Chapter 36: Undercurrents Swelling! (Please add to your bookshelf and cast your votes)

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Even if they defeat the New First Division, do they not have legs? Could they not simply run away with the Sakata Regiment’s regimental flag?

Terauchi Juichi pondered the matter again and again before suddenly recalling the special operations concept that had recently been discussed within the Japanese military.

To be honest, as a traditional Japanese army commander, Terauchi Juichi thought much like everyone else. He believed in conventional large-scale warfare, relying on elite troops, capable generals, aircraft, and artillery.

He had always looked down on operations carried out by small elite units using unconventional methods.

In his view, no matter how powerful an individual soldier might be, he could never compare with an organized army—especially one supported by aircraft and artillery.

However, Terauchi Juichi was not an obstinate old fossil who clung blindly to his own opinions.

At a time like this, there was no harm in trying every available method.

Like his master, Shun Takeshita was inwardly unwilling to help his own country invade Great Xia.

But an individual’s personal preferences seemed insignificant when set against the interests of the nation and its people.

He had joined the Japanese army nonetheless.

“Commander, my battle plan is very simple.”

“According to intelligence from the Special Higher Police, the New First Division has three reinforced infantry regiments.”

“Those three reinforced infantry regiments are extremely powerful. Aside from them, however, the New First Division has no additional infantry units.”

“Furthermore, Yan Laoxi and Liu Jianguo are irreconcilable. That is already an established fact.”

“Therefore, the Jinsui Army certainly will not come to Changzhi’s aid.”

Terauchi Juichi nodded in agreement.

He understood Yan Laoxi all too well.

In that man’s eyes, no lofty notion of national duty could ever be more important than his own interests.

What a selfish, self-serving bastard.

Takeshita Shun spread out the battle map and continued.

“So all we need to do is deploy three divisions to Changzhi’s east, west, and north respectively.”

“Then launch a fierce assault at the same time.”

“Under such severe defensive pressure, the New First Division’s three infantry regiments will have no choice but to devote themselves entirely to resisting the attacks of our three divisions.”

“At that point, the New First Division will certainly draw troops from Changzhi to reinforce the front line.”

“Consequently, the city’s defensive forces will be greatly weakened.”

“Of course, before the attack begins, I will enter Changzhi in stages together with the members of the special operations unit responsible for seizing the regimental flag, all of us in disguise.”

“Once the opportunity arises, the Special Higher Police agents already inside Changzhi will create a certain amount of chaos at various important locations. The city’s remaining defenders will inevitably be scattered.”

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“At that moment, the special operations unit can break directly into the New First Division’s logistical headquarters.”

“After seizing the flag, we can withdraw under cover of the ensuing chaos.”

“That is my proposal. I await your corrections, Commander.”

After hearing Takeshita Shun’s preliminary battle plan, Terauchi Juichi’s eyes lit up.

The young man had something after all.

Objectively speaking, the plan was entirely feasible.

Nor would it require too much manpower, equipment, or money.

Terauchi Juichi was genuinely tempted.

After thinking for a moment, however, he asked again, “Takeshita, do we really need the strength of three divisions?”

“Wouldn’t the 108th and 109th Divisions, together with the Sakata Regiment, be enough?”

“If we bring in a third division, I fear the preparations will take too long. The Chinese might use that time to move the Sakata Regiment’s regimental flag.”

“That would be disastrous.”

Takeshita Shun shook his head.

“Commander, according to our intelligence, every infantry regiment in the New First Division is extremely powerful.”

“If we use the Sakata Regiment, I fear our offensive will not be strong enough to draw all of the enemy’s forces.”

“If that happens, too many Great Xia troops will remain inside Changzhi.”

“That would have a considerable impact on the flag-seizing mission. We might even end up failing at the very last moment.”

Yamamoto Isoroku, standing nearby, was growing anxious.

Takeshita Shun’s plan was essentially identical to his own.

But if things continued this way, Terauchi Juichi would certainly choose Takeshita Shun as the commander of the operation.

Would that not leave Yamamoto with nothing to show for his efforts?

Suddenly, Naosaburo Okabe, chief of staff of the Japanese North China Area Army, burst in hurriedly.

“Commander! This is bad! This is very bad!”

Terauchi Juichi’s mood had just begun to improve. Seeing Okabe Naosaburo’s frantic appearance, he immediately rebuked him.

“Okabe, remember that you are a general of the Great Japanese Empire!”

“No matter what happens, you must never conduct yourself so disgracefully!”

“Forgive me!”

Okabe Naosaburo hurriedly bowed his head.

Then he bent at the waist once more and slowly said—

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“Commander, the supply train sent to the front was destroyed by Chinese troops.”

“Not only that, but the warriors of the two infantry battalions sent to provide assistance were also caught in the blast. Every one of them perished!”

“Damn it!”

Terauchi Juichi slapped Okabe Naosaburo across the face, knocking him to the floor.

“Why did you not tell me sooner? Why did you not tell me sooner!”

“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!”

Okabe Naosaburo thought to himself: You never gave me a chance to tell you sooner!

But he would never dare say that aloud.

Even after taking the heavy blow, Okabe Naosaburo gritted his teeth and endured the pain as he stood to one side, reporting every detail of the news he had received.

“Damn it!”

Terauchi Juichi grabbed an exquisite porcelain vessel seized from Yan Laoxi’s household and hurled it violently against the floor, smashing it to pieces.

After taking Taiyuan, the Japanese military’s overall strategic focus was no longer on Shanxi.

It had shifted southward, toward Jinling.

That was the capital of Great Xia.

Capturing Jinling would have immense strategic significance for Japan’s war against Great Xia.

By then, most of the elite troops and a huge quantity of military supplies had been transferred to southern Great Xia.

As a result, the supplies currently in Terauchi Juichi’s hands were nowhere near as abundant as they had been at the beginning.

After the New First Division destroyed this shipment, the North China Area Army would be unable to assemble an equivalent quantity of supplies in the short term.

Without sufficient supplies, Terauchi Juichi would likewise be completely unable to launch an immediate attack on Changzhi.

The moment he realized this, his liver seemed to ache.

“Damn Chinese!”

“I’ll kill every last one of you!”

Clinging to a final shred of hope, Terauchi Juichi asked tentatively, “Takeshita, if the three divisions were to launch only a feint, would you be confident of recapturing the regimental flag within a short time?”

After hesitating for a moment, Takeshita Shun firmly shook his head.

“I am sorry, Commander. Without sufficient time, I have no confidence whatsoever.”

In truth, Takeshita Shun did not mean that he had absolutely no chance.

It was simply that, under such circumstances, he and every member of his special operations unit would be completely trapped amid the layers of Great Xia troops surrounding Changzhi.

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