Devil's Army

Chapter 1938 Southward March: The First Front Army Launches Full-Scale War

To the despair of the Japanese major, the 26th Army of the government forces on the front line, seeing that the Jidong Independent Brigade was launching continuous attacks against them at night, also arranged for troops to launch an attack against them.

Relying on its superior strength, the government's 26th Army Group allowed its various units to take turns resting and launching attacks on the Japanese forces in front of them.

The Japanese major had no choice but to deploy a large force to continue resisting the fierce attack of the government's 26th Army Group.

However, this would leave him with even fewer troops to break through the encirclement of the devilish forces and connect the various fragmented Japanese units.

The battle continued into the morning of the next day. The exhausted Japanese troops not only had to deal with the attacks from government forces and the "Devil Forces," but also with air raids from the "Devil Forces'" air force.

As the battle continued, the situation became increasingly unfavorable for the Japanese army.

During a lull in the First Army Air Forces' air raids, the major ordered the artillery to bombard the government forces' defense zones.

The bombardment lasted for nearly 20 minutes, during which the Japanese artillery extended its fire.

At this point, the major concentrated his superior infantry and began a fierce attack on the government forces' defense zone.

The Nanjing government forces were suddenly met with a fierce counterattack from the Japanese army and were unable to withstand it, so they withdrew to their original defense zone.

The Japanese major left behind two infantry companies, which launched a feint attack towards the government forces.

Fearing that the Japanese army would break through their defenses, the government forces stopped launching offensive attacks and instead held their existing positions.

The Japanese army quickly concentrated its forces and broke through the encirclement and suppression by the Jidong Independent Brigade.

After half a day of fierce fighting, the Japanese army broke through the defense line of Longquansi and Jinlongshan of the Jidong Independent Brigade.

The three Japanese troops merged into one and continued their attack on Tumenya in Longquanpu.

While stubbornly resisting the Japanese army's attack, the Jidong Independent Brigade intensified its efforts to encircle and annihilate the Japanese troops in the Tumenya encirclement.

At this time, the air force of the First Army returned to base, and the Nanjing government army retreated back to its defense zone to prevent the Japanese army from breaking through their defense line.

The Jidong Independent Brigade faced considerable pressure as it held off Japanese reinforcements from Wuhan on its own.

Under the cover of darkness, the Japanese troops launched a full-scale breakout. Some Japanese troops finally broke through the encirclement of the Jidong Independent Brigade and withdrew to Wuhan.

After this major encirclement and suppression campaign by the Nanjing government forces and the Jidong Independent Brigade, the Japanese reinforcements in Wuhan were severely weakened and retreated back to Wuhan, no longer launching an attack on the Jidong Independent Brigade.

Meanwhile, the other Japanese forces also made little progress.

Shishou was an important city that the Japanese army captured from the government forces during the Battle of Western Hubei in May of this year.

After approaching Huarong and Shishou, the First Army and the First Brigade launched a surprise attack on the Japanese troops in Huarong and Shishou.

The Japanese troops were not used to the 1st Brigade's fast, fierce, and ruthless fighting style, and the 1st Brigade quickly broke through the Huarong and Shishou defense lines.

During the fierce battle between the First Brigade and the Japanese army, the brigade commander informed the commander of the 73rd Army of the government forces, who was confronting Shishou and Huarong, of the battle situation in Shishou and Huarong, and requested the government forces to send troops to assist in the battle.

The commander of the 73rd Army was worried that if his troops launched an attack without authorization, the Japanese army would take advantage of the situation and he would lose the defense zone, so he did not agree.

A brigade commander told him:

"The Japanese army is currently in a passive defensive position, making it difficult to launch a surprise attack on their defense zone."

He has now received intelligence that the Japanese troops in Hankou are rushing to reinforce Huarong in Shishou. Their forces are insufficient.

If the government forces engage the Japanese troops head-on, they will flank and eliminate the Japanese reinforcements in Hankou. In that case, the recaptured Shishou and Huarong will be handed over to the government forces for garrisoning.

This is something that is entirely beneficial and without any drawbacks.

The loss of Shishou and Huarong has always been a thorn in their side.

The army commander said with righteous indignation:

"Resisting the Japanese invaders is not only the responsibility of your First Anti-Japanese Army, but also the responsibility of our 73rd Army. We will not shirk our duty."