Chapter 221

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Matsui Kenichi thought about having to go beg the Navy again with a thick face, and he was also quite displeased in his heart: "The Navy's speed of advance is really too slow. I heard those Navy guys don't come out to sweep mines until nine in the morning every day, and knock off at five in the evening, working nine to five. They've simply come to Xia Guo for a tour, completely ignoring the massive casualties our Army is suffering in Suzhou!"

Asahiko persuaded: "Commander, please calm your anger. If we want to continue advancing, we still have to rely on the Navy's continued coordination. Our offensive against Suzhou has failed; we should bow our heads before the Navy when we must, otherwise casualties will only be greater!"

Matsui Kenichi looked at Division Commander Fujita Susumu standing like a lackey beside him, and cursed: "Good-for-nothing! The Army's face is about to be completely lost. As a Division Commander, you actually have so little spirit?! How can the soldiers below have confidence to win this war?!"

Win this war?

Who knows what the people above are thinking. Anyway, ever since the Third Division and Lv Muzhi have been clashing head-on these past few days, as Division Commander, Fujita Susumu has already lost whatever confidence he had.

"Commander, you've also seen it. Lv Muzhi's troops are playing this kind of song opposite us, stirring up the soldiers' homesickness. I haven't closed my eyes for two days already......"

Matsui Kenichi waved his hand: "For the next few days, do not voluntarily launch attacks. Accumulate strength, and wait until Commander Gu Qingchuan's Third Fleet opens a channel on the Yangtze River. We should still coordinate operations with the Navy!"

"Hai! ~"

With Commander Matsui Kenichi's authorization, Division Commander Fujita Susumu also stopped attacking Lv Muzhi opposite him. At the same time, the 13th and 16th Divisions, which had planned to attack Suzhou, also stopped their attacks, maintained the front line, and began to rest and recuperate.

Division Commander Fujita Susumu of the Third Division also procured several radios and loudspeakers in his own barracks, specially playing militarist songs to boost the soldiers' morale.

Although the transmission distance of these loudspeakers couldn't compare to Lv Muzhi's, Fujita Susumu only required his own loudspeakers to cover the barracks, just enough to mask the "Home" that Lv Muzhi was playing.

At the same time, Division Commander Fujita Susumu also ordered the Military Band to conduct twenty-four-hour non-stop touring performances and慰问 in the barracks.

But when night fell, the problem came.

The little devils lived in field camps, with absolutely no sound insulation effect to speak of.

To cover up Lv Muzhi's "Home," the little Japanese used poison to fight poison, playing Victory Cheering Songs, Departure Farewell Songs, Camping Songs, and so on at maximum volume in their own camp.

This move did 0 damage to Lv Muzhi, but the damage to the little devils themselves reached full marks.

The "Home" Lv Muzhi played, although it easily aroused the devils' homesickness, had a gentle melody. Devils with good sleep quality could still fall asleep.

But Fujita Susumu played rousing music to counter it in his own camp. The little devils were even more unable to sleep now.

The various Regimental Commanders below saw this situation and suggested the Division Commander turn off the music.

Division Commander Fujita Susumu, however, believed that if the soldiers couldn't sleep, they just weren't sleepy. If they were truly so tired they couldn't stand it, even if a cannon exploded beside their ears, they'd still be able to sleep just the same.

The Chief of Staff persuaded: "Division Commander, those words aren't bad. But if it really reaches that point, I'm afraid the troops will already be fatigued to the point of nearly losing combat effectiveness! ~ It would be best if we could pull up camp and leave here."

Fujita Susumu said bitterly: "I want to pull up camp and withdraw too, but the enemy's Wufu Line has heavy troops concentrated there. Commander Matsui Kenichi is afraid of an enemy counterattack!

We still have to hold fast here, wait until the Navy coordinates with the 11th and 101st Divisions around Changshu to break through the Sichuan Army 23rd Army Group's positions there. That way, Lv Muzhi's flank will be exposed, and the Ninth Group Army around Su Zhou Cheng will naturally know what's good for them and withdraw from Su Zhou Cheng.

At that time, our Third, 13th, and 16th Divisions on the Suzhou front will immediately pursue, tearing a big chunk of flesh off the Ninth Group Army!"

"Division Commander, the soldiers are collectively protesting outside! Demanding the officers immediately stop playing the music. They need rest!" Several Infantry Regimental Commanders rushed into the Command Post in a panic, reporting this emergency to Fujita Susumu.

Fujita Susumu walked out of the Command Post and took a look. Outside was indeed a chaotic mess.

The Military Band that had been playing and singing there was now being surrounded and beaten by the Japanese soldiers.

A large crowd of Japanese soldiers was protesting en masse:

"Bastards! Not letting us sleep? How are we supposed to fight then?!"

"Which officer had his brain squeezed by his ass, coming up with a method that only tortures our own people?!"

"We want rest, not noise! Stop playing the music immediately!"

Division Commander Fujita Susumu saw this situation and was scared to death. His troops might really mutiny!

"Stop playing the music immediately. Officers at all levels must do the soldiers' ideological work well. Treat the 'Home' tune Lv Muzhi plays as sleep-aid music......"

With Fujita Susumu ordering the stop of the rousing militarist ditties, the Third Division's devils only then dispersed and began to rest.

Having not closed their eyes for so long, this hometown ditty truly became a lullaby. The little devils were simply too sleepy!

But the little devils had barely closed their eyes for ten minutes when a huge alarm sound spread through the camp.

"The Chinese are launching a sneak attack! Enter combat state!"

"Enemy attack! Prepare to defend!"

Boom—Boom!!!

Several mortar shells landed near the camp, followed by a burst of gunfire.

The devils who had just fallen asleep hurriedly came to their senses, grabbed their weapons, and went to fight.

Even Division Commander Fujita Susumu, who had just undone his belt, immediately fully armed himself, assembled the officers at all levels, and faced a formidable enemy in the Command Post.

It might be that Lv Muzhi was preparing a counterattack!

"Report to Division Commander, the enemy's small-unit night raid has already been repelled by us!" A Lieutenant Colonel officer came in to report.

Only then did Fujita Susumu set his mind at ease. He waved his hand to dismiss everyone, said a few perfunctory words about strengthening vigilance, and went to rest again.

As a result, less than twenty minutes later, gun and cannon sounds rang out outside again, stirring up the entire Third Division's big camp so that chickens and dogs couldn't rest.

The devils woke with a start from their sleep, fully armed, entered the trenches and looked, but discovered the Youth Army had fired guns and cannons for a while, then vanished without a trace.

Division Commander Fujita Susumu got smart this time. Fully armed, he lay on his camp bed. As soon as he heard the alarm, he stood up ready to meet the enemy, only he didn't expect this time it was another feint, making Fujita Susumu grit his teeth in anger.

The Third Division from top to bottom was nearly having a nervous breakdown. In one night, Lv Muzhi sent out small units to harass them over a dozen times. The devils couldn't even dream of sleeping a good sleep!

Division Commander Fujita Susumu, sporting dark circles, stood by the sand table, one hand propping his forehead, one hand propping the table edge. After a spell of dizziness, he plopped down onto the chair, scaring the Chief of Staff and the crowd of Regimental Commanders half to death. They hurriedly summoned the military doctor for treatment.

After examination, the military doctor, also sporting dark circles, replied: "Division Commander, this is caused by insufficient sleep. You still need to pay attention to rest......" Finished speaking, the military doctor also turned his head and yawned. Obviously he hadn't slept well either.

By the second night, Lv Muzhi's Command Post was quite lively.

Outside the autumn wind was bleak. Lv Muzhi sat beside a big pot steaming with heat, leaning back in his chair and singing leisurely: "Eat pickled vegetable rolled tofu, the Emperor's old man is no match for me~"

Liao Yaoxiang and Zhou Weiguo walked into the Command Post. Seeing the big pot before them, they immediately took off the military caps on their heads, sat down, and asked: "Commander Lu, when do we act? Hurry up and give the order! ~"

Chu Yunfei stood by the telephone, picked up the receiver ready to connect to the front line, and looked at Lv Muzhi: "Commander Lu, is it time to fire the cannons again?"

Lv Muzhi held up his chopsticks, picked up a piece of tofu, and said, "No rush, let that old thing Fujita Susumu sleep a few more minutes."