ebookland Chapter 1020 Well done to the 35th Army!
Chapter 1020 Well done to the 35th Army!
Pujiang War Zone Command
"The brothers of the 35th Army really didn't let us down. They performed admirably throughout the entire Pujiang War Zone. Yesterday, nearly a brigade of Japanese soldiers practically went berserk. Despite minimal support, they refused to retreat a single step."
Others did not know how many people were supporting the 35th Army's position, but Li Shaoyi was very clear that after the 103rd Regiment was stopped, two second-line troops passed by, and they were still not fully staffed.
"The 35th Army is truly a role model for our army. When we first arrived at the Pujiang battlefield, I never imagined they would perform this way, so I gave them a less important position. But I didn't expect it to become the main battlefield now. The supporting 72nd Army is also very capable. Without the new weapons and tactics they brought, the 35th Army would definitely not have been able to hold on until now. Today, the new recruits sent by the Military and Political Department arrived, and I would like to provide two regiments of support to the 35th Army."
Chief of Staff Zhang of the War Zone touched his forehead and said.
The Ministry of Military and Political Affairs would send troops from the rear to Pujiang every day. Every time they made the distribution, it was their most headache-inducing time. Each unit said that they had suffered heavy losses and urgently needed support.
They also knew the situation on the front line and knew that the troops that needed support the most had to be put in the front to prevent the front line from collapsing.
"Two regiments probably won't be enough. The Japanese lost three to four thousand men in yesterday's battle. The 35th Army also submitted their casualty report, which shows 3,700 dead and over 1,200 seriously wounded."
When Li Shaoyi told the headquarters about the casualties of the 35th Army, everyone was dumbfounded. According to the previous ratio, if 3,000 Japanese soldiers died, the 35th Army would have been basically wiped out. Unexpectedly, they only suffered more than 1,000 more casualties than the Japanese soldiers.
This was all due to the support of the two units of the 72nd Army, and most of the weapons and equipment regardless of quantity. Otherwise, the battle would never have turned out like this. The staff of the headquarters quickly came to their senses.
"Reporting to the commander, the latest battlefield developments: The Japanese 34th Division landed at Jinshan last night and will support the Japanese 31st Division and continue to attack our 35th Army positions."
Just when everyone was discussing things, the new battlefield operation plan was delivered. I never expected that Japan valued Jinshan so much.
“Are the Japanese planning to make Jinshan the next Luodian?”
Chief of Staff Zhang said with some doubt that looking at the entire map, since advancing from the east is not possible, then it is completely possible to change Jinshan to the next major attack point.
"We don't know their battle plan, but we do know they've added two divisions to Jinshan. So the two divisions we mentioned earlier are a bit ridiculous."
Li Shaoyi's words were recognized by everyone. Although they had no initiative by using static tactics, the 35th Army fought well in their position and all the troops had shown their spirit. If the Japanese chose this place as their main attack position, they would definitely suffer. As long as we equip the 35th Army with enough men and horses, we would not be afraid of the Japanese causing trouble here in the next battle.
"How's the 103rd Regiment?"
Chief of Staff Zhang suddenly remembered the 103rd Regiment of the 72nd Army that was ordered to go and provide support.
"Currently, both sides are still engaged in fierce fighting. The Japanese infantry regiment involved has lost more than half of its troops, and we have lost over 200 men. However, due to the terrain along the way, our troops are unable to break through."
Li Shaoyi knew the reason for the terrain along the way, which was that there were buildings that had been bombed all along the way.
All the Japanese soldiers hid inside, using Molotov cocktails and various tools to prevent our 103rd Regiment from going to support.
"We do have a replacement division today, but even if we give it to the 35th Army, it may not be able to stabilize the battlefield. We will have to draw some troops from the 72nd Army."
Chief of Staff Zhang knew the capabilities of the 35th Army. If it weren't for the help of the two teams of the 72nd Army, don't expect them to be able to fight like this.
Li Shaoyi looked through the aviation report documents. No troops would come tonight, but early tomorrow morning, the 107th and 108th Regiments would get off the plane in Pujiang.
"I've ordered the logistics department tonight to prepare all the weapons and equipment for the 107th and 108th Regiments. Tomorrow morning, after you get off the plane, you and the replacement division will support the 35th Army. Commander He of the 35th Army will still be in command on the battlefield."
Li Shaoyi thought about it and said, this is equivalent to putting all the support troops tomorrow into the 35th Army.
"That's fine. With the Japanese army supporting Jinshanwei, the pressure on other positions has also begun to decrease. If the Japanese really adopt a one-fist offensive strategy, we will have the advantage. The most feared thing is that the entire battlefield will explode."
Chief of Staff Zhang was telling the truth. If the Japanese really concentrate their forces in Jinshanwei or Luodian, then we have nothing to fear. It will be a fight of swords against swords. We should just bring out our most elite troops.
But if, like that day, the Japanese sent three divisions to attack various places in succession, then things would be bad because we don’t have that many elite troops to fight them.
"You think the Japanese army doesn't want to expand on multiple fronts, but on our battlefield, they simply don't have the ability to do so. The three divisions they sent this time have almost all suffered various losses and failed to achieve their intended combat objectives. Considering the convenience of sea transportation, it is estimated that they will have to establish a main position on the 35th Army's position."
Li Shaoyi marked three points on the map. These three points were the three points where the Japanese had planned to disperse their attacks.
While the Pujiang War Zone Command was holding talks, the Japanese Expeditionary Force Command was also discussing this matter.
They also planned to use the 35th Army as the main breakthrough point. They could not keep attacking from the periphery. If they could not break through the position of the 35th Army, then this place would become a Luodian again. It would be a small matter if they could not break in at that time, but the top leaders of the expeditionary force would probably have to take the blame again.
Therefore, when the 35th Army had not yet been fully replenished, the Pujiang Expeditionary Force once again added a division of troops and appointed Lieutenant General Naosaburo Okabe, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Pujiang Expeditionary Force, as the commander-in-chief of the front line.
This guy is considered one of Japan's young and vigorous generation. He has achieved the rank of lieutenant general at a young age.
Before taking office, this guy made several demands to the Pujiang Expeditionary Force, and they had to be met, otherwise he wouldn't go...