Tachibana Yoshio clasped the saber pillar on the ground with both hands, his eyelids drooped, like a sculpture, sitting motionless in the ancestral hall. This night, he hardly moved. []
For those who don’t know, Tachibana Keio is asleep.
However, the staff of the headquarters and the orderly soldiers knew that Tachibana Keio was not asleep.
Major Maeda, the captain of the Infantry Battalion, strode in, walked up to Tachibana Yoshio and said: "Captain, even if the China Army turns back halfway, it probably won't arrive so soon. While the China Army still needs some time, We’ll be able to reach Haian Town in time, why don’t you go down and rest for a while?”
Tachibana Yoshio opened his slightly narrowed eyes and waved his hand: "No, the China Army is almost here!"
"Huh? The Chinese army is coming soon?" Major Maeda frowned, feeling quite disapproving.
According to the aviation reconnaissance report, yesterday evening, the remnants of the temporary 79th Division had passed Guxi Town. Guxi Town was already more than a hundred miles away from Hai'an Town. This was only a straight-line distance on the map. If we consider Due to road conditions, the actual marching distance must be at least doubled, which is more than two hundred miles.
Let’s not worry about whether the remnants of the 79th Division will really make a comeback. Even if they do make a comeback, they will never be able to march more than two hundred miles in one night.
It would be too scary for the remnants of the temporary 79th Division to be able to march two hundred miles in one night. You know, even the most elite Guards Division or the 1st Division would not be able to do such a march. strength.
Tachibana Yoshio did not explain to Maeda, but asked: "Is the Infantry Battalion okay?"
"Hai." Maeda nodded heavily and replied, "Following the order of the detachment leader, the officers and soldiers of the Infantry Battalion didn't sleep a wink all night and have been waiting."
"Yoshi." Tachibana Yoshio turned his attention to the other lieutenant and asked, "Sato-san, are the cavalry ready?"
The cavalry captain Sato also gave a serious pause: "Detachment captain, the cavalry has been waiting all this time."
"Yo Xi." Tachibana Yoshio nodded happily, raised his wrist to check the time, and said, "It's time. The cavalry can be dispatched to reconnoiter the southwest direction."
"Hai." Sato nodded heavily, turned around and walked away.
After a while, the sound of horse hooves could be heard outside the ancestral hall.
However, Tachibana Yoshio turned his attention to a colonel not far away and asked: "Kasahara-san, has the Guards Brigade arrived at the designated position? Once the battle starts here in Hai'an Town, once the China Army is defeated, it will inevitably flee south, so Whether the remnants of the temporary 79th Division can be completely annihilated this time depends on whether the Guards Brigade can block the southern entrance in time."
Kasahara Goro, the chief of staff of the Tachibana detachment, strode over and reported: "Detachment leader, the Guards Brigade just sent back the telegram half an hour ago. It is still more than 20 miles away from the destination. If nothing happens, We should have almost arrived at the designated location."
Tachibana Yoshio yelled again.
Seeing that Tachibana Yoshio was in a good mood, Kasahara Goro immediately said: "Captain of the detachment, all infantry brigades, artillery corps and cavalry corps have entered the designated positions. The remnants of the temporary 79th Division will move north, west or south. Facing the encirclement of the imperial army, they have become turtles in the urn and are unable to escape."
"Kasahara-san, don't be careless." Tachibana Yoshio waved his hand, but his expression was inevitably proud, because no matter from which level, the Tachibana detachment was guaranteed to win this time.
(Dividing line)
The temporary independent battalion of the 79th Division was indeed in trouble this time.
"It's amazing, it's amazing." Xu Rui said ferociously, "The Japanese have also learned the lesson. They actually saw through our plan to seize the east and attack the west. They stayed in Hai'an Town and did not move. Now we are passive."
Leng Tiefeng gasped and said: "Old Xu, while it's dawn, the Japanese are dizzy, go around quickly."
"I'm afraid I can't get around it." Xu Rui shook his head coldly and said, "The defense line of the 59th Army is arranged along the Manyang River. Since the Japanese have occupied Hai'an Town, the entire defense line on the north bank of the Manyang River will also fall. In their hands, if we want to take a detour, we have to go at least one or two hundred miles east, and we don’t have time.”
"That's right." Leng Tiefeng looked up at the sky and said, "As soon as it breaks, the Japanese reconnaissance plane will arrive. We don't have time."
At dawn, the Japs' aerial reconnaissance planes may fly over Haian at any time. As soon as the Japs' reconnaissance arrives, their whereabouts will be completely exposed. By then, the Japs in Haian Town and nearby areas will smell like prey. The aura wolves swarmed in from all directions and tore their independent camp into pieces.
"Reconnaissance plane?" Xu Rui shook his head and said, "The Japanese reconnaissance plane will not arrive that soon, but the Japanese cavalry will be dispatched soon to search for our whereabouts."
Leng Tiefeng said: "Old Xu, otherwise, we should turn around and go south?"
"No." Xu Rui shook his head decisively and said coldly, "It's too late to turn around and go south at this time. The Japs in Hai'an Town and nearby areas won't let us go south. Even in the south, there may be Japs cutting off our retreat. By then There is an interception in front of us, there are pursuers behind us, and we have lost the opportunity again. It is really like there is no way to go to heaven and no door to earth."
Leng Tiefeng was silent. Although the Independent Battalion won a great victory in Nantong and incredibly annihilated the Chongteng detachment, he also knew that the miracle of the Battle of Nantong could not be replicated because there were too many things in the Battle of Nantong. favorable conditions, but now, they don't even have any favorable conditions.
Forget about anything else, they cannot replicate the glory of the Battle of Nantong in terms of ammunition reserves alone. Before the Battle of Nantong started, they had a total of twenty Type 92 heavy machine guns, and each heavy machine gun had a total of two Ten bases of ammunition, but now, they only carry four heavy machine guns, and only two bases of ammunition.
As he was speaking, Xu Rui's expression suddenly changed. After listening for a moment, he said ferociously: "There are cavalry. The Japanese cavalry has indeed been dispatched!"
Leng Tiefeng heard the words and quickly listened. After a while, he also heard the faint sound of horse hooves.
Leng Tiefeng's expression changed at that moment, and he immediately turned back to Xu Rui and said, "Old Xu, what should we do now?"
Xu Rui made a decision immediately: "There is no other way but to attack with force, open the gap, rush over, and then draw away all the Japanese ambush, so that the 1st, 4th and 4th companies have a chance to break through to the north."
Xu Rui's implication was to use the company as bait to lure away the Japanese and gain vitality for the other companies.
It is completely conceivable that the company general who acted as a bait would definitely die in the face of the crazy Japanese siege.
Leng Tiefeng nodded and said in a deep voice: "Old Xu, I will lead the company to attack. You go back and command the 1st company, the 4th company, and the 4th company. The independent battalion can be without me, but it must not be without you."
This is Leng Tiefeng. Whenever there is a mission that requires death, he will definitely rush to do it.
"Okay, stop arguing. This is a vicious battle. You and I both have to act together with the company." Xu Rui flatly rejected Leng Tiefeng's kindness and did not let Leng Tiefeng go back to command the 1st and 1st companies. , 4th company means, because in the fierce battle that follows, sharpshooters like Leng Tiefeng will be indispensable.
Xu Rui turned back to Heipi and said: "Heipi, go back and tell Deputy Wan Ying to lead the troops to break out. After the breakout is successful, wait for us at Dongtai. We will arrive at Dongtai in two to five days at the earliest. I’ll meet you, if we haven’t arrived at Dongtai in five days, we don’t have to wait any longer.”
Xu Rui didn't understand what "no need to wait any longer" meant, but how could Hei Pi not hear it
At that moment, Hei Pi's expression changed and he said with a ferocious expression: "Ying Zuo, I'll go with you. You'd better ask someone else to inform Deputy Wan Ying."
Xu Rui felt relieved. After his transformation, the concept of never abandoning or giving up had gradually penetrated into the hearts of the officers and soldiers of the Independent Battalion. Therefore, Heipi categorically refused to deliver a message to Deputy Wan Ying because doing so would mean He abandoned his comrades and chose to escape alone.
Xu Rui was relieved, but his face was still cold, and he said in a deep voice: "This is an order, execute it."
Heipi still wanted to argue, but Xu Rui couldn't help but interrupted, saying coldly: "What, you still want to disobey?"
Heipi finally did not dare to look into Xu Rui's murderous eyes. He lowered his head and turned around without saying a word. However, he made a decision in his heart. After delivering the letter to Deputy Wanying, he would come back to find the troops. Even if he died, he would definitely die with the brothers in the camp, deputy camp, and company.
As soon as Heipi left, Xu Rui turned around and walked back. As he walked, he used his right hand to slap the remaining soldiers on the head one by one. When the big cover, crooked handle or wild jade neck is picked up, the atmosphere immediately becomes tense.
The remaining soldiers knew that another war was about to begin.
Xu Rui slapped the heads of more than a hundred remnant soldiers one by one, then turned back and stood in front of the queue. He said solemnly: "Brothers, I know you are tired, sleepy, and hungry, but the military situation is so bad that I have no time for you. After eating and sleeping, we must break through the Japanese blockade in the shortest possible time."
No one said a word, and the more than a hundred remaining soldiers were silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Xu Rui added: "I don't want to hide it from you. The situation is not optimistic. In this battle, many of us will die."
After a pause, Xu Rui continued in an passionate tone: "However, what I want to tell you is that there have never been cowards in our Independence Camp. Even if our brothers in the Independence Camp die, they will have to drag the Japanese on their backs. We Even if the soldiers of the independent battalion die, they will die on the way to charge!"
Listening to Xu Rui's eloquent lectures, the eyes of more than a hundred remnant soldiers immediately became hot.
Xu Rui removed the 38 cover from his shoulder, pushed the bullet into the chamber with a click, then pulled out the bayonet and inserted it into the slot.
The company's more than 100 remnant soldiers pulled the bolt of the gun, pushed the bullet and loaded the gun, then pulled the bayonet from the scabbard and inserted it into the slot.
Xu Rui smiled solemnly, and then rushed forward with the Sanba Gaigai with bayonets attached. The next moment, Leng Tiefeng and more than a hundred remaining soldiers also held bayonets, followed Xu Rui, and headed forward. The Japanese soldiers swooped over the Japanese position. In front, the Japanese cavalry had already crossed the position and were swarming towards this side.