Chapter 100: Hankou Operation Plan
Chen Yang said thank you and followed Abe Mitsuhiro into the headquarters building.
The two soon arrived at a meeting room on the third floor, where many people were already seated.
Seeing Abe Mitsuhiro enter, everyone immediately stood up, which also proved that Abe Mitsuhiro’s status was indeed not low.
Abe Mitsuhiro walked to the front of the meeting room and said to everyone: “Gentlemen, Your Excellency Sato has called you here today to announce something important.”
“However, Your Excellency Sato is still upstairs attending a military department senior meeting, so please be patient and wait a moment.”
After speaking, Abe Mitsuhiro picked up the documents in his hand and left the meeting room on his own.
Rumble, a clap of thunder suddenly sounded outside, followed by large raindrops falling continuously, and a torrential downpour instantly started outside the window.
Raindrops hit the glass window outside the meeting room, water droplets flowing down the glass, soon blurring the view outside the window, and even the meeting room became unusually hot and stuffy.
At this time, the meeting room on the fourth floor.
The walls of the spacious yet slightly oppressive meeting room were hung with large military maps,
Among them, the map of Wuhan Three Towns and surrounding areas was the most prominent, densely marked with red and blue arrows, troop designations, and defense line markers.
Several long tables were put together, covered with green velvet cloth.
Scattered on the desktop were operation plans, telegram drafts, pencils, ashtrays.
The air was filled with heavy tobacco smell, the dampness of wet clothes, and a faint musty smell unique to the plum rain season.
Commander of the Central China Expeditionary Army Tada Shunroku, dressed in a neat general’s uniform, sat in the main seat.
His face was serious, his eyes sharp, his fingers unconsciously tapping the desktop.
Although he tried his best to maintain dignity, a trace of fatigue was hard to conceal between his brows.
To his left sat Commander Okamura of the 11th Army.
His gaze was fixed on the Wuhan position on the map, his eyes focused and cold, his lips pursed tightly, seeming somewhat urgent.
In front of the military map, Chief of Staff of the Central China Expeditionary Army Kawabé Saburo used a command stick to introduce the operation plan to everyone.
“Commander Your Excellency, Commander Okamura.”
“The Hankou Operation Plan issued from the homeland will begin in June, with the goal of annihilating the Blue Army main force in the Wuhan area.”
“According to the troop reports received by noon today, our army’s advance along both banks of the Yangtze River and the northern foothills of the Dabie Mountains has encountered unprecedented stubborn resistance from the Chinese army.”
“Xue Boling Corps has utilized the complex water network around Poyang Lake to build deep fortifications.”
“Li Delin Department of the Fifth War Zone has an exceptionally tough defense in the Dabie Mountains area, especially the Fujin Mountain, Shawowo line, our 13th and 16th Divisions have attacked fiercely for days, with heavy casualties and extremely slow progress.”
“On the navy side, the Third Fleet needs to clear the mines and sunken ships laid on the Yangtze River, and cannot provide effective assistance for the time being.”
“Moreover, the most headache now is the logistics department materials transportation problem, due to excessive rain, bad weather, plus the Huayuankou breach, Yellow River diversion, ammunition, materials, medicine, almost all cannot achieve rapid transportation.”
“Originally wanted to transport via navy by water route, the opponent, the opponent…” Kawabé Saburo did not continue, but everyone understood the meaning…
Navy, it’s this group of idiotic idiots again, these fools who only waste oil are unreliable at critical moments.
Imperial Troops don’t need the navy at all, only the powerful army is the main force of the war.
Those naval idiots only compete with us for the few resources within the Empire…
Tada Shunroku cursed inwardly, then turned his gaze to Sato Buntai below the meeting room.
“Sato, do you have any good suggestions for the materials transportation problem.”
“The current logistics support problems are very serious, I hope you can come up with a reasonable solution…”
Sato Buntai stood up and said: “Commander Your Excellency, I have already gathered all the persons in charge of southern transportation lines downstairs.”
“According to the suggestions of the operations staff department, integrate all major transportation organizations together to provide the strongest logistics support for the Hankou Operation Plan.”
Tada Shunroku nodded and said to Kawabé Saburo: “Continue.”
Kawabé Saburo slightly bowed, but before he could speak, a “Report” voice sounded.
An information section major quickly walked to Kawabé Saburo holding a telegram and presented it with both hands.
Kawabé Saburo opened the telegram and looked at it, then said gravely: “Commander Your Excellency, urgent telegram from the 106th Division: Its vanguard troops on the Nanxun Line（ Nanchang to Jiujiang railway） Jin’guan Bridge, Shahe Town area, have been trapped in heavy encirclement by the Chinese army Ninth War Zone, fierce fighting for several days, unable to break out, requesting emergency support, otherwise, they will withdraw…”
“Want to withdraw?” Tada Shunroku frowned tightly and angrily said: “Idiot idiot, 106th Division? What is Matsuura Junroku doing? His troops are newly formed, but they shouldn’t be surrounded so easily.”
“Kawabé staff officer, tell Matsuura, Imperial Troops never have the word retreat.”
“To ensure the smooth implementation of the Hankou Operation Plan, he must stay nailed there, attract the Chinese army main force, and create opportunities for other directions.”
“Request the 3rd Air Group aviation squadron stationed in Hangcheng to provide full bombing support, must stabilize the situation.”
“In addition, send a telegram to the 106th Division, partial setbacks are inevitable, but absolutely cannot be scared off by the Chinese army.”
“Hai.” Kawabé Saburo responded and quickly ordered the staff department members to convey the orders.
Commander Okamura looked at the military map and slowly said: “Commander Your Excellency, the core of the Wuhan strategy plan lies in rapid encirclement and annihilating its main force, now all battle lines are stalemated, it is the time to compare the troops’ fighting will.”
“We must speed up, complete the encirclement as soon as possible, the longer the time drags, the more disadvantageous it is for us.”
Tada Shunroku slowly walked to the map, stared at the huge red circle of “Wuhan” and said gravely: “General Headquarters requires quick battle and quick decision, capture Wuhan as soon as possible, end the China Incident.”
“But the current situation…” He pointed to the dense blue markers representing the Chinese defense lines and complex terrain markers on the map, “Xue Boling, Li Delin, Chen Cixiu… these Chinese commanders are not mediocrities.”
“Their purpose is very clear, relying on the dangers of mountains and rivers and troops several times our number to resist step by step, consuming layer by layer.”
“Now it seems, every step forward we take, the cost paid far exceeds expectations.”
Commander Okamura nodded and said: “We have consumed too much time on the China battlefield.”
“They have found our weakness, which is unable to sustain this level of consumption for a long time.”
“Precisely because of this, we need a thunderous strike even more!”
“Commander Your Excellency, if we slow down the offensive at this time, give the Chinese army a chance to breathe, let them reinforce fortifications, gather reinforcements, subsequent operations will be more difficult.”
“As long as we can grit our teeth and break through the current few key nodes…”
Tada Shunroku looked at the huge map as if he had made some determination: “Wuhan, must be taken, this is His Majesty the Emperor’s will, and also the key to ending the war.”
“Your Excellency Okamura, the Chinese people often say that one general’s success is built on ten thousand bleached bones.”
“To succeed, must pay the price.”
“Order…” Rustle, everyone stood up together.
“Second Army Prince Higashi-Kuni Naruhiko leads the third, ninth, tenth, thirteenth, sixteenth five divisions to fully attack the north bank of the Yangtze River.”
“Your Excellency Okamura, you are responsible for leading the 11th Army nine divisions to attack the south bank of the Yangtze River.”
“In addition, notify the Navy Third Fleet to execute the auxiliary plan.”
“Sato, plan the materials transportation problem on the logistics side as soon as possible, ensure no mistakes in materials…”
“Hai…”
