April 3, 1941, Wuhan
The pier was full of bustling crowds, busier than at the busiest time. The artillery fire on the other side had not stopped, and fighter planes from both sides were fighting in the sky from time to time, but this did not affect the retreat of Japanese expatriates and businessmen at all. , as the political and economic center of Central China, the Japanese investment in this city is absolutely huge, and it is simply impossible to withdraw quickly.
As for retreating by land? Don't be kidding, Ananwei's army was almost wiped out, Yichang was recovered, Nanchang was recovered, and the Ninth War Zone entered Wuhan. After a series of news spread, the puppet troops in the occupied areas could not sit still for a long time. In addition, the Japanese army was extremely empty. In a short period of time, fifteen county towns in northern Hubei have been occupied by puppet troops, and more than a dozen county towns are being repeatedly contested. At present, land transportation in the Wuhan-Japanese War Zone has almost been cut off, if not cut off.
In addition, Li Yunlong's new army did not move, but the national army entrenched in the Dabie Mountains could no longer hold it in any longer. According to the intelligence from the Special High School, at least ten divisions appeared on the battlefield with more than 100 troops. There were 50,000 people, but the Japanese army standing in front of them only had a dissatisfied regiment of more than 1,200 people and only four 92 infantry cannons as heavy weapons, which could not stop the enemy's offensive at all.
"Where are our ammunition?" Lieutenant General Kanji Ishihara said angrily while standing on the roof of the building of the Eleventh Army's temporary headquarters, looking at the city that was already in chaos.
Ishihara Wanji's 16th Division was originally resting in China, fully equipped with personnel and complete equipment. It was secretly sent to China shortly after Anami's victory over Sichuan East. At that time, the Japanese base camp should not have allowed the Kwantung Army to move south. support, but while the Sixteenth Division was still on the ship, the situation of the Eleventh Army took a turn for the worse.
In order to prevent the situation in eastern Sichuan from collapsing, the transport ship transporting the 16th Division got rid of the slow transport ships and took the 16th Division to Wuhan first. According to the records of the base camp, Wuhan still has a lot of reserves of the 16th Division. The old equipment that the Eleventh Army had replaced was in good condition and was most suitable for the Sixteenth Division's emergency response.
But when the Sixteenth Division arrived in Wuhan, they discovered that they had no supplies at all, let alone heavy weapons. They could not even replenish the ammunition for their small weapons. Even the rice balls prepared for them by the Eleventh Army Headquarters were It was rotten. Seeing this, Lieutenant General Ishihara Kanji, who had just been promoted to acting commander of the Eleventh Army, would be surprised if he didn't get angry.
"Your Excellency, Commander, all the ammunition depots of the 11th Army have been destroyed by the rioting Imperial Army. The current emergency ammunition is 'contributed' by the Marine Corps." Major General Shiro Asada, chief of staff of the 16th Division, said helplessly Said, the command structure of the Eleventh Army has been completely messed up. Just early this morning, a commando team from the military command attacked the building under their feet, causing all the more than 20 senior officers who stayed in Wuhan to be shattered. They When we arrived here, we found that the top officer of the Eleventh Army was actually a colonel, and he was a colonel with a broken leg. It was very tragic.
"Baga, this scum Tojo wants me to take the blame for this!" At this time, Ishihara Wan'er couldn't understand that he was being plotted by the Prime Minister. In the current situation, let alone him There is not even an infantry cannon in hand, and even the 16th Division with all its personnel cannot save the situation.
If he defends, not only will he die in a foreign country, but the 16th Division may also be wiped out. Do not keep? His reputation, his future, and even his holy family are all gone. And whether he defends Wuhan or not, the responsibility for the fall of Wuhan will probably fall on himself, and even the Eleventh Army Sichuan East. He also had to bear part of the responsibility for the defeat, after all, his 16th Division was to reinforce the 11th Army.
"Your Excellency, be careful, there are many people in the Eleventh Army who agree with Prime Minister Lu's proposition." Major General Shiro Asada reminded in a low voice, but he was also complaining in his heart. It's okay if you say you and Ishihara Wanji are fighting. After all, you have fought so much. It has been many years, but what are you doing with the 16th Division? The Empire's 6th Division and 13th Division have been completely wiped out. Is it necessary to add another 16th Division? Doesn't this mean Mr. Lu doesn't have to take responsibility?
"No, we can't just sit there and wait for death. Help me contact General Doihara. I want to contact Yamashiro." With his mind turning, Ishihara Kanji quickly made up his mind. The base camp needs to adjust its strategic deployment. Half of the planned 200,000 Kwantung Army reinforcements Still gathering, the other half are still waiting for the transport ship. It is impossible to arrive in a short time. What can arrive in Wuhan within a week? He knows the Army's transportation capabilities very well.
Especially now, the prospect of the war is very bleak. The Kwantung Army will definitely resist supporting Central China. Even if Tojo doesn't hint anything, he will not arrive as soon as possible. Therefore, the way to survive for himself and the 16th Division is definitely not with Japan. side.
In this case, if he wants to get a chance of survival, he can only go to Shancheng. Even though the Eleventh Army was defeated, there are still many trump cards. As long as they are fully utilized, it may not be impossible to negotiate. After talking about it, he had studied the high-level officials of the government in the mountain city for many years.
"Your Excellency, isn't this bad?" Asada Shiro said hesitantly, collaborating with the enemy! The first word that came to his mind was this, but he immediately denied it. Senior Ishihara was one of the planners of the "September-18th" and was the mainstay of the Imperial Army like the Prime Minister. If even he If they all collaborate with the enemy, the empire will really have no hope.
"Asada-kun, don't worry, what the empire wants is nothing more than face and interests. As long as we can maintain the empire's face and reduce the empire's losses as much as possible, Tokyo will have no objection. As for Tojo, I will let General Doihara tell The other party, I will take the initiative to retire from active service after this incident is over." Ishihara Wanji had a helpless smile on his face. Although he saved the last bit of dignity, he still completely gave up in the fight with Tojo. .
"Your Excellency, Commander, you don't have to be like this. Maybe we can inform the cabinet of the actual situation in Wuhan, and the Prime Minister will definitely make the wisest decision." Shiro Asada said very moved.
"Ma Tian, do you think the Prime Minister doesn't know the situation here? The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs all have agencies in Wuhan, and they also have at least hundreds of millions of silver dollars in their hands. Compared with these, the 16th Division It’s just a number.” Ishihara smiled bitterly.
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