Snow Leopard: Building the Strongest Elite Group through Robbery

"Go, why don't you go? If you don't go, how can you get more good stuff?" Ono, with a cigarette in his mouth, saw Chen Ning about to run ahead and grabbed him, saying, "What are you shaking for? Let the combat troops go up and clear them out first."

You're just a logistics soldier, what are you doing charging forward? Those infantrymen are battle-hardened veterans, each one experienced in dealing with the Japanese. Chen Ning, on the other hand, is just a captain with the rank of captain, but in reality, he's a complete novice. You'd better not go up. Going up there will only get you killed by the Japanese.

Old Zhou loves his soldiers, and he loves them too. Besides, Chen Ning has followed him for so long, it's impossible for him to have no feelings for him at all.

While sitting on the ground waiting, Ono looked at Nanmian and said, "I wonder where Lao Zhou is now. Does he know what's going on here?"

He knew that after he left, his wife had done something in the opposite direction, launching a counterattack against the Japanese army during the evacuation, and that this counterattack could very well cause the 14th Division to collapse.

Zhou Weiguo arrived in Mandalay the following day.

In the previous battle, the Yamashiro army intentionally vacated this area. Subsequently, Terauchi Hisaichi sent the 4th Division into Mandalay. He wanted to use this method to tell Yamashiro that the 4th Army had no intention of fighting the Yamashiro army, and the 4th Division was his greatest expression of sincerity.

The former theater command post became the 4th Division Command Post.

Zhou Weiguo was very familiar with everything here, after all, he had spent some time here.

Not long after entering the division headquarters, Hirata Ichiro, led by Okamura, arrived at the study.

"General Zhou, I didn't expect that even though you're here, your troops are still making quite a stir."

Hirata Ichiro smiled after shaking hands with Zhou Weiguo.

Zhou Weiguo was unaware of what had happened after he left. He said "Oh" and asked, "Really? I wonder what my troops have done this time to surprise you again?"

Hirata Ichiro sat in his seat, then signed a document and dismissed his adjutant before saying, "I wouldn't call it surprising, but it does surprise me. Your forces were able to launch a sudden counterattack during the retreat, dealing a heavy blow to the 14th Division. Now, one regiment of the 14th Division has lost its combat capability, and another regiment encountered fierce interception from your air force on its way to the rescue. The cavalry regiment that was originally supposed to outflank you on Togo Heiichiro's advice has also suffered heavy losses. Of the thousands of cavalrymen, only less than two hundred managed to escape."

That's too ruthless, based on what he knows.

When faced with a cavalry charge, Zhou Weiguo's army initially resisted with infantry. After the enemy felt confident enough to deploy a large force, their anti-aircraft machine guns suddenly appeared and opened fire on the cavalry.

The regimental commander, chief of staff, and several leading officers were killed on the spot by anti-aircraft machine guns.

“It seems that the mission of the 14th Division has come to an end.” Zhou Weiguo lit a cigarette; “I mourn for them here, and I feel ashamed for their misfortune.”

As for shame, I don't see anything shameful about you at all. All I see is your open contempt and your humiliation of them.

Hirata Ichiro didn't want to talk about that issue anymore, so he went straight to the point and asked, "General Zhou has come all this way, surely not to discuss with me whether the 14th Division will be disbanded?"

The 14th Division cannot be disbanded. It has always represented a force in the army. They may be reorganized, but disbanding is impossible unless the empire no longer has an army. But how could that be? The empire only suffered a setback in the mountain city. In other places, it is still a force to be reckoned with.

“Of course not. I’m here to see your commander, Hisashi Terauchi. What do you think? I think this shouldn’t be too difficult for you.” Zhou Weiguo finished speaking and then quietly looked at Hirata Ichiro.

Hirata Ichiro didn't speak, but simply picked up the teacup beside him and drank some tea. Looking at Hirata's silent demeanor, Zhou Weiguo gained a deeper understanding of the characteristics of this division. It wasn't that he was unwilling, but rather that he hadn't given them the things he should have given them.

He turned to look at Asaka Shurei beside him. Asaka Shurei got up and came to Hirata Ichiro, casually placing a handkerchief wrapped in her pocket on the table. "This should be convenient now."

Hirata Ichiro opened the handkerchief, and after seeing what was inside, he laughed and said, "We are friends. There is a saying in your Yamashiro, 'To stand up for a friend even if it means turning your back on him.' I will take care of this matter. I just don't understand why you want to see him at this time."

This is the right thing to do. If I didn't give him this, he really wouldn't agree.

After stubbing out his cigarette, Zhou Weiguo dragged his stool to sit opposite Hirata Ichiro and asked, "What are your plans for the south next?"

The south and the north are two different concepts. Zhou Weiguo could not possibly believe that the Japanese army in the north could change the plans here. The only ones who could change the plans here are the General Headquarters and their troops.

Hirata Ichiro calmly placed the handkerchief into his drawer.

He admitted that he had become corrupt. After becoming the division commander in this place, his former ambitions had slowly faded away. He had been influenced by the soldiers of the entire division. It wasn't that he didn't want to change, but that he simply couldn't.

If he were to force him to do so, he probably wouldn't live to see tomorrow. Once he took over, it became easier and easier for him.

Especially now, these things are as simple as drinking water for him.

He lit a cigarette and then silently watched Zhou Weiguo.

What do you mean?

Zhou Weiguo narrowed his eyes; "What, the British army is retreating in the south and northwest, are you really planning to turn back and launch an attack on us from the south?"

Hirata Ichiro remained silent, leaving Zhou Weiguo somewhat puzzled by his actions.

He grunted and stood up, looking at Hirata Ichiro. "It seems you're quite comfortable in this position. What, are you planning to change people?" Zhou Weiguo tapped the table. "This position isn't good. Tell me what kind you want to change to, and I guarantee I'll make sure you're satisfied."

Hirata Ichiro knew that Zhou Weiguo must have made preparations if he dared to come. If he dared to make trouble for him, his whole family might be lying dead in the street tomorrow. This guy has a criminal record.

"No, I really like this position, but I think I have other considerations regarding what you just mentioned."