The establishment of the Shanxi Military Region by the Eighth Route Army was also reported to the Supreme Headquarters of the North China Garrison of the Chinese Army at the first time. As for the commander Lieutenant General Tada, who was already in his own headquarters and was waiting for the order to remove him from his post in the country. As soon as he got the news, he collapsed.

Because he knew that as long as this matter spread to China, he would never be able to escape the trial of a military court, which would mean the end of his military career. In less than an hour after receiving the news, the commander, Lieutenant General Tada Toshi, committed suicide in his room in order to escape the trial of a military court, apologized to His Majesty the Emperor, and tried to wash away the last shame of his military career.

With the suicide of Tada Jun, other officers of all ranks of the entire North China garrison army. In order to escape responsibility, almost all the responsibility was put on Tada Jun, who had just committed suicide. As a result, there was no change in the entire North China garrison army, except for the dead Lieutenant General Tada Jun. As for the newly appointed commander of the North China Garrison Army in China, it was General Okamura Ninji who invented the three-light policy in later generations and caused the Eighth Route Army to fall into difficulties again and again, and all Chinese are familiar with it.

When he came to North China, after a reception banquet prepared by his subordinates, he faced an increasingly bad situation in North China. Admiral Okamura Ninji was in no mood to rest. As soon as he rejected the request of his subordinates, he came to the headquarters of the Zhutun Army Headquarters, wanting to know the distribution of enemies and friends in the entire North China region.

In this way, several operational staff officers, under the command of the chief of staff, began to explain the current bad situation in North China to Senior General Okamura Ninji in front of them in front of him on a huge military map of North China

"Report to Your Excellency Commander, this is the situation that the entire North China Zhutun Army is currently facing. The entire Shanxi Province was basically completely occupied by the Reading Division of the Eighth Route Army. In several other provinces in North China, due to the lack of strength of the Imperial Army, in addition to the main transportation routes and all the strongholds still in our hands, the vast rural areas were also occupied by the Eighth Route Army. "After about half an hour of introductions. The chief of staff looked at the commander in front of him, who was speechless, and said to Senior General Okamura Ninji.

"Baga, the face of the Imperial Army of the Great Empire has been completely lost by you. There were at least three divisions of the Imperial Army, all of which were lost to this Reading Division, and more importantly, Shanxi Province, which had an important role in the Empire, was lost. Eight grid tooth road, this is simply a disgrace to the empire" in front of a series of data. Okamura Ninji couldn't calm down anymore, and roared loudly at the officers in front of him, venting his dissatisfaction with the North China garrison.

"Hai, Your Excellency Commander" Facing the commander General Gangmura Ningji with an angry face on his face, all the officers were red-faced and lowered their heads together.

"Ladies and gentlemen, after a series of battles, the main garrison of the entire North China can be said to have suffered heavy losses. Not only did they lose all their mobile forces, but more importantly, the local garrison stationed in Shanxi Province was also basically lost. At present, we not only have to face the powerful Eighth Route Army's reading division, but also face other Eighth Route Army forces distributed in a large area such as Hebei and Shandong. More importantly, the morale of the imperial army was severely hit. Speaking of this, Okamura Ninji's gaze swept over the group of officers in front of him and continued.

"But don't be discouraged. Here, I can tell you a piece of good news. When he saw the low morale of the officers in front of him, General Gangcun Ningji changed his words and said loudly to the officers in front of him.

"Your Excellency Commander, is it the Domestic General Staff Headquarters that intends to increase our troops in North China, so as to eliminate the Eighth Route Army's Reading Division, which has caused many losses to our imperial army's troops." Just after Okamura Ninji's words were finished. The chief of staff keenly discovered something, and said with excitement on his face.

"Yo Xi, Chief of Staff, you deserve to be an excellent Chief of Staff for Operations. You are very right, because the North China garrison army has a bad record in this year. More importantly, Shanxi Province, which played an important role in the development of the empire, was lost. It can be said that the Great Empire has been disgraced. This incident not only shook the General Staff Headquarters, but even His Majesty the Emperor was very angry. At the same time, the armed forces of the Eighth Route Army, which was entrenched in North China, also attracted great attention from the General Staff Headquarters. Speaking of this, Gangmura Ningji paused for a moment, and continued when he saw the expectant expressions on everyone's faces.

"After the study of the General Staff Headquarters, His Majesty the Emperor finally decided to send three elite field divisions and one aviation brigade from Central China, with a total of 60,000 troops, to reinforce the North China Battlefield. His Majesty the Emperor asks us to recapture Shanxi from the Eighth Route Army in the shortest possible time and ensure the energy supply of the Great Imperial Empire. At the same time, we will eliminate the Reading Force Division of the Eighth Route Army and save the face of the Great Empire lost in our hands. To the chief of staff's answer, General Okamura Ninji nodded with satisfaction and replied loudly.

"Long live the Empire, long live His Majesty the Emperor" As Okamura Ningji's voice fell. The officers in front of them couldn't help but start cheering. Suddenly, in the cramped command room, there was no longer a just depressed atmosphere, but high morale, and everyone was full of hope for the future of the garrison troops in North China and the entire North China.

"Yo Xi, everyone be quiet. I'm very happy to see everyone's morale restored here. However, we still have very important things to do before our reinforcements arrive. Among them, the most important thing is to strengthen the defense of various localities, prevent the Eighth Route Army from arming in various localities, and take advantage of the favorable opportunity of our army's insufficient strength to launch a large-scale counterattack and reduce the scope of our army's control. General Gangmura Ningji continued.

"At the same time, we should also make certain punishments for a group of officers who fought unfavorably in the previous period. Although, the General Staff Headquarters did not punish these officers. However, we cannot allow those officers who have no command ability to command our excellent Imperial Army soldiers of the Great Imperial Empire to fight. This is not only irresponsible for the lives of soldiers, but also irresponsible for the empire. "Look at the excited crowd. General Okamura Ninji waved his hand, and after everyone was quiet, he said coldly.

"Hai, I would like to ask Your Excellency the Commander to give the order. I believe that under your leadership, our troops stationed in North China will definitely wipe out all the Eighth Route Army forces in the defense area. The entire North China region will truly become the logistics base of our Imperial Army. A steady stream of support for the soldiers of the Imperial Army on the front line and support domestic construction. After listening to Okamura Ninji's words, the chief of staff was the first to stand up and speak.

"Your Excellency the Commander, please give the order." After stopping the chief of staff's words, the officers chimed in.

"Yo Xi, I now order, in order to ensure that all communication arteries and large strongholds are not attacked by the armed forces of the Eighth Route Army. The entire North China garrison army immediately abandoned all the strongholds below the size of the squad and assembled in the surrounding counties. At the same time, it is necessary to make combat preparations to prevent possible sneak attacks by the armed forces of the Eighth Route Army. At the same time, it has strengthened the reconnaissance of the reading divisions in Shanxi, and demanded that reconnaissance planes conduct uninterrupted aerial reconnaissance over them. Admiral Okamura Ninji ordered loudly.

"Hai" As soon as Okamura Ninji's words fell, several combat staff officers stood up and replied loudly.

"Yo Xi, intelligence department, special high-tech. I ask you to send a large number of intelligence personnel to the control of the Eighth Route Army in Shanxi. In the shortest possible time, we must find out the distribution of troops, weapons and commanders of the Eighth Route Army's Reading Division, and at the same time, send a certain action group to carry out large-scale armed sabotage in Shanxi, prevent the Reading Division from gaining a firm foothold in Shanxi, and make preparations for the counterattack of our Imperial Army. Okamura Ninji ordered again.

"Hay," several of the staff officers in charge of intelligence stepped forward and replied.

"Very good, Chief of Staff, now I have a few suggestions and decisions on the appointment and dismissal of military commanders who were not in good hands in the previous period, please announce them immediately after the meeting is dismissed, in a word, I want to see a different North China garrison within a week." As he spoke, Okamura took out a folder from the drawer and handed it to the Chief of Staff.

"Say, rest assured, Commander. I promise that within a week's time, your Excellency the Commander will see a different North China garrison. The chief of staff took the order and replied loudly.

As a result, with the arrival of Okamura Ningji, the entire North China garrison army immediately began to act. The defenders in various places, while abandoning some worthless strongholds, constantly strengthened the defense of large strongholds such as county seats. Such a sudden change made the various Eighth Route Army units that originally wanted to take advantage of it couldn't help but touch the ashes of their noses, and in the end they could only return in a huff.

More importantly, as the army began to move on a large scale. Commanders at all levels of the North China Army also began to carry out a major change of blood amid a series of orders. Countless officers of the Shaozhuang faction were sent to the front line by the headquarters to direct the troops to confront the Eighth Route Army. In particular, the two main divisions of the Chinese army on the outskirts of Shanxi Province can be said to have undergone a complete overhaul.

"Report to Your Excellency Commander, after a week of hard work, all the officers who commanded the unfavorable command of the battle have been replaced. At the same time, after strengthening the defense of various communication arteries and large strongholds, the armed forces of the Eighth Route Army in various localities also died down and stopped attacking our troops, and the two armies entered a stage of temporary confrontation. It can be said that our army has made great achievements in the past week's hard work. A week later, after receiving telegrams from various places, the chief of staff immediately came to the front of Commander Gangmura Ningji to report.

"Yo Xi, the other local forces of the Eighth Route Army have been blocked by us. So, the Reading Division of the Eighth Route Army in Shanxi, has there been any other movement in this week..."Regarding the results of the chief of staff's report, the commander, Senior General Gangmura Ningci, nodded with satisfaction.

"Hay, Your Excellency the Commander. According to the information sent back by the air force's reconnaissance planes and ground intelligence personnel, the Eighth Route Army's Reading Division has made very frequent troop movements during the past week. At the same time, in several areas of confrontation with our army, a large number of troops were gathered. At the same time, it is equipped with a large number of heavy weapons...", the chief of staff pointed to several areas on the map, introduced.

"Nani? Large-scale military movements, in the area of confrontation with our army, a large number of troops have been gathered? Chief of Staff, what do you think is the ultimate purpose of this Eighth Route Army Reading Division doing these things? After listening to the report of the chief of staff, the commander, Senior General Gangmura Ningji, asked with a frown.

"Your Excellency, I believe that the Eighth Route Army has two purposes in doing this: on the one hand, to block our army's possible counterattack on Shanxi Province, and to provide them with good time and space for the development of Shanxi Province. On the other hand, prepare for another attack on their part. Hearing Senior General Gangmura Ningji's question, the chief of staff hurriedly said what he was thinking.

"Well, that's what I think. However, in order to block the possible offensive of the Eighth Route Army, we did not have sufficient troops to engage in a military confrontation with the Eighth Route Army. Now I order, we will begin to implement the second phase of the battle plan against the Eighth Route Army, and the name of the battle plan is 'Iron Arm Encirclement'" General Gangcun Ningji nodded and said affirmatively.

"Iron arm encirclement...Your Excellency Commander, I heard you right! At present, our army does not have any advantage in strength in front of the Eighth Route Army, especially in the face of the powerful Eighth Route Army's Reading Division. Where did we get so many troops to encircle the Eighth Route Army and carry out the so-called iron arm encirclement of the Eighth Route Army? "Although, the hierarchy in the army is very strict, and as a subordinate, you basically can't question the decisions of your superiors. However, after listening to the commander's decision, the chief of staff did not hesitate and immediately raised his own questions.

"Chief of Staff, please do not question my decision. It took me two days to come up with this battle plan. I, I think, as long as you read this battle plan that I made myself, there will be no doubts? Regarding the reaction of the chief of staff, the commander, Senior General Gangmura Ningji, did not feel any displeasure. Instead, he took out a plan from a drawer and placed it in front of the chief of staff.

"Hay, Your Excellency the Commander.," replied the Chief of Staff with a nod. Pick up the proposal and start a quick browsing. However, I don't know if I don't look at it. When the chief of staff read less than half of the content, he could no longer see a little sadness on his whole face, but the more he watched, the more excited he became. Slowly, a smile began to appear on his face.

"Chief of Staff, what do you think of this battle plan, codenamed Iron Arm Encirclement, and is there any feasible surname?" Looking at the chief of staff who was slowly closing the plan in front of him, his face was full of excitement, and Gangmura Ningji also asked with a smile on his face.

"Hay, Your Excellency the Commander. He believes that this plan can be said to be a seamless formulation for the predicament in which our army is currently in trouble. It not only solves the problem of insufficient troop strength that our army is currently facing. At the same time, for our army, in the future decisive battle with the Reading Division of the Eighth Route Army, all possible rear threats were cleared...."The chief of staff replied excitedly.

"Yo Xi, it seems that the chief of staff has understood the ultimate purpose of the plan." Senior General Gangmura Ninji nodded with satisfaction.

"Hay, Your Excellency the Commander. Although at the moment the Reader has a large number of siege weapons. The pillboxes and turrets of our army basically have no effect on them. But for the other Eighth Route Army forces, the pillbox turret was still invincible. Therefore, we can use a large number of bunkers and turrets to replace some of the Imperial Army soldiers and confront other Eighth Route Army forces. At the same time, in the bunker turret, those puppet army troops can also be allowed to exert greater combat effectiveness. In this way, we can draw enough troops to confront the Reading Division....and the so-called Iron Arm Encirclement is mainly aimed at the Eighth Route Army in other areas, which our army is facing. Listening to the commander's questioning, the chief of staff quickly expressed his understanding.

"Yo Xi, very nice. Chief of staff. Now I order you to immediately take the contents of this plan and make concrete arrangements for the garrisons in various places, and I will see the results in the shortest possible time. Wait until the Eighth Route Army forces in other areas are wiped out by our iron-arm encirclement policy. We can fight against the Reading Division of the Eighth Route Army without any worries. Gangmura Ningji ordered loudly.

"Hay, Your Excellency Commander, I'll do it right away...," replied the Chief of Staff in a loud voice. Under the watchful eye of the commander, taking the battle plan, leaving the office and proceeding to concrete implementation ... With the issuance of the order of the headquarters, the entire North China region, under the iron heel rule of the Yue army, was requisitioned and transferred almost at the same time. A large number of young and middle-aged people, under the threat of the bayonets of the Yue Army, came to the edge of the Eighth Route Army's base area and began to build bunkers and turrets one by one... In the blink of an eye, hundreds of turrets and pillboxes were erected in North China. Countless puppet army troops, under the supervision of a small number of army troops, began to station their turtle shells and confront the Eighth Route Army. At the same time, all contacts between the Eighth Route Army's base area and the outside world were blocked, in an attempt to trap the soldiers and civilians in the base area.

At the same time, with the assistance of the artillery towers and the puppet army troops, a large number of Japanese troops were also freed from the front line. Under the command of the headquarters, they began to drive towards the outskirts of Shanxi, preparing for a military confrontation with the Reading Division of the Eighth Route Army.

In this way, just when everyone was not optimistic about the army in North China, because the arrival of Gangcun Ningci completely subverted the idea in everyone's minds, the North China army, which had been hit hard, not only did not have any chaos, but stood firm and slowly gained the upper hand in military strength.

(To be continued)