In the command center of the war zone, the battle room was brightly lit. The staff officers were discussing urgently around the sand table. The signal soldiers kept coming in and out in a hurry.
"When did the Japanese land? Why did they only report it now?!”
The commanding officer of the theater of operations had just crawled out of his bed. He hadn't even buttoned his shirt yet. He asked the combat staff officer with a dark face and a stern tone.
"An hour ago, the acting garrison commander of Song County, Zhao Ting, sent a telegram. The communications department received it and sent it to the intelligence department. The intelligence department analyzed that it might be a small group of Japanese harassment, so they didn't pay much attention to it. It was only when the 67th division also sent an enemy report that they reported it to me.”the Division Chief explained.
After hearing the Division Chief's explanation, the chief of staff behind him was also furious.""This is dereliction of duty!"
"It's useless to say that now. A large number of devils have landed from Jin Town.”The commander said with a solemn expression.
"Have you contacted the 62nd division?!”
" Currently contacting."
" Where's the 2nd Artillery Brigade?!"
"I haven't been able to contact him yet."
"Do you know how many soldiers the Japanese have?”The Chief of Staff turned to the Intelligence Director.
"We are contacting the people in Golden Town. I'm afraid it will take some time.”
"The Japanese have already landed, but your people didn't even receive any news. You're really raising a bunch of good-for-nothings!”The chief of staff reprimanded mercilessly.
"Song County Acting Garrison Commander Zhao Ting said in the telegram that the Japanese have at least five divisions.”The operations director hurriedly spoke up to help the intelligence director out of the predicament.
" Five Regiments?!"
After hearing this, the generals who had gathered in a hurry for a meeting gasped.
One had to know that a regular division of the Japanese had at least 30,000 soldiers. Five divisions would be more than 100,000 soldiers.
If they included the enemy on the battlefield, they would have to face more than 300,000 elite soldiers.
Thinking of the terrifying combat power of the Japanese, the commanders felt suffocated. They knew very well that if they didn't make a decision as soon as possible, their main forces on the battlefield would be surrounded.
"Sir, what do we do now?"
"First, immediately send a message to Zhao Ting and the 67th division. Ask them to do their best to stop the Japanese and buy time. Whoever dares to take a step back will be punished by military law!”
"Second, immediately report the enemy's situation to the command center and request to end the frontal battle immediately. Retreat the troops to the national defense line to fight the devils to avoid being attacked from both sides.”
"Third, seal off the news of the Japanese landing from behind. Before the command center makes a decision, anyone who dares to leak the news and shake the morale of the army will be punished by military law!”
The commander of the battle zone was experienced. After a short period of panic, he quickly made a series of orders.
"Sir, Zhao Ting and the 67th army don't even have 5,000 soldiers. It won't be easy to stop the 100,000 elite Japanese soldiers.”
When the commander gave the order, a combat staff officer realized the problem. There was too much of a difference in strength.
"Even if we can't stop them, we have to stop them. Otherwise, the hundreds of thousands of troops in front of us will be surrounded by the devils.”
The commander knew that doing this was equivalent to losing a pawn to save the car, but there was no other way.
"Should we send reinforcements over to assist Zhao Ting and the others?”
"Do we have any troops that we can mobilize now?”
"Now all the troops are fighting against the Japanese on all fronts. We don't have any reserves left.”
Before the officers could finish their words, a signalman rushed in.
"Report, the 19th army has sent an urgent message. The devils have suddenly launched a fierce attack on our front line!”
"Report, emergency message from the left wing army. Luo Town has been attacked by the devils and has fallen!”
"Damn it, it's really raining every night. Tell the troops at the front line to defend their positions!”
"Tell the war supervision committee to send people to each line of defense to supervise the battle. Whoever dares to retreat without permission will be shot on the spot!”
Now that the Japanese had landed from the rear, they had yet to come up with a way to deal with it. If they were to be in a mess from the front, the consequences would be unimaginable. Therefore, the officers were also anxious and directly ordered the supervision team to go to the front.
The only thing they could pray for now was that Zhao Ting, this hero, could turn the tide again.
However, they also knew that even if they sent over 100,000 Chinese soldiers, they might not be able to deal with the 100,000 elite Japanese soldiers, let alone Zhao Ting. The Japanese were too strong.
After the officers of the commanding headquarters issued a series of orders, they immediately convened an emergency military meeting.
There was only one main topic for the meeting: how to deal with the current crisis.
They had been fighting the Japanese for more than two months, and they had suffered 300,000 casualties. If they retreated now, they would be doomed to admit defeat. They were unwilling to accept it.
However, if they did not retreat immediately, they would be attacked from both sides by the Japanese. Then, they would be in danger of being completely wiped out.
Regardless of whether they withdrew or not, they could not bear the heavy responsibility. Therefore, the meeting was particularly heated at the beginning.
While the commanders of the war zone were still arguing in the meeting and discussing whether they should retreat or not, Zhao Ting had already started the war mobilization in Song County.
All the weapons and ammunition were distributed to the troops. Under the organization of the joint defense committee, the people of the towns, the old, the weak, women, and children began to retreat to the rear.
As for the young and strong men, they worked in units of villages to assist the troops in building fortifications, transporting supplies, and destroying some roads and bridges.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。