12dz Chapter 190: Attacking Longling (2): The Devil's Madness
Chapter 190: Attacking Longling (2): The Devil's Madness
After roughly understanding the situation at the front line, the old Japanese soldier Honda Masazai signaled his adjutant to take the lieutenant away "dignifiedly", while he himself fell into deep thought.
He stood in the command post, the information just now echoing in his mind.
Gradually, his eyes became sharp, his brows furrowed, and a clear judgment was formed in his mind:
"The enemy is most likely to break through from Longling?"
The triangle area of Tengchong, Songshan and Longling is characterized by steep mountains and the Nujiang River.
Most of the Japanese defense lines and fortifications were built facing east, relying on the mountains and the Nujiang River, but they rarely defended their own rear. After all, in theory, that was the direction where the friendly 55th and 56th Divisions were stationed.
However, Zhang Chi emerged as a sudden force, first consuming most of the 56th Division in one gulp, and then driving the 55th Division back to Lashio. This resulted in the triangle area having complete offensive and defensive facilities on the east bank of the Nujiang River, but few defensive fortifications on the west side.
According to what the lieutenant said, Honda Masazai could clearly draw the conclusion that the firepower of the Anmin Army was completely not on the same level as the central army or expeditionary force of Qian Country.
Behind Longling is the Burma Road, which the enemy can use for logistical transportation. The defense system is relatively weak, and the enemy's firepower is beyond the norm.
This series of factors led Honda Masazai to finally believe that the Anmin Army's attack direction was the main attack direction.
"We must defend Longling and not let the enemy succeed." He gritted his teeth and whispered.
Not long after, a hoarse voice came from outside the cave, "It's black card, get on board," followed by a long silence.
Suddenly, the adjutant's footsteps broke the silence, and he pushed the door open and walked in.
In his hand was a samurai sword that was still dripping with blood. Blood had formed mottled marks on the blade, and the air was filled with the smell of blood.
Honda Masazai turned to his adjutant and ordered: "Notify the defenders of Tengchong to immediately withdraw troops to support Longling. In addition, the daily ration distribution will be reduced by half from now on."
"Go and wipe the knife clean quickly. It's a disgrace that the headquarters is filled with the smell of blood." Honda Masazai suddenly noticed the blood on the samurai sword. His words were filled with a hint of impatience, but more of helplessness.
"Hey, I'm very sorry." The adjutant bowed and apologized, then turned and left.
Honda Masazai watched his adjutant leave, and a heavy feeling rose in his heart.
Neither of them mentioned the lieutenant's fate. In fact, all the Japanese defenders in western Yunnan knew that they would "die in battle", so the Japanese would not waste precious medicine to treat their own seriously wounded soldiers, and the lightly wounded soldiers were simply bandaged and left on the battlefield to continue fighting.
"A fate of death." Honda Masazai murmured softly, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes, "This is their fate, and it is also my fate."
-----
On the side of the Western Yunnan Expeditionary Force, Wei Junru had been advancing steadily, relying on tunnel digging. Although the progress was slow, he was indeed getting closer and closer to Tengchong County, and the casualties were not heavy.
But because Bai Minghui's rapid advance cut off the Japanese's retreat, the Japanese defenders in Tengchong went completely crazy.
The Japanese "human bomb offensive" swept in like a flood. The seriously wounded soldiers carried explosive packs and launched a counterattack against the Kuomintang positions, rushing headfirst into the Kuomintang trenches and crowds, causing heavy casualties.
The Japanese used the same tactics that the Nationalist army used when they were forced into a corner. Although anyone with a discerning eye knew that the Japanese were a rabbit with a short tail, the Nationalist army, where soldiers were the leaders, trusted the soldiers in Fengjie and guaranteed the strength of the army and division commanders.
Therefore, Wei Junru discovered that the attack seemed to have suddenly stagnated.
As a veteran in the National Army (Wei had served as Yixian's guard platoon leader), he knew very well what the generals under him were thinking.
This stagnation is like the silence after the bowstring is relaxed - every officer seems to be quietly calculating his own "gains and losses".
These officers simply felt that victory was just around the corner and were afraid that they would spend all their money and not be able to enjoy the fruits of victory after the war.
-----
Wei Junru walked on the muddy path, and in her ears was a symphony of death mixed with the sounds of explosions, gunfire and wailing coming from afar.
He walked with heavy steps, and the mud under his feet swallowed his boots deeply with every step.
Standing on a small hill, Wei Junru raised the telescope and saw countless remains outside Tengchong City. All the grass and trees were gone, and even the sky was shrouded in thick smoke.
The air was filled with the smell of corruption, and the dead atmosphere seemed to suffocate people.
His brows were furrowed, and although he had long been accustomed to this environment, a sense of uneasiness still arose in his heart.
He arrived at the command post of the 2nd Reserve Division and was greeted by a dim tent.
The lantern in the center of the tent flickered, and several staff officers were talking in low voices.
Teacher Gu was sitting at the table. He looked a little tired, with an unshaven beard and a pale face, as if he hadn't slept for several days.
Wei Junru walked in, and Commander Gu looked up at him, the bitterness on his face almost beyond words.
"Your Excellency, you're here." Commander Gu reluctantly stood up, his eyes flickering with helplessness. "I... I really don't know how to explain this to you."
Wei Junru looked at him quietly, her tone calm, but her eyes surprisingly shining: "Commander Gu, I heard that you encountered some problems on the front line?"
Commander Gu gave a bitter laugh, his voice a little hoarse: "Problem? I hope it's just a problem."
He paused and said slowly, "Brother Junru, these devils are crazy. Although our offensive has made some progress, they are fighting with the mentality of dying together. All that is left is the blood of our brothers. It hurts my heart."
Wei Junru's eyes gradually became sharp. He was silent for a moment, then said, "Do you think we should stop now?"
Commander Gu hesitated for a moment, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "Commander, it's not that we don't want to fight, but this battle is too hard."
"We've already suffered quite a few casualties. If this continues... there might not be many left standing."
Commander Gu raised his head and looked into Wei Junru's eyes: "Three days, just rest for three days. I promise to continue the attack after three days."
The major general division commander swore to the sky and almost knelt down to beg for mercy. Wei Junru couldn't blame him, so she could only hold her nose and agree to give the 2nd Reserve Division 48 hours of rest time.
After Wei Junru walked around the front line, she found that all the divisions were complaining bitterly, and their excuses were all similar, which made Wei Junru very worried.
He is not Pétain of the First World War, who really wants to run a machine gun battle team.
Moreover, the machine gun supervision team can only force the soldiers to charge, but it is impossible to force these major generals and division commanders to change their minds.
-------
On the other hand, the stagnation of the Tengchong attack did not affect the Anmin Army.
On November 25, the 4th Infantry Division of the Eastern Route Army arrived at the scene. Bai Minghui, with the 5th Regiment of the 2nd Division and the 10th Regiment of the 4th Division as the vanguard, launched a pincer attack on the left and right wings, fighting for every hilltop with the Japanese defenders in Longling in the Gaoligong Mountains.