The US military has demonstrated the power of its equipment.
In the face of absolutely superior firepower, the Japanese army had no ability to resist at all.
Passive defense, helplessly waiting for death to come.
It’s not like Natsume Seiichiro didn’t work hard.
He had tried to fight back.
Although it is dangerous to fight back, it is better than passively waiting to die.
However, this kind of counterattack has no effect in the face of the US military's defense line composed of light and heavy machine guns, carbines, Thompsons, and Garands.
After leaving corpses on the ground, the Japanese army gained nothing.
In just one morning, the Japanese army lost almost all of their outer positions on Knighting Street.
Natsume Seiichiro was forced to concentrate his remaining troops and direct the Japanese resistance with the commercial building as the center.
"It's almost time to persuade them to surrender."
Surprisingly, Meng Shaoyuan actually came up with such an idea.
You know, Meng Shaoyuan was very disgusted with accepting the Japanese surrender.
He wanted to kill every Japanese soldier he saw.
Only this time it's different.
He must end the battle as soon as possible, quickly control this place, and set up a new line of defense on Knighting Street to prepare for the next batch of Japanese troops that are coming.
On the battlefield, sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do.
…
The gunshots on the battlefield suddenly became silent.
Immediately afterwards, an American soldier appeared with a white handkerchief hanging on the tip of his gun.
The Japanese army is watching with eager eyes, and there is a possibility of misfire anytime and anywhere.
Fortunately, this did not happen.
The U.S. military stopped in front of the Japanese position.
A Japanese sergeant came over.
The American soldier handed the other party a letter, then turned and left.
There was no dialogue between the two parties throughout the entire process.
…
This is a letter of surrender.
It can also be seen as an ultimatum.
In the letter, the U.S. military demanded that the Japanese troops lay down their weapons, walk out of their positions in an orderly manner, and surrender to the U.S. military before 8 o'clock tonight.
The US military will ensure the safety of surrendering Japanese troops.
If the Japanese army continues to resist before 8 o'clock, then Knighting Street will face a devastating blow.
Natsume Seiichiro was not angry at all.
This day will come sooner or later.
From the official battle to the present, in just one morning, there were only 150 Japanese soldiers left out of 200.
Most of the Japanese troops were killed.
Moreover, the US military has not actually launched an official attack, and is only using powerful artillery fire.
Especially under the attack of white phosphorus bombs, the death of Japanese soldiers was terrible.
Natsume Seiichiro knew very well that if this continued, he would have no chance of winning.
Yes, maybe under tenacious defense, it can cause certain damage to the US military.
But what's the use?
The final outcome of the Japanese army on Knighting Street was already determined early on.
"What's your opinion?"
Natsume Seiichiro asked after showing the ultimatum to several officers.
There was total silence.
Just like Natsume Seiichiro, these Japanese officers did not feel angry.
They have clearly seen everything cruel on the battlefield.
This is not a war, this is a one-sided massacre.
If it had been placed before, the Japanese officers would have clamored to fight to the end and break for His Majesty the Emperor.
But the reality tells them that they don’t even have the capital to die!
The bloody reality finally calmed down these arrogant Japanese soldiers.
During the U.S. bombardment, Colonel Natsume's most trusted subordinate, Major Kishiyasu, who was also the frontline commander, was attacked by white phosphorus bombs.
The sight of him struggling and wailing in pain is still in the minds of these officers.
In the end, Natsume Seiichiro had to use a bullet to end Major Kishiyasu's pain.
If they continue to resist, maybe each of them will face the same ending as Major Kishiyasu, right?
Seeing that no one answered him, Natsume Seiichiro stopped asking.
He took a pen and paper and wrote a letter.
That's for the U.S. military.
It contained his demand for surrender.
Then, he called a second lieutenant and told him to deliver the letter to the American army.
His request is not excessive, and he believes that the Americans will accept it.
And to make a request and then surrender is his last dignity as the supreme commander here!
…
"Basically agree, except for the last one."
After reading Natsume Seiichiro's letter, Meng Shaoyuan quickly made his decision: "We are unable to request that surrendered prisoners of war be sent to rear prisoner of war camps.
Now, with fighting raging all over Manila, our task is to keep pushing forward, and we simply don't have enough manpower to do that. "
"Yes, Your Excellency."
When the second lieutenant left, he couldn't help but ask:
"Your Japanese is so good, are you also Japanese?"
Meng Shaoyuan smiled: "Do you look like me? I am an enemy of Japan!"
The one who is most dissatisfied is definitely Kageyama Nosuke.
No Japanese hates the Japanese more than he does.
"On the battlefield, there will always be compromises."
Meng Shaoyuan said calmly: "Of course we can occupy this place and kill every Japanese we can see, but this will take a lot of time.
Especially the building opposite is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it is made of reinforced concrete. The mortars that were so powerful before can hardly cause substantial damage to the building.
The Americans are to blame. After they colonized the Philippines, they built a large number of buildings in Manila, all of which were reinforced concrete structures. This is why the Japanese army in Manila particularly liked to use these buildings as their own fortresses. "
Having said this, he smiled: "There are still 150 Japanese troops on the opposite side, not many in number, but not many in number. But what about the Japanese troops who were defeated when reinforcements came? I am sure that the number far exceeds the Japanese troops in the building. .”
Kageyama Nosuke understood.
Meng Shaoyuan was giving up his little one to protect his big one.
"Give me a few people and leave it to me to take care of these prisoners of war." Nosuke Kageyama was confident: "I promise, there won't be any trouble."
…
"Really? Then it's decided."
Natsume Seiichiro is quite satisfied with the response from the Americans.
He adjusted his military uniform: "Order all soldiers to put down their weapons and assemble."
"Hai."
At this time, the second lieutenant who went out to negotiate with the Americans said cautiously:
"The commander of the US military looks very much like an Asian, Chinese, or Japanese. Moreover, I think he looks very familiar, as if I have seen him somewhere."
"What does it matter?"
Natsume Seiichiro doesn't want to worry about this at all now: "Give me the power to Commander Iwabuchi. After arduous resistance, our troops can no longer stop the U.S. military's offensive. In order to ensure the lives of the imperial soldiers, I am determined to surrender to the U.S. military. The consequences will be determined by I'm the only one responsible.
Long live the Japanese Empire, long live His Majesty the Emperor! "
After saying that, he let out a long sigh of relief.
It's over, everything here is finally over, and the burden on me can be relieved!
