Draw the sword and cure the fear of insufficient firepower

Okamura Neiji felt a great sense of accomplishment, and the shadow of the blow he suffered at the hands of Lin Tian in North China gradually dissipated.

This time he mobilized the elite divisions of the Locust Army, which had killed and wounded a large number of Chinese troops in the early stages of the war and occupied large tracts of Chinese land for the empire.

Okamura Neiji couldn't help but sigh that if he had twenty of the empire's most elite divisions under his command, the result would not have been like that in North China.

"Hahahahahaha! The great cause of the empire will soon be completed in my hands!" Okamura Neiji laughed wildly in his heart.

Pushing his glasses, Neiji Okamura stood in front of the sand table again. His staff officers were moving the symbol of the locust army forward.

The symbol of the Central Army was constantly retreating and being thrown out.

Large tracts of Chinese land have been hoisted with the flag of empire.

An unprecedented sense of satisfaction and comfort intoxicated Okamura Neiji.

"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, we just received news that the Isogai Division has taken the lead in attacking Changsha City and is now less than 20 kilometers away from Changsha."

"Division Commander Isogai encountered resistance from the Central Army and is directing his troops to attack."

At this time, a major came with a telegram and reported.

"Oh? Hahahaha, Division Commander Isotani is indeed an outstanding soldier of the Empire. He actually arrived first after starting late and was the first to reach Changsha City!"

Okamura Neiji, who originally had a happy expression on his face, now began to become rampant.

"Tell Division Commander Isotani that I am very pleased. Tell them not to underestimate the enemy and advance rashly. Especially at times like this, they must be more cautious."

"Tell him to hold back this group of enemy troops and wait for the arrival of follow-up troops."

"Order the bomber squadron to carry poison gas bombs and launch a large-scale poison gas attack on Changsha City first."

"We will just say that this time there were large-scale civilian deaths due to accidental injuries during the war and let those shameful Western politicians shut their stinky mouths!"

"First, use poison gas to attack and destroy the psychological defenses of the Chinese army. Then let the brave soldiers of the empire destroy the Chinese army physically!"

"No one in China will dare to resist the locust army in the future!"

Okamura Yasuji showed his vicious side, and poison gas bombs played a vital role in this battle.

Since poison gas bombs are so useful, we might as well increase the intensity. This time he transferred 20 tons of No. 03 poison gas bombs.

He planned to fight all at once and wipe out the Chinese army in one fell swoop.

"Hai!"

After the Japanese major quickly recorded the message, he gave it to General Okamura Yasuji to sign and confirm, and then went down to send the message.

……

Twenty kilometers outside Changsha City.

The 17th Sichuan Army Group is desperately resisting the attack of the Japanese Isogai Division.

The Isogai Division, also known as the Japanese 10th Division, is the elite of the Japanese army.

He had previously participated in large-scale battles such as the Battle of Xuzhou.

It was attacked by the Central Army in the Battle of Taierzhuang.

This time, they were transferred to the battlefield in the two lakes by General Okamura Yasuji with the mentality of revenge.

Therefore, they fought bravely and attacked sharply.

Moreover, the Isogai Division inflicted the most severe massacre of Chinese civilians during its advance.

Wherever he passed, no grass grew and blood flowed everywhere.

The 17th Army Group of the Sichuan Army was originally responsible for encircling the enemy's rear in the south.

But with the collapse of the third line of defense, they had to start retreating.

As soon as we retreated here, we were attacked by the Isogai Division.

The 17th Sichuan Army Group did not even have time to build fortifications before being forced into a bloody battle with the Japanese.

The Sichuan Army had already suffered more than 20,000 casualties and was now an exhausted army.

Being targeted by the elite division of the Japanese enemy was like adding insult to injury.

The army group commander, Zhang Fa, was on pins and needles in the headquarters.

"Chief of Staff, what did the Ninth War Zone Commander-in-Chief say? Can we withdraw?" Zhang Fa asked hurriedly as the Chief of Staff came in.

"Hey, Commander, Commander Xue said that the situation is critical now, and anyone who takes a step back will be killed."

"Moreover, any unit that retreats without authorization will have its unit number revoked. And... and..."

Chief of Staff Gu Guoliang shook his head and said.

This was his third time requesting to retreat, and previously it was people from the Ninth War Zone Commander-in-Chief's Office who responded.

This time, it was Commander Xue himself who responded directly, and his words were extremely harsh and his tone left no room for doubt.

"What else do you want? Tell me!" Zhang Fa was impatient. Many of the soldiers in the 17th Army were new recruits, some were even children as young as fourteen or fifteen years old. He couldn't bear to see these young people die on the battlefield.

"Commander Xue said that the names of all officers and soldiers who withdrew without permission will be reported to the whole country as a punishment!"

"Commander, you said that before we left Sichuan, the elders and villagers in Sichuan and Shu sent us off with food and drink."

"A mother sends her son away, a wife sends her husband away."

"Everything that you were reluctant to eat or wear was given to us."

"If the names of our entire army were reported to the whole country and sent back to Shu, wouldn't this be an insult to our fellow countrymen?"

"We Sichuan Army are not afraid of losing face, but if we make the entire Sichuan region lose face in front of the Chinese people, then... then even if we die a thousand times, it will not be enough to wash away this shame."

Chief of Staff Gu Guoliang said indignantly.

This kind of thing will make people all over the country poke holes in their spines.

In the history books of later generations, it was also recorded in great detail and suffered eternal infamy.

As a result, the reputation of the entire Shu area was ruined.

"Commander Xue... this is a plan to wipe out the entire family..."

Army Group Commander Zhang Fa stood up tremblingly, and looking at the heavy artillery fire in front of him, he couldn't help but burst into tears.

He understood Commander Xue's painstaking efforts.

The troops could not retreat, not only the Sichuan Army, but even the commander-in-chief's trusted confidants, the 20th Corps, were still holding on after losing one-third of their forces.

He understood the pressure on Commander Xue, and also understood the crisis of national destruction that China was facing at the moment.

He just couldn't bear it...

"Pass on my order, those who advance live, those who retreat die!"

"If the regiment commander dies, the division commander will take over. If the division commander dies, the army commander will take over. If all the damn people die, I, the army group commander, will take over!"

Zhang Fa stood up, stood at the entrance of the command department, looked at the battle ahead, and gave orders.

He made up his mind.

The Sichuan Army is by no means cowardly. Even if they are completely wiped out, they will die with dignity.

It has been a Chinese tradition since ancient times to give high regard to the dead.

The 17th Army Group died for the country, died fighting against aggression, and died gloriously.

Even if the entire army is wiped out, future generations will remember them.

Their hometowns will also erect monuments to commemorate them.

There is also a trace of their incense in the Martyrs' Shrine...

After giving the order, Zhang Fa snatched the submachine gun from the sentry nearby, put on his own helmet, and walked straight to the front line.

"commander!"

"Stop the commander!"

"Commander, you can't go!"

Chief of Staff Gu Guoliang was shocked and quickly asked someone to stop Zhang Fa.

Zhang Fa cannot die, the entire army still needs his command.