ushernet Chapter 375 Two Big Hats
Chapter 375 Two Big Hats
Chief of Staff Major General Takuma Ishikawa knew that the division commander had made up his mind, and he strongly agreed with the decision of Lieutenant General Ogisu Tachibe. He could not let the commander of the 104th Regiment, Colonel Tachibana Yoshio, and the officers and soldiers of the five battalions die unjustly.
"Ishikawa-kun, go and compile a list of casualties for the 18th Regiment. We must not act like Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, who was ignorant and reckless. We first need to report the casualties of the 18th Regiment to Lieutenant General Fujita Susumu, the commander of the 3rd Division." After explaining this to the Chief of Staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma, the division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei, continued:
"We need to consider the officers and soldiers of the 18th Regiment, as well as Lieutenant General Fujita Susumu of the 3rd Division. Don't you agree, Ishikawa-kun?"
When Chief of Staff Major General Ishikawa Takuma heard the words of the division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei, his eyes immediately lit up, and he was completely pulled away from the sadness of losing the 104th Regiment. Yes, there is no harm without comparison, and the idea of the division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei was really brilliant.
"Your Excellency the division commander is truly a benevolent leader. Lieutenant General Susumu Fujita and the officers and soldiers of the 18th Regiment will certainly be very grateful to you." Chief of Staff Major General Takuma Ishikawa complimented the division commander, Lieutenant General Rippei Ogisu, from the bottom of his heart, then turned around and went to prepare for the task assigned by the division commander.
After the division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei, and the chief of staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma, left, they also looked at the telegram thrown on the table and muttered to themselves: "Fujie Keisuke, since you dare to do it on the first day, don't blame me for doing it on the fifteenth. There will be a price for what you have done."
When Colonel Naomitsu Takano, commander of the 18th Regiment, walked out of Lieutenant General Ogisu Tachibe's tent, he was filled with emotion and disbelief.
Just now, when Major General Takuma Ishikawa, Chief of Staff of the 13th Division, notified him to come to the division headquarters, he felt a little strange. Why did they call him to the division headquarters so late? Was there any instruction on tomorrow's offensive operations?
When he arrived at the division headquarters, the commander of the 13th Division, Lieutenant General Ogisu Tachibe, and the chief of staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma, were already waiting for him in the headquarters tent. There were only three of them in the tent, which made the regiment commander, Colonel Takano Naomitsu, feel that this conversation was unusual.
"Captain Takano, your regiment's attack today was very successful, and it successfully caused heavy casualties on the defensive positions of the New 22nd Army of the Chinese government opposite. But I just saw the casualties of your regiment from Chief of Staff Ishikawa. It can be said that your own casualties are also very serious. I called you here so late because I also want to ask how your regiment will organize its attack tomorrow and whether there can be any changes to reduce the casualties of the troops." The division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei, also smiled and said kindly to the regiment commander, Colonel Takano Naomitsu.
"Thank you for your concern, His Excellency the Division Commander. Our 18th Regiment did suffer heavy casualties in today's attack, but I think it is all worth it. In tomorrow's offensive operations, our 18th Regiment will continue to follow this tactic and create favorable conditions for the subsequent offensive of the 34th Regiment." Colonel Naomitsu Takano, commander of the 18th Regiment, also replied respectfully.
After hearing the words of the regiment commander, Colonel Takano Naomitsu, the division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Tachibei, and the chief of staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma, looked at each other and exclaimed in their hearts at the same time: My goodness, this Colonel Takano Naomitsu is absolutely a ruthless man. When he gets ruthless, he treats his own regiment as abandoned pawns.
"Captain Takano, your regiment has suffered too many casualties. Although your dedication is worthy of praise and recognition, your 18th Regiment was transferred from the 3rd Division after all. If you were wiped out in a fight, we would not be able to explain to your division commander, Lieutenant General Fujita Susumu." Chief of Staff Major General Ishikawa Takuma also began to guide with a smile.
The commander of the regiment, Colonel Naomitsu Takano, looked at the chief of staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma. He really didn't understand what the chief of staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma, meant. He asked him not to attack? Impossible. He had already made it very clear about the problem of heavy casualties. His 18th regiment was ready to fight to the death. All this was for the subsequent 34th regiment to quickly break through the blocking position of the New 22nd Army of the Chinese Government.
"Captain Takano, you have to adjust your regiment's offensive method tomorrow. We can't have such heavy casualties. You know, the Chinese army has a clear advantage in numbers. With the way you fought today, I'm worried that even if your 18th Regiment is wiped out, the Chinese army on the opposite side will still have a certain amount of troops to block the attack of the 34th Regiment. Are you going to let the 34th Regiment be wiped out as well? How will we have the strength to advance then?" The division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Tatsuhei, put away his smile and said seriously.
The regiment commander, Colonel Naomitsu Takano, now understood that Lieutenant General Ogisu Rippei was worried that the Chinese army's defensive strength was greater than he expected, and was afraid that by then all his troops would be wiped out and there would be no strength to rescue the surrounded 16th Division.
This is indeed a problem. The commander of the regiment, Colonel Naomitsu Takano, also thought about it in his heart. So far, he has not been able to get the exact strength of the Chinese army's blocking positions. However, as Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei said, the Chinese army has a lot of troops nearby, and they can withdraw troops from other battlefields at any time. This does need to be considered.
"Your Excellency, if we use normal tactics to attack the blocking positions of the New 22nd Army of the Chinese government, it will be difficult for us to control the time, and there may be problems with the 16th Division." Colonel Takano Naomitsu, the commander of the regiment, is also a straightforward person. Although he thinks that Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei's considerations make sense, he still expressed his concerns.
"Captain Takano, there should be no problem with the 16th Division. They have already contracted their defense lines tonight and concentrated their forces. It will be impossible for the Chinese army to quickly destroy the 16th Division. This also gives us plenty of time to launch an attack." Chief of Staff Major General Takuma Ishikawa explained to Commander Colonel Naomitsu Takano with a smile.
"Captain Takano, you have to believe in the fighting will and combat effectiveness of the officers and soldiers of the 16th Division of the Imperial Japanese Army. They possess a strong Bushido spirit and are not the good-for-nothings you imagine. Since your 18th Regiment has been assigned to fight here, then as the highest commander on the battlefield, I have the responsibility and obligation to consider the officers and soldiers. Are the lives of the officers and soldiers of the 16th Division more precious than those of the officers and soldiers of the 3rd Division?" The division commander, Lieutenant General Ogisu Tachibei, reprimanded the regiment commander, Colonel Takano Naomitsu, with a stern face.