Hebei, Jingxing County.

The commander of the Japanese Fourth Division, Shigeru Sawada, looked at the dejected officers in front of him and said:

"I just received a report that my troops have captured 3,000 deserters. All of them ran back from Niangziguan and are all members of your 116th Division.

What do you think I should do? Huh?"

Several officers bent their waists even lower, not daring to look at Sawada Shigeru at all.

Sawada Shigeru snorted coldly,

"In the order of the Imperial Japanese Army, your 116th Division was the first organic unit to escape.

The ordinary soldiers ran away, as did the officers, and even your division commander was left behind.

Such a situation is unheard of and unseen. I don’t know how to deal with it, and I don’t dare to deal with it.

I have just asked your Excellency the Commander for instructions. In view of the current tense war situation, I will not hold you responsible for the time being.

Your Excellency, Commander, originally planned to incorporate you into my 4th Division, but I didn't dare to do so. I was afraid that you would take my soldiers away with you.

All the troops in Shijiazhuang have been mobilized, you go to Shijiazhuang and serve as guards!"

After finishing speaking, Sawada Shigeru left without even looking at him.

Several officers of the 116th Division slowly raised their heads, looked at each other for a few times, and then walked out of the room with their heads hanging down.

"The 116th Division is finished."

Everyone thinks so.

The officers left Jingxing and headed for Shijiazhuang with 3,000 soldiers who were also dejected.

The comrades of the 4th Division did not prepare food for these fleeing soldiers, so they went on the road hungry.

"Your Excellency, Division Commander, we have already experienced the combat effectiveness of the Jiangdong Army. If we attack Niangzi Pass, our unit will probably suffer heavy casualties!"

The chief of staff looked at the soldiers of the 116th Division walking away and said in a leisurely tone.

For more than a year, the 4th Division has been doing various businesses with Southeast Shanxi. These soldiers from Osaka are enjoying such a life. Everyone has made a lot of money, and their faces are often filled with joy.

smile.

The soldiers of the Fourth Division looked sad when they heard that they were going to war with their business partners.

Sawada Shigeru knew the psychological trends of the soldiers very well. He shook his head and said:

"The main breakout direction of the First Army and the Twelfth Army is Xinkou. We are here mainly to put pressure on the 3rd Division in Jiangdong."

"Well, it's not that easy to break out of Xinkou. The terrain around Xinkou is difficult and easy to defend but difficult to attack. I'm afraid the First Army and the Twelfth Army will hit a wall. I feel that the final direction of the breakout will still be in

Here we are!”

Sawada Shigeru looked at the chief of staff in surprise,

"If we really get to that point, our 4th Division will have no choice but to use all our strength. After all, there are 50,000 to 60,000 Imperial warriors in the encirclement!"

"How about I send someone to contact the 3rd Division first to see if we can..." the chief of staff said tentatively.

Sawada Shigeru thought about it seriously,

"Okay, let's find out the other party's asking price first.

In addition, send someone to the intelligence agency to ask if there is any useful information."

"Hiyi!"

…

December 29, Niangziguan, 3rd Division Headquarters.

He Dingyuan walked in from the outside through the snow. He rubbed his hands and said to Feng Jinzhang:

"Old Feng, there doesn't seem to be any movement from the kid. Did the joint command make a mistake? It would be a waste to put our main force here. How about you contact the command and change it..."

His words stopped here, and his heart skipped a beat.

The next second, a smile appeared on his face.

"Hey, isn't this Director Song from the Military Intelligence Bureau? Why did he come to Niangziguan?"

Song Li sat in the corner of the 3rd Division headquarters, giving people a cold and snake-like feeling.

"The 4th Division wanted to make a deal with us, and Director Song came to set up a formation." Feng Jinzhang explained.

"Old He, long time no see!"

Song Li came out of the darkness and took the initiative to shake hands with He Dingyuan.

"What did Director Song say? It would be fine if we met often."

He Dingyuan alluded to the shady work of the Military Intelligence Bureau, and at the same time stated that he was innocent and did not want to meet Song Li.

"Ha ha……"

Both Feng Jinzhang and Song Li were amused by this joke.

The three of them sat down next to the carbon basin and briefly exchanged views on the various aspects of the war between the North and the South.

He Dingyuan glanced at Feng Jinzhang several times, seemingly asking about the situation of the moles in the 3rd Division.

But Feng Jinzhang pretended not to see it until the conversation was over.

When there were only two of them left in the headquarters, Feng Jinzhang spoke,

"The work of the Military Intelligence Bureau is special. According to discipline, we cannot ask questions about things they have not taken the initiative to say."

"But the fact of strict compliance is really unsettling. Asking about the progress of the investigation is not a violation of discipline."

He Dingyuan didn't quite believe Feng Jinzhang's words. As the top military commander of the Third Division, it was impossible for him not to know the progress of the Military Intelligence Bureau's investigation.

At the same time, He Dingyuan did not believe that Song Li came to Niangziguan simply to do business with the Japanese.

Niangziguan is a place that must be defended. As long as the Japanese army breaks through in this direction, no matter what the conditions offered by the 4th Division, the 3rd Division will not be able to let them go.

For this deal that has almost no effect, the director of the Military Intelligence Bureau came to Niangziguan specially. No one with a long head would believe it.

After returning to his temporary residence, He Dingyuan sat at the table seriously.

His face was calm and calm, but his brain and thoughts were already running at high speed.

The capabilities of the Military Intelligence Bureau are obvious to all, and some of its methods are even more powerful than those of the Central Command and the Military Command.

The reason why he has not been exposed for such a long time, in addition to being cautious, his identity as deputy division commander also played a big role.

But He Dingyuan felt that Feng Jinzhang seemed to have begun to doubt himself.

Song Li's arrival added huge psychological pressure to him.

He began to consider a retreat.

"Hu Cheng? Song Li? Feng Jinzhang? Deal?"

He Dingyuan was thinking carefully in his heart.

After a long time, he wrote four words on the paper:

"Hu Cheng! Deal!"

The corners of his mouth curled up, revealing a meaningful smile.

…

Taiyuan, Provisional Military Headquarters of the Twelfth Army.

"Your Excellency, Lieutenant General, the Chinese army is attacking fiercely. Qingyuan, Fancun and other places have been lost one after another. The Chinese attack force has arrived in the Yuci area and will hit Taiyuan in two days at most!"

Major General Hongo Yoshio, Chief of Staff of the Twelfth Army, said with a sad expression.

Doqiao looked calm for once, giving people a feeling of strategizing.

"The ones currently attacking Xinkou are the 7th and 9th independent brigades. Since they can't take down the Chinese positions, then more reinforcements will be sent, including the 11th independent brigades!

In the last 24 hours, if the position cannot be taken within the stipulated time, the three brigade commanders will have to perform a caesarean section to apologize!"

The troops Tuqiao sent to attack Xinkou were all the troops of the former First Army. This army no longer had a commander and was destined to be engraved on the army's pillar of shame. Tuqiao arranged this once, whether it was intentional or unintentional.

Hongo Yoshio's lips moved a few times, and he wanted to say something, but he held it back.

Judging from the current situation, Taiyuan definitely cannot hold on.

Your Excellency, Commander, Operation No. A is on the verge of aborting.

Doqiao once had his own selfish motives,

The 12th Army also has two relatively complete divisions and two independent garrison units.

If the Suiyuan battlefield fails, the North China Front Army will suffer unprecedented heavy losses.

At that time, His Excellency Shun Tada, as the commander, will definitely be removed from his post and held accountable. The North China Front Army will have only one main force, and that is the Twelfth Army.

At that time, the commander's position will be obtained even if he doesn't fight for it.

"This is for the future of the Japanese Empire!"
Chapter completed!