mesbooks Chapter 286 The time has come to test the 36th Division
Chapter 286 The time has come to test the 36th Division
286 It's time to test the 36th Division
After daybreak, Ye Qingshan continued to receive intelligence from the front line at the new command post in the east of the city.
Looking at the map, the combat staff kept marking the movements of the Kuomintang reinforcements and the various Japanese troops.
All the red and blue arrows pointed to Purple Mountain.
To be precise, it was pointing to the southwest of Zijin Mountain, at the 36th Division which was trapped near Qianhu Lake.
“Chief of Staff, I just received a report from the reconnaissance team.
The Japanese 6th Division and the 18th Division both sent their troops to the Qianhu direction.
If the reinforcements from these two divisions of the Japanese enemy arrived, the 36th Division would be completely blocked on the south side of Qianhu Lake. "
A colonel staff officer said worriedly.
"What's the situation with the 66th Army?"
Ye Qingshan asked expressionlessly.
“The 66th Army and the 88th Division are still attacking Guanghua Gate.
The 36th Brigade of the Japanese th Division defending Guanghua Gate put up an extremely tenacious resistance this time.
Not only has Guanghua Gate not been taken back yet.
Even the several gaps in the nearby city walls that were blown open were firmly guarded by the Japanese.
It seems that the old devil Tani Hisao knew that we were going to rescue the 36th Division.
Therefore, I will not give up Guanghuamen easily this time."
Ye Qingshan continued to stare at the map. After a moment, he said coldly, "It's too late."
"Chief of Staff, what's too late?"
“The 66th Army is too late.
Even if it is, let them take back Guanghua Gate now.
They also had no time to rescue the 36th Division in Qianhu.
At most three hours later, the troops sent by the Japanese 6th and 18th Divisions.
It will be able to block the 36th Division’s retreat.
By then, the Japanese will be able to completely encircle the 36th Division.
Now, the only one who can support the 36th Division the fastest.
There are only the Training Corps and the First Militia Division on Purple Mountain."
“However, the teaching corps has already suffered heavy casualties and there are not many people left.
Even with the addition of Zhou Xinghai's militia division, it would be good enough for them to hold Purple Mountain.
Then let them send their troops down the mountain to rescue the 36th Division.
What if the Japanese 16th Division took the opportunity to launch a fierce attack on Purple Mountain after daybreak?
Then Zijin Mountain would be in danger."
Ye Qingshan certainly knew this. He was also anxious at the moment and paced back and forth.
After a moment, he said to the staff officer next to him: "Send a telegram to Zhou Xinghai's First Militia Division.
Let them send a main regiment to the main position to assist the teaching corps in defending the main position of Zijin Mountain.
If the Japanese continue to attack Zijin Mountain after dawn.
They had to hold their ground no matter what.
Not only that, they sent troops down the mountain to support the 36th Division at all costs.
Destroy the 36nd Regiment of the Japanese 11th Division that stopped the 22th Division. "
At this time, Ye Qingshan had already figured out that it was the Japanese army that had stopped Song Xilian's 36th Division last night.
The 11nd Brigade, which was suddenly transferred from the south of the city by the Japanese 22th Division, arrived too suddenly.
The National Army did not receive any news in advance.
This led to a night encounter with the 36th Division.
Ye Qingshan learned the news at dawn.
They realized that the old Japanese soldier Matsui Iwane had begun to transfer troops from other Japanese divisions in the surrounding areas to support the battle in Zijin Mountain.
This shows that the old Japanese soldier Matsui Iwane was more eager to capture Zijin Mountain.
They would not hesitate to weaken the Japanese troops' strength in other directions of Jinling City and strengthen them in Zijin Mountain.
But the more this happened, the more Ye Qingshan couldn't let the Japanese take over Zijin Mountain.
Therefore, Ye Qingshan was also mobilizing troops, transferring several national army troops that were originally on guard in the south and northwest of the city to the east of the city.
Now, several Japanese divisions in other directions were reluctant to enter the city and engage in street fighting with the National Army.
The battle situation is constantly changing.
Ye Qingshan could only improvise and change his previous fighting style.
“Also, send a message to Song Xilian’s 36th Division.
Tell them that reinforcements have come down from Zijin Mountain to support them.
Let them now, except to send a small number of troops.
To stop the reinforcements coming, they are the 6th and 18th divisions of the Japanese.
Their main force, attack with all your might in the direction of Purple Mountain.
Defeat the Japanese 22nd Brigade that is blocking them, and join forces with the reinforcements coming down from Purple Mountain.
Then we went up the mountain together.
This is currently their only best way out.
Absolutely no retreat is allowed.
If they retreated at this time, the Japanese 22nd Brigade would definitely hold on to them.
They had no chance to escape.
It will also give the Japanese 6th and 18th Division reinforcements coming from behind an opportunity to block their retreat.
At that time, there was really no way to save the situation.”
Ye Qingshan asked someone to send a telegram to Song Xilian of the 36th Division, reminding them not to retreat.
At this time, Ye Qingshan was most afraid of Song Xilian's 36th Division, and was worried that he would be surrounded.
So choose to retreat.
At this point, if the 36th Division retreated, it would be in a desperate situation.
And if the 36th Division was annihilated by the Japanese at the foot of Purple Mountain, it would not only be a desperate situation for the 36th Division.
By then, the Teaching Corps and Zhou Xinghai's 1st Militia Division on Purple Mountain will be in dire straits.
By then, they will most likely lose Purple Mountain.
This would be a very bad start.
Ye Qingshan couldn't accept it.
On the contrary, the only way for the 36th Division to survive at this time was to attack.
They defeated the Japanese 22nd Brigade that was blocking their way and attacked Purple Mountain.
Shake off the reinforcements from the Japanese 6th and 18th Divisions that were surrounding them from behind.
This chess game can be played alive.
But this requires Song Xilian's 36th Division to fight this battle with the determination to die.
Choose the path Ye Qingshan pointed out to them.
If they fail to defeat the Japanese 22nd Brigade before the two Japanese reinforcements arrive, then it will be their 36th Division that will be completely wiped out.
This will be a huge test for Song Xilian and other generals of the 36th Division.
The time has come to test Song Xilian and the 36th Division!
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Not long after, Song Xilian received a new telegram from Ye Qingshan at the command post in Qianhu.
"Commander-in-Chief, new orders from the headquarters.
They actually asked us to continue the attack and required us to defeat the 11nd Brigade of the 22th Division of the Japanese in front of us.
Meet up with the reinforcements coming down from Purple Mountain and continue on to Purple Mountain."
Zhong Bin, deputy commander of the 36th Division, came over and said to Song Xilian.
There was obvious dissatisfaction in his tone.
"What is the headquarters thinking, asking us to defeat the Japanese 22nd Brigade head-on?
They really think highly of our 36th Division."
The Chief of Staff Xiang Xianju also came over and said unhappily.
Indeed, the combat effectiveness of a brigade of the Japanese devils is definitely stronger than that of the 36th Division.
Even though the 36th Division was one of the three German-equipped ace divisions of the National Army, it was absolutely a pipe dream to want to defeat a Japanese brigade head-on.
The Japanese 11th Division is a genuine Type A division, with nearly 30,000 troops when fully staffed.
At its peak, the 22nd Brigade had a strength of men.
Even at its peak, the National Army's German-equipped division was able to tie with such a brigade, which was already quite impressive.
Song Xilian didn't even dare to think about defeating the enemy head-on.