This cold snap is naturally extremely beneficial to the attackers. Xiushui and Panyang Lake water systems, these "natural dangers" that originally hindered the 11th Army's offensive pace, are now covered with thick ice, and will become a problem for at least a period of time. smooth road,
The 33rd Division was wiped out at Lions Gate. This was naturally a huge blow to Okamura Neiji. His battle report was only sent back to the Tokyo base camp. The next moment, a severe reprimand from the military came. Okamura Neji, the three-feathered bird who was highly appreciated by the emperor, was criticized for the first time and was given a serious warning. If he was delayed in the upcoming Fujian-Vietnam strategy, not only would his position as commander of the 11th Army in active service be in doubt, but he would also be in danger of losing his position. And he will bear corresponding criminal responsibility and be taken back to the country for trial.
Okamura Neiji was also good at memorizing it. After taking over as the commander of the 11th Army, due to repeated collisions with the Xuebing Army, although in the Battle of Madang, he finally captured Madang and also won the Battle of Wuhan, However, because his troops suffered too many losses, he could only keep his position as commander of the 11th Army. However, according to the historical process, after winning the Wuhan Battle, he would be transferred to North China. In charge of military and political work in North China,
The reason why Okamura was believed by the Japanese to be a famous general in that time and space was because of his performance in North China. But now that he has lost this opportunity, his title of "famous general" is far away.
To be honest, the collapse of the 33rd Division actually had little to do with Okamura. After Okamura received the order from the military headquarters, he immediately evacuated the Nanchang area to avoid continuing to tangle with Xue Yue's tribe. However, Gan Can However, Jutaro insisted on going his own way and continued to stay in the Gaoan area. Therefore, the Xuebing Army seized the opportunity and beat him up.
The annihilation of the 33rd Division naturally aroused Okamura's vigilance. Although the 33rd Division was a Category B division, it still had nearly 17,000 people. Naoki Araki was ambushed and was annihilated. How large of a force would the Xuebing Army have to dispatch? Moreover, when did the Xuebing Army enter Jiangxi?
Okamura was doing analysis with reference to the map in the house. Yoshimoto Sadji came in from the outside. He looked excited and said: "Your Excellency, the snow has stopped. Just now, I took people to test the thickness of the ice surface. It is enough to pass the battle." car."
The 17th Division was severely damaged by Yu Jishi's troops in Madang, and almost the entire army was destroyed. After reorganization, its tank troops were expanded to the brigade level. It was precisely because of the existence of the 17th Tank Brigade that Yokoyama Yongcai led With the 17th Division fighting invincible throughout Jiangxi, and now, this division and the 12th Tank Regiment of the 11th Division have become Okamura Neiji's trump card unit when he wants to severely defeat the Gakuin Army. After receiving the report from Gan Can and learning that the Xuebing Army had a tank unit joining, they paid more and more attention to these two tank units and not only forcibly transferred the command of the 17th Tank Brigade and the 12th Tank Regiment to The headquarters was taken back, and a regiment was specially designated for protection.
Okamura looked away from the map and looked at Yoshimoto. After a few seconds, he asked: "Have Yamada and the others come back?"
Yamada was the commander of the reconnaissance force sent by Okamura to reconnoiter the situation on the south bank. Upon hearing this, Yoshimoto's excited expression froze and said, "I haven't come back yet."
Okamura's face became serious and he said coldly: "We don't even know the Chinese defense situation on the south bank now. If we attack rashly, we are afraid that we will fall into the Chinese trap. You should go to Yokoyama Isamu in person immediately and tell him He, without my order, is not allowed to send any troops above the brigade across the river. Please give a copy of this order to Nakajima, Yamamuro and Yamada. In addition, contact Tokugawa Yoshitoshi immediately and ask him to dispatch enough We need to use as many reconnaissance planes as possible to find out the distribution of enemy forces on the other side first."
"Hai."
However, it snowed for one day, and on the 27th, the Japanese army frequently dispatched scouts to scout the enemy situation on the south bank. Zhang Tianquan and Arthur did their part to send out scouts to fight back. The scouts from both sides immediately launched infiltration and counter-infiltration operations in the long snow. After two days of fierce fighting, the Japanese army lost about a squadron of scouts, but failed to obtain any valuable intelligence. This made Okamura furious. In a rage, he dispatched the captain of the military police brigade directly under the headquarters. Yamada Huangjiro personally presided over this work, but now it seems that Yamada has also folded on the south bank.
At around three o'clock in the afternoon, a reconnaissance plane of the Japanese First Air Corps appeared over Nanchang.
Ouyang Yun pointed at the reconnaissance aircraft, Fleet Connor, and said, "Did you see it? It's a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft."
Connor: "They just dispatched reconnaissance planes. Next, they may not launch an attack."
"Connor, I still said the same thing, do you dare to make a bet with me?"
"No, you have more information than me, so you can naturally make a more accurate judgment than me."
"Forget it," Ouyang Yun smiled and did not force him anymore, but in his heart, he was a little worried: Okamura is a cautious person, he will not really just station troops on the north bank,
Reconnaissance planes flew over Nanchang one after another. Some continued to fly south, some turned east and west, and some flew around Nanchang for a long time before turning back. Seeing this scene, Ouyang Yun felt more and more sad in his heart. I am certain that this is the prelude for Okamura to launch an attack.
On the 31st, at about five o'clock in the morning, on the north bank of Xiushui, one thousand meters east of the Yongxing Township Government opposite Yongxiu County, in the dark night, a beam of light turned on and then quickly went out for a few seconds. After that, a rapid "rustling" sound started, and the "rustling" sound went all the way south, and then became quieter and quieter. Suddenly, a "snap" sound came, and then a Japanese curse: "Eight grids, all..." He said to watch your step, get up and keep up."
At the same time, on the south bank, almost facing the Xiushui bank where the light was shining, a group of shadowy heads flashed, and a voice among them sounded softly: "There is light, everything is there, prepare to fight, Xiao Haonan, flares Get ready."
"yes."
After detecting the deployment of the cadet army near Yongxiu County through a reconnaissance plane, Okamura Neji held a meeting overnight to formulate a raid plan for this morning.
In the plan, the 106th Division will first dispatch a brigade to sneak attack Yongxiu County to attract the attention of the defenders on the south bank, and then storm the main defenders' position in Nanjin Kiln from directly opposite. At the same time, dispatch a regiment from Yongxing Township. Cross the river at Sanfang Village in the north and land at Qililing. If there is no Xuebing Army guarding there, then go south to Yaquehu Village across the Lian River from Nanjin Kiln, then go around to the back of Nanjin Kiln, and attack from the north and south. Nanjin kiln,
At the same time, the 11th Division will cross Panyang Lake and attack Xiangshan. As for the 112th Division, it will go directly south to attack Yugan in preparation to outflank Nanchang and completely cut off the Xuebing Army's southward retreat.
"Gentlemen, if you can avoid this shame, I will ask you to work hard tomorrow morning." Finally, Okamura said,
Yoshimoto, Yokoyama Isamu, Nakajima Keimura, Suzuki Harumatsu and others all said "Hai" in unison. Everyone was full of confidence in winning the next day's battle.