Chapter 189: Lieutenant General Katsuki Kiyoshi’s Plan To Capture A City In A Day
10 trains carrying Japanese troops, loaded with various troops, attached tanks, cars, ammunition, etc., had already set off westward from Shanhaiguan one after another in advance, and arrived near Tianjin a week early. Then over 10,000 Japanese troops rode tanks, artillery vehicles, and cargo trucks from Tongzhou to garrison Yuanping and nearby areas around Lugou Bridge.
These new Japanese troops all came from the Kwantung Army and Korean troops via Chengde heading to Miyun, while the Japanese 20th Division was the first to arrive in Tianjin, Tangshan, and Shanhaiguan areas;
The Garrison Army Brigade Infantry 1st Regiment had already arrived in Fengtai, and along with the main force of Infantry 2nd Regiment, the main force of Artillery Regiment, Cavalry Unit, and Engineer Unit, had also arrived near Lugou Bridge, preparing to garrison Yuanping City, joining the Japanese troops that occupied Yuanping, to attack Beiping City together.
In the Japanese Homeland, the main war faction Minister of War Hitoshi Imamura had already convinced all Japanese high-level officials at the Five Ministers Conference to draw 3 divisions from the homeland into North China.
With Yuanping City fallen,
and Japanese troops beginning to attack Beiping, and after the 29th Route Army evacuated Beiping in the middle of the night,
all trains heading to Tianjin, Baoding, and Zhangjiakou had begun to gradually stop normal operations one after another.
Prices of grain, vegetables, coal, etc., had also begun to disrupt normal supplies.
The entire ancient Beiping City had completely fallen into panic as the Japanese army approached the city,
especially after the 29th Route Army they had always trusted evacuated Beiping City,
it fell even deeper into unprecedented fear,
and in Yuanping City’s Japanese Army Command Post,
Lieutenant General Katsuki Kiyoshi was also making the operation plan for the general assault.
He planned to use the entire main force 20th Division, plus an infantry regiment, all to attack Beiping City.
“Report! Commander Your Excellency, the 20th Division has arrived at Yuanping City!”
“The remaining divisions are also hurrying over and will all arrive here within two days!”
“Additionally, according to intelligence from our intelligence agency, the Chinese 29th Route Army fully evacuated last night!”
“Now the entire Chinese Beiping City has fallen into panic-stricken state, and there are no Chinese Army troops garrisoning it!”
“The entire city has only a few police officers and security forces, handed over to Chinese Army officer Zhang Zizhong to take the position of mayor for command, but the combat power of these miscellaneous troops is completely unable to resist our Imperial Army’s attack!”
Just as Lieutenant General Katsuki Kiyoshi was planning the general assault operation on Beiping,
Japanese Army Communication Room officer Shibata Eijyu also hurried over to report.
“Yoshi! These Chinese Army of the 29th Route Army are really too weak, they were truly scared by our warning and fully evacuated the city! Since that’s the case, then in the next operation, we can advance unhindered without any effort!”
“Beiping City will be in the bag for our Imperial Army!”
Upon hearing such good news,
Lieutenant General Katsuki Kiyoshi immediately showed a very delighted smile,
laughing heartily in a great mood.
Originally he had prepared to deploy troops and generals to deal with the 29th Route Army,
but now upon hearing a situation completely beyond his expectations,
the entire Beiping City’s 29th Route Army had fully evacuated,
then he wouldn’t need to expend much force to take the entire Beiping City.
So he was in an extremely good mood.
Even the smile on his face became increasingly brilliant.
Brilliant and blooming like chrysanthemums in summer.
“You go back to the communication room first!”
“I will issue the latest operation orders, Chinese Beiping City will be fully occupied by our Imperial Army within one day!”
Then, Lieutenant General Katsuki Kiyoshi happily waved his hand, signaling the other to leave.
“Hai!”
Japanese Army Communication Room officer Shibata Eijyu, having finished reporting,
also followed instructions obediently.
Immediately he quickly turned and left,
while Lieutenant General Katsuki Kiyoshi walked out of his command room, heading to the 20th Division to prepare for pre-operation inspection and morale boosting, preparing to fully occupy Beiping City within one day.
This was Lieutenant General Katsuki Kiyoshi’s goal at this moment.
And at this moment, the entire Beiping City was in a panic-stricken state,
especially after all citizens were informed by citizens running around spreading the news that the 29th Route Army had fully evacuated,
it became even more boiling over, increasingly terrified.
