On September 21, 4621 in the Yellow Emperor Era, the 14th Army of the Imperial Army, which had just taken Xiaguan, had no time to rest and immediately embarked on a journey to attack the north. The 2nd Marine Division of the Imperial Marine Corps was responsible for defending Shimonoseki and protecting the rear of the troops. In addition, the Imperial Navy also dispatched a large number of destroyers and minesweepers into the Seto Inland Sea to clear the mines deployed by the Japanese Navy.

Only after these mines were cleared and the threat was removed could the Imperial Navy enter the Seto Inland Sea and provide further cover for the Imperial Army. What's more, the reason why the Imperial Army attacked so actively to the north was also due to the urging of the navy. The next target of the 14th Army will be Hiroshima in Japan, as well as Kure Port. In the shipyard of the Kure Port Naval Base, there are two Yamato-class battleships and two Amagi-class battlecruisers of the Japanese Navy. Among them, the 'Yamato-class' battleships are almost complete. The hull part of the Amagi-class battlecruiser is almost complete. If it drags on any longer, once small Japan destroys these warships, the Imperial Navy will lose a lot. After all, Emperor Wu Haoxuan had already decided that he would no longer approve the construction of large battleships in the navy. Therefore, the capture of the 'Yamato-class' battleships from the Japanese became the only way for the Imperial Navy to obtain the main battleships. What's more, the Imperial Navy originally coveted the Japanese 'Yamato-class' battleships. Although, aircraft carriers are the main force in future naval warfare. However, the 'Yamato-class' battleship, armed with a 460 mm gun, can still be called the most powerful battleship on the planet. It represents the pinnacle of cannon giants, and its mighty appearance is definitely not comparable to aircraft carriers.

A large part of the reason why the empire launched a war against Japan this year was that the Japanese Navy's 'Yamato-class' battleships were almost completed. Of course, Emperor Wu Haoxuan had long known that the Great Kanto Earthquake would erupt. It's impossible to tell anyone else about that. The important ministers of the empire also regarded this as a coincidence.

If the Japanese had blown up the Yamato-class battleships and Amagi-class battlecruisers, which were about to be completed, the losses of the Imperial Navy would have been great. The 'Yamato-class' battleship will serve as the main battleship of the next class of the Imperial Navy. And the hull of the Amagi-class battlecruiser will be converted into an aircraft carrier. In the event of a future war, the Imperial Navy would have six battleships converted into aircraft carriers. The defense power of this armored aircraft carrier is far stronger than that of ordinary aircraft carriers, and its ability to resist strikes is naturally stronger, and its survivability in naval battles is naturally stronger.

While the 14th Army of the Imperial Army was attacking from the south to the north, the 4th Army of the Imperial Army was also attacking to the south. After taking Nagoya, the Imperial Army's 4th Army left two infantry divisions to defend against the Japanese in the north. The rest of the army moved south to attack Shiga Prefecture. Kyoto Prefecture and Osaka Prefecture.

Due to the impact of the Great Kanto Earthquake, the northern part of Honshu Island is still in chaos. The Japanese Army simply did not have enough troops to move south. At the same time, because of the influence of the topography, except for the coastal area, it is all mountainous. The Imperial Army could hold these communication arteries with a small number of troops, preventing the Japanese from moving south. The Imperial Navy could also cooperate with the army to blockade Japan's coastal areas, causing the Japanese to want to send reinforcements to the southern part of Honshu. That's simply not possible.

Thus, the 4th Army of the Imperial Army. You can go south with confidence. Together with the Imperial Army's 14th Army, they swept through the southern part of Honshu Island.

Although, the Japanese army still had almost ten divisions in the southern part of the island of Honshu. However, in the face of the Imperial Army, the Japanese army no longer had an advantage in terms of strength. You know, even in the case of superiority in troops. The Japanese army was also unable to deal with the Imperial Army. Not to mention that now, they are still at a disadvantage in terms of troops. As a result, the Japanese army was often in a one-sided situation on the battlefield. In the face of the attack of the Imperial Army, they had to retreat one after another. Or retreat directly to the mountains and rely on the terrain to hold on.

But. These Japanese troops also needed a lot of supplies. Mountain areas can be without so many supplies. After losing supplies, the Japanese army wanted to confront the Imperial Army, which was even more impossible.

On September 30, the vanguard of the 14th Army of the Imperial Army had advanced to Hiroshima. There was the vanguard of the 14th Armored Brigade and the 14th Infantry Division of the Imperial Army, which had already broken through the Japanese defenses several times.

Although, the Japanese army amassed the forces of two divisions in Hiroshima. However, in the face of the attack of the elite units of the Imperial Army, the Japanese were still unable to resist, and it took only two days for the Imperial Army to capture Hiroshima. The two divisions of the Japanese army stationed here had to flee north after heavy losses.

On September 30, the attack of the 4th Army of the Imperial Army on Osaka also began. The 4th Army of the Imperial Army, with units of three infantry divisions, a heavy artillery brigade, a cavalry brigade and an armored brigade, launched an offensive against Osaka Prefecture. The Japanese army gathered troops mainly from the 4th, 34th, 44th, and 68th Divisions to defend the vicinity of Osaka. However, the Japanese Army, which was recruited in the Osaka area, has never been known for its strong combat effectiveness. The sons of these small merchants, on the battlefield, cherished their lives very much.

If it is on a battlefield with an advantage, several Osaka divisions of the Japanese army may be able to exert strong combat effectiveness. After all, anyone can beat the water dogs. However, if you fight hard against a strong enemy, then these divisions from Osaka will have to think about it. After all, in the face of a strong enemy, if they still fight to the death, there is a great possibility that they will die. This is undoubtedly terrifying for these Osaka people, and it is also something they are unwilling to do.

Although, the Japanese army had four divisions and regiments, with a total strength of more than 100,000 people. A quarter more than the attacking Chinese * army. However, the combat effectiveness of the Japanese Army could not be compared with that of the Imperial Army at all. In addition, among these four divisions, except for the 4th Division, which is the main division, the 34th Division is a unit that was later expanded. As for the 44th and 68th Divisions, they were only recently expanded. A lot of people are just learning how to shoot big guns. As for other combat techniques, they simply won't. To send such troops to the battlefield is undoubtedly to send them to death. If it were another Japanese, they might scream and rush at the tanks and armored vehicles of the Imperial Army, or the machine gun positions, and attack without fear of death. However, the people of Osaka are different.

The Imperial Army's 4th Army easily defeated 10 Japanese divisions in Nagoya and won the victory at a very small cost, which had long caused panic among the people of Osaka Prefecture. Although they don't want to believe it, the facts are in front of them. The Imperial Army was so powerful that the Japanese Army simply could not confront it.

With the Japanese Army having already lost so many troops, it was almost impossible to continue to confront the Imperial Army. Some pessimists even believe that Japan is finished. Under such circumstances, many people in Osaka have begun to think about other things.

On the first day of the attack, the Imperial Army entered the suburbs of Osaka. The 34th Division of the Japanese Army, which defended here, had a very weak will to resist. In the face of the attack of the Imperial Army, they almost voluntarily abandoned their positions and fled to Osaka Castle. Even, when the armored units of the Imperial Army drove into their positions, many Japanese soldiers directly raised their hands and surrendered.

"Amaterasu! Is this the chariot of the Chinese people? It's really mighty and domineering! ”

"Yes! The Chinese have such a powerful chariot force, how can we resist their attack? ”

"In this war, we are not an opponent of China at all. Shina is too strong, much stronger than Japan. Fight them, it's like looking for death. It's better to take the initiative to admit defeat. ”

"Let the people of Sendai and Kumamoto go and fight the people of China, aren't they known as the most elite troops in Japan? Anyway, we Osaka people don't want to fight, we just need to live a good life. By the way, has Kumamoto already fallen? Only Sendai remains. Since even Xiong himself was easily defeated by the Shina people, do we have any other choice? ”

It is precisely because many Osaka people have such a mindset that they do not work at all during the battle. The positions they defended were easily captured by the Imperial Army. Many Japanese troops even surrendered to the Imperial Army on their own initiative. This made the offensive of the Imperial Army very smooth. It was so smooth that the commander of the 4th Army of the Imperial Army, General Shi Tianchuan, was a little unbelievable.

The next day, the Imperial Army entered the city of Osaka and began street fighting with the Japanese army, which at first resisted. However, when the warships of the Imperial Navy appeared in Osaka Bay and carried out a ten-minute shelling, destroying many buildings, the Japanese were much more honest.

Many Japanese troops surrendered to the Imperial Army in formations. This is a precedent.

On the third day, the Imperial Army took Osaka. Of the four divisions of the Japanese army stationed here, only more than 10,000 people were killed by the Imperial Army in the battle. The rest of the people surrendered to the Imperial Army, and for a time, the prisoner of war camp of the Imperial Army was overcrowded.

After taking Osaka, the 4th Army continued southward and attacked Kobe and Himeji on the front. The 14th Army of the Imperial Army, which went north, took Kure Harbor two days later after taking Hiroshima and took control of the Kure Harbor Naval Base with lightning speed. This was to the great satisfaction of the Imperial Navy. (To be continued.) )

PS: The twenty-seventh is here, continue to ask for monthly passes and rewards!