"It means that the Imperial Kingdom has no one to negotiate with, and the purpose of our previous stay in Mukden is actually to force the Qing government to negotiate with the Imperial State, so it is meaningless for us to continue to stay here now (in fact, it makes sense, but we must hold out for a longer time, and Katsura Taro knows that the Third Division will not last until that time anyway. ）。 Lads, we can go home! Hearing Katsura Taro's words, the Japanese officers who had already been homesick suddenly burst into joy, but the more the adjutant listened, the more confused he became, "Could it be that the division commander has changed his mind again and doesn't plan to fight Mukden?" ”

But everyone's cheers didn't completely stop, and Katsura Taro's next words made the scene instantly quiet, "However, this way home is not easy to walk, our current food stock is no longer enough for ten days, and it is difficult to collect much grain and grass on the way back to the east."

The officers present knew that Katsura Taro was not alarmist, because the countryside along the road had already been swept by the time they came, and at that time it was just in time for the lack of success, and the looting of the Japanese army caused a severe famine, and the inhabitants were forced to flee even if they did not die, and now on the way back, it was difficult to even see people, let alone raise food.

What the? You say a different path? But the problem is that there are really not many roads from Mukden to Korea, even if they are only a little more decent, and if the Japanese army does not want to go around in a big circle, there is really no second way to go

If it is pure light infantry, in fact, it may not need to march along the road, but the problem is that the artillery trucks cannot leave the main road, and the looting proceeds of the 3rd Division after invading Northeast China also have to be loaded and transported.

As a result, the devil officers all frowned, and without further explanation, they could all think of the consequences of the direct eastward retreat of the army, either because the food was exhausted and starved to death on the way, or the troops were divided to raise food in the distance, and the Chinese pursuers caught up with each and broke each one, and the whole army was wiped out on a foreign land

Seeing the expressions of his subordinates, Katsura Taro knew that it was time, and he suddenly raised his voice and said, "Fortunately, under the blessing of Amaterasu, the Qing army in Mukden has a serious civil strife, and it has not subsided yet, as long as our army goes west to attack Mukden with all its strength, the Qing army will definitely collapse." After receiving the military rations in Mukden, we can safely return to North Korea and wait for the next step of the base camp; Moreover, even if the Chinese rebels arrived, they would first have to spend a lot of time to contain the defeated army, and it would be difficult for them to catch up with us if they delayed it. ”

Katsura Taro's words did not immediately get a warm response from his subordinates, and the Third Division did not fight Mukden, everyone knew that it was not so easy, although it was said that the Qing army was in civil strife, but how much impact it had, before fighting them, no one could say. Yuan Shikai is a ruthless character, maybe after the Qing army is all under his command, it will become even more powerful?

However, Katsura Taro has long been prepared for this, and he believes that his next words will definitely make everyone in the Third Division brave, "Lords, our Third Division has killed countless people since entering Manchuria, and everyone has a blood debt that cannot be washed away, and the Chinese are eager to eat my flesh and sleep on my skin." Especially now that our opponent has been replaced by the mysterious rebel army, how they treated our prisoners of war after the Battle of Jinzhou, you should still remember it vividly."

Thinking of the tragic situation of Okada and the others, many of the officers present unconsciously shuddered, and the last of the prisoners did not survive (most of them died of wound infection, and the three who survived committed suicide because they couldn't bear the huge mental pressure). The tragic ending made them unable to even give birth to the idea that "it is better to die than to live".

Seeing that his words seemed to have an effect, Katsura Taro immediately struck while the iron was hot and roared loudly at his subordinates, "In the face of such a ferocious enemy, it is more fortunate to die in battle, but the commander of this division doesn't want to die yet, and the princes don't want to die either, right?" If you don't want to die, come with me to capture Mukden, this is the only way for our 3rd Division to survive! ”

"Hey!" , The devil officers, who realized their situation and completely became outlaws, bowed down and replied in unison. Iktanga, who was invited to attend the meeting, did not understand Japanese, and thought that Katsura Taro was really going to Beijing to help the Manchu Qing restoration, so he stupidly shouted along with the Japanese army

Although Katsura Taro still had a straight face, he faintly showed joy, because he saw that his subordinates' eyes had once again revealed murderous aura. And Katsura Taro's final addition made the 3rd Division go crazy from top to bottom, "When you return to your respective units, remember to convey these words I said to every officer and soldier, yes, to every soldier!" ”

During the build-up of troops, Katsura Taro also did an important thing, he cut and reorganized the 5,000 Manchu and Mongolian cavalry brought by Iktanga according to the establishment of the Japanese army, and nearly 2,000 people were cleared out as coolies, including more than half of the officers under Iktanga.

As for the remaining more than 3,000 people, they were reorganized by Katsura Taro according to the establishment of the Japanese army, and 4 temporary puppet army cavalry brigades were established, and 16 Chinese-speaking devil officers were selected from the only cavalry brigade of the third division to be placed as captains and squadron leaders, although nominally these 4 cavalry brigades were still under the command of Iktanga, but even the latter himself knew that it would not be long before he would completely lose control of this army, but now he has no way back, except for one road to the dark, Is there any other option?

In order to maximize the chances of attacking Mukden, he suggested to Katsura Taro that some loyal and reliable and nimble boys from among the Manchu and Mongolian cavalry should be selected to blend in with the Qing army anyway after the attack was launched, so as to cooperate with the frontal attack of the Japanese army.

Katsura Taro nodded again and again after hearing this, in fact, if it weren't for the Qing army's braids, it would not be easy to impersonate (if a soldier wears fake braids, it is easy to wear a goof.) He had already sent a small force to carry out a similar strategy, and now with Iktanga's troops, the problem was solved.

To put it bluntly, the banner people are just a privileged class, not a nation in the strict sense, and the difference between them and the Han people in appearance is not very obvious, and there is no obvious difference, at least ordinary people can't see it. (To be continued.) )