Because General Xue Yue was still being blocked by Jiang at the moment, he was still entangled with him in the command at this moment, and he was not aware of the Japanese army's arrangement.

And it was precisely because of this respite that the Japanese army regrouped and immediately launched a large-scale counteroffensive.

Under the coordination of Japanese armored vehicles and fighters, the Japanese army, with the 6th Division, the 33rd Division, and the 101st Division as the main force, plus the Nara Detachment and the Uemura Detachment, attacked together, and in only a short period of time, the position on the south bank of the Xinqiang River required by the original Tianlu method of warfare was broken.

However, fortunately, although the Japanese army broke through the position on the south bank of the Xinqiang River, the defenders were not defeated because of this, but because of the Tianlu Tactics earlier, they had a retreat plan, so they were able to evacuate calmly.

While the defenders were withdrawing in a planned manner and retreating towards the Miluo River defense line, the Japanese 6th Division and the Nara Detachment were in hot pursuit, tracking southward.

However, the communication roads, which had long been destroyed by the defenders and the local population, made it impossible for the Japanese mechanized troops to exert their speed advantage, and they had to follow up on foot behind the defenders' butts.

In the early morning of the 25th, the Japanese army approached the north bank of the Miluo River. Because of the large strength of the Japanese army, the 52nd Army garrisoned here in order to preserve its vital strength, after requesting orders from its superiors, the main force began to slowly move to the south bank of the Miluo River, preparing to block the attack across the river.

When the garrison retreated, the Japanese began to erect pontoon bridges and prepare to cross the Miluo River.

However, the first Japanese crossing was repulsed by the defenders on the south bank of the Miluo River.

Fortunately, the Japanese army knew that the defenders would not let them cross the river so easily, and this time it was just a test, in order to test the reality of the other party.

Seeing that the other side had deployed very strong firepower in order to stop them, even if they forcibly crossed the river with the coordination of fighters, they would need to pay a great price.

They sent a part of the Japanese army to change into the clothes of ordinary people, disguised as refugees, and smuggled across the river in the interval between the garrisons of various units of the defenders, and fled to Xinshi, preparing to cooperate with the main force to force the crossing.

Almost on the same day, another unit of the Japanese army, the Kamimura Detachment, also attacked from west to east, captured Guiyi, and waited for an opportunity to move.

The 70th Army was ordered to counterattack the Japanese troops who had occupied Xinshi and Guiyi, but under the desperate resistance of the Kamimura detachment, it only recovered Guiyi, and Xinshi was still occupied by the Japanese army.

The next day, the Japanese army stormed the defenders' positions on the south bank of the Miluo River, and after a day of fierce fighting, they failed to break through the defenders' main position.

At this time, the Japanese 33rd Division was still stubbornly blocked by the 20th Army in the Fushiling area of Makufu Mountain, and the 33rd Division was unable to break through, and other units were also blocked, and their plan to encircle and annihilate the 15th Army in the Pingjiang area was declared bankrupt.

And just when Okamura Ninji was sighing about the bankruptcy of the plan to encircle and annihilate the 15th Army, Xue Yue's battle plan to prepare for a decisive battle with the Japanese army on the outskirts of Changsha was finally approved.

……

Commander-in-Chief of the Changsha Battle of the Ninth Theater of Operations.

General Xue Yue was in the command headquarters, and in front of him were all the staff officers in the command headquarters, and at this moment, these staff officers all put down everything at hand and looked at Xue Yue without saying a word.

There was a hint of determination in their eyes.

"Everyone!" Xue Yue stood in front, looked at them, and said solemnly: "In this battle, we have been entangled with the Japanese army for a long time, paid countless costs, and finally saw the hope of victory, how can we be willing to see these advantages all in vain?" Tell me, would you like to? ”

"I don't want to!"

The staff officers all said in a deep voice.

"If you don't want to, so will I!" Xue Yue's face was solemn, and he said in a deep voice: "Previously, we acted according to the plan, steadily accumulated advantages, and even formulated the Heavenly Furnace Battle Method, if everything goes well, we can inflict heavy losses on the Japanese army, but this method has not been approved by the commission, I am unwilling!" ”

"I have asked the commission many times, but the commission has never responded, and now, the Japanese army is about to attack the city, the situation has reached a very critical moment, if we do not restrict, then the previous advantage will be lost, so ......"

When he said this, Xue Yue paused, looked around at everyone present, and finally said, "So...... I'm going to go my own way! As the saying goes, 'the general is outside, the king's order is not affected', even if this battle is not allowed to be approved, I must do my best to carry it out, I do this, not for fame and fortune, not for personal gain, but for the victory or defeat of the Battle of Changsha, for the future of our country, but also for the lives of countless soldiers and people, I have to do it! ”

"After this battle, regardless of victory or defeat, I Xue Yue will bear all the blame, and I will never implicate you, so ...... Please also help me and help me repel and annihilate the Japanese army, even for the sake of the country, for the lives of these 300,000 soldiers, for Changsha, and for hundreds of people! ”

"Please!"

Speaking of this, Xue Yue slowly took off his military hat and saluted everyone present.

"Commander-in-Chief ......"

Hearing this, these staff officers present said: "How can we, the staff officers under the commander-in-chief, not obey orders?" As long as the commander-in-chief has shown it, everyone here will do their best to complete it, unite sincerely, and deal a heavy blow to this officer! ”

"Good!" Hearing this, Xue Yue was overjoyed and couldn't help but say, "With you to help me, I can do great things!" ”

Speaking of this, Xue Yue said again: "Immediately convey my order, inform the commission of my determination, and strictly say that I have made up my mind, no matter what the victory or defeat of this battle, I will personally go to Yucheng afterwards to bear the guilt, and I Xue Yue will bear all the blame......"

Speaking of this, he hesitated for a moment, and after thinking about it, he added: "Xue Yue doesn't listen to orders, he is really helpless, please don't be angry!" ”

After saying this, he waved his hand, and immediately a staff officer nodded, and then sent his words to Yucheng intact.

The worries were gone, Xue Yue regrouped his mood, he took a deep breath, slowly spit it out, and then said in a deep voice: "The stakes in this battle are very important, and I don't need to say the stakes in it, I think you should also understand, so I won't say more nonsense, now there are only a few orders, please convey it immediately!" ”

"Commander-in-chief, please speak!"

The staff officers were all in good spirits and said in a deep voice.

"First, send a telegram to the Changsha Garrison Independent Regiment, saying that they will hold on to Changsha and block the Japanese army, and they must not let the Japanese army rush into the city, let alone let the Japanese army occupy the city, if Changsha is lost, then come to see you!"

Xue Yue understands that Changsha has a great stake, and whether this battle can continue to be fought depends on the gains and losses of Changsha.

(End of chapter)