Predator Reborn

Chapter 574: Decision of the Kwantung Army Headquarters

"Yes, Commander, I will immediately issue specific combat orders to the three division commanders, asking them to advance step by step and move forward steadily...At the same time, I will order the anti-Japanese armed forces ambushing outside the north gate to do

Be ready for battle and be ready to attack the Japs who break out of the city at any time..." In response to Liu Hua's words, Deputy Commander Yang Jingyu nodded with the same smile on his face, turned around and left the headquarters...

At this moment, in Baishan County, which is under heavy artillery fire, and still more than ten meters away from the Japanese division headquarters, everyone can clearly hear the angry roar of Lieutenant General Sato coming from the headquarters.

"Baga, you are all dead. In less than two hours, with the protection of the city wall fortifications, a reorganized regiment and more than 3,000 elite imperial soldiers were destroyed in your hands.

I will take you to a military court with my own hands and kill you with my own hands. You are simply a disgrace to the Japanese Empire..."...

Facing the anger of Lieutenant General Sato, Captain Osaka stood in front of Lieutenant General Sato, lowered his head, and endured the angry curses. It was surprisingly Honda Osaka, the captain of the Japanese Infantry Regiment who stood on the three walls of the city...

With the three main divisions of the Eighth Route Army outside the city, under the cover of a large number of superior artillery, they broke through the carefully arranged defensive circle of the Japanese army on the city wall... In order to avoid the annihilation of the entire regiment and avoid unnecessary casualties.

Colonel Honda, the commander of the regiment, had no choice but to lead the entire infantry regiment. The remaining more than a hundred soldiers retreated into the city in embarrassment...

"Commander of the division, please calm down... I have something to say for my humble duty..." At this moment, Lieutenant General Sato, with an angry look on his face, was just about to draw his command sword and slash at Colonel Honda in front of him. Chief of Staff

The sound reached everyone's ears...

"Chief of Staff, do you think Honda-kun should not be responsible for the loss of the city wall fortifications, which caused the main force of China to successfully attack Baishan County?" Lieutenant General Sato held the command knife tightly in his right hand and followed the Chief of Staff's words.

sounded and stopped in mid-air. He turned around and asked the chief of staff next to him with a sneer...

Just as Lieutenant General Sato finished speaking, the Chief of Staff, who had been with Lieutenant General Sato for several years, felt frightened for the first time from Sato's words. However, after a brief shock, he still

For a moment, he reacted. Then, he answered unhurriedly...

"No, Your Excellency, Division Commander, Colonel Honda, as the commander-in-chief, should indeed bear the main responsibility for the failure of the city wall fortifications. However, I believe that our current delay is not to investigate the specific responsibility issue.

Instead, we should study our army's next strategic plan after the Chinese enter the county..."

"Yoshi..." Lieutenant General Sato nodded in agreement with the chief of staff's answer. Then, he put the half-drawn command sword back into the scabbard and glared at Colonel Honda in front of him.

After that, he coldly ordered: "Honda-kun, when the time comes for your matter, there will naturally be a military court to conduct the most serious trial on you. Now I order you to go back to your army immediately and gather the remaining troops of the army.

, ready to enter new battlefields at any time..."

"Hai, thank you, the division commander, for not killing me... I promise you that I will not insult my dignity as a samurai due to my humble position. Please rest assured, the division commander..."

Seeing Colonel Honda leaving in a hurry, Lieutenant General Sato immediately gave orders to the commanders in front of him.

"I now order all combat units to stick to their positions from now on, rely on various street fighting fortifications, try to block the Chinese attack speed and inflict a large number of casualties on the Chinese... At the same time, I reiterate it again

My request is that all units must strictly maintain their positions. Without my order, no individual or unit is allowed to withdraw from their positions. Otherwise, Honda will never have such an opportunity again and will die directly... Chief of Staff

, yours, immediately report the current situation of our army to the Kwantung Army headquarters and request the headquarters to provide combat guidance..."

At this moment, although the sun is still shining brightly in the urban area of ​​Changchun, the atmosphere inside the headquarters of the Japanese Kwantung Army, located in the urban area, protected by heavy troops and lined with bayonets, is gloomy... because, just now,

The Kwantung Army Headquarters has just received the news that the air force failed to attack and suffered heavy losses, and was forced to interrupt the next air support...

Facing its own well-trained and advanced-equipped fighters and bombers, the Chinese army had no chance to fight back, and instead paid a heavy price. The Air Force Command of the Japanese Kwantung Army decisively stopped the second round of

Air reinforcements. At the same time, the airdrop plan of various scarce supplies to the Baishan County garrison was quickly interrupted...

To use the words of the Air Force Commander, even the nimble fighter jets were vulnerable to the attack of the Eighth Route Army outside Baishan County and suffered heavy losses. What's more, the transport planes were clumsy and slow to react... Even if the transport planes were dispatched

troops to airdrop the garrison troops in Baishan County. Then, these transport planes entering the airspace of Baishan County, without exception, will be the best targets of the Eighth Route Army outside the city...

After receiving the telegram from the Air Force Commander, the commander, General Mijiro Umezu, was very angry. However, he had to accept this cruel reality and ordered the Air Force to stop sorties...

Because, in the small Baishan County, after several days of fierce fighting, the Air Force has lost various types of aircraft, and the number has reached as many as nine... This is due to the shortage of resources, and the number of domestically replenished aircraft is limited every year.

, it is undoubtedly a huge loss for the Kwantung Army troops...

At this moment, when the commander stood in front of the huge combat sandbox with a gloomy face and said nothing, a burst of rapid footsteps reached everyone's ears, which relieved the abnormal situation in the war room.

A solemn atmosphere....

"Report to your Excellency, Commander, General Sato has an urgent message..." the communications staff rushed into the war room and said with an anxious look.

"read..."

"Hai: Your Excellency, Commander, our Baishan County garrison troops suffered heavy losses after a two-hour battle under the heavy fire from the superior artillery fire of the Eighth Route Army outside the city... At the same time, the troops from the east, west, and south of Baishan County

The fortifications on three sides of the city wall have also been occupied by the Eighth Route Army... Now, the main force of the Eighth Route Army has poured into the county from the three walls. In the streets and alleys of the county, they are engaged in the most intense hand-to-hand combat with our army.

..The entire county is in danger, and 40,000 imperial troops are in danger. I request your Excellency, Commander, to provide immediate combat guidance..." With the commander's approval, the communications staff officer quickly replied.

"Pa..." After listening to the content of the telegram, the commander slammed his hands on the combat sandbox in front of him. Then, he cursed with an angry face: "Baga, Sato-kun is simply a bastard, an empire

Cowards... Forty thousand elite imperial troops were defending a small Baishan County town, but the cunning Eighth Route Army was able to break through the city wall defenses so easily. I must kill him personally on Bagh Ya Road...

"

However, at this moment, the atmosphere in the entire war room froze once again because of the commander's angry scolding. A major general commander standing next to the combat sand table, under the gaze of everyone, stood

He came out and reported loudly: "Your Excellency, Commander, I have something to say in this humble position..."...

"Tell me..." the commander waved his hand, signaling the communications staff officer in front of him to step back, and said angrily.

"Hai, your Excellency, Commander, I humbly think that if the main force of the Eighth Route Army enters the county and engages in street fighting with our army, it will be a good thing for the defenders in our county."

"Nani, it's a good thing, how could it be possible..." In an instant, the major general's words were like a time bomb that suddenly exploded in the war room, leaving everyone at a loss.

After listening to the words of the major general commander, in the entire war room, more than a dozen generals with gold stars on their shoulders looked at the major general commander in front of them with dumbfounded eyes, with incredible expressions on their faces. At the same time, there were also many people's faces,

There was a hint of expectation, and he looked at the major general commander in front of him without blinking, hoping to give an explanation...

"Yes, Your Excellency Commander, I humbly believe that the reason why the Eighth Route Army was able to break through our army's city wall defenses when its strength was lower than ours was because, in addition to our army's limited physical strength due to lack of food, there is another reason.

The most important decisive factor is that they have absolute artillery superiority."

Seeing everyone's eyes focused on him, the major general commander continued:

"As the main force of the Eighth Route Army enters Baishan County, their artillery advantage will be completely lost. However, our county defenders can rely on their absolute numerical superiority to kill a large number of the Eighth Route Army's effective forces in street battles, forcing them to run out of troops. Eventually,

Carry out withdrawal..." Seeing the doubtful looks on everyone's faces, the major general then explained...

"Yoshi, what you said is so good. Immediately send Major General Nakamura's words to Lieutenant General Sato verbatim...tell him that if he can't stand Baishan County and can't protect the 40,000 elite imperial troops, then

Just raise your head and see me..." The commander nodded with satisfaction and gave a loud order to the communications staff officer behind him...

"Hi, Commander..."

However, just before this communications staff officer left the war room, a communications staff officer hurriedly rushed into the war room and stood in front of the commander...

"Reporting to Your Excellency, Commander, General Sato sent an urgent message: The main force of the Eighth Route Army has entered Baishan County and adopted the tactics of pressing forward step by step and advancing layer by layer to continuously compress the living space of our army. At the same time, the cunning Eighth Route Army has deployed a large number of troops in the county.

The siege artillery destroyed all the houses in the county that could be used for street fighting one by one... At present, our heroic Imperial Japanese Army was forced to retreat and shrink under the heavy artillery fire of the Eighth Route Army.

Defense circle...please ask the headquarters to provide operational guidance immediately, otherwise, if we persist until dark at most, the troops will lose much of their living space..."

"What, use artillery fire to open a road... How is it possible..." In an instant, the major general who had just proposed to occupy and consume a large amount of the Eighth Route Army's effective strength could not help but be stunned and let out an exclamation...

"Gentlemen, tell me, what should we do now? Are we just going to watch 40,000 elite imperial soldiers being wiped out by the enemy..." At this moment, the commander who looked tired also said

I couldn't help but sit softly on my stool and said to the officers in front of me...

However, at this moment, facing such a severe situation, everyone left the commander, General Umezu Mijiro, with nothing but silence... A few minutes passed, and more than a dozen officers were still frowning.

Standing there, motionless, not saying a word...

Seeing the scene in front of him, the commander couldn't help but sigh, and then said...

"It seems that the only way left for Sato Ejun is to break out..."

"Communications staff officer, immediately send a telegram back to General Sato: Order Sato Ejun to break through from the north gate at the appropriate time. As long as something goes wrong, he can break out of Baishan County and out of the area covered by thick smoke in the air. Then, the headquarters

We can provide them with air support, use aircraft to cover them, and break out of the Eighth Route Army's encirclement..."

"Hi, Your Excellency Commander, I will go and deliver the order right away..." In the blink of an eye, the communications staff hurriedly left the war room...

Ten minutes later, in Baishan County, which was under heavy artillery fire, and in the high command headquarters of tens of thousands of Japanese troops, violent gunfire could be heard constantly... At this moment, the division commander, Lieutenant General Sato, and the division's staff officer

The two men were staring motionlessly at the huge combat map in front of them, watching several combat staffs constantly marking the latest information coming from the forward positions on the map...

Although, at this moment, both of them were looking at the map in front of them intently. However, if you observe carefully, you can see that with each latest military information, after being marked on the map by the combat staff, the two people's

My brows will frown unconsciously...

Finally, after more than ten minutes of silence, the chief of staff spoke...

"Division Commander, the Eighth Route Army is so cunning that they even used artillery to clear the way... According to this style of play, we don't know that any of the various attempts to gain consensus in front of the Eighth Route Army, including a large number of Imperial Army soldiers, will have no chance.

Meaning...at the same time, the entire army will also suffer a large number of meaningless casualties..."

"Chief of Staff, we all know the situation, but what can we do... Several infantry regiments, in order to escape this fate of being beaten, have organized multiple squadron-sized counterattacks... But

, took over, under the attack of the superior firepower of the Eighth Route Army, these counterattack troops can only have one result, that is, the entire army is destroyed..." Lieutenant General Sato shook his head and said helplessly.

...

"Sigh, I really don't know why the Eighth Route Army troops outside the city were able to exchange shotguns for cannons overnight. Even large-caliber artillery was equipped with such a huge number, which was enough to surpass a field artillery regiment of our Imperial Japanese Army...

.I can’t believe how the Anti-Japanese Alliance did it with less than 10,000 remnant soldiers..." The chief of staff, who had no choice but to do anything, frowned and said...

"Chief of Staff, according to the latest information from the internal intelligence personnel of the various anti-Japanese armed forces that our Imperial Japanese Army has invaded in the Mengshan area, all changes were caused by a Chinese... This Chinese, in our

The Imperial Army of Japan is almost a household name. He is Liu Hua, the commander of the Independent Division of the Eighth Route Army, and the current commander of the Northeast Field Army... At the same time, the main personnel of this advance detachment led by Liu Hua are to make the Imperial Japanese Army

The special operations brigade of the Imperial Army changed their minds after hearing the news..."

"What, Liu Hua, the special operations brigade... is the leader. Now I finally understand why we failed... Being in the hands of such an opponent, I will die without regrets..."

Just when the entire command headquarters fell into silence once again, a communications staff officer reported loudly: "Reporting to the Division Commander, Chief of Staff, telegram from the Kwantung Army Headquarters..."

"read..."

"Hai...the Kwantung Army headquarters sent a message that at this critical moment of life and death for our 40,000 elite Imperial Army soldiers, in order to allow more outstanding soldiers and officers to survive and continue to contribute to our Empire of Japan. General Sato,

You can choose the right place at the right time to break through... As long as the troops can break out of the smoke released by the Eighth Route Army, the Kwantung Army Headquarters will immediately send fighter jets to escort your troops... The Kwantung Army

Supreme Commander, Umezu Mijiro..."

"Yo Xi, Chief of Staff, it seems that the Kwantung Army Headquarters has not forgotten us... The Kwantung Army of the Empire of Japan will never tolerate the annihilation of the entire army with 40,000 elite imperial soldiers... Chief of Staff, now

I order you to immediately formulate a detailed breakout plan, the sooner the better... Remember, as long as you can ensure the most elite infantry can successfully break out..." After listening to the sudden telegram, Lieutenant General Sato hurriedly

The frowned brows immediately relaxed, and he ordered with excitement on his face to the chief of staff in front of him...

"Hai, Your Excellency, Division Commander, I understand. I promise to come up with a detailed breakout plan within an hour. Please rest assured, Division Commander..." the Chief of Staff replied with the same surprise...

..