I'm killing enemies with my sword and exploding equipment

On Zhengtai Road east of Huangping Town, in the temporary command post of the Japanese First Division.

Upon hearing the telegram from General Okamura Yasuji, Saburo Nakazawa suddenly felt his scalp tingling and stood there in a daze.

He muttered to himself: Could it be that someone has reported the situation here to the Commander?

Which damn bastard is it?

The division chief of staff, Takahashi Mantang, saw that his face was uncertain and he didn't say anything, so he stepped forward and shouted at the telegraph operator:

"What did the Commander-in-Chief say in his telegram?"

When the telegraph operator heard this, he was relieved to find that someone finally responded to him.

He quickly replied:

"Mr. Chief of Staff, the Commander's telegram is for the location of the Tuba artillery position detected by our synchronous reconnaissance aircraft!"

"Nani? Great!"

Upon hearing this, Saburo Nakazawa was overjoyed.

If someone hadn't reported Okamura Ji-ning, the situation would not have developed to the worst.

He quickly snatched the telegram from the telegraph operator and started reading it.

After a moment, he muttered excitedly:
“Yoshi!
The damn Tubalu actually set up two main artillery positions. No wonder the artillery regiment suffered such heavy losses! "

Then he shouted:

"Come here! Send this information to the artillery regiment!

Order Imai Masahiko to fire first at dawn tomorrow and blow the artillery positions of the Eighth Route Army to pieces!"

"Hi!"

A messenger immediately received the order.

Gao Qiao Mantang beside him reminded with some worry:
"Your Excellency, the division commander, since the commander has forwarded this information, it means that the bomber sortie we want is definitely impossible!"

When Saburo Nakazawa heard this, the excitement on his face froze instantly.

But after a moment, he waved his hand confidently again:

"It doesn't matter!
With this information, I believe Imai will take care of them!
As long as the Tubalu lost those heavy artillery, their infantry guns and other small-caliber artillery would not be a threat!"

"Hi!

Should this request be included in the telegram?"

Takahashi Mantang asked hurriedly.

"certainly!
Whether the Army Aviation can arrive is up to the Commander, you understand?"

As he spoke, Saburo Nakazawa looked at Mando Takahashi meaningfully.

Takahashi Mantang knew that he was only doing this so that he could put the blame on Okamura Ji-ning in case anything unexpected happened.

He bowed quickly:

"Hey! I understand!"

……

Once Saburo Nakazawa made his decision, Chief of Staff Mitsuo Takahashi became extremely busy.

Quickly advance various matters in accordance with the other party's requirements.

About half an hour later.

At the Eighth Division headquarters a few kilometers east of the First Division, the division commander, Lieutenant General Honda Masazai, sent back the messenger sent by Takahashi Mando.

He turned around and asked his staff officer, Colonel Keihito Nagakubo:

"Kubo-kun, what do you think of Nakazawa-kun's request?"

Kubo Keijin thought for a moment and then answered seriously:

"It seems that the First Division suffered heavy losses, otherwise, Commander Nakazawa would not have acted like this."

"That's right. Judging from the fighting today, this group of Eighth Route Army soldiers are very powerful!"

Honda Masazai didn't know why, but he was actually a little happy.

After all, it would be better for me to die than for my fellow Taoist to die.

It seems to be worth being happy about.

"Indeed, I think our Eighth Division should be ready for a full-scale attack."

There was a hint of murderous intent in Kubo Keijin's eyes.

"Oh, you mean the First Division can't hold out for much longer?"

Honda Masazai was a little surprised.

Although one regiment of the 2st Division remained in Hebei Province, it still had nearly people!
It would be too outrageous if we couldn't hold on after only fighting for half a day.

If the First Division surrenders so quickly, won't the empire be in tatters?

Kubo Keijin nodded:

“Given the character of His Excellency, Division Commander Nakazawa, if the situation wasn’t dire, he certainly wouldn’t be so hasty and ask us to take action.

If this matter were to be reported back to the headquarters, the military honor of His Excellency, Division Commander Nakazawa, would inevitably be damaged."

Upon hearing this, Honda Masazai took a deep breath.

I couldn't help but exclaimed:
"The Eighth Route Army in Northwest Shanxi is so powerful?

Can you confront my Locust Army's Class A Division head-on?
This... this is simply unbelievable!"

“It’s really a little unbelievable.

When we were sweeping through Central Hebei, those Eighth Route Army troops would flee in panic the moment they saw our battalion-level troops, and they didn't dare to fight against our army at all!
I didn't expect that when we arrived in northwest Shanxi, they actually dared to confront my two divisions head-on!

It’s really audacious!”

Kubo Keijin also looked sad.

"I heard last time that the former commander of the First Army, Kazuo Shinozuka, was a man who did not live up to his reputation.

Now it seems that it is indeed the case!
The First Army's situation has been ruined by him to this extent!"

Honda Masashi couldn't help but sigh.

Kubo Keijin nodded repeatedly:

"Yes! The headquarters didn't know how to judge people, so they let this person serve as the commander of the First Army for two or three years, ruining the empire's cause!"

……

The two of them talked to each other and put all the blame on Kazuo Shinozuka.

He was so angry that he almost couldn't hold down the other person's coffin lid. He wished he could crawl out immediately and strangle them both to death.

So insulting!
Kazuo Shinozuka will definitely not take the blame for the corruption in northwestern Shanxi!
……

In Shimen City, Okamura Jining was looking at the map on the wall in his office.

Suddenly, a telecommunications staff came in to report:
"Commander, the First Division is calling."

"Read!"

He had a gloomy face and spoke very sparingly.

"Hi!"

The telecommunications staff felt tremendous pressure.

He quickly read over the telegram sent by Saburo Nakazawa.

Upon hearing the content, Okamura Ji Ning immediately felt a black screen in front of his eyes and almost fell to the ground.

After fighting for half a day, we lost more than an infantry regiment, a tank regiment, and half a field artillery regiment. This is simply a joke!
Although Saburo Nakazawa's telegram exaggerated that the Eighth Route Army had hundreds of small-caliber artillery pieces and hundreds of heavy artillery pieces with a caliber of 75 mm and above, and that their losses were the result of the warriors' all-out fighting, Okamura Jining still couldn't tolerate it!

As a Class A division of the Locust Army, if we don't inflict a 1:10 casualty ratio on the Eighth Route Army when fighting them, we would be too embarrassed to go out and see people!

But now, there is no doubt that the Eighth Route Army could not have lost tens of thousands of people in just half a day!
Even if they were asked to transform, they couldn't produce so many main forces!

Moreover, if they really wanted to wipe out so many enemies, the news sent by Nakazawa Saburo would be enough to report to the headquarters.

Reaching out to hold onto his desk, Okamura Ji Ning took a breath, sat down on his chair, and gritted his teeth and ordered:
"Read the telegram to me again!"

Seeing that he looked extremely unhappy, the communications officer did not dare to waste time and immediately read the telegram again in a clear and precise voice, not daring to make a single mistake.

Okamura Jining listened with his eyes slightly closed, without saying a word.

But his shaking hands on the armrest still revealed that his heart was as violent as a volcanic eruption.

……

After a while, the telecommunications officer stopped talking.

Okamura Ji Ning still didn't say anything, as if he was asleep. Only his trembling hands proved that he was still awake!

At this moment, the telecommunications staff officer suddenly felt as if there was a great fear crushing him, and his back was instantly covered in cold sweat, as if he was an ant on a hot pan.

After three full minutes, Okamura Cining seemed to have figured something out, and suddenly opened his eyes, staring at him with sharp eyes like a hawk. He shuddered with fear:
"Sir... Commander, I have finished reading the telegram."

Okamura Ji Ning ignored his words and ordered:
"Go and call Lin Fangjun!"

Hearing that he was asked to run errands, the telecommunications staff officer finally breathed a sigh of relief and bowed quickly:
"Hi!"

Then he turned and ran away, running faster than a rabbit.

It was as if a tiger was coming down the mountain from behind him, ready to swallow him up in one bite.

……

Soon, he returned with Major General Yoshitaro Hayashi, commander of the 7th Independent Mixed Brigade.

At this time, he discovered that Okamura Ji Ning seemed to be frozen and was still maintaining the posture he had just left.

"Your Excellency the Commander, His Excellency the Commander of the Lin Fang Brigade has arrived."

The communications staff reported carefully.

Okamura Ji Ning raised his eyelids, waved his hand to tell him to get out, and then said to Hayashi Yoshitaro:
"Lin Fangjun, I have an important mission that I need you to complete. Do you have the courage?"

Hayashi Yoshitaro quickly replied:

"Commander, please rest assured. I will do my best!"

In fact, he was muttering in his heart: Aren’t you talking nonsense? If I say I don’t have the courage, can you let me go?

……

Seeing his honest attitude, the icy feeling on Okamura Jining's face eased a little.

He stood up and took Lin Fangtaro to the map on the wall. He pointed at the place names on the map with his command rod and said to him:

"Lin Fangjun, the Eighth Route Army in Northwest Shanxi is so bold that they dared to block the First and Eighth Divisions in Huangping Town!
I want you to lead your troops to attack, go deep into northwest Shanxi, and strike hard at the heart of the Tubalu!"

"What? The Eighth Route Army can actually block two Class A divisions of my Locust Army?
How can this be? "

Hayashi Yoshitaro was shocked.

I couldn't help but scream.

Okamura Ji Ning was a little unhappy about his fuss.

But at the moment, he had no one to use, so he could only suppress his displeasure and said:

"The terrain in northwest Shanxi is not conducive to the deployment of our army.

It is not surprising that the Tubalu used the fortifications and trenches dug in advance to block the road.

"I see."

Hayashi Yoshitaro nodded.

But he always felt that things might not be that simple.

Otherwise, Okamura Ji-ning, who is usually calm and steady as a rock, should not look so grief-stricken.

But the other party didn't tell the truth, so he didn't dare to ask rashly.

His eyes rolled, and he quickly said with some hesitation:
"Commander, there is no problem in asking my brigade to attack northwest Shanxi.

But once we leave Shimen, how can we ensure your safety?
Are there other troops coming to take over from us?"

Okamura Ji Ning thought to himself: If I had other troops, why would I still count on you useless guys who were also severely beaten by the Eighth Route Army in eastern Shandong?
He shook his head calmly:

"Now, defeating the Eighth Route Army in northwest Shanxi is the most urgent task!
There are garrison troops in Shimen City, enough to ensure my safety.

Lin Fangjun doesn’t need to worry. ”

Seeing his firm attitude, Lin Fangtaro didn't dare to say anything else.

I can only ask:
"Then, Commander, where in northwest Shanxi do you want us to attack?"

"The key to northwest Shanxi lies in the water springs!"

Okamura Jining pointed to the location of the spring.

Without waiting for Lin Fangtaro to ask, he continued:

“But I guess that since the Tubalu have blocked the road from Shimen to Shuiquan, they will definitely arrange troops to garrison at Shuiquan.

You only have the strength of an independent mixed brigade, and it will be quite difficult to attack a fortified city like Shuiquan.

So I think you should attack Heyuan County!

Although this place is just a small county town, it is very close to Shuiquan and is the heart of northwest Shanxi, with convenient transportation!
As long as we take this place, the Eighth Route Army in Huangping Town will have to retreat, otherwise they will be attacked from both sides!"

Okamura Jining told them the plan to break the impasse that he had just come up with with great effort.

"Then, Commander, since the Zhengtai Road has been cut off, how can we reach Heyuan County?"

Hayashi Yotaro looked at the map and asked with a frown.

Running from Shimen to Heyuan County doesn’t seem to be an easy task!

"Take the path between Tianqing Valley and Xianling Mountain!"

Okamura Jining drew a line on the map with his baton.

I have to say that the maps in the hands of the Japanese were very detailed, and many mule and horse trails were marked on the maps.

At this moment, the path he pointed out was just such a little-known mule and horse road.

Upon hearing this, Hayashi Yoshitaro secretly groaned.

Crossing hundreds of miles of mountains and hills, taking this small road to attack Heyuan County, is not an easy task no matter how you look at it.

After all, he has a brigade of several thousand people.

The baggage and supplies they carried were not a small number.

To take this kind of path, the team would have to stretch into a long snake of several kilometers.

Once we are attacked by the enemy, we will be unable to take care of both the front and the rear.

He quickly found an excuse to try to dissuade Okamura Tsunin from thinking this:

"Commander, I'm afraid that this narrow road can barely accommodate only one battalion of troops.

Our 7th Independent Mixed Brigade has more than 5000 men. It will be extremely difficult for us to get through here!"

Since Okamura Jining came up with this idea, it must be the result of his careful consideration.

Seeing the other party shirking responsibility, he could not help but feel very angry and responded coldly:

"Lin Fangjun, are you afraid of difficulties?
Have you already thrown away all your warrior courage in Ludong?"

After hearing what he said, what else could Hayashi Yoshitaro say?
I can only stand up and reply:

"Commander, I have no such intention!
I swear to defend the honor of the Imperial Warriors until my death!"

"Yoshi! Very good!

Then go down and prepare immediately. You will set out at dawn tomorrow.

Considering the difficult road conditions, you can carry only a small amount of artillery and food.

The Eighth Route Army must have mobilized all the forces in northwest Shanxi to the eastern section of Zhengtai Road. Heyuan County must be extremely empty. As long as you reach the city of Heyuan, they will surely collapse at the first touch!
Once you take over Heyuan County, you can raid the surrounding villages and towns to obtain food."

Okamura Ji Ning confessed.

"Hi! I understand."

Hayashi Yoshitaro could only nod.

I secretly cursed the other party in my heart for not considering myself as his direct descendant.

"In order to keep it confidential, you must kill all the Chinese you meet along the way!
No one will be left alive, understand?"

Okamura Ji Ning made another vicious confession.

"understand!"

Hayashi Yoshitaro had no objection to this order.

Anyway, he has done this a lot.

"Yoshi! Lin Fangjun, the glory of my Jibei Front Army is entrusted to you!"

As he said this, Okamura Ji Ning patted Hayashi Yoshitaro's shoulder heavily.

It made him feel that he had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders.

……

After arranging the sneak attack on Heyuan County, Okamura Ji Ning watched Hayashi Yoshitaro walk out of his office, and his eyes were suddenly filled with loneliness.

In fact, he knew very well that no matter whether the other party succeeded or failed, his own fate was already determined!
This was also the reason why he did not immediately order someone to send a message to the 26th Division after hearing the report from the st Division, asking them why they had not yet arrived at the city of Jinyang.

Since the outcome is already determined, what's the point of doing all that useless work?
If the 26th Division had good news, they should have sent a victory report long ago!
Now he was asking the 7th Independent Mixed Brigade to fight to the death, but it was just Okamura Ji'ning's last attempt to save his reputation.

Thinking of this, he immediately sat down at his desk, took out a pen and writing paper, and began to write a farewell letter to his family in China!

...(End of chapter)