BSI Chapter 246 Hu Zongnan's Retreat in the Face of Battle
Chapter 246 Hu Zongnan's Retreat in the Face of Battle
The army commander personally went to the front line, wanting to fight alongside them to the death. This scene instantly ignited the passion of all the soldiers.
The Nationalist soldiers on the city wall erupted in thunderous cheers, their previously wavering morale instantly soaring.
"The city stands as long as the people live! The city falls when the people die!!!"
The brothers of the guard regiment shouted in unison, their voices soaring into the sky and drowning out the sound of Japanese artillery fire outside the city.
The Gushi defense line, which was originally on the verge of collapse, finally managed to stabilize itself at this moment.
The Fifth War Zone Command, located dozens of kilometers away, also received an urgent telegram about the attack on Gushi immediately.
Commander Li rushed to the map, looked at the location of Gushi, and instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
He finally realized that the large-scale frontal attack launched by the 13th Division and the Imperial Guard Division during the day was nothing but a smokescreen.
Their real purpose was to draw the Nationalist army's full attention and secretly send elite troops to cross the Shi River.
The objective is to defend the undefended town of Gushi!
Commander Li's fingers clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Gushi was the only retreat route for the Nationalist army on the west bank, and also the army's supply and ammunition storage base.
Once Gushi falls, the hundreds of thousands of troops on the east bank will not only have their retreat route completely cut off.
Even the supply of ammunition and food will be completely cut off, plunging them into a desperate situation of running out of ammunition and food.
After all, the National Revolutionary Army did not have the same strong logistical support capabilities as the Japanese Army.
Once this stockpiled supplies are exhausted, it will be impossible to replenish them in the short term.
The atmosphere in the office instantly plummeted to freezing point.
Everyone knew that the decisive battle surrounding the two banks of the Shi River had reached its most dangerous moment.
One wrong step can lead to total defeat and utter ruin.
Commander Bai leaned over, staring at the map, his brows furrowed.
"The most urgent task is to rush to the aid of Gushi County as soon as possible. If we lose here, our entire rear will be cut off."
Commander Li nodded heavily, slamming his hand on the table so hard that the teacup jumped.
"Dispatch Chi Fengcheng's 31st Division and immediately return to reinforce! The rest of the main force will launch a full-scale offensive tonight, fiercely attacking the Japanese 6th and 10th Divisions!"
"Launching a general offensive?" Commander Bai looked up abruptly, his face full of astonishment. "Gushi is in grave danger now. Our flank has been exposed. Launching a general offensive at this time would be too risky."
In his view, the most important thing to do at this moment is to consolidate forces and protect Gushi as a lifeline, rather than sending the main force to fight head-on.
Moreover, the troops on the east bank were at risk of having their retreat cut off by the Japanese army at any moment, and were now at a critical juncture of life and death.
Commander Li's gaze was sharp, and his tone remained unwavering.
"I know what you're worried about, but we have no choice. If the main force withdraws, the Third Column will be isolated, which is exactly what the Japanese want."
He jabbed his finger heavily on the map, his voice low and cold.
"The Japanese army wants to force us to retreat to the west bank, and then concentrate their forces to swallow up Lijianghe. I absolutely cannot let this happen."
The survival of the Third Column was crucial to the entire war situation in northern Anhui; there was no room for retreat.
"Alright, I understand. I'll go relay the order right away." Commander Bai no longer hesitated, but he was still worried. "But what about the Central Army..."
"Never mind that, just execute the order!"
Commander Li was resolute and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
Meanwhile, Hu Zongnan's command post was brightly lit all night.
He was neither deaf nor blind; the sudden explosion of artillery fire from the direction of Gushi made his heart sink.
The Japanese outflanking force took advantage of the vulnerability in their rear and launched a surprise attack.
Hu Zongnan's expression was solemn. He paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, without making any moves.
He first sent an urgent telegram to the Wuhan headquarters, truthfully reporting the battlefield situation and awaiting orders from the supreme commander.
The atmosphere inside the Wuhan military camp was extremely oppressive.
The principal stood in front of the map, his face terribly grim.
The thing I feared most has finally happened.
He had been observing the battle and hesitating about whether to retreat, but at this moment he finally made up his mind.
"Order the First Army to withdraw entirely to Gushi County before nightfall to ensure the safety of the main force's flank."
The order was cold, direct, and left no room for negotiation.
At almost the same time, a telegram from the Fifth War Zone Command was also delivered to Hu Zongnan.
The orders were completely opposite: the First Army, in coordination with the Third Column, was to launch a full-scale offensive against the main force of the Japanese army.
Two completely conflicting orders were placed before Hu Zongnan.
He held the two telegrams in his hands, his knuckles turning slightly white, pacing back and forth in the command post, weighing his options repeatedly in his mind.
On one side are the direct orders from the Supreme Commander, which concern the safety of his own loyal followers; on the other side are the unified operational deployment of the war zone, which concerns the success or failure of the entire war.
After a long while, he took a deep breath and slowly put away the telegram from the Fifth War Zone.
"Order all troops to retreat to the west bank of the Shi River and rush to the aid of Gushi County."
It was called a relief effort, but in reality, it was an abandonment of the siege of the 6th and 10th Divisions.
In Hu Zongnan's mind, it was not worth risking the First Army and disobeying the commander's orders.
Even if disobeying orders wouldn't be punished, he was unwilling to push his elite troops into the perilous battlefield.
Inside the Third Column's command post, the atmosphere was equally heavy, almost frozen.
Li Jianghe stared at the telegram in his hand, his brows furrowed, and remained silent.
Lin Yongzhi stood to the side, his tone direct and heavy.
"Hu Zongnan will most likely lead the Central Army to retreat, and our Northwest Army alone cannot withstand the general offensive."
Li Jianghe originally planned to launch a general offensive tonight to eliminate the enemy in Huoqiu in one fell swoop.
However, the Japanese army's surprise attack on Gushi completely disrupted all his plans.
He never expected his opponent to be so ruthless, striking at the most critical moment in the most fatal spot.
"The opponents aren't stupid; they're also desperately trying to turn the tide of the battle."
Li Jianghe slowly raised his head, his eyes calm and steady, still revealing a spirit of never giving up.
"If the tank units of the First Army can join the counterattack, the outcome will be decided tonight."
"But the tanks are Hu Zongnan's lifeline, how could they possibly obey our orders?" Lin Yongzhi said worriedly.
Li Jianghe remained silent for a moment, then a glint of light flashed in his eyes.
He thought of someone—Qiu Qingquan, the "madman Qiu" who was known for his madness and ruthlessness on the battlefield.
This man, who escaped death in Nanjing, hated the Japanese invaders to the core and was never afraid to die in battle.
"Send a telegram to Bai Chengshan, instructing him to immediately go to Qiu Qingquan's command post and relay my message."
Li Jianghe said calmly, his hands behind his back.
Qiu Qingquan had received Hu Zongnan's military order to immediately retreat to the west bank of the Shi River and leave the battlefield.
This puzzled him greatly. Even if Gushi was attacked, the Northwest Army could have been sent to provide support. Why did he have to send his own tank convoy back as well?
What is this if not running away?
Just then, the guard's voice came from outside the door.
"Sir, Bai Chengshan, the commander of the tank detachment of the 3rd Column, wants to see you."