Chapter 186: Report And Summary
This telegram was not long, just under two hundred words, but its content was quite explosive.
Simply put, it stated that the Eighth Route Army planned to launch an attack on Xincounty in the coming days to relieve the pressure on the Shanxi Militia, and the telegram was signed by Chen, the commander of the 386th Brigade.
After reading the telegram, Huang Guantao snorted lightly: “It seems the Eighth Route has taken a fancy to the military supplies in Xincounty and plans to take advantage while we’re fighting the Japanese to the death.”
“Hey… you can’t put it that way.”
Su Yaoyang waved his hand, “Gentlemen judge by actions, not intentions. Their attack on Xincounty at this time helps us objectively, no matter the motive. How can you call it taking advantage?”
Huang Guantao huffed angrily: “Without us pinning down the main force of the 20th Division here, what gives them the nerve to attack Xincounty?
Besides, look at the telegram—it doesn’t mention sharing any spoils after taking Xincounty. Isn’t that looking down on us?”
“What kind of talk is that? It’s not like we haven’t attacked Xincounty. The little devils tried to make the whole county bury with their ammo depot, so we had no choice but to withdraw.
If the Eighth Route Army can take Xincounty, that’s their skill. Why should we be jealous?
Besides, even if the Japanese junk were given to us, it would be useless.”
Huang Guantao thought it made sense but still felt indignant: “Anyway, they’re not righteous. Even heroes in the jianghu know to pay respects when working on someone else’s turf and offer gifts. Them? They just sent a telegram. What is that? A notice?”
Seeing Huang Guantao’s indignant look, he shook his head helplessly. Shen Gongbao was right—preconceptions in people’s hearts are a great mountain, not easily changed.
He called the communications staff officer and replied to the telegram to Commander Chen.
In the telegram, he not only explained that some days ago they had sent people to try to blow up the Japanese ammo depot in Xincounty but were forced to withdraw due to the Japanese using civilians as hostages, but also reported the recent engagements with the Japanese army, reminding them to be extra careful.
After drafting the telegram, Su Yaoyang suddenly said to Huang Guantao: “Old Huang… what do you think about copying the footage of our battles with the 20th Division these days and sending it to the Eighth Route Army together?”
“Hmm…” Huang Guantao frowned, puzzled why Su Yaoyang wanted to do that.
These days, besides expanding the Shanxi Militia, Su Yaoyang had also formed a photography team.
The purpose of this team was to film the daily life, work, and combat of the Shanxi Militia. Though many saw it as pointless and a waste of money.
But Su Yaoyang knew that this footage might seem unremarkable now, but in later generations it would be the most precious historical material, invaluable to historians studying the Republic of China era.
Just these days, he had personally dispatched several photography teams to film the battle at Wild Wolf Valley from all angles, capturing a large amount of precious war footage.
The reason he wanted to send this combat footage to the Eighth Route Army was to give them more reference material, to let them better understand what large-scale positional warfare against the Japanese army was like.
This wasn’t Su Yaoyang looking down on Li Yunlong and the others; he was well aware that the Eighth Route Army’s current battles with the Japanese were almost all guerrilla and mobile warfare, lacking experience in large-scale positional warfare. Sending this now would let them see positional warfare patterns early.
As for what consequences it might have, he didn’t care much. It was like doing good deeds without asking about the future.
…………
Niu Shimori often looked at the three men standing before him, a flicker of inexplicable chill in his eyes.
At this moment, the command post held not just these few, but also Chief of Staff Kijimura Kyuzo Colonel, 40th Brigade Commander Uezuki Yoshio Major General, Infantry 79th Regiment Commander Morimoto Isaburo Colonel, 80th Regiment Commander Suzuki Kenji Colonel, and a crowd of mid-to-high-level officers as well as staff from division headquarters.
After a long while, Niu Shimori finally spoke.
“You three fought a whole day and that’s the report you give me?
Killed in action 1082, wounded 1241, weapons lost numerous.”
At the end, Niu Shimori’s tone suddenly rose by over ten decibels as he slammed the report in front of the three and roared.
“In a battle like this, even if I sent a pig, it would do better than you! And you have the face to submit this as a report!”
The three hung their heads in silence. Takagi Yoshito, as brigade commander, raised his head first and said: “Division Commander, sir, today’s battle was indeed due to our command failure. As brigade commander, I bear the greatest responsibility. No matter how you punish me, I have no complaints.”
“You do bear the greatest responsibility!” Niu Shimori said unceremoniously: “The battle turned out like this, so as brigade commander you’re the first to blame. I’ll mention this in my report to Commander Mutaguchi.”
Takagi Yoshito bowed: “Hai, thank you for your kindness, sir.”
He thanked him specifically because Niu Shimori’s words meant he wouldn’t pursue today’s defeat on the spot, giving them face. If they achieved merits in future battles, they could erase this stain.
Niu Shimori rubbed his temples, a trace of fatigue on his face: “Tell me, why did today’s battle turn out like this?”
Takagi Yoshito turned to Kari Deng Xingyi and Kobayashi Tsuneo—they were the direct commanders of today’s battle, so they would be most convincing.
“Hai!”
Kari Deng Xingyi stepped forward and recounted the day’s battle calmly, objectively, without exaggeration or personal bias.
He spoke for over ten minutes, and Niu Shimori and the command post officers listened very attentively.
After he finished, Uezuki Yoshio asked: “Kari Deng-kun, do you think the biggest reason for today’s attack failure was the anti-aircraft guns that suddenly appeared from the Chinese army, is that right?”
“Yes.”
Kari Deng Xingyi said solemnly: “Though I hate to admit it, those anti-aircraft guns caused the failure of our two regiments’ attack.
The Chinese anti-aircraft guns have long range and great power. Many of our soldiers were blown to pieces by shells from one or two thousand meters away without even seeing the enemy.
Most importantly, ordinary fortifications like sandbags and trees can’t stop anti-aircraft shells at all. Often after a barrage, the soldiers hiding behind them are shattered along with the cover, leaving not even a complete corpse.
And due to the distance, we couldn’t even fire back, unless we use heavy artillery to destroy all those anti-aircraft guns!”
Hearing this, everyone fell silent…
