Songhu: Never Give Up

Chapter 10: The Confucian Army's Courage
At the Fifth Army Headquarters, many bigwigs gathered and a military meeting was underway.

General Zhang Zhizhong, commander of the Fifth Army and commander of the 87th Division, saw that all the participants had arrived and said loudly:

“Everyone, Kenkichi Ueda’s tactics are very clear, which is to attack on all fronts and break through in the middle. The focus of the attack is the junction of Miaohang and Jiangwan;
Because the 88th Division blocked the th Division, which was carrying out the cutting mission, in Miaoxing, Ueda's tactical intention could not be realized. At the same time, the main force of the th Division was firmly stuck in the Miaoxing area. The time for counterattack was ripe.

I decided to personally lead the Central Military Academy Training Corps to reinforce Miaohang from the front, and Sun Yuanliang's 259th Brigade and Song Xilian's 261st Brigade to encircle the 88th Division from the left and right wings in the rear, and encircle the 61th Division in the Miaohang area together with the Training Corps and the 259th Division. In addition, two regiments of the st Division of the th Route Army will cooperate with the th Brigade on the left wing..."

After hearing this, everyone rubbed their hands in excitement. The commander of the 261st Brigade, Song Xilian, stood up and said:

"Dean of Education, the Ninth Division has lost its fighting spirit. Our 261st Brigade will strictly follow military orders and complete the encirclement mission within the specified time to defeat the old devil Ueda!"

Seeing that Song Xilian, the smart guy, had taken the lead, Sun Yuanliang also stood up and expressed his determination to complete his teacher's tactical deployment and assist the teaching corps in encircling the 9th Division.

Sun Yuanliang and Song Xilian were the two brigade commanders of the 87th Division. They were both General Zhang's students at Huangpu, so their command was very smooth.

Both Song and Sun wanted to take this opportunity to gain military merit and show their loyalty to the principal who had just returned. In addition, they hated the Japanese devils to the core, so naturally they had to go all out.

At Miaohang, at the 88th Division Headquarters, Yu Jishi had already received a telegram from the military and quickly summoned several capable officers to discuss a strategy for cooperation:
"Everyone, the teacher is determined to defeat the Ninth Division this time. The two brigades of the 87th Division are coming from the left and right wings to encircle them. Brother Yin Guo and Brother Yuan Liang are both our Whampoa Military Academy's elite troops. The 259th and 261st Brigades are the best of the National Government Army. It will not be difficult for them to complete the encirclement mission.

This is a big piece of fat meat. My 88th Division has been suppressed and beaten by the old Japanese devil Ueda for two days. Even a clay man still has some temper. This time we must counterattack and cooperate with the teacher to annihilate the th Division!

Everyone, tell us what you think, whether to take the initiative or keep the devils stuck in the temple."

After he finished speaking, he glanced at his former classmate Li Mo'an. There was a saying circulating in the class, "Jiang Xianyun's pen and He Zhonghan's mouth are not as fast as Chen Geng's legs";
Li Mo'an was very dissatisfied, so he privately changed it to "He Zhonghan is good at literature, Hu Zongnan is good at martial arts, Li Mo'an is both literary and martial." Since he is good at both literature and martial arts, he naturally has his own ideas at this critical juncture.

Li Mo'an was already somewhat dissatisfied with Yu Jishi stepping on his head, and when he saw him looking at him, he said carelessly:
"I agree to take the initiative and concentrate our forces to attack the middle part. We will advance from the north and south with the teaching corps led by the teacher, cut the 9th Division into two parts, east and west, and then attack together with Brother Yin Guo and Brother Yuan Liang to eat them up piece by piece."

After listening to this, Yu Jishi praised loudly and said:
"What a great strategy of attacking from both north and south, attacking separately and simultaneously, how wonderful!

Brother Linsheng is truly a talented general of our generation who is both civil and military. This is a good idea. Does anyone have any other opinions? "

Chief of Staff Xuan Tiewu, who was also a student of the same term, naturally would not let Li Mo'an take the limelight alone, so he also stood up and said:
"Deputy Division Commander Li's tactics are indeed brilliant, but I think they are still too aggressive.

The 15000th Division was the elite division of the devils, with 88 men and strong combat effectiveness. Our th Division was able to barely withstand its attack thanks to the fortifications in the temple.

If we take the initiative to attack the Ninth Division, we may be pushed back by the Japanese if we can’t hold on, and then we will lose the temple, causing the teacher’s plan of encircling us from all sides to fail, and we will lose this crucial decisive battle.”

Xuan Tiewu's worries were not without reason. The Nationalist Army was good at defense but not at attack. The Ninth Division's attack power was very strong. If they fought against it, they might be pushed back. After weighing the pros and cons in his mind, Division Commander Yu said:
"My brother's worries are not without reason. As long as our 88th Division sticks to the th Division in the temple and waits for the teacher to encircle it from three sides, we can surely defeat the Japanese.

Although the credit is less, it will not leave any chance for the devils, what do you think, Brother Linsheng?"

Li Mo'an saw that Yu Jishi was more inclined towards his fellow villager, so it was meaningless for him to insist. Besides, if an accident really happened, he would be the first to bear the responsibility. The face was small, but putting himself in a disadvantageous situation was big. Since Yu gave him a way out, he took advantage of the situation and said:
"Brother Liangzhen is absolutely right. It is indeed safer to deal with all kinds of changes by remaining unchanged. I have no objection."

Several others also expressed their support for continuing to hold the Japanese in Miaohang to create conditions for the main force to encircle the 9th Division.

Everyone selectively overlooked one point. If they did not take the initiative to attack and delay the 9th Division, once the Japanese found that the situation was not right, they would break out before the encirclement was completed. This battle would at most be a crushing defeat, and the main force would only lift the siege of Miaohang. It can be said that opportunities and risks coexist.

In fact, General Zhang had no intention of completely annihilating the Ninth Division. He was also worried that the Ninth Division might become desperate and attack the Miaoxing garrison, which would be troublesome.
The National Government Army was good at defense but not good at attacking, so he did not dare to take the risk. Being able to lift the siege of Miaohang and annihilate part of the enemy was already a very good result.

On the 22nd, the 200th Regiment launched another fierce attack on the position of the rd Company, deploying more than men at a time, densely swarming towards the position with great force;
The third company fought back tit for tat, refusing to give an inch and pushing the Japanese back in front of their position.

"Captain, the enemy's attack is too fierce. Notify the second captain to send reinforcements!"

Duan Yulin, the tough second platoon leader, also complained to Yue Qianli, who yelled:
"Are you giving in already? Duan Yulin, don't let me look down on you, hold on!
Now is not the most difficult time, the reserve team cannot move! "

Duan Yulin's eyes instantly turned red. He grabbed his hat and threw it to the ground, revealing his bald head. He roared:

"I, Duan Yulin, have not yet learned how to write the word 'cowardly'!
I am going to be honored, you have to take good care of my sister and not let her be my mistress."

After yelling, he raised the Czech gun in his hand and prepared to fight the devils. Yue Qianli yelled at his back:
"Take care of your own sister and come back alive!"

Duan Yulin answered him with a long burst of fire. Yue Qianli could only smile bitterly, as he didn't know whether he could survive until the end of the battle.

He aimed his rifle at a cunning Japanese sergeant again. The grenade launcher in his hand was too threatening and he must not be given any chance.

"I'll fuck your ancestors!"

"I'll send you to see the King of Hell!"

Duan Yulin would curse and then fire a volley of bullets at the Japanese, knocking down one or two of them. It must be said that this guy was pretty good at machine gunning.

The Japanese sergeant targeted Duan Yulin, quietly leaned out to take a look, then took out a special grenade, grinning and preparing to shoot down Duan Yulin's machine gun. None of his prey had ever escaped.

Thanks to Gao Paobing, Feidao, and Liefeng for their recommendations, I will add another chapter today. As long as the contract is signed successfully, I promise to update it every day.

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(End of this chapter)