Yingkou City has been turned into a Shura Hell City, and the city is full of ruins destroyed by artillery fire.

More often than not, there are corpses everywhere, men and women, old and young, with different tragic scenes.

At the same time, about a hundred miles off the coast of Yingkou.

The huge fleet of the Japanese army is moving at full speed in the direction of the East China Sea.

On a heavy cruiser, Takashi Hishikari was chatting on the deck with Chief of Staff Kuniaki Koiso and Deputy Chief of Staff Ninji Okamura.

At this time, a communications adjutant of the Chinese army ran out of the cabin, gathered his feet and saluted: "Report to Your Excellency General, Yingkou is in an emergency, and a large number of air forces from the Zhina Army are carrying out fierce bombardment of various units of our army in Yingkou. ”

Ryokari Takashi slightly bowed his head and signaled the communication adjutant to leave, and Koiso Kuniaaki on the side looked at Okamura Ninji with some dissatisfaction after hearing this: "I don't object to this massacre, but this will only attract crazy revenge from the people of China." ”

Okamura Ninji smiled and didn't argue, and Ryokari asked suspiciously, "Okamura-kun, can you tell me why you have to let the landing force slaughter the city?" ”

Okamura Ninji looked at the distant sky and said earnestly: "For the combat effectiveness of the imperial army." ”

"Nani?" Ryokari Takashi and Koiso Kuniaki glanced at each other, both puzzled.

"The vast majority of our 40,000 reinforcements are newly recruited reservists, and although they have undergone systematic professional training, they have never really been on the battlefield, let alone killed anyone and seen blood.

And if you want to improve the combat effectiveness of an army, the best way is to kill, by slaughtering the hundreds of thousands of people in Yingkou City, you can make the 40,000 imperial army quickly become bloodthirsty and cruel.

This makes them stronger, and only after seeing blood kill people can they better become killing machines and persist in the next bloody battle. Okamura Ninji explained.

Ryokari nodded thoughtfully: "It seems that Okamura-kun is quite accomplished in the way of commanding troops, which is really terrifying." ”

Even Koiso Kuniaki had to admit that Okamura Ninji's move was indeed clever, and only in this way could he increase the combat effectiveness of the 40,000 imperial army as quickly as possible.

Otherwise, they will be vulnerable.

"The general is overrated." Okamura Ninji humbly bowed his head slightly, and then said, "General, you can order the fleet to stop evacuating." ”

"Stop evacuating? This is less than two hundred nautical miles from Yingkou. Ryokari said in surprise.

"General, the main attention of the air force of the Chinese people will be on the 40,000 reinforcements of the Imperial Army of Yingkou City in the future, they can't take care of us, so this place is safe enough.

The next battle, during the day, will be the most difficult time for the Imperial Army to hold on, as long as the daylight is over, the air force of the Chinese people cannot take off, our naval fleet can approach Yingkou, give them artillery support, and regain the positions lost during the day. Okamura Ninji explained.

"But Okamura-kun, have you thought about it, the 40,000 imperial troops in Yingkou will inevitably be attacked from both sides by the Shina army next, can they resist it?" Takashi said worriedly.

"Don't worry, general, at this time, there are not many troops in Haicheng and Liaoyang, and it will take time for reinforcements to arrive in the direction of Shenyang, so only a division in the direction of Jinzhou can pose a threat to the imperial army in a short time.

The main force of the Chinese army has already crossed Wafangdian and is confronting the main force of the imperial army in the area of Pulandian, if they want to return to Yingkou, the main force of the imperial army can take advantage of the situation to pursue.

Therefore, counting the daytime today, we have at least two days to build a defensive line, which is enough for 40,000 imperial troops. ”

Okamura Ningji paused as he spoke, and then said: "General, the most important thing in this battle is whether the 100,000 main forces of the imperial army can destroy the main force of the Chinese army attacking Pulandian before Yingkou is broken through by the Chinese people, so I suggest that the general immediately land in Dalian, officially take over the command of the Kwantung Army, and personally command the 100,000 imperial army in the Dalian area to fight!" ”

"Hmm." Ryokari did not object, and nodded.

…………………… Haicheng, the former enemy headquarters of the Northeast New Army, has been busy.

The radio station in the telecommunications room was ringing incessantly, and from time to time there were signal soldiers shuttling back and forth between the war room and the communication room.

"Commander, the Air Force has already carried out two air raids on Yingkou, but according to the report of Division Commander Gao, he said that he had been prepared for a long time, and the air raid effect was not great, and the retreat of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd divisions and armored troops had been cut off, what should I do now?" Guard battalion commander Guo Zhongdao.

Zhang Xinghan did not speak, but stared at the map, if the three divisions that came out of the front were withdrawn, they would have to cross the Qianshan Mountains, and in this way, all the baggage and tank armored vehicles would be abandoned.

This is too costly for the Northeast New Army, and it is impossible for Zhang Xinghan to take this step unless it is absolutely necessary.

In this way, the only thing left is to return the same way, flank the Yingkou, and open up the communication with the rear.

While it is dangerous to do so, it is nothing compared to the price paid for abandoning all baggage vehicles and tank armored vehicles.

Having made up his mind, Zhang Xinghan immediately said to Guo Zhong: "Immediately send a telegram to Huang Xiansheng and others, the 2nd and 3rd Divisions of Reading Force will immediately start defense on the spot, and the armored group army will leave one division to assist, and the rest will immediately counterattack Yingkou with the 1st Division, and cooperate with the 4th Division of Jinzhou Reading Power and the 9th and 10th Divisions of Shenyang Reading Force to attack Yingkou Army."

This battle is the most critical battle on the Liaodong Peninsula, and all troops are told to fight to the death and swear to fight with the army! ”

"Yes!" Guo Zhong snapped forward and turned to walk towards the telecommunications room.

…………………… While the troops on both sides were actively mobilizing, Takashi Hishigari, together with Okamura Ninji and Koiso Kuniaki, arrived at the Kwantung Army headquarters in the Lushun fortress in Dalian.

"Welcome to General Ling!" The greeting procession led by Toranosuke Hashimoto stepped forward and saluted.

"Chief of Staff Hashimoto, what about General Muto?" Ryokari Takashi saw that Muto Nobuyoshi did not come to greet him in person, and there was some displeasure in his tone.

"General Muto is arranging a reception banquet for the generals, and washing the dust for the generals." Toranosuke Hashimoto replied respectfully.

Ryokari snorted coldly: "The Manchurian war situation is in a critical situation, as an emperor [***] person is still thinking about greedy for pleasure?" ”

"Hashimoto-kun, you can go back to China and rest." Ryokari Takashi said with a cold voice full of disdain in his eyes.

Hashimoto Toranosuke's face suddenly turned blue with anger, so he had to bow his head and say, "Hai! ”

Originally, Muto Nobuyoshi also wanted to entertain Ryoshikari Takashi, an old classmate, so as to make his resignation more face-saving.

But he didn't expect Ryokari Takashi to give him no face at all, and directly swept him and Hashimoto Toranosuke out of the house.

But Muto Nobuyoshi, who had gone to the general situation, had no choice but to leave the Kwantung Army headquarters with Hashimoto Toranosuke and some guards in anger.

boarded a few warships and embarked on the road back to China.

And Ishihara, who has served as a staff officer of the new headquarters three times, stayed unexpectedly again this time.

It was none other than the new deputy chief of staff, Okamura Ninji, who left him behind.

Ryokari Takashi now relies heavily on Okamura Ninji, and Ishihara is one of the masterminds of the 918 Incident, so he doesn't pay much attention to it.

"Your Excellency General, according to the latest information from the front line of Pulandian, the Chinese army confronting them is resting its fortifications, and some of them seem to be preparing to counterattack at Yingkou, without further ado, hurry up and order the troops to attack!" In the headquarters of the Kwantung Army, which had changed hands, Okamura Ninji pointed to the map and said to Hishikari Takado.

Ryokaraka nodded and said solemnly: "Immediately order in the name of the Kwantung Army Headquarters, the 1st Division, the 2nd Division and other units will immediately launch an attack on Wafangdian, and defeat them in one fell swoop while the foothold of the people of China is not stable!" ”

"Hay!" An adjutant behind him bowed his head abruptly, turned and led the way away.

………………………… Wafang shop.

The officers and men of the 2nd and 3rd Divisions of Reading Power were digging earth to repair the ring fortifications with Wafangdian as the center.

Zhao Zhenfan, commander of the 2nd Division, and Wang Yizhe, commander of the 3rd Division, were discussing the military situation in the temporary headquarters in Wafangdian Town.

A side three-wheeled motorcycle roared from the south and galloped to the outside of the small courtyard of the headquarters, and a second lieutenant officer jumped from it and ran straight towards the courtyard.

"Report to the division, Master Wang, the devils of Pulandian have been dispatched!" The second lieutenant officer came to the command and snapped up and saluted.

"Huh? How many devils are there? Zhao Zhenfan asked.

"Not to mention more than 100,000 people, I have carefully counted the reconnaissance platoon with the lowly post for a long time, and the team is endless!" The second lieutenant officer breathed a little heezing.

Zhao Zhenfan and Wang Yizhe's faces froze, "Guoping, it seems that the little devil is pouring out of the nest this time!" Wang Yizhe said.

Zhao Zhenfan nodded solemnly: "Yes, we counterattack Yingkou, the devils are bound to destroy us before Yingkou is captured, now it depends on who lasts a long time, and the attack is fast!" ”

"Whistling air support, order all regiments to immediately prepare for battle, even if you fight to the last man, you can't let a little devil pass through here!" Wang Yizhe immediately decided.

"Hmm!" Zhao Zhenfan nodded, and immediately shouted to the outside world: "Herald ......"

………………………… In Yingkou City, the army built several lines of defense in the west and north and south directions of Yingkou to resist the attack of the Northeast New Army from Haicheng and Jinzhou and Gaizhou.

Among them, the west line direction is mainly based on the Daliao River, connecting the north defense line of the city to the north, relying on both sides of the Dashiqiao railway line and Yingkou City as the center.

The southern line of defense relies on the railway line from Yingkou Nandaqing River to Dashiqiao, which is a semicircular defense line.

The deployment of the army was planned by Okamura Ninji himself, and the main defense area was a semicircle composed of Dashiqiao Station and the Daqing River.

The Da Liao River on the west side was the secondary defense area, and Okamura Ningji knew very well that the only thing that could really pose a threat to Yingkou was the Northeast New Army, which was heading south from Shenyang and returning north from Gaizhou.

In the spring, although the northeast is not as warm as the south, it also bids farewell to the severe cold of winter, which makes it much more convenient and fast for the army to build fortifications.

(To be continued)