Bright Sword: The Flowers of War

Chapter 116 Where does such a thick skin come from?

Perhaps realizing that his reaction was too intense, Nagase Takehira softened his tone.

"Have you forgotten what happened in Nanjing a few months ago?"

"A few months ago...you mean the special ammunition incident that occurred during the Nanjing Massacre?" Numata Takazo's expression changed slightly.

The poison gas that Su Yaoyang released in Nanjing was a wake-up call to those generals and governments who were addicted to poison gas. For the first time, they realized that special munitions were a double-edged sword. While it was certainly satisfying to use them on the enemy, the feeling of using poison gas on themselves was absolutely excruciating.

Su Yaoyang's poison gas not only killed more than 10,000 Japanese soldiers, but also nearly brought the once-powerful Sixth Division to its knees. The Sixth Division is still resting and reorganizing on its home soil, and it is estimated that it will take more than half a year to recover.

To this end, the Japanese government specifically approached the Chongqing government, and the two governments signed an agreement prohibiting the unauthorized use of chemical weapons. They even demanded that the Chongqing government hand over Su Yaoyang, but the latter's request was rejected by the Chongqing government without hesitation.

Now, Tadakatsu Numata is clamoring to use chemical weapons, which is tantamount to reopening Pandora's box. The consequences would be unbearable for him, and even for Division Commander Rensuke Isogai.

Thinking of this, Numata Takazo deflated like a punctured balloon. "If we can't use special ammunition, then we can only ask the division commander to transfer more heavy artillery."

Takehira Nagase shook his head: "That's all... Most of the division's artillery has been brought in, where is the division commander going to get heavy artillery for us?"

"If only our heavy artillery battalion were still here!" Yoshio Nagano sighed, reminiscing about the four Type 89 150mm howitzers that had been destroyed by the security regiment a few days earlier.

"Don't mention this to me." Numata Takazo felt a surge of anger whenever this matter was brought up. If it weren't for that damned Seya Kei's incompetence, they wouldn't have lost the 10th Division's most formidable assault weapon.

For a resource-poor country like Japan, its annual steel production is only one-tenth that of the United States. The army can only prioritize the production of rifles and machine guns, while most of the high-quality steel is monopolized by the navy for shipbuilding, resulting in a severe shortage of artillery production capacity.

Take the Japanese 10th Division as an example. After its only four 150mm howitzers were destroyed by the security regiment, the division's offensive capabilities were almost completely destroyed. This is why all the officers, including Takazo Numata, hated Kei Seya, who had been transferred back to Japan.

Finally, everyone's eyes turned to Takehira Nagase.

Nagase Takehira gritted his teeth: "Fine... I'll send a telegram to the division commander right away and ask him to send us reinforcements!"

…………

"Commander Rensuke Isogai of the 10th Division: "

The current situation is urgent; we urgently request reinforcements!
Since its deployment to the Battle of Taierzhuang, the 8th Brigade of the Ministry of Personnel has encountered unprecedentedly fierce resistance from the Chinese army, and the ferocity of the battle has far exceeded expectations.

Su Yaoyang's Nanjing Security Regiment, relying on the urban buildings and canal fortifications of Taierzhuang, carried out street fighting and counter-offensives. Every step forward our army took required a huge price.

Although our army had air support, the enemy took advantage of the terrain to engage in close-quarters urban warfare with our army, which prevented our army from making full use of its air superiority.

Furthermore, the enemy possessed a vast number of mortars, coupled with ample ammunition, firing a shell almost every second. Our frontline infantry companies suffered an average loss of more than half their men, with some squads reduced to only a dozen or so men who continued to fight. Ammunition and food supply lines were harassed by enemy guerrillas, and frontline soldiers were already experiencing ammunition shortages.

Therefore, it is requested that the division send at least one regiment (the 63rd Regiment is recommended) to reinforce the front line at Taierzhuang in order to maintain the offensive momentum.

Although my men are prepared to die for their cause, without strong reinforcements, I fear we will be unable to achieve the division's established operational objectives. The Battle of Taierzhuang concerns the honor of the Imperial Army; I implore Your Excellency, Division Commander, to make a swift decision!

Major General Takehira Nagase, Commander of the 8th Brigade

At the Taierzhuang front-line command post
After reading the telegram, Isogai Rensuke's face darkened. He never expected that the 8th Brigade, which had only taken over the attack from the 33rd Brigade for less than five days, would be in dire need of reinforcements.

Keep in mind that was a field brigade of over 8,000 men. How could they suffer such heavy casualties attacking a village of less than two square kilometers?
"Baka yarou... Nagase Takehira, that idiot, confidently assured me that he would take Taierzhuang, and after five days of fighting, this is the result?"

"Your Excellency, Division Commander," Chief of Staff Colonel Atsuro Umemura quickly reassured him, seeing that Isogai Rensuke was about to explode at any moment, "You should know the name of the Nanjing Security Regiment."

This unit is different from the Chinese armies we have encountered before. It is known for its well-equipped and cunning tactics. Otherwise, Brigade Commander Seya would not have returned to Japan in despair because of him, and the 33rd Brigade would not have suffered such heavy losses.

Now that even the 8th Brigade has suffered heavy losses, it only further demonstrates that the danger level of that unit far exceeds our imagination. Facing a powerful enemy, it is not shameful for us to have to request assistance from our superiors.

"Eh……"

Isogai Rensuke sighed: "Alright, alright, help me draft a telegram to His Highness Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko, saying that we encountered Su Yaoyang's Nanjing Security Regiment at Taierzhuang, and that we have been unable to capture Taierzhuang for a long time, with heavy casualties in the troops. We request that he send reinforcements."

Otherwise, the heavy losses suffered by the 10th Division would be a minor matter; if it affected the progress of the Battle of Xuzhou, then our sins would be far greater.

"Hai!" Colonel Atsuro Umemura instantly understood his superior's meaning. After leaving, he quickly wrote a passionate telegram and sent it to Lieutenant General Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko, commander of the Second Army and the direct superior of the 10th Division...

North China Area Army Headquarters in Beiping
"What on earth is this Isogai Rensuke up to?" General Terauchi Hisaichi, commander of the North China Area Army, was furious after seeing the telegram forwarded by Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko, commander of the Second Army.

The Battle of Xuzhou was a combat mission he discussed and planned with Hata Shunroku, commander of the Central China Area Army, with the aim of preparing for the upcoming Battle of Wuhan.

As the gateway to Wuhan, Xuzhou was a must-capture city. Therefore, the General Headquarters mobilized more than 200,000 troops to encircle Xuzhou, and the 10th Division, as the main force of the Japanese army, was entrusted with a heavy responsibility.

Unexpectedly, Isogai Rensuke, greedy for merit and reckless, led the 10th Division ahead of everyone else, attempting to capture Taierzhuang before anyone else could.

Now look what happened. Instead of taking Taierzhuang, they were dealt a heavy blow by the Chinese army, resulting in heavy losses for the 10th Division. Even the commander of the 33rd Brigade was transferred back to the mainland. It's a disgrace.

Now he actually has the nerve to ask for tactical guidance? Terauchi Hisaichi really doesn't know where he gets such a thick skin.

(End of this chapter)