Quartermasters can also fight the devils

Chapter 461: The First Battle of Changsha Ends

"Ah, baka, bastard." The division commander, Lieutenant General Inaba Shiro, angrily threw the telescope in his hand to the ground, and the chief of staff, Major General Nozaki Sadatsumi beside him, was also so angry that his face turned red.

The division commander, Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba, and the chief of staff, Major General Sadatsumi Nozaki, were really angry. The only rubber boat was about to reach the shore, but it was hit by a mortar shell from the Chinese army. Wasn't this playing a joke on them?

If we had known this would happen, we would have been better off being sunk by the Chinese army's mortars in the middle of the river. At least in that case, everyone would have thought it through. Now look what has happened. You have given everyone such great hope, and success is just around the corner. Now you do this to me. Who can bear this? This is torture.

The division commander, Lieutenant General Inaba Shiro, even thought that the Chinese army did this on purpose. They must have done this on purpose to piss him off and humiliate him severely. How could the Chinese army do such an insulting thing of playing tricks on their opponents? Is there any mutual respect on the battlefield?

"Your Excellency the Division Commander, the Chinese Army's attack force has now arrived at the south bank of the Xinqiang River. We need to strengthen the defense on the north bank to prevent the Chinese Army from taking advantage of the situation to cross the river and launch an attack on the north bank." After Chief of Staff Major General Sadatsumi Nozaki and Division Commander Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba got angry for a while, they quickly told them the most important thing at the moment.

After the division commander, Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba, vented the anger that had been accumulating in his heart for so long, he felt much better. He had not had a single day of peace of mind since the start of this battle. There was too much pent-up anger. Until just now, the division commander, Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba, took this opportunity to vent his anger.

The division commander, Lieutenant General Inaba Shiro, was now in a much calmer mood. After hearing the reminder from the Chief of Staff, Major General Nozaki Sadatsumi, he took a few deep breaths and said to the Chief of Staff, Major General Nozaki Sadatsumi: "Mr. Nozaki, your reminder is very correct. What we need to pay attention to now is the possible attack that the Chinese army may launch on the north bank."

"Mr. Nozaki, we have already mobilized all the infantry units on the north bank to the front. Now we need to let the few remaining artillery pieces quickly reach the preset artillery positions. As long as our artillery pieces are in place, it will be unlikely for the Chinese army to break through our defense line on the Xinqiang River side." The division commander, Lieutenant General Inaba Shiro, continued to order the chief of staff, Major General Nozaki Sadatsumi.

Chief of Staff Major General Sadatsumi Nozaki also understood that as long as the withdrawn artillery units moved to the preset artillery positions, the Chinese army would not be able to successfully build a pontoon bridge on the Xinqiang River or use boats to cross the river. If the Chinese army dared to launch an attack, the artillery units would surely make sure that the Chinese army's attacking forces would never return, and would completely destroy the Chinese attacking forces in the waters of the Xinqiang River.

However, something happened that made the commander of the Japanese 6th Division, Lieutenant General Inaba Shiro, and Chief of Staff Major General Nozaki Sadatsumi even angrier. The Chinese troops south of the Xinqiang River had no intention of attacking the north bank. This made the two men, who were bent on revenge, feel like they were punching cotton.

We are fully prepared here, just waiting for the Chinese army to attack and inflict heavy casualties on the enemy. All the officers and soldiers are on full alert.

As a result, apart from cleaning up the battlefield on the south bank and confiscating all kinds of abandoned weapons, the Chinese army did not show any preparation to continue fighting. It was almost dark, and the Chinese army did not even fire a shot on the north bank, as if they had no interest in the north bank of the Xinqiang River.

"Sir, division commander, judging from the current performance of the Chinese army, they do not intend to continue advancing to the north bank of the Xinqiang River. Their combat goal this time is to take back all the previously lost territory and restore the front line to its state before the battle." Chief of Staff Major General Sadatsumi Nozaki reported to the division commander Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba with a disappointed look on his face.

After listening to the report from the Chief of Staff, Major General Nozaki Sadatsumi, the division commander, Lieutenant General Inaba Shiro, nodded and said, "Nozaki-kun, you are right. The Chinese army will not continue to attack northward. They do not have enough strength to continue to advance northward. Moreover, the Chinese government's Ninth War Zone has already won this battle. There is no need to continue to take risks northward."

"Your Excellency the division commander is right. Should we send a telegram to report this judgment to Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura, commander of the 11th Army?" Chief of Staff Major General Sadatsumi Nozaki continued to ask the division commander Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba for instructions.

"Well, we can send a telegram to Commander Okamura Yasuji, reporting that the Chinese army has stopped advancing on the Xinqiang River line, and request the 11th Army Command to replenish the retreating offensive forces." The division commander, Lieutenant General Inaba Shiro, nodded and agreed to the proposal of the chief of staff, Major General Nozaki Sadatsumi.

This time, the casualties of officers and soldiers of the Sixth Division and various attacking forces were also very serious, and the loss of heavy weapons was even more shocking. Now that the Chinese army has made it clear that it will not continue to attack northward, the issue of replenishment of various troops needs to be put on the agenda as soon as possible.

After all, who knows when the Chinese army on the opposite side will organize its troops and launch an attack on the north bank of the Xinqiang River? The sooner the troops are replenished, the more helpful it will be for subsequent operations. As for the replenishment of heavy weapons, this depends on when some equipment can be transported from the mainland to make up for the losses in this battle. This is not something that the 11th Army can fully decide.

At the headquarters of the Japanese 11th Army, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto handed the telegram he had just received from Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba, commander of the 6th Division, to Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura, the commander sitting behind his desk.

"Your Excellency the Commander, Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba, the commander of the 6th Division, sent a telegram saying that after occupying the positions on the south bank of the Xinqiang River, the Chinese army did not continue to launch a river crossing attack. Judging from the current movements of the Chinese army, the ultimate goal of this operation is to restore the front line to the actual control area of ​​both sides before the battle. At the same time, the division commander Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba hopes that the headquarters will replenish the various attacking troops as soon as possible and prepare in advance for subsequent operations." Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadakazu Yoshimoto carefully reported the contents of the telegram to Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura.

"Mr. Yoshimoto, what are the losses of our attacking troops this time? Have you calculated the statistics?" After reading the telegram, Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura put it on his desk and asked Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto about the troop losses that he was concerned about.