Age of Rebirth

Invading the city of Manila, the original animal surnames of the Japanese soldiers seemed to have found a place to vent. It was no longer a time of field battles. The fearless Japanese Imperial Army troops looked like bandits who smashed the door of a rich family. , basically lost the original divisional system, and sprinkled it all over the city of Manila in the size of a brigade or a squadron. They said it was to clear up the US and Philippine soldiers hidden in the city. What did the Japanese army actually do? Soldiers and mid- and lower-ranking officers know it well.

Lieutenant General Haruta Yoshihiko, who received the reports from the various troops, was taken aback at first. He did not expect that MacArthur actually ordered his troops to abandon the outer defense line of Manila, and the attacking imperial army entered Manila after any battle. City, this made Lieutenant General Chuntian, who had tried his best, feel temporarily uncomfortable, like punching with all his strength, but the opponent was gone.

Since there was no fierce battle on the perimeter of Manila, MacArthur's troops must be fighting a street battle with the imperial army in Manila. This is the conclusion drawn by Lieutenant General Chuntian. This Japanese general, known for his bravery, was puzzled.

The commanders of various troops called to report that there was no sign of resistance from the US and Filipino soldiers in Manila. In order to prevent enemy soldiers from hiding in every corner of the city and attacking the imperial army, all the ministries had already dispersed. unit, conduct a city-wide search.

"Haney?" Lieutenant General Haruta Yoshihiko touched his huge head, his eyes flickered, and he couldn't figure it out. After wandering around the headquarters for a few times, Lieutenant General Haruta suddenly became alarmed and couldn't help roaring, "Eight Ga! MacArthur is very cunning, his troops must have fled to the port!" [

Lieutenant General Chuntian turned around and the chief of staff, Major General Hashimoto, shouted: "Mr. Hashimoto, order the [-]th Division to be responsible for the security in downtown Manila. Heading towards Santa Cruz, the fleeing US and Filipino soldiers must gather there, hurry up, and wipe out all those hateful guys at the port before they board the ship!"

"Immediately issue an order to each unit. If that unit delays the time to wipe out the enemy, the commander will cut himself open and report the situation in Manila to Commander-in-Chief Ito!"

In every corner of the urban area of ​​Manila, which had been plunged into terror and chaos, there were bursts of shrill calls for assembly calls. The Japanese soldiers, who were about to have fun just now, looked dissatisfied, cursed in a low voice, and drilled from every corner. Come out and run towards the direction where our troops gathered. Afterwards, the Japanese soldiers of the brigade, like locusts crossing the border, spread across the urban area of ​​Manila and drove south. The Japanese soldiers stayed in the urban area of ​​Manila, but it took about an hour. Time also allows the citizens of Manila to fully feel the martial arts of the soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army, and it is precisely this precious hour or so that makes how many troops from the United States and the Philippines that are withdrawing to the direction of the Santa Cruz port Army troops escaped unharmed.

However, there are lucky people, and there are unlucky people. The No.11 Infantry Division of the U.S. Army and the Third Division of the First Philippine Army Corps, two troops, collided head-on with the roaring Japanese troops. Two U.S. troops with more than 10,000 people , The Philippine army immediately fell into a crowd of [-]+ Japanese troops, and then there was a one-sided melee.

The sound of rapid shooting, the flashes of flames from exploding grenades, the panicked shouts of American and Filipino soldiers, the sound of bayonets entering their bodies, the screams of dying people, the sound of clanging iron objects, The ferocious cries of the Japanese soldiers were intertwined and echoed in the dawn sky.

At about 29:[-] a.m. on August [-], Lieutenant General Jonathan, the commander-in-chief of the U.S. and Philippine armies, stared at the direction of the battle with an ugly expression on Polillo’s new blockade position. He knew that it must be one of his troops On the way to the port, they were intercepted and killed by the Japanese army. They knew it was the case, but they couldn't go to the rescue. When they heard the sudden sound of guns and guns, the already flustered and disturbed troops could board the ship in order. , is already a miracle.

Do you still expect such troops to turn around and rescue their brothers from the siege of hundreds of thousands of Japanese troops?No, they didn't have the courage and the idea. Lieutenant General Jonathan's mood at the moment could no longer be described in pain.

Lieutenant General Jonathan, grateful to Tang Qiuli from the bottom of his heart, ordered himself to build a new blocking line in Polillo, otherwise, all the officers and soldiers of his 10,000th Mechanized Infantry Division who are surrounded now, trapped in [-]+ Surrounded by the Japanese army, all soldiers including himself had no choice but to die in battle or be captured.

The sound of guns and guns in the melee gradually subsided after more than an hour. Lieutenant General Jonathan knew in his heart that the intercepted troops must be finished. A staff officer walked up to him and said, "Report to Your Excellency Commander, they have assembled at the port." The roster of troops, Chief of Staff Kleist ordered me to hand it over to you!"

Lieutenant General Jonathan took the roster anxiously, glanced at the number of the troops one by one, read it again and again, and asked the staff with luck: "Did the chief of staff say that the No. 11 Infantry Division, the Philippine [-]st Why did the two troops of the Third Division of the First Legion not arrive at the assembly point on time?"

The staff officer shook his head and replied: "Commander, an hour ago, the chief of staff also contacted these two troops, and their answer was that because a large amount of military supplies were withdrawing with the troops, the retreat speed was relatively slow. Before coming here, the Chief of Staff has lost contact with these two units!"

Lieutenant General Jonathan crumpled the roster into a ball, and he understood everything. Those two troops who were intercepted and killed by the Japanese army, such a large amount of military supplies, if he guessed correctly, should be the personal belongings of those senior officers. Property, damn it, because of their own private property, disregarding the order of the headquarters to evacuate quickly, it caused more than 4 soldiers to be surrounded and wiped out by the Japanese army.

Lieutenant General Jonathan had no time to get angry. In front of his eyes, there were Japanese soldiers all over the mountains and plains, like a huge turbid wave, pressing forward. The battle immediately started on the front line of Polillo, which was more than ten kilometers wide. .

The Japanese troops received a strict order from Commander Chuntian. If they could not seize and wipe out the American and Philippine troops, all commanders, from division heads to squadron leaders, would cut themselves open. Perhaps in other imperial troops, This is a gesture of the supreme commander, but in the No. 14 Army, the commanders at all levels of the Japanese army believe that the lunatic Commander Chuntian is absolutely capable of doing it!

The first wave of the Japanese charge slammed into the position of the U.S. Seventh Mechanized Infantry Division, immediately sparking a rain of blood, and the sound of gunfire was deafening. Countless tongues of flame shot out from the U.S. position, hitting the ground with dust. Feiyang swept the charging Japanese soldiers down in front of the position in pieces.

Because the front of the blocking position is shortened, the density and thickness of the U.S. military's defensive troops have been greatly enhanced. In addition, in order to strengthen the blocking firepower, a large number of light and heavy machine guns were transferred from the various troops boarding the ship to strengthen the blocking firepower. The [-]th Mechanized Infantry Division The number of automatic weapons exceeded the equipment level of the two divisions.

The Japanese army's first attack wave was severely beaten down, and the corpses of Japanese soldiers were lying in disorder in front of the position. The Japanese army suffered heavy losses, but the Seventh Mechanized Infantry Division lost all their lives in just over half an hour. During the blocking battle, nearly one regiment was killed or injured. After receiving the report, Lieutenant General Jonathan took a breath, took advantage of the favorable terrain, strengthened his automatic weapons, and hit the Japanese army by surprise. Huge casualties.

Next, how long can the Seventh Division stop the Japanese army?The answer is obvious. As long as the Japanese army is carrying out two rounds of such attacks, there will not be many people left on the ground. Now, it is only [-]:[-] in the morning, which means that the Seventh Mechanized Infantry Division has to hold on to one more Can it be done in half an hour?Why hasn't Tang Qiuli's fleet arrived yet?Mr. Jonathan has never expected the appearance of Chinese people so much.

Lieutenant General Jonathan didn't know how lucky he was. The Japanese army made an assault all the way. Apart from being delayed for more than an hour in downtown Manila, there was almost no time wasted. The infantry rushed far ahead of the artillery. The Japanese army's heavy artillery brigade And the regiment is still tens of kilometers away from Polillo. Otherwise, even if the first wave of Japanese attack is blocked by the overwhelming artillery fire, the casualties of the Seventh Division will more than double the current one. [

Jonathan picked up the air-to-air communicator and called: "Your Excellency, Commander Le of the Chinese Air Force, I am Lieutenant General Jonathan, commander of the US and Philippine troops evacuated from Luzon Island. We have just repelled the Japanese army at the Polillo line of defense. The first attack by the army caused heavy casualties. Excuse me, where is your aircraft fleet? We urgently need air fire support!"

In the airspace of the South China Sea, at an altitude of several thousand meters, the corners of Le Yiqin's mouth twitched, showing a sneer of disdain. The Americans knew they were asking for help this time, but this Yankee named Jonathan was not bad, at least he knew who he was talking to. His attitude is also quite modest, unlike that British guy who even puts on a dirty face when asking for help.

Le Yiqin replied: "I am Le Yiqin, Commander of the Aviation Division of the Republic of China, Lieutenant General Jonathan, specify the coordinates of your blocking position. My fleet will arrive in the predetermined airspace in 10 minutes, and make a good target instruction!"

Lieutenant General Jonathan was so excited that he almost cried. The Chinese, God-like Chinese, finally appeared. With them, not only the troops boarding the ship can be safe and sound, but also the blocking troops under his command can be fully recovered. "Tang Qiuli is the most reliable friend," Jonathan said to himself.

If President Roosevelt knew that a newly appointed commander-in-chief of the war zone had such a ridiculous idea, would he be so angry that he would spit out a few mouthfuls of blood?

(To be continued)