Chapter 209: I Think You Are Overthinking It

After the Sichuan Army arrived at Jinshanwei.

The combat engineers began constructing a minefield, and everyone was very careful.

In order to achieve a spray effect, many combat engineers racked their brains.

While laying the minefield, they thought of many makeshift methods.

Moreover, the minefield along the Jinshanwei line was a mix of real and fake.

What everyone was thinking was to make the devils unable to figure out the authenticity of the minefield after they came ashore.

Tani Hisao also spoke up: "Hai!"

Suematsu Shigaharu was the acknowledged handsome man among the little devil troops, and he also shouted: "Your Excellency Commander, Chief of Staff."

"144th Division, Division Commander Guo Xunqi."

"After the 10th Army routs the defenders of Jinshanwei, the troops will immediately split up."

"How much longer until we can reach Jinshanwei?!"

"Independent 13th Brigade, Brigade Commander Tanaka Takeshi."

"Division-level units have no organic artillery; they don't have a single mountain gun or field gun."

"145th Division, Division Commander Rao Guohua."

Yanagawa Heisuke spoke up: "Relevant intelligence on the Sichuan Army 23rd Group Army."

"Tell me everything!"

"Commander Terauchi Hisaichi will certainly finish off the 22nd Group Army."

"The scope of the Seventh War Zone is basically along the shores of Taihu."

The two were looking at a map of Jinshanwei.

"Sichuan Army troops, an army like beggars."

The intelligence officer bowed and scraped: "Hai!"

"You are to lead the 114th Division, make a detour along the south shore of Taihu, and sweep through the Sichuan Army of the Seventh War Zone."

"Take the opportunity to stir up trouble in the Pingjin Region, once the Imperial Army recovers."

Hearing that the Sichuan Army was still using Shanghai-made mountain guns from the Great Qing era, Tani Hisao and the others could not help but laugh.

"The War Zone Commander is Liu Fucheng; the entire war zone consists entirely of Sichuan Army troops."

"Your Excellency Commander!" The intelligence officer lowered his head: "I am very sorry."

"It will probably be even easier for the Imperial Army to fight them than the Central Army German-equipped Division of Principal Chang at Songhu."

"Compile the intelligence on the relevant generals of the Sichuan Army 23rd Group Army as soon as possible."

"Facing the sea, land, and air superiority of the Imperial Army, they are ultimately just cannon fodder."

Upon hearing this!

Tanabe Moritake asked: "Does the 23rd Group Army have any heavy weapons?"

Tanabe Moritake wore a sneer: "The war situation on the Far East Continent will be brand new."

"We have not yet collected much data."

The Commander of the 10th Army, Yanagawa Heisuke, and Chief of Staff Tanabe Moritake.

Tani Hisao gave a cold snort, "Chief of Staff."

At this time, the other several division commanders also arrived at Yanagawa Heisuke's command post.

"Among them, which generals are well-known figures?"

"Hmm..." Yanagawa Heisuke responded.

"Do you have any objections?" Yanagawa Heisuke said, waiting for Suematsu Shigaharu to reply.

"However, the 23rd Group Army's organic artillery regiment possesses 24 Shanghai-made Krupp Mountain Guns."

"Your Excellency Commander."

"My 10th Army is about to land on the Songhu Battlefield."

Then he issued orders to Ushijima Sadao's 18th Division.

Upon hearing this, Yanagawa Heisuke asked, "Do you have detailed combat intelligence on those two?"

He closed his eyes and pondered for a moment.

"Terauchi Hisaichi has already sent several telegrams to the Imperial General Headquarters requesting reinforcements."

"148th Division, Division Commander Chen Wanren."

Suematsu Shigaharu stepped forward: "Your Excellency Commander, please give your orders."

"Hai!" The intelligence officer could only helplessly lower his head, "Your Excellency Commander, I will hurry."

"146th Division, Division Commander Liu Zhaoli."

The several division commanders of the 10th Army were very disdainful of the Sichuan Army in the Seventh War Zone.

"Gentlemen, the prestige of the Empire rests on this battle!"

"147th Division, Division Commander Yang Guozhen."

"Commander, the Sichuan Army cannot be underestimated," Tanabe Moritake said hurriedly.

"This war zone has Liu Fucheng's 23rd Group Army serving as the main force."

"Your Excellency Commander!"

"The Sichuan Army 22nd Group Army only acted wantonly in the Pingjin Region while the Imperial Army was moving south."

So as to be able to trap more devil soldiers and pull off a big job.

"It has not been collected by the Special Higher Police, but according to our estimates, the total strength of the 23rd Group Army is close to one hundred thousand."

"These two are acknowledged fierce generals."

Just as the Sichuan Army was working at Jinshanwei.

Arriving together with them was an intelligence officer of the Tenth Army.

The 18th Division, acting as a reserve force, was divided into two parts to coordinate with the 6th Division and the 114th Division.

"Commander, sir!" Tanabe Moritake stepped forward: "According to the schedule, we will arrive on November 5th, at one o'clock in the morning."

Yanagawa Heisuke looked at Suematsu Shigaharu, "Suematsu-kun!"

"Because the Imperial intelligence department does not pay enough attention to local armies like the Sichuan Army."

On an aircraft carrier.

"The Pingjin Area Army has been severely tormented by the Sichuan Army 22nd Group Army."

He feared Yanagawa Heisuke, because the 23rd Group Army was the Sichuan Army, and he had underestimated this force.

Upon hearing this, Yanagawa Heisuke asked, "Sichuan Army?"

"A local army?"

"Chief of Staff!" The intelligence officer looked toward Tanabe Moritake.

"Commander, sir, the Sichuan Army 23rd Group Army has five divisions and two independent brigades under its command."

"The Special Higher Police only collected information on Republic of China Army generals at the Major General rank and above; for the 23rd Group Army, it is estimated there are still some troops."

"Within the 23rd Group Army, the most capable generals are Rao Guohua and Guo Xunqi."

"Chief of Staff, Commander, sir."

"I think you are overthinking it."

Hearing this, Yanagawa Heisuke picked up his command stick, "Order!"

"According to information sent by Imperial spies, the 23rd Group Army lacks heavy weapons."

He pondered for a moment, then turned to look at Tanabe Moritake: "Chief of Staff."

"Coordinate with the Shanghai Expeditionary Army to jointly sweep the Republic of China Army in front of us."

"Now, throughout the entire Pingjin Region, the Imperial Army has already fallen into a passive defensive state."

Ushijima Sadao chimed in from the side: "Chief of Staff, Commander, sir."

After hearing about the inferior weaponry of the Sichuan Army 23rd Group Army, Yanagawa Heisuke looked at the map.

"We can reach Jinshanwei; there are still two days of travel left."

Subsequently, Yanagawa Heisuke pointed to Tani Hisao again, "Tani Hisao-kun, you lead the 6th Division and the Kunisaki Detachment."

"The designations and commanders of the five divisions and two independent brigades are as follows in order!"

Yanagawa Heisuke's brows furrowed slightly, "What is going on? What has the Imperial intelligence department been doing with its funding?"

"The Imperial Army possesses sea, land, and air firepower, and furthermore, the Empire's focus is already on Songhu."

"According to the latest intelligence from the Special Higher Police, the Nanjing Command has established the Seventh War Zone."

"Sichuan Army!?" Tani Hisao's eyes flashed with cold light: "Nothing but clay chickens and pottery dogs."

"Independent 14th Brigade, Brigade Commander Zhou Shaoxuan."

After the Japanese intelligence officer finished reciting the designations while holding the folder, he quickly flipped to the page introducing the Sichuan Army generals.

"Then advance on Jinling!"

"I also believe that the 23rd Group Army in the Taihu Region is not worth worrying about."

"I think what Division Commander Tani Hisao said makes sense."

The fleet of the Japanese Tenth Army had already sailed into the waters of Zhongtu.

"Reporting to the Commander." Suematsu Shigaharu stood stiffly, "My 114th Division will certainly complete the mission."

"Once the Imperial Army goes ashore, it will surely crush the forces of Zhongtu with the force of a thunderbolt."

"The 23rd Group Army is the direct subordinate force of the Sichuan Army commander, Liu Fucheng."

The intelligence officer bowed and scraped: "Hai!"

"Hmm..." Yanagawa Heisuke nodded faintly.

"Right now!"

"March north along the Hukang Railway and the highway to cut off the retreat of the defenders in the Songhu Region."

"The 23rd Group Army just finished re-equipping in Hankou."

"Only regimental-level units have mortar companies."

"Once the Tenth Army goes ashore, the battle situation in Songhu will be decided; we must strive to disintegrate the Republic of China Army's front line with lightning speed."

Such an army, when facing one Imperial division, could be crushed.

This kind of trash artillery is not even as good as the Empire's Type 41 Mountain Gun.

"Commander, sir, rest assured, my 6th Division will certainly not let you down."

"The Sichuan Army 22nd Group Army is merely taking advantage of the shift in the Imperial Army's focus."

As the supreme commander of the Tenth Army, Yanagawa Heisuke also needed to carefully consider the opinions given by each general.

"Therefore, there is currently no combat intelligence regarding Guo Xunqi and Rao Guohua."

"It is also a relatively powerful combat force within Sichuan Province."

"May the fortunes of war be long!" Yanagawa Heisuke shouted loudly.

The remaining Japanese officers all echoed, "May the fortunes of war be long!"

(End of this chapter)