Chapter 193: Why Hasn’t The City Gate Opened With The Japanese Army At The Gates?
After listening to Lieutenant General Katsuki Kiyoshi’s encouraging words, Lieutenant General Kawagishi Fumisaburo of the 20th Division also personally arrived at the front line, holding military binoculars, preparing to command his Japanese Troops to launch a fierce offensive operation against Beiping City. Division Chief of Staff Colonel Kishimura Kyuzo, Brigade Commander Major General Takagi Yoshito of the 39th Brigade, and Regiment Commander Colonel Kobayashi Koichi of the 40th Brigade were also by his side, observing the military operation together.
As for Lieutenant General Katsuki Kiyoshi, he stayed at his operation command post, controlling the overall operation command.
The Japanese Army 20th Division was a division formed to garrison Korea, with personnel mainly from Tokyo and Nagano Prefecture. The 20th Division included the Infantry 39th and 40th Brigades, the Cavalry 28th Regiment, the Field Gun 26th Regiment, and other troops. It was one of the main Japanese Troops that participated in the Lugou Bridge Incident, and attacked Yuanping City and Beiping.
Its combat power was still stronger than the 29th Route Army, at least in terms of equipment it was completely overwhelming in the offensive operation.
So after this Japanese Troops fully occupied Lugou Bridge and Yuanping,
Lieutenant General Kawagishi Fumisaburo of the 20th Division and all the Japanese soldiers and operations staff officer under his command completely disregarded the combat power and equipment of the 29th Route Army and the National Revolutionary Army Troops.
They felt they were invincible, certain of victory, and could easily sweep through and annihilate all National Revolutionary Army Troops resisting them.
Especially facing the 29th Route Army with extremely inferior weaponry and equipment, they felt it was even more of a sure win.
“Has the 77th Infantry Regiment prepared for the first round of offensive operation?”
“Has Colonel Rito Koichi followed my instructions to prepare to fully occupy Chinese Beiping City for me within one day?”
“Commander Katsuki said that there are no longer any Chinese 29th Route Army troops inside current Chinese Beiping City. They have all been scared off by us like homeless dogs, so to occupy such an empty city without Chinese Army garrison, giving him one day is already a very long wait!”
“So I hope he doesn’t disappoint me!”
“What I most want to see is fully occupying such a city without Chinese Army within three hours!”
“Then plant our 20th Division and Empire military flags all over Chinese Beiping City!”
“This is the moment our 20th Division gains the highest glory. We are the first Imperial Army to attack into Chinese Beiping City!”
After observing Beiping City for a while,
Lieutenant General Kawagishi Fumisaburo of the 20th Division, brimming with confidence,
turned to Brigade Commander Major General Takagi Yoshito of the 39th Brigade beside him and inquired.
Because 77th Infantry Regiment Commander Colonel Rito Koichi belonged to the Japanese Troops under the 39th Brigade.
“Hai! Rito Koichi has already prepared to immediately launch the first round of offensive operation!”
“As soon as Your Excellency Division Commander gives the order, he can attack into this Chinese city without the Chinese 29th Route Army guarding it in the shortest time!”
“I will also personally supervise his troops!”
“Please rest assured, Your Excellency Division Commander. Our 39th Brigade will surely complete the occupation of this Chinese city!”
Regarding the order from Lieutenant General Kawagishi Fumisaburo of the 20th Division,
Brigade Commander Major General Takagi Yoshito of the 39th Brigade was also full of confidence and promised.
He then personally went to urge the troops of 77th Infantry Regiment Commander Colonel Rito Koichi to launch the offensive operation.
Upon receiving the operation order to attack Beiping City,
77th Infantry Regiment Commander Colonel Rito Koichi immediately became excited and agitated, waving his command saber and continuously issuing hysterical shouts,
inspiring his Japanese Troops, and first sending one battalion’s worth of soldiers to launch the offensive operation.
However, these Japanese soldiers did not notice that the Beiping City Gate had not been opened,
nor were there any traitors or Japanese intelligence officers lurking in Beiping City to welcome their army into the city.
“Yoshi! Worthy of the troops under our command, all a group of valiant combat Imperial Warriors!”
“But why is there no scene of welcome from the Chinese traitors and Empire intelligence officers we arranged inside this Beiping City without Chinese garrison troops?”
“Why hasn’t the city gate opened yet?”
Seeing the Japanese Troops commanded by 77th Infantry Regiment Commander Colonel Rito Koichi launch a charge as unstoppable as a hot knife through butter,
Lieutenant General Kawagishi Fumisaburo of the 20th Division nodded in satisfaction and muttered to himself.
And he also suddenly felt puzzled why Beiping City had not, as he imagined, opened its city gate, or had those traitors and Japanese intelligence officers appear to welcome them into the city.
So he felt a bit that something seemed off.
