Chapter 394: Unable to Deploy

Hashimoto Gun is a moderate!

When he succeeded Shimomura Sadamu as Chief of Operations, he rejected Shimomura Sadamu's operational plan for a surprise attack on Wuhan.

Furthermore, Muto Akira is his sworn rival, and Muto Akira's idea has always been to pursue and annihilate the Republic of China Army, which places high logistical demands on the Imperial Army; the Fifth War Zone has the Sichuan Army.

If the Sichuan Army adopts harassment tactics and specifically ambushes the Imperial Army's logistical supply lines, this will certainly cause significant losses to the frontline troops.

Moreover, Hashimoto Gun is very worried; he fears that a pursuit battle will turn into an annihilation battle for the Sichuan Army, and having finally become Chief of Operations, with his seat not yet even warm, he does not want someone to pull the chair out from under him.

Therefore, in his heart, Hashimoto Gun still supports the view of Second Army Chief of Staff Suzuki Ritsudo: attack Xuzhou, occupy this strategic stronghold, and simultaneously attack the Republic of China Army in the Xuzhou region.

Because siege warfare is the Imperial Army's specialty, especially since the defending troops are all a bunch of local forces, whose combat effectiveness is even worse.

However, First Army Commander Xiangyue Qingsi believes that his army is tasked with a flanking mission and the operational distance is relatively long, so they need at least until July 20th to launch an attack.

"Check to see if any Japanese steamships have arrived, and look into the situation regarding the mobilization of troops and supplies!"

Hashimoto Gun's gaze swept over everyone: "For this campaign, our objective is to occupy Xuzhou and open up the Jinpu Line!"

"Strange!" Wang Mingzhang grinned and said: "Brother Yu, what kind of trick are these little Japanese devils pulling now?"

"Immediately contact the Revival Office personnel lurking in the enemy-occupied areas and have them investigate the movements of the Japanese Army in the Pingjin Region as soon as possible."

"You are truly good to the common people and have come to fight the Japanese devils; I understand this in my heart. I am volunteering to be your guide this time, so you should just take this money."

Because the 5th Division and Sakamoto Detachment mobilized by Terauchi Hisaichi, as well as the detachment drawn from the Isoya Rensuke 10th Division, are now almost no longer continuing to move toward Teng County.

"Follow this small path, be careful along the way; this road is a bit difficult to walk."

"The fork in the path here leads to Qingfeng Stronghold in one direction and Hutou Mountain in the other!"

Zhang Kang looked at Liu Erdan, "Brother Er Dan, how much longer until we reach Hutou Mountain and Qingfeng Stronghold?"

When attacking the Republic of China Army and carving up the spoils, these old Japanese devils all still want to stand on the strength of their own armies to speak.

Liu Erdan hurriedly waved his hands: "Brother Zhang Kang, aren't you insulting me?"

At this moment, the distant sky was dyed golden by the setting sun, and the clouds were also dyed red; the entire sky looked like a sheet of fire, emitting a warm glow.

"Ever since the Sichuan Army came to Shandong Province, they have distributed a batch of grain to us common folk and helped us chop wood and fetch water; I have never seen such a good troop before."

Looking at the map, Yu Hua grinned and said: "I reckon the Japanese devils are definitely brewing a major operational plan."

"It must be that the Imperial General Headquarters has issued orders to the Japanese devils of the Pingjin Area Army; otherwise, given Terauchi Hisaichi's temper, could he just sit still?!"

With the Japanese devils not moving and their large forces gathered together, the Sichuan Army's plan to harass the Japanese Army in segments has also gone bankrupt.

"Yosh!" Suzuki Ritsudo and Okamoto Kiyofuku, the two old Japanese devils, shouted happily.

After a cold laugh, he continued: "You didn't become Chief of Operations, so you don't know that there are many things to consider in this; it's not something you can decide just by patting your butt."

You must know that when Ishiwara Kanji was Chief of Operations, Muto Akira was already in the General Staff Headquarters, and he had been working there longer than Hashimoto Gun.

The three armies had a huge argument over the attack time, and everyone was fighting for the interests of their respective armies; after all, although they belonged to the same camp.

The Second Army's troops have already been assembled and can head south to fight at any time!

"Yes!" The Communications Soldier nodded.

Immediately, Nishio Toshizo proposed the attack time at the meeting; Nishio Toshizo hoped his army would launch the attack on July 10th.

The Japanese Army is not moving, and the Sichuan Army does not know what these little Japanese devils are up to; therefore, the scouts have all reported the situation.

Muto Akira, with a livid face, chose to say no more!

Regarding the campaign deployment decided by Hashimoto Gun, Second Army Commander Nishio Toshizo had nothing to say; what he cared about most was when to launch the attack.

Seeing Liu Erdan's poor expression, Zhang Kang had no choice but to accept the silver dollars; since the fellow countryman would not take the money, next time he went to Liu Erdan's home, he would bring more meat and eggs for Liu Erdan's parents.

Hearing this, Zhang Kang nodded and looked at Wu Tianlu: "Old Wu, this time we will act according to the plan and meet at the predetermined location afterward."

"I, Liu Erdan, am not someone who is blinded by money!"

Wu Tianlu smiled and said: "Lao Zhang, you can rest assured!"

Amidst the high mountains and steep ridges, a group of people was walking under the illumination of the setting sun when they arrived at a fork in the path.

Surrounding this small path were tall trees and dense bushes; the distant mountain peaks were shrouded in clouds and mist, as if stretching to the edge of the sky; on both sides were steep rocks covered in moss and vines.

Muto Akira, as the representative of the Central China Area Army, was the furthest from Xuzhou and needed to launch an attack at the end of July.

"It is only a two-hour journey to Qingfeng Stronghold and only an hour and a half to Hutou Mountain."

Hashimoto Gun responded: "Muto Akira, I have not changed; I am still Hashimoto Gun."

These are all meritorious deeds, concerning future promotions, and cannot be given up lightly; everyone could not yield to one another, arguing until their faces were red.

Seeing Zhang Kang put the silver dollars back into his pocket, Liu Erdan beamed with joy: "That's more like it!"

Liu Erdan wiped the sweat from his forehead and said loudly: "It's not far now!"

"Brother Er Dan, time is urgent, so I will accept this money for now!"

Hearing this, Muto Akira finally understood that Hashimoto Gun was mocking him for failing to become Chief of Operations after two struggles.

The Japanese Army is holding a meeting here!

The 22nd Group Army in Teng County is also holding discussions.

The Segaya Detachment is also camping in the mountains outside Teng County and is no longer moving.

"Sichuan Army brothers!"

After Yu Hua finished speaking, he shouted: "Communications Soldier!"

Yu Hua came to the observation port and looked out into the distance.

Hashimoto Gun approved their plan!

Muto Akira looked at Hashimoto Gun with a cold, gloomy gaze: "Hashimoto Gun, it seems you are no longer the Hashimoto Gun you were before; your original intention has changed."

"Gentlemen!"

In the end, Hashimoto Gun overcame all opposition and set the attack time for July 20th, telling the First Army, the Second Army, and the Central China Area Army to prepare.

He estimated the time; Wu Tianlu, Zhang Kang, and the others should have almost arrived at the Hutou Mountain Base and Qingfeng Stronghold.

"They moved down to about halfway and actually stopped moving; furthermore, our harassment plan cannot be carried out now."

Hearing this, Zhang Kang fished a silver dollar out of his pocket, "Brother Er Dan, take this money."

A tall man wearing dark black homespun clothes, with his trouser legs rolled up high and a pair of worn-out cloth shoes on his feet, was introducing things to Zhang Kang and Wu Tianlu.

"Going to Qingfeng Stronghold, I will certainly handle this job well; back in the day, I also spent some time knocking about in this area."

After Zhang Kang urged him to be careful along the way, the two of them each led their respective teams and parted ways.

(End of this chapter)