Chapter 525: The Far Eastern Situation

Ueda Kenkichi convened a major meeting with the relevant members of the Kwantung Army!

At the meeting, Ueda Kenkichi stated that, in accordance with the instructions from the Tokyo Imperial General Headquarters.

The Kwantung Army would conduct a probing attack against the Soviet side!

At the meeting!

Many members of the Kwantung Army, upon learning this news, were all eager to have a go.

The Pingjin Area Army and the Central China Area Army inside the Great Wall had achieved significant military successes.

Many officers had been promoted, which made quite a few officers in the Kwantung Army very envious.

Especially the officers of the Imperial Way Faction; they were even more radical, and at the meeting, they even clamored that they could launch a Night Raid immediately.

Why bother with any probing? Just charge straight ahead!

For officers of the Imperial Way Faction, the difficulty of promotion was greater than for officers of the Control Faction.

The Kwantung Army 23rd Division received a report from a patrol that Outer Mongolian cavalry had attacked a Manchurian patrol.

Inside the room, Yu Hua heard the voice of Zhou Conghua, and his expression changed.

Itagaki Seishiro, as Army Minister, looked at the operational plans reported by the staff officers and was quite satisfied in his heart.

"Currently, the rise of the Third Reich in Europe has brought great pressure upon the Soviet side."

"We must rush to Shancheng tonight!"

"When the time comes, I will stand guard for you myself; if anyone dares to come and disturb you, I will blast them with my gun!"

"Regarding Nomonhan, both Outer Mongolia and the Republic of China claim sovereignty."

That kid Zhou Conghua came over with a grin!

"Right now, the foundation of our Sichuan Army is at least much stronger than it was before the War of Resistance."

The Third Reich is an enemy to Britain, France, and the Soviet Union, but they have not yet started fighting.

"Principal Chang has ordered our Sichuan Army generals to go to Shancheng to attend a military conference."

The Soviet side immediately dispatched an ambassador to contact the Japanese side, but the two sides broke off negotiations.

When the Outer Mongolian troops retreated, they also informed the Soviet side that the Japanese Army had invaded on a large scale, hoping for Soviet intervention.

Britain, France, and other countries had not yet recovered their strength;

Furthermore, due to the influence of the global economic crisis, the national economies of Britain, France, and other countries were weak;

Facing the powerful Third Reich, they compromised as much as possible to ensure peace.

Speaking of this, Yu Hua paused, then picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea to moisten his throat.

"Then, what should be the situation on our domestic battlefield next?!"

The Commander is Ueda Kenkichi, the Chief of Staff is Isogai Rensuke, and the headquarters is in Changchun.

In the eyes of Europe!

Matters in the Far East are far from being as important as those in Europe, so the fighting between the Soviet side and the Japanese Army at Nomonhan really cannot turn into a national war.

At the same time, within Japan!

"According to reports from the Revival Office of our Sichuan Army outside the Great Wall."

"I can conclude that the way the Soviet side and the Japanese side handle this will still be the same as last time at Zhanggufeng."

"Having already seen blood, distributing them to various units also makes for good soldiers."

"Now it all depends on the Kwantung Army's probing attack."

Especially since many officers of the Imperial Way Faction were born into commoner families, and in this life, they could at best reach the rank of Colonel.

Once this statement was issued!

Within the Kwantung Army!

"Twenty minutes ago, the Soviet side issued a statement; Principal Chang issued the order to convene the highest military conference ten minutes ago."

The divisions directly under the Kwantung Army are the 7th Division and the 23rd Division, as well as four Flight Groups, one Tank Brigade, and six Garrison Units.

Under Tada Shun's command are the 2nd Division, the 8th Division, the 12th Division, the Dongning First Border Garrison Unit, and the Suifenhe Second Border Garrison Unit.

Tojo Hideki was also very satisfied with this operational plan.

Requiring high-ranking generals to attend the meeting!

At the Lotus Villa in Shu County.

"What are you yelling about, you kid!"

"My good brother... I've been through this, I understand you!"

Neither side gained any advantage!

Ueda Kenkichi had the staff officers prepare a detailed plan to avoid a repeat of the last Zhanggufeng incident;

"The Kwantung Army seems determined this time to have a real fight with the Soviet side."

Relying solely on the strength of the National Government, the only way is to trade space for time and drag it out until the Japanese Army collapses.

"Isogai-kun, proceed as you said!"

He stood outside the courtyard gate and shouted: "Old Yu!"

"The Japanese 11th Army has just won the Battle of Nanchang, and their morale is very high."

"Once we have another conflict with Outer Mongolia, we can use that as an excuse to attack the Outer Mongolian cavalry."

In this operational plan, the Japanese General Staff Headquarters still adopted a strategy of a quick battle to force a quick decision.

For the 3rd Army, the Commander is Tada Shun, the Chief of Staff is Maeda Zazane, and the headquarters is in Mudanjiang.

Soon, the Commander of the Japanese 23rd Division, Komatsubara Michitaro, immediately ordered the entire division to assemble.

"The trains outside the Great Wall are all transporting troops and various strategic supplies."

Among the aforementioned units, only the 23rd Division is a newly formed Special Division; the other seven divisions are all elite divisions!

The combat effectiveness of those seven divisions is also among the more powerful ones within the Japanese Army's Permanent Divisions!

"I know you've come out; you've been calling out for so long."

The Fourth Army has jurisdiction over the First Division, as well as two Garrison Units.

In the Japanese Army's operational plan, once the Kwantung Army's assault goes smoothly.

Yu Hua came to the front of the map!

The Soviet side will not throw themselves into chaos and take action against the Japanese Army.

"The threat of the Third Reich is far above that of the Japanese Army, so, even if the Soviet side breaks out into a conflict with the Japanese Army."

"Although we didn't fight very well in the Wuhan Battle and the Nanchang Battle."

"Brother Yu!" Liu Wenhui stood out: "Before you arrived."

Zhou Conghua restrained his smile and returned to normal: "It is like this!"

"Fighting the little devils, my Sichuan Army has no way back!"

"The Imperial Army has clashed with the Outer Mongolian cavalry here many times!"

"After the Wuhan Battle, the Japanese 11th Army gathered in the Wuhan area and the surrounding regions!"

"Wait for a day, and I'll go to your doorstep and call out too."

Zhou Conghua saw his hand resting on Yu Hua's shoulder: "Old Yu, I'm not afraid that you won't be able to get out of your nest of tenderness!"

This statement by Yu Hua also made many Sichuan Army generals start to think!

Yu Hua wanted to give Zhou Conghua another punch!!

After the Kwantung Army went through a series of preparations!

Three days later!

"No!" Yu Hua responded resoundingly.

Pan Wenhua asked straightforwardly.

After Itagaki Seishiro finished reading, he let Tojo Hideki take a look too: "Tojo-kun, take a look."

"Let's use Nomonhan as the breakthrough point!"

Here, many Sichuan Army generals had already arrived.

"Husband!" Xiao Ningxin said softly: "You should go out and see."

Regarding the viewpoints of these generals, Yu Hua listened to them all patiently.

However, at this moment, outside the courtyard of Yu Hua's house.

Xiao Ningxin's red lips pouted slightly!

Britain, America, France, the Soviet Union, and other countries now have their attention on the Third Reich as well.

"I don't want anyone gossiping about me tomorrow."

Fu Chang also chimed in: "I think so too!"

Yu Hua loosened his right arm that was holding Xiao Ningxin, and he got up and got out of bed.

Zhang Sike, Fu Chang, Qiao Yifu, and others also gathered around Pan Wenhua, Liu Wenhui, and Deng Xihou.

To go from Colonel to General, that requires sufficient military merit!!

Once one becomes a General, that is when one changes the fate of their own family.

"Alright!"

In the current Republic of China, even if the Sichuan Army's strength has grown, the power on the Japanese side still cannot be underestimated.

"To ensure the cause is just!"

Deng Xihou, standing to the side, also nodded and said: "Brother Yu, we, the Sichuan Army, must uphold the Marshal's dying wish."

Large-scale troop movements are enough to show that the Japanese Army is preparing to conduct a major battle.

"Notify the entire army to prepare for battle."

"From a strategic perspective, Okamura Yasuji's 11th Army is still within the encirclement of the outer lines of my Fifth War Zone and Ninth War Zone."

"However, supplementing an army group is no problem."

Regarding this answer, many Sichuan Army generals also felt very surprised.

With the failure of the Imperial Way Faction in the February 26 Incident, it is now even harder for many Imperial Way Faction officers to get promoted.

Therefore, the Soviet side publicly announced to the world!

Because the Japanese Army invaded Outer Mongolia, violating the Soviet-Mongolian Agreement, the Soviet side decided to intervene with force.

"Hurry up and get up, something big has happened!"

"Outside the pass, the Japanese Kwantung Army has started fighting with the Soviet side."

"We believe that since the Soviet side has intervened, they might strike the Japanese Army outside the pass."

Pan Wenhua waved his hand and said: "Don't worry about what kind of hard battle it is; we, the Sichuan Army, are not afraid."

"This operational plan is drafted quite well."

This time, the Japanese Army not only dispatched infantry but also a Tank Brigade and a Flight Group!

Subsequently, many more Sichuan Army generals expressed their own viewpoints.

The news that the Sichuan Army Revival Office obtained from outside the pass is that this time the Kwantung Army is going to have a big fight with the Soviet side!

"I believe that we should use Nomonhan as our army's breakthrough point."

During the last Zhanggufeng Incident, neither Japan nor the Soviet Union expanded the war, but in this battle.

The Pingjin Area Army on the left flank moved north from Baotou, entered Outer Mongolia, and marched toward Baikal Lake.

Although the Imperial Way Faction officers were clamoring loudly, as a General of the Kwantung Army, Ueda Kenkichi still had to prepare a foolproof plan.

Following the counterattack by the Imperial Army, they annihilated the enemy forces and also successfully captured the Outer Mongolian cavalry officers.

"However, within Sichuan Province, the common people still strongly support our Sichuan Army."

"I led this batch of Security Force to suppress bandits on the Chuan-Shaan Highway;"

If the Imperial Army is to strike, it must be like lightning and thunder.

Ueda Kenkichi looked at the map hanging on the wall and nodded, saying: "Yoshi!"

The Staff Officers at General Headquarters also produced a contingency plan!

If this strike by the Kwantung Army against the Soviet is successful, then General Headquarters will rapidly adjust its strategy toward the Republic of China Government.

Hata Shunroku's Central China Area Army will immediately contract its defensive lines, leaving only 3 Divisions to control Shanghai.

"Brother Yu!" Deng Xihou stepped forward: "Since the Soviet and the Japanese Army will reach a truce."

"If you continue like this, I won't be polite."

Inside the command post!!

"Wait until the matter is discussed, then you can come back to accompany your wife."

"Right now, Okamura Yasuji should be sweeping through the Fifth War Zone to the west."

Yu Hua and Zhou Conghua chatted as they walked, arriving at the command post of the National Revolutionary Army Sichuan Army Second Route Army.

"Hai!" Isogai Rensuke nodded heavily.

After interrogation by the Japanese Army, the Outer Mongolian cavalry officer confessed that they were about to attack the Japanese Army 23rd Division.

The First World War ended less than thirty years ago.

Looking at Zhou Conghua's cheap-looking smile and those squinting eyes.

Under its jurisdiction are the 11th Division and the 4th Division, the Third Cavalry Brigade, the Third Border Garrison Unit at Banchie River in Mishan County, and the Fourth Border Garrison Unit at Hutou in Hulin County.

"First, the Soviet's focus is still on Europe."

"Everyone, listen to my analysis!"

The Kwantung Army has under its jurisdiction the 3rd Army, 4th Army, 5th Army, directly attached Divisions and Garrison Units, as well as its Flight Group and Tank.

Then, the Japanese Army in the Pingjin Region will immediately move north to strike the Soviet on the left flank of the Kwantung Army.

Under the powerful offensive of the 23rd Division, the Outer Mongolian troops could not resist at all and retreated one after another!

"Commander-in-Chief Deng, as well as Commander Pan and Commander Liu, asked me to call you to analyze the situation for us."

This kid Zhou Conghua is not kind!

Once engaged in siege warfare and plains combat, the Sichuan Army is definitely the weaker side!!

Therefore, many people in the National Government believe that if they want to resolve the Japanese Army as quickly as possible, other countries must intervene in this war.

"Unlike the last Zhanggufeng Incident, this time the Japanese Army is deploying an entire Division as soon as they move."

Komatsubara Michitaro, citing self-preservation as his reason, decided to strike first and launch an assault against the Outer Mongolian troops.

Five minutes later, Yu Hua arrived at the door, saw Zhou Conghua, stepped forward, and gave the kid a punch.

"Ning Xin, you go to sleep first, I'll go take a look."

The remaining Divisions will all move north to support the Kwantung Army's operations.

Everyone was discussing topics among themselves!!

After Yu Hua arrived, Deng Xihou announced for everyone to take their seats.

"How long has this been going on?" Yu Hua asked in return.

"Previously, Okamura Yasuji captured Nanchang, cutting off the connection between our 9th War Zone and 3rd War Zone."

Directly crushing the opponent!!

Chief of Staff Isogai Rensuke, after checking the maps of Manchuria and Outer Mongolia, said to Ueda Kenkichi: "Your Excellency, Commander."

During this period, the Japanese Kwantung Army had a total of eight Divisions.

"From this, it can be inferred that the Kwantung Army is preparing for a major battle this time!!"

"Yoshi!"

After finishing this meeting, the Imperial Way Faction officers within the Kwantung Army were all in a fervor!!

Yu Hua had just finished being intimate with his wife; Xiao Ningxin lay beside Yu Hua, and the two were whispering.

They intend to concentrate armored units and motorized infantry to bypass Manzhouli from the west and attack Chita.

"Among them, the Japanese Army's 7th Division is also currently closing in on the 23rd Division."

"Resolutely resist the war to the end; as long as the Japanese Army does not leave the country's borders, the Sichuan Army will not return to Chuan!"

He also analyzed that the current rise of the Third Reich would bring drastic impacts to the situation in Europe.

On the battlefield, many Imperial Way Faction officers would be even more radical.

The Commander of the 5th Army is Doihara Kenji, and the Chief of Staff is Kurashige Shuzo.

"Yu Hua, the conflict between the Soviet and the Japanese Army, will this have an impact on the overall situation of our war of resistance?"

The National Government was very happy after learning of this!

Principal Chang immediately convened a military meeting after learning of this.

"The Security Force we organized and trained, after half a year of training, although it cannot immediately replenish the losses of the frontline troops."

"The battle between the Fifth War Zone and the 11th Army is likely to be a tough fight!"

"However, as long as the Third Reich has not been completely resolved, the Soviet will not bicker with the Japanese side, nor will they send troops to help our country."

First, the Sichuan Army has no Tank or aircraft; relying solely on infantry to confront the Japanese Army is fine for fighting in mountainous terrain.

People like Zhang Sike and Qiao Yifu all feel that this time the Japanese Kwantung Army and the Soviet are going to war.

"If the Soviet takes action, it will inevitably cause the Japanese Army inside the passes to move north to reinforce."

"In this way, our war of resistance will be even more favorable, and we can recover lost territory."

"Okamura Yasuji wants to annihilate the main force of our Fifth War Zone as much as possible to reduce the threat to Wuhan from the northwest."

Looking at the battlefields inside the pass!

Once the Japanese Army mobilizes two Divisions, that would be a major battle!

Now that the Imperial General Headquarters wants to take action against the Soviet, this is an opportunity, an opportunity to change the fate of one's own family, as well as one's own.

Yu Hua concluded at the end: "Therefore, this Nomonhan dispute."

Knowing full well that I haven't been back in the country long and am trying to spend some time with my wife, you damn well come to call me now.

The generals of the Sichuan Army also expressed that when it comes to fighting the devils, we don't hesitate, and we aren't afraid of tough battles either!

Afterwards, the Adjutant of Deng Xihou came to report that the special train to Shancheng was ready, and they could depart now.

Deng Xihou took Yu Hua with him, and the two of them boarded the special train and headed to Shancheng.

(End of this chapter)