Just when the Licheng area was lively, and the gongs and drums were noisy, a military competition was held.

Okamura, who was at the headquarters of the Chinese Dispatch Army Headquarters in Nanjing, was full of irritability.

Just a few days ago, the former commander of the Chinese Dispatch Army, Junroku Hatata, officially retired with success -- to be precise, he left behind such a big mess as the Chinese Dispatch Army, slipped away in ashes, and successfully returned to China and transferred to the reserves.

Okamura repeatedly asked the old senior to stay for a few more days.

The dispatch army is now in a bad mess, and with the old commander Junroku Hata in charge, it is always better to stabilize the morale of the army and help command all parties to coordinate.

However, Hata Junroku said that he was not willing to stay longer, and said that he was not in good health and needed to return to China for medical treatment as soon as possible, and there was still a lot of work to be done in the reserves.

If he continues to stay, he is afraid that his old face will be even more unbearable when he returns to China.

And with the departure of Junroku Hata, the burden of the entire Chinese dispatch army and the situation on the Sino-Japanese battlefield was all on Okamura's shoulders.

Okamura spent the day studying the two hostile armed forces that posed the greatest threat to the Japanese army on the Chinese battlefield, the Eighth Route Army, the number one henchman, and the Central Army, which had been almost crushed after the Battle of Yuxianggui on the frontal battlefield.

Information from the Li Cheng side came one after another.

I heard that the Eighth Route Army held the Allied Military Competition in Licheng was officially opened, and it was very lively.

Representatives of the allied forces of all sides, including China's allies, were almost all involved.

If this had been put aside a few years ago, with Okamura's violent temper, without saying a word, the army of land and air would directly attack the past, burn this Li city into a wasteland, and wipe out all the anti-Japanese forces.

Now he doesn't dare to say anything.

The defensive forces deployed by the Eighth Route Army detected by the reconnaissance troops on the outer line of Licheng alone had already frightened the Japanese army, and after the end of the Jiaodong operation, how could the Japanese army, which was broken and weakened, dare to rush forward.

Just turn a blind eye and pretend you don't see it.

On the side of the Eighth Route Army, Licheng held a military competition, but it did not delay the troops of the Eighth Route Army in North China, continued to attack the Japanese army's lines of communication, and ambushed the Japanese army who dared to leave the county town with high walls at any time.

At the same time, in accordance with the principle of encircling the city with the countryside.

Gradually taking the base areas of the Eighth Route Army as the core, and the major guerrilla areas as the vanguard areas for gradually recovering lost territory and repelling the Japanese army, we gradually advanced from the remote towns and villages, and gradually transformed the original guerrilla areas, the quasi-security areas of the Japanese army, into a stable base area of the Eighth Route Army.

At the military meeting held by the headquarters, the chief of staff of the devil said worriedly:

"Jiang Jun, after the end of the Jiaodong War, the Eighth Route Army in North China gradually launched a local offensive and began to continuously encroach on the occupied areas of our army.

So far, in less than half a month, almost countless towns and villages have been completely lost on the outer lines of our army, and the area of occupied areas lost is so vast that it accounts for nearly one-quarter of the vast area of our army's original occupied areas.

If the situation continues to deteriorate like this, perhaps in less than a year and a half, the situation between our army and the Eighth Route Army in North China will be completely reversed, and we will probably only be left with a small land! ”

"In addition, especially around the Taihang base of the Eighth Route Army, the major counties have been in an emergency recently, and the main forces of the Eighth Route Army have frequently appeared outside the city, perhaps the Eighth Route Army is preparing for the final and complete capture of the county."

The situation is getting worse and worse.

Okamura also had a headache: "Yaga, these damn Eight Roads are really rampant, and now even the last county towns and towns where our army continues to shrink their forces and retreat have gradually become their prey?" ”

The chief of staff of the devil said: "The Eighth Route is getting stronger and stronger, especially those main forces are already very well-equipped, and they have the ability to completely break through the city.

Among them, the main county seats, with the surrounding counties of the Taihang area in Shanxi, are the most precarious.

Even Taiyuan City, the base camp of the First Army, is even at risk of being attacked by the Eighth Route Army, or even completely captured. ”

"Damn!" Okamura cursed angrily.

However, there are rare exceptions, the Harada Division is stationed in the Yangquan Shouyang area, and the law and order is quite stable, and even in the past year or so, it has never been attacked by the scale of the Eighth Route Army.

For this reason, the area around Yangquan and Shouyang has been rated as a model security area. The chief of staff of the devil thought for a moment and added.

Okamura naturally knew that there was a lot of trouble in this, but at this point, what he needed more now was to stabilize the last counties and towns under the control of the Japanese army, as well as some important lines of communication, so that he could have a respite from the rearmament of the Chinese army.

Thinking of this, Okamura immediately ordered: "Yoshi, it seems that this Harada Division is extremely desirable in the work of governing Yangquan and Shouyang.

Order, send an exchange group to the Yangquan area, and bring back the experience of the Harada Division in stabilizing the law and order in Yangquan and Shouyang! ”

"Hey!" The chief of staff of the devil replied.

Soon after, a delegation sent by Okamura rushed to the Yangquan area, and the leader of the delegation was a major general officer with a very distinctive appearance.

What are the features?

- This major general has only one ear.

As for the other ear, when he led his troops to sweep the base area of the Eighth Route Army, when the two sides clashed, he was taken away by the fragments that were quickly crossed.

Since then, he has become a one-eared general.

On this day, General Yi'er and his delegation arrived in Yangquan smoothly.

On Yangquan's side, after the old devil Harada learned the news, he was enthusiastic and personally rushed to the city gate with a group of officers to welcome him.

Then, a special welcome meeting was held to welcome the one-eared general from the base camp stationed in Beiping.

Under the warm hospitality of Lieutenant General Harada, the two sides drank, sang and danced, admired the geisha, and indulged in merriment, as if the current war did not exist at all.

The one-eared general said with emotion: "Harada-kun, you are really like a paradise here, we stay in the rear of the dispatch army of the Nanjing headquarters, but we are worried all day long, and the bad news from all sides is one after another.

On the contrary, when you come here, you can relax to your heart's content, as if you have arrived at a stable rear! ”

Harada raised his glass and said, "Since you like it, let's stay here and stay as long as you want." My entire Yangquan Shouyang area is stable in law and order, and the people under my rule are rich, and they don't even close their doors at night. ”

Saying that, the two sides clinked glasses and enjoyed themselves to the fullest.

Among the delegation of the Japanese army, Sakamoto Osa, who came to collect information on the Yangquan area of the Eighth Route Army under the order of the head of the devil's secret service, was in the Kawashima Osa, who followed the Eighth Route Army and Harada to mix, which was a rising tide, plus a great contribution to the management of Yangquan, and was promoted to Dazuo, and sat in the banquet corner.

Looking at Harada and the one-eared general.

Sakamoto Osa was very unhappy, and said with a dark face: "Kawashima-kun, the current war situation is tight, and it is the time for our imperial soldiers to serve the country loyally and serve the emperor.

This kind of singing and dancing is leveling up and living in luxury, I'm afraid it's not appropriate, right?

In addition, I heard that in the area of Shouyang Yangquan, there were many imperial officers who resold supplies, completely ignored the holy war, and even falsely reported their war exploits.

How did the soldiers of this empire become like this? ”

Kawashima smiled disappreciatively, took a sip of his wine glass, and said, "Sakamoto-kun, holy war? What exactly is jihad?

Is it so that the lives of the people of my empire can be better? Or is it to make our country stronger? Or is it so that our Yamato nation can go further?

, if you want me to say it's all.

That's basically a big chaebol, the affairs of those big military and political families, for us insignificant little people, what is the point of us except to act as meaningless cannon fodder?

We have also been loyal to the emperor and shed blood for the empire, but how did the empire treat us?

At the beginning, I also paid a Japanese yen plus military salary, but now I have a direct ticket, can this thing be sent home to support my family?

If you go to some of the county towns next door and see what has become of the troops who are struggling to compete with the Eighth Route according to the traditional way, according to the command headquarters, and according to the orders of His Excellency the Commander?

It is no exaggeration to say that the soldiers can't even eat enough, and do they still expect to win any holy war?

As for our team, if we hadn't followed the Eighth Route Army to do some business, resell a little supplies, and survive in the cracks of the Eighth Route Army.

I'm afraid that little people like you and me would have been put in that little wooden box and gone back to see the cherry blossoms.

Sakamoto-kun, don't you still understand the current situation? ”

Sakata Daisa, who said this, was stunned with empty eyes.

"Forget it, if it weren't for you and me, I wouldn't have told you so much.

Come, I have prepared some souvenirs for you to bring back, as well as these photos of the destruction of the granary of the Eighth Route Army, as well as the list of material consumption we prepared, it is up to you to bring them back and apply for rewards. Kawashima handed over the gift directly.

Sakamoto Daisa, who came back to his senses, hurriedly said: "Kawashima-kun is polite. ”

When you open the box, what are the souvenirs?

In the box were 20 small yellow croakers lying quietly.

Sakamoto was dumbfounded, his heartbeat was speeding up, this is 20 little yellow croaker! According to his military salary, even if he is ten lifetimes, he may not be able to earn so much money.

"Kawashima-kun, what do you mean by that?"

Kawashima smiled: "It's all from fellow countrymen, it's a little meaning, it's not a tribute." ”

"But, that's too much!" Sakamoto swallowed hard.

"Is it much? Not much! Itamoto-kun, you might as well take a look down! ”

Following Kawashima's words, Sakamoto then set his eyes on the next list of material consumption.

The data on the list are detailed:

500,000 rounds of ammunition, 20,000 shells, 30 armored vehicles, 10 tanks, 50 motorcycles, 60 cars, 15 infantry guns, 6 mountain guns, 8 anti-aircraft guns, 20 mortars, 15 heavy machine guns, 30 light machine guns, 800 rifles......

After a few glances, Sakamoto was a little dumbfounded: "Nani? Let's go and put a few shots and burn a few warehouses, how can it consume so much? ”

cough cough cough ......

Kawashima explained: "These are not only the attrition of our Yangquan defenders, but also General Harada, General Ishikawa, and the commander of the Fourth Brigade...... And...... And...... The list specially given by the commanders, only a small part of the droplets is ours.

Isn't it reasonable not only to attack the base areas of the Eighth Route Army, but also to deal with the offensive of the Eighth Route Army and defend the city? ”

This series of officer lists was reported, and Sakamoto, who listened to it, was also dumbfounded.

This is not only a list, but also a nest of black-hearted old thieves on a thief ship.

Sakamoto had nothing to say and nodded, but the 20 small yellow croakers in his hand, although he was a little reluctant, did not dare to take them after all:

"I'll report the list truthfully, as for these souvenirs, Kawashima-kun, I won't take it!"

Kawashima's face sank: "Sakamoto-kun, you are confused! If you don't take this money, how can I take it? You and I don't take it, how can the generals take it? If the generals don't take it, how can they be motivated? If the general is not motivated, how can we be promoted to be motivated together?

What do you think I mean by this souvenir? It's not just me, it's a little bit of the generals' thoughts.

You don't want to chill the generals, do you? ”

Sakamoto: "......"

After swallowing his saliva fiercely, Sakamoto Osa finally embarrassed and quietly put 20 small yellow croakers into his arms.

Then Kawashima said, "Sakamoto-kun, do you know how much rice is sold on the black market in Tokyo this month?" ”

“？”

"4.5 yen a pound!"

You must know that the purchasing power of the yen during this period was still quite amazing, and the yen had not yet depreciated, even if it was not much different from the dollar.

Sakamoto was stunned: "No, why would it be so expensive?" Didn't we send a lot of supplies to the country? The materials plundered in large quantities from the territory of China have also been sent back to China! How can this rice be so expensive?

I remember when we left China, the ten catties of rice in China were only sold for one yen! ”

Kawashima said coldly: "This is the so-called holy war, if we continue to fight, I am afraid that the already poor people will become more and more devastation."

And this kind of price is still half a month ago I inquired about, to today, the same money, maybe not even two or two meters can be bought. ”

Sakamoto was silent in his lost soul.

The conversation between the two drifted to the ears of Lieutenant General Harada, who was not far away.

Harada himself held a wine glass, swayed over and said to Sakamoto: "Sakamoto-kun don't panic, rice in Tokyo is expensive, but the rice here doesn't cost money, come, cheers!" You can eat with your belly open! ”

Flattered, Sakamoto hurriedly raised his cup to greet him.

So, after a short while, there was an extra figure belonging to Sakamoto Daisa in this singing and dancing team that was enjoying himself.

At the banquet, Sakamoto Osa also cooked two more bowls of rice, and his stomach was round.

Kawashima taught the Harada Division the secret that it was able to maintain law and order in Yangquan and Shouyang, and also gave the secret of the growing and developing troops.

Of course, what can be said is taught, and what can't be said is not a word.

The one-eared general and Sakamoto Daisa, who succeeded in obtaining the true scripture, finally returned with a full load, and then returned to the Nanjing headquarters to report to Okamura.