At 2 a.m. on January 25, the combat room of the 6th War Zone Chief Commander Command was already brightly lit.

Although the weather has been extremely cold recently and there have been a few snowfalls, Chen Cixiu and his staff members have not been able to close their eyes all night. Since yesterday afternoon, they have been guarding the headquarters war room to discuss and deduce the current war.

Starting from the morning of the previous day, the three armies of the Sixth War Zone had arrived at the predetermined combat position and launched an attack on the outer positions in Yichang.

However, the Japanese army relied on solid fortifications to fight stubbornly. After two days, although the attacking troops were fighting bloody battles, the slow progress did not achieve much effect.

The main forces of the Japanese 54th Division and the Independent Mixed 18th Brigade in northern Hunan have begun to retreat this morning to rush to Yichang to assist.

Once more than 30,000 Japanese reinforcements are allowed to arrive in Yichang one after another, and more than 10,000 Japanese troops stationed in Yichang, the attacking troops in the Sixth War Zone will face nearly 50,000 Japanese troops attacking each other.

Yichang was called Yiling in ancient times. It is located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and guards the throat of the Three Gorges waterway. It is more than 270 kilometers east of Wuhan and more than 480 kilometers west of Chongqing. It is not only the key to the only water transport channel of the two lakes, but also the gateway to Chongqing along the Yangtze River.

Whether for China or the Japanese army, Yichang's geographical location is irreplaceable.

In particular, along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, no city is so close to China's anti-Japanese center.

If the Japanese army could occupy Yichang for a long time, it would not only occupy the strategic points they had always dreamed of, but more importantly, the political effect would be extremely obvious.

Therefore, when the National Government launched its formation and concentrated its superior forces to Yichang, it was natural that the Japanese army would do its best to defend and protect it. It would never be possible for the Chinese army to easily recover Yichang.

"What should I do? Do I really have to fail?"

Standing in front of the sand table, Chen Cixiu frowned, and he was weighing the pros and cons in his heart.

Although he didn't close his eyes all night, he was not sleepy at all, because the final battle of the Yichang Battle was imminent, and it was time to make a decision.

The enemy is in rapid reinforcements, but nearly half of the Chinese troops participating in the Battle of Yichang have not reached their designated locations so far.

According to the initial combat plan, the Sixth War Zone required all units to concentrate their troops to launch a comprehensive general attack on Yichang with absolute superior forces.

But the current situation is getting more and more tense, and Chen Cixiu is no longer allowed to follow the predetermined strategy.

"Report to Chief Chen, the commissioner's emergency telegram!"

At this moment, the chairman who had been closely watching the battle of Yichang also sent a telegram in person.

"What? Show it to me!"

Chen Cixiu's eyelids twitched. He really didn't expect that the Supreme Commander, who was late at night, would not sleep, and would send him a telegram at this time.

"yes!"

The communications officer quickly walked to Chen Cixiu and handed the telegram with great respect.

Chen Cixiu picked up the telegram and looked down: "The Japanese army in northern Hunan has begun to retreat, so you will sacrifice everything and strive to conquer Yichang within three days!"

"Let me go out alone, don't follow me!"

After putting down the telegram, Chen Cixiu took a deep breath and walked to the commander's office. A cold wind blew over his face, making people unable to help but shivered.

At this time, Chen Cixiu needed such a biting cold to stimulate himself and calm himself down.

Although Chairman Shen sent an urgent call in the middle of the night, Chen Cixiu had no reason not to implement it firmly, there is a saying that goes, "I will not accept the orders of the king outside."

As the commander-in-chief of the war zone who overviews the Yichang Battle, Chen Cixiu has to bear all the responsibility, and this battle is also something he must win. There are too many practical issues to consider and worry about, so it is easy to fall into the trap of the authorities.

After a while, he quickly circled all kinds of thoughts in his mind. Chen Cixiu finally made up his mind and turned around and walked back to the war room, shouting at the communications officer:

"Call back to the Commission immediately. Our department will launch a general attack on Yichang in 2 hours and resolutely conquer Yichang at all costs within the time specified by the Commission!"

"yes!"

The communications officer immediately took the order and left.

"You all come here!"

At this time, Chen Cixiu walked to the sand table with a murderous look on his face, picked up a baton and gestured on the sand table: "The 9th, the 33rd, the 76th Division attacked the Hu family's Dapo, the Da Niangzigang, Ciyun Temple and other strongholds.

The 94th Army and the 8th Army were responsible for intercepting and reinforcement of Japanese troops,...

The Yangtze River Defense Force of the 2nd Army is the main force of the attack, and it is necessary to conquer Yichang within three days!"

After allocating the combat tasks of each unit, Chen Cixiu looked down at his watch and said, "Tell me the order, and the time for launching the general attack is set at 4 a.m. Today, all departments must complete the predetermined combat goals at all costs."

Speaking of this, Chen Cixiu emphasized his tone and said murderously: "But those who fear those who do not stand up, those who retreat in the face of battle and those who fail to fight will be severely punished and will never be tolerated!"

Chen Cixiu was not considered a rifle in the face of battle and was hastily rushing the ducks to put them on the shelves. Instead, the troops that had arrived on the battlefield had already entered the state of war, and it was just a short time before the final order of general attack.

"yes!"

"clear!"

A group of senior generals and staff officers took the orders one after another, and they had already held their energy and made all kinds of preparations for this counterattack!

"There are all gun positions, fire the gun immediately and shoot me hard!"

"Brothers, it's time to wash away the shame that the Japanese loaded on us!"

"For the Chinese nation, charge!"

"Turn away the Japanese pirates and return them to my country! Kill!"

More than an hour later, more than 100,000 troops, who had been waiting for a long time, launched a general attack on the outer defense lines of Yidang Town, Yisha Town and other places around Yichang to narrow the encirclement.

For a moment, gunfire, explosions, and shouts of killing were loud, instantly breaking the silence of the night and dispelling the darkness before dawn.

After receiving the combat order to counterattack Yichang, the 2nd Army, which was responsible for the main attack, held an emergency meeting at the same time, except for the preparations before the operation of the emergency power station, the emergency meeting was held within a specified time limit, and the designated area was on standby.

At the meeting, Wu Qiwei, commander-in-chief of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, deployed the 9th Division as the main attack force, went down the river and closely cooperated with the 32nd Army in Jiangbei to advance towards Yichang.

The 76th Division also advanced from Changyang Yeshanguan area and went to Nantuo via Sandouping. They crossed the river at night to capture the highlands of Zhaigong Cave and Maogou Cave area outside Yichang, and prepared for support and assistance.

With the new 33rd Division as the reserve team, the 9th Division was followed by Xiang Jiegui Xiangxi and stood on standby, while the army command post advanced to Lianghekou through Sanliba and advanced to Maoping one after another.

Due to frequent air strikes by Japanese planes, most of them were marching at night. At that time, the soldiers were barefoot and straw sandals, thin clothes and quilts, and the cold wind blew. The mountains along the way were rugged and narrow roads, and nine out of ten rooms were empty.

Although everything in front of us was full of desolation, all the Chinese officers and soldiers were full of morale, and there were very few people who fell behind and fled, and they all had the courage and determination to win.
Chapter completed!