Higashikuri immediately instructed to convene a cabinet meeting.

Although it was already more than twelve o'clock in the middle of the night, Higashikuri Tsukihiko, the commander of the 2nd Army, and Yoshio Koji, the division commander of the 10th Division, were going to hold a cabinet meeting, and the 2nd Army and the 10th Division, all the commanders and senior staff officers of the 10th Division, who would dare not come? Even if you're already asleep, you have to get up.

Soon, all those who were eligible to participate in the Council of Ministers were gathered.

Because it was in the field, there were no chairs, so all the participants were able to participate in the meeting standing up.

Higashikure simply asked Machijiri to bring a battle map, placed it in the middle of the crowd, and then asked all the participants to stand around the map.

Machijiri Liangji first said to the map: "According to the daytime firefight, it can be basically determined that the Dameishan Independent Regiment still has a heavy artillery brigade, with about 10 heavy field howitzers of 150mm caliber, and the shells are sufficient, and its firepower is enough to block the area within a radius of ten kilometers from Shaqiaogang to Qingniuping. ”

Tsuki Bu Jia Gui said: "Machijiri-san, don't forget that our side can also carry out artillery countermeasures. ”

"Artillery countermeasures? It's easier said than done. "The heavy artillery positions of the Independent Regiment are built on the cliffs on both sides of the Shaqiao Gang, and the surface of the gun emplacements is closed with solid concrete, not to mention that we do not have howitzers with similar range and similar power, even if there are such heavy artillery howitzers, I am afraid it will not be enough to suppress the heavy artillery of the Independent Regiment hidden deep in the fortifications of the solid cliffs......"

Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Higashikuri Twister.

Machijiri immediately shook his head towards Higashikure.

Higashikure waved his hand and asked, "Is the fortress artillery fortification of the Dameishan Independent Regiment really hidden on the cliff?" ”

Machijiri Gyokedon said: "Hai, based on the report of the forward observation post and the information provided by the aviation unit, it can now be basically concluded that the heavy artillery position of the Dameishan Independent Regiment was indeed built on the cliff, and the heavy artillery position built outside the Shaqiao Gang before should be fake, just used to deceive us." ”

"Yagayalu." Dong Jiu Yan gritted his teeth and said, "Xu Rui is really cunning, he actually thought of hiding the heavy artillery position on the cliff, but I am very confused, how did the Dameishan Independent Regiment do this?" Did you make a hole in the cliff beforehand, build a position, and then hang the cannon from the top of the cliff? ”

Machijiri said, "It's going to be a lot of work, but it's not impossible. ”

"There is actually another way to hoist the cannon from the cliff." As soon as Machijiri Mitsuki's voice fell, another voice suddenly came in from outside the tent, and everyone turned their heads when they heard the sound, and saw Kokahara Toshimi spread his legs and walked in in a very strange and awkward walking posture, and then greeted Higashikuru and Piggy Yoshio.

"Ojihara-san, why are you here?" Higashikuretsuhiko said with concern, "You have injuries on your body, you should rest more." ”

Xiaoluyuan Junsi shook his head and said, "I heard that His Highness is holding a cabinet meeting, how can he not come. ”

"Since you're here, don't go." Dong Jiu Yan laughed, and said, "Among so many people present, you are the only one who has personally fought with Xu Rui, if you want to know Xu Rui, you are the only one, so simply let you preside over the meeting, you just said that in addition to hoisting heavy artillery from the top of the cliff, there is another way, I would like to hear it in detail." ”

Machijiri Liangji's face changed slightly, it was a great honor to preside over the cabinet council, not only could he show his face in front of all the officers above the 2nd Army and the 10th Division, but also show his ability, such an opportunity, of course he was not willing to give it to others easily, but there was no way, Higashikuri Twist Hikashi had spoken, and he could only obey.

"Hello." Ojibara Toshimi didn't mean to be polite to Machijiri Toshiki, Machijiri needed such an opportunity to show his ability, why didn't Okahara Toshiri need this opportunity? "In addition to hoisting from the top of the cliff, you can also dig through the mountain, transport the cannon from the back of the mountain to the cliff, and then build a heavy artillery position." ”

"Nani, digging through the mountain?"

"That's too much, isn't it?"

"It's a big mountain, how long will it take to dig through it."

"It's hard to do it unless there's a natural cave."

As soon as Kokahara Junsi's voice fell, the staff officers in the war room began to whisper.

Xiaoluyuan Junsi was not in a hurry, and waited for everyone to discuss for a long time before he continued: "Half a year ago, I had the honor to enter Meizhen once, and made preliminary observations of the terrain on both sides of Shaqiaogang, according to my observations, the mountains on the left and right sides of Shaqiaogang are very steep, if a passage through the mountainside is chiseled from the back of the mountain, the straight-line distance may be less than two hundred meters, for a regiment-level army, this amount of work is really nothing. ”

Machijiri said, "But I still don't think it's possible to cut through the mountain. ”

Xiaoluyuan Junsi seemed to have expected that others would not be convinced, and immediately said: "As for how the heavy artillery of the Independent Regiment was transported to the cliff, we don't actually need to speculate here, the Pucheng garrison must have heard about it, Your Excellency the commander may wish to call the dog to raise Sang, and you will know as soon as you ask." ”

There are two kinds of military meetings in the Japanese army, one is the staff meeting, that is, the military commander gathers the commander or non-commissioned officer chief of the combat unit related to the war to discuss countermeasures.

The other is like today, which is more formal, called the Cabinet Council.

For example, tonight's military meeting can only be attended by the commander of the army or senior staff officer above the rank of Oza, and the military rank of the captain of the Pucheng military police, Inukaijiro, is only a young man, so of course he is not eligible to participate.

But if there is an official invitation from Higashikure Tsukihiko, Inukai Jiro is also eligible to attend.

At that moment, Higashikuri Tsusahiko summoned an orderly and asked him to call the dog Yojiro.

In a few moments, Inuyojiro rushed to the war room of the 10th Division headquarters out of breath.

As soon as Gouyangjiro was about to pay his head to salute, he asked Higashikuru to stop him, and asked directly: "Gouyangsan, you have been the captain of the Pucheng gendarmerie for a while, do you know how the independent regiment transported the fortress cannon to the cliff?" ”

Hearing this, Dog Yojiro wiped the sweat from his forehead and said: "Your Highness, speaking of this, I have to say another thing, about two months ago, the Dameishan Independent Regiment indiscriminately suddenly blocked the entrance to Shaqiaogang, no matter who it is, without the permission of the Political Department of the Independent Regiment, they are not allowed to enter or leave. ”

"I know that." Higashikure said, "You've already explained it to me. ”

Dog Yojiro said: "At that time, the humble position only knew this fact, but could not guess the reason why the independent regiment did this, but now the humble position has guessed that the reason why the independent regiment closed the entrance of Shaqiaogang at that time was to facilitate the construction of Shaqiaogang, and at that time, the independent regiment must have built more than just the fortifications at the entrance, otherwise there is no need to engage in such strict secrecy, because the three pillbox fortifications at the entrance of Shaqiaogang are simply clear at a glance, and there is no need for secrecy." ”

As early as two months ago, the devils in Pucheng had already detected the construction of bunker fortifications by the independent regiment at the entrance of Shaqiaogang, and Inuyojiro also reported to the Nanjing Headquarters at the first time, but the devils in Pucheng only reconnoitred on the surface, that is, the fortifications above the surface, but they knew nothing about the fortifications underground.

In the evening, after hearing the news of the annihilation of the 10th Infantry Wing, combined with the previous information, he immediately had a clear judgment.

"That is to say, the three pillboxes built by the Independent Regiment at the entrance of Shaqiaogang are not simple, and there are likely to be tunnels underground, and this tunnel leads directly to the heavy artillery positions built on the cliffs, and the heavy artillery installed on the cliffs by the Independent Regiment is transported to the cliffs through this tunnel. ”

"Not only that, but this tunnel should also extend to the outside of Shaqiao Gang." Okahara Junsi continued, "This can be explained, why the artillery squadron of the 10th Infantry Wing has obviously blocked the two sand bridges, but the main force of the independent regiment can still go up to the forward position unconsciously. ”

"Hello." Inukai Jiro paused, "That's how it should be." ”

"Yo Si." Higashikure said, "Dog raises Sang, you can go back." ”

"Hello." Dog Yojiro was stunned, and was about to turn around and leave, but he was stopped by Higashikuru Tsusahiko.

"Dog raising, you did a good job this time." Higashikure called out to Yojiro, stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder, and then said, "After you go back, you must continue to strengthen the infiltration of the spies in Dameishan, and we must plant our eyes in Dameishan as much as possible, and reconnoiter the movements of the independent regiment as much as possible." ”

"Hello." Inukaijiro paused, and said, "I will do my best to be loyal to His Majesty the Emperor." ”

"Yo Xi, you can go back and rest." Higashikuri waved his hand, and Inuyojiro turned around.

This time, Higashikure didn't stop Inukai Jiro again, but let the little devil leave.

Turning around, Higashikure said in a deep voice: "If this is the case, then the collective jade fragment of the 10th Infantry Wing will also make sense, but it should be explained that I convened this ministerial meeting not to find an excuse or summarize a statement for the collective jade fragment of the 10th Infantry Wing, but to find a solution to the problem." ”