Anti-Japanese War: The whole world is a base vehicle

Chapter 56 The Japanese troops withdrew?

"Are you asking who is more suitable to be the commander of the 22nd Army?" Lieutenant General Iimura Tadashi immediately guessed Prince Kan'in Yasuhito's thoughts and asked directly.

"Yes, Ando Rikichi recommended Shojiro Iida of the Imperial Guards Division, but I am very dissatisfied with the performance of the Imperial Guards Division. I think he is not suitable to be the commander." Prince Kan'in Yasuhito shook his head and said.

"Why?" Lieutenant General Iimura Joi asked with curiosity.

Logically speaking, Shojiro Iida had enough qualifications and there was no problem for him to serve as the commander of the 22nd Army.

"He is an impulsive person, and all he has on his mind right now is revenge."

"That's true, but what is the real purpose of the Battle of Southern Guangxi right now?" asked Prince Kan'in Palace Zairen.

"Cut off China's contact with the outside world?" Lieutenant General Iimura Mamoru said immediately.

"That's right. We want to cut off China's connection with the outside world. Therefore, the task of the 22nd Army is to stabilize the existing defense line, hold Nanning, and consolidate the existing positions. When the 21st Army cooperates with the 11th Army to completely open up the Guangdong-Han Line, the Pingyue Railway will be completely opened up. By then, most of China will be in our hands." Prince Kan'in Yasuhito stated the strategic plan he had conceived.

"So the impulsive Iida Shojiro is not suitable to be the commander. On the contrary, Kuna-kun of the 18th Division is very suitable for this commander. He will give up the impulse of revenge for the sake of the overall situation."

After hearing what Prince Kan'in Yasuhito said, what else could Iimura Mamoru say but to flatter him.

"Haiyi, Your Excellency the Chief is wise."

.........

"The 21th Division, the st Imperial Guard Mixed Brigade, the Iju Mixed Brigade, and the th Division of the st Army are hereby separated to form the nd Army."

"I hereby appoint Kuna Seiichi, currently serving as [Army Lieutenant General and Commander of the 22th Division], as [Commander of the 15nd Army] because of his outstanding performance and ability. This appointment will take effect on February 2, 1."

At the position of the Japanese 18th Division, the communications officer took the urgent telegram just sent from the headquarters and read it quickly.

Lieutenant General Kuna Seiichi looked confused.

How did you get promoted?

Serve as commander of the newly formed 22nd Army?

"Congratulations, Commander." Major General Sakurada Takeshi next to him complimented with a complicated expression.

He didn't expect that it was Kuna Makoto who got the advantage in the end.

Lieutenant General Nakamura Akito of the 5th Division did not gain any benefits. Instead, he lost an entire brigade and a major general was killed. It was impossible for him to get promoted.

As for Major General Sadashita Shioda of the Ishu Mixed Brigade, there is even less hope for him.

If he had not suffered a crushing defeat, this commander would probably have been the head of his own division.

As for the commander of the 18th Division, Lieutenant General Haruyoshi Momotake will take over, but he is still on the way, so Lieutenant General Seiichi Kuna will take over for the time being.

"Sakurada-kun, I didn't expect that the headquarters would suddenly appoint me as the commander of the 22nd Army." Lieutenant General Kuna Seiichi said with a wry smile.

He really didn't expect that he would become the commander of the 22nd Army. He originally thought that Ando Toshiyoshi would lead a division to reinforce.

As a result, there are no reinforcements now, but instead I am appointed as the commander.

This is worth thinking about.

"Commander, why didn't the headquarters send reinforcements?" Major General Sakurada Takeshi didn't want to dwell on this issue and asked why there were no reinforcements.

How can we play this game if we only give the number but no reinforcements?
Two independent mixed brigades, about 20,000 people.

The fully-strength 18th Division has about 28,000 men, but now has only more than 10,000 men.

The Fifth Division suffered heavy losses, with only about 20,000 men left.

Not only did they lose several thousand men in the 1st Guards Brigade, but they also had other Japanese soldiers killed during this period.

I'm afraid there are only more than 40,000 people. Even if more than 10,000 people arrive later, it will be in the future. At present, some troops are stretched to the limit. The main thing is that the area that needs to be defended has increased several times, and the Chinese army on the opposite side has almost 100,000.

If it were in the past, they would definitely not panic, but the appearance of the German-equipped division now made them a little wary.

If there were really two or three German-equipped divisions, we would be doomed.

With the support of more than 22 miscellaneous troops, I am afraid that the nd Army will be wiped out.

That's why Major General Sakurada Takeshi looked so surprised and didn't even send reinforcements?

"The headquarters' intention should be to let us hold the existing defense line and not continue the attack, and to separate us from the 21st Army. The 21st Army should have more important tasks, such as opening up the Guangdong-Hankou Line and completely connecting the Ping-Yue Line. This is what the headquarters has always wanted to accomplish." Lieutenant General Kuna Seiichi guessed as he looked at the telegram.

Major General Sakurada Takeshi was a little disappointed now. Did it mean that his hope of revenge and washing away the shame was gone?
"Commander, do we need to suspend our offensive?" Major General Sakurada Takeshi asked reluctantly.

"Well, I'm afraid we have to stop for the time being. I need to sort out the existing strength and defense lines of the 22nd Army before I can formulate the next plan." Lieutenant General Kuna Seiichi shook his head and said.

In fact, the Battle of Southern Guangxi ended on the 10th of this month when Seiichi Kuna became the commander of the newly formed 22nd Army.

The difference is that in the original Battle of Southern Guangxi, the Japanese army bypassed Gantang, captured Binyang in seven days, and finally recaptured Kunlun Pass, completely defending the defense line outside Nanning.

But now the seven-day Binyang offensive has failed, the outer positions are still in the hands of the Chinese army, and Nanning is still unstable and at risk of being lost at any time.

It means that after fighting for so many days, everything is back to square one.

Do not!
The Batang position was also lost, resulting in the loss of thousands of Japanese troops.

"But..." Major General Sakurada Takeshi wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Lieutenant General Kuna Seiichi.

"Sakurada-kun, follow my orders."

"Yes." Even though Major General Sakurada Takeshi was unwilling, he did not dare to show any dissatisfaction in front of Lieutenant General Kuna Seiichi, who was two levels higher in rank than him.

.........

"Commander, the Japanese troops seem to have withdrawn." In Luancheng, Li Jingyi and Wang Lingyun were so bored that they even started drinking tea. However, when they were halfway through their tea, their subordinates reported that the Japanese troops had withdrawn. The two men stood up in shock.

"Is it true?" Li Jingyi asked excitedly.

"Really? Many Japanese soldiers have started packing up their tents. They must be retreating." The scout who came to report hurriedly explained.

"Are we going to take a detour?" Wang Lingyun guessed.

According to his estimation, Luancheng would be undefendable in two days at most.

He was also prepared to retreat after two days and then defend Gan Tang.

After defending for so many days, it should have given the rear enough time to deploy troops.

By then, we will wait for reinforcements to arrive and hold on to Gan Tang. After a long time, the Japanese army will surely retreat.

As a result, just a few days later, the Japanese army retreated on its own initiative.

This made Wang Lingyun guess that there must be some conspiracy behind this.

"Never mind him. At least the Japanese army has withdrawn, and you and I have defended Gan Tang." Li Jingyi couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Hurry up and report to the headquarters, saying that the Japanese troops have withdrawn and we have defended Gantang."

"Why don't we wait a little longer? Maybe it's a trick of the Japanese army?" To be on the safe side, Wang Lingyun thought it would be better to wait a little longer.

"Well, that's fine. Let's wait a little longer." Li Jingyi thought about it and nodded in agreement.

(End of this chapter)