Chapter 55 Surrounding Yang City (Seeking Sponsorship)

  A telegram from the highest commander of the North China Front Army was transmitted to the command center of the 24th Division stationed in Yangcheng at the first time. For a while, the sky above Xuzhou was shrouded in a layer of haze again. After receiving the telegram, a large number of troops from the 24th Division quickly set out, with the mobile reconnaissance team leading the way, and the rest of the follow-up troops also went to Yangcheng.

  Terauchi Shūichi furrowed his brow as he looked at the map, losing Yang City's crucial strategic location was something he never could have imagined. If it weren't for the scout who had seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't believe anything about Sei Tōmoku leading his soldiers in a rebellion.

  "General, isn't mobilizing the 24th Division a bit of an overkill?" said Lieutenant Colonel Kusunoki.

  "Underestimating your enemy?" Ji Temple's Shouichi let out a cold laugh and said, "At any time, don't underestimate your enemy! Just now I heard about all the things that happened when Yangcheng came in, this is also the mistake I made by underestimating them!" He let out a long sigh, then continued to say: "Yoshida's brigade, they fought for less than two hours and over 2,000 people were lost on the way to entering Yangcheng. They didn't even get to see what the gate of Yangcheng looked like before they sacrificed themselves. Isn't this enough to make you take warning? The ones we are facing are absolutely not ordinary opponents! Yangcheng's armed forces are scarce, and in such a short time, they annihilated one of my brigades. Think about it, if I give you the strength of a brigade, who among you can annihilate over 2,000 Chinese people?"

  "Ah, I see!" said Shūichi within the temple, and Taiza hung his head in shame, saying nothing more.

  "Remember, the betrayal of Qingteng Yimu, I do not want it to spread in the army. Anyone who leaks this secret will be severely punished! Whoever dares to disrupt military morale will be dealt with by military law!" Temple Saito was not worried about whether the 24th Division would succeed in eliminating the defenders of Yang City, but rather that this matter would spread wildly within the army. Once the news of Japanese soldiers' betrayal spreads among the troops, it will greatly undermine the morale of the Japanese on the Chinese battlefield.

  "Hai!" As soon as Shūichi's voice fell, more than a dozen officers stood up with a rustling sound and bowed their heads in response.

  "Within days, my army will launch a general offensive centered on Xuzhou towards the areas of Eyu, Anhui and southwestern Shandong. I do not want to delay the date of the great battle because of one Qingteng Yimu! Order the 24th Division to fight quickly and decisively, and try to bring Qingteng Yimu back alive! Tell the commander of the 24th Division, Wataru Kenichi, that it is better to mistakenly kill a thousand than to let one go! When dealing with Chinese people... no, when dealing with Shina people, there is no need for leniency! It is better to make Yangcheng silent and destroy the rebels in order to boost military prestige!"

  The 24th Division was a major force of the Imperial Japanese Army based in Xuzhou, and it appeared on many main battlefields in China. The commander of this division, Lieutenant General Watabe Kenichi, was one of Terauchi Hisaichi's most outstanding students.

  "Colonel, what's our mission this time?" asked a lieutenant colonel while driving, asking Tohbu Keiichi who was sitting in the back seat.

  "The Supreme Commander of the North China Front, General Teshima Shozo, ordered our division to break through Yangcheng's defenses at top speed and slaughter all defenders in Yangcheng, including Chinese people, to demonstrate the power of the Great Japanese Empire Army!" Watabe Kenichi let out a cold snort, feeling disdain for this mission! The 24th Division, which was usually on the main battlefield fighting against the enemy's main force, was today sent to slaughter a small town. This was an insult to the 24th Division! Although he was extremely dissatisfied in his heart, Watabe Kenichi did not dare say anything when facing his most respected teacher.

  "Wait..." Colonel Zhong stepped on the brakes, and the jeep stopped at the side of the road. The troops were still advancing, a lieutenant with a wireless radio walked up to the jeep and said: "Report, telegram from the General!"

  Watabe Kenichi furrowed his brow and whispered: "Nen!"

  "Major General Watabe Kenichi, the main purpose of this mission is to eliminate all armed forces in Yangcheng and its surroundings. Recently, the garrison of Yangcheng was defended by the 19th Division's Qingtong Yimutu. However, for unknown reasons, there have been signs of mutiny among the Yangcheng garrison troops under Qingtong Yimutu. This is an insult to the Imperial Japanese Army and a disrespect to His Majesty the Emperor! Previously, Major General Yoshida's regiment was ambushed by unidentified armed forces on their way to occupy Yangcheng, resulting in over 2,000 casualties within just two hours. Do not underestimate the mysterious armed forces in Yangcheng. Headquarters has yet to determine whether these armed forces are from the Eighth Route Army or the Nationalist Party. Qingtong Yimutu is a high-ranking commander who studied at the German Military Command Academy, so do not take him lightly either. You have permission to open fire on any armed forces found in Yangcheng. The Imperial Japanese Army will never allow the existence of rebel troops! I command you, in my name and representing His Majesty's army, to justly and thoroughly annihilate them, eradicate them!"

  Junior Lieutenant read the telegram when Watabe Kenichi had already opened the car door and got off, from the content of this telegram, Watabe Kenichi only knew the importance of this mission. This is not a main battlefield where both sides are fighting fiercely, but its importance is not much worse than the fierce battle on the front line! As soon as Junior Lieutenant finished reading the telegram, Watabe Kenichi immediately stood up straight and bowed his head, saying: "Hai!" Then he said: "Please inform General Terauchi Hisaichi that I will surely annihilate all the garrison troops in Yang City and all the remaining armed forces around it to uphold the military prestige of my Great Japanese Empire!"

  The lieutenant turned and left, and Watabe opened the car door, got in, and Commander Nakajima started the car again, following the main force to Yang City.

  "Colonel, it seems that Qingteng Yimutu is really not going to get away with this! What's the point of him doing this?" asked Major Zhang, driving while puzzled.

  "Coward! This is the coward who came out of high school!" Tobu Keiichi scolded with some annoyance. He was extremely indignant about Seito Ichimoku's rebellion with his army. "Order the troops to speed up their movement, and arrive at the outskirts of Yangcheng before nightfall! Since we're clearing the gate, let's first eliminate the armed forces on the periphery. I'll provoke them, then slowly annihilate them, making them feel terrified! They'll regret it, and we can eliminate them without firing a single shot!"

  "Brilliant, Lieutenant General!" The lieutenant colonel driving immediately flattered.

  In the afternoon, at the headquarters of the 115th Division's Independent Regiment, a scout rushed into the command room with a straw hat on his head. "Commander, it's not good! Commander!" The scout hastily walked up to Zhao Wenzhong and said breathlessly.

  Zhao Wenxing and Zheng Wen furrowed their brows at the same time, what's going to happen now? "What's wrong? Speak slowly, don't rush!" Zheng Wen looked at Zhao Wenxing and then said to the anxious scout.

  The scout took a deep breath and said hastily: "Commander, political commissar, a large number of Japanese troops have been found near Yangcheng. Zhaojiazhuang and Magou have all been occupied by the devils! The people of Zhaojiazhuang...". The scout's voice trailed off as he lowered his head, clenching his fists and trembling: "The people of Zhaojiazhuang..."

  "What's wrong with the people of Zhaojiazhuang?" Zhao Wenzhen was stunned and asked the scout who couldn't speak.

  "Commander, please dispatch troops quickly! Otherwise, the villagers of Zhaojiazhuang will be in trouble. The devils...the devils are massacring the village!" The scout said as he knelt on the ground.

  "Damn it, assemble the troops and go to Zhaojiazhuang!" Zhao Wenzhong helped up the scout and said angrily.

  "Lao Zhao, we don't know what's going on right now, is it...?"

  "Don't you dare stop me, if anything happens I'll take responsibility! Just do as I say!" Zhao Wenzhong knew Zheng Wen was going to persuade him, so he cut off his words and walked out of the command room first. Zheng Wen shook his head helplessly, and the two men followed him out.

  At one time, the independent regiment stationed in Yangcheng launched a full-scale mobilization, and all the Eighth Route Army gathered at Zhaojiazhuang and Magou Village with the fastest speed.

  Watabe Kenichi led his troops into Zhaojiazhuang and began a frenzy of burning, killing and looting. Zhaojiazhuang and all the surrounding villages were not spared, gunfire rang out continuously from around Yangcheng, the village was filled with inexplicable fear, the devils with sinister smiles slaughtered the fleeing villagers like demons. The devils' bayonets were stained with fresh blood, the villagers who had no ability to resist were powerless, facing the devils' bayonets they could only let the devils run amok.

  "Where did the gunshot come from?" Xuan, who was resting in bed, heard the loud gunshot and sat up with a start. In this tense period, Shouichi could launch an attack on Yangcheng at any time, so he had to be highly vigilant. He knew that he was facing someone who was not ordinary, but a seasoned veteran with rich combat experience and command experience. In this matter, he absolutely couldn't be careless.

  "Xuan Ge, the gunshot seems to be coming from Zhao Jia Zhuang and Ma Gou direction!" Xiao Feng said, carrying a sniper rifle, walking to Xuan Yi Xuan's side.

  "Zhaojiazhuang? Magou?" Danyi Xuan put on his clothes and walked to the sand table, looking at the two places with a puzzled expression. "The gunshot didn't sound like a hunting rifle's voice, I've never heard of any famous hunters in either village!"

  "Report!" A brother of the Snow Fox Independent Regiment interrupted the two men's conversation with his awkward Chinese.

  Shan Yixuan and Xiao Feng looked towards the door at the same time. After a long period of getting along, Xiao Feng had completely eliminated that kind of resistance to the brothers of Snow Fox Independent Squadron.

  "What's up?" asked Jun Ichikawa in Japanese. He found it more comfortable to speak in Japanese than his awkward Chinese.

  PS: Hehe, updates will be sent before midnight, how was everyone's crazy night? Little Dragon solemnly reminds you to beware of kidney deficiency... Haha, just kidding, I also want a league leader or something, brothers give me some support! Seeking sponsorship, is there any beautiful MM who can take me away? 2013, brothers won't be single on Singles' Day! Before going online, seeking everything!