This is what Okamura Neiji thinks and does. Looking at the entire Japanese army, except for the weird Osaka Fourth Division, no other Japanese army can keep records as strictly as the North China Front Army, and treat the local Chinese people " "Qiu made no mistakes", but now, as the Japanese army in East China, Central China, Northwest, and even Australia are in a passive defensive situation, even if Okamura Neiji's strategy is correct, there is no chance to implement it.
"Your Excellency, have you really decided to increase the number of troops in Xi'an?" Behind him, Colonel Hatano Akihiro, chief of the combat section of the Central China Front, asked,
Okamura turned his gaze to him and said, "Kyuno, what suggestions do you have."
Hatano said "Hai" and said sternly: "Your Excellency, I think that the effect of increasing the troops in Xi'an at this time is only to provide psychological comfort to His Excellency Ribayashi Tadamichi in Xi'an, but it cannot solve the actual problem, and its consumption , is enough for us to launch a large-scale sweep in North China. Therefore, it is better to use limited resources to consolidate public security in North China than to use our tone to do such a useless thing. Your Excellency, please forgive me for speaking bluntly. Because of the existence of the Qinling Mountains as a natural barrier, we Even if we reinforce Xi'an with all our troops, I think that in the end our army will be dragged to death by the Chinese because of the inability to keep up with supplies, and will die of exhaustion. In conjunction with the counterattacks launched by the Chinese in Central and East China, Your Excellency, although I don't want to admit it, but It has to be said that the golden period of the imperial army in China has passed, and our army will be in a passive defensive situation for a long time until there are changes in the Pacific or the Soviet-Russian battlefield."
Hatano Akihiro's ability to become the Chief of Operations Section of the North China Front Army has its merits, and his analysis of the current war situation in China is quite accurate. This is why Okamura Neiji sighed, " Should we give up the reinforcement of troops in Xi'an? But how should the military headquarters respond? Are we just going to watch Ribayashi Tadashi's troops being swallowed up by the Chinese?" He turned his eyes to the map and said worriedly,
"Your Excellency, I don't know if you have noticed. I think that since the Northeastern China Army was annexed by the Xuebing Army, the Imperial Army no longer has the upper hand on the Chinese battlefield. Your Excellency, although there are times when someone else's prestige destroys one's own ambition. Suspicious, but I have to say that the Xuebing Army under the leadership of Ouyang Yun has a far better understanding of modern warfare than we do. Although wars are fought by humans, technological factors have become the key to victory or defeat. , in the final analysis, what we are fighting for is resources, materials and talents, let alone materials. I think the empire has been unwilling to make great efforts to put out the fire in the Renqiu oil field. I think it is the biggest mistake; talents, the empire has always focused on At the level of World War I, how can we not be overtaken by the Chinese..."
At first glance, it sounds like Hatono Akikoji is full of complaints, but this is actually the consensus of the top brass of the Japanese North China Front such as Okamura Neiji. Okamura Neiji is implementing the policy of using China to control China in North China, and the "public security" situation in North China Sure enough, there was a qualitative improvement, and while the senior leaders of the Korean Communist Army were kept submissive by him, the Korean Communist Army was engaged in dirty work such as guarding the bottom, so they became leisurely and no longer bothered with trivial matters. Okamura Neiji then had plenty of time to study the battle situation and the war, and then he found the reason why the Xuebing Army must win every day. The reason was found, but it was not easy to change the status quo. During this period, Okamura Neiji The resources at hand were also used to conduct research on advanced weapons and tactics. However, apart from improving the Type 15 semi-automatic rifle and creating a fully automatic version of the Type 15 semi-automatic rifle, there were no other significant results. For a time, Okamura Neiji was very unconvinced, thinking that Ouyang Yun could develop the student army from the size of a regiment to the current scale. His starting conditions were far superior to Ouyang Yun, and he could at least achieve the same results as Ouyang Yun. However, the military The advancement of science and technology requires more than just enthusiasm and determination. After struggling for a long time, but still unable to reap the results, Okamura Neiji realized that not everyone can do scientific research, so this is unacceptable. Instead of giving up, he concentrated on the research of advanced tactics. Then, he gained a deeper understanding of using China to control China, and gradually developed a sense of urgency in time.
"It was a stupid decision to recall General Ishihara from the base camp." Okamura said: "Look, if Mr. Sakai and Mr. Yokoyama continued to implement General Ishihara's strategy, how could Central and North China end up in the current situation."
Jiuye looked at him: "Your Excellency,."
Okamura: "We can't listen to the military on this matter. You go to Murakami and ask him to find two old gliders to land in the Qinling Mountains. This way, we have an excuse. In addition, you can give Commander Ribayashi a copy." The telegram suggested that he should not defend Xi'an and instead break through to Inner Mongolia. I thought that the Chinese counterattack in the northwest should not only be as simple as recovering Sichuan and Shaanxi." Okamura said, looking at the Outer Mongolia area on the map. ,
Jiuye followed his gaze, feeling slightly startled and tentatively asked: "Sir, do you think the Chinese people's final sight is the Far East?"
"It's very possible. Take a look at this information." Okamura said, taking out a secret message from the drawer and handing it to Hatono.
This secret message was sent back by Okamura's special agent stationed in Chongqing after a lot of hard work. What he reported was exactly the content of the visit to Chongqing by delegations from France, Britain and the Soviet Union.
"Is it possible for the Russians to ask for help from the Chinese government?" Hatano said in a doubtful tone after reading the secret message.
"Why is it impossible? If the Kwantung Army really invades the Far East of Soviet Russia from Outer Mongolia, how long do you think the Soviet Russians can last under the attack of the Imperial Army and the German Army? And for the Chinese people, once Soviet Russia is destroyed, then It is possible for the Germans to invade China from the northwest. By then, will they be able to withstand the pincer attack of the Imperial Army and the German Army? Therefore, even if the Soviet Russians do not make a request, I think China's top brass will take this into consideration, and there will definitely be As a result, the Kwantung Army mobilized 300,000 people. I don’t think this can be hidden from the Chinese people. Hatano-kun, don’t forget that the Xuebing Army started in North China. How could its intelligence organization Fox Tong not be here? A hidden trap has been planted in North China."
Hatano thought for a while, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that Okamura Neji's analysis was very reasonable. He said with admiration: "Your Excellency, your conclusion is correct. You, you are so wise."
Okamura smiled. Hatano was promoted by him single-handedly, and he is regarded as a confidant in his direct lineage. He smiled and said: "Kono-kun, if you don't know how to flatter, don't learn. As a soldier, you should be able to do it at any time." Strictly adhere to your own principles."
Jiuye smiled sheepishly and said, "Sir, this is not flattery, it is my psychological talk."
Okamura shook his head slightly and turned to the topic: "What I'm worried about is that the base camp doesn't know this. Moreover, even if he knows this, given Prime Minister Tojo's character, he won't take it as a threat. But I think, If the Chinese people go all out, they can really achieve their goals. After all, the base camp cannot just sit back and watch Manchuria be captured, and they will never allow any losses even in North China."