Ishihara Kaner asked, "Okamura, why is it the 18th Division, not the 5th Division?"

Hinata asked in confusion: "Yes, the advantage of the attack cluster composed of the 18th Division and the 22nd Division on the flank is not obvious. If the 18th Division is drawn to the front, wouldn't the force on the flank be more empty? The 20th Army of the Chinese Army on the opposite side is also an elite army. Will it take the opportunity to launch a counterattack?"

"No." Okamura Yasuji shook his head, "The 20th Chinese Army is no longer able to launch a counterattack."

After a pause, Okamura Yasuji continued: "What's more, the independent mixed 11th Brigade is behind the 22nd Division. Even if the 20th Army of China counterattacks, there will be no problem."

Ishihara said, "Why not let the 5th Division join?"

"Yes." Hinata Shiaki also echoed, "Since the 5th Division was transferred to the middle lane, it has been resting and recuperating. Even when the war was at its most difficult time, it has not been rotated. Now the 2nd Division is no longer able to attack. Why not let the 5th Division, which has been replenishing for two months, come on?"

After entering the second stage, although the 5th Division was withdrawn from the right battlefield, it has been resting and waiting in Yiwu County after joining the middle battlefield. Until now, it has been resting for nearly two months.

The officers and soldiers of the Guards Division, the 1st Division and the 2nd Division also complained about this phenomenon.

Several division commanders even ridiculed the officers and soldiers of the 5th Division as the treasure of commander Okamura Yasuji.

From the 5th Division to the division commander Akito Nakamura and every soldier, he naturally couldn't stand this. He asked Okamura Yasuji many times, but Okamura Yasuji was unmoved at all.

Ishihara said, "Okamura, I originally thought you kept the 5th Division so that you could have a new force to enter the battlefield and play a decisive role at critical moments, but judging from the current situation, I seem to be wrong? Your intention to keep the 5th Division is not what I thought?"

Okamura Yasuji sighed and said, "Ishihara, you are right. That's what I think. The reason why I keep the 5th Division still is to have a new force at a critical moment."

Ishihara said, "Now is the time to use this new force!"

Okamura Nishi shook his head and said, "But don't forget, Ishihara Jun, there is also a new force in Zhong Yi's hand that never moves!"

"You mean the 10th China Army?" Ishihara smiled.

"Yes, it's the 10th China Army." Okamura Yanji nodded and said worriedly, "Even if the front line continues to collapse backwards, even if the bunkers built by our army have advanced to the creek mouth, almost blocking Yinjiang's doorstep, but Zhong Yi has never used the 10th Army, which is a worrying thing."

Ishihara said, "Okamura, are you saying that Zhong Yi is also waiting for the opportunity?"

"Yes, Zhong Yi must be waiting for the opportunity." Okamura Yanji nodded and said, "Waiting for a good opportunity to turn defeat into victory, or even kill the 13th Army with one blow!"

"One blow is fatal?" Ishihara said, "Do you think there will be such a chance?"

"Not at the moment." Okamura Yasuji shook his head and said, "But not now, it does not mean that there will not be any future. The situation of the battle is changing rapidly, and no one knows what will happen tomorrow."

"I don't think there will be any problems." Ishihara Kaner walked to the sand table and stood firm, saying with his finger on the sand table, "Okamura Jun, you see, so far, the cage policy implemented by our army in the occupied areas of Zhejiang Province has been very smooth. The 15th Division and the 17th Division have built more than a thousand strongholds in more than a dozen counties including Xinchang, Shengxian, Tiantai, Sanmen, Ninghai, Fenghua, Yuyao, Shangyu, Shaoxing, Dongyang, Zhuji, etc.! The blockade has been completely formed!"

"So what?" Okamura Nishi shook his head and said, "These blockade ditches are still very difficult to deal with the Sichuan army. From time to time, they will be broken through by the Sichuan army in the encirclement. Therefore, once the 10th China Army of Yinjiang launched a large-scale attack, these blockade ditches alone cannot be stopped, and they can easily break through the blockade."

"Even if these blockade ditches cannot block the 10th China Army, it is always okay to block them for a few days." Ishihara Kanir shook his head and said, "As long as these blockade ditches can block the 10th China Army for three days, the main forces of the 15th Division and the 17th Division can arrive, and even the main forces of the 11th Brigade can come to reinforce."

Speaking of this, Ishihara Kanir continued: "At that time, if two divisions and another mixed brigade are concentrated, can't they stop the 10th Chinese Army? It's just a Chinese Army. We will concentrate two divisions and another mixed brigade to fight him. It should be considered as if we respect them enough, right?"

Okamura Yasuji remained silent because he could not refute.

Ishihara Kan's analysis is undoubtedly reliable, and this is basically the case.

Even though more than 1,000 bunkers in more than a dozen counties in central Zhejiang have dispersed a large number of troops, the 15th Division and the 17th Division still have more than 30,000 troops at any time. If the 11th Brigade is added, it will be 40,000, and these 40,000 people have basically not participated in the battle much, which can be said to have been raising energy for a long time.

Although the 10th Army of the National Army opposite had a large number of troops, it had a total of 130,000 people.

However, except for the troops left behind in Yinjiang, there will be no more than 100,000 troops that can be used for attack.

Forty thousand Japanese troops against the 100,000 national troops, the Japanese army was indeed at a disadvantage in terms of the number of troops, but if we analyze the actual combat effectiveness of both sides, the Japanese army actually had the upper hand!

Because according to the regular combat power comparison, 40,000 Japanese troops were enough to draw with 280,000 national troops.

Considering that the 15th Division and the 17th Division are all security divisions, and their combat effectiveness is not as good as permanent divisions, while the 10th Army is the elite of the national army, so it is a half-dozen one. However, even so, it is no problem for the 40,000 Japanese troops to tie the 100,000 troops of the 10th Army.

Okamura Yasuji still believes in this basic judgment.

Although Zhong Yi is powerful, it is probably difficult to defeat 40,000 imperial troops in one fell swoop with the 100,000 troops of the 10th Army in a dignified field position battle!

"So..." Ishihara said, "Okamura-kun, there is no need to hold the 5th Division without using it."
Chapter completed!