novelden Chapter 730: Enemy Attack Leftovers
Chapter 730: Enemy Attack Leftovers
As the last explosion faded away, Tokugawa Mitsuka's eyes were filled with the desire to escape. He stood on the command vehicle, looking through the smoke-filled battlefield, at the evacuation route in the distance that seemed to lead to freedom. Surrounding him were the remnants of the Ming Zhao Division who hurriedly followed with low morale. Their faces were filled with fatigue, fear and confusion, but more of a desire to survive.
"Hurry! Follow up! Keep the formation!" Tokugawa Mitsuka's voice was hoarse, but still full of unquestionable determination. He knew very well that every minute and every second at this moment was crucial, and if he was a little slow, he might be buried in the pursuit that might come later.
In this hasty escape, the bravery and glory of the past seemed to have been blown away, leaving only endless embarrassment and humiliation. However, for Tokugawa Mitsuka, preserving strength and staying alive was the most important task at the moment.
Inside the First Army Headquarters, however, it was a completely different scene. As the battle reports continued to arrive, Liu Ershun's face was filled with the joy of victory. He stood in front of the huge battle sand table, his fingers gently running over the marks representing the enemy's positions, his heart filled with pride and satisfaction at the soldiers' heroic performance.
"Don't chase after a desperate enemy," Liu Ershun turned around and smiled at the officers present, "We have almost wiped out two major divisions, which is a great achievement. However, we have to give some face to Du Lin, after all, he is responsible for cutting off the enemy's retreat. If we take all the benefits, won't he come back and cause trouble for us?"
As soon as Liu Ershun finished speaking, a burst of hearty laughter broke out in the command room.
"The commander is right!" an officer agreed with a smile, "We can't just think about our own fun, we have to let our brothers participate, so that we can unite as one and overcome the difficulties together! We have to leave some soup for them."
"Ha ha ha ha."
Two hours later, the night was deep, and the moonlight sprinkled thinly on the rugged road near Qingtian Town, covering the fleeing team with a layer of silver gauze. The remnants of the Ming Zhao Division, all ragged and pale, staggered forward. Their eyes no longer had the sharpness and determination of wartime, but were replaced by fear of death and confusion about the future. Tokugawa Mitsuka's command car was at the front of the team, with mixed feelings in his heart. Regret was like a cold poisonous snake, entwining every inch of his thoughts.
He wondered if he could go back in time, would he make a different choice? Perhaps, if he had held on to Kashima City, with its strong defenses and sufficient supplies, he could at least have avoided this devastating blow. But at this moment, everything was a foregone conclusion. He could only carry on with this heavy regret, praying that he could escape.
However, Tokugawa Mizuka did not realize that in the dark night, in the mountains and forests on both sides, pairs of eyes were watching their every move. The moonlight shone through the sparse leaves, shining on those hidden figures. They were the reconnaissance troops of the Second Army, like cheetahs, quietly waiting for the best time to attack.
At the same time, the atmosphere in the temporary headquarters of the Second Army was solemn and tense. In order to avoid exposing their whereabouts, the headquarters was completely dark, with only the faint light of the map in the hands of Army Commander Du Lin flickering in the darkness, guiding their actions.
"Reporting to the commander, the latest news from the reconnaissance unit has confirmed the traces of the Japanese evacuating troops. They are only a dozen miles away from Qingtian Town." A staff officer reported in a low voice, with a bit of excitement and anticipation in his voice.
Hearing this, Du Lin sneered. He waved his hand slowly, signaling the staff to leave, and then said in a deep voice: "Let the 105th Division be prepared. This time we are going to swallow up this group of remnants. Damn it, I was worried that Liu Ershun would take all the benefits in one go, but I didn't expect that he would leave some for us. However, this is exactly what I want. Our Second Army is not a pushover. We have to enjoy these leftovers!"
The adjutant came hurriedly, his footsteps carrying a bit of haste and uneasiness. He stood beside Tokugawa Mitsuka and reported in a low voice: "General, Qingtian Town is ahead. As far as I know, an infantry squadron of the Zentsu Division is stationed there. Can we consider letting the soldiers enter the town to rest for a while? They are really too tired now."
Hearing this, Tokugawa Mitsuka frowned, and his once sharp but now tired eyes flickered in the night. He was silent for a moment, and his mind quickly replayed the previous battle situation and intelligence analysis. Suddenly, an unsettling thought flashed through his mind like lightning - if the enemy really adopted a roundabout strategy, then Qingtian Town, this seemingly safe haven, might be a trap set by them.
Tokugawa Mitsuka shuddered and broke out in a cold sweat. He realized that he could not afford to be careless or negligent. He turned around quickly, stared at his adjutant with a sharp gaze, and said in a deep voice: "Immediately organize an elite infantry squadron to enter Qingtian Town for reconnaissance. Be sure to act carefully and report any abnormal situation immediately."
The adjutant looked puzzled when he heard this. He looked at Tokugawa Mitsuka in confusion, trying to explain his doubts: "But General, Qingtian Town is not far from Kashima City, and we have our own troops stationed there. How could the enemy occupy this place silently?"
Tokugawa Mitsuka's sense of crisis grew stronger. He interrupted his adjutant with an unquestionable firmness in his tone: "In a war, anything can happen. We cannot let our guard down because of a momentary fluke. Follow the order and make sure there are no mistakes."
The adjutant saw this, although he still had doubts in his heart, he also knew that military orders were as heavy as a mountain and could not be disobeyed. He quickly took the order and quickly organized an infantry squadron to prepare to march towards Qingtian Town.
The adjutant had just arranged for the infantry squadron to depart, and the soldiers in the team were nervously making final preparations. Suddenly, the night sky was torn apart by dazzling flames, as if angry flames burst out from the cracks in the sky. Then, the roar rolled in like thunder, deafening and completely breaking the tranquility of the entire night.
The shells poured down like raindrops, and they slammed into the ground mercilessly with the roar of death, instantly igniting the surrounding air. The smoke and dust intertwined to form a chaotic world. Under the light of the fire, Tokugawa Mitsuka's face became extremely grim. He quickly jumped off the command vehicle, his eyes flashing with determination and firmness.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!" Tokugawa Mitsuka's voice penetrated the roar of the explosion and reached every soldier's ears clearly. He knew that in this sudden attack, any panic and disorder would be fatal. Therefore, while shouting loudly, he pushed away the guards who tried to protect him and rushed into the chaotic crowd without hesitation.
"Everyone, stay calm! Find shelter quickly and avoid bombing!" Tokugawa Mitsuka's voice was firm and powerful. He was like a pilot eagle, leading the confused flock of birds in the storm. After hearing the order, the soldiers were filled with fear and anxiety, but they reacted quickly and looked for shelters that could be used. Some hid behind vehicles, while others dug shallow pits on the spot to minimize their exposure to artillery fire.