It was dark in the night. Above the Taihu Lake, dozens of small assault boats loaded with Japanese soldiers were moving forward rapidly. Behind the small assault boat were hundreds of various fishing boats and wooden boats.

There is also a larger sailboat in the assault boat group. Dozens of assault boats are clustered around the sailboat like stars holding the moon and advancing at full speed. The distance from the fishing boats and wooden boats behind them is getting farther and farther away.

On the not-so-wide deck of the sailboat, Sadao Nakajima, the commander of the 18th Division, stood on it with a stern look with a sabre, looking ahead. Sadao Nakajima never expected that the Chinese army that slipped away from his nose could finally conquer Suzhou and Shanghai, causing immeasurable and significant losses to the Imperial Army.[]

At this time, Sadao Nakajima felt extremely guilty and blamed himself, and hated Qiao Anbang's Hu Ben Brigade even more. He wanted to fly to Huzhou immediately to eliminate all the hateful Hu Ben Brigade.

So just after receiving an emergency call from the Central China Front Army Command, he ordered the troops to collect most of the fishing boats and wooden boats around Wuxi, and personally led the troops to quickly cross Taihu Lake to Huzhou.

Suddenly, Chief of Staff Colonel Kotomi had already walked out of the cabin with a sabre, stood up to Sayuki Nakajima and saluted: "God of General, the air is cold here, you should go back to the cabin."

Sadao Nakajima turned around and waved his hand and said, "No, the cold wind can make people sober, Kotoki, I never expected that our temporary negligence would cause such a painful loss to the imperial army. Prince Hirohiko Asakamiya, Commander Matsui, and the Third Navy Fleet Command, I will bear some responsibility for their accident."

"General, victory or defeat is common in military affairs. Please don't blame yourself too much!" Kotoe said with a plain face: "As long as we can arrive in Huzhou in time and cut off the retreat of the Chinese army, the Imperial Army will definitely be able to eliminate it in one fell swoop, avenging the imperial warriors such as Prince Asaka and Commander Matsui!"

"Yes!" Sadao Nakajima pointed in deep agreement, and then said coldly: "Order, each regiment will advance at full speed, and you must arrive in Huzhou before dawn!"

"Hayi!" Xiao Fujima responded quickly with his head down, and then he took the order and turned around to find a commissar to convey the order.

............

On the road, the convoy of the Huben Brigade was moving northwards in a mighty manner. The Armored Company, as the vanguard company of the entire brigade, opened the way in front of the head. When the armored chariots of the Armored Company rumbled past the road outside Songjiang County, dozens of Japanese soldiers in the city were frightened and in a mess, and they all began to call for help.

The Japanese in Songjiang County naturally knew that Shanghai was recaptured by the Chinese army. Although there were only a few dozen Japanese soldiers in Songjiang and it was difficult to do anything, the Japanese army had never voluntarily given up the precedent and habit of occupying the territory, so the top Japanese army did not order these dozens of people to be evacuated from Songjiang County.

Just when the Japanese in Songjiang City were panicked and ready to fight to the death, they were surprised to find that the huge Chinese army outside the city had no stop at all, and had no intention of attacking Songjiang County. Instead, they walked around the city to the north.

The Japanese squad leader, who was so scared that he was sweating in a cold sweat, quickly called to report the situation to the Jiaxing Guard Brigade, and the Guard Brigade quickly reported the information to the Hangzhou Front Command.

Hangzhou, Central China Front Army Command.

Yanagawa Heisuke hurriedly read the urgent telegram from the Jiaxing Guard Brigade, and immediately looked up at the Moribu Tanabe in front of him and said, "Tanabianjun, the Chinese people did not capture Songjiang, but went directly around Songjiang and headed north. What's going on? Does the Chinese people know the strategic deployment of the Imperial Army?"

Shengwu Tianbian looked incredible and said in confusion: "I can't figure it out even if I am humble. We had just ordered the 6th and 114th divisions to advance west of Taihu Lake. The Chinese Huben Brigade then withdrew from Shanghai and came all the way north. This was a coincidence or the military chief of the Huben Brigade was cunning, but this time they were desperately moving towards Huzhou, it would be impossible to explain."

"Is there a spy within the Imperial Army? Otherwise, how could the Chinese army's actions be so fast?" Yanagawa Heisuke said with a look of surprise.

"It is impossible for spies to appear within the Imperial Army. Bei Zhi believes that it is very likely that the Chinese people intercepted and deciphered our telegram." Tanabe Moribu pondered for a while and analyzed.

"Decipher our telegram?" Yanagawa Heisuke said with disbelief: "Just relying on the despicable Chinese people's backward radio technology and equipment?"

"General, this is just an assumption. However, China has a vast territory and a large population, so it is normal for some geniuses with extraordinary talent. These people are completely likely to decipher the telegrams of the Imperial Army with their backward communication technology and equipment." Tanabe Moritake explained thoughtfully.

Yanagawa Heisuke couldn't help but breathe a breath of air and said in a deep voice: "Tanabianjun, think carefully about what you said makes sense. If the Chinese Huben Brigade can really learn about the strategic deployment of the Imperial Army, then the disastrous defeat of Suzhou and Shanghai will be reasonable."

Shengwu Tianbian nodded with a serious expression and said, "Well, what the general said is very true. Now it seems that the reason why the imperial army is too underestimated the enemy and is too arrogant. There is a saying by the Chinese people that arrogant soldiers will be defeated, and what they say is not without reason."

After saying this, Tanabe Moritake said to Yanagawa Heisuke: "God, General, Huzhi suggested that the Imperial Army must immediately change all radio passwords. In addition, the top-secret secret codes must be used for contact between departments in the future. All secret codes must be changed frequently in the future to prevent the Chinese people from stealing the content of the Imperial Army's telegrams again!"

"Yoxi! That's it." Yanagawa Heisuke nodded happily, and then said in a deep voice: "Give power to the 18th Division and order them to arrive at Huzhou as soon as possible to prevent them from being robbed by the Chinese Huben Brigade."

"Hayi!" Tanabe Shengwu quickly stepped forward and then turned around and left.

.............

At four o'clock in the morning, at Changdou Port, the 18th Division's fleet had already entered the port and docked, and the next moment, thousands of Japanese soldiers came to the shore.

The division commander Sayuki Nakajima also walked down from the sailboat surrounded by Chief of Staff Otomi and several adjutants. The captain of the Huzhou Guard Brigade, who came to greet him, quickly moved forward and said, "Your Excellency Commander, you have worked hard all the way."

The garrison brigade left behind in Huzhou was transferred from the 18th Division a few days ago. Sadao Nakajima nodded coldly and asked, "Master Nakamura, have you found traces of the Chinese army?"

"Report to the general, there is no one for the time being." Nakamura Izumi stepped forward and replied.

However, just as he finished speaking, a side tricycle rushed from a distance. When a Japanese soldier sitting in the back seat jumped down immediately, he suddenly stood up and saluted Nakajima Sadao and others, "Report to the general, a large number of Chinese troops were found in the direction of Qingyun Town, and they were rushing towards Huzhou!"

"Baga, the despicable Chinese people are coming so quickly!" Nakajima Sadao was shocked when he heard this and hurriedly said: "Order, the 55.56th Infantry Regiment will immediately enter the defense position outside the city and prepare to fight! The division headquarters will enter Huzhou County, and the fleet will immediately return to Wuxi to transport the 35th Brigade. Hurry up!"

"Hay!" The Japanese officers present bowed their heads and responded in unison, then turned around and took the orders and left.

.............

Qiao Anbang's car was moving along with the convoy. A tricycle belonging to the armored company came against the road. A second lieutenant sitting on the motorcycle opened his throat and shouted loudly: "Building, brigade, emergency."

"Hmm?" Qiao Anbang was stunned when he heard this, then ordered the car to stop, stood up and asked the second lieutenant who had just arrived, "What's going on?"

The second lieutenant replied panting: "Ghost, my armored company was strongly blocked by the Japanese!"

"Ghost?" Qiao Anbang looked shaky when he heard this.

"Yes, the troops are at least one wing. They have built a large number of anti-tank fortifications outside the position, and our armored vehicles cannot advance at the assault!" The second lieutenant nodded repeatedly.

"The devils came so fast!" Qiao Anbang sighed secretly. Although the Huben Brigade marched at full speed, he didn't expect to be taken first by the devils. However, he felt relieved. The Japanese marched in a straight line from Wuxi to Huzhou for more than 100 miles. Although the Huben Brigade was fully mechanized, it was winding along the way. In addition, it was located in the terrain of the water network in Jiangnan. At this time, the highway was not the kind of reinforced concrete highway like later generations. The roadbed built by the National Government was extremely poor, which caused considerable trouble for the Huben Brigade's marching speed.

After calming down his mood, Qiao Anbang said calmly: "Order the troops to stop advancing, the artillery battalion immediately builds artillery positions, the armored company stops attacking, covers the infantry regiments to build attack positions on the spot, and prepares for attack!"

"Yes!" The second lieutenant responded quickly, and then took the motorcycle and took the order away.

.............

In Huzhou County, Sadao Nakajima's division headquarters has entered the city, and the former garrison brigade headquarters has now become the headquarters of the 18th Division.

The map had just been laid, and Sadao Nakajima was surrounding the map, as if thinking about something. Suddenly, a burst of rapid footsteps sounded outside.

Chief of Staff Colonel Kotomi walked in excitedly with a sabre, suddenly closed his feet and reported to Sadao Nakajima: "God General, the 55th Regiment reported that they had just repelled the attack of the armored chariot group of the Chinese Tiger Brigade. Now the enemy has stopped moving forward and is building fortifications on the spot. The 55th Infantry Regiment asked whether to carry out counterattacks on them while the Chinese people have not yet established a foothold?"

"No, our task is to persevere, not attack! If we give up the strong fortifications and take the initiative to attack, we will be severely attacked by the Chinese army's armored combat vehicles group! Tell the 55th Infantry Regiment to only persevere and not attack!" Sadao Nakajima decisively rejected and waved his hand.

"Hai! General is wise. Since we built anti-tank trenches, the power of the Chinese army's armored assault forces will be greatly reduced. Without the powerful armored assault forces as the front drive, it is absolutely impossible for the Huben Brigade to break through the defense line of the Imperial Army in a short period of time!" Xiao Fujihui quickly lowered her head and flattered her.

Sadao Nakajima shook his head with a serious expression and said, "Kotokun, you can't be too optimistic now. Don't forget that in addition to the armored chariot group, our opponent also has a powerful heavy artillery group. Our artillery corps is still far away in Wuxi, so the next step is the real contest!"

ps: Thanks to the Invincible Sea View Sam, I am fascinated by you, Kongming Xiaoxi, Great Qin heroes, Tiger Bone Wine is delicious, etc., and the rewards of the Qidian coins for everyone.
Chapter completed!