Chapter 176: Still Not Enough
Bursts of choking gunpowder smoke mixed with the stench of blood wafted from the position in the evening.
The setting sun dyed the position blood-red, with gunpowder smoke carrying the bloody stench stagnating in the air.
The heavy stench of blood mixed with acrid gunpowder smoke, making one nauseous.
In the distance, sporadic cannon fire still rumbled without cease, occasionally accompanied by the groans and screams of the wounded.
Major General Takagi Yoshito, commander of the 39th Infantry Brigade, stepped over the charred soil with his military boots, each step heavy, just like his mood at the moment.
His originally straight military uniform was now covered in dust, his face full of exhaustion, and his eyes full of gravity. Soon he arrived at the 20th Division headquarters.
After passing through layers of guards, he came to the entrance of the command department, walked to the yellowed canvas door curtain smoked by gunpowder, and shouted loudly: “Takagi Yoshito reporting for duty as ordered!”
“Come in!” Lieutenant General Ushijima Sazo’s voice immediately sounded.
Takagi Yoshito lifted the door curtain and saw Ushijima Sazo pressing his temple with his bandaged hand. The densely packed red arrows on the operations map in front of him were somewhat dizzying.
Hearing the footsteps, he turned around to look at Takagi Yoshito, his gaze sharp like a hawk, and then spoke.
“Takagi-kun… I saw today’s battle situation. The 39th Brigade fought very well. The empire’s warriors were unafraid of death, fighting fiercely with the Chinese, worthy of being His Majesty’s loyal and brave samurai.”
“Hai… Thank you for the division commander’s praise. Fighting for His Majesty the Emperor and for Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity is what we should do.”
“Takagi-kun, after today’s battle, what is your casualty situation?” After the praise, Ushijima Sazo began to ask about the main matter.
Takagi Yoshito’s face darkened: “Division commander, in today’s battle, I finally witnessed the prowess of Su Yaoyang’s unit.
This unit has excellent weapons and fierce firepower. From the moment the battle started, my unit fell into a bitter fight.
In just one day, our brigade suffered over 1,600 casualties, a large part of which were from the Chinese artillery and machine gun fire.
Forgive my impudence, but in terms of light weapons alone, the imperial army has already fallen behind the Shanxi Militia. If we don’t change our tactics, if this continues, I’m afraid…”
He didn’t continue, but Ushijima already understood his meaning. The lieutenant general was silent for a moment, his gaze falling back on the map.
“Takagi-kun, what do you think we should do?” Ushijima Sazo’s voice remained calm, but Takagi Yoshito could feel the pressure in it.
“Division commander, when I commanded the troops in battle today, I observed that although the Shanxi Militia has anti-aircraft fire, the number is not large, at most twenty or thirty anti-aircraft guns.
Moreover, their losses these days have been very severe, and the area they have to defend spans over ten square kilometers, so the army aviation planes flew and bombed particularly smoothly today.
After assessment, the Shanxi Militia’s losses are not light either, so I believe that as long as the army aviation continues to intensify the bombing, the Shanxi Militia will surely collapse on its own.”
“Yoshi…”
Ushijima Sazo nodded approvingly, “Your view is roughly the same as mine. I told Commander Mutaguchi Renya the same.
This Su Yaoyang somehow got a batch of American arms, even including heavy artillery and anti-aircraft guns, but the only thing they can’t get is high-tech aircraft.
The Chinese have an old saying: strike while the iron is hot. Since they lack anti-aircraft weapons, I’ll immediately send a telegram to the commander to continue intensifying the bombing and strive to wipe them all out in Wild Wolf Valley.”
“Hai!”
“Commander, this is a telegram from Division Commander Ushijima!”
Taiyuan First Army Headquarters
Chief of Staff Iida Shoji knocked on General Mutaguchi Renya’s office door.
“Come in!”
Accompanied by General Mutaguchi Renya’s voice from inside, Iida Shoji pushed the door open and walked in, taking a telegram from his briefcase and handing it over with both hands.
“Commander, this is the telegram just sent by Division Commander Ushijima.”
Mutaguchi Renya took the telegram and looked at it, displeased: “This Ushijima, always asking for air support. Does he think the First Army’s planes are only for the 20th Division? Or do other units not need air support?
He even says the Shanxi Militia’s anti-aircraft fire is too fierce and to continue increasing air power. He really spins lies effortlessly.”
Iida Shoji understood the reason for Mutaguchi Renya’s anger. As the invasion intensified, the area occupied by Japan grew larger, naturally requiring more troops, and troop shortages began to emerge.
Moreover, with the outbreak of the Wuhan Campaign, the North China Area Army had also transferred some elites to Central China, so the garrison in North China consisted mostly of second-line troops, with combat power much weaker than A-class divisions.
《Jin-Cha-Ji Daily》 once recorded: “For every county the Japanese occupy, they need to divide hundreds of troops, with forces increasingly stretched thin.”
Under such circumstances, the number of Japanese planes in Shanxi was even more limited, only a mere thirty or forty.
To support the 20th Division, Mutaguchi Renya had already assigned most of the planes to him, yet this guy still complained it wasn’t enough and even demanded more planes, which started to displease Mutaguchi Renya.
Iida Shoji cautiously said: “Commander, Division Commander Ushijima is a prudent man. The reason he sent you the telegram requesting additional planes is probably because he has truly encountered difficulties.
Other Chinese units aside, but for Su Yaoyang and his Shanxi Militia, we probably can’t treat them with common sense.”
Mutaguchi Renya’s expression changed, finally turning into a long sigh.
“Fine, fine. Immediately send a telegram to Colonel Ishikawa Ai（ of the 1st Flying Regiment）, have him assign the Independent Flying 15th Squadron to the 20th Division to assist in Ushijima’s operations.
At the same time, tell Ushijima-kun to thoroughly defeat the Shanxi Militia and kill Su Yaoyang.”
“Hai!”
Night had deepened. After a day of fierce fighting, soldiers from both Chinese and Japanese sides huddled in trenches wrapped in blankets and fell asleep. The entire position was silent.
Machine gunner Cao Dawang hid in the anti-artillery cave drinking coffee with his assistant gunner and comrades from his squad.
Yes, you read that right, coffee.
This was also a benefit provided by Su Yaoyang to the Shanxi Militia.
The reason was that he considered how during World War II, the Soviets had vodka, the British had tea, the Americans had cola and coffee, while Chinese troops couldn’t even dream of a sip of clean boiled water.
So he procured a batch of instant coffee and distributed it to the lower units.
At first, the soldiers had little interest in this bitter beverage.
But as they drank it, the soldiers gradually discovered that though bitter, it had a delicate flavor, and once accustomed, it had its own unique taste. Most importantly, it was refreshing, so this imported product began to gradually promote within the Shanxi Militia.
