Chapter 506: Don't Speak Recklessly

Within the borders of Hunan Province!

The 22nd Group Army retreated into the mountainous areas; originally, according to the orders of the Nanjing Command.

Sun Zhen's troops were supposed to enter the county seat to rest and reorganize, but Yu Hua felt the county seat was not safe.

Only in the vast rural areas could the troops quickly restore their vitality; after all, training in the wilderness would not disturb the people!

Therefore, Sun Zhen took the initiative to contact Deng Xihou and Pan Wenhua, letting them discuss it with Principal Chang.

In the end, the main force of the 22nd Group Army hid in the mountains, dispatching one Brigade to garrison the county seat to maintain order.

After arriving in Hunan Province, the first thing the 22nd Group Army did was recruit soldiers.

After all, the 22nd Group Army had suffered significant casualties in the Wanjialing Battle.

Hata Shunroku waved his hand: "Sit, sit, sit..."

Yu Hua nodded; from the beginning of the war, with Principal Chang going all-in at the Battle of Songhu, to the small-scale maneuvering in Xuzhou, and then to the large-scale mobile warfare in Wuhan.

On this day, Yu Hua had just finished ideological education for the new recruits when he was called to the Group Army command post by Sun Zhen.

Okamura Yasuji sat down, "Your Excellency Commander-in-Chief, I believe the Imperial Army's Wuhan Strategy has failed."

Situations like this were playing out in villages such as Lijiazhuang, Xiaowangzhuang, and Zhao Family Village.

"For this meeting, Commander Deng Xihou is going, and my Sichuan Army generals who marched out of Chuan must also participate."

However, Okamura Yasuji could not bring himself to be happy!

Seeing that his analysis was approved by Yu Hua, Wang Mingzhang looked at Sun Zhen happily: "Old Sun, look at that!"

Upon seeing Yu Hua arrive, Wang Mingzhang immediately stepped forward and said: "Brother Yu, you've come just in time."

Anyone who joined the Sichuan Army ranks could receive ten jin of meat per household, plus ten silver dollars.

Speaking of this, Okamura Yasuji's tone was full of pride; after all, the First Sino-Japanese War was the turning point for the Imperial Army's national destiny.

Hata Shunroku, who was eating a pastry, paused, his hand stopping; he looked at Okamura Yasuji: "Okamura-kun, where did you draw such a conclusion from?!"

After recruitment ended, the 22nd Group Army began training the new recruits.

"Commander-in-Chief Sun, when are we departing?"

"It won't lead to being in an unfavorable position when the time comes!"

He walked to Okamura Yasuji's side: "Okamura-kun, why are you so gloomy?"

"It is just like half a century ago, when the Imperial Army fought a decisive battle against the Qing Dynasty army!"

"In the First Sino-Japanese War, the Imperial Army won a great victory, obtaining a massive amount of wealth from the Qing Dynasty, which fed the Imperial Army's subjects!"

"However!" Okamura Yasuji's gaze sharpened: "Your Excellency General, you have also seen that the Republic of China Government is not as weak as the Qing Dynasty government."

As he spoke, Sun Zhen quietly said to Yu Hua again: "According to intelligence gathered by my Sichuan Army, the Old Man is holding a meeting this time."

In this day and age, due to the influence of years of war, many common people could not get enough to eat, especially some families who did not know where their next meal was coming from.

"Whether it is a Hongmen Banquet, we don't know yet!" Sun Zhen picked up his water cup to drink: "But!"

Although Wuhan had been taken, the Republic of China Government had not surrendered!

Okamura Yasuji felt very irritable; Hata Shunroku discovered Okamura Yasuji sitting to the side drinking alone.

"The sooner the better!" Sun Zhen responded: "The Old Man attaches great importance to this meeting; it has been in preparation for a long time;"

As he spoke, Sun Zhen turned his head to look at Yu Hua, who was sitting on the side drinking water: "Brother Yu, think of a way to deal with this; what should our Sichuan Army do?"

"It fully achieved the policy of defending Wuhan without fighting at Wuhan, utilizing peripheral maneuvering to firmly delay the Japanese Army."

"Just now you were arguing with me, and now Brother Yu agrees with my point of view."

"It gave the Imperial Army's industrialization abundant capital, rapidly leading the Imperial Army toward strength!"

The Republic of China Army's experience in fighting the Japanese had improved significantly!!

At the same time, the Japanese Army side was also celebrating the capture of Wuhan.

"Now that things have gone contrary to our wishes, if the Far East war is not resolved, it will be difficult for the Imperial Army to extricate itself from the Far East battlefield."

"I am right, am I not!"

Sun Zhen was referring to the incident where Han Fuju was arrested and secretly escorted to Wuhan at the Kaifeng military conference.

Hearing this, Okamura Yasuji stood up and saluted Hata Shunroku!

"To force the Republic of China Government to sign a treaty under the city walls, and then obtain a large amount of rights and interests from it."

In Liujiacun, Yu Hua personally presided over the recruitment; first, Yu Hua propagated the cause to the common people.

"I am afraid that Principal Chang will make things difficult for my Sichuan Army at the Hengshan Conference, so we are preparing a contingency plan in advance."

"We are not fighting like trapped beasts inside Wuhan, but rather fighting the Japanese Army on the periphery, in the vast areas of Edong, Ebei, and Ganbei."

Hunan Province!

"Your Excellency Commander-in-Chief!" Okamura Yasuji sat properly and began his analysis: "First, our initial goal in attacking Wuhan was to destroy the Republic of China Government's will to resist."

At first, some people did not believe it, but under Yu Hua's direction, he personally distributed meat to the newly enlisted recruits, let them collect a set of uniforms, and also gave them ten silver dollars as a settlement fee.

"The Imperial Army concentrated the strength of the entire nation, just wanting to thoroughly resolve the Far East Incident and settle the war."

Hearing this, Yu Hua stood at attention and saluted Sun Zhen: "Yes!"

After Hata Shunroku finished listening to Okamura Yasuji's words, he remained silent; when he was about to leave!

He patted Okamura Yasuji on the shoulder: "Okamura-kun, do not say these things to outsiders in the future; I will not hold you responsible today!"

"They are still persisting in the struggle, continuing to fight against the Imperial Army."

Moreover, the Sichuan Army ranks paid soldiers five silver dollars every month.

"I intend to take you, kid, with me to attend the Hengshan Conference!"

"Let's be a little careful; there is no harm in being prepared!"

"It is said that preparations began before the Wuhan Battle had even ended!"

Sun Zhen did not pay much attention to Wang Mingzhang's words and smiled slightly; his gaze followed and landed on Yu Hua.

"Brother Yu!"

When Okamura Yasuji saw the Japanese Army officers holding geishas from Tokyo and dancing on the dance floor, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Commander Okamura Yasuji of the Japanese Army 11th Division received a commendation from the Tokyo Imperial General Headquarters.

Sun Zhen stepped forward, "I just received a telegram from Commander Deng; the Military Affairs Commission is going to hold a military conference at Nanyue Hengshan."

After the villagers at the scene saw this, they thought the troops before them were simply a righteous and benevolent army!

Here, Sun Zhen was analyzing this Wuhan Battle with Wang Mingzhang.

"It seems to be just like the supreme military conference held previously in the Xuzhou region."

Wang Mingzhang, standing to the side, widened his eyes: "Commander-in-Chief, do you mean... this Hengshan Conference is also a Hongmen Banquet?"

"Brother, do you think my analysis is correct?"

"After the Wuhan Battle ended, I analyzed it; this campaign, compared to Xuzhou and Songhu."

The common people of Liujiacun, upon hearing such generous recruitment terms from the Sichuan Army, could not help but feel moved.

There is meat, there is money... he is truly generous!

Therefore, the villagers of Liujiacun had a high enthusiasm for joining the army.

Seeing Hata Shunroku arrive, Okamura Yasuji immediately bowed and scraped to greet him: "Your Excellency, Commander-in-Chief."

Nowadays, the Sichuan Army's influence is too great, and Sun Zhen fears that at this Hengshan Conference, Principal Chang will target the Sichuan Army!

Previously, because Marshal Liu passed away from illness, the Sichuan Army had been schemed against by Principal Chang several times, but fortunately, Yu Hua successfully dismantled them.

Under Yu Hua's advice, the Sichuan Army did not suffer any major mishaps and maintained stability.

(End of this chapter)