Chapter 201

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

On the Mutsu Battleship, Commander Matsui Ine of the Army hummed a tune as he ordered his staff officers and guards to pack their things.

Commander Gu Qingchuan of the Navy came over with his arms crossed and asked, "Commander Matsui Ine, why are you so happy today?"

"Hmph! Since I arrived in Shanghai at the end of August, today is the first day of November. It's been so long, and I can finally set foot on the land of Xia Guo!"

"Oh, I'm very happy to hear that," Gu Qingchuan said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

Matsui Ine walked forward and said, "Commander Gu Qingchuan, you don't seem very happy?"

"I'm not as optimistic as Commander Matsui Ine. Five of my fleet's ships returned home today. Do you know why?"

Matsui Ine shook his head, also clueless.

"It's because the Army is incompetent! The main guns of my five warships fired too many shells; the gun barrels have reached their limit and need to return home for maintenance and replacement!"

"You?!"

Facing Gu Qingchuan's sudden attack, Matsui Ine was planning to have a free-for-all brawl with Gu Qingchuan before going ashore.

"Please stop!"

Prince Asaka-no-miya Yasuhiko came over and immediately stopped both of them: "Whether for the Navy or the Army, today is a good day. The main forces of the Xia State Army are actively retreating, and we can occupy Songhu. The Songhu operation has finally made great progress."

Gu Qingchuan asked, "Your Highness, don't forget that on the Hangzhou Bay battlefield, especially at Jinshanwei Beach, the Tenth Army lost seven thousand men in two days with no progress at all. Adding the other beachhead positions in the Hangzhou Bay region, the Tenth Army's casualties have exceeded ten thousand. Can the Army bear such a heavy price?"

This struck a sore spot for Matsui Ine and Prince Asaka-no-miya Yasuhiko. The flank landing plan at Hangzhou Bay seemed to have failed to achieve its intended effect, instead directly causing a major setback.

Originally, they intended to use the Tenth Army's flank landing to force the Xia State Army to retreat, but unexpectedly the Xia State Army retreated on their own, meaning the Tenth Army's blood was shed in vain.

Prince Asaka-no-miya Yasuhiko sighed: "Regarding the Xia State Army on the Shanghai Main Battlefield, our army is currently pursuing them, but we are being blocked by the enemy's covering forces. The enemy has deployed at the Yongbei National Defense Works in the rear and seems to be adopting a strategy of stubborn resistance..."

Matsui Ine also said, "The Tenth Army is now in a difficult position. Should we still land at Hangzhou Bay?"

Prince Asaka-no-miya Yasuhiko said, "I think we still should. Our ultimate goal is Jinling. At that time, we will divide our forces into two routes: one attacking south of Taihu, and one advancing in the area north of Taihu."

"The enemy's main combat forces are now also divided, one north of Taihu and one south of Taihu. The enemy north of Taihu will be handed over to my Songhu Expeditionary Force, and the enemy south of Taihu will be handed over to the Tenth Army. After destroying the enemy's manpower, we will pincer Jinling from both banks of Taihu like a pair of iron pincers."

Matsui Ine shook his head: "North of Taihu, the Xia State Army has the Left Wing Army and the Central Route Army, both very powerful. Our Shanghai Expeditionary Army's six divisions—the 3rd, 9th, 11th, 13th, 16th, and 101st Divisions—with over one hundred thousand ground troops, already struggle to fight the enemy on the northern front."

"If we let the Tenth Army forcibly land and fight again, their three divisions—the 6th, 18th, and 114th Divisions—might be crippled before even landing. Then who will fight on the southern front?"

"By then, one side of our iron pincer, namely the Tenth Army on the southern front, will be snapped off directly!"

Prince Asaka-no-miya Yasuhiko said, "Then? Why not let Gu Qingchuan send the Mutsu Battleship to support? Is the firepower of the light cruisers cooperating with the Tenth Army not enough?"

Gu Qingchuan looked speechless. The Navy had already consumed a vast amount of resources in this war; in the end, even Gu Qingchuan himself was tired of it.

"Your Highness, during the northern front operations, does the Yangtze waterway still need me to send a fleet to clear it? I'm afraid I can't spare the time to go to Hangzhou Bay."

Matsui Ine was furious at that moment: "What nonsense! Can the Mutsu Battleship sail into the Yangtze? Even if it can't, you wouldn't want a battleship sailing into the Yangtze anyway. What's wrong with sending a battleship to Hangzhou Bay to help the Tenth Army?"

Gu Qingchuan said, "The best solution is still to let the Tenth Army take a detour. Anyway, the Xia State Army in Shanghai has already retreated. Let them land at the landing points already opened in Shanghai, pass through Shanghai to the south, and attack Zhang Fakui's Right Wing Army on the southern side. If the enemy still dares to stay at Jinshanwei, wipe them out directly from land!"

Prince Asaka-no-miya Yasuhiko nodded: "Yo, that is indeed a good plan that serves the public and the state. Since the situation has changed and the Tenth Army has paid such a painful price, I think we should abandon the Hangzhou Bay landing. Land from Shanghai instead, move south to sweep and attack Zhang Fakui's Right Wing Army, and save on naval gunfire support for Jinshanwei."

"But the blood of over ten thousand warriors of the Tenth Army was shed in vain..."

Matsui Ine unexpectedly said happily, "Fine! That way, the Fourth Fleet cooperating with the Tenth Army can also join the task of clearing the Yangtze waterway!"

Gu Qingchuan was stunned. He had never meant for the Fourth Fleet to go clear the Yangtze. Matsui Ine's skin was too thick; he was clearly trying to fleece the Navy.

"I command the Third Fleet; I can't decide on the Fourth Fleet. Also, Shanghai City has almost been taken. As for the task of clearing the Yangtze waterway, I still have to wait for orders from the Ministry of the Navy!"

Seeing Gu Qingchuan's unwilling look, Matsui Ine was also very displeased in his heart. But then a staff officer came to report, making him even more displeased.

"Report to Your Excellency the Commander! The enemy's main force is retreating in an orderly manner toward Kunshan and Taicang, but they have actually left a unit in Shanghai City still resisting stubbornly. Division Commander Fujita Susumu, Lieutenant General, requests your instructions!"

Matsui Ine was very curious: "What? There's still an isolated unit? How many men do they have? Are they the Youth Army?"

"The enemy is holding a building. Their number should be no more than a thousand. They are not the Youth Army, but their firepower is very strong!"

"Damn it! Reporting to me for fewer than a thousand men? A division commander of such stature can't move a few heavy cannons to level that building? Tell that useless Fujita Susumu not to bother me with such trivial matters!"

The staff officer said, "Your Excellency the Commander, that building is the Sihang Warehouse by the Suzhou River, near the Concession. Are you sure you want to use heavy artillery? Division Commander Fujita Susumu worries that shells might accidentally hit the Concession and cause a diplomatic dispute..."

Matsui Ine was stunned. This was definitely a dirty trick by the Xia State Army, specifically designed to give him trouble!

"Your Excellency the Commander, Division Commander Fujita Susumu is still waiting for your orders. Are you sure you want to use heavy artillery?"

Matsui Ine: "Not sure... Get out! Let Fujita Susumu figure it out himself!"