Another World: Naval Storm

In fact, the 9th and 11th Divisions were just feinting to attract the firepower and attention of the Rakshasa Army and interfere with Kontrachenko's judgment. However, Nogi Maresuke did not expect such a large loss, and he had no choice but to continue the attack.

终于在22日第1师团在东侧突击进展比较顺利，占领203高地前的长山，并击退罗刹军队多次反扑。佯攻的第9师团也占领了水师营南5个堡垒。第11师团仅仅夺取203高地正面少量工事，203高地依然牢牢控制在罗刹军手中。

这次攻势,第11师团和第9师团一共派出了5个联队的兵力从东鸡冠山的东西两面同时进攻,到22日,增加到了7个联队多头士兵同时进攻,倭军前赴后继的进攻换的是惨重的伤亡。在罗刹守军坚固的防御阵地和马克沁机枪的疯狂扫射面前,在罗刹守军阵地前的倭军尸体堆到了齐腰高,5天中倭军伤亡高达1万5千头。仅在北堡垒和大鹰窠山炮台阵地前22日1天之内就阵亡3000多头,还好这一天取得一些战果。

23日,第11师团放弃左路进攻,和第9师团合兵一处,从东鸡冠山右路猛攻,但还是没有打开局面,第1 1师团当天也由于损失不小退出了战斗,24日,单独进攻中的第9师团也被罗刹守军鲜卑利亚第4师的反冲击击退，倭军的第一次进攻失败了。

Nogi Maresuke looked at the wounded and dead bodies all over the ground in silence, and came to a fortification, where two dead bodies were covered with white cloth on stretchers.

"Sir, Ichiro and Taro were very brave on the battlefield, but they died on the way to charge!" explained a major.

"You go out first, I want to stay with Ichiro and Taro for a while!" The deceased was Nogi Maresuke's eldest son. He had two sons serving in the 3rd Army.

"Look, the God of War has come to see his two sons." A soldier with a broken hand watched Nogi Maresuke enter the fortifications.

"Why doesn't he die?"

"Tui! You old bastard!"

"Hasn't he always wanted to commit suicide by seppuku? No one in the association is stopping him, so why hasn't he died yet!" After Nogi Maresuke lost his regiment flag in a war, he expressed his intention to commit suicide by seppuku, but was stopped by Emperor Kikuchi.

"The three coffins he prepared before going to the war may be used at any time!" Nogi Maresuke took his two sons to the war and prepared three coffins, expressing his determination to the emperor to be ready to sacrifice his life for the country at any time.

Seeing the wounded soldiers insulting Nogi Maresuke, the other Japanese officers turned a deaf ear to him. They were already extremely indignant at Nogi Maresuke's fanatical and wrong tactics. The officers also died as worthlessly as the soldiers.

乃木希典并没有为两个儿子的死悲伤很久，他命令再次发动突击,为了试探罗刹守军防守的薄弱环节,现在主攻目标不再限于203髙地,而是在东西两面对东鸡冠山、二龙山、202高地发起全面进攻,这次乃木希典决定不经炮击突然进攻,主力展开肉搏战,罗刹守军在堡垒周围拉上铁丝网,通上电流,以48门要塞炮构成压倒性的火力网。4万倭军的进攻,在伤亡3800多头后,乃木希典下令停止进攻,进攻再次失败了。

In the following month, the Japanese army did not make much progress. Nogi Maresuke sat in the command center and read the letters sent from home. Among the more than 2400 letters, many were sent by the families of the fallen soldiers. They all asked Nogi Maresuke to commit suicide to apologize.

Japan, Imperial Conference.

"Nogi Maresuke has failed me!" If Emperor Kikuchi had heard these words from Nogi Maresuke, he might have committed suicide immediately.

"Ma Shijin has been controlled by the Luosha people for a long time, it is indeed not easy to capture it!"

"These are all excuses!" Tamagegen Jitaro said bluntly, "Nogi Maresuke didn't resolutely concentrate his forces to attack Hill 203. If he had held on a little longer, he could have taken Mashijin."

“不是说罗刹人堡垒坚固么？那就给第3军补充火炮！”会议要求满洲司令部督促第3军尽快攻陷马石津，另外在给第3军补充280㎜攻城炮19门，又增援1个师团兵力和3个工兵中队。

"Do you want to replace Nogi Maresuke?" Ito Hirobumi suddenly asked.

Everyone looked at Emperor Kikuchi, "Both of Nogi Maresuke's sons died in the battle at Mashijin. They are loyal to the emperor and love their country. Give him another chance!"

The Battle of Mashijin left tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers dead or disabled. After returning to Japan after the war, Nogi Maresuke felt that he could only redeem his dignity by committing seppuku. So he asked for his resignation in person to Emperor Kikuchi. Of course, Emperor Kikuchi did not allow it. If you die in private, you die. If you let it die in public, it would make the emperor seem unkind. As a result, Emperor Kikuchi thought he was very loyal, so he appointed him as the president of Gakushuin, responsible for teaching the emperor's grandson.

When Emperor Kikuchi was buried, Nogi Maresuke committed suicide by seppuku to repay the emperor's kindness, and his wife Nogi Shizuko also committed suicide by cutting her throat with a dagger.

The Japanese saw that what Nogi Maresuke did was just like Kusunoki Masashige's "seven lives to serve the country". In Japan, a feudal monarchy, such acts of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism must be rewarded, so the Japanese built a temple to worship Nogi Maresuke.

Back at the Mashijin front, Nogi Maresuke repeatedly went to the front line to scout and consider where to choose as the breakthrough point. The headquarters reprimanded him for not being resolute enough in attacking Hill 203. So is Hill 203 suitable as a breakthrough point?

"The fortress groups on the east and central sides of Mashijin are both permanent fortifications and are very strong. Let's attack Hill 203!" Nogi Maresuke finally chose Hill 203 as his target.

"We have suffered heavy losses in front of Hill 203. Should we change direction?" My grandson Shijie has a psychological trauma about Hill 203.

Although Otani Hiroyoshi did not say anything, his attitude was obvious. He did not want the 11th Division to take on the tough challenge of Hill 203.

"Although Hill 203 is well-defended, your two divisions also occupied some positions in front of Hill 203 in the previous attacks, which shows that Hill 203 is not impregnable!" Nogi Maresuke's words became more and more severe. "If you retreat on the battlefield, you will be executed! Go down and prepare immediately. If necessary, I will personally lead the team to attack Hill 203!"

"In addition, I will send a telegram to the headquarters. If I fail, I will die! Hill 203 is my grave!" The death of his two sons and the accusations of his colleagues and the public almost broke Nogi Maresuke's spirit. He didn't want to live anymore. He had transferred two battalions to the army headquarters to wait for orders. He was determined to be the captain of the death squad and lead the charge himself.