The northern suburbs of Hankou, the headquarters of the Japanese Second Army.

Higashikurenomiya Tsukihiko handed a telegram to Yoshio Shinozuka and said: "Shinozuka-kun, this is a telegram just sent by Okamura-kun, because the eleventh army could not stand the hot and flashy climate in the Hunan and Jiangxi mountains, malaria broke out in the army, resulting in a large area of non-combat attrition of the four main divisions participating in the battle, and they had to withdraw to De'an and Jiujiang to rest. ”

After reading the telegram, Yoshio Shinozuka couldn't help but sigh lightly and said, "It's a pity." ”

"yes, it's a pity." Higashikurenomiya said, "It seems that the main force of the Ninth Theater of China can be defeated in one go, but malaria suddenly broke out, and not only will the intention of encircling and annihilating the main force of the Ninth Theater of China come to naught, but the date of joining forces with our Second Army in Wuhan will also be postponed." ”

After a pause, Higashikurenomiya said again: "The Botian Detachment and the 6th Division, which are advancing westward along the north and south banks of the Yangtze River, have also been stubbornly blocked by the Zhina Army, and I am afraid that it will be difficult to break through the Tianjiazhen fortress in a short period of time, that is to say, in the next two to three months, our Second Army will fight alone. ”

Yoshio Shinozuka looked awe-inspired, and said in a deep voice: "Your Highness is worried about the counterattack of the main forces of the Fifth War Zone?" ”

"yes, it's definitely false to say that you're not worried!" Dongkurenomiya Tsukihiko nodded and said, "The Second Army fought all the way west from Xuzhou to Zhengzhou, and then turned around from Zhengzhou to fight south to Wuhan, although it encountered stubborn resistance from the five war zones of China along the way, most of them were defeated, and they did not annihilate too many China troops!" ”

Yoshio Shinozuka continued: "What His Highness said is extremely true, the hundreds of thousands of main forces in the five war zones of Shina have not suffered heavy losses in the real sense, and they can almost recover their combat effectiveness after only two to three months of rest!" ”

Higashikurenomiya said: "If it is only the main force of the five war zones, I am not worried at all, but now that the main force of the Eleventh Army has retreated to De'an and Jiujiang to rest, the main forces of the nine war zones, especially Xue Yue's first corps, can also cross the Yangtze River and participate in the counterattack against the second army, if this is the case, we will be under great pressure!" ”

After a pause, Higashikurenomiya Tsukihiko turned his head and said to Chief of Staff Machijiri Liangji: "Machijiri-kun, your staff immediately do a war game deduction, if the Eleventh Army is unable to break through Tianjia Town before October, and if the main force of the Ninth Theater of China also participates in the Battle of Wuhan, will the Second Army be able to withstand it?" ”

"Hello!" Machijiri stooded heavily and turned to go.

Seeing the figure of Machijiri Liangji go away, Yoshio Shinozuka said again: "Your Highness, although the offensive of the Eleventh Army has been frustrated, the main force of the Nine Theaters of China has also paid a very heavy price to block the Eleventh Army, and without more than three months of rest, I am afraid that it will be difficult to recover combat effectiveness, so our time is actually enough." ”

After a pause, Yoshio Shinozuka said again: "It is difficult for the defenders of Wuhan to last for a month!" ”

"I know, but it's always right to be careful." Dongkurenomiya Twist Yan said, "Zhuge is only cautious in his life, isn't he? ”

"Hello!" Yoshio Shinozuka shook his head and said sincerely, "Your Highness can think like this, it is really a blessing for all the imperial soldiers of the Second Army, and it is also a blessing for the entire Japanese Empire and His Majesty the Emperor!" ”

Higashikurenomiya Tsukihiko said with a smile: "Did Shinozuka-kun also make sycophants?" ”

"Your Highness is wrong." Yoshio Shinozuka said, "This is a humble and heartfelt statement. ”

Higashikurenomiya waved his hand and said, "Let's go see the wargame deduction." ”

……

In the Chongqing Command.

After the order was issued, President Chang and a senior general of the headquarters began to wait anxiously for a reply.

The reason why I am anxious is that I am worried that the front-line commander will disobey orders, Xue Yue and Zhang Lingfu are just that, Zhong Yi has a history of disobedience!

In less than half an hour, a reply from the Wuhan Garrison Command was sent.

A communications staff officer hurriedly walked into the battle hall and handed the telegram to Bai Chongbei.

After reading the telegram, Bai Chongbei showed a strange look on his face, but he didn't speak.

When Principal Chang saw this, his heart immediately jumped, and a very bad premonition arose.

Chen Shi said even more eagerly: "Brother Jiansheng, what does the Wuhan Garrison Command say?" ”

Bai Chongbei unfolded the telegram and read aloud: "Command: The order has been received, but all the departments under the Wuhan Garrison Command have been deployed on all fronts, and it is really impossible to retreat, please forgive me!" ”

"Huh?" Chen Shi said angrily, "Isn't this disobedience? ”

Principal Chang's face also collapsed in an instant, this Zhong Yi was disobedient again!

"Headmaster, Zhong Yi is really too much!" Chen Shi said angrily, "You even dare not carry out the orders of the command, if the commanders at all levels on the front line are like him, then what's the point?" ”

He Yingpei also said in a deep voice: "Headmaster, Zhong Yi must be severely punished!" ”

Xu Yongsheng also echoed: "That's right, this wind can't last!" ”

Chen Shi then said: "Principal, I request that Zhong Yi be removed from his position immediately and that he be escorted to Chongqing for accountability!" ”

Bai Chongbei sneered and said: "It is easy to remove Zhong Yi from his position, and it is not difficult to bring him to Chongqing for accountability, which is a matter of a telegram, but I want to ask, after Zhong Yi is dismissed, who will replace him?" If Zhong Yi's dismissal leads to chaos in the Wuhan garrison and affects the ten brigades in Wuhan, who will bear the responsibility? ”

He Yingpei, Xu Yongsheng and Chen Shi were silent when they heard this, they couldn't afford this responsibility.

In the final analysis, the Wuhan garrison is now facing the threat of more than 200,000 small Japanese troops, and if there is any disturbance, it will immediately turn into a tragedy.

After thinking about it, Chen Shi was still a little unwilling, and said angrily: "This matter, is it just like that?" ”

"Enough!" Principal Chang finally couldn't help but interrupt, "Let's not talk about the Wuhan Garrison here, but what about the Ninth War Zone?" Why didn't Xue Yue and Zhang Lingfu reply? ”

Chen Shidao: "If you don't reply, you reply, Xue Yue and Zhang Lingfu probably want to use the procrastination trick." ”

"Drag?" Principal Chang said angrily, "Call the Ninth Theater Front Command again, so that they must reply immediately!" ”

Before the words fell, a communications staff officer suddenly hurriedly walked in and reported: "Principal, the Ninth War Zone is in an emergency!" ”

"Did you finally reply?" Principal Chang snorted and said, "Cixiu, you can read the telegram and see what your subordinates say!" ”

"Yes!" Chen Shi replied respectfully and took the telegram from the hand of the communications staff officer, but after glancing at it, the whole person seemed to be frozen in sweat, and he was stunned.

Principal Chang frowned and asked, "Cixiu, what's wrong?" ”

Chen Shi snorted and hurriedly replied: "Headmaster, the telegram says that Okamura Ningji's Eleventh Army has withdrawn!" ”