In a former rich man's courtyard in Jiukong Town, more than 50 kilometers away from Jiujiang, Lieutenant General Fujita Shin, commander of the Third Division, sat on a chair, surrounded by a group of officers of the Third Division.

Fujita Susumu has a round face and looks quite happy, but those who are familiar with him know that this guy who graduated from the same period as Okamura Ninji, Kenji Dohihara, Itagaki Seishiro, and Ando Toshikichi is a ruthless character, and he is also quite valued by the base camp, and it is rumored that he is likely to succeed Nishio Shouzo as the commander of the 13th Army.

Sitting in a chair, Fujita Susumu held the command knife in both hands, squinted at Major General Ryichiro Katayama standing on the side, and did not show any anger or excitement on his face. But Riichiro Katayama, who was familiar with him, was even more nervous, because every time Fujita Susumu showed this expression, it showed that his mood swings were very large.

After a long time, Fujita Jin opened his eyes, set his eyes on Richiro Katayama and asked slowly, "Katayama-kun, can you explain to me why the cavalry wing lost most of it and the reason why the Fifth Brigade suffered heavy losses?" ”

Riichiro Katayama said honestly: "Your Excellency the division commander, the loss of this battle is mainly my responsibility, and I am willing to take responsibility for it. ”

Fujita Jin interrupted him impatiently: "Katayama-kun, I'm asking you now about the reasons and circumstances of your defeat in the war, and I didn't let you take responsibility?" ”

Riichiro Katayama was stunned, and then said loudly: "Hai! ”

He thought for a moment and organized his words before he said: "Our brigade was the first to rush to Jiujiang, and I arrived in Huangmei County. They heard a report from the 3rd Cavalry Wing that they had been ambushed by the armored forces of the Chinese people, and at that time hundreds of chariots of the Chinese people surrounded them from all directions. Although the cavalry wing was taken by surprise, the warriors still bravely rushed towards the chariot troops of the Chinese people, but unfortunately no matter how sharp the warriors' swords were, they could not break through the strong armor of the chariot, and in the end more than 2,000 cavalry finally ran back less than 300, and the vast majority of the warriors were shattered. ”

When they heard this, a look of grief and indignation appeared on everyone's faces, and they could imagine it. A group of brave Imperial cavalry rode their horses and brandished their swords to charge at those steel monsters, their sharp swords slashing at the sturdy armor but only flashing a little spark, and finally they could only fall helplessly under the opponent's machine guns and metal tracks. What a tragic scene.

Rishiro Katayama continued, "When I received the report, my judgment was that the Shina had just routed the cavalry wing, and according to the custom of the Shina people, they would definitely have to rest or clean up the battlefield, and they would not catch up in a short time. So I ordered the troops to stop advancing. Prepare to construct fortifications in situ. But what I didn't expect was that less than half an hour later, the armored unit of the Shina people suddenly appeared in front of my eyes. In a hurry, I could only give the order to the troops to resist on the spot, but the resistance of the troops was very weak, dozens of chariots lined up towards our army, the bullets of the warriors were of no use at all on the chariots, even the 94-type anti-chariot cannon could not penetrate their chariots, and in the end I could only send warriors to attack with explosives packs, but the final effect was very small. In order to preserve the strength of the 30th Regiment, I had no choice but to order the troops to withdraw to Huangmei County. That's how it happened. ”

Although Ichiro Katayama said it briefly, the people in the room imagined the helpless scene of the officers and soldiers of the Fifth Brigade at that time. The scene of the sudden arrival of armored troops, the soldiers who rushed into battle, and the impenetrable armored fighting vehicles that rumbled over the soldiers while strafing with machine guns.

Major General Kanichiro Ueno, the commander of the 29th Brigade, who was also subordinate to the Third Division, stepped forward and said: "Your Excellency, Division Commander, although Katayama-kun is also at fault, I think the main reason is that we are not prepared at all for the fact that the people of China have armored combat vehicles, otherwise we would not be so passive. ”

Fujita Jin pondered for a while, shook his head, and said, "Katayama-kun, although there are reasons for this or that, the responsibility for your improper command at that time cannot be shirked. Since you know that the chariot unit of Zhina has appeared in front of you, why didn't you immediately order the troops to retreat, but instead stopped and garrisoned, don't you know that the biggest characteristic of the chariot unit is that it is highly mobile? Fortunately, they didn't take the opportunity to follow you and kill Huangmei County, otherwise our division would have been passive. ”

Hearing this, Richiro Katayama sweated profusely on his forehead, and if he let that chariot unit follow his ass all the way to Huangmei County, so that the entire Third Division suffered losses, then his own sin would be great.

At this time, the chief of staff, Tian Yuan Li Xiong Dazuo, also interjected: "Your Excellency, division commander, now is not the time to investigate these issues. Commander Okamura gave us the task of taking Jiujiang together with the 13th Division, and now that the battle has not yet begun, we have suffered such heavy losses, should we apply to the headquarters for additional artillery wing and aviation support? ”

Seeing that the chief of staff and another brigade commander under his command were pleading with Ichiro Katayama, Fujita Jin couldn't say anything, after all, the officers were at the level of major generals, and the punishment of them was not something that the division commander could decide, and now the third division still had a task, although he had the right to deal with it urgently, but now that the enemy was present, it would not do the third division any benefit to do so.

After thinking about it, he said to Ichiro Katayama: "I don't have the right to make the decision on your disposition, but I will report the incident to Commander Okamura in detail." As for the request for reinforcements you mentioned, I think we can do it, and you will draft a telegram to the commander later, as for ......."

"Report!" Before Fujita finished speaking, a voice sounded outside the door.

Soon, an operational staff officer walked in and saluted Fujita and said loudly: "Your Excellency, the commander of the report, the 13th Division was blocked by the chariot troops of the 202nd Division of the Zhina in the northeast direction of Jiujiang, the 3rd Chariot Brigade was completely annihilated, and their cavalry wing also suffered heavy losses. ”

"Report!"

As soon as the combat staff officer finished speaking, another staff officer also hurried over, holding a newspaper in his hand and hurriedly saying: "Your Excellency Division Commander, the headquarters has sent an urgent telegram that the eight Type 97 attack planes that the Fifth Flying Division had just sent to Jiujiang to be responsible for bombing were all destroyed by the anti-aircraft fire of the Chinas half an hour ago. Moreover, according to intelligence, the 74th Army of the Chinese people has also arrived in Jiujiang. ”

"Nani ......"

Everyone in the room exclaimed, and the successive bad news made their faces all change.

"How is this possible?"

"It can't be!"

What the Japanese admire most is that Mount Tai collapses in front of it and its color remains unchanged, but when the people present heard the news, all the senior officers of the Third Division, including Fujita Sususu, were still deeply shocked. The 13th Division was also attacked by the Huaxia Chariot Unit, not only was the Chariot Brigade completely annihilated, but even the eight attack planes of the Fifth Flying Division that hurriedly arrived from Shangrao also broke their wings.

Fujita Susumu suddenly looked at Ichiro Katayama: "I remember you sent me a telegram saying that the chariot unit was from the Fifth Army, right?" ”

Riichiro Katayama hesitated for a moment before saying, "Although I'm not sure, I think besides the Fifth Army, which other army of the Shina people has so many chariots?" ”

"Soga!"

Fujita Jin stood up and took a few more steps back and forth, then suddenly raised his head and said: "I don't care if this chariot unit is the Fifth Army or not, I must destroy them, otherwise their threat to the Imperial Army is too great."

"Right...... And the Jingguan troops. Ichiro Katayama also gritted his teeth and said: "The commander of the Third Cavalry Wing of our division fell for the trick of the Shina people because he saw that all his subordinates who died in battle were stripped of their clothes and their heads were cut off to make a kyokan on the road. ”

Hearing this, the faces of all the Japanese soldiers in the room were a little difficult to look at, Su Jin and his troops liked to use the corpses of the dead Japanese soldiers to base Jingguan, this "vice" is not only them, the soldiers of all Japan know it, I don't know how many people hate him so much, but so what, people just do it, and they do it unabashedly, so that many Japanese generals now frown when they mention his name.

It was suggested that the Japanese could also treat others the way they would be treated, but it soon became clear that this was of little use. The reason why Japanese soldiers are afraid of being beheaded is because in Japanese customs, the soul of a soldier who has been beheaded is not accepted by Amaterasu. And as a human being, no one wants to die in battle and have their bodies ruined. But the Chinese people are different, and the Chinese people have long been accustomed to the criminal law of beheading in thousands of years of history, otherwise there would be no saying on the rivers and lakes that "the head is just a scar the size of a bowl, and after eighteen years, he will be a good man again".

Now that Su Jin's "notoriety" has drifted to Japan, almost all Japanese generals frown at the mention of his name. This guy is like a copper pea, he can't smash it and can't hammer it, all the Japanese soldiers who touch him will be bitten off by him regardless of whether they can beat it or not, and no matter who they are, they will scratch their heads for such an opponent.

Originally, Okamura Ningji was going to send two divisions to completely destroy this guy who dared to touch the tiger's whiskers, so he sent two divisions to try to kill it with the overwhelming momentum of Mount Tai, but he never thought that the other party would actually come up with a chariot army, not to mention, now even the seventy-fourth army is involved, and now it will be difficult to do.

"Let's report the matter to His Excellency the Commander!" In the end, Fujita Susumu said a word from everyone's heart. (To be continued.) )