Taro Miyano's persuasion stabilized Naosaburo Okabe, who was in a state of anger.

But when he thought of Hiroshi Yamada's decision, Naosaburo Okabe still felt that the anger couldn't be lowered!

"Miyano-kun, you also know that the actual strength of the main force of the new regiment led by Li Yunlong is no longer the strength of a regiment. Although I don't know how many main forces Li Yunlong personally leads at present, it should be around 5,000 to 6,000 people. Don't we have hidden intelligence agents in Ul County? Contact them directly and ask them to report to the headquarters the number of troops dispatched by Li Yunlong! ”

However, Miyano Taro pointed to the telegram that was slapped on the table by Okabe Naosaburo and said: "Your Excellency Commander, the telegram sent by Yamada Hao has already been said, and the secret telegram sent by the imperial intelligence personnel lurking in Wei County has learned that the strength of Li Yunlong's army that has marched west after assembling outside the West Gate of Wei County is about 5,500 to 6,000 people!" It is estimated that when the main force of the Northern Route Army commanded by Kenichi Muto was annihilated, a bad number of troops were lost. However, the troops who went west to pursue Yamada Hiroshi were basically the regular army of the new regiment, and there were no guerrillas to join! ”。

"It's even more troublesome! Judging from the enemy troops who went out of the city in Guangling, according to the content of Yamada Hao's report in the telegram, there were also about one or two thousand, and they were all elite! ”

Okabe Naosaburo said in a condensed voice: "Then the enemy forces that are attacking the main force of the South Route Army under the command of Yamada Hiroshi before and after have about seven or eight thousand people. The opponent is the headquarters of the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army, which is familiar with fighting in this severe cold weather, and its combat effectiveness is not afraid of Yamada Hao. ”。

"Your Excellency Commander, how do we reply to Hiroshi Yamada? At this time, it is estimated that Yamada Hiroshi has already led his troops into the Mazhuang area! Miyano Taro pointed to the dot marked as Mazhuang on the huge map of Jin Province on the table, and said in a condensed voice.

Okabe Naosaburo didn't immediately respond to Miyano Taro's words, but just stared at the map with a gloomy face and pondered for a while.

"The specific situation on the front line is the most clear Yamada Hao, since Yamada Hao has decided so, he must have discussed it with the main officers such as the commander of the 3rd Brigade, Hiroaki Sakamoto, otherwise Yamada Hao would not have made the decision to stick to Mazhuang and wait for reinforcements."

Taro Miyano then said, "Your Excellency the Commander means to agree with Hiroshi Yamada's decision?" ”。

"It's too late to disagree, hasn't Hiroshi Yamada already decided to stick to Mazhuang and wait for reinforcements from other imperial troops? Call back to Hiroshi Yamada and order them to hold on to the horse village for two hours. Miyano-kun immediately sent a telegram to the imperial army in Lingqiu County, Laiyuan City, Hunyuan City, and other towns closest to Guangling, ordering all the imperial troops in these towns to send reinforcements to Yamada Hiroshi and them. ”

Naosaburo Okabe slammed his fist on the table in front of him with a bang!

Taro Miyano paused and said, "Yes, Your Excellency Commander!" ”。

"Miyano-kun, you are familiar with the weather in the northland, look at this situation, how long will it snow?" Suddenly, Naosaburo Okabe pointed to the drifting snow outside the door and asked Taro Miyano.

Although Taro Miyano has never partnered with Naosaburo Okabe, he also knows what Naosaburo Okabe means, "Your Excellency Commander, I'm afraid it will rain at least two or three days or so this heavy snow." ”

Taro Miyano knew that in this case, it was estimated that this time was also one of the decisive factors for Hiroshi Yamada to decide to enter Mazhuang and wait for reinforcements.

It is estimated that the snow on the highway at this time is already deep, and for the main force of more than 10,000 Japanese troops who retreated in the heavy snow, the snow on the road is slippery and deep, and for a force of more than 10,000 Japanese troops, it is impossible to maintain a stable state under the enemy offensive of the front and rear.

It is ideal to find a place to hold on and wait for reinforcements, at least waiting for the weather to improve before counterattacking Li Yunlong's troops.

Seeing that he couldn't get a good answer from Taro Miyano, Naosaburo Okabe waved his hand helplessly and said, "Send a report to Hiroshi Yamada!" Hey, if it doesn't snow, the air force can be dispatched to support the main force of Yamada Hiroshi's southern route army in the air. ”。

"Your Excellency Commander, at least stick to Mazhuang, even if Li Yunlong will attack Mazhuang with two troops, it is impossible to eat more than 10,000 elite imperial troops commanded by Yamada Hao at once! And the imperial army that has gathered reinforcements in Lingqiu County and other places, it is estimated that there are at least five infantry brigades, at least nearly 6,000 troops, and they can kill Mazhuang in a few hours. And if Li Yunlong is not surrounded by counter-surrounding, he can only retreat at that time! Hiroshi Yamada's army on the southern route, the crisis will also be resolved, Your Excellency Commander! ”

Taro Miyano comforted Naosaburo Okabe and said, as for whether Naosaburo Okabe believes it or not, God knows.

Naosaburo Okabe just bowed his head and waved his hand to signal Taro Miyano to call back to Hiroshi Yamada.

Taro Miyano immediately turned around and personally supervised the dispatch of a report to Hiroshi Yamada!

And a few minutes later, Naosaburo Okabe's call back had already reached Hiroshi Yamada's hands.

At this time, Yamada Hiroshi had already led his troops into Mazhuang, and immediately under Yamada Hao's order, the commander of the 3rd Brigade of the 2nd Division, Hiroaki Sakamoto, commanded two infantry wings and other Japanese troops at the command post to start building fortifications in Mazhuang.

Since Mazhuang is only a small village, there are not many people in the village itself. More than 10,000 Japanese soldiers slaughtered Mazhuang, and the few people in the village had already fled into the nearby mountains with soft grain and other materials to hide.

Therefore, Hiroaki Sakamoto could only order the devil soldiers under his command to build fortifications around the horse village by himself.

Just after entering the horse village and finding a common people's house as a headquarters, less than a few minutes later, Naosaburo Okabe's call back arrived.

"Chief of Staff, the military department is in an emergency!" Hiroshi Yamada, who had just sat down and was drinking saliva, was so frightened by the abruptness of the devil communication soldiers who came to report that he almost choked to death with water!

"Ahem!"

After coughing a few times, he stabilized, but Hiroshi Yamada did not embarrass the devil signal soldier who reported the situation abruptly.

I just took the telegram handed over by the devil's communication soldier and looked at it, and then waved his hand and said, "Keep in touch with the military department!" ”。

"Hello, Chief of Staff!" The Devil Signal Corps responded and left.

Hiroshi Yamada sent someone to find the commander of the 3rd Brigade, Hiroaki Sakamoto, and prepared to discuss how to fight next!

It wasn't until five or six minutes later that Hiroaki Sakamoto, who hurriedly walked in from outside the door, said apologetically to Yamada Hiroshi: "Chief of Staff, it's too late to humble your post." ”。

"It's okay! By the way, what's the situation around Mazhuang? ”

Hiroshi Yamada waved his hand to signal Hiroaki Sakamoto to sit down, and then asked in a condensed voice.

"Chief of Staff, the terrain of Mazhuang is not bad, there is only one main road into the village, and the terrain is quite narrow, which is conducive to our defense. To the north of the village is a large mountain, which is basically not defended by too many troops, and on the north of the mountain, you can also set up a commanding height to suppress the enemy's attack. It's just that the terrain on the east and west sides is not too steep, and it is necessary to send more troops to defend. ”