Three o'clock in the morning, Bangkok, the headquarters of the Japanese Southern Army.

Because the expeditionary force launched a surprise attack on the Menggong Heights at one o'clock in the morning, and at the same time dispatched tanks and helicopters, and the 16th Division had already sent several telegrams requesting tactical guidance, so the headquarters was busy, staff officers and generals shuttled among them, and the radio and telephone rang non-stop.

The commanders of the Southern Army, General Terauchi Shouichi and Lieutenant General Tsukada Tsukata, led a group of staff generals around a huge sand table, and everyone's eyes were staring at the Menggong Heights on the sand table, but without exception, they all frowned and looked sad.

Helicopters and tanks are working together, this is also a new subject for them, and they are also helpless, in the face of the request for tactical guidance flying like snowflakes in front, the only thing they can do is to urge the 55th Division to rush to Meng Gong as soon as possible to support, and at the same time, silently pray in their hearts that Apayasu will protect his people.

"Report, the 55th Division is in an emergency!"

A major general staff officer hurriedly came in to report, and everyone's eyes were immediately attracted by the major general's staff officer.

A trace of panic flashed in Terauchi Shouyi's eyes, and he hurriedly said, "What's the matter?" ”

The staff officer of the major general said: "The 55th Division was attacked by the air force of the China Army, and suffered heavy casualties, and it was no longer able to go to support!" ”

"Yaga!"

Shouichi Terauchi closed his eyes, gritted his teeth and scolded angrily.

As soon as the scolding fell, the commander of the Fifth Flying Regiment, Lieutenant General Nakahara Shengxiao, walked in quickly and reported to Terauchi Shouichi that the fighter planes that forcibly took off at night were intercepted by the Zhina Air Force, and they arranged an air defense line in the airspace of fifty miles outside Menggong to Xidang, and all the fighters seemed to have clairvoyance, no matter which direction the imperial planes entered, they would swarm there, and their combat capability was not inferior to that of the daytime, and the performance of the aircraft was superior to that of the imperial aircraft, and the imperial army aviation could not compete with it at all, Fighters in all three directions were forced to return home with heavy losses.

"Baga, damn, big drop hateful!"

Terauchi Shou was pacing back and forth rapidly in the headquarters at first, and his anger was secondary, and what really worried him was the safety of the 16th Division.

"Terauchi-kun, I think I ordered Nakajima to break through to the siege, how much can I rush out?" Chief of Staff Tsukada Tsukasa said: All kinds of signs in front of him indicate that the expeditionary force is well deployed, and it is imperative to attack the Menggong Heights, and the 16th Division may not be able to withstand the dawn under such a powerful firepower attack.

Terauchi Shouichi stopped walking, sighed deeply, the unwillingness in his heart can be imagined, just spent a huge effort to take Meng Gong, seeing that the dawn of victory is ahead, who knows that in less than three hours, the expeditionary force will break out such a fierce counteroffensive, he also knows that the 16th Division has no possibility of winning the battle in front of him without reinforcements and air supremacy, hesitated for a few seconds, Terauchi Shouichi gritted his teeth, seemed to be very determined, his lips squirmed, and he was just about to say something, Another staff officer hurried in with a message.

And the news brought by the staff officer this time was absolutely shocking, it was actually a farewell message from the 16th Division, Nakajima Imago was besieged at the headquarters, and at the last second of the last 20 commanders and staff officers resisted stubbornly, he sent this telegram, detailing the entire battle, and reporting that the divisional flags had been burned, and finally long live the emperor.

As soon as this news came out, the entire command headquarters suddenly exclaimed, and then there was a dead silence, and everyone's eyes looked at Commander Terauchi Shouichi.

Shouichi Terauchi's old face has been seriously distorted and deformed, and his eyes show a terrifying fierce light.

"Whew 616161616161"

Shouichi Terauchi suddenly let out a roar that was almost like a wounded beast, and then a mouthful of blood splattered, and he staggered a few steps and almost fell.

"Your Excellency, General!"

"Terauchi-kun!"

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There was a sudden exclamation in the headquarters, and Tsukada and several staff officers stepped forward, hugged Terauchi Shouichi, and while calling the doctor, he helped Terauchi Shouichi to the chair and sat firmly, bringing tea and water to stroke his chest and back, and he was busy for a while.

The doctor soon arrived, and after some examination, he concluded that the general of the temple was a heart disease, and there was no need to take medicine, and the general of the temple was in good physical condition, as long as he was no longer greatly stimulated, he should be fine.

After the doctor left, a group of people looked at each other and didn't know how to comfort Shouichi Terauchi, a permanent division group made up jade pieces, but it was not a trivial matter, and any words of comfort were in vain. Moreover, the offensive on the entire northern front had to be abandoned because of the destruction of the 16th Division, and even those who were waiting for the imperial army were left with only one way to retreat.

Three divisions, a full 120,000 army, and two tank wings were eaten up by Jiang Haoran in less than half a month, and now there are more than 30,000 people left, which is not bad, and the specific casualties depend on how many people are left in Tada Jun's 55th Division, but they are unable to go to reinforcements under the urging of several orders. In this case, no words of comfort will work.

After a long time, Shouichi Terauchi's breathing gradually stabilized, and his originally pale face slowly became bloody, but the desperate melancholy between his eyebrows could not dissipate.

、

Terauchi Shouichi got up slowly, and arrogantly pushed away the staff officers who stepped forward to support him, and walked to the combat sand table with great vigor, and a group of staff generals also hurriedly surrounded him.

"Order, the 55th Division immediately retreats to Mina, and strictly guards against it!"

Shouichi Terauchi seemed to have accepted the fact of defeat, and his tone was calm and powerful.

For this order, Chief of Staff Tsukada immediately frowned, and said: "Terauchi-kun, now the 55th Division may not have much combat effectiveness, plus the remnants of the 38th Division, I am afraid that it is less than 30,000, and most of them are technical logistics troops, the real elite infantry can gather two wings is not bad, the expeditionary force is newly victorious, morale is strong, if they take advantage of the victory to pursue, these 30,000 people may not be enough to resist, and our latest reinforcements are still in Bamo, It would have taken two days to reach Mina as fast as possible. So, I don't think they should be ordered to cross the river and withdraw from Mina at once? ”

Terauchi Shouichi waved his hand and said: "No, we can't retreat, once we retreat, the threat of the expeditionary force's northern front will not exist, they can devote themselves wholeheartedly to the Yingduo campaign, which will increase the difficulty of the attack for the second division and the eighteenth division, as long as the troops on the northern front are still there, the troops of the expeditionary force Meng Gong will not dare to act rashly, as for they will take advantage of the victory to pursue?" You can rest assured that they don't dare and won't do it. ”