Chapter Twenty-Two: Lone Army

  This night is very quiet.

  The so-called quiet is actually a relative quiet, with constant gunfire all around, except for the Sleeping Cow Mountain.

  This quietness is actually a kind of terror, because everyone knows that in the Japanese army's combat route to attack Xuzhou City, Woniushan must be taken down. The current quietness can only explain that the Japanese army is adjusting its attacking strategy on Woniushan, and once adjusted, it will immediately launch an attack. And once launched, it will be unbearable for the defenders of Woniushan.

  That night, Zhang Luohui couldn't fall asleep.

  That night, Feng Zhongliang and Guo Zhonglin were like sleeping but not really sleeping.

  That night, Wei Ye snored loudly.

  The quiet state of this night was maintained until dawn. First, a burst of artillery shells pierced the sky with a whistling sound that startled everyone, and then there were deafening explosions. Then, everyone saw that the high ground on the back of Niu Mountain was quickly shrouded in smoke, and flashes of dazzling firelight appeared from time to time in the smoke.

  The cannon fire lasted for fifteen minutes, and after the cannon fire stopped, it was already daylight. Not long after that, everyone saw the Japanese military flag raised on the high ground of Niubagou.

  In just half an hour, the 3rd and 4th battalions of the 258th Regiment vanished.

  In these thirty minutes, Liu Yu-jie had contacted Zhang Luo-hui, but before he could finish a sentence, the phone call was cut off. Afterwards, Zhang Luo-hui was unable to contact Liu Yu-jie's unit again.

  After the Japanese army conquered Niubei Gaodi, it was followed by seeing Niupigu Gaodi suffer the same fate as Niubei Gaodi.

  Now, there is only one battalion of this lone army left.

  At 9:00, the Japanese army launched a probing infantry charge against Niutou Ridge from two directions, northwest and southeast mountain ridges, under the cover of more than a dozen light and heavy machine guns. However, they were quickly beaten back by the brothers of the First Battalion. Then, for two whole hours, the Japanese did not make any moves.

  At 11:00, the Japanese army launched another pincer attack on Niubizi Ridge from two directions with grenade dischargers and flamethrowers as main assault weapons, and announced failure after nearly thirty casualties.

  After lunch, the Japanese army suddenly changed its tactics and launched uninterrupted wave-like charges against Niubizi Ridge from two directions in turn.

  As long as they didn't get bombed, the pure infantry charge against the Japanese was something Ye Tufei thought his brothers could handle. In fact, after more than an hour of continuous wave-like charges by the Japanese army, it finally stopped, and the Japanese only got a result of more than 70 casualties, with nothing else gained.

  Yamashita Keigo is having a headache.

  The most skilled infantry-artillery coordination was not even used, other methods were repeatedly tried and failed, and the other several battalions were about to rush into Xuzhou City, his battalion faced the shame of changing from vanguard to rearguard.

  Yamashita was forced to make a change, ordering the Kawashima and Onozuka detachments to continue their pincer movement on Niubizi Heights from the south and north, while other units immediately advanced towards Xuzhou City.

  Two days later, on May 19, the Japanese army fully occupied Xuzhou.

  On the same day, the headquarters of the Fifth War Zone received a telegram from Liu Ruming's unit, announcing that the garrison troops had also broken out of the Japanese encirclement in full force, leaving behind an empty city for the Japanese.

  The Fifth War Zone immediately issued a declaration marking the victorious end of the Battle of Xuzhou, declaring that in the Battle of Xuzhou, the National Army had defeated and wounded over 30,000 Japanese troops at the cost of more than 60,000 casualties, shattering the Japanese army's strategic intention to quickly complete the north-south through route, achieving the strategic intention of "trading space for time" set by the Supreme Command Headquarters. After that, all units in the Fifth War Zone withdrew from the Xuzhou battlefield according to plan, and each combat unit jumped out of the Japanese encirclement circle, making the Japanese army's strategic goal of deciding the battle at Xuzhou once again fall through.

  When the reporter asked some specific questions, such as comparing the Battle of Xuzhou and the Defense of Nanjing, the spokesperson for the Fifth War Zone smiled and replied: "The Xuzhou left to the Japanese was an empty city, not even a lieutenant could be captured."

  These reports were all published in the newspapers, although these newspapers would not be issued in the occupied areas, but the Japanese military special high school had already infiltrated the National Army's hinterland, so Yamashita Yoshio still had the opportunity to see these reports. He was extremely angry and told the Japanese army's war correspondent and some reporters who were loyal to the North China puppet government: "What the Chinese newspapers said is simply nonsense. In Niuwuzhuang, our army captured a Chinese colonel."

  To prove that he was telling the truth, Yamashita Keigo provided evidence to the reporters on the spot: Colonel Liu Yuqie, commander of the 258th Regiment.

  Two days ago, Liu Yu-jie led the 2nd Battalion of the 258th Regiment to garrison at Niugutai on Woyoushan Mountain. He planned that once the Japanese army captured Niutou Ridge, he would immediately retreat into Anhui Province along the north shore of Shidoguzi Lake and through Yunlongshan under the protection of the 2nd Battalion, using the time gained by sacrificing the 3rd and 4th Battalions on Niubei Ridge. However, unexpectedly, the Japanese army bypassed Niutou Ridge, encircled the entire Woyoushan Mountain.

  Before he could react, the high ground of Niuback collapsed, and then, the high ground of Ox buttocks where he was located suffered from the Japanese artillery coverage. An entire regiment, under less than ten minutes of artillery fire, only thirty survivors were left, helpless, he raised a white flag to the Japanese.

  After being captured, the Japanese army's attitude towards him was surprisingly courteous. Liu Yuqie had originally thought that the Japanese would throw him into prison or a POW camp, but unexpectedly, the Japanese were extremely polite to him, arranging for him to stay at the Huayuan Hotel and even inviting military doctors to treat his wounds. It is worth noting that the Huayuan Hotel was the most luxurious hotel in Xuzhou City, and General Li Zongren, the highest-ranking officer of the Fifth War Zone, had stayed there before.

  He had a deep gratitude towards the Japanese army.

  So, when Yamashita Keigo asked him to attend the press conference together, Liu Yujie agreed without hesitation. Yamashita Keigo was so moved that he bowed to Liu Yujie repeatedly and praised him as a true friend of the Great Japanese Empire.

  At this time, facing many reporters, Liu Yuje spoke freely: "First of all, I want to say that the Imperial Japanese Army is a powerful and righteous army. Why do I say it's a powerful army? In the battle of Niuwoshan, I was ordered to lead the 258th Regiment to fight against the Imperial Army. Within less than an hour, the Imperial Army had won the battle. In this battle, my 258th Regiment suffered more than 700 casualties, but the Imperial Army only paid a price of more than 40 casualties. Gentlemen, there is an old Chinese saying that goes 'to see the whole leopard from one spot'. From this, we can infer the casualty ratio of both sides in the entire Xuzhou Battle. Ha ha, people with discerning eyes all know that Li Zongren was just bragging! Now let's talk about why I call the Imperial Army a righteous army? Without mentioning anything else, let me say it from my own experience. As an opponent on the battlefield, after being captured by the Imperial Army, not only did they not hold grudges against me, but they also treated my wounds with the best medical conditions. You tell me, isn't this what a righteous army is?"

  Liu Yu-Jie's speech received thunderous applause, and Yamashita Kōgo also cast a look of admiration at Liu Yu-Jie. At that moment, Liu Yu-Jie suddenly felt his image rise to great heights.

  Ryūsuke Yamashita was pleased with Liu Yuqie's performance, but his subordinates made Ryūsuke Yamashita feel very displeased. The camp on Mount Woni made him feel like a fishbone in the throat. The division commander expressed dissatisfaction to him and said: "If the Chinese army all took down the portrait of His Majesty the Emperor, would our Great Japanese Imperial Army have to retreat?"

  Yamashita Kengo understood the commander's intention, the commander was telling him that as a soldier, the ultimate goal is to win the battle, and not be restricted by trivial matters. But saying is one thing, doing is another, Yamashita Kengo wasn't stupid, he didn't want to leave any small flaws for his colleagues to grasp.

  In other words, Yamashita Keigo was considering how to do it without firing at the Emperor's portrait and dispose of this enemy properly. He thought of surrounding but not attacking, but soon denied himself, as the time given by his superiors was limited. He also thought of using Liu Yuqie to persuade surrender, but failed after trying. He thought a lot more, but none of them were feasible.

  Yamashita Keigo, who couldn't think of a solution no matter how hard he tried, could only go to his trusted advisor, Takahashi Nobuyuki, his assistant in 'Manchukuo'.

  Ko Hashimoto is actually a Chinese, his original name was Qin Tian Shi. At the age of eight, he followed his father to Japan. His father had a Japanese friend named Ko Hashimoto Tadakazu, who was a professor at Nagoya University in Japan. Ko Hashimoto Tadakazu had no children and liked Qin Tian Shi very much after meeting him. Later, when Qin Tian Shi's father died of illness at the age of 14, Ko Hashimoto Tadakazu adopted Qin Tian Shi and changed his name to Ko Hashimoto Nobuo.

  Yamashita Keigo and Takahashi Makoto were classmates and best friends at Nagoya University, and they continued to exchange letters after graduation. In 1928, 24-year-old Yamashita Keigo enlisted in the army and was assigned to the Kwantung Army in Northeast China, where he met Takahashi Makoto, who worked for the South Manchurian Railway Company. In 1931, the Kwantung Army launched the Mukden Incident on September 18th, and subsequently, under the planning of Tōjō Hideki, the "Manchukuo" was established. Yamashita Keigo demonstrated extraordinary abilities in these two major events and gained recognition from Tōjō Hideki.

  Qingyun straight up the mountain under Jingwu started was carrying the feelings of bringing older brothers to bring Takahashi Nobuyuki to his side, but later discovered that this Takahashi Nobuyuki is not an ordinary person, many difficult things, in the hands of Takahashi Nobuyuki, seem simple, three or five words can make you suddenly enlightened.

  This time, he was transferred from the Kwantung Army of 'Manchukuo' to the North China Expeditionary Force, and he specially brought Takashi with him.

  When he told the problem to Takahashi Makoto, Takahashi Makoto lit a cigarette with his usual slow rhythm, took a few puffs, and slowly replied to Yamashita Keigo: "Bombing the Emperor's portrait? You're crazy!" Yamashita Keigo knew Takahashi Makoto's habit and didn't dare interrupt, he just handed over the ashtray. "Have you investigated the background of those soldiers on the mountain? Are they really determined to fight the Japanese army to the death like you said?"

  Yamashita Kyogo's heart skipped a beat as Takahashi Koji indeed said something that hit the spot. It seems like there's hope!

  "You let Liu Yujie go persuade them to surrender, can they believe in Liu Yujie? This card can only serve as a door-knocking brick. You write them a letter, make enough promises, and have Xiao Wei take Liu Yujie with him to negotiate with them. I trust Xiao Wei, he can convince this group of bandits."

  Yamashita Keigo laughed and lit the second cigarette for Takahashi Makoto, saying: "If the Chinese army had you, it would be a misfortune for my Great Japanese Imperial Army!"

  Takaishi turned to Shingo Yamashita and said, "I've told you many times, don't make those noises in front of me, it's unpleasant to hear. And another thing, after these bandits surrender, you must keep your promise and can't put them in a prisoner-of-war camp."

  Yamashita Kengo's face turned pale and he said: "This is a group of desperate people, I'm worried that they..."

  "Enlist them in the Beiping provisional government's military roster, equip them with weapons but not ammunition, and wouldn't that solve the problem? Trust me, you'll be able to use these people sooner or later."