usatvline Chapter 1963 Be bolder, a lieutenant colonel is nothing!
Chapter 1963 Be bolder, a lieutenant colonel is nothing!
Chapter 1963 Be bolder, a lieutenant colonel is nothing!
“Commander-in-Chief.” Watanabe Tsukasa walked at the front, stepping onto the earthen slope before Sakai Naotsugu. “I still maintain my point of view: that direction is Lanxi.”
Surrounded by officers, Sakai Naotsugu frowned slightly as he watched Watanabe Tsukasa walk towards the earthen mound on his own.
He has moderate obsessive-compulsive disorder and is used to being the first to claim the hillside.
Sakai Naotsugu couldn't help but quicken his pace. Seeing the division commander suddenly speed up, the other officers immediately followed suit.
"Watanabe-kun!" an advisor shouted at Watanabe Tsukasa, "You idiot with no sense of direction, how dare you say that direction is Lanxi!"
The staff officer taunted his friend, "Do you even know which direction leads to our hometown in Hokkaido?"
"Yoshida, shut up." Watanabe Tsukasa glared at his friend.
He subconsciously raised his head, seemingly searching for the direction of his hometown in Hokkaido.
At that moment, a loud explosion occurred, followed by a series of explosions that merged into a deafening roar.
……
The roads in Lanxi were full of potholes, and the Wesley Jeep swayed back and forth, causing Zhao Jieshui to frown.
"Commander, what's wrong?" the chief of staff asked.
"It's easy for people to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality," Zhao Jieshui said with emotion. "In the past, when I rode horses, my thighs would chafe and bleed, but I didn't even notice."
As he spoke, he patted the car seat, "Now that I've only been riding in this American Jeep for a few days, I've learned to enjoy it and I even find the ride a bit bumpy."
Just then, the sound of horses' hooves could be heard, and someone was shouting, "Commander, Commander!"
"Stop the car," Zhao Jieshui said.
The Wesley Jeep screeched to a halt, and Zhao Jieshui nearly hit his head. He couldn't help but curse, "Idiot, can't you drive?"
"What is it?" the chief of staff asked, getting out of the car first.
Zhao Jieshui did not get out of the car, but instead stuck his head out to look.
……
"Commander, the 24th Regiment of the 653rd Brigade has sent someone to report that the landmines they planted have detonated," the communications company commander said.
“If a landmine explodes, it explodes,” the chief of staff said. “Is there any need to make a fuss?”
"No, Chief of Staff," the company commander hurriedly said. "Commander Zou of the 24th Regiment said they may have killed a Japanese major."
"Major?" Zhao Jieshui patted the car door and asked, "Are you sure?"
"I'm not entirely sure. The platoon leader who planted the landmines in the 24th Regiment said it could also be a lieutenant colonel."
"What nonsense!" the chief of staff said irritably. "Tell Zou Xu to find out whether he is a lieutenant colonel or not."
"Wait a minute, you there," Zhao Jieshui said, "go and call that platoon leader over here."
"Yes."
……
This was Zhang Zhiyuan's second time seeing his commander, or rather, the first time he had seen his commander at such close range.
The last time he saw the division commander was when the commander was speaking from the platform, giving money to his brothers in the suicide squad. He saw the commander from afar.
At that time, it was the Battle of Northern Guangdong. He was not a platoon leader yet, just a common soldier. In the battle to seize Xiaomaoling, out of the 79 brothers in the suicide squad, only six survived, including him. Among them, he and Zhao Dafei were the only two who survived intact.
Now he's the only one left. Zhao Dafei died in the battle at Jiang's residence the day before yesterday, torn to shreds by the Japanese Type 92 heavy machine gun.
"Commander." Zhang Zhiyuan saluted Zhao Jieshui.
"Have I seen you before?" Zhao Jieshui looked at the platoon leader; he seemed vaguely familiar.
“Members of the Little Cat Ridge Suicide Squad,” the chief of staff said from the side.
"I see." Zhao Jieshui nodded. "Your surname is Zhang, right?"
"Yes, Commander, my surname is Zhang, Zhang Zhiyuan."
“Zhang Zhiyuan, a good name,” Zhao Jieshui said.
Zhang Zhiyuan didn't know what was so good about his name. Although he always liked it, it was a name his father had asked Maocai Gong in the village to give him by paying three catties of white flour. So, he was nicknamed "Zhang Sanjin" in his hometown village.
However, if his superior praised his name, that was naturally wonderful, and Zhang Zhiyuan grinned from ear to ear.
……
"Did you say that the landmines you planted killed a Japanese lieutenant colonel?" Zhao Jieshui said.
"Yes, it could also be a major," Zhang Zhiyuan quickly said. He was a little scared; how did his boast reach the division commander's ears so quickly?
"Don't be afraid, tell me in detail." Zhao Jieshui pointed at Zhang Zhiyuan with his riding whip and cursed, "Anyway, we bombed the Japanese dogs to death, that's a merit, what's there to be afraid of?"
"Yes." Zhang Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief and said loudly, "It was Sanhua. I had the brothers plant landmines at that fork in the road. I thought that place was a lucky spot, and it might even kill some Japanese officers. So I had Sanhua keep an eye on it at Gangzi Ridge. Sanhua said it was bombed, and a lot of people were killed. She also said there were Japanese officers..."
Zhang Zhiyuan's words were incoherent, and Zhao Jieshui had to ask him several more questions before he could understand.
“Map,” Zhao Jieshui shouted.
Several staff officers immediately spread out a map.
"Is this it?" Zhao Jieshui asked, pointing to the map.
"I can't read," Zhang Zhiyuan said, blushing.
Zhao Jieshui shook his head, not paying any attention, and asked a few more questions.
“It should be here,” the chief of staff said. “I remember this place. It’s a three-way intersection. One road leads to Lanxi, another to Chiang Kai-shek’s residence, and the third to the Japanese army’s supply depot. We even discussed at the time whether we should cut off the Japanese supply line.”
“This place is interesting, especially this earthen slope,” Zhao Jieshui said, rubbing his chin.
He suddenly realized something and looked at Zhang Zhiyuan, "You just said that you bombed a group of Japanese soldiers, including a high-ranking Japanese officer?"
……
"Reporting to the commander, yes," Zhang Zhiyuan said. "Sanhua saw it. He said it was a group of Japanese soldiers rushing to a market and stepping on landmines."
"Well done." Zhao Jieshui pondered for a moment, then said to Zhang Zhiyuan, "Go on, once the situation is verified, you'll receive a reward for your contribution."
"Yes, sir." Zhang Zhiyuan saluted, took two steps, then turned back and asked, "Commander, could it be a lieutenant colonel?"
"Lieutenant Colonel, get the hell out of here!" Zou Xu, the commander of the 24th Regiment, rode over on horseback. "Get the hell out of here!"
After chasing Zhang Zhiyuan away, Zou Xu quickly dismounted and said to Zhao Jieshui with a big smile, "Commander, that kid is a bit dim-witted, don't listen to his nonsense."
Zhao Jieshui glared at Zou Xu, knowing that Zou Xu was protecting the platoon leader.
“It’s too late,” Zhao Jieshui said. “I was just about to report to the war zone headquarters that your soldiers had killed Hata Shunroku.”
"What?" Zou Xu's eyes widened, then he realized that the commander was joking, and couldn't help but smile wryly, "Commander, I..."
"Was it a major, a lieutenant colonel, or some nobody who was killed in the explosion?" the chief of staff said from the side. "The division commander has already sent people to investigate."
"Be bold! What's a lieutenant colonel compared to this!" he said to Zou Xu. "Don't rush, something great might be on the way."
"Great news?" Zou Xu murmured. "They couldn't have really blown up Hata Shunroku, could they?"
"Hatake Shunroku? You really dare to dream! You dream even more than me." Zhao Jieshui cursed, "I also want to blow up that damned Emperor Tianhuang."
Zou Xu was scolded and dared not speak again.
Zhao Jieshui and the others returned to the car, and the Wesley Jeep continued driving.
Zou Xu followed on horseback.
……
At midday, the communications soldier rode up on horseback at breakneck speed.
"Commander, the reinforced battalion reports that the 15th Division has suddenly halted its march." The communications soldier opened his briefcase and handed the intelligence to Zhao Jieshui.
"The 15th Division not only halted its march, but reconnaissance also revealed that they retreated approximately two kilometers and constructed a temporary defensive line," the chief of staff said, pointing to the intelligence report. "Commander, do you think it might really be..."
"No rush." Zhao Jieshui waved his hand and shouted, "Go and call Zheng Liansheng here."
Zheng Liansheng was the head of the communications department of the division headquarters.
"Is there anything unusual about the Japanese radio station?" Zhao Jieshui asked abruptly.
“Abnormal?” Zheng Liansheng thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No.”
"Really not?" Zhao Jieshui asked again, unwilling to give up.
“There is an anomaly,” Zheng Liansheng said after thinking for a moment. “Two hours ago, we detected that the enemy radio station suddenly started transmitting in large numbers, and it took about twenty minutes for it to return to normal.”
The chief of staff took a deep breath and looked at Zhao Jieshui. "Commander, it's definitely safe, it's safe."
Zheng Liansheng looked at the chief of staff with a puzzled expression. "What do you mean, 'it's all settled'?"
"Send a telegram to the theater command, no, to the Chairman!" Zhao Jieshui rubbed his hands together and said, "My 63rd Division today..."
As he spoke, he took out his pocket watch and checked the time, "May 28th, 1942, around 10:45 AM, killed in the bombing..."
He looked at the chief of staff, "Old Fang, you speak."
The chief of staff thought for a moment and said, "We anticipated the enemy's move and laid landmines on the enemy's inevitable route. As expected, the enemy fell into the ambush. Dozens of Japanese officers and soldiers, including the commander of the 15th Division, Sakai Naotsugu, were killed or wounded. This battle destroyed the 15th Division's command post, paralyzing it and forcing them to retreat in a panic and in a sorry state."
After saying that, he looked at Zhao Jieshui and asked, "Commander, what do you think?"
"Just send it like that." Zhao Jieshui nodded.
……
"Understood." Zheng Liansheng was excited. He saluted Zhao Jieshui and left immediately. However, he still had some doubts in his heart. Did Sakai Naotsugu really get blown up?
"Commander, is it true, is it true that Sakai Naotsugu was blown up?" Zou Xu, who had been listening the whole time, rode his horse to the jeep window and asked.
"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?" Zhao Jieshui cursed.
Then he added, "Judging from the enemy's reaction, this possibility cannot be ruled out."
“It’s highly likely,” the chief of staff said, looking at Zou Xu. “Remember, Sakai Naotsugu was killed in the bombing, and we also destroyed the 15th Division’s command post.”
"Yes, it was the division commander who anticipated the enemy's moves and was very shrewd." Zou Xu immediately understood and said loudly. "Sakai Naotsugu was killed in the bombing, and dozens of majors, lieutenant colonels, and colonels of the 15th Division were killed in the bombing. They are finished."
"Get lost."
"Yes!"
Soon, news spread that Commander Zhao Jieshui was able to predict the future and had planted landmines on Sakai Naotsugu's route in advance, killing dozens of generals, colonels, and lieutenant colonels, including Sakai Naotsugu.
……
"What?!" Shogo Onodera exclaimed in surprise.
His eyes were filled with shock and disbelief.
Because of his leg injury, Onodera Shogo did not stay with Sakai Naotsugu's division headquarters, but instead traveled with staff and field hospital personnel.
By the time he learned that Division Commander Sakai Naotsugu had stepped on a landmine and been blown up, it was already around 3:15 p.m.
"How is the division commander?" Onodera Shogo grabbed his subordinate Taguchi Tomoo, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets, and demanded.
“Commander, he, he…” Tomoo Taguchi cried.
"Bakayaro!" Shogo Onodera slapped Tomoo Taguchi across the face. "Tell me quickly, how is the division commander now?"
Judging from Tomoo Taguchi's reaction, Shogo Onodera had actually guessed the outcome, but he still hoped for a miracle.
"Commander, he... he's already shattered his life," Taguchi Tomoo cried as he received a slap.
"Nani, nani, nani..." Onodera Shogo plopped down and muttered to himself.
"Not only did the division commander perish," Tomoo Taguchi continued, "the division command also suffered heavy losses, with nine killed and more than ten seriously injured..."
"Bakayaro! Bakayaro! Bakayaro!" Shogo Onodera staggered to his feet, shouting, "How could this happen? How could this happen?"
Tomoo Taguchi was already kneeling on the ground, his head bowed.
……
"Has the division headquarters reported to the Nanjing Expeditionary Army Headquarters?" Onodera Shogo asked, then immediately realized that he had asked a pointless question. Not to mention that Taguchi Tomoo had no right to know the answer, he did know the answer: with such a big incident, the telegraph office would definitely report to Hata Shunroku, the commander of the Nanjing Expeditionary Army Headquarters, as soon as possible.
Onodera Shogo felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, and he almost fainted.
The empire's sweep of the Zhejiang-Jiangxi region had only been underway for half a month, but the locust army was plagued by misfortune.
General Shigeru Sawada, Commander of the 13th Army, suffered an eye injury from a mine and is now blind.
Now, the commander of the 15th Division and so many of his officers have been killed or wounded by landmines fired by the Chinese army, and the entire command system is almost paralyzed. It is simply inexplicable that such things have happened one after another in such a short period of time.
“Kikuchi!” Shogo Onodera shouted.
"Lieutenant Colonel." Kogo Kikuchi immediately entered.
"Send a telegram to Lieutenant Colonel Kawada, the commander of Shanghai, immediately." Shogo Onodera quickly drafted a telegram, handed the telegram to Kogo Kikuchi, and said.
"Hai."
"Send the message confidentially," Shogo Onodera instructed.
"Hai."
After Kogo Kikuchi left, Shogo Onodera grabbed his hair with both hands, looking extremely distressed.
The news of Division Commander Naotsugu Sakai's death came too suddenly and was too shocking; he still can't process it.
……
Shanghai.
Huangpu Road.
Consulate General of Japan in Shanghai.
Following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States and Great Britain declared war on Japan.
The Nationalist government immediately followed the lead of the United States and Britain and finally officially declared war on Japan.
The present-day Japan has established diplomatic relations with the Nanjing Wang Reclamation Puppet regime.
"What brings you here today?" Sakamoto Ryono personally ground the coffee beans, made a cup of coffee for Miyazaki Kentaro, and said with a smile.
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(End of this chapter)