Peiping, Japanese North China Front Headquarters.

Neji Okamura, who is thin and short and wears black-rimmed glasses, had dinner.

I was sitting in the headquarters, admiring the graceful dance of a young dancer in kimono.

Listen to classical-style music and sip Longjing tea.

A satisfied smile appeared on Okamura Neji's face.

Sitting next to Neiji Okamura were Major General Takemori Tanabe, Chief of Staff of the Japanese North China Front, and Colonel Tachibana Ayabe, Chief of Operations Staff.

Suddenly, the Japanese-style door was pushed open, and an officer wearing the rank of colonel walked in.

This colonel officer was Yoshiaki Shirosaki, communications staff officer of the North China Front. He walked up to Okamura Neiji and whispered a few words in his ear.

After hearing this, Okamura Neji's expression suddenly changed, and he waved to the dancers and musicians.

The music stopped suddenly, and the dancers and musicians bowed to Okamura Neiji, then walked out and closed the door.

Chief of Staff Tanabe Takemori looked surprised and couldn't help but ask: "Commander, what happened?"

"Following the defeat of the 9th Brigade." Okamura Neiji said solemnly, "The three infantry regiments of the 36th Division were completely wiped out by the Eighth Route Army. It was not a defeat, it was a total annihilation!"

Okamura Neji was so angry that he gritted his teeth, with a look of hatred on his face, and a deep reluctance in his tone.

Yoshio Iwamatsu's Operation Plan B was personally approved and implemented by him.

I originally thought that the arrival of Yoshio Iwamatsu could change the public security in Shanxi, but I didn't expect that even Yoshio Shinozuka would be inferior.

At least in the previous sweeps of the Eighth Route Army, we had never suffered such a failure.

Yoshio Shinozuka's failure was simply because the main force of the Japanese army was transferred to the Nakajo Mountain battlefield, and the Eighth Route Army took advantage of the situation from behind.

On the first day of the mopping up, the Japanese mopping up troops had already lost tens of thousands of people, and were completely defeated in both directions. What else could be done to do the mopping up next?

"Nani?" Tanabe Takemori and Ayabe Tachibana suddenly changed their expressions upon hearing this.

The 36th Division was also defeated?

Is the Eighth Route Army so strong?

After reacting, Ayabe Tachibana said in a deep voice: "Commander, could this be a smoke bomb deliberately released by the Eighth Route Army? With the strength of the Eighth Route Army, how can it be possible to defeat the 36th Division?"

"I also suspect this." Tanabe Takemori echoed, "It is impossible for the entire eight armies in the Taihang region to defeat the 36th Division!"

Okamura Neiji didn't quite believe it, so he looked at Shirasaki Yoshiaki and said, "Shirosaki-kun, please tell me how the 36th Division was defeated!"

Shirasaki Jiazhaodun's first road.

The telegram that Iseki Ren asked Ishiguro Sadzo to draft contained a detailed account of how three infantry regiments of the 36th Division were completely annihilated by the Eighth Route Army.

The 225th Regiment and the 226th Regiment were completely wiped out. Ishiguro Sadzo said it was due to Iwamatsu Yoshio's command error.

The 227th Regiment was completely wiped out by the Eighth Route Army. Ishiguro Sadzo said that the 227th Regiment was not well hidden during the ambush and was discovered by the Eighth Route Army, which led to its annihilation.

When it comes to blame-shifting, Ishiguro Sadazo is very knowledgeable and is definitely an expert.

Soon, Shirosaki Yoshiaki recited Ishiguro Sadazou's telegram.

However, Ishiguro Sadazou didn't know the specific story. Okamura Neji, Tanabe Takemori and Ayabe Tachibana could only hear a general outline.

Okamura Neiji adjusted his glasses: "In other words, Lieutenant General Jingguan is now trapped in Heshun County. He has crossed the First Army Headquarters and asked the North China Front to send troops for reinforcements?"

"Hi!" Shirasaki Kasho said, "Commander!"

Takemori Tanabe asked: "What is the strength of the troops around Lieutenant General Iseki now?"

Shirasaki Yoshiaki said: "Lieutenant General Jingguan still has more than a thousand soldiers from his headquarters and the 36th Field Artillery Regiment around him!"

"Commander," Tanabe Takemori said, "The failure of the 9th Brigade and the 36th Division has made it impossible to continue the mopping up plan!"

Okamura Neji asked: "Tanabe-kun, what do you want to say?"

Takemori Tanabe said: "I think Lieutenant General Iwamatsu should be asked to give up the mopping up plan at this time and stop the losses in time, otherwise the 36th Division may be in danger of destruction!"

"Abandoning the sweep plan at this time." Ayabe Tachibana said, "Wouldn't all the previous efforts be wasted?"

"If we don't give up the raid plan, we will suffer even greater losses!"

Tanabe Takemori said: "Both the 9th Brigade to the east and the 36th Division to the north have been defeated by the Eighth Route Army. The plan to surround the Eighth Route Army on all sides has been thwarted by the Eighth Route Army."

"The so-called iron wall siege is no longer in name only, and even if we continue to sweep, it will not achieve the effect of clearing the Taihang base area."

"The 37th Division and the 4th Brigade entered Licheng County to search for the Eighth Route Army headquarters and found nothing. It is difficult for the lone army to go deep into the logistics supply. Instead, there is a danger of falling into the Eighth Route Army trap!"

"The 41st Division still hasn't arrived at the Baijin Line. It's better to order the encirclement troops to move towards Heshun County at night and encircle it!"

"Cooperate with the Jingguan Division inside and outside, and defeat the main force of the Eighth Route Army surrounding Heshun County in one fell swoop!"

"With the troops in Lieutenant General Jingguan's hands, plus the fact that he is defending the city, he is still capable of fighting against the Eighth Route Army!"

"Chief of Staff, you have convinced me!" Ayabe Tachibana said, "I agree with your opinion!"

Okamura Neiji also had this idea. At this moment, he no longer hesitated and said to Shirasaki Yoshiaki: "I want to speak to General Iwamatsu Yoshio. Please arrange it for me, Shirasaki-kun!"

"Hi!" Shirasaki Yoshiaki nodded, then walked out quickly.

Not long after, Shirasaki Yoshiaki ordered several Japanese soldiers to bring the telephone in: "Your Excellency, Commander, the call with the First Army Headquarters has been connected!"

"Moses Moses, this is Okamura Neji, Lieutenant General Iwamatsu, please answer the phone!"

Okamura Neiji picked up the phone receiver and put it to his ear and said.

"Report to Commander, General Yansong...is ill and has not woken up yet!"

Matsui Tadao's voice came over the phone, his tone a bit awkward and frightened.

"Nani?" Neji Okamura asked with concern, "How is General Iwamatsu's condition?"

Matsui Tadao said: "There is no serious problem."

Okamura Neiji: "Then ask Major General Miyano to answer the phone!"

"Hi!"

About 2 minutes later, Miyano Michichi's voice sounded in the receiver: "Commander Okamura, I am Miyano Michichi!"

Okamura Neji said: "Miyano-kun, thank you for your hard work!"

Miyano Michichi paused and said: "Be loyal to His Majesty the Emperor!"

"I have learned about the war in the Taihang Base Area." Okamura Neiji said, "Considering the changes in the war situation, the North China Front Army Headquarters decided to abandon the encirclement plan of the Eighth Route Taihang Base Area and ordered the encirclement troops to immediately move closer to Heshun County and cooperate with Lieutenant General Jingguan to annihilate them.

The main force of the Eighth Route Army in the Heshun area!"

"Nani?" Miyano Michichi said in shock, "Commander, you have prepared an encirclement plan for so long and you just gave up?"

Okamura Neji's voice suddenly turned cold: "Miyano-kun, I'm not informing you, I'm conveying an order to you!"

Miyano Michichi quickly paused and said: "Hi!"

After finishing speaking, a blind tone came from Miyano Michichi's phone receiver.

After hanging up the phone, Miyano Michichi thought for a moment and said to Tadao Matsui beside him: "Immediately order the 41st Division, 37th Division and 4th Brigade to abandon the raid on the Eighth Route Base Area and move towards Heshun County to assist the 4th Brigade.

36th Division!"

"Hi!" Tadao Matsui nodded, and then quickly drafted several telegrams and handed them to the Japanese telegraph operator.

The telegraph operator quickly sent the telegram according to the content.

…

at the same time.

Outside Heshun County.

The Eighth Route Army with more than 10,000 troops surrounded Heshun County.

It was already dark by this time.

Inside the Zheng family villager's house outside the city, the column's temporary headquarters is located.

Chief Chen, Chief of Staff Zhang, Li Yunlong and Ding Wei were all gathered around the table.

Wei Dayong is reporting the situation to everyone.

"According to the news sent by telegraph from Langya Squadron, Jingguan Ren is still in Heshun County, and the walls are heavily defended by Japanese troops on all sides."

"The Japanese Artillery Regiment is also in the city."

"Currently, the Wolf Fang Squadron has not been exposed and has been arranged to protect the field artillery wing."

Chief Chen laughed when he heard this and said, "Does that old devil Jingguan Ren want to fight us to the death in Heshun County?"

Li Yunlong also said.

"Does Jing Guanren want to fight us now?"

"What did you do early?"

"Does he have the strength to fight our Eighth Route Army?"

Ding Weidao said: "The old Japanese Jingguan Ren still has his own troops, plus the Japanese military police and artillery regiment in Heshun County, at least more than 3,000 people. Don't underestimate the enemy."
To be continued...