Chapter 187: Crushing the 5th Division

This proposal from Nishio Toshizo immediately sparked a discussion among the Japanese in the conference room.

Everyone felt it was quite good!

There are quite a lot of Imperial Army expatriates in the Pingjin Region, so forming temporary units from among the expatriates is feasible.

This is doable; forming a temporary unit of one or two thousand is absolutely no problem.

Plus, most of the Japanese expatriates currently living in the Pingjin Region are adult males.

The Japanese military service system is very well-developed; these adult men are basically all people who have received military training.

"Yoshi!"

Terauchi Hisaichi nodded slightly, "Nishio-kun, your idea is very good."

Just as everyone was chattering away in discussion, Terauchi Hisaichi's Adjutant came into the conference room in a panic.

In the conference room, the Japanese officers all lowered their heads.

"The Niangziguan Battlefield is safe, but, on the Xinkou Battlefield."

Terauchi Hisaichi saw that the generals in the conference room had clearly relaxed quite a bit, and he sighed.

At the point where the two armies are engaged on the Xinkou Battlefield, the position of the Itagaki Division is too far forward, and a pocket has already formed.

The Republic of China Army on the Xinkou Battlefield has concentrated superior forces to launch a fierce attack on the Itagaki Division.

After venting his anger, Terauchi Hisaichi looked at his Adjutant: "Chair!"

Currently, the Xinkou Battlefield has been locked in a bitter struggle for many days, and both sides are basically relying on reinforcements.

"His injuries are not yet life-threatening."

At the same time, the artillery units are conducting carpet bombing against the 5th Division.

Fu Zuoyi grinned and said: "I reckon the Japanese at Xinkou have definitely received the order from Terauchi Hisaichi."

It was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop on the floor.

Wei Lihuang's Central Army and Yan Laoxi's Jin-Sui Army are now preparing to cut off the protruding part of the 5th Division.

"Commander!"

However, after waiting for a long time, the soldiers did not see the Japanese counterattack.

In the direction of Niangziguan, he also had the Chuan'an Corps pay attention to the movements of the Sichuan Army to prevent the Sichuan Army from launching an encirclement and annihilation battle.

"The Sichuan Army 22nd Group Army has indeed used their previous tactics to lure the Chuan'an Corps."

At Wei Lihuang's command post, a Communications Soldier came to report.

After reading the telegram, Terauchi Hisaichi's complexion was not very good.

Itagaki Seishiro is the commander-in-chief on the Xinkou Battlefield; if Itagaki Seishiro's injuries are serious, Terauchi Hisaichi must choose a new commander.

The Japanese of the 5th Division have roamed the Pingjin Region, and now they are retreating for the first time.

Since that is the case, he does not need to replace the frontline commander-in-chief; changing commanders during a major battle is considered a great taboo in military strategy.

"Commander, the Japanese of the 5th Division did not counterattack, and neither did the several Brigades reinforcing the 5th Division."

In the conference room, the Japanese of the Pingjin Area Army all saw the change in Terauchi Hisaichi's expression.

As long as the Chuan'an Corps is safe, as long as there are no problems at Niangziguan, the Pingjin Area Army still has a chance to turn defeat into victory.

Terauchi Hisaichi, furious, rose from his chair.

The conference room is now very quiet.

Everyone did not dare to look directly into Terauchi Hisaichi's eyes.

"Baka!"

He lifted the chair and smashed it hard against the ground.

He handed the several telegrams in his hand to Terauchi Hisaichi.

"Hai!" His Adjutant immediately brought a new chair.

Xinkou Battlefield!

The Itagaki Division at Xinkou has become very passive.

Terauchi Hisaichi must use it effectively.

If that happens, the Imperial Army will lose the initiative in this Pingjin Region.

Xiangyue Qingsi asked: "Commander, what about the Chuan'an Corps?"

Terauchi Hisaichi's Adjutant also stood to the side with his head hanging low.

Terauchi Hisaichi ordered the Japanese on the Xinkou Battlefield to have the troops all defend and not attack.

"The 5th Division is currently retreating."

"Several county towns on the Zhengtai Line have also lost contact with the Chuan'an Corps; it is likely a grim situation."

"Now the Sichuan Army 22nd Group Army of the 2nd War Zone is attacking the Zhengtai Line, and simultaneously the front of Niangziguan."

Itagaki Seishiro definitely cannot hold on.

The war situation is deteriorating so fast; just a moment ago, the Itagaki Division was still able to plug the gap torn open by the enemy.

Terauchi Hisaichi waved his hand: "The Chuan'an Corps is fine."

Upon hearing this, Terauchi Hisaichi's hanging heart was set at ease.

Everyone also knew that the Imperial Army must have suffered a great loss tonight.

With a "crackling..." sound, the chair fell to pieces and scattered on the ground.

The direction of Niangziguan is the breakthrough point chosen by the Japanese; at present, the Chuan'an Corps has not advanced an inch, cannot tear open the gap, and cannot threaten Xinkou.

Kabe's Brigade, as the only mobile force of the Pingjin Area Army, is now.

"Itagaki Seishiro's 5th Division was counterattacked tonight by Wei Lihuang's Central Army and Yan Laoxi's Jin-Sui Army."

"In the direction of Niangziguan, the Chuan'an Corps had originally occupied several county towns on the Zhengtai Line."

"However, Kawakishi Bunzaburo did not fall for it, and the Sichuan Army units did not launch a frontal assault, merely harassing its flanks."

"The enemy's firepower is very fierce; ten artillery regiments are bombarding the Itagaki Division with superior firepower."

As he spoke, Terauchi Hisaichi came to the sand table in the conference room, and he laid out the situation map of the war.

Xiangyue Qingsi and the others took one look and discovered that the war situation was unfavorable for the 5th Division.

"The situation of the 5th Division is not very good."

"Have there been any major losses?"

Everyone is afraid now that the Chuan'an Corps will be crippled.

"How is Itagaki Seishiro's injury?" Terauchi Hisaichi was somewhat anxious.

Wei Lihuang and Fu Zuoyi, the two of them saw the 5th Division retreating.

"Gentlemen!" Terauchi Hisaichi sat down, his gaze extremely sharp, "Tonight."

"Sun Lianzhong, Feng Qinzai, Zeng Wanzhong, and others have also launched attacks, and the Chuan'an Corps is being pinned down."

In the office, there was only the sound of everyone's breathing; there were no other sounds.

Especially the 5th Division, which has now even transferred Kunisaki Noboru's 9th Brigade and incorporated it into the 10th Army.

"I will begin to adopt it immediately."

"The Itagaki Division Commander has been wounded by the enemy's artillery."

"Hmm..." Wei Lihuang thought for a moment: "Old Fu, I think your argument makes sense."

"Kawakishi Bunzaburo has set up a Circular Fortification, and the several Republic of China Army units on the front of Niangziguan have been unable to break through."

"Our routing of the 5th Division this time is also a great victory."

The combat effectiveness of the Itagaki Division has dropped by at least one level.

How could it be routed now, and furthermore, the Division Commander has been wounded.

Hearing Terauchi Hisaichi say this, Xiangyue Qingsi and Nishio Toshizo also let out long sighs of relief.

The dense rain of bullets also made the Imperial Army soldiers of the 5th Division feel the fear of death.

They also ordered their troops to continue expanding the results of the battle and tear the Imperial Army's defensive line even wider.

Furthermore, at night, the Imperial Army Aviation is unable to provide support to the 5th Division.

After the soldiers of the Central Army and the Jin-Sui Army took the 5th Division's positions, everyone immediately consolidated the positions to prevent an Imperial Army counterattack.

And just at this moment, Terauchi Hisaichi's Adjutant hurriedly entered the conference room.

Fu Zuoyi nodded: "Indeed, here in Jin Province."

"Strange?" Wei Lihuang's brows furrowed slightly: "What kind of big show are these Imperial Army soldiers trying to put on?"

Once the Chuan'an Corps is also crippled by the Sichuan Army joining forces with other Republic of China Army units.

The 22nd Group Army is like a sharp sword, about to be thrust into the heart of Pingjin;

This made Terauchi Hisaichi feel extremely uncomfortable.

"Now they have all returned to their own defensive sectors; the Imperial Army's forces have contracted along the entire line."

"Commander, the Itagaki Division Commander's thigh was wounded by a stray shell."

"Nani?!" In an instant, the Imperial Army officers in the conference room widened their eyes.

"Since the start of the war, the Central Army and the Jin-Sui Army have not yet achieved any relatively large results."

"Tonight, we have finally had a feast and are full."

(End of this chapter)