Predator Reborn

Prelude to the Battle of Wuhan

The Wuhan Kwantung Army dispatched its military headquarters southward.

After receiving the farewell telegram from the Chief of Staff of the Aircraft Carrier Squadron, Colonel Matsushita, all the officers in the entire command, including the Commander, Admiral Mizu Umejiro, were deeply shocked. Because they could not believe that the arrogant Japan

The Imperial Navy was actually defeated by an army without any naval power. No, it was not just defeated, but also a miserable and complete defeat.[..com]

After once again reading the farewell telegram he had just received in his hand and confirming that nothing was missing, General Mizu Umejiro's face immediately showed an indescribable look of despair. Then, he faced the Chief of Staff Sakai Ichirōchu in front of him.

Jiang sighed in disbelief.

"Sakai-kun, I really didn't expect that our old rival Liu Hua, after years of war training, has become more and more sharp. Without superior artillery fire and naval forces, he can actually use such a despicable and simple weapon.

This way, we can sink three warships of the Imperial Japanese Army. It seems that our old rival’s methods are really endless..."

"Your Excellency, Commander, I feel the same way. According to Matsushita-kun's report, the cunning Chinese only used nearly a hundred small boats filled with explosives to destroy two destroyers and a cruiser of our army. This is hard for outsiders to see.

It seems that it is almost impossible. But now, it is clearly happening in front of us, so that we have to believe... Therefore, I can be sure that the East China Field Army we will face next will be

An elite force that is more difficult to deal with and several times more powerful than the Kuomintang army..."

"Well, Mr. Sakai is right...Liu Hua and his troops are indeed the most difficult and admired opponents I have encountered on the battlefield. I believe that after solving our fleet, which poses the greatest threat to them,

, The cunning Chinese people will definitely put their next combat target on our army. And we must be prepared for a decisive battle in advance." General Mizu Umejiro nodded in agreement.

Immediately afterwards, he ordered in a deep voice to the chief of staff in front of him.

"Sakai-kun, immediately issue an order to each combat unit: Each unit must strictly abide by the combat plan issued by the headquarters half a month ago, prohibit attacks, and defend the city. Through the strong defensive fortifications and ammunition reserves we built, a large amount of China's offensive troops were consumed

We have effective strength. In the end, we forced the cunning Chinese people to retreat after paying heavy casualties..."

"Order all intelligence personnel in the two lakes to be active and do everything possible to investigate the specific troop deployment and equipment situation of the East China Field Army in China..."

"Send a message to the commander of the aircraft carrier squadron, Rear Admiral Sasaki, and request the aircraft carrier aircraft to launch an immediate sortie and conduct continuous aerial reconnaissance of the two lakes areas. From now on, any changes in the China forces must be reported immediately. In addition, a telegram is also required

Major General Sasaki, all combat aircraft must be prepared to reinforce the Lianghu area at any time."

"Your Excellency, Commander, will you take care of your humble duty immediately?" Lieutenant General Ichiro Sakai, Chief of Staff, replied very readily.

After the two orders were issued, the entire Lianghu area, whether it was the Kwantung Army dispatching troops southward or the East China Field Army that had experienced a month of bloody battles, all began to move like a high-speed fighting machine. Of course, this war machine was running

During the process, a strong smell of war gunpowder slowly began to spread in the two lakes area.

Wuhan is where the headquarters of the Kwantung Army's Southward Expedition Force is located. As the headquarters issued orders to prepare for war, hundreds of thousands of elite Japanese troops began to move out of the city walls and into the continuous permanent defenses outside the city, preparing for a decisive battle.

preparation.

In the huge Lakes and Lakes area, the main forces of the East China Field Army, evenly dispersed throughout the region, also began to urgently assemble and advance towards their predetermined combat targets, the areas surrounding Wuhan...

A week passed in a blink of an eye, as a large number of elites from the East China Field Army began to gather in the surrounding areas of Wuhan. The entire city of Wuhan was immediately shrouded in the haze of war.

The all-pervasive military police and special agents have already placed the entire city under martial law in order to prevent the occurrence of internal strife. The streets of Wuhan, which have always been very prosperous, at this moment, except for groups of heavily armed Japanese patrols passing by from time to time

Apart from that, there is no ordinary citizen to be seen.

There were many military police, exuding murderous aura, and the headquarters of the Kwantung Army's South Expeditionary Force was also enveloped in a solemn atmosphere at this moment.

Looking at the war room, people were coming and going in a hurry, all of them were a group of combat staff with nervous faces. The commander, General Mizu Umejiro, had already frowned into a deep "Chuan" and looked at the people in front of him.

The combat sandbox was silent.

At this moment, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ichiro Sakai walked in with a nervous look on his face, and then spoke.

"Your Excellency, Commander, all investigations have been made clear. Dual air and ground reconnaissance revealed that the Chinese troops gathered in the surrounding areas of Wuhan have exceeded the China Army's establishment of four combat corps, totaling 450,000 troops. In terms of infantry, they mainly include

The most elite sixth, seventh, and eighth field corps of the East China Field Army and a guard column, and the first, second, and third main columns of the New Fourth Army."

"Infantry, with the various permanent fortifications we have deployed outside the city, plus the sufficient ammunition stored in the city, there will be no problem in adding more. However, if there is artillery, it will be different in meaning.

After all, artillery is the only weapon that can be relied on in siege warfare. How big is the artillery in the hands of the Chinese people, and what is its specific organization?" Regarding Ichiro Sakai's answer, General Mitsu Umejiro's expression did not show any trace of concern.

Change, a pair of eyes, staring closely at the combat sand table in front of him and asked.

"According to investigation, the Chinese artillery units that have appeared outside the city in recent days have more than a dozen numbers. They include three artillery regiments of the New Fourth Army, six heavy artillery regiments and one rocket launcher regiment of the artillery column directly under the East China Field Army. East China

Each regiment of the field army is directly under the howitzer regiment, each army is directly under the field artillery regiment, each division is directly under the mixed mountain field artillery battalion, and each regiment's mountain artillery company... Preliminary statistics show that among the artillery assembled outside the city, about three have a caliber above 100 mm.

More than a hundred artillery pieces with a caliber of 70 to 100 millimeters, more than 500 pieces..." Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sakai Ichiro replied with a worried look.

"More than 800 artillery pieces of various calibers... I really didn't expect that the Chinese artillery force has developed to such an astonishing level. Mr. Sakai, do our artillery have an advantage compared to the Chinese..."

After a brief shock, General Mitsu Umejiro frowned and continued to ask.

"Your Excellency, Commander, I have been worried about this problem just now. After statistics, in addition to an independent heavy artillery regiment, we only have independent artillery regiments directly under each division. All artillery combined, the caliber exceeds one

There are only about a hundred 100-millimeter guns. Even artillery with a caliber of 70 to 100 mm, there are only more than 200. Therefore, both in terms of artillery caliber and number of artillery, they are less than half of the Chinese.

….” Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sakai Ichiro replied with a worried look.

"Less than half... It seems that the battle we need to face next is a very difficult battle... Mr. Sakai, is it possible to order the carrier aviation to attack and destroy the Chinese defenders as much as possible?

The artillery unit poses the greatest threat to our troops..." General Mitsu Umejiro asked tentatively.

Lieutenant General Sakai Ichiro shook his head helplessly, and then said: "Your Excellency, Commander, the actions of the Chinese artillery troops are really weird, and they are all moving day and night. The information I just mentioned is all true.

It was discovered through hard work by ground intelligence personnel. However, our air force can only attack during the day and cannot find any trace of the China artillery force..."

"Haga... the cunning Chinese..." Facing the huge military comparison, the only thing General Mitsu Umejiro could do at this moment was to stare at his red eyes and curse loudly at the subordinates in front of him, venting his anger.

The anger in your own heart.

"Ha Yi, please calm down, Commander. There are still 150,000 troops in Wuhan that need your command. Commander, please take care of yourself..." Chief of Staff Ichiro Sakai reminded in a low voice. For a moment, the entire headquarters was immediately in a state of panic.

Deathly tranquility. Everyone held their breath, fearing that the commander would draw the anger in their hearts onto themselves...

However, at this moment, a deafening explosion sounded faintly and reached everyone's ears very promptly. At the same time, huge balls of fire began to rise into the sky from the direction of Hankou and Hanyang.

Seeing the faces of everyone here, they immediately became more solemn. Because everyone knew that the long-prepared siege battle of the East China Field Army had begun, and the entire Wuhan battle had completely kicked off because of the sound of cannons. Sure enough,

, just as everyone's eyes were once again focused on General Mitsu Umejiro, waiting for the final order, a combat staff officer rushed in panting.

"Your Excellency, Commander, something happened, something happened... Hankou and Hanyang were attacked by Chinese heavy artillery, and the Chinese began to attack..."

"I really didn't expect that the Chinese attack was so sharp. Quick, contact the frontline troops. I want to know the specific situation of the Chinese attack. Quick... Mr. Sakai, order all ministries to prepare for battle. All personnel in the headquarters, all

Everyone performs their duties and welcomes the coming battle of Wuhan..." Holding back the anger in his heart, General Mizu Umejiro ordered with a gloomy face.

"Ha Yi, Your Excellency Commander..."

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