"Pass my order, order the garrison battalions of Saga, Sasebo, Fukuoka, and Kitakyushu to hold on to the spot, and order Nagasaki Castle to draw a reorganized regiment and move in the direction of Kurume. The pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info," Xuan Jianzhang said confidently.

"Yes, Master." Several staff officers saw that the commander had already given the order and did not argue anymore.

The biggest advantage of the Chinese army is that everyone can participate in combat planning, especially before the war, but the real brain, there will always be only one, when President Meng is there, of course, it is the order of President Meng as the final plan, and now President Meng has handed over all the war situation in Japan to Xuan Jianzhang, so everything is based on Xuan Jianzhang's final decision.

Three days later, the Japanese attacked Kurume on all fronts, disrupting the original battle plan of the Chinese army.

On the eve of the winter solstice in 1978, the Japanese attack on Kurume amounted to more than 50,000 troops.

The strength of a regiment of the Chinese army is 1,800 people, and the total strength of the first brigade of the first field division of the entire Chinese army is only more than 6,000 people, because it is an integrated brigade, there is one more teaching brigade, a divisional cavalry company, an artillery battalion, and the total mobile strength of the Chinese army is 1,200 people, which is a quarter of the Japanese.

"Kurume is in a hurry, and I'll hold on for a day at most." The commander of the garrison battalion of the Kyushu Island Garrison Command of the Chinese Army called the headquarters.

"I'm Xuan Jianzhang, you guys held up for three days, a regiment in Nagasaki City, the first regiment of our Ucheng City, drove over at the same time and surrounded the Japanese army from the periphery." Xuan Jianzhang personally answered the radio intercom.

"It's hard to hold out for three days, Shiza, but it's a big deal for me to leave my life in Kurume. The enemy's army of more than 40,000 people attacked non-stop. Again, we don't have heavy artillery. The battalion commander of the garrison cried.

"Cowardly! Brace yourself and remember, you're a Chinese army! Xuan Jianzhang said loudly.

"Yes! Strive to get the job done. "The commander of the garrison battalion is upright.

This garrison battalion commander was originally a platoon commander of the First Field Division of the Chinese Army, and he was able to be released as the battalion commander of a garrison battalion, which was certainly not a cowardice for Xuan Jianzhang's scolding, but it was the first time for him to carry out such an important task, and he took five or six hundred recruits to deal with more than 40,000 Japanese troops, and he knew that the stakes in this battle were very important, so he would lose his temper.

If this battalion commander dies alone, he doesn't care, what he is afraid of is that he will not be able to complete the task.

Xuan Jianzhang hung up the phone, "Tell the troops, speed up the advance, it seems that the Japanese are very resolute this time, that is, they want to fight a decisive battle with our army in Kurume." ”

"Yes, Master." The personal soldiers around Xuan Jianzhang immediately went to give the order.

The 1st Regiment of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Field Division of the Chinese Army, under the personal leadership of Xuan Jianzhang, took the lead in launching an attack on the Japanese army on the outskirts of Kurume.

Kurume was still in the hands of the Chinese army, and the garrison battalion defending the city had been holding out for two days, which was rare for all the militia-like recruits.

The first regiment launched an attack from the south flank, and each side arranged defensive lines, and the Japanese had a total of three defensive lines, and the battle was stalemate, changing hands repeatedly.

The next day, the 2nd Regiment, coming from the direction of Nagasaki Castle, launched an attack on the Japanese troops on the outskirts of Kurume from the western side.

"Tell the Emperor that we have repelled a total of 19 attacks by the Chinese army, and that the Japanese people around us are very supportive of us, and that our government army is determined to fight the Chinese army to the end! The people are there, and the land is there. Shan County Youpeng said resolutely.

"Yes, General." A personal guard took a handwritten letter from a friend in Yamaguchi and went to Kyoto to report the news in person.

Since the Chinese army controlled Kitakyushu, the Japanese had to cross the sea by boat in order to communicate with Kyoto, but fortunately the Japanese inland sea was in the hands of the British and French navies.

"Division, we have taken the two lines of defense of the Japanese, and we are already close to Kurume, is it a general attack today, enter Kurume, and join the garrison battalion?" The division chief of staff asked.

"Don't worry, tell the troops, withdraw first!" Xuan Jianzhang faced the sand table and took a small flag representing a battalion of the Chinese army back from the sandbag representing the Japanese defense line and carried it back to his rear.

The chief of staff of the division said strangely: "Why should you withdraw the position that you have taken down with great difficulty?" ”

"The Japanese army is large in number, scattered is not easy to concentrate, we have a frontal advantage, conducive to a head-on duel with them, I am afraid that they are scattered, we show weakness, show that the attack ability is not enough, they will be arrogant, will gradually increase the strength of the defense of our first regiment on this side, when the time comes, it will be conducive to our first regiment and the second regiment, flanking on both sides, encircling the Japanese army." Xuan Jianzhang explained.

The chief of staff of the division suddenly opened, "Division, this move is really clever!" However, can't the defenders who are not afraid of Kurume support it? ”

"For the sake of the overall situation, there is no way, even if Kurume is lost, the Japanese will definitely be stationed, that way, it will be more convenient for us to completely complete the encirclement of the Japanese army, you know, in the Kurume battlefield, we have not been transferred because of Sasebo still have a regiment, only two regiments of troops, less than one-fifth of the enemy, to complete the encirclement, it is very difficult, can only let them get closer!"

"Understood, Master." The chief of staff of the division hurriedly went down to convey instructions.

"Wait a minute, order a regiment of Sasebo to move in the direction of Fukuoka in concealment, I judge that in the later stage of the battle, when the Japanese can't hold on, they will flee in the direction of Fukuoka, as long as the third regiment takes Kokura Castle in Fukuoka, it can completely cut off the back road of the Japanese, even if it can't completely annihilate the Japanese army, it will kill him seven or eight times out of ten!" As he spoke, Xuan Jianzhang moved another flag that was held on Sasebo and moved it to the sandbag representing Okura Castle in Fukuoka.

Kokura Castle is a castle located in what is now Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture.

It is also known as Katsuyama Castle, Katsuno Castle, Shigetsu Castle, Yongjin Castle, and Koi Castle.

It was built in 1602 (Keicho 7) by Hosokawa Tadako and was called "Tang Kenshi" at the time, but it burned down in 1837 (Tenpo 8).

In 1837 (Tenpo 8), a fire broke out in the castle and it was destroyed.

Two years later, all but the castle tower were rebuilt.

At the end of the shogunate, Ogura became the first line of attack on the Choshu domain.

During the Southwest War of Meiji 10, the 14th Infantry Company of Ogura Castle was stationed there.

After that, the headquarters of the 12th Infantry Brigade and the 12th Division were set up in Kokura Castle.

THE CASTLE TOWER OF OGURA CASTLE IS 28.7 M HIGH, THE STONE WALL IS 18.8 M HIGH, AND THE TOTAL HEIGHT IS 47.5 M.

The castle tower was built in a unique way, with no eaves between the fourth and fifth floors, and the fifth floor was larger than the fourth, which is known as the Kara-style building.

In addition, the stone walls of the castle are not made of flat stones, but are made of stones in their original form, showing a simple and bold atmosphere.

Xuan Jianzhang judged that the route of the Japanese retreat must be Kokura Castle, which was the only fortification they could rely on near Kurume, especially because it was close to Kyoto, and it was possible to increase troops from the sea to Kyushu Island through the fleets of the British and French, which is why Aritomo Yamaguchi dared to put the battlefield of the decisive battle in Kurume.

"Okay, Master, I'll immediately contact Sasebo by radio, but if we transfer Sasebo's defenders, we'll leave the two important ports of Sasebo and Nagasaki Castle empty, and I'm afraid that the British and French will come from the sea, right?" The chief of staff of the division suggested a reminder.

Xuan Jianzhang shook his head, "Fighting, where is there anything that is perfect and completely risk-free?" It's a risk worth taking! Bet that the British and French will not dare to make a move, and this will depend on the diplomacy of Lord Li Hongzhang. ”

"Well, playing the chess of Ogura Castle is really wonderful, I remember once suggesting to the division to take Ogura Castle, where there is only one regiment of Japanese defenders, and the division just won't take it, it turns out that I have long thought of surrounding the Japanese today?" The chief of staff of the division said with sincere admiration.

Xuan Jianzhang smiled slightly, "How could I not see such an important strategic location?" It is to leave hope for the Japanese, so that they will feel that we will not dare to fight Ogura Castle, and they will dare to fight us in a decisive battle! Isn't that what comes in handy now? Go and herald. ”

"Yes, Master." The chief of staff of the division saluted a standard military salute and went down.

Not only did Li Hongzhang negotiate with the diplomatic embassies of Britain and France in Nagasaki Castle for several days, but President Meng was not idle in North Korea, and he began diplomatic contacts with several European powers in turn.