kingnovel Chapter 443: Charge! Charge!
Chapter 443: Charge! Charge!
443 Charge! Charge!
On the 25th, inside Ningbo city, the smoke of gunpowder had not yet dissipated.
The ruined city wall had several huge gaps blown out by explosives.
At the city gate, rows of captured puppet soldiers knelt on the ground with their hands on their heads.
The corpses of the Japanese and puppet soldiers were everywhere, and teams of civilians were dragging them away and burning them.
There were still sporadic gunshots in the city.
Zhou Pingkou walked up to the city wall with no intention of entering the city.
Listening quietly to the battle report from the chief of staff behind him.
We are leaving soon anyway, and entering the city will only waste the army's time.
Zhou Ping’s bandit group’s headquarters was located outside the city.
"Commander-in-Chief, the main force of the Japanese in the city has been annihilated by us.
Only a small number of Japanese devils were still resisting.
It may take some time to weed them out.
We seized the Japanese granary and arsenal in the city.
For the time being, our army's food and fodder problem has been completely solved."
"Ok.
How's the ammunition consumption?"
"We have consumed about one-fifth of the ammunition we brought with us."
"Take some of the weapons and ammunition that were captured from the Japanese."
"Yes, we have captured a lot of pack horses from the devils in the city, so we have enough transportation capacity."
"That's good."
The 208th Division took one day and one night to capture the city of Ningbo.
A Japanese regiment defending the city was almost wiped out.
"Has there been any news from the reconnaissance camp?"
Zhou Pingkou continued to ask.
As early as yesterday, when their division attacked Ningbo.
Zhou Pingkou had already sent out a reconnaissance battalion in advance to explore westward.
Taking over Ningbo is just the beginning.
Next, the key to this battle is the combat operation from Ningbo to the west, directly into the rear of the Japanese.
"The reconnaissance battalion reported this morning that they found traces of the Japanese in the direction of Yuyao.
But it is not clear at the moment which Japanese unit it is.
But the reconnaissance battalion said that the Japanese were building fortifications, probably to stop us."
"Where's the Commander-in-Chief's reply?
Has the Japanese 21st Division in Shengzhou returned to provide support?"
Zhou Pingkou continued to ask.
In Zhou Pingkou's heart, he really wanted the Japanese 21st Division to withdraw from Shengzhou to stop them.
Because, in that case, the Japanese 21st Division in Shengzhou would withdraw.
This will free up the 21rd Army and the 23th Army to block the Japanese 70st Division on the Shengzhou front line.
With the support of tens of thousands of national troops, Ye Qingshan will no longer be short of manpower on the Jinhua front.
The crisis of the 209th Division being surrounded was naturally resolved.
If the Japs really did this, perhaps this battle would be acceptable.
The result is that the Japanese will once again fail in their campaign against southern Zhejiang.
The two sides ended in a draw.
“Commander-in-Chief, according to the intelligence received from the Military Intelligence Bureau by the Commander-in-Chief.
The Japanese 21st Division in Shengzhou showed no signs of retreating.
We even stepped up our offensive.”
The chief of staff said in a deep voice.
"understood."
Zhou Pingkou replied calmly with a stern expression.
Everything is clear.
The Japs had no intention of letting this battle between the two sides end in a draw.
"That's right, the Japs are currently on the front line and have the upper hand.
If we want the Japanese to give up this opportunity to take over southern Zhejiang, it is not enough for us to just fight to Ningbo."
After a moment, Zhou Pingkou said in a cold voice.
"Send the order, the troops will rest for a day and set out at night.
Keep going west."
Zhou Pingkou gave the order and said.
The reason why Zhou Pingkou chose to march at night was because it was obviously very troublesome to march at night.
It’s entirely because they reached Ningbo.
The Japanese air force in the Suzhou and Hangzhou areas could easily find them and bomb them.
When we were attacking the city yesterday, the Japanese bomber fleet came to help.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have taken the 208th Division so long to capture the city of Ningbo.
There is no way, this place is too close to the Japanese airports in Suzhou and Hangzhou.
The strength of Ye Qingshan's aviation team is not enough for them to take care of two battlefields at the same time, so they can't take care of Zhou Pingkou and others.
In desperation, Zhou Pingkou could only choose the marching method of hiding during the day and moving at night again.
Although this is slower, it is better than being bombed by the Japanese during the day.
On the evening of the 208th, the main force of the th Division set out again and attacked westward.
Zhou Pingkou only stayed in the city, leaving behind a regiment of the 12th Garrison Brigade to garrison here.
The follow-up of Ningbo City is very important to Zhou Pingkou’s 208th Division, and it is likely to become an important node on their retreat.
Therefore, sufficient troops must be left to garrison.
On the 208th, the th Division arrived outside Yuyao City.
If they hadn't been on guard against the bombing by the Japanese bombers, it wouldn't have taken them so long.
"Commander, we arrested a slanderer a few days ago. He was a company commander of a puppet army.
According to his story.
There are almost two battalions of Japanese invaders in Yuyao City.
From the Japanese 39th Division."
The commander of the reconnaissance battalion came to report.
"How long have these devils been here?"
“For three or four days, we have been forcibly conscripting civilians to build fortifications outside the city.
If we want to attack the city, I'm afraid it will be difficult to fight."
After hearing this, Zhou Pingkou fell into deep thought.
"Master, shall we fight or not?
Aren’t they just two battalions of Japanese soldiers? Give us one day and we will definitely defeat them.”
After a while, the officers around couldn't help but ask.
Zhou Pingkou didn't say anything. He really wanted to say: One day is too long.
In fact, Zhou Pingkou really didn't want to waste time in these cities.
But if they don't take these places, the threat to their 208th Division will be too great.
At this moment, a staff officer ran in and shouted to Zhou Pingkou: "Commander, the commander-in-chief has an urgent message."
"read."
"Yes.
Zhou Pingkou, you... idiot, why are you so slow?
Speed up for me.
Before the 40th, infiltrate the rear of the Japanese 21th and st Divisions and stab them in the ass.
If you miss the chance to fight, I will not forgive you."
The staff officer who read the telegram was sweating profusely after finishing it.
I thought to myself: Commander, I'm not scolding you, these are the original words of the commander-in-chief.
boom!
Zhou Pingkou threw the baton in his hand, immediately silencing the surrounding officers.
Everyone thought that Zhou Pingkou was angry because of the blame in Ye Qingshan's telegram.
"division……"
The chief of staff next to him was about to speak to comfort him.
"Pass the order."
Zhou Pingkou spoke.
At this moment, Zhou Pingkou lost his usual elegant and calm temperament, his face showed a ferocious look, and he said in a loud voice: "The army should not stop, and do not pay attention to the devils in Yuyao City.
Continuing to march westward, each unit dispersed and marched in regiments and battalions.
Rush west for me.
If you encounter enemy ambushes along the way, ignore them unless you cannot get around them.
They have only one goal, which is to advance westward as fast as possible.
Specifically, each of their regiments must advance to there.
I will inform them one by one via telegram later.”
"This……"
The chief of staff and many national army officers nearby were all shocked when they heard Zhou Pingkou's order.
Really, this order is just... too crazy.
“Commander, if we ignore the Japs in Yuyao City and continue to advance westwards.
Our retreat could be cut off by the devils at any time."
This is simply a desperate strategy.
They marched alone deep into enemy territory, leaving no room for retreat.
Few armies throughout history have dared to fight this kind of battle.
If they had won this battle, their 208th Division might have survived.
If they lost this battle, the rest of the national army would at most be routed, lose their positions, and their defenses would collapse.
But the fate of their 208th Division will be the worst, and it will not be much better than the 209th Division which is surrounded by the Japanese at this time.
"Commander, would you like to ask the commander-in-chief for instructions?"
The chief of staff next to him couldn't help but speak.
"What are you asking for instructions for? Didn't you hear what the commander-in-chief just said in the telegram?
I asked for instructions, do you want to be scolded?
Convey the order.
In this battle, everyone has a way of retreat, except Commander Ye and all the brothers in our 86th Army.
Old Zhang may not be able to hold on any longer.
Otherwise, the commander-in-chief would not have directly cursed in the telegram.
The brothers of the 209th Division have been fighting for us for a long time.
Next, it’s our turn to fight hard.”
Zhou Pingkou sighed.
“Originally, I was still struggling over whether or not to attack Yuyao City.
Now it’s okay, no need to worry about it.”
Their division's advance was actually very fast, but it was obvious that the speed still did not meet Ye Qingshan's requirements.
Soon, Zhou Pingkou's order was passed down.
Although, the officers of the 208th Division all thought that this order was too crazy.
But still no one objected and carried it out silently.
“Fuck it.
Every time, Commander Ye gave our 208th Division very exciting combat missions.
This time, they were going to poke the Japanese in the ass again.
But I like it.”
"They all left, all in a hurry.
Our group will set off in half an hour."
Zheng Quezi knocked the old pipe in his hand against his leather boots, then rolled it up and put it away.
Even Zheng Guizi, who became the regiment commander, did not like to wear neat and straight military uniforms like other Kuomintang regiment commanders.
He was still wearing ragged soldier's clothes, and instead of smoking cigarettes or cigars, he was smoking that black old pipe.
In other words, all the soldiers in the regiment knew that he was the regiment commander.
If other people saw Zheng Quezi, they would just think he was a soldier. How could he be a regimental commander with great military achievements?
Many people have advised Zheng Quezi many times to pay attention to his military appearance.
Unfortunately, Zheng Quezi still went his own way and even mocked those who tried to persuade him:
The more stylish you dress, the faster you will die on the front line.
Not long after, the 208th Division crossed Yuyao City and continued to advance westward.
The Japanese in Yuyao City watched the 208th Division passing by, but did not dare to leave the city to stop them.
The old Japanese soldier Matsui Iwane was short of troops in the rear, so he placed all his troops inside the city for defense.
The Japanese devils in the city dare not leave the city easily.
After all, with only two battalions of Japanese troops, they had to rely on city walls and strong fortifications to defend the city.
Even Zhou Pingkou's 208th Division would take some time to capture it.
But if we fight outside the city, two hours will be enough to kill them all.
*
*
And just when Zhou Pingkou's 208th Division was frantically advancing westward regardless of everything.
In the port of Shanghai, an entire brigade of fully armed Japanese soldiers were boarding a ship.
At sea, a Japanese aircraft carrier fleet was parked there.