I am a wolf warrior

Page 649

"In other words, the current combat effectiveness of the [-]th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army is equivalent to the three divisions of the Imperial Army, and may even exceed three divisions."

"Then now, in turn, it's about the imperial army coming to take the initiative to attack."

"According to the general rule, the imperial army needs to concentrate at least three times the superiority in strength, that is, nine field divisions, and then leave one division as a reserve."

After a pause, Ningji Okamura said again: "So there are not many divisions at all."

Hideki Tojo frowned and said, "Mr. Okamura, I'm afraid it can't be calculated so simply?"

Okamura Neiji said solemnly: "Tojo-kun, this is my assessment based on the actual combat effectiveness of both sides. If you have a better assessment model, please let me know."

Hideki Tojo was silent, how could he have a better model?

After all, Hideki Tojo knew very little about the [-]th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army.

After waiting for a few seconds, Ningji Okamura said again: "Mr. Tojo, my strength evaluation system model has actually ignored the influence of the enemy and us at the tactical command level. In fact, the regiment of the [-]th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army Most brigade-level commanders have superb command attainments, and the division commanders and brigade commanders of the Imperial Army are no match at all."

"It can be seen from the previous series of battles that the imperial army rarely wins battles."

After this pause, Okamura Ningji said again: "So in actual combat, the gap between the two sides will be bigger than I expected. To be honest, even if I gather the strength of ten divisions, I still can't take it with full confidence. "

This is of course nonsense. In fact, Neiji Okamura estimates five divisions.

If Hideki Tojo could give him five divisions, even if it was only a second-tier division, Neiji Okamura would have full confidence in defeating the [-]th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army, and then leveling the Northwest Shanxi base.

But Ning Okamura was cautious by nature and doubled his force.

"What?" Hideki Tojo said with a sudden change of expression, "Are you not fully sure about the ten divisions?"

"Yes, I'm really not sure." Neiji Okamura said seriously, "I think it's [-]% sure at most."

"How is this possible?" Tojo Hideki said incredulously, "Okamura-kun, what do you mean to say that the imperial army's concentration of ten divisions against one brigade of the Eighth Route Army is only about [-]% sure?"

"No, Tojo-kun, the 3th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army is just a brigade in name." Neiji Okamura shook his head and said, "Actually, the strength of this brigade exceeds that of a group army of the Chinese Central Army, which is 5. Many people! In addition, the [-]th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army can also mobilize a large number of militiamen to participate in the battle, and the actual strength is [-] people!"

"The designation of the Eighth Route Army is fundamentally different from that of the Chinese government army."

"Senior generals of the Chinese government army like to eat empty pay, and their actual strength is often only two-thirds, or even half, of their nominal strength. The Eighth Route Army does not have the problem of empty pay. The actual strength of the Eighth Route Army may be nominal strength. For example, the 5000th Division of the Eighth Route Army had a strength of 10 according to the Chinese government army's organizational chart, but by the end of last year, its actual strength had exceeded [-]!"

After a pause, Ningji Okamura said again: "So the designation of the Eighth Route Army can't explain anything."

"Okay, but even if there are 5 people in the [-]th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army, it's only [-]." Tojo Hideki said coldly, "If it was replaced by the Central Army of China, a division of the Imperial Army could easily defeat them." If it is defeated, two divisions can easily annihilate it, but now you tell me that the imperial army needs ten divisions to defeat the [-]th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army?"

"It's different, it's really different." Neiji Okamura said seriously, "Mr. Tojo, if you have fought against the Eighth Route Army in the North China battlefield, you will understand that what I said is true. The Central Army of China and the Eighth Route Army There is no comparison at all, and it is even more incomparable with the [-]th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army, really incomparable!"

Speaking of this meal, he said again: "So, in order to increase the winning rate of this offensive, I request that at least four elite divisions be drawn from the Kwantung Army's sequence, including the most elite First Division."

"What?" Hideki Tojo said loudly, "Four divisions will be transferred from the Kwantung Army?"

"Yes, it is necessary to transfer elite divisions from the Kwantung Army." Neiji Okamura said, "If you just send new divisions to the Shanxi battlefield, it may be difficult to win."

Hideki Tojo couldn't bear it any longer, and said coldly: "Mr. Okamura, are you sure you're not talking nonsense?"

"Tojo-kun, I know exactly what I'm talking about." Neiji Okamura said seriously, "And I have to tell you very seriously, if you can't crush the [-]th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army with a thunderbolt, if you let the Eighth Route Army's third If the [-]th Brigade continues to grow and develop, Shanxi will fall in less than a year, and the whole of North China will be corrupted in less than three years. By then, the imperial army will have to retreat to Manchuria, and Manchuria may even be lost!"

"I don't believe it!" Hideki Tojo said in disdain, "You are listening to alarming words."

Neiji Okamura took out the information provided by Arisue Seizo from his briefcase, and said solemnly: "Mr. Tojo, this is a summary of the sweeping operation of the Eighth Route Army's Jizhong Military Region by the North China Front Army Staff Headquarters. In order to deal with Jizhong In the military region, the North China Front Army has mobilized [-] imperial troops plus a considerable number of imperial association troops, and it is very difficult to win."

"The Eighth Route Army Shanxi Northwest Military Region is obviously more difficult to deal with than the Jizhong Military Region."

"Because the Eighth Route Army Shanxi Northwest Military Region is significantly better than the Jizhong Military Region in terms of terrain, war potential, or the commanding skills of its commanders, so ten divisions are essential!"

After saying this, he said again: "Mr. Tojo, please think twice!"

At the end, Fengcun Ningci sat up on his knees and nodded again.

……

Coming out of the prime minister's mansion, Arisue Seizo who was waiting outside the gate immediately greeted him.

Little Japan has a very strict hierarchy. Although Arisue Seizo is the deputy chief of staff of the North China Front Army, he is not yet eligible to meet the Prime Minister and Minister of War, so he can only wait at the gate.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, do you agree?"

Arimesei took a few steps and caught up with Neiji Okamura.

"No." Neiji Okamura shook his head and said again, "But he will agree."

Yusue Seizo had a different opinion on this, and said in a low voice, "Your Excellency, is it too much for us to ask the headquarters to increase troops by ten divisions? In fact, five divisions are enough."

"A lot?" Neiji Okamura said quietly, "It's better to have more than less."

After a pause, Ningji Okamura said again: "With more troops, you can take advantage of the victory to expand the results of the battle, but if you have fewer troops, there is no room for turning around, so I would rather ask for more troops."

Youmo Jingsan said: "But the question is, can the base camp have so many troops?"

"Why not?" Neiji Okamura said coldly, "Didn't the base camp just form ten new divisions?"

"What?" Arisue Seizo suddenly understood why Neiji Okamura proposed a troop increase of ten divisions at this time. This is the rhythm of competing with the southern army.

Sure enough, Neiji Okamura snorted, and said: "After the defeat of Midway Island, the Navy Wing Fleet has completely lost its command of the sea in the South Pacific. What's the use of continuing to increase troops on the islands in the South Pacific at this time? The warriors of the army were sent to isolated islands one by one, and then let the navy of the beautiful country cut off the supply line, leaving them alone, and then being eaten one by one by the army of the beautiful country?"

"Only those idiots in the navy can come up with such a stupid tactic."

After a pause, Ningji Okamura said again: "So we have to stop them. We must not let the warriors of the army go to the stupid strategy proposed by the navy to die for nothing."

Yusue Seizo said awe-inspiringly: "Your Excellency, have you told Your Excellency the Prime Minister these words?"

"No." Neiji Okamura shook his head, and said again, "You can't say these things to Tojo-kun."

Hideki Tojo prides himself on being smart and domineering, and he hates being judged by others, so he can only understand the matter of using the Chinese battlefield to compete with the navy for troops.

If it is said by him, it will not work.

……

Shortly after Neiji Okamura left the prime minister's residence, Moritake Tanabe, the deputy chief of staff of the Japanese base camp, hurried into Hideki Tojo's office.

Hideki Tojo is not only the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, but also the Minister of War.

Therefore, Moritake Tanabe, the deputy chief of staff, has to report to Hideki Tojo.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister." Moritake Tanabe said suddenly, "The Southern Army has called again to urge us to transfer the newly formed ten divisions to the South Pacific as soon as possible."

Hideki Tojo said nothing.

He just got up and walked to the globe next to him, staring at the South Pacific without saying a word.

Seeing that Hideki Tojo didn't respond, Moritake Tanabe said again: "His Excellency, Teranei, especially emphasized that two elite divisions should be transferred from the Kwantung Army, which is the general strategic reserve, to enrich the southern army, so as to strengthen the combat effectiveness of the southern army."

Hideki Tojo reached out and flicked the globe, and answered the wrong question: "Tanabe-kun, do you know who came just now?"

"Who?" Tanabe Moritake asked blankly.

"Your old boss." Hideki Tojo said solemnly.

"Okamura-kun?" Mori Tanabe said, "He returned to Tokyo?"

"Yes." Tojo Hideki said solemnly, "He told me that the [-]th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army in Northwest Shanxi has become a confidant of the empire. If it cannot be wiped out in time, it will threaten the imperial army in Shanxi and even the entire The foundation of North China's rule, so I want to persuade me to increase the strength of the North China Front Army."

Moritake Tanabe said: "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I don't know if I should say something or not?"

"Speak." Tojo Hideki said solemnly, "There is nothing that cannot be said in front of me."

"Okay, then I'll say it." Moritake Tanabe said, "I also think that troops should not be transferred from the North China battlefield, but should be added to the North China battlefield, because the situation in North China is far from as good as it looks on the surface. "

Hideki Tojo said in a deep voice: "Really? Then do you know how many divisions Mr. Okamura wants?"

"I can't guess that." Moritake Tanabe shook his head, and continued, "But I think it is still necessary to add two or three brigades to North China."

"Two or three brigades?" Hideki Tojo said, "Okamura-kun wants to add ten divisions!"

"What? Ten divisions?" Shocked, Tanabe Moritake said, "That's too many."

"A lot? Okamura-kun doesn't think so at all." Hideki Tojo said again, "And Okamura-kun, like Terauchi-kun, hopes to exchange elite divisions from the Kwantung Army."

"Ah..." Moritake Tanabe didn't know what to say.

"Don't you think it's absurd?" Hideki Tojo said, "Just to deal with a mere brigade of the Eighth Route Army, you want to mobilize so many troops? There are ten divisions, and you want an elite division?"

"Hayi." Shengwu Tanabe said suddenly, "It's really a bit too much."

"But I think it's reliable." Hideki Tojo changed the topic and said, "The ones who are really unreliable are the Southern Army and those idiots in the Navy Command."

"Their navy can't defend the sea frontier,"

"You want to use our army as cannon fodder?"

"Send the warriors of our army to those small islands in the South Pacific, and let them fend for themselves after being cut off from the supply line. Will this be able to defend the sea frontier of the empire?"

"Can you ensure that the mainland will not be attacked?"

"Stupid, there is no more stupid idea than this."

After a pause, he continued: "As long as I, Hideki Tojo, is still the Minister of the Army, I will never send the soldiers of the army to the islands in the South Pacific to die. Don't even think about it!"

Moritake Tanabe said: "Your Excellency, what about the Southern Army's request?"

"Rejected!" Hideki Tojo said in a deep voice, "All the offensive plans for Fiji and Samoa were cancelled, and the various units of the Southern Army immediately switched to defensive operations on the spot, and made defensive plans based on the existing conditions."

"Tell Terauchi-kun, we must make a plan based on the fact that the supply line was cut off by the Pyo Nation Navy."

After a pause, he continued: "As for the newly formed ten divisions, six will be immediately transferred to the North China Front Army, the other four will be transferred to the Kwantung Army, and then four old divisions with numbers within [-] will be transferred from the Kwantung Army. Transferring to the North China Front Army, I have always been convinced of Okamura-kun's strategic vision, and I hope this time I will not be disappointed."

"Ah, this..." Moritake Tanabe lost his voice, "Your Excellency Prime Minister, if you do this, you will be suspected of hitting mosquitoes with a cannon?"

"Cannons to kill mosquitoes?" Hideki Tojo suddenly remembered the argument that happened a long time ago at the spa sanatorium in Baden-Baden, Germany.

Although Hideki Tojo was not qualified to participate in that debate, he stood outside the door and listened to the whole process.

Among them, Okamura Ningji's high-level remarks left a deep impression on him, and he still remembers it to this day.

At that gathering, Neiji Okamura made bold predictions about the Sino-Japanese War and even the Japan-Piao War.

At that time, Hideki Tojo felt that Neiji Okamura's prediction was nonsense, but looking back after many years, Neiji Okamura's predictions were becoming reality one by one.

Among them, Neiji Okamura's prediction of the overall situation of the Pacific War is almost exactly the same as the current situation.

Although Neiji Okamura did not foresee the Pearl Harbor incident and the major victories in the early stage of the Pacific War, he foresaw that the Japanese Navy would definitely lose and lose its command of the sea in the Pacific.

Neiji Okamura also foresaw that the Japanese army's sea transportation lines would be cut off by the Allied forces.

Neiji Okamura even gave a countermeasure under the unfavorable situation-that is, to open up the mainland transportation line.

Hideki Tojo said at the moment: "Tanabe-kun, haven't you seen it yet? After the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Midway, the empire's loss of sea control is inevitable!"

"Under such circumstances, if the empire still wants to allocate resources to achieve the goal of protracted warfare with the Allies, it must open up the mainland communication line and connect Southeast Asia with mainland China and even Manchuria."

"To achieve this goal, ten divisions are not too many, but too few."

"So these ten divisions are not just for the North China Front Army, but for the whole of China."

Speaking of this, Hideki Tojo said again: "If it weren't for the shortage of troops, I even want to add [-] divisions to the Chinese battlefield! Tanabe-kun, do you understand now?"

"Hayi." Mori Tanabe said suddenly, "Understood."

But in his heart, Tanabe Moritake still had some disapproval.

Moritake Tanabe felt that although the Navy Wing Fleet suffered a big defeat at Midway Island, the situation in the Pacific battlefield would definitely not deteriorate to the extent that Hideki Tojo said.

But Moritake Tanabe would not be so stupid as to argue with Hideki Tojo.

……

Moritake Tanabe would not be stupid enough to argue with Hideki Tojo,

Chen Bulei was also not stupid enough to argue with Chang Kaishen.

During the recent period, Chang Kaishen seemed to be in a daze. He would call Chen Bulei to his study every day, and then he would only say one thing, why didn't the Japanese army attack the [-]th Brigade?

Faced with Chang Kaishen's questioning again and again, Chen Bulei could only admit his mistakes again and again.

"Commissioner, blame me, blame me for my misjudgment." Chen Bulei apologized sincerely as usual today, "I miscalculated the reaction of the Japanese army, which resulted in today's passive situation."

After a pause, Chen Bulei said again: "Please sit down and punish."

"Punishment?" Although Chang Kaishen was upset, his mind was still clear.

With a deep sigh, Chang Kaishen said again: "What's the use of punishing you? Can it make the Japanese army use troops in Northwest Shanxi? Can it make the [-]th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army suffer heavy losses? No."

Chapter 524

Two days later, Tokyo Haneda Airport.

Sending Yumo Seizo to the side of the runway, Okamura Ningji said: "Youmo-kun, have a good journey."