Throughout ancient and modern times, at home and abroad, the history of mankind is a history of war.
In the history of human wars, logistics support plays an absolutely dominant role, and its influence on the outcome of a war far exceeds that of commanders, training, tactics and other factors.
The reason why the Han Empire was able to win the Han-Hungarian War and to expel the Huns to the desolate Central Asia was because of its strong national power and the powerful logistics that could crush the Huns! For
In the crusade against the Xiongnu, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty conscripted 500,000 civilians at once!
However, in the history of human wars, there are three armies that have violated this law of war. They often dare to stride through without logistical support, stabbing the enemy's core like bayonets, and more importantly,
These three armies were able to attack successfully many times.
These three troops are the Mongolian cavalry, the German army during World War II, and the Chinese People’s Volunteers!
Among them, the Chinese People's Volunteers is a model of infantry interleaving, while the Mongolian cavalry is the master of cavalry interleaving, but the German army is the leader in mechanized group blitz!
These three armies can be called the three most powerful armies in human history!
It's a pity that the Japanese army is not the Mongolian cavalry, nor the German army, nor the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, which is the best in the world in terms of willpower and individual soldier quality. Therefore, the Japanese army is completely incapable of giving up logistical support and conducting large-scale detours.
Ability.
Therefore, the Osaka Division's move to bypass Pucheng and penetrate directly into Meixian County was an act of underestimating the enemy and advancing rashly.
And there is a price to pay for rash advancement, which is determined by the cruel laws of war!
Seeing that the attacking troops were defeated again, Toshio Miyake was so angry that his face turned livid.
Seeing this, Chief of Staff Kaoru Kataoka quickly explained: "Division Commander, although the virgin forest in this area has been burned, the mountain is very steep, and the Dameishan Independent Regiment has already been on the top of the mountain and on various parts of the ridge.
Bunker fortifications have been built at the pass, so it is expected that the attack will not go smoothly."
"Why don't I know this?" Miyake Toshio said depressedly, "But the performance of these Osaka merchants is really bad, and it has simply damaged the reputation of the imperial army."
Kaoru Kataoka chuckled and said, "The performance of the Osaka Division has always been like this. Could it be that the division commander doesn't know this?"
"You are right. The Osaka Division has not fought a truly tough battle since the day it formed the army, so we cannot be too demanding of them." Toshio Miyake nodded and added, "Fortunately, Dameishan is independent.
Most of the main force of the regiment is confronting the Kumamoto Division in Shan County, and the remaining troops are also trapped in Pu County. The number of troops left behind in Meixian County is only more than a thousand at most."
"Hai." Kaoru Kataoka paused and said, "Judging from today's battles during the day and night, the Mei County defenders only number a thousand or so at most. Just now, they had difficulties in dispatching their troops. The Osaka Division
Although their combat effectiveness is poor, even if they are exhausted, they can still consume the more than a thousand defenders. As long as the main force of Xu Rui's Dameishan Independent Regiment does not come back, Meixian County will definitely fall into my hands within three days."
After a pause, Kaoru Kataoka continued: "Of course, the premise is that the Kumamoto Division cannot be defeated by the main force of the Dameishan Independent Regiment within three days."
"That's impossible." Toshio Miyake shook his head and said, "It's certainly not easy for the Kumamoto Division to defeat the main force of the Daimeishan Independent Regiment, but conversely, it's also even more difficult for the main force of the Daimeishan Independent Regiment to defeat the Kumamoto Division. Now
Although the Kumamoto Division is not as good as the previous ones, it is still the Kumamoto Division after all, and its spirit is still there."
"Hai." Kaoru Kataoka paused and said, "I completely agree with the division commander's opinion."
Miyake Toshio asked again: "By the way, when will the arms allocated from the battlefields in western Zhejiang and southern Anhui be delivered to the front line? Our reserve ammunition is only enough to support three days of combat."
Kataoka Kaoru said: "I have just asked, and the arms have been delivered to Pukou. They will be delivered to the front line tomorrow at the earliest, and they will definitely be delivered the day after tomorrow at the latest."
Miyake Toshio hummed, and then said: "Immediately call the 170th Infantry Regiment and order them to protect this batch of munitions, and there must be no mistakes..."
Before the last typo was spoken, rapid footsteps suddenly came from behind the two of them.
Toshio Miyake and Kaoru Kataoka looked back and saw a communications staff officer hurried over.
The communications staff officer came to Toshio Miyake, paused and reported: "Division commander, we have just received a farewell telegram from Second Lieutenant Sakurai, commander of the communications squadron of the 170th Infantry Regiment."
Kaoru Kataoka even grabbed the telegram with his hands, lowered his head and glanced at it, and then his expression suddenly changed.
"How could this happen? This is impossible!" Kaoru Kataoka shouted, "This makes no sense at all!"
Miyake Toshio forced himself to calm down and asked in a deep voice: "Kataoka-san, what's going on?"
Kaoru Kataoka took a deep breath, tried his best to calm down, and then said: "The division commander, Second Lieutenant Sakurai, reported that the 170th Infantry Regiment has been...the entire army has been destroyed! Regiment Captain Koga
Taro is also broken!"
Even though Miyake Toshio was mentally prepared, after hearing this, his eyesight went dark and he almost fainted on the spot!
It was like a bolt from the blue. This news was no less than a bolt from the blue for Toshio Miyake and the Osaka Division!
The news that the 170th Infantry Regiment was wiped out overnight was horrifying enough in itself, but what made Toshio Miyake even more horrified was the series of events that followed the destruction of the 170th Infantry Regiment.
The chain effect, this is what is really fatal!
The annihilation of the 170th Infantry Regiment means that the logistics supply line from Pukou to Meixian has been cut off. It also means that the military supplies that have arrived at Pukou can no longer be delivered to the front line in time. It also means that the Osaka Division
The regiment only has three days of military reserves left!
In other words, in three days, the Osaka Division will resort to an empty city strategy!
The empty city strategy is a story in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In reality, only fools can do it and dare to do it!
At this time, the most sensible thing to do is to quickly retreat with the troops. At present, all the main forces of the Dameishan Independent Regiment are out. If the Osaka Division retreats decisively at this time, it is impossible for Meixian's more than 1,000 garrison defenders to survive.
No matter what you do, it is even more impossible to keep them here.
Kaoru Kataoka had already thought of this and immediately said: "Division Commander, withdraw quickly!"
"Evacuate?" Miyake Toshio suddenly felt a strong sense of unwillingness in his eyes. Then he pointed to the burned-out remaining Qingniuling Mountains in front of him and said, "Kataoka-san, the primeval forest of the remaining Qingniuling Mountains.
It has been burned and the gate to Meixian has been opened. Wouldn't it be a pity to retreat at this time?"
"Division Commander, our reserve ammunition is only enough to last for three days!" Kaoru Kataoka said, "If the battle goes well, that's okay, but if it doesn't go well, it will be difficult to retreat by then. If you force a retreat, the opponent will
It only takes a small force to defeat us!"
Miyake Toshio was also a little hesitant, because he knew that what Kaoru Kataoka said was true.
While there are still ammunition reserves now, if the Osaka Division wants to retreat, no one can stop it. But after three days, when the remaining ammunition reserves are exhausted, it will not be so easy for the Osaka Division to retreat.
Because by that time, the Osaka Division had no ammunition and was unable to fight the enemy.
Without ammunition, it will be difficult to move forward on the battlefield!
Toshio Miyake was caught in a difficult decision. On one side, there was an easy victory, but on the other side, it was a huge risk. If he won, he would win a lot, and if he lost, he would lose everything. Miyake Toshio began to become agitated.
, because he has never faced such a decisive gamble.
What to do? Retreat or persist? Two different voices argued fiercely in Toshio Miyake's mind. For a while, no one could convince the other.
Just when Toshio Miyake was hesitant, Shozo Kawabe helped him make a decision.
Amidst the rapid footsteps, another communications staff officer quickly came to Toshio Miyake, and then paused and reported: "Division Commander, sent an urgent message from the Condemnation Army Headquarters, ordering our division not to retreat, and must overcome all difficulties and continue the attack.
Capture Meixian in the shortest possible time!"
It turned out that the dispatched army headquarters also received a farewell telegram from the 170th Infantry Regiment. Shozo Kawabe was afraid that Toshio Miyake would retreat, so he sent this war supervising telegram.
After a pause, the communications staff officer continued: "Hebian's chief of staff also gave special instructions. As long as Meixian County is reached, the Dameishan Independent Regiment will definitely be in chaos. Then, this mopping up operation will be a complete victory! This time
If the sweep is successful, then our Osaka Division, Commander of the Division, you will take the greatest credit!"
"Got it." Miyake Toshio waved his hand, signaling the communications staff to leave.
Then Toshio Miyake said to Kaoru Kataoka: "Kataoka-san, you have also seen the telegram from the headquarters of the dispatched force, so I am afraid we have no choice but to continue the attack."
"Division commander, this is an act of rebellion!" Kaoru Kataoka said urgently, "We can refuse to execute it."
"A random fate? How do you know that this must be a random fate?" Miyake Toshio said quietly, "In any case, we have burned down the virgin forest in the remaining Qingniuling Mountains, and the gate of Mei County has opened to our Osaka Division.
If you don't dare to take a chance, when you and I are old, won't we feel regretful when we look back on the past?"
"But..." Kataoka Kaoru said anxiously, "Division Commander, this is too risky!"
"Adventure?" Miyake Toshio said, "As the saying goes, soldiers are crafty. Fighting is inherently a very dangerous thing, and who dares to say that they are sure of victory?"
When Kaoru Kataoka tried to persuade him again, Toshio Miyake interrupted him.
Miyake Toshio continued: "Kataoka-san, it's settled. I don't want to think about today's battle when I get old in the future, and the only word that comes to my mind is regret."
Kaoru Kataoka said no more and could only pause and say hello.
