PFC Chapter 141 What main force? That was just a small unit of the enemy army.
Chapter 141 What main force? That was just a small unit of the enemy army.
The various units coordinated their attacks, supported by artillery fire from the rear. Despite being only 3,000 men, they were able to suppress the Japanese Setani Detachment, which numbered over 10,000.
Kei Seya dared not make any rash moves and ordered all units to hold their positions, while deploying all available firepower for anti-tank warfare to the front.
The battle began around 4 a.m.
As Yasuoka Masaomi looked at the increasing number of destroyed tanks and the crumbling defensive lines in front and even behind, he knew that his troops would not be able to hold out for long before the enemy broke through the lines.
All their previous pride and arrogance were shattered by the terrifying fighting power of the Third Detachment.
At this point, he had to admit that the third team was extremely formidable.
He even began to admire Kei Seya for how he managed to escape from such an enemy and only lose a regiment of soldiers.
Higashino Akachi inquired:
"Brigade Commander, haven't Seya Kei's reinforcements arrived yet? It's been more than two hours. They should have crawled here by now, even if they had to."
He was getting agitated, after all, the troops at the front seemed to be collapsing, and each tank company had suffered heavy losses.
Although the enemy also destroyed a number of tanks, the sheer number of enemy tanks was overwhelming.
The total number is at least several times that of them.
Even if the enemy trades three armored vehicles for one of their tanks, it would be perfectly acceptable to the enemy.
"Make a call, call Rensuke Isogai immediately."
"That bastard Kei Seya, is he going to settle a personal score? I underestimated him before, but he can't possibly withhold our support because of some personal grudge."
Yasuoka Masaomi could only think of one possibility.
The phone to the 10th Division headquarters was quickly connected.
At this time, the main force of the 10th Division was seizing the time to launch a fierce attack on the western district and had made some progress.
The soldiers of the 31st Division stationed in the western district were doing their best.
However, their firepower was far inferior to that of the Japanese army.
Despite their valiant efforts, they were unable to hold the city walls and had to retreat into the city to engage in another brutal street battle with the Japanese army.
Fortunately, the soldiers of the 31st Division were quite adept at street fighting in the dark, and managed to hold off the Japanese offensive.
Upon hearing Masaomi Yasuoka's voice on the phone, Rensuke Isogai said:
"I sent a telegram to Kei Seya two hours ago."
But he had previously reported to me that we had been attacked by enemy forces.
Angang Zhengchen was taken aback, thinking that the main force of the Northwest Army was either tied up in the Hanzhuang area or in the city of Taierzhuang.
Li Jianghe's troops are fighting against themselves, but who is Seya Kei fighting? Where did the enemy troops come from?
He suspected this was a pretext from Isogai Rensuke, and hurriedly said:
"Commander Isogai, which enemy unit attacked Seya Kei's detachment? It couldn't have been the 59th Army coming from the Linyi direction, could it?"
"No, it's also enemy armored forces, Li Jianghe's team, and quite a few of them. He said it's very likely the main force of the enemy's armored forces."
This is what Rensuke Isogai said.
He had no intention of deceiving Yasuoka Masaomi, and secretly thought that if the enemy's main force attacked the Seya Detachment, then the force attacking the 1st Mixed Brigade might not be the enemy's main force.
But now, judging from what Yasuoka Masaomi said, things seem to be going wrong.
"How could that be? The enemy's armored vehicles are constantly being engaged in combat with us. This is the enemy's main force. The force attacking Seya Kei is at most a small part of the enemy's forces, just to scare Seya Kei."
"I am quite certain," said Masaomi Yasuoka.
These words left Isogai Rensuke somewhat confused.
He decided to confirm with Kei Seya again.
On the other hand, Kei Seya had already repelled the first wave of attacks by Wang Dayong's troops and destroyed more than twenty armored personnel carriers.
This greatly excited Kei Seya, as it was the first time he had repelled an attack by enemy armored forces head-on.
"It seems that as long as we are well prepared, Li Jianghe's armored forces are nothing special."
Chief of Staff Suzuki Kitano laughed heartily, his face as long as a shoehorn.
Kei Seya then drew the samurai sword bestowed upon him by the Emperor once more, and chuckled as he said:
"Yes, our Imperial Japanese Army is ultimately a battle-hardened elite force. As long as we adapt to the enemy's armored tactics in one battle, we can achieve victory over the enemy in the next engagement."
He thought it was because of his skillful command.
Actually, it was because Wang Dayong's side received orders that the attack on the First Mixed Brigade was nearing its end, allowing them to relax their attack on the Setani Detachment.
Once the subsequent Setani Detachment begins to arrive as reinforcements, they will launch attacks along the way to delay their arrival.
If Seya Kei is truly terrified and lacks the courage to provide further support, then Wang Dayong's troops can choose to remain inactive.
Just then, the phone rang; it was Rensuke Isogai calling.
After the call connected, Kei Seya couldn't wait to show off.
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, we have successfully repelled the attack of Li Jianghe's armored forces and achieved considerable success."
Upon hearing this, Isogai Rensuke realized that Yasuoka Masaomi was right; the attack on Seya Kei was indeed just a feint.
"You must immediately assemble your troops and support the 1st Mixed Brigade. Attacking your enemy armored units is merely a feint; their true objective is to prevent you from deploying to support the 1st Mixed Brigade! That's where the enemy's main force is!!!"
Rensuke Isogai's roar, even through the phone receiver, seemed to make Kei Seya's ears ring.
"this·····"
He was somewhat confused, but still chose to resolutely carry out the order.
After hanging up the phone, he said to Kitano Suzuki who was standing next to him:
"Assemble troops and support the 1st Mixed Brigade."
On Yasuoka Masaomi's side, he received assurances from Isogai Rensuke that Seya Kei had already assembled his troops and set off, and would arrive in a maximum of an hour and a half.
He breathed a slight sigh of relief, but then heard hurried footsteps coming from outside.
Chief of Staff Higashino Akichi had already stumbled into the command post.
"Reporting to the brigade commander, the rear defense line has been breached by the enemy, and the main force of the enemy's armored units is charging towards our command post!!!"
"What? Where's the tank squadron? Where's our tank squadron deployed in the rear?"
"I asked, Masaomi Yasuoka."
In less than twenty minutes, the defensive line collapsed so quickly?
"We were held up by the enemy, who had an absolute advantage in both the number of tanks and the number of troops."
"Once our tank units are tied down, it's very difficult for our infantry to stop the enemy's tank assault."