EBE Chapter 395: Guard It for Me
Chapter 395: Guard It for Me
That night, the surrounded 16th Division troops were faced with a full-scale night attack by the Chinese army. This time, the Chinese troops launched an attack on the last circular defense position of the Japanese 16th Division from all directions at the same time.
For a moment, fierce gunfire and shouts of killing rang out from all directions of the Japanese 16th Division's circular position. The division commander, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, and chief of staff, Major General Nakazawa Mitsuo, were also in the division headquarters, busy directing the defense forces in various places to fight.
Chief of Staff Major General Mitsuo Nakazawa also organized the remaining officers and soldiers of the division's supply regiment into the division's reserve, and reinforced them to various positions in the defense circle according to the needs of the battle situation. Except for the division's guard squadron, these were all the reserves of the 16th Division.
However, facing the comprehensive and large-scale night attack by the Chinese army, the 16th Division's circular defense circle was in a state of emergency everywhere. Several positions had even engaged in bayonet fighting with the Chinese troops in the night attack, and the division headquarters was flooded with calls for help.
"Your Excellency the Division Commander, all our reserve troops have been sent out. However, some of the Chinese army's night attack troops have already rushed into the defensive positions and are engaging in a melee with our defense forces. We need to send out reinforcements immediately to drive out the Chinese troops that have rushed into the positions." Chief of Staff Major General Nakazawa San'o came to the division commander, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, with an anxious look on his face and said eagerly.
Neither the division commander, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, nor the chief of staff, Major General Nakazawa Mitsuo, had expected that the Chinese army would launch such a large-scale attack in the first night raid, which made their previous preparations seem not so sufficient.
"Mr. Nakazawa, all the positions are in critical condition now, and this is the first night attack by the Chinese army. If we send the last organized unit now, we will have no one to send if a more critical situation arises later." The division commander, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, also comforted the anxious chief of staff, Major General Nakazawa Mitsuo, with earnest words.
In the view of the division commander, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, although the current situation is not good, it has not yet reached a very critical moment. He must make every decision with great caution. If he sends the only reserve force he has to reinforce so early, then he will not be able to fight the subsequent battles, and how can he hold the position for two to three days.
"But, Mr. Division Commander, we must stabilize our defensive positions now. If we let the Chinese army gain a foothold on the positions, it will be difficult for us to drive them out. The Chinese army can slowly erode our defensive positions around us." Chief of Staff Major General Nakazawa Mitsuo also added his thoughts.
Chief of Staff Major General Mitsuo Nakazawa felt that what the division commander, Lieutenant General Keisuke Fujie, was thinking was correct. Without reserve troops, they would indeed lack confidence. However, Chief of Staff Major General Mitsuo Nakazawa really wanted to say, "Sir, division commander, you are thinking too far ahead. It is hard to say whether we can hold on until the critical moment you mentioned. Let's deal with the troubles at hand first."
The division commander, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, understood the meaning behind the words of the chief of staff, Major General Nakazawa Misao. Yes, the current trouble must be solved, but deep down, the division commander, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, really did not want to send his last reserve troops to the battlefield, because this was his last insurance to save his life.
"Mr. Nakazawa, tell all the troops on the position, no matter whether they use human bombs or any other methods, they must hold the position. No reinforcements will be sent to them now. They must remember that they are outstanding soldiers of the Empire of Japan. Everyone must show their Bushido spirit and destroy the inferior Chinese army." The division commander, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, had also made up his mind not to send reserve troops for reinforcement.
When the Chief of Staff, Major General Mitsuyo Nakazawa, saw that the division commander, Lieutenant General Keisuke Fujie, even mentioned the "human bomb" attack, he understood in his heart that the division commander was determined not to send the reserve troops to reinforce the position, so he stopped persuading him.
Anyway, there is really no good way now. We have to delay for as long as possible. Sooner or later, the defense circle will continue to shrink with the attack of the Chinese army, and in the end we have to rely on the division guard squadron to make the final defense. We have to hold out until the division commander Ogisu Riki arrives with reinforcements.
In the subsequent battle, the officers and soldiers of the 16th Division of the Japanese Army on the defensive positions also obeyed the orders of the division commander, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, and began to counterattack the Chinese attacking forces. The "human bombs" selected from various Japanese units also carried explosive packs and launched a tactic of mutual destruction towards the attacking Chinese troops.
This time the Japanese "human bomb" attack was relatively successful. It was difficult for the attacking Chinese army to detect the Japanese "human bombs" who were pretending to be dead in the dark, which also caused considerable casualties to the attacking forces. As the Chinese attacking forces advanced deeper, the Japanese "human bomb" attacks became more and more frequent.
In desperation, the commander of the Chinese troops ordered the troops to stop attacking and consolidate the occupied Japanese positions first. Anyway, the purpose of tonight's night attack had been achieved and many gaps had been opened in the Japanese positions. The most important thing was to consolidate the existing results, and there was no rush to wipe out all the Japanese troops with a single attack.
After a night of fierce fighting, until the sky was slightly bright, both sides stopped fighting at the same time. The officers and soldiers on both sides were too tired to fight.
"Sir, the division commander, the Chinese army has stopped the attack, but they have opened five gaps in our circular defense circle. The Chinese army has basically established a foothold in these positions. With our current strength on the front line, we cannot attack these Chinese troops, nor can we drive them out." Chief of Staff Major General Mitsuo Nakazawa also gave a brief report on the evening's battle to the division commander, Lieutenant General Keisuke Fujie, as soon as the battle ended.
The division commander, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, understood that this was the chief of staff, Major General Nakazawa Mitsuo, telling him in a more tactful way that his circular defense position had been broken through by the Chinese army, although the officers and soldiers in the front were still barely holding on.
But everyone knew that if they could not drive out the Chinese troops that had already captured the positions, they could use these occupied positions to attack the circular fortifications on both sides, and it would not be long before their own circular defense circle completely collapsed.