Chapter 657: What a big appetite! (Ask for subscription)

The encirclement and suppression operation, which lasted for more than half a month, totaled seven main divisions and regiments, and 150,000 Kwantung Army troops. In this encirclement and suppression operation, not only did not achieve any results, but suffered heavy losses. The entire five main divisions and hundreds of thousands of elite Kwantung Army were lost in this encirclement and suppression operation.

At the same time, the Shanhaiguan Line, which the Japanese army called impregnable. It also disappeared under the fierce attack of the main force of the Northeast Field Army of the Eighth Route Army. Hundreds of thousands of elite Eighth Route Army then left the customs and became the enemy in the hinterland of the three northeastern provinces and the greatest threat to the Kwantung Army.

Among them, what is even more unexpected is that among the hundreds of thousands of elite Kwantung Army soldiers who lost, there were more than 15,000 soldiers of the Imperial Army who surrendered to the troops of the Eighth Route Army and became prisoners of war in the hands of the Eighth Route Army. It can be said that this is the first time since the empire launched the war of aggression against China that there have been formed imperial soldiers to surrender to the squadron. The surrender of the 125th Division to the enemy was not only a shame for the whole of Japan, but also a great shame for the entire Kwantung Army...

In the face of all kinds of operational defeats, as the direct commander of this encirclement and suppression operation, Lieutenant General Kimura Hyotaro, chief of the general staff of the Kwantung Army, will certainly not end well. As soon as he returned to the headquarters of the Kwantung Army, he was greeted not by the enthusiastic face of the commander, General Umezu Mijiro, but by a group of vanguard troops with murderous faces....

Lieutenant General Hyotaro Kimura, the bearer of this ultimate responsibility. As soon as he returned to the headquarters, and before he had time to rest, he was taken directly back to the country by the gendarmerie to prepare for trial by a military court...

Although, the chief of staff, Hyotaro Kimura, as the ultimate scapegoat for the top brass of the entire Kwantung Army, took all the responsibility for the defeat in this operation. However, Senior General Umezu Mijiro, who was the supreme commander of the Kwantung Army, was also severely rebuked by the top brass in the country, and even by His Majesty the Emperor.

Almost a week has passed since the end of this encirclement and suppression operation in the blink of an eye. However, General Umezu Mijiro still has not recovered from the defeat in this encirclement and suppression operation ....

After all, the real elite of the Kwantung Army in his own hands is less than a million people.

And so far, in less than half a year, he has only lost the imperial army troops in the hands of the Eighth Route Army, all of which have reached an astonishing 150,000 people.

Although, by conscripting a large number of expatriates from the three northeastern provinces into the army, three new divisions were reorganized, totaling 60,000 troops. However, without half a year of formal training, it is impossible for these recruit divisions to go to the battlefield and fight against the elite Soviet Red Army and the troops of the Eighth Route Army...

In general, so far, the troops in his own hands have directly lost more than 100,000 people.

The loss of 100,000 elites of the Kwantung Army made General Umezu Mijiro, who had long been short of troops, feel particularly helpless. The hundreds of thousands of troops engaged in the confrontation with the Soviet Red Army, no matter what, could not move. Then, the loss of hundreds of thousands of troops directly caused the emptiness of a large area of regional defense forces in Liaoning, and eventually led to the entire Liaoning region, only less than 80,000 elite Kwantung Army troops were left to garrison, and the Mengshan area, the increasingly arrogant Eighth Route Army troops confronted...

At this moment, General Umezu Mijiro is almost always worried about the Liaoning region, where the army is empty.

However, what makes the general nervous is a little better. In this encirclement and suppression operation, although he paid the price of the annihilation of hundreds of thousands of troops. However, it also caused very huge casualties to the Northeast Field Army of the Eighth Route Army, which was entrenched in the Mengshan area.

The commander was confident that in the troops inflicted such huge casualties. Coupled with the bloody battle that lasted for more than 20 days, the troops were extremely tired. The Northeast Field Army of the Eighth Route Army absolutely did not dare to attack the county seat occupied by the imperial army with its own tired division. Because in that case, these tired divisions will undoubtedly come to die...

As long as the enemy and us are able to conduct a month-long restraint and military confrontation in the Liaoning region. Then, the several new divisions that I have just signed can begin to take shape. Then, after the strength of the three divisions and regiments arrives in the Liaoning region, the entire Liaoning region will undergo an astonishing change in the ratio of forces with the enemy's strength. And the Northeast Field Army of the Eighth Route Army, even if their main force has already left the customs at this moment, in the encirclement of the imperial army's iron bucket, it will not be able to set off any big waves. ,

However, it seems that the heavens do not want to let the dream of General Mijiro Umezu come true. Just when General Umezu Mijiro was completely immersed in his dream. The sound of hurried footsteps reached his ears. Immediately after that, Lieutenant General Yoshimoto, the newly appointed chief of staff of the Kwantung Army, stood in front of him with a panicked face.

"Chief of Staff, what's going on, so flustered..."General Umezu Mijiro asked the Chief of Staff who interrupted his dreams.

"Hai, I beg your pardon, Commander. The latest intelligence from the special high-tech intelligence officer, who had just been hidden in the base area of the Eighth Route Army, showed that there had been a large-scale military movement in the base area of the Eighth Route Army. In terms of the scale of the transfer, the total number of troops is at least 70,000. In addition, the ultimate goal of the large-scale military movement of the Eighth Route Army is unknown, and the special high-tech department is currently investigating..."

"Seventy thousand troops, how is it possible. After such a tragic and bloody battle, there are still 70,000 troops in the hands of the Eighth Route Army....Bageyalu, can anyone tell me how many Eighth Route Army troops there are in the entire Mengshan area...."The angry General Umezu Mijiro roared loudly at the chief of staff in front of him.

"Your Excellency, Commander, I have just arrived in the Kwantung Army, and I don't know what the situation is. However, I immediately ordered Tegaoke to find out the specific strength of the Eighth Route Army and the firepower of the troops in the shortest possible time...."Lieutenant General Yoshimoto replied with a look of embarrassment.

"Yo Xi, immediately go and convey the order, let Tegaoke, in the shortest possible time, check the specific number of the total strength of the Northeast Field Army of the Eighth Route Army to me, otherwise it will be dead. In addition, inform the special high-tech department that no matter how much it costs, we must give me a clear investigation of the specific purpose of the large-scale military movement of the Eighth Route Army in the shortest possible time...."The general nodded. A pair of sharp eyes, after glancing fiercely at the chief of staff in front of him, he ordered with a murderous face.

"Hay..."Facing the commander who could get angry at any moment. The Chief of Staff did not dare to make any more stops. He replied loudly, turned around, and rushed out of the commander's office......

In the face of the commander's mandatory orders, Tegaoke can be said to be bitter and unspeakable. Because, under the several blows of Qian Zhonghua, director of the intelligence department of the base area, the entire special high-tech department has lost nearly 100 elite intelligence personnel in the base area of the Eighth Route Army.

However, in the face of death, the governors at all levels of the special high-tech department still chose to carry out the order very wisely. As a result, the Japanese army spent a lot of energy, and all kinds of intelligence personnel hidden in the Mengshan base area sprung up like mushrooms after a rain, and began to reconnoiter the combat targets hidden behind the large-scale military movements in the base area....

The hard work paid off, and the special high-tech once again paid the heavy price that the intelligence network carefully organized by the special high-tech in the Mengshan base area of the Eighth Route Army was almost completely destroyed under the blow of Qian Zhonghua of the Eighth Route Army's intelligence department. A piece of information with important military information appeared in the hands of the chief of staff, Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadachi...

Back in the commander's office, Chief of Staff Yoshimoto Sadachi, who had just taken office and had not yet figured out the commander's temper, couldn't help but be a little nervous. However, as a high-ranking officer, in his heart, he did not show any timidity. Facing the commander's fierce gaze, Yoshimoto Sadachi quickly walked in front of the general and reported.

"Your Excellency Commander, this is the latest information that Tegaoke has just sent..."

"Read....What secrets are hidden behind this large-scale military transfer of the Eighth Route Army?" Kimura Hyotaro immediately walked to the huge military map in high spirits, and decisively dropped such a sentence to the chief of staff behind him.

"Hai, according to reconnaissance: the Eighth Route Army has mobilized a total of 70,000 troops this time, and has used a large number of siege artillery. As for the targets of the attack, they were the remnants of the 127th Division stationed in Tonghua County, the remnants of the 128th Division in Anshan County, and the 135th Division in Tieling Xiacheng... As for the ultimate purpose of the operation, it is not yet detailed ... In addition, according to the reconnaissance report of the air force, the Third Route Army of the Eighth Route Army had already set out last night..."Yoshimoto Sadachi quickly marked the specific locations of the three county towns on the map. Then, he opened his mouth and explained...

"What a big appetite..."After a short thought, General Kimura Hyotaro, who was staring at the military map in front of him, couldn't help but exclaim loudly...

Just when Sadachi Yoshimoto, who was behind him, had not yet reacted from the shock. Hyotaro Kimura had already picked up the command knife he had placed on the table and walked out of his office quickly. Along the way, almost trotted towards the war room. ,

Under the shocked gaze of the staff officers in the war room, Umezu Mijiro walked quickly to the huge combat sand table, and ordered loudly to the chief of staff Yoshimoto Sadachi who was following behind him: "Chief of Staff, immediately let the staff department conduct a tactical deduction of the Eighth Route Army's action plan, I want to know that it will take more time for the Eighth Route Army to take these three county towns in the shortest time..."

"Hello...."

The chief of staff replied decisively. Turning around, he began to face the operational staff officers of the staff office, assigning specific tasks. And Umezu Mijiro, as the commander, is standing next to the sand table, waiting for the results of the deduction of the staff office...

Half an hour later, while General Umezu Mijiro was anxiously waiting, Chief of Staff Yoshimoto Sadachi came over with a depressed face. He spoke under the expectant gaze of the commander.

"Your Excellency Commander, because of the 127th Division and the 128th Division stationed in Tonghua County and Anshan County. In this encirclement and suppression operation, they all paid huge casualties. Neither of the two divisions has reached full strength. According to the current strength and firepower of the Eighth Route Army, the two divisions, with the help of the county fortifications, could only hold out for ten days at most. ”

Seeing the face of the commander in front of him, as his voice just fell, he immediately became gloomy. Yoshimoto's words changed sharply and continued.

"However, the two divisions of 127 and 128, although they could only hold out for ten days. However, the 135th Division stationed in Tieling was a fully reorganized division. Neither in terms of firepower nor in terms of troops, it does not have any disadvantage. Therefore, if the troops of the Eighth Route Army launched an attack on Tieling regardless of casualties, the 135th Division stationed in Tieling would be able to hold out for half a month at the shortest. At the same time, it will cause very heavy casualties to the troops of the Eighth Route Army of the project...."

However, what Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadamichi did not expect was that in the exercise he had just made, the troops of the Eighth Route Army attacking Tieling, like the other two Eighth Route Armies, only strengthened one main column of artillery and air defense. Completely ignoring an engineer regiment, a cavalry regiment, and a tank battalion with a very strong assault force were completely ignored ...

Of course, for these siege battles, there are several secret forces that can play an unexpected role. Wang Nanhu, the commander of the third column, of course, would not put it in front of the Japanese intelligence officers.

However, the commander at this moment, Umezu Mijiro, can't manage so much. Hearing that the 135th Division stationed in the Tieling area could finally hold out for more than half a month, the frowning brows on Umezu Mijiro's face immediately relaxed. Then, he spoke to the chief of staff in front of him.

"Well, as long as you can last for more than half a month, it's enough. Chief of Staff, immediately convey the latest order of the Kwantung Army Command. ”

"Order the county seat of Tonghua, the county seat of Anshan, the county seat of Tieling....The defending troops of the three cities must hold their positions and block the offensive of the Eighth Route Army until the whole army is annihilated. Order all the defending troops of Mukden City, under the command of Kuroda-kun, to immediately begin to strengthen the fortifications of the city to meet the siege of the main force of the Northeast Field Army of the Eighth Route Army..."

"Order all the defending troops of Shanhaiguan to re-improve the entire defensive line within a week. After that, more than one division was dispatched to reinforce Fengtian City. The three newly formed divisions around Changchun were ordered to immediately end the correction. The reorganization was completed within a week. Then, set off by train to reinforce Mukden City... All departments must rush to the outside of Fengtian City within half a month. Chief of Staff, now the headquarters must send someone to preside over a large-scale decisive battle that will be fought with Mukden City as the center. I don't know if you have any comments? ”

It was only at this moment that Lieutenant General Yoshimoto, as the chief of staff, was in front of the division commander's successive orders until, just in the office, why did the division commander exclaim, 'What a big appetite...'

The fundamental purpose of the Eighth Route Army's dispatch this time was not to eliminate the defenders in the three county towns. Rather, it was to take the city of Mukden, which was completely surrounded by three county towns....and the entire city of Mukden, for the entire Kwantung Army troops, its importance is almost impossible to express in words.

Because, in Fengtian City, it has the largest ordnance production base in the entire three northeastern provinces. In the entire three northeastern provinces, almost half of the daily consumption of weapons and ammunition by nearly one million troops is produced by the Mukden Arsenal. More importantly, Fengtian City not only has the largest ordnance production base in the three northeastern provinces, but also has the leading ironworks and steelmaking ......plants in the three northeastern provinces.

It can be said that if the entire Northern Eighth Route Army of Fengtian City is occupied, it will cause a very huge blow to the entire Kwantung Army, and it will also create a very passive situation for the entire Kwantung Army troops...

Thinking of this, the chief of staff, Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadachi, did not dare to have any slackness, and hurriedly replied: "Report to Your Excellency the Commander, if Your Excellency the Commander can trust his humble duties, he is willing to rush to Fengtian City in person, command all the combat troops in Fengtian City, and repel the heavy attack of the Eighth Route Army at the lowest cost..."

"Yoshimoto-kun, I believe in your command ability. However, you are not particularly familiar with our enemies and the several divisions of our army that are deployed around Mukden City. If you rush to command the operation, will you?" General Umezu Mijiro nodded with satisfaction, and his senses for this chief of staff were also much better.

However, the sanity of General Mijiro Umezu still prevailed over emotion at the first time. After all, the success or failure of this campaign is related to whether or not one's own troops can gain a firm foothold in the Liaoning region. At the same time, it is also related to Mukden City, the survival of the city that controls the lifeblood of the Kwantung Army, and General Umezu Mijiro has to treat it carefully. After a short period of thought, Lieutenant General Umezu Mijiro asked with a hesitant expression.

In the face of the commander's hesitation, Yoshimoto Sadachi did not give up. Instead, he looked at the commander in front of him, and once again asked for orders with a decisive face:

"Your Excellency, from now on, it will take at least ten days for the main force of the Eighth Route Army to approach the outskirts of Fengtian City. And the lowly position believes that ten days is enough time for the lowly to get acquainted with his subordinates and opponents. Please rest assured, Your Excellency, that you will live up to your expectations and repel the attack of the Eighth Route Army..."

looked at the chief of staff with a resolute look on his face, and then thought of the explanation given to him by the chief of staff at the beginning of his tenure. After a long period of thought, Admiral Mijiro Umezu finally nodded.

Then, he explained to the chief of staff in front of him: "Yoshimoto-kun, since you are so confident, then I will hand over the entire Fengtian City and the hundreds of thousands of troops around Fengtian City to you." I hope that for the sake of our entire Kwantung Army, you must keep the entire Fengtian City foolproof..."

"Hai, please rest assured, Your Excellency the Commander, that you are guaranteed to complete the mission..."

"Yo Sai, Yoshimoto-kun, in order to support your operation, the First Division of the Kwantung Army Aviation will transfer a large group of mixed fighters to you for use, and at the same time, if there is any important situation, immediately report it to the Kwantung Army Headquarters...."Lieutenant General Umezu Mijiro finally nodded and said with a sincere face.

"Thank you, Your Excellency, Commander, for your support..."

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