There was a dignified and tense atmosphere in the headquarters of the 5th Division of Yuxian County. More than a dozen Japanese officers were busy because of the attack on the reinforcements. The beeping sound of receiving telegrams continued to fill the surrounding area.
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, the Army Aviation Corps at Nanyuan Airport has dispatched four 95 fighter planes and will arrive at Pingxingguan in about 40 minutes. The 11th Wing has left Laiyuan County and is marching to Yimaling. Qiu Kaijin, the Lingqiu County garrison squadron dispatched troops to Yima Ridge and Caijiayu respectively." Sakurada Takeshi had the latest battlefield intelligence in hand, and hurried to the war room and reported to Itagaki Seishiro.
"Very good. Is there any news from the Army Intelligence Department? Have you found out the number and commander of this unit?" Itagaki Seishiro nodded, feeling slightly relaxed. He stood in front of the military map and asked Sakurada Takeshi.
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, there is no news from the Army Intelligence Department yet." Takeshi Sakurada lowered his head.
"What a bunch of rubbish. An entire division-level combat unit appeared out of thin air and set up an ambush to attack the main force and baggage train of the 21st Brigade under our noses. I can't imagine that such an extremely stupid and low-level mistake would occur on the battlefield." Itagaki Seishiro was furious and roared, his words filled with contempt for the Intelligence Department.
waste!
Complete waste.
It’s not surprising that Seishiro Itagaki gave such an evaluation. If the attack force only had 1,800 troops, it would be fair, but how many enemies did the main force and the baggage troops of the 21st Brigade encounter?
A total of more than 10,000!
According to the establishment of the National Revolutionary Army, this is a standard division-level combat unit.
Who would have thought that he would be ambushed by a division?
In this incident, the intelligence department must bear at least 70% of the blame, the Army Aviation Corps responsible for battlefield reconnaissance must bear 25% of the blame, and the last half belongs to the reinforcements.
Takeshi Sakurada broke out in a cold sweat after hearing this and could only remain silent. The division commander dared to criticize the Army Intelligence Department like this. If it were anyone else, he would definitely be dealt with.
"I have conducted on-site inspections of Qiaogou. It is the only way between Lingqiu and Pingxingguan. There are tall mountains on both sides. The narrowest point at the bottom of the ravine is about five meters wide. It can only accommodate one car. It is very suitable. In fighting an ambush, this Chinese commander was really smart...and bold."
Itagaki Seishiro vented his anger for a moment, and with sharp eyes like a vulture, he stared at Qiao Gou on the military map. His words were full of exclamation and recognition, and then he said slowly: "However, a mere division dares to ambush my reinforcements. Troops, you really don’t take the Imperial Warriors of my fifth division seriously, I want to see why you dare to do this.”
Why?
This was what Itagaki didn't understand the most. Although the attack really shocked him, he had to disrupt the original combat deployment of the Fifth Division and mobilize surrounding troops to quickly support the reinforcements of the 21st Brigade that was attacked. But when Itagaki reacted, he only felt a sense of humiliation.
Yes, humiliating.
A mere division dared to ambush four thousand imperial troops.
What is the concept of four thousand imperial troops?
In the Battle of Nankou, a division of Tang Enbo's Central Army could be penetrated head-on. If it were a miscellaneous army of local warlords like Fu Zuoyi and Yan Xishan, it could almost penetrate an army with tens of thousands of troops.
Why would a motley crew that appeared out of nowhere dare to do this?
Don't they know the concept of four thousand Imperial troops?
Could it be that the so-called favorable terrain is relied upon behind it?
Itagaki Seishiro was filled with anger. He was angry not because his troops were attacked, but because someone dared to attack the Fifth Division at such a critical moment!
He passed by Qiaogou during his field survey in Shanxi in his early years and knew that this was a favorable terrain suitable for an ambush. However, the strength gap between the two armies could not be smoothed out by just one favorable terrain.
Now, Seishiro Itagaki just wants to wait for the "good news" of reinforcements from the 21st Brigade and severely injure these rats who like to sneak attacks.
He believed in the tactical prowess and combat effectiveness of the warriors of the Imperial Japanese Empire, and even more believed in the soldiers of the Fifth Division.
Stay where you are, wait until reinforcements arrive, and annihilate the opponent!
"Your Majesty, the Division Commander, there is an urgent call from the Army Intelligence Department." At this moment, the Japanese communications staff hurried over and stood at attention to report.
"Read it." After hearing the news, Itagaki Seishiro nodded with satisfaction. The news from the Army Intelligence Department finally came.
"Preliminary investigation shows that the unit is designated as the 115th Division of the National Revolutionary Army. It is affiliated to the 18th Group Army's battle sequence. It is organized as China C Division and has a strength of 12,000. The commander and other information are not yet clear." The Japanese communications staff officer with the rank of Major quickly responded. Read out the contents of the cable sent by Army Intelligence.
"How could the 115th Division be Zhang Xueliang's Northeastern Army unit? After the Xi'an Incident, Zhang Xueliang was under house arrest in Nanjing, and the Northeastern Army was transferred to Songhu to participate in the battle. How could there be a Northeastern Army unit here?" Seishiro Itagaki frowned slightly and gestured. The Japanese combat staff officer left. As one of the planners of the Manchurian Incident, he knew the Northeastern Army's troop organization very well. He immediately recognized the 115th Division, but his doubts became even worse.
Shanxi, why is there still a Northeastern Army unit staying here?
In addition, what is the situation of the 18th Army?
Sakurada Takeshi shook his head. The division commander Itagaki didn't know much about this unit, and he certainly didn't know much about it. The Fifth Division has been in a state of combat since it landed at Dagukou and has little knowledge of outside information.
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, I don't think you need to worry about this issue, because whether it is the Northeast Army or the Shanxi-Sui Army, the final result is the same."
Chief of Staff Sakurada Takeshi said slowly, his voice full of coldness: "This unit of the 115th Division will completely disappear tomorrow."
Whoever dares to sneak attack the Fifth Division must pay the heaviest price.
"Then let us wait for the arrival of the good news." Itagaki Seishiro smiled when he heard this, nodded in anticipation, and fully recognized what Takeshi Sakurada said.
Northeastern Army?
so what?
It's not like he didn't bully the Northeastern Army, which was known as the strongest miscellaneous army, six years ago. Today, six years later, he is even less afraid of these guerrillas.
At this time, the Japanese combat staff officer who had just left suddenly received a telegram from the reinforcements of the 21st Brigade. After quickly translating it according to the code book, his face turned pale in an instant and he stumbled towards the war room.
"Your Excellency, the division commander, urgent call for reinforcements!"
"Why are you so rude, Major Ishijin, you have to look like an imperial officer!" Itagaki Seishiro criticized with a look of displeasure on his face when he saw the communications staff officer's posture.
He would not tolerate any discourtesy among the elite officers of the Fifth Division.
"Hi!"
"read."
Communications staff officer Shijin Hidehara looked anxious, and quickly read out the contents of the telegram: "Major Kurokawa Ishige, the commander of the reinforcements, was killed in action due to excessive injuries after stepping on a landmine. Rescue efforts failed. Lieutenant Colonel Shinjo Jun of the automatic vehicle team was killed. The casualty rate of the Cangshan brigade exceeded 30%, all light and heavy machine guns and infantry artillery were lost, a large number of cars and baggage vehicles were damaged, and the cumulative casualties were roughly over 1,000. The enemy's firepower was very fierce, with more than 30 artillery pieces. Our unit was completely surrounded and could not break out on its own. Requesting the division to provide air tactical guidance..."
"What did you say?!" Itagaki Seishiro lost his voice instantly. He felt that his mind was exploding like a bolt from the blue, his blood pressure soared, and he was dizzy.
What did he hear?
The cumulative casualties of the reinforcements have exceeded 1,000!
The enemy has thirty artillery pieces!
The reinforcements were completely surrounded and unable to break out on their own!
Itagaki Seishiro couldn't believe what he heard.
"Division commander, this is a telegram." Ishijin Hidehara did not dare to delay after reading, and quickly handed the telegram in his hand to Itagaki Seishiro.
"Takeshi Sakurada, call Nanyuan Airport urgently. The bomber squadron on duty for today's operation will immediately take off to support the Qiaogou battlefield!" Itagaki Seishiro took the telegram and read it carefully. His eyes were reddish with a look that seemed to be murderous, and he suddenly turned his head to look at Takeshi Sakurada. roared loudly.
His words were full of anxiety. At this moment, the demeanor and demeanor of the lieutenant general division commander disappeared instantly.
(End of chapter)
