At noon on the same day, the Hasegawa detachment and the Takata detachment rushed to the town of Wuhuanchi and Tayingzi respectively, and immediately launched an attack on our defensive line.The Japanese army sent a large number of fighters to help in the battle, and in order to ensure the final victory of the battle, Li Guotao also ordered all the fighters of the aviation division to fully support the southern front.As a result, an air battle of unprecedented scale broke out, and China and Japan successively deployed more than 200 combat planes of various types, and launched fierce battles in the vast sky.The fierce battle lasted until the evening, and the aviation division suffered heavy losses, with 31 fighters shot down one after another, but our heroic pilots of the Eighth Route Army also achieved remarkable results, shooting down 53 Japanese fighters.Most importantly, thanks to the assistance of the Air Force, the fighting on the ground battlefield was favorably supported.The Hasegawa detachment, which attacked the town of Muhuanchi, suffered heavy losses under the stubborn resistance of our armored divisions.On the front line of Tayingzi, the cavalry division was responsible for garrisoning, and Guo Lihui, the commander of the cavalry division, sent two regiments of troops to hold the position and resist the attack of the devils.At the same time, two cavalry regiments were sent to detour back to the two flanks of the Japanese army, and constantly launched attacks from both flanks to contain the main force of the Japanese army.At the same time, the Eighth Route Army Teaching Brigade concentrated all the main forces and launched a general attack on the 21st Division of the Japanese Army trapped in Qinglong Mountain, and the battle lasted until the evening of the same day, and finally completely annihilated the remnants of the 21st Division, and the commander of the 21st Division of the Japanese Army, Lieutenant General Kuichi Tanaka, was killed by our artillery fire in the process of directing the battle.In the headquarters of the seventh column of the Eighth Route Army, at this time the entire headquarters was filled with a sense of excitement, and the commanders and fighters of the headquarters were smiling one by one.The good news at the front is undoubtedly the most morale-boosting.Li Guotao did not dare to relax at this time, because the battle was not over yet, and any accident could happen at any time on the rapidly changing battlefield, so until the last moment, Li Guotao's spirit was always on high alert and did not dare to relax in the slightest.Li Guotao lowered his head and looked at the sand table, and said with a serious face: "Now that our army has eliminated the 21st Division, the Hasegawa Detachment and the Takata Detachment will probably not dare to fight hard with our army anymore after today's battle."
Their only option now is to retreat immediately so as not to be surrounded and annihilated by our army, and I think that the old devil Umezu Mijiro must have realized this.But where to retreat is the crux of the matter. ”Ma Zhenguo nodded and said: "If the Japanese army wants to break through, there are only two directions, either continue to the south and break through to Fuxin in the southwest, or break through to Zhangwu County in the east."
I think after this half-day battle, the little devils have also seen the combat effectiveness of our army, so I estimate that they will definitely not dare to continue to break through to the south, so breaking through in the direction of Zhangwu County has become their only choice. ”Li Guotao nodded, and said with a serious face: "We must take this opportunity to destroy these two little devils and completely solve the battle on the southern front. ”Ma Zhenguo nodded and suggested: "The second motorized infantry brigade of the armored division has rushed to the area south of Wuhuanchi, and now that the main force of the armored division has all gathered near Wuhuanchi Town, you can order the armored division to take the initiative to attack the Hasegawa detachment, and annihilate them in one fell swoop while this little devil has not retreated." ”"Hmm" Li Guotao nodded and said: "Then destroy this Hasegawa detachment first, and order the armored division to launch a full-line attack on the Hasegawa detachment tonight, and strive to annihilate this little devil in one fell swoop."
In addition, the cavalry division was ordered to take the initiative to launch an attack on the Takata detachment in order to prevent it from retreating in the direction of Zhangwu County. ”"Yes" Ma Zhenguo responded respectfully, turned around and went to convey the order.Li Guotao's order quickly reached the division headquarters of the armored division, and after Yang Xuecheng received the order, he immediately ordered the troops to prepare for an attack.At about nine o'clock in the evening, information suddenly came from the front that the Japanese Hasegawa detachment suddenly began to retreat to the east.After Yang Xuecheng received the news, he couldn't help frowning, and said with a serious face: "It seems that this little devil really wants to escape, they retreated to the east, they want to meet with the Gaotian detachment first, and then retreat to Zhangwu together." ”At this time, a staff officer next to him spoke: "Even if they don't have the intention of fleeing to Zhangwu, it is relatively safe for the two little devils to gather together." ”"Hmm" Yang Xuecheng nodded and said, "The little devil wants to huddle together to keep warm, how can it be so easy."
Immediately order all the troops, immediately attack, order the armored group, attack from the right flank, interspersed to the east of the little devils, and intercept the retreat of the devils fleeing eastward.The 1st and 2nd Motorized Infantry Brigade were ordered to launch an all-out attack from the front, and they must defeat the little devils in the shortest possible time, and then encircle and annihilate them in one fell swoop. ”"Yes," several staff officers replied respectfully, and turned around together to deliver the order.At about ten o'clock in the evening, the silence of the night was completely shattered by the loud horn of the charge, and a blinding flare lit up the night sky.The earth-shattering shouts of killing and the dense sound of guns and artillery immediately rang out, and the armored division of the seventh column of the Eighth Route Army concentrated all its main forces and launched a full-scale attack on the Japanese Hasegawa detachment.Originally, Major General Hasegawa had already received an order from Umezu Mijiro and was preparing to retreat eastward, after making peace with the Takada detachment, and then retreat together to Shobu Prefecture.However, the Eighth Route Army suddenly launched an attack, completely disrupting the Japanese offensive.Listening to the constant sound of gunfire in the distance, Major General Hasegawa panicked and hurriedly called Major General Takada, asking Takada's detachment to send troops to respond, and at the same time ordered the troops to break through to the east with all their might.The Hasegawa detachment and the Takata detachment were only about twenty miles apart, and the little devils thought that this distance was very safe at that time, so the two little devils dared to separate, and now it seems that this distance can no longer guarantee the safety of the little devils.Less than 20 minutes into the battle, Major General Hasegawa suddenly received news that the armored cluster of the Eighth Route Army suddenly appeared to the east of the Japanese army, completely cutting off the retreat of the Japanese army.After receiving the news, Major General Hasegawa finally realized that something was wrong, and on the one hand urged the Takata detachment to quickly come to support, and on the other hand, ordered the troops to break through to the east with all their might.aa2705221: