The staggering loss of several hundred large-caliber guns, even if fifty shells were fired at each gun, all of them added up to tens of thousands of shells. Although, the darkness of the night shrouded the entire land in darkness. However, in the Tongliao area, the land within a radius of dozens of kilometers occupied by the Japanese reinforcements was completely illuminated by the firelight generated by the explosion of countless shells. The entire sky was dyed red under the reflection of the orange-red fireballs............

In the face of the saturation blow of tens of thousands of large-caliber artillery shells, the Japanese reinforcements, which were less than 30,000 people left, once again realized that the distance between life and death was so close. Looking up, on the huge battlefield, the explosion of almost two shells will inevitably take away the fragile life of a little devil......

Finally, under the expectant gaze of everyone on the battlefield, the sound of artillery that lasted for half an hour finally stopped.

At this moment, after the explosion of tens of thousands of shells, the entire position of the army has been blown into ruins. As far as the eye can see, on the huge battlefield, you can see the corpses of Japanese soldiers torn apart by shells and the guns and ammunition that have been blown up. As for the various hills held by the Japanese army, after half an hour of shelling, they were also cut down by half a meter in height............

The sound of artillery stopped, and the next thing was the battlefield of the infantry...... Tens of thousands of commanders and fighters, in the sound of the loud trumpet of the charge, stepped on the craters and the residual value of the little devil's broken arm, and began to launch a final offensive against the Japanese position, which had become a ruin......

Two days passed in a blink of an eye, and the entire northwestern part of Jilin, with Changchun as the center, lasted for half a month, and with the rapid retreat of the Northeast Field Army, in the blink of an eye, it completely stopped and experienced half a month of bloody battles, and the troops of the Kwantung Army, which had various advantages, faced extremely heavy losses. In the face of the active retreat of the Northeast Field Army, what they could do "was to hold on to their existing positions." There was no strength at all, and it pursued the retreating Northeast Field Army......

Of course, the retreat of the Northeast Field Grass and the losses of the Kwantung Army troops in various places "were also sent to the ......Kwantung Army Headquarters in the Kwantung Army Headquarters at the first time, and in the headquarters of the Eastern Army in Changchun, because of the retreat of the Northeast Field Army on all fronts, the commander General Mizu Meijiro, with a frowning brow, finally relaxed. Lieutenant General Botaro Toshima, who was the chief of staff, also took advantage of the commander's good mood to report that the headquarters had just received all the telegrams from the various combat units on the front.

"Your Excellency, Commander, a telegram has been sent from all the combat units on the front, after two days of bloody fighting. The Northeast Field Army has retreated on all fronts. At present, the troops of the Kwantung Army, which we are holding on to in various places, "have reoccupied the entire territory of Siping, Tongliao, Liaoyuan and Jilin...... At the same time, the combat units, in accordance with the orders of the headquarters, stopped the pursuit of the Northeast Field Army "in the process ............of resting," the chief of staff reported.

"Well, immediately call back to all units and order all combat units to rest and recuperate on the spot and wait for the Kwantung Army Headquarters to reorganize...... In addition, when asked about the "specific casualties of each combat unit...... in the half-month battle, General Mizu Meijiro nodded with great satisfaction. Immediately, he ordered to the chief of staff in front of him.

"Hayi, Your Excellency Commander............," replied the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Toshima Botaro, with a smile on his face.

Less than an hour after the chief of staff left, one telegram after another was transmitted to the Kwantung Army headquarters through radio waves. Looking at the telegrams in his hand one after another, the chief of staff, who was originally happy, immediately showed a shocked look on his face. And then "it turned white............

After a quick reading of the telegram in his hand, Lieutenant General Toshima Botaro, ignoring the different gazes of the combat staff officers around him, quickly rushed out of the telegraph room and rushed towards the location of the commander's office not far away............

"Your Excellency Commander, something has happened ......," he rushed into the office and looked at Admiral Mizu Meijiro in surprise. Lieutenant General Toshima Botaro did not hesitate and exclaimed directly.

"Nani? Have an accident...... Chief of Staff, don't be joking, now, our opponent, the Northeast Field Army, has completely withdrawn from the battlefield and returned to their base areas. What big thing can happen in this situation? In response to the exclamation of the chief of staff, General Mizu Umejiro asked with a puzzled expression.

"Your Excellency, Commander, not now, it was the battle a few days ago. Through the callbacks from various units, we can be sure that we can already be sure of the specific operational purpose of the Northeast Field Army's counteroffensive......" Lieutenant General Toshima Botaro replied with great certainty. , "The battle a few days ago............ Toshima-kun, you said that you were already convinced of the specific strategic purpose of the Northeast Field Army's counteroffensive a few days ago, ......and you said, what was the purpose of the Northeast Field Army's offensive a few days ago? Hearing the explanation of the chief of staff in front of him, General Mitsu Meijiro's brows furrowed again. Immediately, staring at a pair of eyes, he asked rhetorically to the chief of staff in front of him.

"Ha Yi, Your Excellency Commander, I am sure that a few days ago, the counteroffensive of the Northeast Field Army was not to occupy Siping, Liaoyuan and other places. Its ultimate operational goal is to kill and injure a large number of our army's living forces through a powerful counteroffensive. At the same time, destroy all the heavy weapons that our defending troops have, and strike at the overall strength of our Kwantung Army ......", replied Lieutenant General Botaro Toshima with great certainty.

"Nani, what do you mean by saying that the two-day counteroffensive, the Northeast Field Army is aimed at killing and injuring a large number of our army's living forces, as well as destroying the heavy weapons in our hands..."

"Ha Yi ......" Faced with the commander's rhetorical question, Lieutenant General Toshima Botaro replied in the affirmative.

Seeing that the commander in front of him still had a puzzled look on his face, Lieutenant General Toshima Botaro spoke.

"Your Excellency Commander, according to the reports of various combat units on the front, in the two days of fighting, although the Northeast Field Army did not completely annihilate any field division and regiment of our Kwantung Army. However, according to statistics, in the two days of fighting, dozens of field divisions and regiments of our Kwantung Army distributed in four places directly killed an astonishing 75,000 soldiers. As for the number of wounded and combat-ready soldiers, it was more than 20,000 people. Among them, eight field heavy artillery wings were lost, totaling more than 300 large-caliber fire............"

Seeing the face of the commander in front of him, General Mizu Umejiro, and hearing the casualty data reported by himself, his face immediately turned pale. Lieutenant General Toshima Botaro did not make any stops, but continued to speak.

"Your Excellency, the losses just now are only the losses of the various units in the last two days of the counteroffensive." Before the Northeast Field Army launched its counteroffensive, in the dozens of days of fighting, dozens of field divisions and regiments of our Kwantung Army also paid the huge price of more than 30,000 people killed and "seriously wounded and lost more than 8,000 people in combat effectiveness." More than 110,000 soldiers were directly killed in battle, more than 30,000 were seriously wounded and lost their combat effectiveness, and a total loss of 140,000 troops, almost more than half of the ......," "How can the direct loss of 140,000 people be...... After a brief shock, General Mizu Meijiro couldn't help but let out an exclamation.

"Ha Yi ......," Lieutenant General Botaro Toshima replied in the affirmative.

"Chief of Staff, do you mean to say that in half a month of fighting, although not a single field division of our Kwantung Army was completely annihilated, although it was dark. However, in the half-month-long battle, dozens of field divisions of our Kwantung Army "almost every division and regiment paid the price of more than half of the losses." So far, the formation of the various field divisions and regiments is intact. However, in a short period of time, the troops have not been able to form combat effectiveness? General Umejiro Mitsu couldn't help but speak.

"Hayi, Your Excellency Commander, these are just infantry losses. The direct loss of eight field heavy artillery wings "not only allowed our Kwantung Army to directly lose more than 300 large-caliber artillery pieces. It is even more important to let eight field divisions, in a short time, lose the cover of artillery units "...... Lieutenant General Toshima Botaro replied helplessly.

"Eight Grid Yalu, Cunning Shina People" The cunning Northeast Field Army. I really didn't expect that their strategic purpose would be so simple "Yaga"", and after a short silence, General Meijiro Mitsu, who was full of anger, couldn't help but roar loudly

However, at this moment, in the face of such a huge loss, his roar, without any surprise, had no effect. A few minutes later, General Umejiro Mitsu slowly calmed down, and after staring at the combat sand table in front of him for ten minutes, he spoke again.

"Chief of Staff, according to the current situation, in the face of the powerful offensive of the Northeast Field Army, the existing forces in our hands do not have any advantage at all. Therefore, at present, our urgent need for delay is to make up for the losses of the 140,000 people in each division and regiment in the shortest possible time. "Your Excellency Commander, the loss of infantry, for the powerful Kwantung Army, it is not difficult to replenish, it just takes a certain amount of time? Lieutenant General Toshima Botaro replied in the affirmative.

A few months ago, our Kwantung Army had just formed 15 new divisions and regiments, totaling 300,000 people. We can completely draw the strength of an infantry wing from each newly formed division and regiment and supplement it to each field division and regiment. As for the remaining vacancies, we can once again issue a conscription order to recruit reservists from among the people of the three eastern provinces to join the army, which will be used to supplement the remaining vacancies in the various field divisions......

"Yo Xi, as long as these dozens of field divisions and regiments can be restored to their formation as soon as possible and form combat effectiveness. With regard to the military threat to the Northeast Field Army in the Liaoning region, we have sufficient military strength to confront the Sixth Chief of Staff, and now I order that the General Staff immediately come up with a feasible plan for rectification and repair and hand it over to me for review...... After receiving the chief of staff's affirmative answer, General Umejiro Mizu couldn't help but breathe a long sigh of relief. Then, very resolutely, he ordered.

"Hayi, Your Excellency Commander. However, there is still a problem that we must solve immediately. Otherwise, the combat effectiveness of our Kwantung Army will be fatal Lieutenant General Toshima Botaro spoke.

"What's the problem?" General Mizu Umejiro waved his hand and asked rhetorically with a dissatisfied expression.

According to the battle report, the proportion of our opponent'......s Northeast Field Army equipped with heavy artillery is not lower than that of the most elite field division of our Kwantung Army. If we cannot replenish the losses of heavy weapons of individual field divisions and regiments in time. In the course of future battles, we will not have any advantage in terms of heavy firepower......," replied Lieutenant General Toshima Botaro with great certainty.

"Isn't it more than 300 heavy artillery, I believe that the entire Kwantung Army can still get more than 300 heavy artillery. Order the ordnance department to immediately replenish the various field divisions with a sufficient amount of heavy weapons? Regarding the things that the chief of staff has repeatedly emphasized, Senior General Mizu Meijiro said with a nonchalant expression. However, Lieutenant General Toshima Botaro did not answer immediately to his order, but shook his head very helplessly. Then, he explained to the commander in front of him with a puzzled expression.

"Your Excellency Commander" pleaded with humility and bluntness. Since the fall of Mukden, our Kwantung Army has lost the only arsenal that can produce large-caliber artillery, the Mukden Arsenal. After several months of continuous campaigning, the nearly 100 large-caliber artillery pieces stored in the ordnance department have been exhausted so far, and all of them are equipped with troops. At present, "the entire armory, in addition to a large number of mortars, does not even have a single infantry gun" II

How could "Yaga" be like this... This must be a conspiracy of the Northeast Field Army, a huge conspiracy, their purpose "is to destroy the limited heavy weapons of our Kwantung Army, in addition to the armory, the second chief of staff of the Eight Ge Yalu Collective Kwantung Army, where can he draw more than 300 heavy artillery pieces to supplement the losses of various field divisions and regiments, I don't believe that the huge Kwantung Army troops could not find 300 large-caliber artillery pieces" General Mizu Meijiro asked angrily.

"Because the entire Kwantung Army troops, surrounded by enemies on three sides, and the defending troops in various places, must leave enough heavy weapons to deal with the war that may arise at any time. Therefore, with the current strength of the Kwantung Army, at most four field heavy artillery wings can only be drawn from various places to "sum up, drop heavy artillery, and supplement them to various field divisions and regiments." As for the remaining 150 large-caliber guns, I humbly thought that we could ask for help from home, and I believe that it was impossible for the General Staff Headquarters to ignore the safety of our Kwantung Army......" Lieutenant General Toshima Botaro, chief of staff, replied in the affirmative.

Regarding the first half of the chief of staff's answer, Senior General Umejiro Mitsu was very shocked in his heart, "However, I have to admit this fact. However, "for the advice of the chief of staff in the second half of the sentence, what General Mizu Meijiro could do was to shake his head very helplessly.

As a high-ranking military officer in Japan, Senior General Umejiro Mizu still has a certain understanding of various domestic secrets and the next strategic direction of the high-level. He knew very well that the weapons and ammunition produced by all the arsenals in China at present were used to equip dozens of newly formed divisions and regiments that had just been formed in China to deal with the "southward operation plan" that the imperial army would launch in a few months. , The strategic direction of the whole country, compared with the current predicament of the Kwantung Army, who is more important, needless to say, General Mizu Meijiro's heart, is very clear.

In the whole country, in order to "go south to the battle, the smooth progress, almost the entire country's military industrial strength was poured into to meet the equipment of more than a dozen new divisions and regiments. If you are at this time, ask for help from home. There is no doubt that his own telegram for help will be thrown directly into the corner by the domestic high-level ...

"Chief of Staff, as a high-ranking officer of the Empire, I am not worried about your secrecy either. To tell you the truth, at present, the whole country is pouring all its military industrial forces into providing sufficient weapons and equipment for the reorganized dozen or so newly organized divisions and regiments to implement the next grand strategic goal of the empire. Therefore, with the current situation in China, our telegram for help can only sink into the sea in the end, and will not play any role. Therefore, we can only rely on the strength of our Kwantung Army itself......" After thinking everything through, General Mizu Umejiro replied helplessly.

"But, Your Excellency Commander, the one hundred and fifty fire spiders we are missing," two" In response to the commander's answer, Lieutenant General Toshima Botaro did not give up, and still asked with a puzzled expression.

"The shortage of 150 artillery pieces can only be pressed temporarily. Chief of staff, first distribute the 150 artillery pieces drawn from various localities so that the artillery wings of each field division and regiment can restore their combat effectiveness. As for the vacancies, they will be supplemented at a later date......"

"As for what you just said, in terms of heavy weapons, we are inferior to the Northeast Field Army. Then, until the heavy weapons of the various field divisions and regiments are replenished, all combat units under our Kwantung Army are forbidden to launch an attack on the Northeast Field Army for any reason, so as not to cause retaliatory actions by the Northeast Field Army. Otherwise, military justice is engaged in ......

"I believe that after this battle, the Northeast Field Army also suffered heavy casualties. As long as we don't take the initiative to provoke them, they will not attack us when they are seriously damaged............" Admiral Mizu Umejiro ordered very decisively.

Immediately, the whole body, as if losing support, sat heavily on the stool. Then, he slowly closed his eyes, just like the Kwantung Army today, and began to rest...

Looking at the commander in front of him, General Mizu Umejiro, who looked tired, Lieutenant General Toshima Botaro knew that after half a month of continuous fighting, the commander in front of him was really tired and needed to rest. So, without any stops, I walked out of the office quickly"! ~！

id="BookTexts">