On the morning of the 16th, the enemy's 16th, 13th, and 11th divisions and the Taiwan Brigade, also known as Chongteng Detachment, launched a fierce attack on our army under the cover of their aircraft, tanks, and artillery.
Our 56th Division and the 34th Independent Brigade suffered heavy casualties, so they retreated to Fushan Town and the Xiaojiaqiao area.
The 399th Brigade of the 133rd Division, which was stationed in Sujiayu and Shajiabang areas east of Kuncheng Lake, was attacked by nearly a thousand people from the enemy's 11th Division. After a fierce battle until noon, the brigade retreated, and the enemy was unable to pursue it.
They forced their way across Kuncheng Lake and landed at Shi'antou and Mocheng Town respectively.
Commander Yang Hanyu of the 133rd Division gathered more than 400 swordsmen to ambush in the reeds on the shore. Taking advantage of the unpreparedness of the landing enemy, he suddenly swung his sword at them from behind. The Japanese officers and soldiers suffered heavy casualties and were completely defeated.
The enemy's second echelon team came to the rescue, but our broadsword team had already gone elsewhere.
At the same time, our army's light and heavy machine guns and mortars fired concentratedly at Mocheng Town, Zhaojiabang, and Shi'antou, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy troops, who then fled back to the east of the lake.
Our 60th Division, which was stationed in Miaoquan Town, Sujia Town, Tianzhutang and Guli Town, was attacked by the advance parties of the enemy's 11th and 13th divisions from the morning of the 16th.
The enemy not only dispatched aircraft to bomb and strafe in turns, but also used more than 30 artillery pieces of various calibers to continuously bombard the enemy. More than ten tanks covered the enemy infantry in attacking in different directions.
In the fierce fighting until noon, more than half of the officers and soldiers of our 60th Division were killed and wounded, and several positions were broken through by the enemy. The situation was very critical.
General Luo Zhuoying was at the headquarters of the 79th Army at this time. After receiving the report, he immediately ordered Xia Chuzhong to personally lead the 98th Division and the 13th Division to come to the rescue, with full support from the 16th Artillery Regiment.
Lieutenant General Xia Chu concentrated all combat defense artillery in Guli Town under the command of Liang Zhongjiang, commander of the 180th Brigade, to focus on dealing with enemy tanks; the 16th Artillery Regiment concentrated its artillery fire to suppress the enemy artillery; the artillery of each division was concentrated to directly support the counterattacks of the 98th and 13th Divisions
force.
After the deployment was completed, at 14:00 that day, relying on the 180th Brigade position in Guli Town, they launched a counterattack against the enemies of Sujia Town and the Catholic Church, and recovered the lost positions in one fell swoop.
As a result, the notorious Chongteng detachment was blocked from the Chapingjia defense line.
Therefore, we are not worried that Changshu will fall during the Dragon Boat Festival. And even if it falls, it will only be seven or eight days later.
As for the battle at Fukuyama, Dragon Boat Festival could also predict the final result.
Even if the Japanese could capture the Fushan position, they would pay a heavy price.
Fushan has been an important military place since ancient times. It is called an important town in northern Wu and a Jianghai fortress.
The old city of Fushan is called Zongbing City. It has three city gates in the east, south and north, and Shuiguan in the west. The city wall is made of brick and stone, and the east gate has a tower.
Although some buildings were damaged after several wars, the dilapidated city walls still serve as a defense.
Therefore, Duanwu is not worried about these two places. What he wants is the life of the enemy's 103rd Brigade.
At the same time, Matsui Iwane finally realized that the fortifications of Changshu and Fushan were solid and not an easy bone to chew.
He stared at the map for a long time and finally found the weak point of the Wu-Fu line, which was Xiejiaqiao.
He then ordered the Japanese 13th Division and 103rd Brigade to form the Yamada Detachment based on the 65th Regiment and attack Xiejiaqiao.
The old Japanese soldier Yamada Kakiji seemed very excited because he finally had the opportunity to take revenge on the Chinese soldiers.
As mentioned before, during the Battle of Songhu, this old Japanese was beaten to tears by the 13th Division. The 65th Regiment was almost completely wiped out.
Therefore, Yamada Kanji was eager for revenge and led his army straight towards Xiejiaqiao.
But although the old fox was eager for revenge, he still sent a small force to Changshan Town to investigate.
Although he had received intelligence that the Chinese troops from Changshan Town had gone to the direction of Fushan, the old devil was still worried about his own ass, fearing that someone would stab him.
So he sent a small team, totaling more than fifty Japanese, to Changshan Town for investigation.
Prepared for the Dragon Boat Festival, all the soldiers were hiding in cellars or attics of high-rise buildings.
More than fifty Japanese soldiers fired randomly, turned over several buildings, and then retreated. They also reported to Yamada Kakiji: Just as the intelligence said, there are no Chinese soldiers left in Changshan Town.
Yamada Kaiji was very happy and ordered an all-out attack to launch a violent bombardment of Xiejiaqiao.
The 103rd Brigade has a mountain artillery brigade, which has four 150mm howitzers, eight 100mm cannons, twelve 75mm mountain guns, and several mortars.
When the Japanese artillery bombarded Xiejiaqiao, the direction of Xiejiaqiao instantly turned into a sea of flames.
Although the 48th Army Special Agent Battalion built defenses in advance, it still suffered heavy casualties. Many soldiers were unable to escape and were hit by artillery shells and died heroically.
When Duanwu saw this scene five kilometers away from Xiejiaqiao, he felt helpless.
The terrain near Xiejiaqiao is open and there is no ambush site at all. Moreover, if an ambush is conducted on a one-to-one basis, it is very likely that the entire 79th Brigade will be annihilated.
In a head-on battle, with the military quality of the 79th Brigade, even if the independent regiment of the Dragon Boat Festival is added, it is simply not enough.
Therefore, firstly, there was no suitable ambush location, and secondly, the strength of the troops was not much different. Dragon Boat Festival could only give up the ambush and switch to a surprise attack.
Raid the Japanese artillery positions and force the Japanese to follow the Dragon Boat Festival combat ideas. And they can use the Japanese mountain artillery to bombard the Japanese of the 103rd Brigade.
And once Dragon Boat Festival's plan succeeds, there should be very few, or even none, of the entire 103rd Brigade.
Of course, if that old devil Yamada Suji has the guts.
"Zhou Dabang, Sun Shiyu, take two of you to take out the little devil's sentry."
Duanwu ordered, because his army could not move at this time, Yamada Zhen and the two old Japanese soldiers were very cautious, fearing that someone would stab him in the butt. In addition to arranging two squadrons of Japanese soldiers to defend the artillery position, they also sent out guard posts.
Be vigilant about two kilometers behind.
Therefore, unless the enemy's warning posts are taken down, the army can only stay five kilometers away from the Xiaojiazi artillery position.
"Tuanzu, shall I go too?"
At this moment, Zhu Shengzhong volunteered.
"Go away, don't come up unless I call you."
Dragon Boat Festival directly scolded Zhu Shengzhong. Because Zhu Shengzhong was so impulsive, once the target was exposed and the Japanese were alert, their previous efforts in this battle would be wasted. Moreover, they would encounter ruthless bombardment by Japanese artillery fire.
That's a 150mm cannon. If it hits a crowd, dozens of people will be gone in an instant.
Therefore, in order to implement this plan smoothly, Dragon Boat Festival does not allow anyone to make mistakes.
Because if something goes wrong, not only will they suffer a fatal blow from Japanese artillery fire, but the sacrifice of the 48th Army's special agent battalion will also become worthless.
Of course, it cannot be said to be worthless. Because it was because of their presence that the Japanese 103rd Brigade stopped at Xiejiaqiao and found it difficult to take a step forward! ...