At the same time, in Xiaogan.

Higashikurenomiya Tsukahiko is convening a staff meeting.

Unlike the Council of Ministers, you need to have a certain level to participate, but there are no restrictions on rank and rank, as long as you think you have the ability, you can go to participate!

Therefore, there were a very large number of officers attending the meeting, more than a hundred people!

There was only one topic on the agenda of the meeting, that is, the specific strategy for marching into Wuhan, whether to concentrate troops to attack Hankou first, or to attack Hankou and Hanyang at the same time in two directions!

Or, divide a division to cross the attack on Wuchang?

Hundreds of officers from the headquarters gathered together, and the big tent of Higashikurenomiya Tsukihiko couldn't fit at all, so the vast majority of officers could only stand in the field outside the tent!

"We're almost there, so let's get started." Higashikurenomiya Tsukihiko stood up and said, "As for the situation of the Third Division, I think you all already know!" Yes, just last night, just one night, the third division let the Chinese army be completely annihilated, and no one from the division commander Fujita Jin to the next one! ”

After a pause, Higashikurenomiya said again: "Fujita Jin was even captured alive by the Shina Army and betrayed the empire!" This is simply an unprecedented shame for the imperial army since the establishment of the town! For this reason, I have called the base camp and asked the base camp to permanently revoke the number of the 3rd Division in conjunction with the Army Headquarters! As a warning! ”

The more than 100 devil officers present at the meeting immediately began to whisper.

They thought that the Third Division would definitely be severely punished, such as the downgrading of the permanent division from a four-unit system to a garrison division with a three-unit system, but they didn't expect that Higashikurenomiya Tsusahiko would directly request the permanent revocation of the number of the Third Division! Such a punishment is definitely the harshest punishment ever!

"The punishment is not mentioned beforehand!" With a wave of his hand, the Higashikure Palace suppressed the whispers of the officers attending the meeting, and said, "The topic that needs to be discussed today is, is it to concentrate troops to attack Hankow?" Or split the army to attack Hankow and Hanyang at the same time? Or did the troops attack Hankou, Hanyang, and Wuchang at the same time in three directions? ”

After Tokurenomiya Tsukihiko finished speaking, Chief of Staff Machijiri Liangji continued: "In addition, it needs to be explained to you that although the Front Army Command has included the 15th Division and the 17th Division in the battle sequence of the Second Army, these two divisions must remain in the rear to undertake the garrison of Henan and Anhui provinces. ”

Higashikurenomiya said again: "Therefore, the only troops that can actually be invested in the battle of Wuhan are the 10th, 13th, 16th, and 116th divisions!" A total of four divisions! ”

As soon as the words fell, the chief of staff of the 13th Division, Ji Yuanju, said in a deep voice: "Your Highness, I think that before making a formal decision, I am afraid that there is a problem that must be clarified first!" ”

After a pause, Yoshihara continued: "The question is, how was the 3rd Division annihilated? ”

"Sodes!" Keisuke Fujie, the commander of the 16th Division, echoed, "If we don't figure out how the Chinese Army managed to completely annihilate the 3rd Division overnight, there will be a great risk in whether we concentrate our forces to attack Hankou or divide our forces to attack Hankou, Hanyang, and Wuchang!" ”

Machijiri Liangji and Higashikure Palace Tsukihiko glanced at each other, and said: "This question has also been bothering me and His Highness, since Yoshihara-kun has said this, then everyone might as well talk about their own opinions, and speculate, how did the Shina Army manage to annihilate the 3rd Division overnight?" ”

As soon as Machijiri finished speaking, there was a silence inside and outside the tent.

It's a difficult question to answer, and most of the people present are a mess of mush.

Seeing that no one took the initiative to speak, Higashikurenomiya's brows tightened unconsciously.

At this time, the deputy captain of the special operations team, Usamitaka Usami, suddenly said: "Your Highness, I may know the reason!" ”

"Oh yes?" Higashikurenomiya Tsukihiko set his eyes on Usamitaka and said happily, "Usami-kun, you can talk about it." ”

"Hello!" Usamitaka paused slightly, and then said, "One thing we can be sure of is that under normal circumstances, no matter how many troops the Shina Army invests, it is absolutely impossible to wipe out a permanent division of the Imperial Army overnight!" It is impossible to defeat it, let alone annihilate it all! ”

"Yo Xi!" Higashikurenomiya Tsukihiko said, "Usami-kun, you go on. ”

"Hello!" Usamitaka paused again and said, "After determining this, we can analyze it from other aspects, that is, the Shina army must have used abnormal tactics or weapons!" Or, the Chinese army used abnormal tactics and weapons at the same time, which led to the 3rd Division being caught off guard and the whole army was wiped out! ”

I have to admit that Usamitaka is still a little capable, and this guess is very close to the truth!

Higashikurenomiya said again: "So, what kind of abnormal tactics or abnormal weapons do you think the Chinese army may have used?" ”

"I can't guess this." Usamitaka shook her head.

Although Usamitaka is a Japanese, he pursues the golden mean of the Chinese, believing that a person should not be out of the limelight, otherwise he may make enemies everywhere!

As for what kind of tactics and weapons the Chinese army used, he actually had a guess in his heart, and the reason why he didn't say it was to leave this opportunity for performance to Shigeo Yamamoto, his close partner!

Sure enough, as soon as Usamitaka's voice fell, Shigeo Yamamoto said: "Regarding what kind of abnormal tactics and weapons the Shina army used, I may be able to say a word or two!" ”

"Oh, really?" Higashikurenomiya said happily, "Yamamoto-kun, tell me about it." ”

"Hello!" Shigeo Yamamoto shook his head and said, "In the German military theory circles, a new tank tactic has recently appeared, and this tank tactic pursues the large-scale concentrated use of tank groups, breaking through the enemy with lightning speed, and then quickly penetrating into the enemy's depth!" ”

After a pause, Shigeo Yamamoto continued: "This tactic is called blitzkrieg by the Germans!" ”

"Blitzkrieg?" Higashikurenomiya Tsukihiko nodded, and said, "It seems to smell like lightning." ”

"Hello!" Shigeo Yamamoto paused again, and said, "In the Battle of Hanyang, the tactics used by the Shina Army are very likely to be this kind of blitzkrieg that has just appeared, and the Third Division was caught off guard, so it will be completely annihilated in a short period of time!" ”

"Soga!" Higashikurenomiya said, "Yamamoto-kun, this blitzkrieg you said is really so powerful. ”

"It's not good to say this." Shigeo Yamamoto said cautiously, "Because it has not been confirmed by actual combat." ”

(End of chapter)