Chapter 187: Showing A Movie
Everyone was silenced by Li Dengxing’s words about deploying heavy anti-aircraft guns.
This sounds easy to say, but it’s not that simple to do. Those heavy anti-aircraft guns are scattered across an area of more than ten kilometers around Wild Wolf Valley. Finding them and then destroying them with heavy artillery is far from easy.
Not to mention whether it can be done, even if it can, the enemy’s heavy artillery is no pushover and will definitely counterattack immediately.
Actually, the best way to deal with these anti-aircraft guns is still to have fighter planes circling in the combat airspace. Once the enemy’s anti-aircraft guns expose their positions, destroy them immediately. Unfortunately, their own fighter planes were completely lost this morning, with only three of dozens returning.
It can be said that the entire Shanxi air force has been completely lost today. It’s estimated that there will be no air support for them in the coming months.
Thinking of this, a sense of powerlessness surged in everyone’s hearts. Could it be that this Wild Wolf Valley really can’t be taken?
After pondering for a long time, Ue Tsume Yoshio looked at Niu Dao Shichang. “Division commander, it seems we need to reassess the strength of the Shanxi Militia.”
“Ue Tsume-kun is right.” Niu Dao Shichang slowly nodded. “It seems we underestimated this Shanxi Militia.”
This army is not only well-equipped but also exceptionally brutal. They actually used machine cannons for direct fire. We must report to headquarters and have the Foreign Ministry strongly condemn them.
If Su Yaoyang were here, seeing Niu Dao Shichang speaking so righteously, he would definitely spit on him twice. Isn’t this the classic case of “officials can set fires but commoners can’t light lamps”?
But the Japanese officers and men present not only didn’t think there was anything wrong, they all nodded in agreement.
But fantasies are just fantasies; after venting, they still have to return to reality.
The biggest problem facing the 20th Division now is Wild Wolf Valley. Without taking Wild Wolf Valley, they can’t attack Wuta County. Without taking Wuta County, they can’t complete the mission.
After thinking for a moment, Ue Tsume Yoshio said to Niu Dao Shichang, “Division commander, do you think we could report our difficulties to Commander Mutaguchi and ask him to order the 108th Division to attack Wuta County from the side and rear around Hesa County and Nanzhuang, forcing the Shanxi Militia to withdraw to reinforce, so we can occupy Wild Wolf Valley without effort?”
Niu Dao Shichang smiled bitterly and shook his head. “Do you think I haven’t thought of this? But before departure, Commander Mutaguchi clearly rejected my proposal.”
The areas around Qiuling County and Pingxing Pass were originally active with large numbers of Eighth Route Army forces. The purpose of stationing the 108th Division there is to deter the Eighth Route Army and local armed forces in those areas.
Once the 108th Division pulls its main forces out from the county town strongholds, those local armed forces and Eighth Route Army that lost suppression will definitely take the opportunity to attack the strongholds and even county towns. At that time, the entire northern Shanxi will inevitably descend into chaos, spreading to the whole of Shanxi.
If that really happens, even if we take Wuta County, what would be the point?
Ue Tsume Yoshio opened his mouth but eventually closed it.
On the surface, the Japanese troops in Shanxi consist of three divisions plus several independent mixed brigades and auxiliary units, with a total force of sixty to seventy thousand, like a strong and robust adult.
While the Shanxi Militia’s forces number only over ten thousand but less than twenty thousand, they are well-equipped and tactically flexible, like an agile youth.
Although overall, the Shanxi Militia is no match for the First Army even at its best, the First Army has to defend against not just the Shanxi Militia. Whether it’s the Jin-Sui Army, Eighth Route Army, or local armed forces everywhere, none are pushovers.
Once they show any flaw one day, these temporarily dormant troops will definitely pounce immediately.
Especially the over one hundred thousand Central Army led by Wei Lihuang in the Zhongtiao Mountains, who are watching them eagerly. Once they show any flaw, they will be the first to pounce.
As the old saying goes, “pull one hair and the whole body moves,” which describes this situation. So don’t think that just because the Shanxi garrison has so many troops, any unit has its own missions and areas to defend. How could they possibly leave their defense zones to help them?
The officers present are not fools; of course they know the difficulties involved.
Mutaguchi Kiyotaro being able to mobilize the 20th Division to attack Wuta County is already the limit of what he can do. Any more would require requesting aid from the North China Area Army.
But that’s absolutely impossible. If even dealing with a local militia requires requesting aid from the North China Area Army, Mutaguchi Kiyotaro’s tenure as First Army commander would probably be over.
The more he thought, the more headache-inducing it became. Niu Dao Shichang sighed helplessly and turned to Ue Tsume Yoshio. “Ue Tsume-kun, the 39th Brigade suffered heavy casualties in today’s battle. For tomorrow’s battle, your 40th Brigade will go.”
“Hai…”
Ue Tsume Yoshio bowed at the waist. “Please rest assured, division commander. We will do our best and will not fail His Majesty the Emperor and your trust.”
“Good!”
Niu Dao Shichang said solemnly, “I know Wild Wolf Valley is very difficult to take, but precisely because of that, we must take it.
For the Empire, for His Majesty the Emperor’s eternal foundation, we Imperial soldiers must embody the spirit of repaying the nation over seven lifetimes and the bushido spirit, sweeping away all obstacles in our path. Do you understand?”
“Hai!” Everyone present straightened up and stood solemnly. Everyone understood that tomorrow would surely bring another fierce battle.
………..
August 6, 1938, Dashawan
As the Eighth Route Army headquarters, the security here is naturally extremely tight.
But tonight, it’s even tighter than usual. It’s no exaggeration to say there are sentries every five steps and guards every ten steps, with outposts set up from the village to over ten li outside.
The reason is simple: tonight, the deputy commander-in-chief is hosting many Eighth Route Army cadres to watch a movie.
No mistake—watch a movie. Because just yesterday, the film reels and projection equipment sent by Su Yaoyang finally arrived.
In this era, watching a movie is a rarity, so the notified cadres all rushed excitedly from their various stations and all arrived at Dashawan by the afternoon.
Although Dashawan’s name includes “da” meaning big, it’s actually just a small mountain village with over a dozen households and only a few dozen villagers.
This is also why the Eighth Route Army headquarters chose to set up here: besides the remote location that’s easy to defend and hard to attack, the small number of villagers also facilitates secrecy and security work.
Otherwise, setting headquarters in large villages with hundreds or even thousands of people, with so many mouths to feed and gossip, secrecy alone would be enough to deter them.
At 8:10 that evening, darkness fully set in. Several movie projectionists from the Shanxi Militia began busying themselves. After setting up the screen and placing the projector, generator, and other equipment, the movie was finally about to begin.
