Canteen System Assistance Notes

Under their planning, the two divisions of the North China Army's Seventh Army in Qingyuan, the two divisions in Zhangyuan, and the mobile 14th Division of the Kwantung Army could achieve a "successful transfer" of three divisions in the worst-case scenario. If the 85th Division, currently stationed along the Tianjin-Tangshan-Jieshi Island line, were added, at least four divisions could be preserved for subsequent counterattacks.

However, before he could finish, Iimura Joi interrupted him.

"No, after returning, formulate a new plan and prepare for a decisive battle with the Communist army."

———-——-

"Sir...a decisive battle?"

"Yes." Iimura Jo's tone darkened. "A decisive battle."

"If we turn back now, the Communist Army will certainly not suffer too many casualties. And now that the Empire has declared war on the United States, if the Communist Army can retain enough strength to continue fighting our army, then our army's ability to withstand the dual attacks of the United States and the Communist Army will almost certainly be determined.

"Back then, if the Empire hadn't yet entered the interior of China and gone to war with the United States, then there would still be room for maneuver and planning... But now, since the war has begun, there's no turning back!

"We must eliminate the atmosphere of defeat within the military and curb the expansion of the Communist army. Even if it means being shattered to pieces, we will bite off a piece of the Communist army's flesh in the decisive battle!"

"Otherwise...otherwise..."

His tone was vague, as if he didn't dare to consider the situation after losing this decisive battle, but soon, Iimura Jang said decisively:

“No otherwise!

"Commander Okamura personally issued the 'Decisive Battle Order' from headquarters! As soldiers of the Imperial Empire, we naturally obey orders and dedicate ourselves to the cause of the Empire! Even if we fail, what does it matter? How can a temporary setback hinder the Imperial soldiers' dedication? How can it hinder the Empire's great cause? Further retreat will not contribute to the ultimate victory! How can we let down Commander Okamura's courage, even at the risk of his life?"

Iimura Jo's tone gradually changed, reminiscent of the one he had used when he had persuaded Okamura to recruit the Japanese. "All the soldiers and citizens of the Imperial Empire are devoting themselves to victory, even sacrificing their lives!"

"Jiro Yoshida!"

"exist!

Seeing the frenzied atmosphere gradually spreading, Iimura Jo took a deep breath and issued a final order: "Yoshida, immediately start preparing the battle plan again, aiming for a decisive battle and victory, and inflicting the greatest damage to the Communist army!

"You can disregard any principles. Even if sending me to the front lines can help the war, then do it! If I fall in battle, you must carry out the plan to the letter and fight to the end with my faith! You must know that we...

"To know that we..."

"Commander!"

Just as Iimura Jo was about to say something earth-shattering, his adjutant suddenly interrupted. He and another military doctor, carrying a man on a stretcher, barged in, "Sir! Intelligence Officer Kinoshita says he has something important to report to you!"

Kinoshita was Iimura Jou's intelligence officer and the second one who rushed into Iimura's lounge before the train was hit.

At that time, he seemed to have something important to report. He was seriously injured in the attack and was breathing less in and out more. Now he was almost relying on the injection of morphine from the military doctor to support his body and talk to Iimura Jo.

"Sir..." He tried to keep his words coherent and appropriate, "Just now... following your orders, I contacted the intelligence department in Peking and found my junior to confirm the situation...

"They contacted the headquarters in Mikawa County by phone and confirmed the current situation there..." Intelligence Officer Kinoshita coughed loudly, almost coughing up blood. He coughed for a long time before he regained his breath and lowered his voice.

"The disappearance of the headquarters' call sign wasn't accidental or unexpected, but rather pre-planned... ahem... right after the 'Commander' left, His Excellency the 'Commander' began packing up his belongings and departed."

The world is quiet.

A gentle breeze blew in the moonlight, and in the distance, a locomotive blazed a silent but deafening torchlight. Although Kinoshita's voice was soft, everyone who heard it felt like they were struck by a sledgehammer, trembling and unable to stand.

Intelligence officer Kinoshita vomited a mouthful of blood and lay back on the stretcher, unable to control himself, as if he had lost all his strength.

Someone started crying quietly.

Who were the two commanders before and after? What did "leaving" mean? How could they not understand?

Iimura Joi's movements also froze. He opened his mouth but could only make ahhhhh sounds. His raised hands were trembling and he was unable to make any other movements.

"You know...we..."

He muttered, not even noticing the noise coming from the sky.

A series of flares exploded in the sky, and the bright magnesium lights were like stars of rumors, illuminating the last bit of remaining darkness and breaking down the last line of defense of Iimura Jo, Yoshida, Kinoshita, and everyone around them.

"We...we...are..."

“Ah, crack, crack… hehe… hahahahaha, woooo ...

Chapter 819 He Disappeared in the Long Night

At dusk on March 22, 1943, about 18 hours after General Okamura abandoned the North China Army Command in Mikawa County and fled with his troops.

Okamura Neiji limped along the road, looking utterly miserable. He was already injured, and his entourage was small, no more than a hundred people, and almost all of them were injured.

He had not imagined that things would deteriorate to this point so quickly.

Okamura Neiji wanted to run away a long time ago.

As one of the few generals in the Japanese army who possessed both a modicum of strategic and considerable political experience, Okamura Yasuji had long been planning his own retreat. However, as the battle progressed, this retreat gradually evolved from "inflicting a heavy blow to the Communists and then advancing on the strength of their achievements" to "leading his troops in a successful, major retreat to preserve their strength"—to the point where, even now, a "smooth retreat followed by an orderly retreat" seemed unlikely.

However, as one of the "Three Crows of Baden-Baden", Okamura Yasuji knew another unspoken rule and potential escape route among senior Japanese commanders - as long as the troops "try their best and die for their country", if they are still defeated, the headquarters will only add "it is fate, it is not our army's destiny" to the resume, and then exempt the supreme commander from punishment.

After all, the so-called claim that the Imperial Empire had no captured generals and that the Imperial Army's dignity must be upheld was actually an excuse for senior commanders to flee, and it was also the "unspoken rule" within the Japanese military headquarters. To date, with the exception of the "A Incident," no commander of the Imperial Army at or above the rank of army had died in battle!

Okamura moved the North China Army Headquarters from Tieshishi Hutong in Peking to Sanhe County in Hebei Province early on on the pretext of "building a backup command post" in order to facilitate escape. After completing his final performance and sending all the remaining troops to the "decisive battle", senior officers such as Okamura Yasuji who set out from Sanhe County could not only choose to escape from Sanhe, through Yutian and Fengrun to Tangshan, and then take the route of Luanzhou Changli to Jieshi Island, but also choose to take the route of Jizhou, Zunhua, Qianxi, Qian'an, Lulong, Funing and other places, and then turn to Qinhuangdao.

However, what Okamura Neiji didn't expect was that the "boomerang" he left behind at the beginning of the battle flew back and hit him hard on the head.

Before the start of the North China Campaign, General Okamura Yasuji mobilized the then fully equipped and staffed Yingji (80th Division), Yingduan (82nd Division), Yingwu (85th Division) and Yingxiong (87th Division) Corps, and assembled many local volunteers and puppet troops to launch a rare large-scale encirclement and suppression campaign against the Jidong base near Peiping.

Due to its unique geographical location and inconvenient transportation, this base, nestled right next to the enemy's dominance, came under immense pressure. The Eighth Route Army in eastern Hebei, engaged in relentless guerrilla warfare and mobile operations, posing a significant threat to the lives and property of the soldiers and civilians in the base. Fortunately, with the outbreak of fighting in Henan and Shandong provinces, the full-scale outbreak of the North China War forced Okamura Yasuji to transfer three of the four corps, leaving only the 85th Division to defend Tianjin, Tangshan, and Jieshi Island.

At the time, Okamura Yasuji believed that Zhao Baosen's troops in the troubled Jidong base had suffered a major blow after this "security rectification campaign," and were no longer able to fight, let alone pose any threat to his subsequent escape plan. Therefore, Okamura Yasuji calmly fished in Sanhe County while commanding his troops in battle.

But what is the reality?

The Jidong base area, which was under heavy pressure, was actually not seriously damaged at all. After the Japanese army's strength was weakened, they not only returned to the outer base area that had been transformed into a guerrilla zone, but also completed about fifteen days of rest and recuperation with the assistance of the Pingxi and Pingbei base areas, and achieved the assembly of scattered troops and the replenishment of personnel and equipment.

Just as General Okamura was preparing to move, the Jidong base area's field forces, totaling six regiments, along with an equal number of local troops and guerrillas, launched a massive offensive against General Okamura's crucial escape route, like a tiger emerging from its cage.

At the same time, the Bohai Military Sub-district of the Shandong Province base, which was originally a reserve force, began to advance towards Tianjin, Pingxi and Pingbei began to mobilize troops to approach Beijing, and even the Hebei-Central Base, which originally had its troops concentrated on the Pinghan Line, was able to lead a field army led by Wang Xibei to the north along the Jinpu Road to participate in the attack on the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region due to the northward reinforcement of troops from southern Hebei.

The eastern Hebei region, previously safe from the mopping-up operation, was now ablaze with violence. Guerrillas and small field armies, previously silent, began to fight everywhere. Even as Okamura Yasuji was packing up his belongings and preparing to flee, he received reports of numerous encounters and garrisons being destroyed. Intelligence sources even reported that Communist forces had appeared around Fengrun and Baodi: This was right around Mr. Okamura's transit route!

Faced with the enemy situation, Okamura Yasuji had to change his plan and take the longer and more mountainous route through Zunhua, Qianxi, Lulong and Funing.

Considering the large number of personnel in the North China Army Command, including the baggage, service, communications, and direct guards, which totaled over a thousand people, reaching the size of a battalion, it would be difficult to conceal their whereabouts and avoid the sight of the main force of the Communist Army if they marched in groups. Commander Okamura came up with a very unethical idea:

He ordered some people to roll down from the small number of automatic vehicles, and asked Deputy Chief of Staff Nakanishi Maki to change into his own clothes and march on horseback along Yutian and Fengrun, where the Communist Army had been confirmed to be active; on the other hand, he ordered some direct guards to return to the temporary airport in Sanhe County, where the oil depot and runway had been blown up by the Communist hunting formation, and began to pretend to repair the airport, pretending to leave by plane.

He himself boarded a handful of vehicles, leading the rest of his core team and their guards, preparing to quickly cross the danger zone from Zunhua and Qianxi, aiming for Jieshi Island, where the Kwantung Army and the 85th Division would provide support. After all, the Kwantung Army was still mobilizing and unable to advance en masse due to food shortages. The North China Army itself was struggling, and the small, newly formed 85th Division was tasked with guarding a vast area from Jieshi Island to the vicinity of Tianjin. It clearly lacked manpower!

This deceptive tactic seemed to have worked. Gunfire soon erupted from the Yutian and Fengrun areas, where roads were more accessible. The route Okamura had taken was finally safe. With a small number of Type 95 light tanks and Type 91 dual-purpose armored vehicles leading the way, Okamura's convoy raced along the Shahe River for nearly 80 kilometers, passing through Jizhou and reaching Zunhua. To prevent leaks, they didn't even stop by Zunhua for resupply, where Japanese volunteer troops were still stationed. Instead, they simply refilled their cooling water tanks at the Li River outside the city before setting off again.

But then they encountered real communist guerrillas.

The anti-tank mine exploded under the tracks of the Type 95 light battle vehicle at the head of the column, and the Type 91 armored vehicle at the tail of the column was attacked by a volley of "spray guns" from Japanese assets, and was blown to pieces after several loud bangs.

The elite direct guard troops immediately began to shift formation, using trucks to form a circular defensive formation, hoping to prevent this classic "tiger descending the mountain" ambush. Fortunately, the equipment and technical level of these Communist guerrillas were far inferior to the main Communist forces fighting on the Heping-Han Line in Shandong Province. Apart from jettisoned grenades and grenade launchers, they had little heavy firepower and were unable to break through the defenses of Okamura's direct guards for a while.

But they are obviously not stupid.

After discovering that this small force seemed unusually "difficult to deal with", they began to keep their distance and stopped charging. Instead, they concentrated their anti-tank guns and rocket launchers to attack the engine of the automatic vehicle, making it difficult for it to start again and break out of the encirclement.

Now, it was Okamura Yasuji's turn to sweat profusely: he was now in the enemy camp, only a hundred miles from the Guohe River, a place so impressive to the Imperial Army. If time dragged on, new Communist troops might burst out from the surrounding mountains and forests, repeating the story of Commander Bao's brutal assault on the North China Army. He couldn't afford to waste time; he had to make a decision immediately!

Be it a heroic act of self-sacrifice or a gecko's tail-breaking... we can no longer delay this!

"Commander, the inventory is complete." Chief of Staff Ando Nijusan came over and reported to Okamura Yasuji in a low voice, "There are still 43 people left in the headquarters attaché, and about 20 of them are able to take up arms and fight. The direct guards and the baggage troops together have 79 people left, all of whom are able to fight.

"Those who are unable to move have already..." He gestured, "So, our marching speed will not be affected for the time being."

"Weapons and grenades have been distributed to the remaining wounded. Major Sasaki was injured in his left arm and 'voluntarily' stayed behind to command the 'delay operation' and the 'sabotage operation'."

"You've worked hard," Okamura said, controlling his expression and pretending to be nonchalant. "Soldiers serve their lives. Take my horse to the wounded. Ando-kun, get the map."

"Hi!"

The orderly took Okamura's horse away, ready to use it to carry the wounded, whose whereabouts were unknown. After reporting the situation of the troops, Anda Nijusan took out a map and, using the fading light and a flashlight covered with black cloth, told Okamura the approximate location of his own troops.

"...Sir, just beyond the reception hall is the Santun Camp, where the North China Imperial Army is stationed. It's managed by the North China Political Affairs Committee and is now under the control of our army. The troops are suffering heavy losses right now, so why not tonight..."

"But it's really not safe to stay outside the city for the night." Okamura Neiji nodded, agreeing with Chief of Staff Anda's opinion. "Wait until tomorrow morning, take your men to the Security Army to bring their people and escort us to Qianxi. After arriving in Qianxi, contact the Yingwu Corps and ask them to send someone to meet us no matter what. Otherwise..."

"Hey, I see."

After explaining everything, Okamura continued to walk forward with his tired body.

The city on the distant horizon is low, and the setting sun shines on the terrain of two mountains and a valley from behind, illuminating a blood-red cloud layer that extends from behind to in front of him.

Just a few hours ago, Okamura Yasuji's troops had been basically wiped out in the breakout. Only a hundred or so men remained, and most of them were injured. The heaviest weapons they had were a few grenade launchers carried by veterans and a still intact armored truck.

However, there was a city right in front of them where they could rest. After experiencing the worst day of their lives, everyone had recovered a little emotionally and walked with more energy.

Smoke and dust began to appear at the end of the road. The scouts on guard quickly moved forward and then brought back several mounted scouts.

"Sir! We have contacted the garrison at Santunying ahead! They are the troops of the North China Security Army!"

The veteran in the lead reported loudly, and then, under his threatening gaze, the new recruits on the side bravely stepped forward and bowed to Commander Okamura Yasuji and Ando Nijusan to report:

"That's...that's what they said, said..."

"What?" Anda Twenty-three had a bad feeling. "Are you an idiot? Say it!"

"Hey! They said that according to the strict order of Commander-in-Chief Okamura, no unauthorized personnel are allowed to enter or leave!

"We've revealed our identities, but they still won't open the city gates and won't let us in!"

Chapter 820: A group of traitors ambushed Jingzhong Mountain, and the old thief died in Xiaozei Valley

(3K4)

"Who are these people at the gates of the city? If they've already refused, why are they coming here brandishing weapons and swords?"

"You old idiot, open your dog eyes wide and show me clearly—this is General Okamura Yasuji, one of the Three Crows of Baden-Baden, and the commander-in-chief of the North China Army! He's the most powerful hero of our time! Why don't you open the door quickly?"

"Who the hell is General Okamura? If he were a hero, why would he commit such a crime, not ride in a carriage, but actually come to the door on foot, looking so embarrassed? I don't recognize you, I don't recognize you! I won't open the door, I won't open the door!"

"Shock! You're just looking down on people with your eyes, looking down on people with yours! Heroes throughout history have all experienced hardship and defeat. A few years ago, you rats were just dogs under Lord Okamura, yet now you've captured the city, become complacent, and bite your master! Listen up! If you don't open the gates, when General Okamura summons the Kanto army, he'll destroy your dog's den and slaughter everyone in it!"

"Hmph! Things are different now. Everyone knows that the Communist army is chasing you just ten miles away! There are already important people stationed in the city, so how can we allow them to disturb us... Now, out of old friendship, we are still calling your commander General Okamura, but please don't be ungrateful! Listen carefully, if you throw a tantrum again, I won't mind fighting with you and the rest of the defeated bandits! Better pack up your luggage and leave!"

Cough cough cough...

Although such a chapter-novel-style dialogue would hardly happen in reality, Lord Okamura Yasuji was indeed locked out by the puppet troops of the Santunying Camp - this is what is called the rebellion against the Tiangang.

He was furious, but there was nothing he could do except be angry.

Just now, when the accompanying pacification officer went to knock on the gate on his behalf, the puppet soldiers on the city wall pretended not to know Okamura Yasuji's name and continued to play Tai Chi. But when he "condescended" and dismounted to personally make his request, several puppet army leaders inside the city actually peeked over the wall to take a look.

Then he immediately shrank back.

After that, no matter how Okamura Yasuji cursed, "Qi Hongmai, you bastard, when did you escape here!" and "You two-faced villains, you will not die a good death!", the group of puppet army leaders no longer appeared and pretended to be silent.

After all, anyone who can become a boss in the puppet army must have some foresight.

Just as the Battle of North China began, Okamura Yasuji ordered Iimura Mamoru to go south to command the Seventh Army, while he himself brought his family to Sanhe County. In the huge city of Peking, the Japanese lady in charge was actually just a colonel in charge of intelligence.

Anyone who listens to the radio knows that the Eighth Route Army is winning battle after battle, capturing a city today and annihilating an entire army tomorrow; while the Japanese army is winning big and advancing, and the battle line is moving further and further north...

Therefore, any puppet army leaders with a bit of foresight would have already fled, finding their own way out. Those who had managed to escape from Peking and then, thanks to the railway blockade north of Tianjin, had surely devised their own escape routes – they knew that once the Japanese entered the city, their soldiers would be conscripted. These soldiers were their key bargaining chip once they entered Manchuria, so how could they easily give them up?

"Bakayaloo! You idiots, why don't you use your brains to think? You and your ilk have collaborated with the Imperial Army. How many evil things have you done in the past few years? How many bad things have you done? Qi, Wang, Zhang! Even if the Communist Army accepted your surrender, they would definitely tie you up, put you on trial, and shoot you!"

The pacification officers hadn't given up yet, still shouting from beneath the city walls through tin-rolled loudspeakers. But Okamura Yasuji felt his heart sink to its lowest point: What else could he do now besides shout and rage? Could he storm the city gates? Or could he bypass this place, advancing thirty miles in the dark on the mountain roads without being intercepted, even with Communist guerrillas already pursuing him?

No, it's impossible, I can't do anything!

"...You bastards, you all deserve to die! When Commander Okamura returns with the Kwantung Army, I'll hang you all up and stab you to death with bayonets!!"

"Hiding in the city is nothing... Let your mother see how shameful you are now! A true warrior should speak openly!"

"If you open the door immediately, Lord Okamura can guarantee that no one will be harmed, and he will definitely ask the Kwantung Army to hand over their weapons to you..."

Perhaps finally having broken through, the anxious, angry, and helpless pacification officer finally tore off his mask of so-called "politeness" and launched into a furious outburst at the foot of the city. However, until the sun finally set, the sky shifted from ochre red to tile blue, and the deserted city walls remained empty, and so the outbursts began to turn into gentle persuasion, and then into disregarding requests...

Until behind Okamura Yasuji, a white flare fell from the sky. It was like a comet falling to the ground, and the arc of light broke through the air, illuminating the entire night sky.

"The Eighth Route Army is coming! The Eighth Route Army is coming!"

The previously feigned doom on the city walls erupted in shouting and chaos, throwing the dazed Japanese troops below into a panic. Then, a dozen or so scouts, left behind as a rearguard, erupted in a burst of gunfire, engaging the Eighth Route Army. Seeing this, the Japanese and puppet troops ahead were terrified, unable to advance or retreat.

Some of them shouted, "Commander Bao is coming! Run!", and then they were stopped by someone saying, "Hold on! Hold on! No one is allowed to run! Anyone who runs will be killed!"

Some of them asked, "Why don't we open the city gates and let the Japanese in to help defend the city?", but they were countered with, "What will we do if we open the gates now? The Eighth Route Army will kill you!"

What's more, some people lit torches on the top of the city walls and threw them at the Japanese soldiers below, shouting, "Eighth Route Army boss, we are good people, we are good people! The Japs are right below, you should hit them first, hit them first!"

"Japanese, over there on the Japanese land, go fight the Japanese!"