Devil's Army

Chapter 1979: Blocking Japanese Troops in Jiangsu and Shanghai

The Japanese vanguard, having recovered, quickly established a foothold, and the artillery launched a fierce bombardment on both sides of the path.

(The Japanese artillery lost a significant number of heavy guns in the air raids by the First Army Air Force.)

Because the New Fourth Army's Central Jiangsu troops and their air force slowed down the Japanese advance, giving them time to build fortifications, they constructed anti-artillery shelters on the reverse slopes of the hillsides on both sides of the Xianshan trail.

Although the Japanese small-caliber artillery bombardment was fierce and destroyed their surface fortifications, it caused very little damage to a regiment of soldiers.

After the Japanese artillery bombardment ceased, the infantry began their attack.

A group of soldiers emerged from their artillery shelters and fired fiercely at the Japanese infantry from their elevated positions, causing the Japanese soldiers to scream in terror.

A regiment of artillery deployed on Xian Mountain also launched a fierce bombardment of the Japanese rear troops, disrupting the Japanese army's continued offensive plan.

Thanks to the tenacious organization of the regiment, the Japanese army in Jiangsu was unable to break through the First Army's Meishan-Xianshan defense line.

Meanwhile, the Second Army's Independent Brigade, the 12th Brigade, and the Third Brigade of the Southern Independent Division intensified their offensive, successively capturing Jiangshan County, Changshan County, Quzhou County, Jiande County, Tonglu County, and other places.

With these counties recaptured by the First Army, the First Army directly advanced towards Hangzhou and Jinhua, important cities in Zhejiang.

Meanwhile, the 3rd and 4th Regiments of the 15th Brigade and the brigade's directly subordinate units successively recovered Deqing County, Yuhang County, and Wuxing County, and constructed defensive fortifications in areas such as Balidian Town in the eastern part of Wuxing County (now Wuxing District), which is very close to Shanghai.

Caotiandou, Luotianyang and other places north of Changchao Town in Wuxing County were the sites where the Changchao "People's Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army" ambushed the Japanese army.

The 76th Division of the 79th Army also ambushed the Japanese army in places such as Qingcaowu and Qijiashan in Lijiaxiang, causing heavy casualties.

These places either have a dense network of rivers or are located on major transportation routes and are sheltered by mountains.

The Third Regiment constructed strong defensive fortifications in these areas to block Japanese reinforcements from Shanghai to Zhejiang.

Because the 15th Brigade took three days to capture Deqing County, Yuhang County, and Wuxing County from Anji County, even though the 3rd Regiment detoured to Wuqing County to set up defenses first, there was still not enough time.

Just as the Third Regiment arrived at Caohuidou in the northern part of Changchao Town, and at Lijia Lane in Luotianyang, the Japanese troops from Shanghai also arrived.

The soldiers of the Third Regiment did not have time to build strong defensive fortifications and immediately engaged in a blocking battle.

This resulted in heavy casualties for the Third Regiment in the early stages of the defensive battle.

As the battle continued, the Japanese artillery was suppressed by the First Army Air Force, which came to provide support.

The soldiers of the Third Regiment took the opportunity to build even stronger anti-artillery fortifications.

The Japanese offensive in Shanghai was met with even fiercer resistance from the Third Regiment.

Moreover, the Caohuidou and Luotianyang waterways are densely packed with narrow roads, making it impossible for large Japanese troops to deploy.

The Japanese army launched several attacks, all of which were repelled by the soldiers of the Third Regiment.

The next morning, having exhausted all other options, the Japanese major left a unit to continue tying down the 3rd Regiment from the front. The main force detoured through Lijia Lane to reinforce Zhejiang.

To the Japanese major's surprise, they encountered the same scene as they had encountered a few years earlier.

Because the Japanese army fought fiercely with the Third Regiment for a day in Caohuidou and Luotianyang, it provided the Fourth Regiment with favorable time to build ambush fortifications.

When the main force of the Japanese army in Shanghai arrived at Qingcaoduo in Lijia Lane, they encountered the vanguard of the Fourth Regiment, which was disguised as a local guerrilla force, and a fierce battle ensued.

However, this "guerrilla force" was quickly defeated.