On the night of December 29, the headquarters of the Japanese 40th Brigade outside Gaoping City.

Perhaps because the weather was too cold, the Japanese officers in the headquarters huddled together and stood with a weary expression.

"Gugu..."

Someone's stomach rumbled twice, making the atmosphere in the headquarters even more awkward.

Sitting in the top position, Takahashi Tagaji gently licked his lips and spoke slowly:

"Gentlemen, please tell me about the current situation of each department!"

The officers looked at each other and were unwilling to be the first to stand up. Finally, Captain Morimoto Iichiro of the 79th Regiment said helplessly:

"Your Excellency, Brigade Commander!" He took two steps slowly to get rid of his body from numbness.

"Due to hunger and insufficient artillery support, the warriors' attack today was very difficult. They only advanced one street in one day's battle, and the number of casualties was much higher than in the previous days! If the attack continues under today's conditions, the attack will

It may take 10 days to get to Gaoping!”

After he finished speaking, he remained silent, without a word of complaint or any suggestion.

The commander of the 80th Regiment, Kenji Hisuzuki, answered:

"In addition to insufficient food supplies, there is also a serious shortage of bullets and grenades in the hands of soldiers. Currently, on average, each soldier only has one grenade and ten bullets! In addition, in addition to the loss of casualties in the battle, the number of sick soldiers has also increased.

As more and more people come, medicines in the hospital at the brigade headquarters are also in short supply, and the wounded and sick cannot receive timely treatment. Many warriors who have no chance of survival are also loyal to His Majesty the Emperor!"

The situation seemed to be getting worse faster than everyone expected. It seemed that in just one day, the 40th Brigade was at the end of its rope.

Lieutenant Colonel Hoshimitsu Hashimoto of the Field Artillery Regiment said with pleading:

"Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, please take advantage of the fact that it hasn't snowed heavily yet, leaving one squadron behind, and the main force should immediately retreat to Lu'an! When the heavy snow falls, we won't be able to leave even if we want to!"

The infantrymen can fight for bayonets when they don't have grenades and bullets, but most of Hashimoto's field artillery regiment don't even have bayonets, so how can he not be anxious or worried?

After Hashimoto Hiromitsu finished speaking, the officers in the room all looked up at Takahashi Tagaji, who was at the head, to see what he would decide.

The expression on Takahashi Tagaji's face seemed both depressed and calm. He glanced at Hiromitsu Hashimoto deeply, and then said to everyone in a majestic voice:

"Your Excellency, the division commander, has always been in Luan. I believe he must be thinking of ways to save us right now!"

"Gentlemen, our 20th Division has never suffered a defeat since its formation. This precedent cannot be set by us!"

"Your Excellency the Chief of Staff is leading the cavalry regiment to storm Jiangdong's rear. Now Jiangdong's situation is the same as ours. It depends on who can persist to the end!"

"Eat food sparingly and use ammunition sparingly. As long as we persist for two more days, Jiangdong will definitely lead his army to break through. By then, not only will the current crisis be resolved, but military merit and honor will also be waiting for us!"

He stood up with his command knife in hand, raised his voice and said:

"We are all the most loyal and brave warriors of His Majesty the Emperor. Only by dying with honor will there be no chance of living an ignoble existence!"

"Qiang!"

He quickly pulled out the imperial command sword, and a cold light suddenly appeared in the command post.

The sharp tip of the knife pointed directly at the sky, and Takahashi Tagaji shouted loudly:

"Long Live His Majesty the Emperor!"

Ichiro Morimoto, Kenji Hizuki, Hiromitsu Hashimoto... all raised their hands and shouted along with the brigade commander:

"Long live!!!"

The sound of mountain shouts spread outside the headquarters. First, the guard troops followed suit, and then gradually infected the entire military camp. The cold night sky echoed with the sounds of howling ghosts and wolves.

"Long live!"

"Long live!"

…

Takahashi Tagaji is an extremely typical Japanese soldier. In his heart, the honor of soldiers and samurai is greater than anything else. For the sake of honor, he can sacrifice his life without hesitation.

Of course, as the commander of more than 10,000 Japanese troops, his thoughts and will are those of his soldiers.

Since he is willing to give up his own life, then he will not hesitate to sacrifice the lives of the soldiers for the honor of the imperial soldiers.

In short, a normal person cannot understand the thoughts and mentality of Japanese soldiers.

Perhaps only beasts like wild beasts in the forest can have empathy with Japanese soldiers.

.

.

It was also the night of the 29th, outside Yangcheng, at the temporary camp of the 28th Regiment of the Japanese Cavalry.

In one fell swoop, the strategic goal of conquering Yangcheng was not achieved. After a day's fierce attack, the cavalry regiment had suffered more than 500 casualties. Its maneuverability advantage was completely lost, and the surprise attack plan was declared bankrupt.

Kimura Jiuzou was extremely anxious. It didn't matter if the operation failed, but this operation was not only related to the 28th Cavalry Regiment, but also the 40th Infantry Brigade in the north, which was in a state of hunger and cold.

.

Although he was extremely anxious, Kushimura Kushiro still forced himself to calm down. He kept thinking, trying to find a way to reverse the situation of the war in one fell swoop.

When he was extremely depressed, the communications soldier reported another extremely bad news:

"Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, about a regiment of the Central Army suddenly appeared around Qu, Wo and Yicheng counties. The defenders from various places who originally planned to come to support were restrained!"

Jiucun Jiuzang was stunned. He had originally hoped that reinforcements would arrive tomorrow and the two armies would join forces to capture Yangcheng.

"Where did the Central Army come from?"

"It seems to be the troops guarding Lihuang from Zhongtiao Mountain. Just now, the Quwo garrison sent a telegram, and the man in question is shelling their position!"

"Snapped!"

Kimura Jiuzou sat down on the stool, waved his hand feebly, and the staff member wisely withdrew.

Wei Lihuang was hiding in his Zhongtiao Mountain dishonestly, why did he suddenly come to intervene at this time?

'Has the plan for interspersed raids been leaked a long time ago?'

The more Jiucun Jiuzang thought about it, the more frightened he became.

'Your Excellency, Division Commander!'

'The 40th Brigade!'

'His Majesty's Christmas gift!'

Pressure came from all directions and poured into Kushimura Jiuzou's heart. Cold sweat began to break out on his forehead, and his face turned blue and white.

"Chief of Staff, are you okay?"

Captain Shigeru Fujita, who had just returned from outside, saw this and asked hurriedly.

"water……"

Shigeru Fujita turned around and picked up a glass of water from the table and handed it to Kushimura Kushiro.

After drinking a glass of water, the Chief of Staff's face softened slightly.

At present, he and the cavalry regiment have no way out, so they can only hold on to the mentality of risking death and survive, and seize the last hope of a desperate counterattack.

Kimura Jiuzang's face was more serious than ever before,

"Fujita-kun, are you afraid of death?"

Mr. Fujita Shigeru was stunned for a moment when he heard this sudden question, and then quickly answered:

"Don't be afraid. As a soldier of the Japanese Empire, for His Majesty the Emperor and for the holy war, I have already put life and death aside. As long as I die for honor, I believe that my tablet will be placed in the shrine after my death.

Enjoy the worship of the descendants of the Yamato nation!"

Kimura Jiuzou smiled, pressed his hand firmly on Fujita Shigeru's shoulder, and whispered:
Chapter completed!