But on the other hand, just when the generals of the Eighth Route Army were having some headaches about the Japanese army that had become a coward, Peiping, the headquarters of the Japanese North China Front.
The Japanese commander-in-chief Naosaburo Okabe also held a post-war military conference.
The similarities in history are striking, as if history is beginning to repeat itself.
Not long ago, in the post-war military conference held by the Japanese army after the Eighth Route Army launched its autumn offensive, officers at all levels blamed each other.
After all, no one is willing to take the responsibility for the defeat on themselves.
Finally, after pushing and pushing, a scapegoat was pulled out - the head of the Japanese spy agency.
In the last military meeting, Lieutenant General Inoue, the commander of the 14th Division of the Kwantung Army, who vowed to eliminate the so-called elite Steel Helmets of the Eighth Route Army, has long since become history.
The 14th Division of the Kwantung Army was almost completely destroyed.
Although the Japanese army's external propaganda stated that the 14th Division only suffered heavy losses and returned to the Northeast for repairs, the actual situation was no secret to the senior officers present.
This made the atmosphere at the beginning of the meeting somewhat depressing.
After the meeting officially began, no officer as brave as Inoue stood up and expressed his intention to defeat the Eighth Route Army and eliminate its elite.
Those who dare to shout slogans like that will either be defeated by the Eighth Route Army, or like Inoue, they will be completely destroyed by the Eighth Route Army, and even their bodies will not be recovered.
So in the subsequent meeting, Japanese military officers at all levels spoke surprisingly unanimously.
When Naosaburo Okabe proposed: "The Imperial Army's military strategy against the Eighth Route Army should be adjusted to use offense as defense to ensure the overall situation."
Japanese officers at all levels expressed their agreement, and each of them even looked relieved.
As the commander of the 35th Division who performed most brilliantly and suffered the smallest losses in the battles surrounding Datong and Zhangjiakou, Lieutenant General Harada’s words were generous and solemn:
"I have long believed that the strategy against the Eighth Route Army should be based on blockade, supplemented by active attacks and mopping up.
The Eighth Route Army is located in remote mountainous villages and suburbs, which are not economic centers to begin with, and their military value is not high.
If we do not take the initiative to attack, but only carry out a strict military blockade, with limited resources and living space, the Eighth Route Army will not be able to develop even if it wants to.
It happens that our army's offensive is fought far away from our army's communication lines and logistics centers. It is inherently disadvantageous. Once the battle fails, it will actually help the Eighth Route Army.
There is such a saying among the Eighth Route Army, and I think you must have heard it.
'No guns, no cannons, the enemy made them for us!'
A few years ago, when the Eighth Route Army had not yet developed, its equipment was backward and ammunition was scarce. It was basically a group of beggars with no climate.
But what happened next?
It is because our army continuously entered the Eighth Route Army's base areas to conduct raids, and the Eighth Route Army took the opportunity to seize a large amount of ammunition and supplies, achieving the purpose of supporting war with war.
Well now, the mopping up strategy was ultimately unsuccessful, and the empire suffered huge losses as a result!"
Hearing this, the other Japanese officers fell silent.
History is written by the victors.
Now that the Eighth Route Army has won the battle, the Japanese army has suffered heavy losses in one sweep after another. Harada can naturally say this.
But Naosaburo Okabe felt very uncomfortable hearing these words.
After he took over as the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Army's North China Front, he originally had the mentality of being a new officer and believed that he would be able to eliminate the main force of the Eighth Route Army in North China under his wise command.
Therefore, although Okamura Neiji continued to suffer defeats when he was in office, the newly appointed Okabe still insisted on arranging troops to launch military attacks against the Eighth Route Army base areas.
From the beginning of the autumn offensive to the end of the current battles surrounding Datong and Zhangjiakou, Okabe, who suffered successive defeats, completely understood that he would definitely suffer heavy losses if he fought against the Eighth Route Army.
During his tenure, Senior Okamura exhausted almost all means to deal with the Eighth Route Army. What was the result? It did not end in failure, and he was even transferred to Guadalcanal.
Thinking of this, Okabe didn't want to watch a good military meeting turn into a scolding meeting where people blamed each other, so he said:
"Everyone, there is an old Chinese saying that victory or defeat is a matter of military strategism. As long as we can be aware of our shame and then be brave, our Empire of Japan will be able to win the final victory sooner or later.
There is no point in assigning blame to each other.
Let us discuss together and find out what other methods can be used to deal with or suppress the Eighth Route Army after the strategic policy changes!"
The officers immediately started a discussion.
The strategy of proactively launching military attacks on the Eighth Route Army base areas was the first to be eliminated.
"But a blind military blockade may not be realistic. When Mr. Okamura implemented the cage policy, wasn't the blockade completely broken by a hundred-regiment battle of the Eighth Route Army?"
Some officers expressed their opinions.
Then someone else retorted: "Can we just retreat step by step and fall into passivity?"
"Then what else can you do? If Nancun-kun feels cowardly, just take your team and go directly to raid the Eighth Route Army's base area. I think it's best to go straight to the Eighth Route Army's iron triangle base area.
I believe even more that the Nancun Army will definitely win!"
"You..." After hearing this, the old devil from Nancun immediately stopped his activities, even though his beard was standing up in anger.
But he really didn't have the confidence to go deep into the Eighth Route Army base area for a large-scale raid, especially to deal with the elite of the Eighth Route Army's Iron Triangle.
Inoue, who couldn't even return to his hometown, is a lesson learned from the past.
Following the discussion, the Japanese were at a loss for what to do.
It is true that the current Eighth Route Army has grown too exaggeratedly, and they have already built iron barrel-like defenses in various stable anti-Japanese revolutionary bases.
Artillery units, armored units, all kinds of mechanized combat units, they have everything you need.
Even for aviation bases, according to the speculation made by the Japanese army after the defeat in the battle for air supremacy surrounding Datong and Zhangjiakou, the Eighth Route Army already has at least six or more large-scale aviation bases.
Otherwise, in the air battle between Datong and Zhangjiakou, the Eighth Route Army would never be able to dispatch hundreds of fighter planes at once.
The situation at that time simply shocked the Japanese army beyond measure.
Under such circumstances, the Eighth Route Army fought in the Eighth Route Army base area, occupying the right time, location, people, and even superior equipment and air force.
In the words of old Japanese Harada: "Is it still possible to win?"
But when the conversation changed, Harada came up with an idea that made everyone's eyes brighter:
“The Chinese often say an old saying, what defeats a group is often not external threats and attacks, but internal divisions and contradictions.
Nowadays, it is no longer realistic to forcibly eliminate the main force of the Eighth Route Army with military attacks. It is better to continue to implement the strategy of using China to govern China and let our army secretly operate it to intensify the contradictions and gaps between the Eighth Route Army and the National Army. Once they
When the two sides start fighting internally, can't our army just sit back and watch and reap the benefits?"
"Harada-kun, how do you say this? Why don't you elaborate!" Okabe said impatiently.
Harada cleared his throat proudly, thinking to himself, don't you still have to rely on me for everything now?
"Your Excellency, Commander-in-Chief, if you want to intensify the contradictions and gaps between the Eighth Route Army and the National Army, the way is very simple.
It's nothing more than two steps.
The first step is for our army to take the initiative to retreat, or even deliberately show weakness, especially in the area where the territory of the National Army and the Eighth Route Army are transferred. Our army can even directly evacuate the troops from the outer occupied areas.
Give up the territory to the Eighth Route Army and the National Army and let them fight.
This is a rule I have discovered a long time ago. Once the external environment becomes relatively stable, the conflict between the Eighth Route Army and the National Army will definitely intensify.
After all, there is no room for two tigers in one mountain, so whose lost territory they regained belongs to them?
When they are both defeated in the fight, we can reoccupy the lost occupied areas at any time.
In the second step, Doi Enjun mobilized intelligence forces and used our army's chess pieces lurking within the national army to intensify the conflict between the Eighth Route Army and the national army through secret operations.
In addition, local warlords who have already secretly reached a surrender agreement with our empire can be arranged to launch military attacks on the Eighth Route Army base areas, triggering military conflicts between the two sides.
In this way, by transforming the main contradiction between the Chinese army and our imperial troops into the main contradiction between the Eighth Route Army and the National Army, we can achieve the purpose of killing people with a borrowed knife!"
Quite a subtle strategic idea.
This is very different from the policy of the Japanese army in previous years. In previous years, the Japanese army was arrogant and arrogant. They did not care about trivial matters. They hunted rabbits and did not care whether they were the Eighth Route Army, the Shanxi-Sui Army or the Chiang Kai-shek Army. As long as they were the Chinese army
, destroy them all for him.
After further discussion, Okabe decided on this strategy.
"Then use China to control China!"
...The Japanese army began to secretly make small moves in an attempt to weaken the strength of the Eighth Route Army through the strategy of using China to occupy China.
As for the Eighth Route Army, it is still growing as usual, and the development and stability of various base areas are increasing with each passing day.
Time flashed to a week later, which was the auspicious day that Kong Jie, Ding Wei, Zhao Gang and other generals had arranged for the wedding of Li Yunlong and Yang Xiuqin.
On the wedding day, Li Yunlong, as the groom's official, was dressed in festive clothes.
On her head is a bright red groom's official hat specially given by Kong Jie, and on her body is a groom's official wedding dress specially customized by Ding Wei. Even the boots on her feet are specially designed to match the festive look.
Black leather boots for wedding wear.
Doolittle, who came to join in the fun, suggested that Li Yunlong imitate their Western-style wedding, with the groom wearing a suit and the bride wearing a white wedding dress.
But he was rejected by Li Yunlong.
Lao Li's words were very clear: "We, Li Yunlong, are mud-legged and a rural child who grew up in a crop field. We don't know those foreign things, so we should just follow the traditions of our ancestors!"
The husband sings and the wife follows.
Xiuqin had no objection to this, and just said: "I listen to my man."
On her wedding day, Yang Xiuqin was even more radiant, covered in red clouds, so beautiful that it almost made Li Yunlong's eyes look straight.
Kong Jie was the most emotional as he watched this scene. He thought to himself that if it weren't for his appearance and the butterfly effect he instigated, the conditions for Lao Li and Xiu Qin's wedding would have been simple, even shabby.
There are no wedding clothes, no corresponding procedures and banquets for marriage. The two of them just wear a small red flower on their chest and have a drink, which is considered a ceremony.
Later, on their wedding day, they were attacked by Yamamoto's secret service. The two couldn't even get together for the wedding ceremony, and they were separated from each other from then on. It was really a tragedy.
Now, through my own efforts, I am looking forward to Yang Xiuqin and Li Yunlong finally being able to get together for a century, and what can be considered a grand wedding.
The regret in Kong Jie's heart was finally made up for.
Ding Weili on the side said happily: "I'm talking about Lao Kong, Lao Li also got married and got a wife, but why do I look at you sighing with more emotion than Lao Li?"
Kong Jie said with a smile: "It's okay if I don't feel emotional! Think about it. This old Li is so old, and his old comrade has been a bachelor for so many years, and he finally got a wife. I can't help but feel happy for Old Li, and feel emotional?"
"
"Fuck you, Lao Kong, how can you be better than me?"
Li Yunlong on the side came over to retort, and then said:
"Lao Kong, Lao Ding, let's get down to business. There is something I want to discuss with you two!"
"What's going on?" Ding Wei asked.
"You said that when Lao Kong and Miss Shen got married, the two of them used the wedding to fool the kid, and they cheated him hard.
At this moment, our Lao Li's marriage can't be wasted. Instead of you two just thinking about it, can you think of a way to use our Lao Li's marriage to trick the little devil over and give him a good beating?" Li Yunlong said seriously.
.
Kong Jie, Ding Wei: "..."
"I'm talking about Lao Li, no wonder you were so excited from the beginning. Are you talking about your marriage to beat the Japanese because of your feelings?" Ding Wei said.
Kong Jie even laughed and scolded: "Li Yunlong, Li Yunlong, you are crazy for wanting to fight the Japanese. Last time I was under special circumstances and the conditions did not allow it. Do you think I don't want to get married properly and have to leave the bride on the wedding night?"
Go to command the battle?
Now that the war situation is clear, the situation in our base area is also stable.
You, Li Yunlong, have the conditions to marry a wife, and the food and supplies are the best, and your old comrades also have free time to come to celebrate your wedding, but you are not satisfied yet?"
Ha ha ha ha--
"What Lao Kong said is right, I will punish myself with three cups of wine in a moment!" Li Yunlong said cheerfully.
As an old comrade, Kong Jie warned: "Old Li, we soldiers are fighting on the front line, and no one knows whether we will die on the battlefield tomorrow. In this case, she can marry me as my wife.
Those are all good wives.
Xiuqin is a good girl, you have to treat her well.
Otherwise, I, the old comrade who pulled the strings, would be the first to jump out and scold you!"
Kong Jie added the rest in his heart - Old Li, Old Li, this is what you owe Xiu Qin.
Li Yunlong nodded solemnly.
"Old Kong, don't worry. Xiuqin suits our old Li's appetite, and our old Li also likes Xiuqin. If there are more, I can't guarantee it, but there is only one thing. Since I, Li Yunlong, have married a wife, I will only have my wife for the rest of my life.