Liang Jian: Commander, save some for me

"Captain, then you..." Upon hearing this, the Japanese lieutenant colonel was at a loss for words.

"It's nothing, a minor issue. This operational failure was indeed my fault. Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. Let's continue to analyze where the enemy will retreat to." Yamamoto Ichiki was too lazy to care about what happened next.

Now he just wants to figure out the enemy's next plan. If he can successfully hold the enemy back, he might still have a chance to lead troops. Otherwise, he will probably never be able to lead troops again.

"Yes, sir." The Japanese lieutenant colonel nodded, also beginning to wonder what Mu Jin would do.

The two pondered for more than half an hour.

"Captain, what if the enemy still wants to retreat south?!" the Japanese lieutenant colonel said.

He didn't think the southern troops could hold off the enemy for long, and that if they all went to reinforce the west, the enemy would be able to easily break through from the south.

The prerequisite for encircling the enemy is that they can quickly provide support, cooperate with other troops to hold off the enemy, and buy time for other troops.

"That's true. Although we've guessed that the enemy might retreat westward, what if the enemy also guessed that?"
They might abandon their breakout attempt from the west and instead try to break out from the south. Therefore, we are currently in a predicament, and we are uncertain about the enemy's next move. Yamamoto Ichiki felt this was a very difficult situation; whether or not we could annihilate the enemy depended on this opportunity.

If they lose this opportunity, Yamamoto's special attack force will never be able to hold their heads high again. He has put so much effort into leading the troops in training, but in the end they are no match for that Northeast Army. What is the point of that?

"Captain, how about we split into two groups? Although splitting up will reduce our combat strength..."

"But we can hold off the enemy until reinforcements arrive. Although the casualties will be heavy, it will be worth any price to wipe out that Northeast Army," the Japanese lieutenant colonel suggested.

"For now, it seems this is the only way. Let's get to the 33rd Brigade first and then discuss other matters. Oh, and have the telegraph operator send a message to Division Commander Ban Heng, telling him my guess."

"How to carry it out is up to the division commander. We'll just follow orders," Yamamoto Ichiki said. He didn't want to act on his own; if something went wrong, he would truly be doomed.

"Yes, sir!" The Japanese lieutenant colonel nodded, then ordered the communications soldier to call the telegraph operator over, and handed over the prepared telegram to him so that he could send it out.

.........

Taiyuan, the inner city.

The Japanese operations room.

Seishiro Itagata stood in front of the map for a long time, wondering what Kimi and the others would do next.

"Division Commander, the enemy is retreating in only two directions: south or west."

Judging from the map, the enemy is more likely to retreat from the west, because it is closer to the territory of the Eighth Route Army. Therefore, I propose that the troops in the north be transferred to reinforce the west! The Japanese brigade commander next to him said.

After studying it for a long time, the conclusion was that the enemy would break out from the west, so what was there to hesitate about?

"That's what they say, but if all the troops are moved west, what if the enemy doesn't break out from the west, but instead breaks out from the south?!"

"Without Yamamoto's special attack force to help, do you think the southern brigade can stop the enemy?! It might just increase casualties." Itagaki Seishiro retorted.

In truth, he felt that the enemy was more likely to break out from the south, but he also felt that the possibility from the west was not small, so he was in a dilemma for a while.

"In that case, why not have Yamamoto's special attack team split into two groups? With them there, holding off the enemy shouldn't be a problem," the Japanese brigade commander suggested.

“Yes, that’s feasible. To be on the safe side, we should also send reinforcements from the east to the south. This way, we’ll have a better chance of holding off the enemy.” Itagaki Seishiro nodded in agreement and added his own suggestion.

"The division commander is brilliant!" the Japanese brigade commander exclaimed in praise.

Just then, a Japanese telegraph operator ran in.

"Division Commander, a telegram from Yamamoto's Special Attack Unit." The Japanese telegraph operator handed the telegram to Seishiro Itahatsu.

"What did Yamamoto Ichiki say?!" The Japanese brigade commander was a little curious. At a time like this, instead of rushing to provide support, why did the other side have the mood to send them a telegram?

"He also analyzed the enemy's next move." As he spoke, Itagaki Seishiro handed the document to the Japanese brigade commander.

"What can he possibly analyze?" The Japanese brigade commander took the telegram and examined it, his expression shifting from disdain to seriousness.

"This Yamamoto Ichiki is indeed quite formidable," the Japanese brigade commander couldn't help but remark after reading the report.

In fact, from Yamamoto Ichiki's initial plan to his current analysis of the enemy's next move, the enemy has been very formidable; it's just that plans can't keep up with changes.

"The commander's choice to select him to lead the Yamamoto Special Attack Corps was indeed a good eye. It would be a pity to lose such a talent like this," Itagaki Seishiro lamented.

In his view, Yamamoto Ichiki was very capable, even more so than many regimental commanders.

"There's nothing we can do about it. He made a mistake from the very beginning, causing such a huge loss to the Empire. Yamamoto Ichiki can't escape responsibility; he's doomed," said the Japanese brigade commander.

No matter how capable he is, someone has to take responsibility for this incident. The culprit is Yamamoto Ichiki.

"Ah...what a pity." Seishiro Itagata sighed.

"Division Commander, I actually think Yamamoto Ichiki has another option: he can stay behind," the Japanese brigade commander said.

"What method?!" Itagaki Seishiro asked in confusion. Yamamoto Ichiki could not afford such a huge loss. Even the commander would not dare to risk his life to protect Yamamoto Ichiki.

"It mainly depends on the commander's attitude towards Yamamoto Ichiki. If the commander really wants to protect Yamamoto Ichiki, he can actually do so, as long as that Northeast Army unit escapes."

"In order to annihilate that Northeast Army, Yamamoto Ichiki still has a chance to stay!" The Japanese brigade commander explained the plan.

Once that Northeast Army unit escapes, it will be much more difficult to annihilate it again. This will also make the higher-ups realize the importance of the Yamamoto Special Attack Corps. Without the assistance of the Yamamoto Special Attack Corps, it will be much more difficult for them to annihilate that Northeast Army unit. In this way, Yamamoto Ichiki can be saved.

"What a joke! We've already lost a brigade. If we let them escape, the losses will be even greater. Do you think the commander would make such a huge sacrifice for the Yamamoto Special Attack Corps?!"
"This would be a loss of the Empire's strength! The Commander would never do something so foolish!" Itagaki Seishiro responded immediately. The Commander would never allow the Empire to suffer even greater losses in the future.

"Well, there's nothing we can do then, Division Commander. Don't worry, I was just saying. The Yamamoto Special Attack Corps is important, but what does it amount to compared to the future development of the Empire?" the Japanese brigade commander said. He was just stating a hypothetical scenario; it wasn't actually happening.

"Do you think Yamamoto Ichiki might have thought of this?! Letting that Northeast Army go in order to have a chance to stay?!" Itagaki Seishiro's brows furrowed as he spoke.

"I don't know about that, after all, I don't know what kind of person Yamamoto Ichiki is. But judging from the fact that he was still diligently analyzing the enemy's next move even though he knew he had to take responsibility, he is still very loyal to the Empire," the Japanese brigade commander analyzed.

If it were anyone else, they would probably be thinking about how to escape punishment or how to get their superiors to protect them!
But Yamamoto Ichiki was analyzing the enemy's situation, indicating that the enemy had resigned themselves to their fate and only wanted to eliminate a huge threat to the empire.

"Looking at it this way, Yamamoto Ichiki is indeed quite good. It's a pity that I'm in a precarious situation myself right now, otherwise I could put in a good word for him." Itagaki Seishiro shook his head helplessly.

He still carries a heavy disciplinary record, and if this operation doesn't go smoothly, he might have to join Yamamoto Ichiki in the afterlife.

"Division Commander, don't be discouraged. I believe you can stay and wash away the humiliation you've suffered!" the Japanese brigade commander comforted him.

"Yes, go and send them a telegram informing them of my deployment." Itagaki Seishiro nodded and gave the order.

"Hey!" The Japanese brigade commander turned and left.

"Sigh..." Seishiro Itagaki sighed again, took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag to ease the unease in his heart.

.........

On the other side, Li Jin hadn't rested yet; he was studying a map with a flashlight in hand.

"Commander, I suddenly remembered something," Liu Changshun suddenly said.

"What is it?!" Li Jin looked at Liu Changshun.

"With our current actions, the Japanese basically know that their plan has been exposed. Will they suspect that undercover agent? If so, wouldn't that undercover agent be in danger?!" Liu Changshun said. They had an undercover agent who had risen to a high position within the Japanese ranks, which was why he knew about Yamamoto's special attack team.

This allowed them to make preparations before the Japanese even laid out their plans.

But by attacking the 33rd Brigade, they were essentially telling the Japanese that they knew the Japanese had a secret unit.

"That's possible, but they won't suspect the undercover agent, because we received the information much earlier."
The arrival of Yamamoto's special attack unit came much later, so even if the Japanese suspected there was a mole, they wouldn't suspect that particular mole.
They were most likely thinking there were spies inside Taiyuan, or perhaps they believed that Yamamoto's special operations team hadn't concealed their movements well enough and had been discovered.
"That's why they've fallen into our trap!" Li Jin explained.

No matter how much the Japanese suspected them, their undercover agent was actually not in danger, because he had no connection with the other side. Who would suspect him for no reason?

"That makes sense, then I'm relieved!" Liu Changshun breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried about the undercover agent, even wondering if they should try to rescue him.
"Commander, why don't we rest first? There are soldiers watching along the way, so we'll know as soon as the enemy comes," Liu Changshun said again.

Their scouts kept watch from about twenty miles away, and would immediately contact them by radio if anything happened, so there was no need to worry about the enemy suddenly appearing nearby.

"No rush, let me take another look. If you're sleepy, go and rest first." Li Jin smoked a cigarette and began to think about the follow-up plan. In fact, he had already thought about most of it, and now he just wanted to make the plan more perfect.

"Alright then." Liu Changshun nodded, ran to sit under a tree not far away, and closed his eyes.

.........

Meanwhile, Li Yunlong and his men were still engaged in fierce fighting with the Japanese troops of the 33rd Brigade.

Gunfire was almost constant, and as the Japanese fortified their positions, it became increasingly difficult for them to kill the Japanese soldiers.

If this place were not far from the main road, they could have inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese from the start. Unfortunately, their ambush site was a bit far from the main road, so the soldiers could not inflict heavy casualties on the Japanese immediately.

"These Japanese soldiers from the Class A division are really formidable. Even though they're not good at night fighting, they still put a lot of pressure on us." Li Yunlong couldn't help but admire them.

Without the support of the special operations regiment, he would never have been foolish enough to fight against the Japanese Class A division; that would have been sending his soldiers to their deaths.

“Yes, their military skills are on a completely different level from the Japanese soldiers we killed before.” Chu Yunfei, who was standing next to Li Yunlong, agreed with what he said.

The Japanese Class A divisions were much stronger than Class B divisions.

"However, compared to Mu Jin and the others, they are still quite a bit inferior," Li Yunlong said. A Class A division is strong, but so what?

The special operations regiment is far superior to the Japanese. If it were the special operations regiment that ambushed the Japanese this time, the battle would probably be over by now.

"Yes, Brother Mu's troops are indeed very strong." Chu Yunfei nodded.

"By the way, where's your Commander Zhang?! He should be alright, right?!" Li Yunlong suddenly remembered Commander Zhang because he couldn't see him.

"Commander Zhang is in a safe place and his life is not in danger, so there is no need to worry," Chu Yunfei replied.

"Who cares if he's in danger? With Mu Jin's troops protecting him, it would be strange if he got into any danger," Li Yunlong said.

"Um... then what is Brother Yunlong doing..." Chu Yunfei was confused about what Li Yunlong meant. He thought Li Yunlong was worried about Commander Zhang's safety, but now it seemed that was not the case.

"What I'm trying to say is, since he's in a safe place, why don't we let those twenty soldiers come and help? With them there, we can kill a few more Japanese devils!" Li Yunlong revealed his intention!
Whether Commander Zhang is dead or not is none of his concern. What he cares about is that if those twenty soldiers join, they can kill many more Japanese soldiers.

"Brother Yunlong, don't even think about it. The division commander will most likely not agree." Chu Yunfei said helplessly. The division commander only felt safe with those twenty soldiers by his side. How could he possibly agree to let Li Yunlong transfer them away?

"Tch, stingy guy, can't even help when things are going well." Li Yunlong's tone was somewhat disdainful; this division commander was just there to hold them back.

Chu Yunfei opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything. (End of Chapter)