Chapter 433: Okamura Yasuji Meets Hata Shunroku

Iguchi Kazuo said this, following the instructions of Hata Shunroku entirely, because of the Ningbo area in Jiangzhe.

This is the hometown of the current commander of the Republic of China Army; according to the ancients, this is a place where a dragon rises.

The Japanese Army, deeply familiar with traditional Chinese culture, publicized the Ningbo area of Jiangzhe as the focus of their offensive, also to confuse the Nanjing Command.

After all, according to traditional Chinese culture, a place where a dragon rises and one's ancestral graves must be well protected.

As for the Japanese Army, they hoped to release this news to make the Nanjing Command make a wrong judgment.

To dispatch a large amount of the Chinese side's military force to the Ningbo area of Jiangzhe, causing a void of military strength in the Wuhan region, and then take the important town of Wuhan in one fell swoop.

After reading the telegram, Yu Hua replied to Sun Zhen: the little devils will absolutely not attack Wuhan this time; their true target is Wuhan.

If anyone does not listen to orders, Okamura Yasuji might really let the other party taste his iron fist.

This proposal by Chen Cheng was agreed upon by many generals because the strategic value of Ningbo is really not as good as Wuhan.

And the assistants configured by the Imperial General Headquarters for Okamura Yasuji's 11th Army include Chief of Staff Yoshimoto Teiichi, from the 20th class of the Japanese Army Academy, a native of Tokushima Prefecture.

At this time, on the Japanese Army side, Okamura Yasuji had just returned to China; when transferred to be the Commander of the 11th Army, Okamura Yasuji returned to the country to have an audience with the Emperor.

The troops in various regions were also gathering toward Wuhan; if the operational deployment were adjusted now, it would absolutely affect the subsequent operations.

The high-profile declaration of the Central China Area Army naturally reached the Nanjing Command in Hankou, where Dai Chunfeng, representing the Military Statistics Bureau, made a report to the various bigwigs.

Itagaki Seishiro also had his reasons, which were that Okamura Yasuji had once stayed in the Central China region, was familiar with the terrain of the Central China region, and had rich practical combat experience.

In order to occupy an advantageous position when the World War breaks out, so the Japanese Army can obtain what it wants and become a new world power.

For such a person to serve as the Commander of the 11th Army should be a good choice.

However, the Ningbo area is very sensitive; if troops are really not sent to support Ningbo, it would be very terrible once the Japanese Army really goes to the Ningbo area.

"Commander, sir!" Okamura Yasuji put down the chopsticks in his hand.

If the little devils want to obtain the rights of a world power under the new situation and become a new strong nation, they must withdraw from the Chinese battlefield as soon as possible, reorganize, train the army, and strengthen equipment.

Moreover, this time the 11th Army bears the important task of capturing Wuhan, so they must choose someone with rich practical combat experience to serve as the Commander of the 11th Army; Tada Shun recommended the Principal of the Imperial Japanese Army University, Tsukada Osamu, for the post.

"Regarding this matter, my thought is that the possibility is only fifty percent."

As one of the rare generals in the Japanese Army who is good at fighting, his classmate Itagaki Seishiro roamed the Pingjin Region, although he suffered a blow in the Taierzhuang Campaign.

Plus, now that the three powers of Europe are rising strongly, the interior of the Japanese Army has already deeply analyzed and studied the world situation.

Finally, it was that old guy Showa who made the final decision, appointing Okamura Yasuji as the Commander of the 11th Army.

The old devil Showa believed that Okamura Yasuji was familiar with the terrain of the Central China region. Plus, Okamura Yasuji had rich practical combat experience and could speak fluent Chinese.

"Hai!" Hirahara Daio nodded and bowed, leading Okamura Yasuji toward the office of the Commander of the Central China Area Army.

Itagaki Seishiro, the Division Commander of the 5th Division who had just been transferred back to the country from China and now serves as the Army Minister, actively recommended his university classmate Okamura Yasuji to serve as the Commander of the 11th Army.

Hata Shunroku brought Okamura Yasuji to the restaurant where the welcome banquet was held; the restaurant was built entirely according to Japanese style.

"They are now publicizing in a high-profile manner and moving troops to the Ningbo area of Jiangzhe; this is a smoke bomb released for us, just to paralyze us."

Inside the restaurant, Okamura Yasuji took a look and found that many people had come: Central China Area Army Chief of Staff Kabe, the Commander of the Second Army, Prince Higashikuni-no-miya Naruhiko, and some other Division Commanders.

Hata Shunroku nodded with satisfaction, "Your Highness."

"Yoshi!" Prince Higashikuni-no-miya Naruhiko nodded.

Hata Shunroku is now his immediate superior, so he also has to go and recognize the way and pay his respects. "I will lead the way for you."

Such war merits are truly enviable! Okamura Yasuji dreamed of coming inside the Great Wall to lead his division and fiercely strike the Chinese army.

After Chen Cheng received the report from the Sichuan Army's Sun Zhen, he took a careful look; the content was reasonable and well-founded, and he couldn't help but praise it after reading.

"According to our Military Statistics Bureau's reconnaissance in Shanghai, the Japanese Army is currently still inclined to move troops to the Ningbo area of Jiangzhe."

Chen Cheng, as the Commander of the 9th War Zone, said first: "I believe the possibility of the Japanese Army attacking the Wuhan region is greater."

According to the policy of the last military conference, the big slogan shouted by the Nanjing Command was to defend Great Wuhan and resist the war to the end.

After the meeting, Sun Zhen sent a telegram to Yu Hua, asking Yu Hua if the Japanese Army was going to attack Ningbo.

Qian Dajun's gaze swept over everyone, "I am here to convey the latest order; all operational policies will proceed according to the original plan and will not be changed."

After Okamura Yasuji finished the meeting, Hata Shunroku dispatched the intelligence officer Hirahara Daio to arrive.

At the welcome banquet, the various Japanese generals were having a great time; as everyone left, they each took along a geisha they were satisfied with.

Hata Shunroku first stated that the purpose of this Wuhan Battle was to capture Wuhan, not to annihilate the Republic of China Army; as for annihilating the main force of the Chinese army in Wuhan, that was placed in second place.

When Okamura Yasuji left, Showa's wife, Nagako, even personally presented a scarf she had woven to Okamura Yasuji.

Tada Shun had previously been active in China, went to the front line in person, and participated in some battles against China; he had rich practical combat experience and could fully serve as the Commander of the 11th Army.

That is, the Japanese Army troops cannot burn, kill, and loot at will in the towns around China as they did when attacking Songhu and Jinling. He would arrange for Military Police units to conduct patrols at all times.

After Chen Cheng heard this, he was visibly relieved; at present, the Wuhan region is in urgent need of military strength, and not using the military strength of Wuhan is the best choice.

As Okamura Yasuji, who is as famous as them, after the July 7th Incident, he led the Japanese Army's 2nd Division to be stationed in Heilongjiang of Manchuria, guarding against the old Russians on the opposite side.

The banquet was all Japanese-style food, plus geishas dancing gracefully; every general was now talking and laughing, accompanied by Japanese music, Japanese food, and geishas.

In a mountain cave, after the Independent Brigade received Sun Zhen's telegram, the Communications Soldier hurriedly sent the telegram to Yu Hua.

The highlight of Shimomura Sadamu's life was forming Yanagawa Heisuke's 10th Army to land at Hangzhou Bay, breaking the stalemate of the Battle of Songhu; with such a record, this was the number one candidate considered by the Japanese Army. And Okamura Yasuji was the number two candidate.

This time, the Japanese Army's strategy of encircling Wuhan is actually the same as attacking Jinling in 1937.

Now that he serves as the Commander of the 11th Army, at this time of about to reap war merits, he does not want any scandals to appear in his army, cutting off his military career and hindering his promotion.

As for the Japanese Army spokesperson publicizing to the outside world that they want to attack Ningbo, this is a smoke bomb released by the Japanese Army; do not pay attention to it.

The 11th Army Command set up its organization in a classroom of a school in Shanghai. This was truly a bit crude, but after Okamura Yasuji arrived, he did not complain.

Just when everyone was indecisive, Qian Dajun arrived in the conference room: "Gentlemen."

The little devils speculate that the World War will break out in 1940, or at the latest in 1945; this is a reshuffling of the power of world nations.

Okamura Yasuji deliberately emphasized the discipline of the Japanese Army; that was not him being kind-hearted, this old devil was just doing it to obtain war merits and increase his resume.

"Commander Hata Shunroku invites you to his office."

And Prince Kanin Kotohito's deputy, Vice Chief of Staff Tada Shun, had always agreed with any proposal of his superior, but this time Tada Shun went against his superior.

Inside the school classroom, Okamura Yasuji first held a brief meeting with his Chief of Staff and Operations Section Chief.

The terrain of Wuhan is very similar to Jinling; the Japanese Army felt that using the same method to take Wuhan as they did to take Jinling would yield the same results, easily crushing the Republic of China Army.

Yu Hua remembered very clearly that the little devils only truly made up their minds to attack Ningbo in 1940.

They wanted Yu Hua to analyze the Japanese Army's next offensive, so that if the little devils were to attack Ningbo, the Chinese side would have a better response.

Everyone rode in cars for about five minutes and arrived at the headquarters of the Central China Area Army.

At that time, the Wuhan Battle was the top priority for the little devils' General Headquarters, so they could not be careless in choosing the Commander of the 11th Army.

Operations Section Chief Miyazaki Shuichi, 28th class of the Japanese Army Academy, a native of Nagano Prefecture.

These little devils finally felt the atmosphere of their hometown in a foreign land; seeing Okamura Yasuji arrive, everyone applauded to show their welcome.

Just like that, the three parties argued endlessly; each side claimed to be in the right, and no one would give an inch.

However, Itagaki Seishiro's previous military exploits had already enabled him to obtain more benefits.

"Okamura-kun!" Hata Shunroku smiled slightly, looking at Okamura Yasuji.

"As long as the Prince has confidence, that is good!" Hata Shunroku continued: "Your Highness, your Second Army, which has jurisdiction over the 3rd Division, 10th Division, 13th Division, and 16th Division, will advance along the Dabie Mountains this time, serving as an auxiliary force."

Likewise, Okamura Yasuji's good friends Tojo Hideki, Doihara Kenji, and others had also obtained sufficient military exploits in the Pingjin Region or the Mongolian grasslands, and their resumes were full of meritorious service.

When Hirahara Daio saw Okamura Yasuji, he first saluted him: "General Okamura."

"The strategic value of the Wuhan region is far greater than that of Ningbo; if it were any other commander, the Japanese Army would still prioritize attacking Wuhan."

"Okamura-kun, you have had a hard journey; I have arranged a welcome banquet for you, come this way."

"Okamura-kun!"

"Okamura-kun, your 11th Army has many divisions under its command, and now the task of capturing Wuhan falls upon your shoulders; the main offensive direction of the 11th Army is to advance along the river and strike the main force of the Republic of China Army north of the Yangtze River."

It is a Japanese Army tradition that when a Commander takes office, he must return to his country to have a chat with the Emperor; the old Showa devil chatted with Okamura Yasuji for a while and then hosted a banquet for him.

Moreover, a more important point is that Okamura Yasuji had previously served as a military advisor in Sun Chuanfang's army and was familiar with the customs and conditions of the Central China region.

This made the little devils' financial pressure particularly tight; if they could withdraw from the China battlefield, it would completely release immense pressure for the Japanese Army.

Everyone had also considered this problem, but no one dared to continue bringing it up.

At that time, the Chief of the General Staff, Prince Kanin, a member of the devil imperial family, liked Shimomura Sadamu very much and strongly supported him at the General Headquarters meeting, recommending him to serve as the Commander of the 11th Army.

At that time, Okamura Yasuji had two tough rivals; the first was Shimomura Sadamu, the Commander guarding the Tokyo Bay fortress—yes, this Shimomura Sadamu was the department head who had previously been driven out of the Operations Department by Hashimoto Gun.

He told Okamura Yasuji to put more effort into the Imperial Army's Holy War, praised Okamura Yasuji as a rare figure in the Empire, and hoped that Okamura Yasuji could lead the Imperial Army to pacify Wuhan and resolve the Sino-Japanese War.

In this godforsaken Heilongjiang, with no military exploits to be gained, Okamura Yasuji felt quite envious of his classmates and friends.

Afterwards, he organized it into a booklet according to Yu Hua's analysis and submitted it to Chen Cheng, while simultaneously emphasizing that it was highly likely the Japanese Army would advance by water and land to encircle Wuhan.

"Hmm!" Okamura Yasuji nodded slightly.

These generals all indicated that they understood and would properly arrange their troops.

"As for the troops south of the Yangtze River, just send a small number of elite divisions to cut off the Yuehan Railway."

"Yoshi!"

"Commander!" Okamura Yasuji saluted Hata Shunroku.

"You only need to give the order, and the warriors of the Empire will guarantee that the Republic of China Army is beaten into a rout."

Therefore, the little devils are now truly very desperate to withdraw from the China battlefield, which is why they have made capturing Wuhan their primary goal, rather than annihilating the main force of the Republic of China Army.

"Gentlemen!"

"Hai!" Okamura Yasuji nodded; he had already known the general direction of this offensive while in Tokyo, as the Imperial Army's primary goal now was to take Wuhan and force the Republic of China Government to sign a treaty as soon as possible.

And this time, the devils concentrated their forces to attack Ningbo but failed, being repelled by the Chinese troops, which led to the Zhenhai Victory.

As for the third candidate, it was the Principal of the Japanese Army Academy, Tsukada Osamu.

Tada Shun's reason for opposition was that Shimomura Sadamu had worked in the upper echelons of the Empire for a long time, had not served in frontline troops, lacked combat experience, and lacked training.

After Central China Area Army Commander Hata Shunroku and Okamura Yasuji were seated, everyone continued to eat Japanese-style pastries and discuss the upcoming Wuhan Strategy.

In Hankou, at the Sichuan Army office, Sun Zhen felt much more at ease after receiving Yu Hua's reply.

Guided by Hirahara Daio, Okamura Yasuji and Hata Shunroku met.

Because the little devils are now bogged down in the China battlefield and want to get out as soon as possible, the massive amount of troops committed to the China battlefield has caused military expenditures to gradually increase.

In this meeting, Okamura Yasuji had only one goal, which was how to fight for Wuhan. He wanted the Chief of Staff and the Operations Section Chief to come up with a strategy as soon as possible.

At the end of the meeting, Okamura Yasuji also deliberately emphasized the issue of military discipline within his 11th Army.

Prince Higashikuni-no-miya Naruhiko saw Hata Shunroku calling him and said with a smile: "Hata Shunroku-kun, my Second Army is ready at all times."

After all, such moments of leisure on the battlefield are rare; relaxing a bit is necessary to release one's restless energy.

First of all, thank you to the big brother "20190318081534326" for the tip, thank you for your support, and at the same time, thank you to the big brothers who have voted this month, thank you for your support, I kowtow to you all, dong dong dong...

(End of this chapter)