Devil's Army

Chapter 1937: Dividing and Encircling the Japanese Reinforcements to Wuhan

Unable to hold out, the soldiers of the regiment began to retreat under alternating cover.

The Japanese army "pursued their victory and recaptured Longquanpu and Tumenya, and continued to advance towards Jinlongshan, Longquansi, and Xiaoyanji."

To the Japanese army's surprise, the Jidong Independent Brigade did not send heavy troops to defend these strongholds and towns that they had already recaptured.

They recaptured these strongholds and towns with little effort, and then launched an attack on the Nanjing government forces' positions across the street.

The government's 26th Army Group, which was already on high alert, put up a fierce resistance.

Fierce fighting broke out between the two sides at the government forces' positions.

To the Japanese army's surprise, the Jidong Independent Brigade did not withdraw from the occupied areas, but instead dispersed and hid in various occupied regions.

While the Japanese army was engaged in fierce fighting with the government's 26th Army Group, the Jidong Independent Brigade began to adjust its deployment to encircle the Japanese troops who had entered various areas.

The first to be attacked were the Japanese troops who were attacking Dangyang.

At the time, they were engaged in fierce fighting with the government's 26th Army Group. Scouts reported that a large number of troops had appeared on both flanks, suspected to be the "Devil Forces".

The Japanese major was greatly surprised when he heard this.

He originally thought the devilish troops had retreated into the territory of the government's 26th Army Group, but he didn't expect them to be hiding all around them.

He urgently ordered the follow-up troops to retreat. However, the Japanese advance was swift, and the rearguard failed to capture and consolidate important strongholds and fortifications.

The Jidong Independent Brigade has launched a full-scale counterattack against the Japanese army from Longquanpu, Tumenya, Jinlongshan, Longquansi, and Xiaoyanji.

It was only then that the Japanese major realized that the "Devil Unit" was designed to have the main government forces on the front hold back their main force, and then to divide and encircle them from the flanks.

He was blinded by his victory over the devilish forces and advanced recklessly. Now, however, he found himself in an extremely dangerous situation.

At this time, the air force of the First Army continuously dive-bombed and strafed to support the battle of the Jidong Independent Brigade and the 26th Group Army of the government forces.

With the support of the First Army Air Force, the 26th Army of the government forces was full of confidence and launched even more fierce attacks against the Japanese army.

To avoid being attacked from both sides by government forces and the devilish troops, the Japanese major made a bold decision.

He left two squadrons behind as a show of force to hinder the government forces' advance. The main force withdrew, preparing to reunite the troops that had been divided and surrounded by the "Devil's Army" and retreat back to Wuhan.

To his surprise, the 26th Army Group of the government forces, which usually dared not confront their main force, launched a fierce attack on the two Japanese squadrons blocking their way, with the strong support of the First Army Air Force.

The two Japanese companies, unable to withstand the fierce onslaught of the government forces, began to retreat.

The major had no choice but to send more soldiers to stop the government forces' advance.

At this time, the Japanese troops in various places, especially the rearguard units, were being divided and surrounded by the Jidong Independent Brigade.

The battle raged fiercely along the line from Dangyang to Longquanpu.

The battle continued into the night, and the Japanese troops in Wuhan only managed to break through the defenses of the Jidong Independent Brigade in Xiaoyanji and join forces with the Japanese troops in Xiaoyanji.

Meanwhile, Japanese troops in other areas were divided and surrounded by the Jidong Independent Brigade, fighting independently.

The government's 26th Army Group also pushed its defensive line to the vicinity of Xiaoyanji.

The Japanese major originally intended to take advantage of the darkness to readjust his deployment, link his troops together, and withdraw to Wuhan.

Unexpectedly, apart from the government forces not launching an attack at night, various local "devil troops" also launched continuous attacks on the Japanese troops in the encirclement at night.