Faced with Kawagishi Bunzaburo's repeated urging, Ushijima Minoru could only order the attack.
After Ushijima Minoru's attack order was issued, except for the 79th Infantry Regiment, which was lagging behind, the other three infantry regiments that had already rushed to the outskirts of Jiangwan Town began to attack from the north, west and south at the same time. Jiangwan launched a fierce attack. On this point, Ushijima Minoru and Kawagishi Bunzaburo had a rare unity of opinion.
That is to never surround Jiangwan Town, but to take the initiative to leave a gap!
The reason for taking the initiative to leave a gap is to induce the troops of the Songhu Military Division to break out to the east. This can weaken the resistance of the Songhu Military Division troops, and secondly, drive the troops of the Songhu Military Division away. Go to the small area between Wusong Town and Baoshan County, and then use the navy's large-caliber naval guns to eliminate it.
In fact, after the Sino-Japanese war broke out, the little devils have always done this.
From the Battle of Songhu to the Battle of Nanjing to the Battle of Lanfeng, from the Battle of Xinkou to the Battle of Taiyuan, the Japs never fought a battle of annihilation. It was not that the Japs were incapable, but that they simply did not have the will. In fact, the Japs I just want to drive away the Chinese army, and then bite the Chinese army and chase it!
This time, if the main force of the Songhu Military Division can be driven out of Jiangwan and driven between Wusong Town and Baoshan County, and finally eliminated with the help of the large-caliber naval guns of the Fourth Fleet, the result will undoubtedly be excellent, because In this way, the next attack on downtown Shanghai will become much easier.
Closer to home, after Ushijima Minari's order was issued, the three infantry regiments of the 20th Division immediately launched a fierce attack on Jiangwan Town from three directions from north to southwest.
It must be noted that at the beginning of the offensive, the scale of the Japanese attack was very limited.
The three infantry regiments of the 20th Division deployed a regiment in each of the three directions of north and southwest. However, these three infantry regiments did not invest all their troops, but only invested an infantry brigade each. , the reason for doing this is, firstly, because the front of the battlefield is limited and there are too many troops to deploy, and secondly, I want to test the strength of the defense.
What Ushijima Minoru and Kawagishi Bunzaburo didn't expect was that the resistance of the Songhu Military Division was very tenacious!
Almost from the beginning, the Japanese attack was met head-on by the Songhu Military Division. In three directions, the Songhu Military Division launched counterattacks at the same time, causing considerable casualties to the Japanese army! Before Ushijima Mitsune and Kawagishi Bunzaburo could give orders, the Japanese's three infantry regiments had already passively expanded the scale of their attack.
It's no good if we don't expand the scale of the attack, because troops from the Songhuhui Military Region are coming!
With no other choice, the Japanese's 77th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Regiment and 80th Infantry Regiment could only passively devote all their forces to engage in a fierce battle with the counterattack troops of the Songhu Military Division. After half an hour of fierce fighting, the troops in the Songhu Military Division finally ran out and withdrew.
But at this time, the battle lines between the two sides had already become intertwined, and it was basically difficult to distinguish the line. Therefore, as soon as the troops from the Songhu Military Division withdrew, the three Japanese infantry regiments were consciously or unconsciously wrapped up and moved forward. Chase, and then basically fight into a mess.
(Dividing line)
While the Songhu Military Division was fighting a fierce battle with the Japanese 20th Division, Helena, the Associated Press war correspondent in China, was conducting an exclusive interview with Colonel Stephenson, the top commander of the U.S. garrison in Shanghai. The U.S. military also had troops stationed in the Shanghai Public Concession. However, the strength is only one company, but Stephenson has the rank of colonel.
As the interview entered the final stage, Helena tilted her head and asked: "Colonel, can you make a prediction about the second Battle of Songhu between the Chinese and Japanese armies? For example, who will win the final victory?"
Unlike Stilwell, Stephenson was very hostile to politics.
To put it bluntly, Stephenson is a McCarthyist. Of course, McCarthy was just a kid at this time and had not become governor at all. Naturally, there would be no McCarthyism, but the essence of McCarthyism is far-right **. Humanoids naturally harbor a deep hatred for humans.
"The Second Battle of Songhu? Miss Helena, your wording is extremely inappropriate." Stephenson waved his hand and said, "Strictly speaking, this is just a sweep, just like sweeping away a small number of things that affect the cleanliness of the home. Clean up the trash." After saying that, Stephenson also made a sweeping gesture.
Helena frowned without a trace, and then asked: "Colonel, who do you think can win the war?"
"War? Strictly speaking, this is just a small-scale conflict!" Stephenson shook his head habitually and added, "But the result is undoubtedly, of course the Japanese army won! I can't imagine what kind of situation the Japanese army would be in Will they lose this conflict? Even if their commander is stupider than a pig, I’m afraid it will be difficult to lose.”
After finishing speaking, Stephenson continued: "Miss Helena, I remember you were also on the top floor of the Chinachem Hotel during the day, right?"
In Shanghai in the 1930s, the Chinachem Hotel could be said to be the tallest landmark building. Standing on the rooftop of the Chinachem Hotel, you could almost have a panoramic view of the entire Shanghai Beach. With the help of a telescope with a long focal length, you could even see To clearly see Jiangwan, which is ten kilometers away, there are several long-focus telescopes installed on the rooftop of the Chinachem Hotel.
Since early this morning, envoys from Western countries in Shanghai and reporters from various media have boarded the rooftop of the Chinachem Hotel to follow the progress of the war through long-focus telescopes. However, because the distance was too far, even Even with the help of high-powered telescopes, we can only see a general picture.
But even so, it can still be seen clearly that in just one day, the battle line has advanced from Shizilin to near Jiangwan. This advancement is much faster than the first Battle of Songhu! In the first Battle of Songhu the year before last, the Japanese army attacked fiercely for a full month before finally advancing to the vicinity of the battlefield.
Stephenson added: "Miss Helena, if you compare the conflict in front of you with the Battle of Songhu two years ago, you will find that the performance of the **Songhu Military Division is far worse than that of the National Army. The Nationalist Army resisted for more than a month before retreating to Dachang Town, but now in just one day, the army has retreated to Jiangwan!"
After a slight pause, Stephenson continued: "From the deployment of the Japanese army during the day, I can basically see their combat intentions. I must admit that the commander of the Japanese army is a master tactician who is well versed in the art of war. His tactics in Jiangwan Town Heavy troops were deployed in the north, south and west, but a gap was left in the east. This was to force the Japanese to break out to the east. However, if the Japanese really broke out to the east, what awaited them would be the end of the entire army being annihilated. !”
Helena tilted her head and asked: "In other words, the Songhu Military Division is definitely defeated, right?"
"I think so." Stephenson shrugged and added, "Maybe when you wake up tomorrow morning, the war will be over and Shanghai will have restored its previous order."
The interview was over. Helena closed her notebook and said with a smile: "Colonel, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to accept my exclusive interview. I will treat you to dinner next time when I have time."
"No need for next time, I'm in time now." Stephenson said with a smile.
Helena said with some embarrassment: "I'm so sorry, I'm afraid I can't do it today. My boyfriend is waiting for me."
"Miss Helena, do you have a boyfriend? Oh, what a shame." Stephenson spread his hands in disappointment.
Helena smiled, put the notebook into her satchel, then stood up and left. Stephenson stared at Helena's butt wrapped in the leather skirt disappearing from the front, and cursed "Zhit" in annoyance.
(Dividing line)
Stephenson was very upset, but Wang Husheng was very excited!
As the war progresses, the three infantry regiments of the Japanese 20th Division have been completely involved. Following the rhythm of the Songhu Military Division, they are sinking deeper into the streets and alleys of Jiangwan, starting from a simulated sand table. Look, the defense area of the Songhu Military Division has been squeezed into an irregular four-pointed star shape by the Japanese offensive troops.
The four main battalions of the Songhu Military Division are each responsible for one direction, but there are inevitably gaps between the main battalions. In other words, Xu Rui and Wang Husheng simply wanted to leave these gaps on purpose, and the Japanese did. He lived up to the expectations of Xu Rui and Wang Husheng and really burst in through these gaps.
As a result, the battle lines between the two sides were greatly stretched.
This is the case. If the Songhu Military Division deploys its troops evenly in every direction without leaving any gaps, then the battle line between the two sides will basically be a smooth circle. In this case, the battle line will not be long. The Songhu Military Division is in The first line can only have two main battalions at most, and the Japanese can only put in one regiment at most.
But now, the Japanese have burst in through the gaps deliberately left by the four main battalions of the Songhu Military Division. The battle line between the two sides is no longer a smooth circle, but an extremely irregular four-pointed star. , and each side of this four-pointed star is not straight, but is concave here and convex there, which stretches the battle line infinitely, so now, the four main battalions of the Songhu Military Division have All were dispatched, and the three infantry regiments of the Japanese were basically involved. The two sides fought in the streets and alleys, and between the teeth of the enemy, they fought into a pot of porridge.
Wang Husheng vigorously waved his fist and said, damn, the little devil is in control!
At that moment, Wang Husheng called Di Gua in front of him again and said: "Di Gua, you go back and report to Lao Xu right now, saying that the Japanese are completely in control, and now you are waiting for his order!"
"Yes!" Digua stood at attention, saluted, then turned around and hurried away.
Watching the figure of Sweet Potato go away, Wang Husheng suddenly turned around and stared at the firelight blooming from time to time outside the window with piercing eyes. The corners of his mouth couldn't help but evoke a sinister smile, saying like a dog, you are finished!