Looking at Lieutenant General Kunizaki's somewhat unnatural face after hearing his words, Tomita Naoliang gritted his teeth and said, "Either concentrate the remaining forces and suppress them all to one of the points of Balaqirude or Ao Han's camp. In the words of China, it is a one-time fight. Abandon all your concerns, concentrate all your strength on it, and completely gamble. ”

"If we win, we can give an explanation to the Tokyo base camp and the Kwantung Army. If all the jade shatters are defeated, there is no need to think about how to explain to the Tokyo base camp or the Kwantung Army. At the very least, it can also preserve the great military prestige created by the ancestors of our Seventh Division in previous wars. ”

Regarding Tomita's thoughts, Lieutenant General Kunizaki Noboru nodded, then shook his head and said: "Tomita-kun, when the main force of the division was still there, we had a rare opportunity. But in the end, it was because of the enemy's calculations and suffered a defeat in his eyes. ”

"At present, we have only 3,000 troops available and combat-effective, and the basic combat forces have been exhausted, and the rest are currently scattered between Aohan Yingzi and Baichengzi. And now that the sky is completely bright, the enemy can give full play to its absolute superiority in firepower. ”

"The most crucial thing is that from last night to this morning, our opponent is a rather cunning guy. Almost every step we take, we are under its calculations. However, we know that their troops are insufficient, but we are always helpless, and even lose our troops. ”

"In this case, if we continue to attack, we can only fill in the last 3,000 people. For us now, how to keep the last bit of strength and survival of the Seventh Division is even higher than keeping the honor of the Seventh Division. ”

"And we can't because of our own personal reasons or some reasons, the Seventh Division really fights a fine light, and the number full of honor of the Seventh Division has been canceled by the base camp. Then you and I will become sinners through the ages in the history of the Seventh Division. ”

Kunizaki Noboru's answer made Tomita Naoliang shake his head and said, "Division commander, I'm afraid it's too late for us to withdraw now." Defending in place is nothing more than stalling for time. Since it is death to delay, it is also death to give it a try. Then it is better to choose to give it a go, at least to show the military might of our imperial soldiers. ”

At this time, just like a gambler who lost most of his chips, but was still unwilling to fail, and still wanted to give it his all, Tomita Naoliang, his eyes suddenly turned scarlet, and his face was slightly hideous: "And we can also gamble." The enemy's current artillery shells have basically consumed the embers. ”

"Bet that when we concentrate all our forces to attack again, they will no longer be able to use artillery shells to form a sea of fire to kill our troops as before. In addition to betting that their shells have run out, we can also bet that their already weak defensive forces are no longer able to support such a long line of defense under the attrition of most of the night. ”

"Based on the shells they had consumed under intense artillery fire this morning, I am afraid that this kind of battle cannot be fought with the strength of the Empire, let alone an armed bandit that does not even have a regular military industry? With so much firepower, they can only last for a while. ”

"It is true that they have relied on heavy firepower to inflict heavy losses on us, but with their supply capacity and industrial production capacity, they will definitely not be able to support such dense firepower for a long time. Not to mention the fact that from Linxi to their large rear, there is no railway, and there is no high-quality road connection. ”

"If they want to bring in the shells they need from the rear, it will be difficult to fully meet their needs with their replenishment capabilities. The heavy shelling of the hour just now probably consumed most of the shells they had on hand. If we attack on all fronts again, then they want to repeat the previous battle, I'm afraid there is almost no chance of that. ”

"And Your Excellency, Division Commander, you are the Division Commander of the Seventh Division. As for the real combat effectiveness of the Seventh Division, it is far clearer than I, the newly transferred chief of staff. In the night battle in the middle of last night, the Seventh Division suffered considerable losses. But they are only the strength of a newly formed regiment, and how many casualties can be smaller than ours? ”

"It is even possible to put it alive and practically consumed. Under the circumstance that the embers of troops are consumed and they have to maintain such a long front, the number of defensive forces in their various defense areas will probably be quite limited. Otherwise, after inflicting heavy losses on us, why didn't they take advantage of the victory to pursue and crush our resistance in one fell swoop? ”

"Now it can be said that at least until their reinforcements arrive, we will consume it, and they cannot afford it themselves. Because we still have at least 3,000 troops, and they are now 1,000 men. If we don't get reinforcements in a short time, when the shells have been depleted and we can no longer resort to fire tactics, I want to see what they can do to withstand the follow-up offensive of our army. Now if we retreat or defend on the spot, we will play into their hands. ”

"And Your Excellency, Division Commander, we now have more than three thousand troops in our hands. The more than 3,000 people mentioned now are nothing more than the remaining strength of the two wings. If all non-combatants and artillery in the divisional headquarters are distributed, all are armed. There were at least nearly 4,000 people, including the sanitary corps, chemical corps, drivers, grooms, North Korean miscellaneous men, and the lightly wounded who could move. ”

"In addition, there are more than 400 people in the search wing, which is basically complete, more than 300 people in most of the baggage wing, and an engineer wing with a third of the strength left. If all these forces were combined, we would now be able to muster together at least less than 5,000 combat-ready troops. In terms of troops, we still have an absolute advantage. ”

"Your Excellency, Division Commander, although I don't want to admit it. But so far, judging by our casualty figures and current progress, the 7th Division has lost the battle in the territory of the Alukorqin Banner. Whether we can save the remnants of the Seventh Division, I'm afraid we can only make preparations for the last fight. ”

"There is a saying in Zhina that it is better to be broken than to be broken. Since the battle of the 203rd Heights at Lushunkou that year, the predecessors of the 7th Division have set an example for us. Then we can only die on the battlefield with honor, so as not to humiliate the great achievements of the ancestors of the Seventh Division in previous wars. ”

After saying his thoughts, Tomita Naoliang suddenly bowed deeply to Lieutenant General Kunizaki Noboru and said, "Your Excellency the division commander, if you agree with my last stand." Then I hope that this final attack will be led by me personally. If I can die on the battlefield for His Majesty the Emperor, it will be an honor for me. It was also the last chance to wash away the humiliation brought to me by the enemy in the previous battle. ”

Hearing Tomita's last request, Kunizaki Noboru was slightly stunned, and then understood what he meant. In the Japanese Army, although there is no explicit rule, there has always been a saying that generals are exempt from death. That is to say, even if a general official makes a big mistake, at most he will retire from active duty and go home to retire, and there will be no stricter punishment.

The year before last, Lieutenant General Komatsubara, the former commander of the 23rd Division, turned the 23rd Division into an empty shelf during the Battle of Normenhan, and it was only transferred to the reserve. He is a lieutenant general, even if he loses a big battle, at most he will lose hope of further progress and transfer to the reserve in advance to retire.

And he Tomita Naoliang is different, as the main person responsible for the defeat of the Seventh Division, he is bound to be held responsible. He was just a big officer, and it was not his turn to give him the preferential treatment of the general to avoid death. If you don't die, you can't give an account to the people. So after this battle, no matter what the outcome of the Seventh Division was, seppuku suicide became almost his only choice.

Although seppuku suicide has always been the best choice for samurai in the event of defeat. But to do so is tantamount to admitting your own defeat in disguise. For a true samurai, this result is difficult to accept, and it is even more of a shame. Compared to seppuku, dying on the battlefield is what a true samurai should do.

After hesitating for a moment, Lieutenant General Kunizaki finally nodded: "Since Tomita-kun has made the choice to die on the battlefield and become a real samurai, then I will fulfill you." But for now, I would like to ask Tomita-kun to give me some time to carefully consider and analyze the current situation. ”

"Although I am now a defeated general, I am not ready to be the last division commander of the Seventh Division. The 7th Division was the first division formed in the second batch when Emperor Meiji created a new type of army. Although it is not as old as the first six divisions, it has always been an imperial ace division. ”

"Since the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War, it has been the fist division of the empire. Whether it was during the Russo-Japanese War, or during the dispatch of troops to Siberia, or in the battles of Zhanggufeng and Nomenhan some time ago, he made many achievements. Doing all your best to make a last-ditch fight will certainly be able to redeem part of the honor of the 7th Division. However, the bloodline and continuity of the 7th Division cannot be cut off in our hands. ”

Regarding Noboru Kunisaki's reply, Naoaki Tomita did not say anything more. After saluting Lieutenant General Noboru Kunisaki with a standard military salute, he turned around and left, because within 24 hours, the Anti-Japanese Union bombed almost day and night. And the division headquarters located in a semi-underground bunker was built by the engineer wing.

Although Noboru Kunisaki did not give him a clear answer immediately, Tomita Naoaki and the power in his hands were ready for a last-ditch effort. He gathered all the non-combatants of the division and regimental headquarters, including the artillerymen, horsemen, and men who had no artillery, the personnel of the cremation squads of the divisions and regiments, and even the miscellaneous servants composed of forcibly conscripted Koreans, and distributed guns.

When there were not enough guns in reserve, three grenades were issued to each person. At the same time, the stragglers who withdrew the 28th Wing to the front line of Baichengzi were also all raised by him, replenished ammunition, and prepared to devote themselves to a decisive battle against the garrison of Balakirude head-on.

For this Tomita Naoliang Daisa, who has been carried away by the last madness at this time, whether Noboru Kunizaki agrees or not, knowing that he has no way out, it depends on what kind of death he chooses, he has made up his mind to completely shatter the jade on the battlefield, and he will not go back to accept the shame of seppuku. Even if he is left alone, he would rather die in battle than get a chance to live for the time being.

Here Naoliang Tomita is nervously preparing for the last fight, and Lieutenant General Noboru Kunisaki over there is still hesitating. It was never possible to get in touch with the military headquarters located in the left banner of Onniut, and in the short time that the radio station could be set up, a murmur from the headset made Kunisaki Noboru even more dilemma.

Looking at another wave of anti-union bombers flying in the sky, the total number is more than 20. and Barakirude's side, as the bombing continued to ignite the smoke into the sky, and Kunisaki Noboru knew that he had to make up his mind quickly. Whether it's a desperate fight or an immediate retreat, you have to make up your mind. However, the current shape of the shì, as well as the current predicament of the Seventh Division, made it difficult for him to produce this determination.