Rise from eight hundred.

Chapter 1448 Tiger! Tiger!

The Zhengu Detachment was destroyed in one attack, but this does not mean that the entire Battle of Shipai is over!

No one expected that in the following days, the Chinese troops led by the Four-Line Regiment would work even harder to build positions around the 231st Infantry Regiment's area of ​​less than 0.2 square kilometers, just as if they were carefully protecting their own flock of sheep.

Since the fifteenth day of the first lunar month of the Chinese New Year, even the cold guns and cold cannons that had been maintained before have disappeared. The various units of the Four-Line Regiment have not been idle, and have been digging various fortifications on the various positions they are stationed, and even hollowed out several mountains for this purpose.

In the eyes of Japanese intelligence personnel, it did not look like combat at all, but rather like military training.

Yes, the IQ of Japanese intelligence personnel is quite high. They guessed correctly and took advantage of this rare opportunity to "rest and recuperate".

Under the arrangement of Ye Chenghuan, the second-in-command of the regiment, each unit of the Sihang Regiment started various training modes in this mountainous area according to local conditions.

There are special trainings such as mountain fortification construction and mountain attack and defense drills, as well as general trainings such as fully armed cross-country marches, shooting, and bayonet fighting.

However, this is not enough to explain that the siege war, which even the Japanese army leaders wanted to end as soon as possible, would last to an unexpected result.

Before the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Tang Dao applied to the Fifth War Zone Command, using the promise of no taxation to attract merchants from more than a hundred miles away to open theaters, restaurants and other entertainment facilities in a valley behind the defense line.

At the same time, Tang Dao issued a military order that all officers and soldiers in the encirclement would have one day off per week according to their own arrangements. Those who wanted to relax could sleep in the barracks or go to the valley named "Resort" by Tang Dao.

When spending here, regardless of military rank, people only pay attention to silver dollars. Although prices are 10% higher than the market price, they can drink wine and watch plays in between battles. For the Chinese officers and soldiers who may lose their lives at any time on the battlefield, this price increase is nothing.

As for the merchants who were risking their lives, the thing that those soldiers who had won military honors had the most was military pay. Their spending power was more than ten times that of the people in the towns outside. The first few merchants who tried it out made a fortune within a week, which attracted more merchants to arrive.

The Chinese troops that besieged the 231st Infantry Regiment included not only the Four-Line Regiment, but also four regiments of the 18th Army, totaling more than 4 troops.

"This siege is a long-term action. The string in your mind will break sooner or later if you keep it too tight. Only by properly relaxing and resting can you fight better for your country!" These are Tang Dao's original words.

But in the eyes of many generals who are strict in military discipline, the Tang sword is purely an excuse for them to make money. They have been fighting against Japan for a long time and their nerves are tense 365 days a year, but they have never seen anyone go crazy or stupid.

In the face of a brutal war, something as insignificant as human nature would not even be considered by those in power.

Tang Dao just hoped that his soldiers would be more like normal people after the war, and not be like him, who had to put a saber under his pillow when he went to sleep, otherwise he would not be able to sleep well.

Even if you are married, if your partner moves his or her arms slightly, his or her originally closed eyes will instantly sparkle with a heart-pounding luster in the dark night.

War Traumatic Stress Disorder, a disease that was not officially included in the list of psychiatric diseases until more than 40 years later, has actually never disappeared since the beginning of war.

I don't know what's wrong with the two division commanders Hu and Luo. They actually followed Tang Dao's "fool around" and gave their officers and soldiers one day off every week to go to the "resort" to relax.

They even went there twice, experienced the food and drinks at the "resort" and listened to some opera.

This results in a daily flow of up to a thousand people in the "resort area", and it is normal for each person to spend an average of one or two silver dollars a day. The entire valley is bustling every day.

Tang Dao didn't even keep any of this secret. Even the Japanese knew of the existence of this resort through their pervasive intelligence system.

"Damn it! The Chinese are prepared for a long-term siege. They want to force the 231st Infantry Regiment to surrender as a whole, and use the 231st Infantry Regiment as bait to lure our 11th Army into the mountains." Yokoyama Isamu sat in his office, a gloomy look on his face that seemed to be dripping out.

  He saw through the Chinese's blatant conspiracy, but was helpless!

The airdrop supply carried out by hundreds of fighter jets mobilized by the Chinese Expeditionary Force Command a few days ago regardless of cost proved to be extremely stupid.

The Chinese used these supply packages that fell from the sky but could not be accurately thrown to carry out an organized siege on the starving imperial infantry in the encirclement.

The Chinese did not even have to leave their positions. They only needed to concentrate their fire on areas with supplies to easily shoot down the empire's carefully trained elite soldiers in the wilderness. This also caused the already understaffed Jingu Detachment to lose more than two-thirds of its troops in less than 5 days. In the end, it had to abandon most of its positions and be trapped in a corner, only to be bombarded by China's concentrated artillery fire and the entire army was wiped out!

The 231st Infantry Regiment was stronger, having already begun slaughtering pack horses and war horses and storing a certain amount of meat, but they still could not overcome their extreme thirst for supplies when they were surrounded, which was a fear of the future.

Therefore, they also fell into this seemingly necessary tactic of the Chinese side. In the end, when the Empire stopped the airdrop, the 231st Infantry Regiment only had 1500 combat-capable soldiers left.

Upon closer thought, perhaps the Chinese side had already started their plan by inviting military attachés from Western embassies to observe the scene and persuade them to surrender. They used the Western media to stimulate the people on the Japanese main island and facilitated the largest airdrop supply plan in the history of the Japanese Army.

At the beginning, Yokoyama Isamu and a number of Japanese army high-ranking officials who finally figured out the situation set their sights on the 18th Army's division commander surnamed Hu, because Division Commander Hu, who became famous in the Battle of Shipai, had already been dubbed one of the "three heroes" among the young generals under the age of 45 in the Chinese military.

It was not until a senior spy lurking in the Third War Zone Command determined through clues that the real proposer was Tang Dao, the then supreme commander of the Beidoushan front of China and the commander of the Four-Line Regiment, that the Japanese China Expeditionary Army Command realized that the young colonel who had been in North China for three consecutive commanders of the North China Front Army seemed to be coming to the battlefields of Central and South China again.

Moreover, the combat effectiveness of the 12.7th Regiment was even stronger than before in North China. It was not only equipped with tanks, but also cars equipped with mm heavy machine guns.

It was these two types of equipment, which had never appeared on the battlefield before, that caught the 231st Infantry Regiment and the Jingu Detachment off guard and crippled them in one battle.

The small tank equipped with a 20mm machine gun is fine, its main function is to catch the enemy by surprise. On the plains, except for the Type 94 armored vehicle, any tank equipped by the Imperial Army can crush this light tank that is only suitable for reconnaissance.

But the car that can run on a 40-degree slope is different. If it is used on a plain battlefield to assist infantry in trench assaults, its 12.7mm heavy machine gun will be a disaster for the infantry in the trenches. The 70mm infantry gun equipped at the battalion level alone can hardly pose a threat to this highly mobile and flexible heavy firepower platform.

The old hatred has not been settled yet, and new hatred has been added! What is even more frustrating is that the Four Lines Group is becoming more and more powerful.

. . . . . . . . .

  Inside Jinling City! China Expeditionary Army Headquarters!

"Mr. Itagaki, you led the 5th Division to fight against it in North China. You should have some impression of this Tang sword!" asked Nishio Jūzo, commander of the China Expeditionary Army.

The name Tang Dao was not unfamiliar to Nishiio Juzo. Last year, among the ten battle reports about the front line from the Japanese North China Front Army, at least two or three mentioned this name and the Four-Line Regiment.

But as a general-level commander in charge of two major fronts and the 11th, 13th and 23rd armies with millions of troops, a small infantry regiment with only three or four thousand soldiers was too insignificant. If the 231st Infantry Regiment had not been surrounded this time, he would not have remembered the name of Tang Dao at all.

"The Tang Dao and the Four-Line Regiment are extremely powerful. They are well-equipped and their soldiers have a strong fighting spirit. They can be called the strongest infantry regiment in China." Itagaki Shiro, then Chief of Staff of the China Expeditionary Army, who was sitting opposite the commander's desk, had a gloomy look in his eyes, but he was generous in praising the old rival, the Tang Dao and the Four-Line Regiment. "But if you attribute the Four-Line Regiment's strong combat effectiveness entirely to its equipment, it would be extremely wrong. At the beginning, my 5th Division's detachment-level troops fought against the Four-Line Regiment no less than three times, at Lao Shu Mountain in Guangde, Niangzi Pass in North China, and Wangwu Mountain in North China. My troops had an advantage in manpower every time, but without exception, they were defeated and suffered heavy losses.

After analysis after the war, it was found that the fierce firepower of the Four-Line Regiment alone was not enough to defeat our Steel Army Division. The real reason for our division's defeat was due to unfavorable tactical response.

Tang Dao, the leader of the Four Ranks Regiment, is a genius in the use of tactics on a battlefield involving tens of thousands of people. He is always able to find the opponent's loopholes before others and decisively deliver a fatal blow.

Such people are extremely rare in my decades of military career! "

"Mr. Itagaki actually has such a high opinion of the Tang sword?" Nishio Jūzo frowned fiercely.

From his perspective, he never imagined that one day two senior generals of the Imperial Army would specifically study a young colonel from China.

"Not high. If you, Commander, look at all the battle reports since the Tang Dao emerged from the Sihang Warehouse, you will be surprised to find that the Tang Dao may have suffered heavy losses and had to leave the battlefield, but there has never been a battle situation in which they failed." Itagaki Shiro shook his head expressionlessly.

This was also the investigation he did after the defeat in the last Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain. From a soldier's perspective, every battlefield where the Tang Dao fought against the Imperial Army was exciting. Even the crazy escape from Songhu to Songjiang and then from Songjiang to Guangde was amazing.

Anyway, if it were him, he would never be able to do so well.

"Moreover, Tang Dao is extremely hostile to the Empire. The 11th Army was defeated in the Battle of Shipai, but the Four-Line Regiment captured very few Imperial officers and soldiers, less than a hundred! This shows that his character is far more cruel than that of ordinary people. If such a person is allowed to continue to grow, it will not be a good thing for the Empire." Itagaki Shiro made his closing statement.

To be honest, when Shiro Itagaki thought of the at least 1.5 people who died at the hands of the Tang Swords and the Shixing Group, he felt a sense of blockage in his heart for no reason. If possible, he never wanted to hear this name again.

"Look, this is a confidential document sent by the headquarters intelligence department." Nishio Jūzo handed Itagaki Shiro an envelope with the word "top secret" stamped on the fire seal.

"It seems that their judgment is almost consistent with that of Mr. Itagaki."

"Assassination of Tang Dao?" Itagaki Shiro read it quickly, with a hint of surprise in his eyes.

"Yes, after comprehensive analysis, those people in the Intelligence Department unanimously concluded that Tang Dao, the empire's biggest threat, must be eliminated while he is still just a small army colonel. If he is promoted to general or an army group commander, the empire will suffer huge losses." Xiwei Beastmaster nodded.

"Yes! Before he really grows up. But there is one thing that is very strange. Logically speaking, he has made so many military exploits in the Tang Dao War over the past three years. Even in our Imperial Army, which is strictly based on seniority, he should be promoted to at least a major general. But he has been a colonel in the past three years." Itagaki Shiro sighed.

"Itagaki-kun, be careful with your words!" Nishio Jūzo felt a little amused.

  This chief of staff who was transferred from the commander of a main division actually did a pretty good job. He never stole the limelight from his superior, and the commander didn't have to worry too much about strategic and tactical arrangements. He just had a somewhat rebellious temperament. How could he start complaining about the biggest chronic problem in the Imperial Army in the middle of a conversation?

The idea of ​​seniority has existed in the Empire's navy and army for a long time. If promotions are strictly based on military merit, then how will the followers of His Majesty the Emperor, His Royal Highness the Prince, the great nobles, and those senior generals be arranged?

  What? Is it possible to let those noble young men who come here to gild their own reputation carry guns and go to the front line of the battlefield?

If you want to get involved in this business, you need someone to follow you.

It's like you, Lieutenant General Shiro Itagaki, rose to power entirely because of your military achievements. Without the person behind you, based on your background, no matter how hard you work, a lieutenant general division commander would be the pinnacle.

Even so, Nishio Jūzo, who had already heard the news of his resignation, also knew that with his departure, this chief of staff who was about to be promoted to army general would also become a marginalized figure.

The emperor has begun to eagerly employ the new people under his command. A hint of gloom flashed in Xiwei Juzou's eyes, which was imperceptible to no one.

If it wasn't an order from the base camp, he wouldn't have wanted to bother with this at all.

I naturally cannot tolerate Tang Dao, a big worry in my position. If I am not in this position, it’s none of my business! In fact, when he thought that Tang Dao would become stronger and more troublesome to those who came after him, he felt an indescribable sense of pleasure deep in his heart.

Itagaki Shiro certainly had no idea of ​​the various thoughts going on in his immediate superior's mind. He was just delighted that the headquarters intelligence department made the same judgment as him.

"The headquarters has approved the assassination plan of the Intelligence Division and has already activated the No. 3 secret agent who has been lurking in China for many years." Nishio Juzo tapped the table lightly with his fingers. "As for the question you just raised, I can answer it at the same time."

"Tang Dao offended their top leader, so he failed to get promoted for many years. The assassination plan made by the intelligence class that obtained this secret information through No. 3 is different from the previous assassination plan of sending elite special agents to lurk in the enemy area. Instead, it is to make full use of these to find the right opportunity to kill him in one fell swoop."

"Commander, do you mean to use the Chinese to fight the Chinese?" Shiro Itagaki took a deep breath.

"That's right! Before telling you about this, I have already talked to Wang and Zhou. They said that they would fully support the actions of our personnel. Those Chinese were old friends of theirs. For their own retreat, many of them still have certain contacts with them in private." Xiwei Beast Zou said.

"Brilliant! Commander, this is a really brilliant move! No matter how powerful the Tang sword is, how could he have imagined that there would be so many hidden guns pointed at him in the area they control!" Itagaki Shiro rarely smiled and gave a thumbs up.

  Little did he know that he was cursing in his heart! I, the chief of staff, knew about this later than those surrendered Chinese. You might as well not let me know!

"This operation is codenamed 'Tora! Tora!' and will be assisted in its implementation by the China Expeditionary Army Headquarters. Itagaki-kun, you will be the supreme commander in charge of this operation and will be responsible for coordinating all matters." Nishio Jūzo tapped the table again, explaining the last reason he told Itagaki Shiro.

Before, his rank was not high enough, but now he was needed to do the job. After all, a commander who commanded millions of troops couldn't just stare at a small Chinese colonel every day, right? That status was too mismatched.

"Who came up with this code name for the operation?"

What kind of code name is this? Itagaki Shiro, who has been in Northeast China for many years, was stunned.

The Japanese Army Lieutenant General knew that the word "tiger" was a synonym for "two" in the Northeast. So when these two tigers appeared, wouldn't they all be two-timbered?

"Of course it's me! How about it, isn't it very poetic? It not only represents the destruction of the tiger, but also shows the might of our Imperial Army." Nishio Beastmaster was obviously very satisfied with himself for 'plagiarizing' the code name that was supposed to appear in the radio waves over the Pacific Ocean 10 months later.

"Very good, very good, very domineering, it is indeed worthy of your work, Commander!" Shiro Itagaki smiled and gave a thumbs up again.

  The subtext is actually: You are a tiger, and your whole family is a tiger!

Anyway, from the moment he heard this code name, Lieutenant General Itagaki Shiro had a bad feeling!

(End of this chapter)