Cross the Songhu battlefield and rise to become the most powerful warlord

Chapter 442: Matsui Iwane's plan to cut off the firewood

442 Matsui Iwane's plan to remove the firewood from under the cauldron

In fact, the straight-line distance from Linhai County to Ninghai County is only a little over 100 miles.

However, if they wanted to take the mountain road, Zhou Pingkou and his team would have to walk more than 200 miles.

On the afternoon of the 209th, the st Regiment of the th Division, which was at the front of the team, was the first to arrive at the border of Ninghai County.

“Finally came out.”

The leader of the First Regiment, Zheng Quezi, was also extremely happy when he saw the mountains disappearing in front of him.

"Commander, Ninghai County is ahead."

The adjutant next to him held a map and said to Zheng Quezi.

"Let the reconnaissance company go over first to scout the way."

As a result, there was only one squadron of Japanese devils in the entire Ninghai County.

The rest are all puppet troops.

This is also consistent with the intelligence sent by the local Military Control Commission agents before Zheng Guizi and his team arrived.

Boom boom!

In the evening, Zheng Quezi's regiment launched an attack directly on the county town.

At this time, the main force of Zhou Pingkou's 208th Division had not yet completely emerged from the mountainous area.

In the early hours of the morning, the Japanese squadron in the county town was completely wiped out by Zheng Cuzi.

The 208th Division entered Ninghai County.

After resting for a night, they seized some food from the Japanese and traitors in the city.

After dawn, Zhou Pingkou and his companions continued their journey northward without stopping, leaving Ninghai County.

This time, Zhou Pingkou and his men killed their way over.

In order to allow more mules and donkeys in the army to carry ammunition and strengthen their combat effectiveness after moving north.

Therefore, the rations they carried could only last for three days.

Zhou Pingkou planned to seize the remaining food from the Japanese along the way and use it to support the war.

Zhou Pingkou's approach is undoubtedly very risky.

But there was nothing he could do.

Zhou Pingkou knew that his 208th Division had to go around the enemy's rear this time.

Next, their entire division will go through a long and brutal battle.

Ammunition is more important than food.

After all, they still have ways to obtain food locally.

However, once they reached the enemy's rear, it was much more difficult to obtain ammunition than food.

As for the airdrop by the aviation team, Zhou Pingkou didn't even dare to think about it.

The main reason is that the aviation transport fleet under Ye Qingshan’s command is only that small in size at this time.

It was very difficult to support the 209th Division on the front line.

Expecting to fly to the rear of the Japanese troops near Hangzhou and airdrop them is undoubtedly a pipe dream.

Do you really think that the Japanese air force in the Suzhou and Hangzhou areas are just there to do nothing?

Therefore, supply is the focus that Zhou Pingkou should focus on next.

For this purpose, Zhou Pingkou even gave orders to Zheng Quezi.

After annihilating the Japanese in Ninghai County, their remaining weapons and equipment were not thrown away.

Instead, they were taken away with the army as subsequent supplements.

Once their American equipment and ammunition were exhausted and they could not get replenished, they could only use the Japanese equipment as an emergency measure.

"This battle must be won quickly and decisively. We cannot drag it out."

Zhou Pingkou also realized what their biggest challenge was in this battle.

If they want to win this battle, the secret is just one word: fast!

On the 208st, the th Division continued to move northward, rushing all the way towards Ningbo.

It was also more than 208 miles of mountain roads. Two days later, on the morning of the rd, the th Division appeared outside Ningbo City.

The commander of a Japanese regiment stationed in Ningbo received news that a large Chinese army had appeared outside the city.

He immediately reported this to the old devil Matsui Iwane who was stationed in Hangzhou.

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Hangzhou, the frontline headquarters of the Japanese invasion of southern Zhejiang

The old Japanese soldier Matsui Iwane looked at the telegram that had just been delivered to him in his hand with an expressionless face, and it was unclear whether he was angry or not.

"Yo, another American-equipped division under Ye Qingshan, the 208th Division, has reached Ningbo.

This speed is really fast.

It took less than a week to cross the five or six hundred miles of rugged mountain roads. "

The old Japanese soldier Matsui Iwane put down the telegram, walked to the topographic map of southern Zhejiang in front of him, and stared at the latest positions of the two armies on the front line and their movement routes marked by the Japanese staff.

At this time, the long moving arrow of the 208th Division in the east was particularly conspicuous.

"Commander, what is Ye Qingshan going to do?

He is on the front line, and another division surrounded by us is in danger.

Instead of dispatching the 208th Division to rescue, he dared to let it advance all the way north and fight to Ningbo.

He wouldn't want the 208th Division to encircle our army from behind and cut off our retreat, right?

Or, are you coming here for our city Hangzhou?

He's...he's crazy."

The Japanese lieutenant general chief of staff next to him stared at the map with wide eyes, somewhat shocked.

"He's just crazy."

Matsui Iwane said in a decisive tone.

“Since the last time I fought him in Jinling, I knew he was a madman.

I originally thought that such a madman would not be able to survive for long in a war.

Failure is inevitable sooner or later.

However, no one expected that Ye Qingshan could create miracles time and time again.

Every time he took a risk, he won in the end.

It is precisely because of this that this person's power has expanded so rapidly in a very short period of time.

It has become a great threat to our empire.

This time, it was even more unexpected that this person would become the commander of China's Third War Zone.

This gives me the opportunity to compete with him again.

Therefore, I planned to have the two infantry regiments of the 39th Division detour to the Dongyang and Yiwu lines.

Cut off the retreat route of his 209th Division.

He originally wanted to eat up his direct disciple and cut off one of his arms.

As a result, this person directly took advantage of the situation.

He used his 209th Division as bait to hold down our main force on the front line.

Then, he sent his 208th Division northward all the way to Ningbo.

Give us a bigger detour.

Ye Qingshan's courage and determination are unmatched by ordinary people.

If things go as expected, Ningbo will be captured by them tonight.

Next, the 208th Division will definitely move westward.

But will they try to copy the retreat route of our front-line troops or head straight for our Hangzhou city?

I am also not certain.

But no matter which result it is, it will be difficult for us to accept it."

Matsui Iwane stared at the map and said solemnly.

"Commander, if the 208th Division attacks us, we won't have the troops in the rear to stop them.

It is too late to transfer troops from North China now.

Besides, I’m afraid the North China Expeditionary Army Headquarters will no longer agree to send us reinforcements.

We have to find a way to stop Ye Qingshan's 208th Division."

The Japanese chief of staff next to him was also scared out of his wits when he looked at the map.

According to their intelligence, the 208th Division that reached Ningbo had about people.

If such an elite force were to reach their rear where their troops are short of manpower, it would be a disaster for them.

However, at this time, the old devil Matsui Iwane was still very calm.

He waved his hand and said, “It’s okay.

Now is the time to test the strategic determination of Ye Qingshan and me.

I have already sent the 39th Division headquarters to stop Ye Qingshan's 208th Division.

As long as we can annihilate Ye Qingshan’s 209th Division on the front line as soon as possible and defeat the Chinese defense line in southern Zhejiang.

At that time, we only need to let the 21st Division in Shengzhou turn around and fight back.

It can directly block the retreat route of the 208th Division.

By then, it won’t be impossible to devour Ye Qingshan’s last direct disciple.”

“Therefore, the focus of this battle lies in whether our army can annihilate Ye Qingshan’s 209th Division as soon as possible.

Commander, I will send a telegram to Naojiro Amatani immediately.

He was ordered to destroy the 209th Division in the encirclement within three days at all costs.

The Japanese chief of staff grasped the key point and said.

"Ok!"

Looking at Matsui Iwane, the old devil nodded slightly.

The Japanese Chief of Staff immediately sent this sternly worded telegram to the commander of the Japanese 40th Division, Naojiro Amaya.

At this time, the commander of the Japanese 40th Division, Naojiro Amaya, was the commander of the front-line siege of the 209th Division.

The Japanese had more than 209 troops surrounding the 76th and th Divisions for a week.

But until now, the 209th Division has not been defeated.

This also made the old Japanese man Matsui Iwane somewhat dissatisfied.

Originally, if the 208th Division had not made this detour and infiltrated their rear to cause trouble.

In fact, the old devil Matsui Iwane will give Naojiro Amatani more time.

He also knew that Ye Qingshan's 209th Division was a tough nut to crack.

In this battle, they lost most of their air force and were unable to carry any heavy artillery.

With only 209 Japanese troops, they wanted to quickly wipe out the 76th Division and the half-crippled th Division with men.

It's indeed a bit reluctant.

But now, Ye Qingshan's move was beyond the expectations of the old devil Matsui Iwane.

Before the war, the Japanese staff officers under him had anticipated various possible responses from Ye Qingshan.

The Japanese did not expect such a crazy combat operation.

"Ye Qingshan, there is no way you can win this battle.

You thought that I was targeting your 209th Division.

Do you think that by letting your 208th Division make a detour and infiltrate my rear, you can force me to retreat?

You still underestimated the Empire's determination to get rid of you this time.

Not only you, your direct troops, but also everything in your base.

This time, the Empire will wipe it out."

The old devil Matsui Iwane muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with a fierce light, like a peerless ferocious tiger.

He was completely different from the calm person he was before.

Then, the old devil Matsui Iwane walked to the phone and said, "Moshimoshi, connect me to the headquarters."

"Matsui-kun.

Your war progress in southern Zhejiang is a bit slow."

Soon, a deep voice came from the other end of the phone.

Immediately, the old devil Matsui Iwane also stood up and said respectfully: "Hey, Your Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, don't be anxious.

Soon, the war in southern Zhejiang will take a turn for the better."

No wonder the old devil Matsui Iwane was so respectful.

It was because the voice on the other end of the phone at this time was General Hisazo Nishio, the commander-in-chief of all troops sent by the Japanese to the country.

And Matsui Iwane was merely the Japanese commander fighting on the front line in southern Zhejiang.

"Yoshi.

So you called me this time because of the matter you reported earlier?"

Nishio Toshizo's voice continued to be heard.

"Hi, Commander-in-Chief, you are wise.

Just for that matter.

I also hope that the Commander-in-Chief can communicate with the Navy Department.

This is a perfect opportunity for us to eliminate Ye Qingshan’s base in Wenzhou.”

The old devil Matsui Iwane said quickly.

"Yoshi, I get it.

You wait for the news."

"Hi!"

After the old devil Matsui Iwane hung up the phone, a look of joy appeared on his face.

"Ye Qingshan, you are trying to play tricks on me, so I will cut off your firepower!"