Chapter 116: Where Does He Get Such Thick Skin
Perhaps realizing that his reaction was too intense, Nagase Takehira softened his tone.
“Have you forgotten what happened in Nanjing a few months ago?”
“A few months ago… You mean the special bomb incident during the Nanjing strategy operation?” Numata Tokaizo’s expression changed slightly.
The poison gas that Su Yaoyang released in Nanjing was like a wake-up call to those generals and government officials obsessed with poison gas. They first realized that special bombs were a double-edged sword—using them on the enemy was certainly satisfying, but if the enemy used poison gas on them, the taste would be utterly heartbreaking.
Su Yaoyang’s poison gas not only killed over ten thousand Japanese troops but also nearly sent the then-dominant 6th Division to hell. Even now, the 6th Division is still resting on the home islands and probably won’t recover for at least half a year.
For this reason, the Japanese government specially approached the Chongqing government, and the two governments signed an agreement not to use chemical weapons at will. They even demanded that the Chongqing government hand over Su Yaoyang, but the latter’s demand was resolutely rejected by the Chongqing government.
Now Numata Tokaizo was clamoring to use chemical weapons, which was no less than reopening Pandora’s box. He couldn’t bear such consequences, let alone Division Commander Isogaya Renji.
Thinking of this, Numata Tokaizo deflated like a punctured ball. “Since special bombs can’t be used, we can only ask the division commander to send more heavy artillery.”
Nagase Takehira shook his head: “No more… Most of the division’s artillery has already been transferred here. Where would the division commander get more heavy artillery for us?”
“If only our heavy artillery battalion were still around!” Nagano Yoshio sighed from the side. He couldn’t help but miss the four Type 89 150mm howitzers that had been destroyed by the security regiment a few days ago.
“Don’t mention it to me.” As soon as this was mentioned, Numata Tokaizo felt furious. If not for that incompetent Setani Kei, how could they have lost the 10th Division’s sharpest siege weapon?
For a resource-poor country like Japan, with steel production only 1/10th of America’s, the army could only prioritize rifle and machine gun production. Most of the high-quality steel was monopolized by the navy for shipbuilding, resulting in severely insufficient artillery production capacity.
Take the Japanese 10th Division as an example: after its only four 150mm howitzers were destroyed by the security regiment, nearly half of the division’s siege strength was crippled. This was why all officers, including Numata Tokaizo, hated Setani Kei, who had already been recalled to the home country.
Finally, everyone turned their gazes to Nagase Takehira.
Nagase Takehira gritted his teeth: “Alright… I’ll send a telegram to the division commander right away and ask him to send reinforcements!”
…………
“To 10th Division Commander Isogaya Renji:
The current battle situation is urgent. We urgently request immediate reinforcements!
Since the 8th Brigade entered the Tai’erzhuang operation, it has encountered unprecedented fierce resistance from the Chinese army. The battle is far more intense than expected.
The Chinese Su Yaoyang’s Nanjing Security Regiment, relying on urban buildings and canal fortifications in Tai’erzhuang, is conducting street fighting and counter-charges. Our army pays a huge price for every step forward.
Although our army has air support, the enemy, leveraging terrain advantages, engages us in close-quarters street fighting, rendering our air superiority ineffective.
Moreover, the enemy has a very large number of mortars, with ample shells, dropping a shell almost every second. Our frontline infantry companies have suffered over 50% casualties on average, with some platoons having only a dozen men left still fighting.
Ammunition and food supply lines are harassed by enemy guerrillas, and frontline soldiers are already facing ammunition shortages.
In view of this, we request that the division at least detach one regiment（suggesting the 63rd Regiment）to reinforce the Tai’erzhuang frontal battlefield in order to maintain the momentum of the offensive.
Though our humble officers and men are determined to fight to the death, without strong reinforcements, it will be difficult to achieve the division’s established operational objectives. The Tai’erzhuang campaign concerns the honor of the Imperial Army. We earnestly request the division commander to make a swift decision!”
8th Brigade Commander Major General Nagase Takehira
At the Tai’erzhuang frontline command post
After reading the telegram, Isogaya Renji’s face turned somewhat black. He never expected that the 8th Brigade, having taken over from the 33rd Brigade for less than five days of attack, would already be crying for help and even requesting reinforcements.
One must know that it was a field brigade of over eight thousand men. Attacking a village of less than two square kilometers, yet suffering such heavy casualties?
“Baka yarou… That idiot Nagase Takehira, who previously boasted confidently to me about capturing Tai’erzhuang, has produced this result after five days?”
“Division Commander.” Chief of Staff Meimura Atsuro, seeing that Isogaya Renji was about to explode on the spot, quickly advised: “You should know the reputation of the Nanjing Security Regiment.
This unit is different from the Chinese armies we’ve encountered before. It is renowned for its excellent equipment and cunning, insidious tactics. Otherwise, Brigade Commander Setani wouldn’t have returned home in disgrace, and the 33rd Brigade wouldn’t have suffered heavy losses.
Now even the 8th Brigade has been severely mauled, which only further proves that the danger of that unit far exceeds our imagination. Requesting aid from superiors against a powerful enemy is not a shameful thing.”
“Sigh…”
Isogaya Renji let out a long sigh: “Fine, fine. Help me draft a telegram to Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko, saying that we’ve encountered Su Yaoyang’s Nanjing Security Regiment at Tai’erzhuang. Tai’erzhuang is holding out after prolonged attacks, with heavy casualties. Request him to send reinforcements.
Otherwise, heavy losses for the 10th Division are a small matter. If it affects the Xuzhou Campaign’s progress, our sin will be great.”
“Hai!” Major Meimura Atsuro instantly understood his superior’s intent. After leaving, he quickly drafted a vivid and emotional telegram and sent it to Lieutenant General Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko, the direct superior of the 10th Division and commander of the 2nd Army…
North China Area Army Headquarters
“What the hell is this Isogaya Renji doing?” North China Area Army Commander General Terauchi Hisaichi flew into a rage upon seeing the telegram forwarded by 2nd Army Commander Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko.
The Xuzhou Campaign was a combat mission he had discussed and planned together with Central China Area Army Commander Hata Shunroku, with the purpose of preparing for the upcoming Wuhan Campaign.
As the gateway to Wuhan, Xuzhou had to be taken. Therefore, the high command spared no effort in deploying over 200,000 troops to encircle Xuzhou, and the 10th Division, as a main Japanese force, was one he had high hopes for.
Who would have thought that this Isogaya Renji, greedy for merit, would advance rashly, leading the 10th Division alone to charge ahead, trying to seize Tai’erzhuang ahead of everyone else.
Now, not only has Tai’erzhuang not been taken, but they’ve been hit hard by the Chinese army, causing the 10th Division heavy casualties. Even the 33rd Brigade commander was recalled to the home islands—utterly humiliating.
And now he still has the face to request tactical guidance. Terauchi Hisaichi truly didn’t know where he got such thick skin.
