webnovelfull Chapter 914: Full Pursuit
Chapter 914: Full Pursuit
On December 20, in a temporarily requisitioned civilian house, Japanese Central China Front Commander Matsui Iwane stood in front of a huge military map, and with a red and blue pencil in his hand, he drew a thick arrow between Wuxi and Nanjing.
"Commander, this is the telegram we just received. The headquarters reports the next operational plan." Chief of Staff Mamoru Iinuma handed over the telegram with hesitation in his tone.
Matsui Iwane did not take the telegram, his eyes were still fixed on the circle marked "Nanjing" on the map.
Outside the window, the winter rain beats on the eaves, as if playing a sad accompaniment to the war.
"In the battle of Xicheng, our army suffered more than 50,000 casualties. The Tenth Army reported that the soldiers were extremely tired and the ammunition supply could not keep up with the speed of advance." Mamoru Iinuma added, trying to remind the commander of the real predicament.
Matsui Iwane turned around, his thin face and deep-set eyes flashing with an undeniable light: "Iinuma-kun, do you know what a 'battle opportunity' is? The Chinese army is currently retreating from Xicheng, with disorder and morale collapsing.
If we wait for approval from those in the Kyoto offices, the enemy will reorganize its defenses in Nanking."
He walked to the table and spread out the order paper: "I have decided not to wait for instructions from headquarters. According to my previous orders, all divisions are required to pursue with all their strength and drive straight to Nanjing."
. . . . . . . . . . .
In the early morning of the 21st, Matsui Iwane held an emergency military meeting.
Division commanders arrived one after another, many of them with fatigue on their faces after the fierce battle.
"Gentlemen, the Xicheng defense line has been breached by our army." Matsui Iwane stood before a map, his baton waving from Wuxi to Nanjing. "The Chinese army is now fleeing westward in panic. We must seize this opportunity and pursue them without giving them any respite."
There was a commotion in the venue.
The Sixth Division Commander, Tani Hisao, was the first to speak, his discontent evident in his words: "Commander, our troops have suffered heavy casualties in Xicheng. The soldiers have been fighting for two weeks straight. Do we need a short rest?"
"Rest?" Matsui Iwane's sharp eyes swept across the room: "Mr. Gu, are you willing to give the enemy time to reorganize their defenses in Nanjing?
Are you willing to let more Japanese soldiers die in the future attack on the heavily fortified Nanking?"
He raised his voice and said, "The pursuit order has been issued. All divisions must continue to advance westward with all their strength.
The 16th Division will advance along the Beijing-Shanghai Railway from the center, the 9th Division will take charge of the southern route, the 13th Division will force a crossing of Taihu Lake to coordinate, and the various units under the 10th Army will encircle the enemy from the north. . . .
The conference room was silent, with only Matsui Iwane's decisive voice echoing.
This arbitrary order, like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, stirred up waves among all levels of the Japanese army.
Discontent is spreading. . .
The 16th Division led by Nakajima Imao was assigned the task of the main attack in the center, heading straight for Nanjing along the Beijing-Shanghai Railway.
On the morning of the 22nd, outside Wuxi, frost covered the fields. Nakajima stood on an armored vehicle, observing the road ahead with a telescope.
"Division Commander, the vanguard has arrived outside Changzhou City, and the Chinese army seems to have the intention to resist." Chief of Staff Colonel Sanzo Nakazawa reported.
Nakajima sneered, "This is nothing more than a desperate struggle. Order the 38th Regiment to attack head-on, and the 20th Regiment to circle south of the city and cut off the retreat."
Outside the city of Changzhou, the vanguard of the Japanese 16th Division exchanged fire with part of the Chinese Army's 87th Division, which was responsible for the rearguard.
Relying on overwhelming artillery advantage, the Japanese army launched a fierce attack on the city.
On the city wall, the Chinese defenders relied on simple fortifications to put up a tenacious resistance, with machine guns spewing flames, blocking the wave of Japanese attacks.
"Artillery squadron, aim at the gap in the city wall and bombard it!" Colonel Shizuji Sukekawa, commander of the 38th Regiment of the Japanese Army, ordered at the top of his lungs.
As the artillery fire covered the area, sections of Changzhou's city walls collapsed, and Japanese soldiers poured into the city like a tide.
The street fighting lasted a whole day, with flames and smoke filling the air in Changzhou.
The Japanese army swept through the city, house by house, and the Chinese defenders retreated, suffering heavy casualties. By evening, Changzhou had changed hands.
"Don't stop, keep chasing!" Nakajima Imao's order spread to all units.
Regardless of fatigue, the Japanese 16th Division rushed westward along the railway line. Their target was Danyang, Zhenjiang, and eventually Nanjing.
During the pursuit, the Japanese army's atrocities were already becoming apparent.
At the same time, the 9th Division led by Yoshizumi Ryosuke took on the task of encircling the southern route, with the goal of moving back from the south of Taihu Lake and cutting off the Chinese army's retreat to southern Anhui.
The 12th Division set out from Pingwang Town on December 21, passing through Huzhou and Changxing and advancing towards Guangde.
The route is mountainous and has few roads, making the march extremely difficult.
"Division Commander, the 6th Infantry Brigade reports that they were ambushed by the Chinese army at the northern foot of Tianmu Mountain." Chief of Staff Colonel Hiroshi Nakagawa reported to Yoshizumi Yoshisuke.
Yoshizumi Ryosuke stood in front of the makeshift command post, gazing at the rolling mountains. “Order the 7th Regiment to contain the enemy from the front, while the 35th Regiment will climb the mountain from the flank to make a detour.
Tell them to break through the defense line at all costs."
At the northern foot of Tianmu Mountain, the vanguard of the Japanese 9th Division was fighting fiercely with part of the 23rd Army of the Chinese Army.
On the mountain road, Japanese soldiers charged upwards under the cover of artillery fire, and the Chinese defenders, relying on the terrain advantage, put up a tenacious resistance. The battle lasted from early morning to afternoon, and the hillside was littered with corpses.
"Report, the 35th Regiment has successfully bypassed the enemy's flank!" The signalman brought the good news.
Yoshizumi Ryosuke showed a satisfied look on his face: "Order an all-out attack. We must break through the defense line before dark."
The Japanese army attacked from both sides, and the Chinese defenders' defense line began to collapse.
The 9th Division took advantage of the situation to break through and advance rapidly towards Guangde.
Yoshizumi Ryosuke stood on the newly occupied Chinese army position, looking at the mountains to the west, and said to the chief of staff: "Commander Matsui's strategy is correct. We must seize Wuhu before the Chinese and cut off their escape route to the west."
The 12th Division advanced at an astonishing speed and arrived at the city of Guangde on December 23.
This small town in southern Anhui was suddenly engulfed in war.
The 13th Division led by Ogisu Rikuhei accepted the most difficult task, forcing a crossing of Taihu Lake and heading straight behind Nanjing.
At dusk on December 23, hundreds of requisitioned civilian boats gathered in the twilight on the east shore of Taihu Lake.
Ogisu Rikuhei personally went to the front line to supervise the preparations for crossing the lake.
"Division Commander, the meteorological department predicts that there will be strong winds on the lake tonight. Should we postpone crossing the lake?" Chief of Staff Colonel Masaaki Nakamura asked worriedly.
Ogisu Rippei shook his head. "The opportunity for battle is fleeting. We must cross the lake tonight as planned. Tell the soldiers that His Majesty the Emperor is watching them!"
Late at night, the wind was strong and the waves were high on Taihu Lake. The vanguard of the Japanese 13th Division headed towards the west bank by boat.
The boats rocked violently in the wind and waves, and many soldiers vomited due to seasickness. To maintain concealment, the Japanese army implemented a blackout, and the entire fleet advanced in the darkness like ghosts.
"Keep quiet! No one is allowed to make a sound!" the officers whispered. The only sounds on the lake were the wind, the waves, and the paddling of oars.
When approaching the west coast, the Chinese defenders discovered the Japanese fleet and gunfire broke out.