Chapter 199: This Is A Good Thing
First Army Headquarters of the Japanese North China Area Army in Taiyuan, Shanxi
These days, the atmosphere at headquarters was also tense or relaxed at times due to the ever-changing situation on the front lines.
First Army Commander Lieutenant General Meizuru Yoshijiro, a Japanese Army senior officer who was not tall but always had a serious expression, was standing in front of a huge operations map, with a pencil in his hand.
At this moment, his gaze was fixed on the area from Wuta County to Wild Wolf Valley, where the latest intelligence and situation were marked with red and blue pencils.
The crushing defeat of the 20th Division, especially the news of Division Commander Lieutenant General Ushijima Jojitsu’s capture, was like a resounding slap across Meizuru Yoshijiro’s face, casting a shadow over the entire First Army Headquarters.
This was not just a major military loss, but a serious provocation to the “dignity” of the Imperial Japanese Army. Meizuru Yoshijiro had endured enormous pressure from the Imperial General Headquarters and the North China Area Army Headquarters for this.
Therefore, when the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade successfully blocked the pursuit by that “hateful Shanxi Militia” and the 108th Division also began maneuvering toward its flank, forming a potential pincer situation, Meizuru Yoshijiro’s mood was once filled with anticipation.
He had even secretly ordered the mobilization of more than fifty percent of the First Army’s mobile forces in Shanxi territory, prepared to spare no cost, including temporarily abandoning some minor county towns, to completely annihilate Su Yaoyang’s audacious troops, to wash away the shame of the 20th Division and reestablish the Imperial Army’s dignity.
His original plan was that if Su Yaoyang’s troops, greedy for merit, continued to press deep in pursuit of the remnants of the 20th Division, then the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade and the 108th Division could clamp down on it like two huge iron pincers from the front and flank, while his mobilized main forces could quickly complete the outer encirclement, forming a massive encirclement to completely trap and destroy this Shanxi Militia.
However, just as Meizuru Yoshijiro’s staff were tense simulating various details of the annihilation plan on the sand table, and the communications soldiers were busy relaying troop movement orders, the latest battle report came from the front: Su Yaoyang’s Shanxi Militia, upon detecting the 108th Division’s movements, very decisively halted the pursuit and began actively contracting and withdrawing toward Wuta County.
Hearing this news, the furrowed brows of Meizuru Yoshijiro slightly relaxed, and the heart he had been holding also eased a bit. After all, if Su Yaoyang’s troops were truly annihilated, it would certainly be a great achievement, but before that, the heavy blow to the 20th Division and Ushijima’s capture had already cost him all face.
Now that the enemy had voluntarily withdrawn, it at least avoided further deterioration of the situation and spared his subordinate units from falling into a larger-scale, uncertain bitter battle.
After all, no one could guarantee that when he mobilized his main forces to engage the Shanxi Militia, the Eighth Route Army and Jin-Sui Army wouldn’t stab them in the back.
He let out a long breath of turbid air and threw the pencil in his hand onto the table.
“At least things didn’t get to the worst point.” Meizuru Yoshijiro muttered to himself in a low voice, his tone carrying a sense of relief.
But immediately after, a deep sense of regret surged into his heart.
“What a pity…” He gazed at the blue arrow representing Su Yaoyang’s troops withdrawing on the map, his eyes showing some regret and unwillingness, “This Su Yaoyang is much more alert and cunning than I imagined.
Just like a startled wild rabbit, the moment it smells danger, it immediately shrinks back its head.”
He had already laid out a large net, just waiting for the prey to walk into it. For this net, he had even been willing to temporarily sacrifice some “bait”（ referring to those minor county towns that might be attacked by the militia）.
But now, the prey had alertly slipped away at the moment just before stepping into the trap. This gave him a sense of loss from a meticulously planned effort falling short at the last moment.
An operations staff officer cautiously asked: “Commander, should we… still proceed with the original plan to pursue and intercept the withdrawing Shanxi Militia?”
Meizuru Yoshijiro was silent for a moment, his fingers lightly tapping on the map. He weighed the pros and cons. Although Su Yaoyang’s troops were withdrawing, their organization was still relatively intact, especially that unit equipped with American tanks, whose combat power was not to be underestimated.
If they forcibly pursued, it was likely to turn into a war of attrition; even if some results were achieved, their own losses would inevitably be heavy.
Moreover, the remnants of the 20th Division had not yet been fully regrouped, and the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade had also gone through a fierce battle and needed rest.
More importantly, since the enemy was now alert, it was almost impossible to easily encircle and annihilate them again.
“No need.” Meizuru Yoshijiro finally shook his head and made the decision, “Order the 108th Division to stop moving toward Wuta County, switch to local alert, and prevent the Chinese troops from returning.
Order the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade, after confirming that the Chinese main force has indeed withdrawn, to gradually contract the defense line, clear the battlefield, recover the remaining personnel of the 20th Division, and as soon as possible retrieve Lieutenant General Ushijima’s… remains… or, if he is still alive, make every effort to rescue him.”
Although intelligence indicated that Ushijima Jojitsu had been captured alive, Meizuru Yoshijiro still preferred to use wording more in line with the “bushido spirit” in public or when issuing orders. Of course, deep down, he knew better than anyone the blow Ushijima’s capture dealt to the Imperial Army’s reputation.
“The main task now is to stabilize the front line, reorganize the troops, and investigate exactly how the 20th Division was defeated in such a short time.”
Meizuru Yoshijiro’s gaze sharpened again, “This Su Yaoyang and his Shanxi Militia must be designated as key future targets of attention for our First Army. Detailed intelligence collection and analysis must be conducted on their tactics, equipment, and commanders.”
Although the meticulously planned annihilation battle failed to materialize, leaving Meizuru Yoshijiro regretful, he was after all an experienced commander and quickly adjusted from the disappointment, turning his attention to longer-term strategic deployments.
This time, he would no longer underestimate this young opponent. The next time they clashed, he would use all his strength—Su Yaoyang must die!
…………
Time flew by, and before they knew it, it was mid-September. More than a month had passed since Su Yaoyang led his troops back to Wuta County.
In this more than a month, the surrounding Japanese troops had been unusually quiet, as if they had been hurt in the Wild Wolf Valley battle and the subsequent blocking action, or perhaps Meizuru Yoshijiro was brewing a bigger conspiracy. In any case, this gave Su Yaoyang and his Shanxi Militia a precious breathing space.
However, the so-called “leisure time” was only relative.
As the overall commander of the Shanxi Militia, Su Yaoyang was still busy every day without touching the ground.
Recruiting new soldiers to replenish battle losses, reorganizing and training existing troops, inventorying and distributing weapons and ammunition, coordinating various base area affairs… every matter required his personal attention and decision. The command post study in Wuta County was often lit up all night.
At this moment, Su Yaoyang was buried in a pile of military maps and documents, his brows slightly furrowed, pondering the next defensive deployment. Autumn sunlight filtered through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows on him.
The study door was gently pushed open, and a familiar figure walked in. It was his wife, Song Mei.
Today, she was wearing a well-fitted light blue cheongsam, her hair simply pinned up behind with a hairpin, revealing her smooth forehead and elegant neck, exuding both the capable air of a professional woman and the gentle charm of a mature woman.
“Yaoyang, still busy?” Song Mei walked behind Su Yaoyang and said softly, with a hint of concern. She reached out her slender hand and gently massaged his temples.
Su Yaoyang let out a comfortable hum, put down the pencil in his hand, leaned back in the chair, and let his wife’s soft hands relieve his fatigue. He took one of Song Mei’s hands, kissed it near his lips, and smiled, “Wife, you’re here. Is the hospital not busy?”
Song Mei’s cheeks flushed slightly. She leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on Su Yaoyang’s lips, carrying a faint herbal fragrance, “It’s okay, no major surgeries today. But you, don’t overwork yourself.”
Her voice was gentle as water, full of concern. Their noses touched, breaths mingling, enjoying this moment of warmth.
She straightened up, a smile in her eyes, and said, “By the way, Yaoyang, good news. Remember that nurse Wu Xiaoqian who took care of Regiment Commander Li Gaoyuan at our hospital? The quiet little girl we saw last time when we visited Old Li.”
Su Yaoyang nodded, the image of that wheat-skinned, pretty little nurse coming to mind: “Yeah, I remember. What about her?”
The smile on Song Mei’s face grew wider, with a bit of teasing: “Regiment Commander Li got together with little Nurse Wu! This morning, little Wu came to me blushing, saying… saying that Regiment Commander Li had someone propose marriage to her family through her, and wanted to ask my opinion!”
“Oh?” Su Yaoyang was stunned at first, then burst into laughter, his mood instantly brightening, “Really? This Li Gaoyuan, who usually seems like a block of wood, didn’t expect he had this skill! This is great news! Nurse Wu is a good girl, she matches Old Li this wooden block!” He was genuinely happy for his capable subordinate.
Song Mei nodded with a smile: “Yes, I think they match well too. Although Regiment Commander Li is a bit older, he’s upright and reliable. Nurse Wu is gentle and considerate, and can take good care of him. I was thinking, once Regiment Commander Li’s injuries fully heal, we can arrange things for them.”
“Absolutely! Absolutely!” Su Yaoyang nodded repeatedly, as if a weight had lifted from his heart.
He looked at his charmingly smiling wife, who looked even more alluring sharing the joy, her cheongsam outlining her mature and plump body curves, especially her full breasts rising and falling slightly with her breathing, exuding astonishing charm. A special idea surged up from the bottom of Su Yaoyang’s heart.
“Wife…” he said hoarsely, “We haven’t played ball for a long time, how about…”
“Hey, it’s daytime now…”
“No problem… daytime is clearer to see…”
