The plan to dig a tunnel outside the South Gate to secretly enter the city, and cooperate with the more than 1,000 devils who stormed the South Gate to take the South Gate not only failed, but also lost a wing captain.

In particular, more than 1,000 troops under the personal command of the 19th Infantry Wing Commander Chino Konan attacked the city from the tunnels, of which more than 800 were drowned by the other side.

This battle made Nakamura Zhenxiong feel extremely aggrieved.

"Your Excellency General, after the 19th Infantry Wing lost more than 800 troops again, our 9th Brigade and other units have suffered a total of more than 4,000 casualties."

Seeing that Nakamura Zhenxiong looked at the map with a frown and was silent, the commander of the 9th Brigade who rushed to the military tent headquarters, Jio Sato, said stubbornly: "The casualties are too great to fight anymore." ”。

Kenjiro Kawaguchi, chief of staff of the 19th Brigade who was present, and Tajiro Kita, chief of staff of Nakamura Zheno's 36th Division, did not speak, and they were silent one by one.

The 9th Brigade and other units under the command of Nakamura Zhenxiong had a total strength of more than 9,000 people.

Now the total number of casualties is more than 4,000, and only about 5,000 remain.

Although it seems that the army is still strong, the casualties are almost half.

At present, these 5,000 troops can besiege Qingzhou City on all sides, but the troops that concentrate the main attack in one direction can only concentrate 2,000 at most.

No matter how much it is, I am afraid that it will be seen by the independent regiment in the city, and maybe the other party may still go out of the city to fight back.

Of course, this is not very likely!

Nakamura Zhenxiong knew that what Sato said was right, plus more than 2,000 people before the 15th Infantry Brigade and other units that were attacking Liujiazhen.

At present, there are more than 18,000 horses, and a total of more than 6,000 troops have been lost, accounting for one-third of the total strength.

The 15th Brigade attacking the direction of Liujiazhen still had more than 7,000 people, and the strength was quite sufficient.

But on the side of Qingzhou City, with only more than 5,000 troops left, if you want to take Qingzhou City, the pressure will definitely be huge.

Moreover, according to Shinozuka Yoshinan's order to take Qingzhou City within two hours, it was no longer possible.

Thinking of this, Nakamura Zhenxiong sighed secretly, and said helplessly: "What advice does Sato-kun have?" ”。

"Your Excellency, General!"

Seeing that Nakamura Zhenxiong was not angry or anything, the commander of the 9th Brigade, Jio Sato, secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and immediately condensed and said: "At present, the total strength of my 9th Brigade and other units is only more than 5,000 people. ”。

"The number of troops is okay, but it is impossible to break the city in a short time. The casualties in the city were not large, and it was estimated that there were at least 2,000 troops. ”

After a pause, Sato continued, "According to the comparison of the strength of the defending city and the siege of the city, if we want to break through Qingzhou City, we need at least 10,000 troops."

"Your Excellency, General, we need military support!"

Nakamura Zhenxiong did not respond immediately, but asked the chief of staff Kitatajiro on the side, "Kita-kun, what about your suggestion?" ”

"Division Commander!"

Kita Taijiro thought about it, agreed with Sato Haruo's suggestion, and said, "I agree with Sato-kun's suggestion, We really need reinforcements. ”。

"The 15th Brigade attacking Liujiazhen called, at present, the enemy defense of Liujiazhen is stubborn, and the reinforced concrete pillbox fortifications extending from the entrance of the town east of Liujiazhen and its north and south sides are very strong, and the two 105 howitzers assigned to the 15th Brigade cannot break through the enemy's reinforced concrete pillbox fortifications."

After a pause, Kido Taijiro continued, "Therefore, the direction of Liujiazhen will not be able to make progress in a short time. In the end, the key to breaking the game is still on the side of Qingzhou City, the division commander. ”

Nakamura shook his head and said, "Kido-kun, you mean that you really need troops to support this side?"

Kita Taijiro nodded solemnly and said, "Yes, division commander." ”。

"Otherwise, our current forces will no longer be able to quickly break Qingzhou City."

"In addition, in the two artillery squadrons belonging to the 9th Brigade, all the Type 92 infantry guns were destroyed before the previous battle when they were accidentally hit by the shells on the artillery positions that accidentally hit the artillery positions."

After a pause, Kita Taijiro continued, "Without close-range artillery to support the infantry in the siege, we would not be able to break the city with two 105 howitzers alone."

"Now the gap in the wall of the east gate, which had been opened by aerial bombs and widened by cannonballs, has been re-blocked by the defenders."

When Nakamura Zhenxiong heard this, he knew that what Jio Sato and Kita Taijiro were right.

There are not enough troops, and the artillery is not enough, and it is impossible to take Qingzhou City with 5,000 troops alone.

It is imperative to increase the number of troops.

It was only a request for more troops, and it was necessary to send a telegram to Yoshinan Shinozuka asking for help.

But for Nakamura Zhenxiong, this must be a disgrace to his military career.

However, if you don't increase your troops, if you don't have enough troops and artillery power on this road in your hand, I'm afraid you won't be able to take Qingzhou City today.

Thinking of this, Nakamura Zhenxiong gritted his teeth and said: "Then send a report, send a report to the headquarters of the First Army in Taiyuan City, and ask the commander to send troops to reinforce us." ”。

"In addition, report the latest battle situation to His Excellency the Commander!"

Kido Taijiro listened to it from the sidelines, and instantly stood up and said, "Yes, division commander." ”。

"But division commander, how much do we need to ask for reinforcements?"

Nakamura Zhenxiong looked at the map, thought about it, gritted his teeth and said: "A wing, no, ask the commander to send an additional brigade of troops to rush to us." ”。

"Reinforcements from a brigade?"

After listening to this, Haruo Sato, Kenjiro Kawaguchi and others couldn't help but be secretly surprised.

With so many troops, it is indeed enough.

A wing may not be enough, but a brigade has about 7,600 to 8,000 troops.

At that time, with the remaining 5,000 troops of the 9th Brigade and other units, it will indeed be able to recover to the strength needed to break through Qingzhou City.

"Yes, send a report to the headquarters of the First Army in Taiyuan City, to His Excellency the Commander, requesting that a brigade be sent to reinforce us."

Nakamura Zhenxiong waved his hand and said helplessly.

"Yes, division commander."

Kita Taijiro nodded, and then immediately walked to the side of the military tent headquarters, the devil communication soldier in charge of communication and liaison, and gave the order for help.

The Devil's Signal Corps immediately sent an urgent telegram to Taiyuan City, requesting reinforcements.

And in less than a few minutes, the headquarters of the First Army of the Japanese Army in Taiyuan City.

Yoshinan Shinozuka, who was waiting for the news of Nakamura Zhenxiong's victory, received an urgent call from Nakamura Zhenxiong for help, and held back his anger and asked the chief of staff, Major General Miyano Michiichi: "Miyano-kun, we still have that army that can rush to the direction of Qingzhou City nearby to support Nakamura Zhenxiong?" ”。

"Only the 7th Brigade can assemble nearby and reinforce Nakamura Zhenxiong!"

Michiichi Miyano immediately turned his brain, and then immediately condensed his voice.

(End of chapter)

Lewen