Longjiji. If Minamihiko ordered Sakai Takashi to reinforce the 109th Division and the 109th Division can fight for a period of resistance, the Sakai Takashi would be able to catch up.

Although a Sakai Takashi Brigade may not be able to turn the situation around, it can at least give Yamaoka heavy troops more time and give Minorhiko more time to adjust its troops.

"Your Excellency, I'm afraid it will be too late to retreat too late!" Luohe Shinjiurong said anxiously, "The enemy's army has a large number of troops, and he uses armor to penetrate deep into our troops. If we go back to our army and cut off our retreat, the result will be unimaginable!"

Yamaoka Hirou was also worried that what Luohe Shinkuro said would become a reality. After walking back and forth in the command center for a few trips, he decided to say: "Order Tanito Nagae to command the front troops, alternately cover, and retreat to Longji! The division headquarters is ready to retreat to Heze! Report the situation of our division to the emperor Tokuramiya Minorhiko, and request tactical guidance!"

Yamao and Luohe have considered the situation as bad as possible, but the combat intentions of the guards are even more profound than they have considered. Recovering the ten counties in southwestern Shandong was the target of the guards, but in comparison, Gu Haichuan and others valued more the attack on the Japanese army with vitality. Especially after nearly two months of continuous combat, the heavy troops of the Japanese army in North China have become exhausted. Chiang Kai-shek opened the Huayuankou embankment and isolated the connection between the two major Japanese armies in North China and Central China. Now is the time for the guards to shoot down the water dog with pain!

According to the original deployment, after the escort vanguard troops crossed the river and captured Jiaxiang, Sun Guantao, who was in charge of the command of this battle, issued an order to divide the troops and intersperse the enemy's rear, cut off the retreat route of the 109th Division of the Japanese army, attract other Japanese troops to aid, and take the opportunity to eat the 109th Division and the Japanese army to aid.

According to the order, the Third Army was responsible for river defense on the south bank of the Yellow River and the border defense of Henan and Lu to the north of Dingtao.

Among them, the 13th Division and the air defense brigade of the group army will arrive northward through Yuncheng and then raid Juancheng westward, cutting off the passage of the Japanese army across the Yellow River in northern Shandong and southwestern Shandong; the main force of the Third Group Army will go west from Jiaxiang, recover Juye, Longleji, Heze, Dingtao and other places along the way, and deploy a western defense line between Juancheng and Dingtao.

The First Army is responsible for the defense of the borders of Henan and Lu to the south of Dingtao, as well as the borders of Shandong and Suzhou in Yutai and Shanxian west of the canal.

Among them, the 11th Division will be deployed in the Liujiaji area from Yutai to southeast of Dan County. While establishing a defensive position, it will be prepared to attack Feng and Pei counties in northern Jiangsu; the Sixth Division and the heavy artillery brigade of the Army will advance to Cao and north of the old Yellow River trough in southern Shan County. While establishing a defensive position, it will be prepared to attack the Longhai line between Dangshan and Shangqiu; the First Division and the air defense brigade of the Army will advance to between Cao County and Dingtao, and prepare to fight against the Japanese reinforcements with the Third Army in the north.

The Guards dispatched two armies to a total of more than 150,000 troops, facing the 109th Division, which was dispersed and deployed defenses, suffered heavy blows and lost effective combat equipment such as artillery. Under the assault, they really swept across thousands of troops like sweeping over!

In addition to the escort vanguard troops who were defending the escort army in order to seize the time to advance, leaving a small number of Japanese troops who were defending several counties to solve the problem, the Japanese who were in the wild and on the escort marching route could only get one way to destroy!

"Your Excellency, from the telegram sent by our army in Yuncheng, Juye, Jinxiang and other places, the escort army dispatched troops not as 50,000 as previously thought, but at least more than 100,000!" Colonel Luohe Shinjiurong, chief of staff of the 109th Division, looked pale and urged at unprecedented speed, "It will be too late if the division headquarters does not retreat!"

Longjiji is just a town and does not have the city wall that can be used as a county town. If the escort assault troops hit here, as long as the double-equipped 37 anti-aircraft guns are fired flat for a while, then use mortars and large-caliber heavy machine guns to strike alternately, with the little power of the 109th Division command, they will soon collapse.

"Luohejun, go and convey the order to retreat." Yamagang Chonghou looked dull, held the corner of his mouth for a moment, and sighed, "It's a shame that he can't hold on for even a day!"

Seeing that he looked a little wrong, Shinjiro Luohe was afraid of something unexpected, so he asked a staff officer to convey the order to retreat, and then comforted him: "Your Excellency, although this battle is defeated, it is not that our division is unfavorable, but that the enemy is too strong. The enemy dispatched more than 100,000 troops, and has the advantage of heavy firepower in the air and ground, as well as many armored assault forces. Even the permanent division will not do better here than us. We should meet with Him Higakuromiya Minorhiko as soon as possible to study how to deal with the enemy's offensive well!"

Shangang's heavy mood calmed down a little, and nodded with a lonely expression and said, "Just rely on Luohejun!"

The 109th Division was already ready to retreat. After Shangang issued the retreat order, the entire division and army members took a car to Heze to the west.

The escort army had already reached Jinxiang and was advancing along the highway to Shanxian County. Cao County was advancing. If the mountain was heavy and thick, if you wanted to go straight to Minquan County in eastern Henan, you would definitely meet with the escort army. It would be better to go to Heze first, then retreat to Dongming in southern Hebei, and then find an opportunity to meet Minyan.

Yamaoka Chonghou fled in panic. After receiving the last telegram from the 109th Division, Minorhito first slapped the table and smashed the bench to vent, and then he turned around in the command center with all his heart.

It is said that the house is leaking and raining, but what Minyan encountered is not the raining and raining, but the surging Yellow River water!

The two major Japanese troops in North China and Central China had already opened up their connections. In Minori's view, if the guards attacked southwestern Shandong, the eight divisions participating in the Battle of Xuzhou with North China and Central China could not only recapture southwestern Shandong but also severely damage the guards. It was even possible to use this as an opportunity to solve the Shandong issue. But now, after the break of Huayuankou, the surging Yellow River water separated North China and Central China again, and Minori's beautiful ideas had to be left to waste.

Under the entanglement, Minami even had the idea of ​​"Is this a conspiracy between the People's Party and the Chinese government?" However, thinking about the People's Party's consistent hostile attitude towards the National Government, he quickly put this unrealistic idea behind his mind.

"Your Excellency, the guards dispatched more than 100,000 troops. The 109th Division alone cannot defend southwestern Shandong." Major General Suzuki, chief of staff of the 2nd Army, reminded with a serious expression, "If the guards are not satisfied with occupying southwestern Shandong and continue to advance westward and southward, our army may not only lose Xuzhou, but also be isolated in eastern Henan, and there is a danger of destruction!"

Minorhito stared at Suzuki and asked angrily: "The danger of destruction? Where does the danger of destruction come from?"

"Your Excellency, the Yellow River broke its mouth near Zhengzhou. Zhongmu, Weishi, Fugou, Xihua, Shangshui and other places have become Zeguo. It is impossible for our army to go south along the Pinghan Line or go south to central China through Jianghuai. If the escort army then penetrates westward into Kaocheng, north of Kaifeng, and cut off the connection between our army and northern Henan, we will not last long with our existing combat supplies." Suzuki said solemnly, "Your Excellency, we must make a decision before the escort army takes action!"

The four divisions that the Japanese troops in North China fought south now have almost foregone losses. The remaining three divisions have been fighting continuously for nearly two months. Although some combat supplies were added during this period, they have consumed almost the same amount. If the escort army really penetrated into Kaocheng and the south bank of the Yellow River north of Kaifeng, then Minyan's troops will be sandwiched between the original Yellow River channel and the flood after the break. There is no need for the escort army to attack actively. As long as it takes a while, if there is no logistics supply, Minyan and other troops will starve to death!

Minorhiko was just angry and angry, but it was not really unreasonable. As soon as Suzuki Rudao explained, he understood, and it was even more filled with a feeling of coldness from head to toe.

"Send all engineers to search and rescue the troops trapped by the flood! Order the 14th Division to immediately control the south bank of the Yellow River between Kaocheng and Kaifeng to prevent the guards from advancing west! Order the 5th Division and the 16th Division approach to Kaifeng! Order Yamao Chonghou gathered the remaining headquarters of the 109th Division in Dongming and blocked the guards west!" After understanding the critical situation, Minori issued a series of orders, "In addition, report the situation of our unit to the front army and request the air force to airdrop food and life-saving equipment!"

The Huayuankou broke the dike and the guards attacked southwestern Shandong. The combination of the two hatchbacks actually caused a great crisis to the combat troops heading south in North China. After receiving Minamichi's telegram, Sugiyama almost jumped up in shock! Unlike Minamichi who only cared about the Japanese army heading south, Sugiyama was also worried that the People's Army, which was eyeing covetously in northern Shanxi, Sugiyama was also worried that in northern Shanxi, Sugiyama was eyeing the people's army, which was eyeing the covetous attack. If this is true, the situation faced by the North China Front Army will inevitably deteriorate in all respects!

In a hurry, Sugiyama Tsuki sent a telegram to Minorhiko, asking him to ensure the safety of the main force of the troops heading south, gather the troops near Kaifeng, and prepare to retreat through Hebei. At the same time, Sugiyama Tsuki also ordered Tokugawa's Otatoshi's aviation regiment to dispatch airlifts and rescue biological resources to the Japanese army besieged by the flood.

As the Yellow River flowed across the river, it flooded the Zhongmu, Weishi, Fugou, Xihua and Shangshui areas and poured downwards, forming a large area of ​​ground barriers. In addition, the escort army attacked southwestern Shandong and the danger of Minyan's troops being cut off. The Japanese army in North China in eastern Henan and Jianghuai were forced to stop.

Subsequently, the Japanese army organized an engineering corps and six engineering squadrons to rescue the troops besieged by the flood using a large number of boats and boats, and used aircraft to drop food and life-saving equipment in total.

On the east bank of the Yellow River, the Japanese troops retreated quickly and arrived at the Japanese troops near Xinzheng on Pinghan Road. They organized defenses on the spot and relied on airdrops for supply. Finally, all fleets from the east bank retreated.

Almost at the same time, the Central China Expeditionary Force also retreated the 13th Division near the flood area in Huaibei to south of the Huaihe River.

The rushing Yellow River water flows through Ying River, Xifei River, and Wohe River flows into the Huai River upstream of Bengbu, flooding the embankment of the Huai River. With the arrival of the rainy season and the arrival of the Yellow River flood peak, the Bengbu Yellow River Railway Bridge was later broken on July 13. Bengbu goes north through Cao Laoji to Suxian, and it has also become a vast ocean. The scope of the yellow flood area has been further expanded, and the people in the area have also suffered a catastrophe!

Due to the flooding of Yellow River, the North China Front Army immediately stopped attacking, organized rescue, and deployed troops east of the Yellow River Flood Zone. Although the operation was temporarily suspended, due to concerns about the guards' advance westward, Minami's 2nd Army command post moved to the vicinity of Lanfeng on June 3 to command the ground, water and air forces to rescue the troops in the flooded area.

On June 4, Sugiyama Yuan re-adjusted the deployment of the North China Front Army in eastern Henan and northern Anhui:

First, the main force of the 14th Division is located in Kaifeng and Lanfeng, which guards the railways and areas along the route; the first part is located in Dongming, and is located with the remnants of the 109th Division to defend the borders of southern Hebei and southwestern Shandong.

2. The 5th Division is located in Qi County, Sui County and Ningling.

Third, the main force of the 16th Division is located near Xiayi, Huitingji, Yongcheng, and one is located near Zhecheng, Luyi, Boxian, and Woyang.

This deployment was mainly to strengthen the security forces near the Longhai Line, to protect this strategic transportation line and the strategic points along the route, and to consolidate the southern defense zone of the North China Front Army. In addition to the subsequent adjustments to the deployment of the Japanese army due to the actions of the escorts in northern Jiangsu and northern Anhui, the Japanese army only carried out troops' defense replacements in the next few years, and the situation in the eastern Henan area has generally not changed.

Although the deployment adjustment of the Japanese army reduced the difficulty of occupying southwestern Shandong, it was inconsistent with the original purpose of Gu Haichuan and others to annihilate the large number of Japanese forces, which was considered a shortcoming.

On June 3, at the headquarters of the Guards, after listening to the reports from Sun Guantao, Han Tiezhu and others, Du Yishan said half regretfully and half jokingly: "This time we are a typical anti-aircraft gun to kill mosquitoes - it's useless! We use two armies of 150,000, but only captured half of the 109th Division, which is a loss!"

"It's a loss!" Sun Guantao smacked his lips and said helplessly, "If there were no Huayuankou to break the dam, we could attract at least three divisions and be sure to eat two of them! Unfortunately, once the Yellow River breaks the dam, the Japanese learned their lessons. They would rather lose the 109th Division than send troops to attack southwestern Shandong. The backup we prepared was also empty."

"Everything will always be unexpected. The Gardenkou bursting dam is an accident for our southwest Shandong battle! The Japanese lost this time, and we will fight next time!" Gu Haichuan smiled dissatisfiedly, and then said solemnly, "Mr. has come and instructed us to rescue as much as possible and take in the victims of the three provinces of Henan, Anhui and Jiangsu. However, except for northern Jiangsu, the area controlled by our army has no adjacent areas to the Yellow River Flood Zone. In order to better help more disaster victims, our army should move to eastern Henan and northern Anhui!"

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Chapter completed!