Chapter 36: The Polytechnic Corps

  South of Fengtian City, Liaoyang, the command center of the Japanese Kwantung Army's Second Division.

  The chief of staff, Ozawa, hastily walked out of the telegraph room, holding a telegram that had just been received, written in clear regular script on it was the latest battle situation from the commander of the 16th Brigade, Tanino Kuranosuke, from Beidaying.

  Ozawa is about forty years old, with a medium build and a sturdy physique, especially his neck which is almost as wide as his head. His chubby cheeks are embedded with a pair of slender small eyes, giving people a very kind feeling. However, the officers of the Second Division all know that their chief of staff is extremely difficult to provoke, even the division commander, Tomenosuke, has to be cautious around him.

  Koizumi came out of the telegraph room, looked at the telegram in his hand, and then turned to walk towards the rear courtyard of the instructor team headquarters.

  Passing through the heavily guarded main hall, along a corridor, Ozawa rushed to a cross-shaped courtyard on the west side, where the residence of Lieutenant General Tamenori Matsumiya, commander of the 2nd Division, was located.

  The headquarters of the Second Division was housed in a former mansion of a local Qing dynasty noble, who had sold the house to pay off debts after his family's decline. It was later purchased by the Japanese South Manchuria Railway Company and provided to the Imperial Japanese Army as its headquarters.

  The entire headquarters is magnificent and majestic, filled with a strong classical architectural atmosphere.

  Before entering the courtyard, Osawa heard the elegant sound of silk and bamboo, as well as the slapping sound of Master Domen's clapping hands. He couldn't help but furrow his brow.

  Takayoshi Kido can be said to be a very outstanding commander, with rich combat experience and a good reputation in the Japanese military. However, he has one major shortcoming: he likes to watch opera and soak in hot springs, almost to the point of addiction.

  After taking command of the Second Division, Lieutenant General Tadokoro chose this small courtyard with a hot spring and spent half an hour soaking in it every morning and evening, then listened to the songs and dances of the geishas he brought from Japan, which almost became an unshakeable rule.

  The Chief of Staff Ozawa had advised him many times, but he didn't listen at all and continued to do his own thing, leaving Ozawa with no solution.

  Stepping on the melodious music in the house, Komatsu came to the door and raised his hand to knock on it. "Tomenosuke, may I come in?"

  "Come in, Ozawa-kun!" The voice of Tadokoro Jirō came from inside the door, but the knocking sound didn't stop.

  Koizumi took a deep breath and stepped forward, pushing open the door and walking in!

  The house is very spacious inside. The original furniture was all moved out and replaced with Japanese-style tatami mats and furniture, completely decorated in the style of a Japanese home.

  In front of the door, a Japanese soldier was kneeling on the tatami mat, his hair was white, wearing a large kimono, staring intently at the geisha dancing in front of him, with sake and sashimi beside him, as well as some other fruits!

  When Ozawa walked in, Tomenosuke raised his head and smiled at him, then waved his hand and said, "Mr. Ozawa, please sit down. Tomioka's song and dance are really great, let's enjoy it together!"

  A servant and Otsune brought in food and clear wine from next door, then bowed and withdrew!

  Ozawa stood still in front of the tatami, and instead waved the telegram in his hand at Tamotsu Dōmon, "Mr. Tamotsu, an intelligence report has arrived from Tanino Kūrō in Hokudaiyin!"

  Dōmon Shirō's gaze remained fixed on the song and dance, with an air of confidence, "Oh, has the capture of Beidaying already been completed? What about the spoils?"

  "He reported that Beidaying has been successfully taken!" Ozawa paused for a moment, then continued, "However, there is no one left in Beidaying and all the materials have been either taken away by the Northeast Army or destroyed!"

  "What?!"

  Tatara no Jirō was taken aback, and immediately gestured to the geishas to withdraw. He then stood up from the tatami mat, "Kawazeki-san, don't rush, take your time, what's going on?"

  Ozawa had no choice but to recount the events reported in the telegram, especially the annihilation of Shimamoto's 2nd Brigade and his own severe injuries.

  "Unbelievable! The 2nd Independent Guard Unit of Shimamoto Masakazu was annihilated by the Chinese? This is too inconceivable!" After listening to Ozawa's account, Tamonjiro stroked his mustache and sighed, "How can the military strength of the Chinese be so powerful?"

  "Yes, since the Battle of the Yellow Sea, those Chinese have been nothing but a hollow shell with a strong exterior and weak interior. On the surface, they look impressive, but in reality, they can't withstand even one blow. The repeated wars have proven this time and time again. Even if there are occasionally some clear-headed individuals, ultimately they cannot change their fate of being conquered by our great Japanese Empire!" Ozawa nodded in agreement and continued, "From what I know, the Northeastern Army is considered to be relatively strong among the Chinese troops, aside from the Central Army, that is. However, even their elite units are no match for our Kwantung Army, let alone annihilating our new star, the Second Independent Guard Brigade led by Shimamoto Masao!"

  In the Kwantung Army, Shimomoto Seiichi was a rising star, along with Fujita Mitsuo of the Shina Special Attack Unit and Nakamura Makibun of the Kwantung Army's Tokko Section, known as the "Three Heroes of the Kwantung Army". He led the Second Battalion, which had considerable combat strength and was considered an elite force within the Kwantung Army.

  But such an elite troop was actually annihilated by the river outside Beida Camp, and only he survived, which is really shocking!

  At this time, urgent footsteps were heard outside the door, and a Japanese military staff officer shouted loudly outside the door, "Report, received the latest telegram from the commander of the Independent Guard Brigade, Mori!"

  "Come in!"

  A Japanese army staff officer with the rank of lieutenant rushed in, handed a telegram to Tadashi Tamura, bowed his head and backed out.

  Tatara Hiro unfolded the telegram, scanned it from top to bottom in a single glance, and his face suddenly changed. He handed the telegram to Osawa and sighed, "How could this be?"

  Koizumi took the telegram, unfolded it and looked at it carefully. His face also changed, and he muttered to himself, "It's impossible! The first and third battalions of the Independent Guard Brigade were also ambushed on their way to support Shimabukuro's second battalion, suffering heavy casualties. Iwata Shōnan was killed, and Ogawara Ujiro was captured. This is too unbelievable!"

  Dororo's thick forehead bulged with protruding veins, his eyebrows were furrowed into knots, he walked back and forth in the house with his hands behind his back, thinking about everything that had happened.

  He had a premonition that this was just a signal, and he was afraid that there would be even more unexpected events for them, and even the Kwantung Army!

  …………