Devil's Army

Chapter 2000 Attack on the Five Horse Mouths

Upon receiving General Xue's telegram requesting assistance, the brigade commander immediately dispatched the air force of the First Army to provide reinforcements.

The two sides encountered each other in the airspace bordering Yueyang and Changsha, and a fierce air battle ensued.

The air battle lasted for more than half an hour. The Japanese air force was defeated by the superior air force of the First Army.

Without the protection of the air force, the Japanese tank units began to be subjected to fierce bombing from the sky by the First Army Air Force.

The swift wheels of the Japanese tanks came to an abrupt halt on the banks of the Xinqiang River.

The 133rd and 134th Divisions of the 20th Army (Sichuan Army) under Yang Hanyu, stationed at Xinqiang River, were ordered to cross the Xinqiang River and launch a fierce attack on the Japanese army.

The 58th Army (Yunnan Army, Commander Sun Du) and other units in the war zone were located on the flank, cooperating with the 20th Army and also launching fierce attacks on the Japanese army from the flank.

At this time, the First Army's First Front Army's First Brigade, Second Brigade, Third Brigade, and Eastern Independent Brigade also attacked Yueyang (including Yueyang County), Chenglingji, Dayun Mountain, and the area along the north bank of the Yangtze River, which are adjacent to Yueyang.

They launched fierce attacks on Yanglousi, Zhanqiao, Taolin, Huanggaihu, Lucheng, Jiuling, and Maishi (bordering southern Linxiang) in Linxiang.

Meanwhile, the Southern Independent Division of the First Army launched a fierce attack on Taohuashan, Tashiyi, Wumakou and other places in Huarong.

The newly established Fourth Brigade of the Southern Independent Division of the First Army took the lead and launched a fierce attack on the Jiufenggang-Wumakou highway pass.

Located on the northern slope of Taohuashan Mountain in Wumakou, the narrow valley is traversed by a road that winds between steep slopes, allowing only one lane of traffic. The road is flanked by dense forests and numerous rocks. Approximately 18 kilometers from Wumakou, it serves as a crucial gateway to the heart of Shishou.

A battalion of the Japanese 64th Division set up defenses layer by layer along the narrow valley at the northern foot of Peach Blossom Mountain to block the attack of the 4th Brigade of the Southern Independent Division.

The vanguard of the 4th Brigade of the Independent Division reached the entrance of the Peach Blossom Mountain Valley and was intercepted by the Japanese army.

After several days of training, the soldiers of the 1st Battalion of the 4th Brigade, who had not yet engaged in combat, displayed formidable fighting power.

The Japanese army put up a stubborn resistance, but unfortunately, their firepower and manpower were far inferior.

After nearly an hour of fierce fighting, the 1st Battalion of the 4th Brigade broke through the Taohuashan Pass position.

The Japanese army constructed multiple lines of defense along Peach Blossom Mountain.

As the battalion advanced along the path at the foot of Peach Blossom Mountain, it encountered successive resistance from the Japanese army, resulting in slow progress and bloody fighting.

However, this was the first battle fought by the 4th Brigade of the Independent Division of the First Army since its establishment.

At the start of the battle, Brigade Commander Wang had given a death order: victory in the first battle is imperative!

Seeing that the First Battalion's advance was slow, the regimental commander arranged for the Second Battalion to advance along the mountain range on both sides of the path and attack the Japanese blocking troops on Peach Blossom Mountain from the flank.

Trees grew haphazardly on Peach Blossom Mountain, and weeds grew rampant. Many soldiers had their clothes torn by the weeds and trees.

But the soldiers paid no heed; they had only one thought in mind: to get to the Japanese positions as quickly as possible and support the First Battalion in their battle.

After a group of soldiers hacked and trampled, they finally carved out a road leading directly to the Japanese positions.

The soldiers of the Second Battalion split into two groups and launched a fierce attack on the Japanese positions on both sides of Peach Blossom Mountain.

Japanese scouts on the Peach Blossom Mountain position spotted the Second Battalion soldiers approaching their position and quickly split up to intercept them.

Upon seeing this, the soldiers of the First Battalion, who were launching a frontal assault on the Japanese positions at Taohuashan, also intensified their attack.

Overwhelmed by the situation, the Japanese troops could not withstand the attack of the First Regiment and retreated into Wumakou.

The main force of the regiment then passed through Peach Blossom Mountain and surrounded Wumakou.

Meanwhile, the Second Regiment also advanced towards Wumakou from the embankment north of the Wumakou Ferry.