Devil's Army

Chapter 1880 Japanese Army Counterattack in Hubei 1st Brigade

The speed disadvantage made it difficult for Japanese warplanes to escape the pursuit of the First Army Air Force.

After this major air battle, the elite forces of the Zhejiang Air Force, the Japanese Air Force in Hubei Province, and the Japanese Air Force in Jiangxi Province were all lost.

However, the Japanese troops in Zhejiang and Hubei stubbornly launched an attack on the New Fourth Army's positions, preparing to reinforce Nanchang and Jiujiang.

The Zhejiang East Guerrilla Column of the New Fourth Army in Zhejiang and the Fifth Division of the New Fourth Army in Hubei suffered heavy casualties and were under considerable pressure under the fierce attack of the Japanese army, so they had to request reinforcements from their superiors.

Who knew that their superiors ordered them to retreat, allowing the Japanese army to enter Jiujiang and Nanchang in Jiangxi.

At this time, the First and Second Brigades of the Southern Independent Division had already recaptured Jiujiang County and Nanchang.

During their rest period, the First and Second Brigades constructed defensive lines along the Hubei and Zhejiang directions, ready to await Japanese reinforcements.

After breaking through the defenses of the Fifth Division of the New Fourth Army, the Japanese reinforcements in Hubei split into three routes and advanced at full speed towards Jiujiang County.

The first Japanese army route was prepared to travel from De'an County through Wanjialing to Jiujiang County.

When they first arrived at Wanjialing, they searched cautiously.

Six years ago, the nightmare of their 106th Division being almost completely annihilated haunted the Japanese troops in Hubei once again. They feared that the devilish troops had set up an ambush here.

However, after searching, they found no ambush by the devil's army, so they continued onward.

After the entire vanguard infantry battalion of the Japanese army entered Wanjialing, the 1st and 2nd Regiments of the 1st Brigade, which were deployed along the strategic mountainsides and passes of Wanjialing, simultaneously launched their battle.

The Japanese troops hastily responded. The follow-up Japanese troops outside Wanjialing also bombarded the First Brigade's positions with heavy artillery fire, attempting to support the surrounded infantry battalion.

At this moment, the air force of the First Army also flew over and launched a fierce bombing and strafing attack on the follow-up Japanese troops.

The Japanese follow-up forces suffered heavy casualties in the bombing by the First Army Air Force, but continued their fierce attacks.

They needed to open a path to rescue the surrounded infantry battalion.

Although the 1st Brigade of the Southern Independent Division of the 1st Army dispatched air force reinforcements this time, the Japanese still managed to open a breakthrough under their desperate attack.

Nearly half of the Japanese infantry battalion that was surrounded escaped from Wanjialing through the breach.

In the Battle of Wanjialing in September 1938, the Nanjing government army dispatched 100,000 troops to encircle and annihilate the Japanese 106th Division, thus achieving the brilliant result of almost completely annihilating a Japanese division.

This time, the 1st Brigade of the Southern Independent Division only deployed two understrength regiments to encircle and annihilate a Japanese regiment in Hubei. It was understandable that they couldn't completely wipe them out.

The second Japanese army advances towards Jiujiang County via the Ruichang-De'an Highway.

When the Japanese troops arrived at Wangjianaoshan in Jiujiang County, they encountered fierce resistance from the 3rd Regiment of the 1st Brigade.

The area where Wangjianao is located is characterized by rolling hills and towering peaks, with complex and treacherous terrain.

Moreover, Wangjia'nao itself has a long and narrow terrain, with high mountains on both sides and a narrow passage in the middle, which was a necessary route for the Japanese army to march through.

The Third Regiment ambushed the Japanese troops from the high mountains on both sides, firing down upon them.

The Third Regiment deployed artillery positions on the high ground and launched a fierce bombardment against the attacking Japanese troops.

Furthermore, the First Army Air Force continuously bombed the Japanese forces from the air, preventing them from launching a viable offensive.

Full of confidence, the second Japanese force arrived at Wangjia'nao at noon and began attacking the Third Regiment's position. However, they attacked until evening but failed to break through the Third Regiment's defenses.