At the brigade headquarters, before it got dark, news of the success of the independent regiment was sent over.
The first thing that caught our eyes was the good news that Zuotou's division was defeated in Dongshan Mountain and suffered heavy losses.
The anxious look on the chief of staff's face disappeared instantly, and he analyzed with joy: "Killed seven or eight thousand Japanese puppet troops in one battle, and also killed the artillery unit and tank brigade of the Sato Division..."
"If I were Zuotou, I would definitely not dare to fight anymore..."
"We will definitely evacuate the Independence Regiment base area at dawn tomorrow!"
The brigade commander said with deep approval: "The independent regiment fought well..."
"A blocking battle will pull out all the tiger teeth of Zuotou's division. No matter how powerful the tiger is, it will lose its ability to attack... They have no choice but to retreat!"
"But independence also comes at a huge cost in combat..."
"Due to heavy casualties, the nine main battalions were downsized into three reinforced battalions..."
"The assault battalion was also beaten down to two companies and had to be combined with the guard battalion to form one battalion..."
"Even the heavy artillery battalion lost more than half in the battle..."
"If the independent group hadn't had a strong foundation, these losses would have been enough to cripple them!"
"Call Kong Jie right away: Their decision to downsize is very correct!"
"Before the Japanese army's large-scale sweep against northwest Shanxi is over, the independent regiment must concentrate all its forces on the front-line combat troops to deal with all accidents that may occur on the battlefield!"
"I hope they will continue their efforts and completely defeat the counter-mopping up in northwestern Shanxi!"
On a small highland six kilometers southeast of Dongshangang, the Sato Division was observing the surrounding terrain with telescopes to determine whether there were any defensive loopholes in the temporary station at their feet.
The chief of staff gasped and climbed up to report: "Division commander...the losses have been calculated!"
"Go back to the headquarters... let's talk as we walk..." Lieutenant General Sato put down his telescope and walked towards the tent at the foot of the mountain, giving orders as he walked.
"Ha Yi..." the chief of staff reported following his footsteps.
"Except for the 48 gunners and ammunition handlers of the heavy artillery brigade, all the other soldiers were killed...all twelve heavy artillery were destroyed..."
"There are only three tanks left in the tank brigade, and the remaining 33 tanks were all destroyed on the battlefield..."
"The six infantry squadrons and three battalions of puppet troops we sent for three attacks were almost completely destroyed..."
"The two thousand puppet soldiers who were transporting ammunition and baggage were killed and fled, and less than five hundred were left..."
"All the ammunition they transported was destroyed...most of the food was burned, and only 100,000 kilograms were rescued!"
"After statistics: except for the 78th and 7th Infantry Brigades, the Guard is still at full strength, the 56th and 5th Infantry Brigades suffered more than half of their casualties, the 1234th Infantry Brigade suffered more than 70% losses, and the 9th Infantry Brigade was completely destroyed..."
"A total of more than 5,800 people are left in the nine infantry brigades to continue fighting!"
"There are only 313 gunners and ammunition handlers left in the mountain artillery brigade and each infantry artillery squad..."
"There are 246 cavalry left in the cavalry brigade..."
"There are still more than 1,200 troops directly under the division, plus the puppet troops, infantry, cavalry, and artillery... There are only more than 8,000 troops left in the entire army, and there are more than 600 lightly or severely wounded who have lost their combat effectiveness."
"Weapons losses are even greater, especially heavy weapons... There are only three tanks left in the army, six direct-fire artillery pieces, 21 rapid-fire guns, 49 mortars, and 52 heavy machine guns..."
"There are still two bases of ammunition left... If we fight the independent group in a decisive battle, we won't be able to hold on for even half a day!"
Lieutenant General Sato walked into the tent just in time, and all the remaining ten or so officers of the division or above were guarding here.
Some people looked solemn, some looked indignant, and some looked aggrieved!
When Zuo Teng walked in, these people looked at him as if they were discussing something.
"Division commander...he despised his duty and failed to guard the baggage troops and heavy artillery brigade. Are you asking for punishment?" The captain of the ninth brigade who was lucky enough to survive took the initiative to apologize, hoping to be forgiven by Sato!
Zuo Teng waved his hands and said: "Now is not the time to hold people accountable!"
"Everyone should know the situation our division is facing. It is in danger!"
"First solve the crisis and get out of the current predicament, and then we will hold people accountable before it is too late!"
"I make a promise to you all. No matter how you performed in the previous battle...as long as you fight bravely in the next battle, do your best, and bring the division out of trouble, I will let bygones be bygones!"
Nakamura Daizuo was the most aggrieved among the three captains.
In the battle at Longgong Village, more than half of the Nakamura Regiment suffered casualties...
The division commander managed to fill the gap by drawing troops from the supplementary team and the baggage team. In the battle of Duanjiapu, more than half of the three infantry brigades under the regiment suffered casualties again.
Withdrawing all the way from the Dongshangang offensive position here, the three brigades lost hundreds of people again due to the crazy pursuit of the independent regiment...
As of now, there are only over 1,100 people left in an infantry regiment, which is less powerful than a full infantry brigade.
The Nakamura United Team fought three major battles with the Independent Regiment, all of which ended in failure. Nakamura's leftists were even a little afraid of the Independent Regiment.
When the division commander asked the troops how to get out of the predicament, he was the first to stand up: "I propose to retreat..."
"More than half of the division's main force suffered casualties, and almost all of its heavy weapons were lost..."
"Although the specific losses of the independent regiment are not yet clear, their heavy artillery battalion must have a lot of artillery left!"
"If we continue to go deep into the independent regiment's base area, the troops may be suppressed and beaten by their artillery at any time!"
"Unless we receive heavy artillery support, retreat is definitely our best option."
The only two remaining captains of the Nakamura Regiment immediately stood up to support: "I also agree with the retreat... Please consider it carefully..."
"Even my humble position supports the retreat..." A captain of the Noda Alliance stepped forward.
"Without heavy artillery support, if we continue to fight, our casualties will definitely rise sharply... It's not cost-effective!"
Noda Daizuo doesn’t think so.
He is a **** member who is determined to retaliate. He suffered such a big loss at the hands of the Independent Group...
If he doesn't take revenge, and as a loser, evacuate the Independence Regiment's base in disgrace, it will be even more uncomfortable than killing him!
Immediately stand up and object: "You can't retreat..."
"Kill one thousand enemies and suffer eight hundred losses..."
"Our army suffered heavy losses, and the independent regiment must also have suffered heavy losses..."
"Maybe they are in a worse situation than us..."
"As long as we continue to attack, we will definitely be able to easily eliminate them and avoid future troubles..."
"As for the artillery issue that everyone is worried about... I think it's harmless..."
"Although we don't have heavy artillery, we have planes..."
"Let the aviation force arrange a few more planes to protect us. No matter how many artillery pieces are left in the heavy artillery battalion of the Independent Regiment, they will not dare to use them to attack us. They can only hide in the mountains as decorations..."
"I implore the division commander to lead us to continue raiding the base areas of the independent regiment, to avenge the fallen warriors and avenge our past humiliation!"
