Anti-Japanese War: Starting from Yaobai

Chapter 2880: Chasing the Anti-Japanese Brigade!

Inside the Chuncheng Command Headquarters, Commander Ito was sitting at his desk drinking alone.

Although as a commander he shouldn't drink alcohol during this war.

But the melancholy in his heart forced him to drink some wine to relieve his sorrow.

However, at this moment, a Japanese signalman rushed in, stood at attention and saluted, then handed over a telegram: "Commander, this is an urgent message from Onizuka Youming!"

Commander Ito put down his glass, took the telegram, quickly read it, and his face suddenly became gloomy. He cursed in his heart: "This Onitsuka, how dare he accuse me of misjudgment!"

Although he also believed that Onitsuka Youming's judgment was correct, he refused to admit it. He slammed the telegram on the table and snorted coldly, "Humph, this is just that the Anti-Japanese Brigade gave up after receiving his reinforcements from the Fuyang County Arsenal. He can't even see this, and he dares to blame me?"

Commander Ito stood up and paced around the office thinking, because he might be questioned by the headquarters next.

It was just like when he and Commander Ino wanted to question Kujo Miyakita.

So think of a solution before being questioned.

So he paced and muttered to himself: "I asked Guizuka Youming to support the arsenal to ensure that everything was safe. Who dares to say that the Anti-Japanese Brigade didn't really want to attack the arsenal? What's more, it was the Fuyang County Arsenal that urgently asked the headquarters for help. How could I just ignore it? What's more, it was Guizuka Youming who exposed his whereabouts, right? It was the Anti-Japanese Brigade that retreated because they saw him going to support the Fuyang County Arsenal. What does this have to do with me?"

After figuring this out, Commander Ito felt somewhat complacent.

But there was another problem. Onizuka Youming asked him to transfer troops to intercept the anti-Japanese brigade's grain transport team.

But where does he have the troops now? If he did, why would he withdraw the troops that were looking for Jiujiao Gongbei to support the Fuyang County Arsenal?
He sat back in his chair, crossed his arms over his chest, and began to wonder if there was anyone else around him who could be sent out to intercept.

"At present, all the troops that can be mobilized in the city have been dispatched, and the successive battles have already left Spring City with a lack of manpower."

Commander Ito muttered to himself, the numbers and locations of various troops flashing through his mind.

"The 3rd Brigade has less than two infantry battalions left. And they have at least three transportation lines to defend, so they are seriously short of manpower.

The Fifth Brigade is guarding the city. There aren't many Imperial Army troops left now, and they have to defend several arsenals and oil depots.

As for the troops in Chuncheng, they are responsible for the security of Chuncheng, and they only have one infantry battalion left. If they are all transferred away, then I will really become a commander-in-chief."

The more Commander Ito thought about it, the more headache he had. He discovered that he did not have a suitable troop that could be sent out to intercept the Anti-Japanese Brigade's grain transport team.

“Are we just going to watch them carry away the food?”

Commander Ito was very unwilling, but the reality left him helpless.

At this moment, the signalman came in again and asked, "Commander, do you want to reply to Onitsuka Yumei's telegram?"

Commander Ito was silent for a moment, then said: "Reply to him and tell him that I have learned about the situation and will immediately arrange troops to intercept. Let him chase boldly!"

The signalman took the order and left, while Commander Ito sat on the chair, looking ahead with empty eyes.

He knew in his heart that he had no substantive actions to take, and his so-called reply was just a perfunctory response to Onizuka Youming. "Forget it, let's just hold off for now and see how things turn out."

Commander Ito sighed helplessly, picked up the glass of sake that had already gone cold, and drank it all in one gulp, as if he wanted to use this glass of wine to cover up his inner anxiety.

But Onizuka Youming believed it. He believed Ito's casual remark and immediately ordered the army to march out to pursue the anti-Japanese brigade.

Onitsuka Youming stood on the puppet army position outside Fuyang City, his eyes filled with anxiety and fanaticism.

He drew the command knife from his waist and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Everyone, move out immediately and chase the anti-Japanese brigade. We must not let them take the food away! Those are the food of the empire, and they are the foundation of every imperial soldier's survival."

Following an order from Onizuka Youming, the Japanese soldiers began to move slowly with heavy steps.

Their faces were pale and their eyes were full of fatigue. Their military uniforms had long been soaked with sweat and stained grayish yellow by dust, and they stuck tightly to their bodies.

Many Japanese soldiers in the team staggered, as if they would fall down at any moment. They walked mechanically, their legs as heavy as if they were filled with lead.

Previously, in order to search for Kujo Miyakita, they had run around in the mountains, consuming a lot of physical energy.

Then they marched quickly to the Fuyang County Arsenal. They rode non-stop all the way, so they were already exhausted.

A Japanese officer rode up to Onitsuka Youming on horseback, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Sir Onitsuka, the soldiers are already extremely tired. If we continue to chase them, I'm afraid they will not be able to exert their full combat effectiveness."

Onizuka Youming turned his head sharply, stared at the officer, and demanded, "Baka! This is the commander's order, do you want to disobey it? Food is extremely important to the Imperial Japanese Army, do you want tens of thousands of soldiers to starve in this winter? We must pursue them, according to the original method, several squadrons will take turns to change vehicles, and we must catch up even if we die!"

The officer's face turned red after being scolded by Onizuka Youming. He didn't dare to refute anymore. He could only lower his head helplessly and muttered softly: "But if this continues, the soldiers will not be able to hold on sooner or later."

But Onizuka Youming ignored his complaints, because in his eyes, these ordinary imperial soldiers were too weak and could not be compared with the Shadow Wolf Corps at all.

So he continued to urge the troops to move out, hoping that he could catch up with the enemy after the anti-Japanese brigade's grain transport troops were intercepted.

The Japanese soldiers dragged their tired bodies and ran again along the rugged road following the truck in front of them.

But from time to time, the soldiers' panting and complaints could be heard from the marching troops:

"When will this end? I feel like my legs are going to break."

"If we continue like this, we will die of exhaustion without the need for the anti-Japanese brigade to attack us."

Onizuka Youming was riding on his horse, listening to the soldiers' complaints, and felt a little annoyed, but he knew that he could not stop at this time.

He kept urging, "Speed ​​up! Anyone who falls behind will be punished by military law!"

Under the pressure of Onizuka Youming, the Japanese soldiers could only grit their teeth and continue to chase forward.

However, their speed was getting slower and slower, and their formation was getting looser and looser. With less than two infantry battalions, they dragged on for three to five kilometers. Even Guizuka Youming felt that such a force was simply incapable of fighting.

He was thinking about how to improve the morale of the troops, but at this moment, an officer came on horseback and said, "Report to Lord Onitsuka, there seems to be a shortage of people in our team."