On the morning of September 8, 4621, south of Kurume, the 1st Infantry Division and the 31st Infantry Division of the Imperial Army, the 2nd Light Tank Battalion, the 3rd Light Tank Battalion, and the 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion of the 1st Armored Brigade of the Imperial Army were all assembled here, ready to launch the final blow against the Japanese entrenched in Kurume.

Although the Japanese army still had more than 40,000 men in Kurume, it also had a strong defensive position. The strength of the Imperial Army participating in the offensive was only comparable to that of the Japanese army. However, the Imperial Army had a complete advantage in this battle. The Japanese troops in the city, except for one ninth division, were all remnants of the defeated army. Not only did they lose a lot of equipment, but their morale was also greatly affected. It is undoubtedly more difficult to use such an army to resist the attack of the Imperial Army than to ascend to the sky.

"Telegram from the division commander, the commander." A communications officer sent a telegram to Major General Li Zhenwu.

After reading the telegram, Major General Li Zhenwu immediately burst out laughing.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the commander has already defeated the 3rd Army of Kyushu Island in Little Japan on the west bank of the Chikugo River, destroying tens of thousands of enemies. The 3rd Army on Kyushu Island has been completely crippled. At most, by the afternoon, they will be able to send troops to support us. After taking Kurume, the battle was over. The main forces of the Japanese army in the entire Kyushu Island area will be wiped out by us. Next, all you need to do is clear out the remnants of the enemy. We're going to win this battle. Major General Li Zhenwu announced to everyone with a smile on his face.

"Hooray! Banzai! The officers of the Imperial Army cheered.

"Let the departments prepare, and in half an hour, start attacking Kurume!" Major General Li Zhenwu ordered. It's time for the final end of this battle. As long as Kurume is taken and the Japanese army entrenched here is annihilated, the battle will be over.

At a time when the Imperial Army was preparing to strike the final blow against Japan. Admiral Mitsutomi Kamio also received a telegram from Admiral Bentaro Hongo. The 3rd Army on the island of Kyushu suffered heavy losses in yesterday's battle. Now there is not even a division of the remaining troops. Not to mention defeating the Chinese Army, even keeping themselves has become delusional.

"Yaga! How so? The 3rd Army has 100,000 men! How can it be so easy to be defeated? And so much loss? "Admiral Kamio Mitsutomi couldn't accept this result at all. After General Uchiyama Kojiro was defeated, he put his hopes on the 3rd Army. If the 3rd Army can win, it may have a chance to turn the tide of the war. But. Unexpectedly, the 3rd Army was also defeated. And still a fiasco. This undoubtedly means that they have lost this battle!

"Your Excellency, the Commander, the people of Shina are now approaching Kurume. And now, there are only about 40,000 people. It is impossible to resist the attack of the Shina here. Lieutenant General Shozaburo Hoshino, commander of the 9th Division, said.

"But is there any other way we can do it than to fight the Shina people in Kurume? At the moment on the island of Kyushu, we don't have many troops left. If we can't resist the attack of the Chinese here. Well, the fall of Kyushu Island is just around the corner! Admiral Kamio Mitsutomi said.

"Your Excellency, Commander, can I ask for reinforcements from within the country?" Lieutenant General Shozaburo Hoshino asked. The Japanese War Department and the General Staff Headquarters ordered the formation of another 40 divisions. Therefore, there is no doubt that the Japanese forces on Honshu Island are still very strong.

"No way. The naval warships of the Shina people have frequently appeared in the Seto Inland Sea. Our connection with the island of Honshu will soon be severed. No more reinforcements will arrive here. In addition, the Shina people landed in Ise Bay. The offensive is fierce, and the entire southern part of Honshu Island will become a battlefield. How is it possible to send reinforcements to us under such circumstances? Kamio Mitsutomi shook his head helplessly.

Obviously, now in the Kyushu Island War Zone, they can only rely on their own strength. However, compared to the Chinese * Army. They don't have any advantage at all! As the Chinese* army continues to win on the battlefield, the gap between the two sides will also widen. At that time, the Japanese army will completely lose the ability to confront the Chinese * army.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! ”

At this time, the sound of explosions sounded inside Kurume Castle, which was the prelude to the start of the offensive of the Imperial Army. 1st Infantry Division of the Imperial Army. The 31st Infantry Division, amassing a large number of artillery, began shelling Kurume. In the previous artillery battle, Kurume had been bombarded into ruins. However, there are still quite a few fortifications that have not been destroyed. Before the attack, the Chinese* army naturally hoped to rely on artillery fire to inflict greater casualties on the Japanese army.

"Hoshino-kun, order all the divisions and prepare for battle. Now, we have no other way but to be here, to make the people of China pay a big enough price as much as possible. Admiral Kamio Mitsutomi ordered.

"Hi, Your Excellency, Commander." Lieutenant General Shozaburo Hoshino nodded.

The artillery bombardment of Kurume by the Imperial Army lasted for half an hour. After that, the 1st Infantry Division of the Imperial Army, which attacked from the south, and the 31st Infantry Division, attacked from the east. Two light tank battalions, as well as the 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, were also dispersed to assist the infantry in the attack on Kurume.

Although, in street fighting, tanks and armored vehicles can easily be damaged. However, with the protection of tanks and armored vehicles, the losses of the infantry in street battles were undoubtedly much smaller. Especially when the Japanese army lacked anti-tank weapons, the Imperial Army could use tanks and armored vehicles to have a great advantage in street fighting.

"Boom!" The motor of the tank roared. A tank No. 2, is driving on a street. Behind the tank, a full squad of infantry followed. Protected by tanks, they carefully guarded their surroundings.

"Da Da Da!"

Suddenly, the Japanese heavy machine guns opened fire. A volley of bullets hit the steel plate of the tank with a clanging sound.

The infantry, who followed behind the tank, immediately took cover. The turret of the tank began to rotate, and soon it was aimed at the heavy machine gun.

"Boom!" The tank gun fired, and orange-red flames shone in the muzzle. A 37-mm shell accurately hit the point of heavy machine gun fire. The firing point was destroyed, the Japanese machine gunner inside was killed, and even the heavy machine gun was blown up.

After that, the tanks covered the infantry and cleared out the Japanese hiding on street corners.

In the face of the Imperial Army's armored forces covering the infantry, the Japanese had no way to resist at all. Even in street fighting, they have a lot of fortifications to draw on. However, this will also not make up for the difference in strength between the two sides. These fortifications were able to evade the heavy artillery attacks of the Imperial Army, but they could not escape the tracks of the armored forces of the Imperial Army.

With the cooperation of armored forces, the Japanese defense line was constantly broken through. The Imperial Army continued to advance, occupying one neighborhood after another under the control of the Japanese army, and constantly compressing the living space of the Japanese army.

On September 8 alone, the Imperial Army captured most of Kurume's castle. The living space of the Japanese army was extremely compressed.

At the same time, the main force of the 1st Army of the Imperial Army had already eliminated the main force of the 3rd Army of the Japanese army on Kyushu Island, and the remaining units of the 16th Infantry Division, the Heavy Artillery Brigade and the 1st Armored Brigade were all transferred to the eastern part of the Chikugo River to participate in the attack on Kurume.

The addition of a large number of new forces made it easier for the Imperial Army to attack Kurume. In particular, the No. 3 medium tank has rough skin and thick flesh, and even if the Japanese army dies with the explosives bag and the tank of the Imperial Army, it may not be able to blow up the No. 3 tank. This greatly accelerated the advance of the Imperial Army.

When reporting the battle to Admiral Ishiyama, Major General Li Zhenwu bluntly said that in today's battle on September 9, he would be able to take Kurume and annihilate the Japanese troops entrenched here in one fell swoop.

As large numbers of Chinese* troops were thrown into the siege of Kurume, the Japanese were also feeling the increasing pressure. Although the 9th Division was the main division of the Japanese army. However, in the continuous fierce fighting, the 9th Division had already suffered heavy losses. The four main infantry wings, all suffered heavy losses. The other auxiliary forces also suffered very heavy losses. This directly made the resistance of the Japanese army more and more fragile.

At noon on September 9, the closest unit of the Imperial Army to the Japanese headquarters was no more than 500 meters away in a straight line. It can be seen how critical the situation is for the Japanese army.

"Your Excellency, Commander, we now have only more than 10,000 soldiers to fight. The rest of the people either served His Majesty the Emperor with all their loyalty, or they shamefully betrayed the empire and surrendered to the Shina people. Now, there is no other way. If Your Excellency the Commander wants to leave Kurume, we can launch a breakout. Lieutenant General Shozaburo Hoshino said.

"Breakout? There's no need for that anymore. Even if it breaks out, it's just a matter of surviving for a while. As a general of His Majesty the Emperor, Mitsutomi Kamio is supposed to be loyal to His Majesty the Emperor. Give the order and fight to the point where every soldier is served! If we can kill more Shina people, the possibility of the Great Japanese Empire being saved will increase by one point. Admiral Kamio Mitsutomi said.

"Hi, Your Excellency, Commander." Lieutenant General Shozaburo Hoshino nodded.

In the afternoon, Mitsutomi Kamio and Shozaburo Hoshino were even involved in the battle. It's just that although they are generals, in battle, their lives are no different from other soldiers. Mitsutomi Kamio was killed by a mortar shell. Lieutenant General Shozaburo Hoshino was killed by a stray bullet. (To be continued.) )

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