Chapter 128: How Did It End Up Like This?

Just shortly after Kawakishi Bunzaburo sent a telegram to the Army Aviation at Baozhou Airport.

He received a farewell telegram from the Hashimoto Detachment.

This telegram was sent by Regiment Commander Sato.

After reading the telegram, Kawakishi Bunzaburo realized that Colonel Hashimoto Ryuji had already lost his life under the artillery fire of the Sichuan Army.

A brigade's worth of troops had been subjected to a fierce bombardment by the Sichuan Army's artillery.

Moreover, the Republic of China Army that ambushed the Hashimoto Detachment was not just the Sichuan Army.

"Terauchi-kun, is there something you need by calling me?"

Sakai Koji took the telegram and looked at it, discovering that his brigade was to immediately head south and be temporarily placed under the command of Terauchi Hisaichi of the Pingjin Area Army.

Supporting the Xinkou Battlefield now, wasn't this just handing him, Sakai Koji, a chance to earn military merit?

Given the combat effectiveness of the Republic of China Army, as long as his fresh troops joined in, the Republic of China units on the Xinkou Battlefield would immediately collapse.

Because the fighting on the Songhu Battlefield was very arduous, the Pingjin Area Army had already transferred a portion of its forces to support the Songhu Battlefield.

The Garrison Mixed Brigade, under the command of Yamashita Tomoyuki, set out rapidly from Baozhou and advanced toward Niangziguan.

It was time for those old fellows of the Control Faction to make way for the young.

The defenders in the direction of Niangziguan would then be able to firmly stabilize their position.

Calling him now must surely be to ask for troops.

Originally, the Hashimoto Detachment was supposed to cut off the retreat of the Niangziguan defenders, but now it had gotten itself annihilated.

Saying this, Tojo Hideki called for his Adjutant.

This was extremely unfavorable for Kawakishi Bunzaburo.

Kawakishi Bunzaburo, as the commander-in-chief for the Niangziguan direction.

The Chahar Corps under his command was currently sweeping across the desert, having reached the northernmost tip in one go.

Upon receiving this telegram, Terauchi Hisaichi cursed the division commanders at the front as good-for-nothings in his office.

The moment he received the call, Tojo Hideki asked directly.

In order to crush the Republic of China Army in one stroke.

In Gui-Sui, Sakai Koji of the Independent Mixed 1st Brigade was drinking.

Because during the February 26 Incident, he, along with Yanagawa Heisuke, Furushō Motoo, and others, had advised the Emperor to compromise with the mutinous troops.

Anyway, these days, with no fighting, Tojo Hideki was very idle.

He spent his days riding horses in the desert, wandering around.

Once this happened, the Imperial Army would be in a very disadvantageous position in the Jin Province operations.

"What do you think?"

The Independent Mixed 1st Brigade had not encountered any significant resistance while fighting in Suiyuan.

Ever since the two countries went to war, Yamashita Tomoyuki had been longing to lead his army to achieve great things.

Hearing this, Tojo Hideki patted his chest and said, "Terauchi-kun, rest assured."

"Let's see which unit is the easiest to send south."

Yanagawa Heisuke had gone to Taiwan Island to serve as Commander, and Yamashita Tomoyuki had been demoted to a unit stationed in Korea.

And the situation of the entire battlefield was somewhat evolving like the Songhu Battlefield, falling into a stalemate.

"Both domestically and internationally, they are all praising your heroism, Tojo-kun."

His Adjutant ran into the command post, "Brigade Commander, an urgent telegram from Commander Tojo."

Upon receiving the transfer order, Yamashita Tomoyuki was almost jumping for joy in the command post.

The unit had a complete organizational structure, strong combat power, and possessed one tank squadron and one armored vehicle squadron.

To break through the defense line of the Niangziguan defenders in one fell swoop and break this stalemate.

"Yoshi!"

The troops commanded by Terauchi Hisaichi had encountered a setback.

Terauchi Hisaichi first praised Tojo Hideki, and then, his tone shifted.

Kawakishi Bunzaburo's flanking strategy was officially declared a failure, and the Hashimoto Detachment had been annihilated by the Sichuan Army.

"Oh..." Tojo Hideki's brows furrowed slightly: "What happened in Jin Province?"

Soon, Terauchi Hisaichi told Tojo Hideki that a brigade's worth of troops in the Niangziguan direction had been annihilated by the Republic of China Army.

After taking Gui-Sui, this unit was currently resting and reorganizing.

"Baka!"

Fighting in the Pingjin Region, Yamashita Tomoyuki and the troops he led had not achieved any real results.

He had his Adjutant check all the units of the Chahar Corps.

Now Terauchi Hisaichi was also afraid that the Jin Province Battlefield would turn out like the Songhu Battlefield.

"Help me break the stalemate in Jin Province!"

"Terauchi-kun, I have decided to let the Independent Mixed 1st Brigade head south to fight and support the Xinkou Battlefield."

Now that Terauchi Hisaichi had given him a combat mission, Yamashita Tomoyuki felt he had to do a good job.

The Japanese were also very irritable; how did this war end up like this?

This would mean Kawakishi Bunzaburo would have to pay a huge price to capture Niangziguan.

"I have no military operations here; I will check the unit designations immediately."

"I congratulate you here; your Chahar Corps has swept across the desert."

Terauchi Hisaichi's idea was also to have the troops under Tojo Hideki head directly south to the Xinkou Battlefield.

He knew very well that if the unit were not in danger of total annihilation, Sato would certainly not have sent a farewell telegram.

Therefore, after the February 26 Incident was quelled, Yamashita Tomoyuki, Yanagawa Heisuke, and others were all exiled by members of the Control Faction.

"Order the entire army to complete assembly within today and head south at six o'clock this evening."

He immediately reported it up the chain of command.

The advantage of the Imperial Army had been completely wiped out by them.

Terauchi Hisaichi first made a phone call to Tojo Hideki.

Yamashita Tomoyuki's Garrison Independent Mixed Brigade belonged to the direct-controlled units of the Pingjin Area Army.

If it were not for the war between the two countries and the urgent need for officers within the devil's country, Yamashita Tomoyuki and Yanagawa Heisuke would never have been reinstated.

The Independent Mixed 1st Brigade had not suffered any damage at all during these days of fighting in Suiyuan.

Sakai Koji's face was filled with joy; he had been nearly bored to death during these days in Gui-Sui.

"I think so too."

The offensives at Xinkou and Niangziguan were currently not going smoothly.

"Hai!" Sakai Koji's Adjutant nodded and bowed, then left the command post.

Upon checking, Tojo Hideki discovered that the only unit suitable for heading south was the Independent Mixed 1st Brigade.

Kawakishi Bunzaburo was hopping mad; it was an entire brigade, a full six or seven thousand men.

The Independent Mixed 1st Brigade was committed to the Xinkou Battlefield.

Based on this, Yamashita Tomoyuki was held in resentment by the Control Faction, who classified him as part of the Imperial Way Faction.

He ordered Sakai Koji to quickly lead his troops south to support the Xinkou Battlefield.

Furthermore, he ordered soldiers to be dispatched to provoke the little brother of the Soviet Union on the opposite side from time to time.

After the two old devils consulted, Tojo Hideki sent a telegram to the Brigade Commander of the Independent Mixed 1st Brigade, Sakai Koji.

The Hashimoto Detachment had been completely annihilated; this matter was too big, and Kawakishi Bunzaburo dared not conceal it.

Yamashita Tomoyuki only wanted to perform meritorious service now, then strive for more resources to gain higher prestige back home.

It was not until six o'clock in the morning that the devil Commander of the Pingjin area, Terauchi Hisaichi, received the telegram.

Regarding the Niangziguan direction, Terauchi Hisaichi decided to have Yamashita Tomoyuki's Garrison Independent Mixed Brigade join in.

Seeing Tojo Hideki say this, Terauchi Hisaichi nodded repeatedly, "Yoshi!"

No battles to fight meant no military exploits, and without military exploits, how could he be promoted?

"Tojo-kun, your troops currently have no combat, and I want to draw out a portion of your forces to head south."

In the command post of the 20th Division.

Now they had all been annihilated by the Republic of China Army.

"Tojo-kun!"

There was also another army that had joined this Ambush, but Sato had not yet figured out the other side's designation.

If it were not for the orders from the Imperial General Headquarters, he would have long wanted to command his troops to strike into the Outer Mongolia supported by the Soviet Union.

Now that Tojo Hideki had received the call from Terauchi Hisaichi, he guessed it must be about the Pingjin operations.

However, the little brother of the Soviet Union was as docile as a sheep and dared not clash with the Imperial Army at all.

At this moment, Yu Hua had no idea that he had designed the annihilation of the Hashimoto Detachment.

The devils had actually sent reinforcements to Jin Province, and he was still fast asleep in the air-raid shelter at this moment.

(End of this chapter)