"Bringing untrained soldiers into the battlefield is equivalent to throwing them into death." Chapter 5 of Su Tong's Memoirs, Volume 7.
On a beach in Changhua, Taiwan, a group of Japanese soldiers were sweating like rain, waving hoes and shovels in their hands. In front of them were barbed wire fences and trenches, densely lined up into the distance. To be honest, the trenches of the Japanese army are now
The depth has exceeded the standards for field fortifications stipulated by the Army, but the sergeants and officers on the position are still urging the soldiers to dig hard.
"Ueno-kun, the fortifications here are already deep enough, why do we still need to dig?" Nakamura Taro, who was digging hard with a hoe, stopped and asked a sergeant commander next to him.
Ueno Koichi stopped what he was doing, pulled off the colorless towel around his neck and wiped the sweat, then picked up the kettle from his feet and poured a large amount of water into his mouth, and then said with a wry smile: "Nakamura-kun
, you just graduated from college and don’t understand the power of naval guns. If this is a normal land battle, our trenches are indeed sufficient, but now we have to deal with the Chinese’s large-caliber naval guns, and our fortifications
It’s far from enough, but to be honest, what we are doing now is just some useless work.”
"Oh, are the Chinese naval guns really so powerful?" Taro Nakamura asked doubtfully. For this college student who had just stepped out of campus, his understanding of naval guns was limited to movies or books.
He had never seen its actual power.
"You guys just came out of school," Ueno Hiroichi sighed, looked around and found a relatively clean place to sit down.
"Nakamura-kun, please sit down and take a rest. Just leave these things to the people below." Ueno Hiroshi patted a piece of flat ground next to him and said, "Let's sit down and take a drink of water first, and I'll give it to you."
Explain, explain.”
"This is not good." Nakamura Taro looked at the soldiers around him who were digging hard and said hesitantly: "If the squad leader sees it, he might punish us."
Ueno Hiroichi curled his lips, "What are you afraid of? You are an officer. Officers should have the privileges of officers. We can set an example by digging with them. Besides, the squad leader is a warrant officer and you are also a warrant officer. What are you afraid of?"
"
"Okay, let's take a break." Nakamura Taro smiled and sat down. He took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and handed it to Ueno Koichi, "Ueno-kun, come and have a cigarette."
Ueno Hiroichi took the cigarette and looked at it: "Hey Nakamura-kun, you are living a good life. This cloud cigarette is a good thing. Where did you get it? We don't have that person's cigarette for sale here." Ueno Hiroichi took out it.
After a cigarette, he handed the cigarette back to Nakamura.
Taro Nakamura pushed the cigarette case over and said with a smile: "My girlfriend bought this for me. I don't know if it suits your taste. I rarely smoke. If you like it, just take it and smoke it."
"
"Haha, thank you Nakamura-kun." Ueno Hiroshi accepted the cigarette with a smile on his face, lit it up, took a puff and praised: "Yo Xi, it's such a good smoke. It's rich and fragrant. It's worthy of being a Chinese."
cigarette."
After Nakamura came to the garrison, he was assigned to a squad as the deputy captain, assisting the squad leader in managing a squad of more than thirty members composed of returning regiments and retired soldiers. He knew that he did not have much time left for him, although he was
He didn't know much about commanding wars, but he knew that if he wanted to save his life, he had to win over his several sergeants, so these days he let go of his college student airs and got along with his several sergeants, and
This Ueno sergeant was the focus of his win over.
Ueno Koichi is an old sergeant who is nearly forty years old. This is his second time to enlist in the army. Because of his rich experience, he became the sergeant commander of the team after re-enlisting, which is equivalent to the Chinese National Defense Force.
The sergeant major. The captain of the team and Taro Nakamura all think highly of him.
Taro Nakamura also lit up a cigarette and took a few puffs, but was choked by the smell of the cigarette and coughed hard, making Ueno Hiroichi laugh.
"Nakamura-kun, you still need to learn more. If men in Japan don't know how to smoke and drink, then that won't work."
"I have never learned to smoke in school before, and my family's financial situation does not allow it. My parents are very strict about this." Nakamura Taro explained embarrassedly.
"Oh, so Nakamura-kun, your family situation is not very good. I heard just now that your girlfriend bought you this cigarette, so your girlfriend's family must be very rich."
"Yes, my girlfriend's father, Ichiken Sakai, is a colonel in the Army Provincial Logistics Bureau. He was a classmate of our Governor Hase at Army University." Nakamura Taro knew that he must be respected by his subordinates.
He had a strong background, so he pretended to be casual and leaked the "secret".
"Nakamura-san! Sir Nakamura, your father-in-law is a classmate of Governor Hase. That's really disrespectful." As expected, Ueno Koichi was surprised when Taro Nakamura told his background so casually, and unknowingly he even
The name of Nakamura was also changed.
"It's okay. We all work for His Majesty the Emperor. Besides, my relationship with Miss Sakai is not because of his family background, but because of his virtuousness." Although Nakamura was a little proud in his heart, he was still very reserved on the surface.
"Yoshi, it turns out that Nakamura-kun's girlfriend is a girl from the Sakai family. Chief Nakamura is really lucky." Ueno Koichi said with a hint of awe.
Under Nakamura Taro's deliberate wooing and Ueno Koichi's deliberate flattery, the two chatted happily. After chatting for a while, Nakamura Taro pretended to be curious and asked: "Ueno-kun, I heard that the Chinese are determined to win Taiwan this time.
Do you think we can hold on?"
Ueno Hiroichi smiled bitterly when he heard this, "Who knows, probably only Amaterasu knows the answer to this question. But according to my estimation, it will be difficult for us to resist the Chinese attack this time."
"Why is Kurai still waiting in Tokyo for me to go back and marry her?" Nakamura had a look of horror on his face. This was not an act, but he was really scared in his heart.
"Alas" Ueno Koichi also sighed, looking at the big boy in front of him who was about the same age as his son, a top student who had just graduated from the University of Tokyo. Seeing that a young man with a great future was ruthlessly pushed into the battlefield.
"Nakamura-kun, you don't need to be nervous. We are a garrison here. After the trenches are dug tonight, we will retreat to the back. The Governor will not send us to the front easily. This is the beachhead.
It's not something that third-rate troops like us can hold on to, and the Governor will understand this."
After hearing what Ueno Koichi said, Nakamura rolled his eyes and asked tentatively: "Ueno-kun, do you want to return to Japan alive?"
Ueno Hiroichi was stunned, "Who doesn't want to, but the problem is that once you go to the battlefield, your life is no longer yours. There is no point in thinking about it. It depends on the will of Amaterasu. Chief Nakamura, do you have any good ideas?
"
Taro Nakamura shook his head, "What can I do? I can only take it one step at a time, but there is always a road ahead. As long as we work hard, we will find a way."
Since he had just arrived, Nakamura Taro did not dare to talk to people casually, so he could only take his time. Fortunately, he would retreat to the back tonight, so he should have enough time.
"There are 600 kilometers of coastline on the west coast of Taiwan that are gentle and easy for landing. About 300 kilometers are suitable for large-scale landings. However, our military strength is very limited. We only have the 20th and 21st divisions transferred from the mainland as the main force.
In particular, Tanaka-kun's 20th Division is our standing division, which is our main force in defending Taiwan, followed by Sato-kun's 21st Division. This division's combat effectiveness is also very impressive. But just from
The 136th Division transferred from China is relatively inferior. The 136th Division is a new division with mixed officers and soldiers. Although their combat effectiveness will not be defeated in one blow when encountering the Chinese, I guess
We are also unable to withstand the Chinese naval artillery attack on the beach. Now our defense focus is on the Tamsui River area in Taipei. However, the Chinese army used naval artillery to attack the imperial fortifications when they invaded North Korea. That battle has proved that every enemy on the west coast of Taiwan
Any area suitable for landing may become a landing site for the Chinese army. Every coast from Taipei Prefecture, Hsinchu Prefecture, Taichung Prefecture, Tainan Prefecture and Kaohsiung Prefecture from north to south may become a landing site for China. Therefore, in view of the lack of landing sites,
It was determined that the troops lacked artillery, machine guns and even rifles, so they could only place the troops in various cities to build strong fortifications and wait for the Chinese Army to land. The destruction caused by the Chinese Army through tactical bombing of Taiwan's communication systems, bridges, and railway centers
It has impaired our ability to respond to attacks."
In the Governor's Mansion of Taiwan, Hasegawa Kiyoshi pointed to the sand table and talked. In front of him stood several senior generals of the Japanese army, all of whom listened attentively to Hasegawa Kiyoshi's explanation.
Lieutenant General Tanaka Nobuyoshi, commander of the 20th Division, said anxiously: "Your Majesty the Governor, according to the latest intelligence, the Chinese have now gathered more than 300 warships, including three aircraft carriers of the entire South China Sea Fleet, and are entrenched in Fujian.
Zhejiang and other places are about to launch an attack on us in the next few days. The few warships of the Imperial Navy in Taiwan alone cannot stop it. It can be said that the blocking position we have established on the beach is of little use at all. Why do you still order the formation of
The garrison is building fortifications."
Facing the questions from his subordinates, Hasegawa Kiyoshi smiled bitterly: "Tanaka-kun, the situation in the empire is like this. Although we have made the judgment that we cannot defend the enemy on the beach, it does not mean that the base camp also agrees with us. There are some things
Even though I don’t like it, I have to do it.”
Tanaka Nobuyoshi was dumbfounded when he heard this. As a senior general, he naturally knew what those people in the country were thinking now. If they knew that Hasegawa Kiyoshi gave up the beachhead and instead huddled the main force in a fortified city to face the enemy, then a cowardly person who was afraid of the enemy would be shocked.
It is absolutely impossible to escape the guilt of war. If this battle is won, everything will be easy to say. If he loses, then all the blame for the defeat will fall on his head. Now Hasegawa Kiyoshi has people building fortifications on the beach and then in China
If you resist a little when someone attacks, you will have an excuse even if you are defeated later. Thinking of this, Tanaka Nobuyoshi couldn't help but secretly sigh, when did the generals of the empire become so afraid of the Chinese? The war hasn't even started yet, and the senior generals
I have arranged a retreat for myself. Is this still the invincible imperial army from seven years ago?
But Tanaka Nobuyoshi also understands that this is also the current common mentality of the senior generals of the empire. Ever since the Imperial Army was driven back from the mainland by the Chinese, most senior generals have become afraid of the Chinese army that they once looked down upon.
, how many outstanding generals of the empire were defeated by the Chinese, even Okamura Neiji, Itatasei Seishiro, Marshal Shanshan, Matsui Iwane and other former pride of the empire were defeated one by one, especially Kuhaye.
The 40,000 imperial elites were wiped out in the First World War. This fear of the enemy was even more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and Governor Hase was not immune to it.
"Who do you plan to have to guard the beachhead?" Nobuhiro Tanaka believed that after Kiyoshi Hasegawa spent so much effort building fortifications, he would definitely arrange some cannon fodder to block gun holes on the beach.
"Of course we sent those Taiwanese soldiers to guard. The empire has trained them for so many years, and now it's their turn to contribute." Chihiro Sato, commander of the 21st Division on the side, curled his lips and said without thinking.
explain.
As early as the 15th year of the Republic of China, the Japanese authorities ordered the formation of a brigade of about 6,000 people composed exclusively of Taiwanese. The military commanders and instructors of this brigade were all Japanese non-commissioned officers and officers on active duty.
, originally the Japanese authorities just wanted to form a team to maintain public security, but they never thought that the combat effectiveness of this brigade after training would surprise the Japanese authorities. Their combat qualities are no worse than those of ordinary Japanese army divisions.
His performance in the Wicker Lake Incident and the battle to suppress the Northeast Resistance Army was very eye-catching. His ruthlessness even put the ordinary Japanese army to shame. The Japanese authorities were overjoyed and formed two more units in the following days.
There is a Taiwanese mixed brigade. But no matter how eye-catching the performance of these Taiwanese soldiers, in the eyes of these Japanese masters, they have always been third-class citizens. Now Hasegawa Seiichi said that cannon fodder is needed to block the eye-catching people, and everyone also
I thought of them right away.
"Well, Mr. Sato is right. Those Taiwanese soldiers have been deeply favored by the emperor. Now it's time to make them pay some price, and it is also a good thing to let the Chinese people fight the Chinese people." Although the Japanese in Taiwan
The school has always promoted the theory that Taiwan is already a territory of Japan, and Taiwanese are naturally Japanese. However, the Japanese themselves do not regard Taiwanese as compatriots. Therefore, Hasegawa Kiyoshi saw how understanding Sato Chihiro was.
Don't just go with the flow.
"But they are three brigades with strong combat capabilities after all. Isn't it a pity that we just push them to the beach? They have more than 20,000 people in three brigades." Tanaka Nobuyoshi does not feel sorry for those Taiwanese
Taiwanese soldiers, but worried that Taiwanese soldiers would suffer too many casualties, resulting in insufficient troops to guard various cities on the island.
"Tanaka-kun is right." Hasegawa Kiyoshi sorted out his thoughts and said, "In that case, let's arrange two brigades on the beach. If there are too few, we will not have enough troops."
"That's okay." Tanaka Nobuyoshi and Sato Chihiro also agreed to this arrangement, but Sato Chihiro rolled his eyes and suggested: "Your Excellency, since the Chinese are about to attack, in order to prevent the Taiwanese from tipping off the Chinese soldiers
, should we clean up all the fishermen along the coast?"
Seeing the ferocious look on Sato Chihiro's face, several staff officers standing behind couldn't help but tremble in their hearts. They knew that Sato Chihiro was planning to start a killing spree, but as soon as Sato Chihiro said the words, someone stood next to him.
Hasegawa Kiyoshi and Tanaka Nobuyoshi shouted in unison.
"Don't do it"
"Sato-kun, please don't do anything stupid." Tanaka Nobuyoshi hurriedly stepped forward to stop him: "This is not seven years ago. Sato-kun, you must never do this kind of massacre of civilians again."
Sato Chihiro was stunned for a moment, and then said with a ferocious smile: "Why, the Chinese artillery shells are about to fall on our heads, Tanaka-kun, do you still want to protect those humble Chinese people? Are you still not a warrior of the empire?"
"Baga" Tanaka Nobuyoshi who was standing next to him couldn't help but became furious when he heard Sato Chihiro say such dizzy words: "Asshole Sato-kun, what are you talking about? I think you are just dizzy. What time is it now?"
You are still thinking about massacring civilians to vent your anger, haven't you thought about how much harm this will bring to the empire?"
Hasegawa Kiyoshi also frowned at the side. This Sato Chihiro is really a reckless man. Now he still wants to do such a bastard thing. He frowned and said: "Captain Sato, Tanaka-kun is right.
After you return to the army, you must restrain the troops and not do such things that damage the empire's face. Do you know why the Chinese have not sent planes to bomb Taiwan until now? It is because we both have a tacit understanding.
, not to attack civilians. If the Chinese people learn about our massacre of civilians, the Chinese people will definitely take revenge. Have you forgotten the bombing of Tokyo a few years ago?"
Hasegawa Kiyoshi's voice was not loud, but it was like giving Sato Chihiro a blow in the head. The Chahar army's bombing of Tokyo a few years ago has caused this once prosperous city to still breathe. That one was burned down
The fire that destroyed half of Tokyo makes the entire Japanese military still tremble when thinking about it. It was the fire that made Japan no longer dare to massacre civilians in China. Once this tacit understanding was broken, even Hasegawa Kiyoshi
I can't imagine what the consequences will be.
After being scolded by Hasegawa Kiyoshi, Chihiro Sato snorted and remained silent.
"Okay, the Chinese attack is imminent. Let's go back and reorganize the troops." Kiyoshi Hasegawa sighed and ended today's meeting. "Hai