Age of Rebirth

General Nanjiro, the commander-in-chief of the Kwantung Army, was astonished. Lieutenant General Matsuda, as the chief of staff of the Kwantung Army and the actual number two, asked such a naive question.

After a while, General Nanjiro smiled wryly, and did not lose his temper. He said in a melancholy tone, "Matsuda-kun, this is not a question of whether you have confidence. The so-called confidence is based on the corresponding strength. Without strength, The so-called confidence is nothing but self-deceiving arrogance!"

"As far as our current strength in the Liaodong Peninsula is concerned, the main combat force is only two and a half divisions with more than 5 horses. Do you think the force of the independent division crossing the sea to attack will be less than ours? No, that China The devil's way of using troops is to concentrate superior forces and firepower. In addition, we have lost the air supremacy. If we don't build a third line of defense in the south of Fengtian, Yokoyama Yoshihiko's Seventh Army can't last for two months. !"

"At that time, our main force in the west of Liaoning will be the first to fall into the dangerous situation of being flanked by the independent division troops. The gate of the Manchurian border in western Liaoning will be opened, and the independent division troops in the north China area will flood in. Therefore, Mr. Matsuda, Don't expect the empire's defenders on the Liaodong Peninsula to perform miracles, even if all the armed civilians are mobilized!"

Chief of Staff Matsuda was ashamed for a while, and bowed his head and said: "Commander, you are lying in a humble position. I will immediately start to arrange, mobilize troops, and secretly deploy the third line of defense!"

General Nanjiro waved his hand and said without hesitation: "It's not a lie. The generals of our empire should have such confidence. However, the current war situation is very unfavorable to the Kwantung Army. This kind of unrealistic confidence will make us You made a fatal mistake! Matsuda-kun, please leave me to secretly mobilize troops!"

The order from the General Command of the Kwantung Army was handed down to Lieutenant General Yokoyama Yoshihiko, the commander of the Seventh Army and the commander of the Liaodong Peninsula Military Area. He frowned and read the telegram carefully several times. Commander-in-Chief Jiro means.The No. 30 First Division and No. 30 Second Division units on the front line of Lushunkou, when the independent division landed troops started to attack, they stopped for a while and then began to retreat.

For such an order from the headquarters, Lieutenant General Hengshan felt very uncomfortable.The Seventh Army has operated in the Liaodong Peninsula for many years, relying on the natural terrain conditions of the Laotieshan Mountain at the southernmost tip of the peninsula.A large number of cement and concrete bunkers and fortifications were built.As well as the defense system such as the underground shelter, because Lushunkou is an important military port, it is naturally a key defense area, not just the Laotieshan line, starting from the Laotieshan to Lushunkou line, from Zhoushuizi to Shilibao line.There is also a second defense system, which is also a solid permanent fortification.

Relying on these solid fortifications and a complete defense system, Lieutenant General Hengshan thought.It may not have the strength to compete with the independent division landing troops. Although there are only two divisions of the Seventh Army deployed on the front line of Lushunkou, they are all elite troops fighting against the Russians on the Far East battlefield. With rich experience and excellent equipment, Lieutenant General Hengshan was very unwilling to just fire a few shots and then retreat.

Of course, this is not the most important thing. The main thing is that Lieutenant General Hengshan believes that the order of the headquarters regarding the defense plan of the Liaodong Peninsula is somewhat upside down. The best place to fight back against the enemy who crosses the sea is in the enemy's landing area. Before the enemy lands on the beach, the maximum damage is given. How can there be any reason to let the enemy in and fight again?

As for the second line of defense from Zhuanghe, Hengdaohe to Bayuquan, Lieutenant General Hengshan does not think that the Imperial Manchuria Fearless Force and local garrison with armed civilians as the main force can stop the independent division troops on this line of defense. The pace of advancing to the hinterland of Manchuria, "If the independent division troops are allowed to gain a firm foothold in the Liaodong Peninsula, and the troops of the two divisions retreat while fighting, and are chased by those Chinese soldiers, that will be a real disaster!" Lieutenant General Hengshan thought of it in disbelief.

Major General Katano Jiro, the chief of staff of the Seventh Army, saw his commander, his expression changed and he remained silent, and he roughly guessed his thoughts, "Commander, the staff also believes that the headquarters' defense plan for the Liaodong Peninsula seems to be There is a big problem, at Lushunkou, it is tantamount to retreating without a fight, isn't it the best opportunity to lose, then, in the ensuing blocking battle, aren't we always on the defensive?" He said according to his own thoughts .

Lieutenant General Hengshan raised his head, the chief of staff's words seemed to have touched his mind, he had already made up his mind, and said: "Katano-kun, there is indeed something wrong with the order from the headquarters, so some revisions should be made, I decided, On the front line of Lushunkou, relying on solid fortifications and a complete defense system, after the independent division's landing troops have been severely damaged, they will retreat. Katano-kun, I will stay at the front line of Lushunkou and command the battle. You immediately rush to the second line Line of defense, unify the command of the troops and armed civilians there!"

Chief of Staff Katano hesitated and reminded: "Commander, it is not a trivial matter to change the defense operation plan of the headquarters. Whether it is reported to the headquarters or not, we will take action after approval, otherwise, we will be held accountable if the headquarters investigates it! "

Lieutenant General Hengshan said impatiently: "No need, as the supreme commander of the Liaodong Peninsula defense force, I have the right to make partial adjustments to the battle plan, and, Katano-kun, my adjustment is to better execute the orders of the headquarters. , if the independent division is not given heavy damage to the landing troops, will the troops of our two divisions be able to escape smoothly? No, at that time, once the independent division is entangled and unable to withdraw, that is the greatest danger Woolen cloth!"

"Katano-kun, you are on the second line of defense. You must organize carefully. The remaining half of the divisions of the Seventh Army, which is also the final capital, are all in your hands. Retreat on the front line, no matter what, you have to buy time for me to regroup the troops. By the way, deploy those Imperial Manchurian bravery teams on the front line, so as to consume the strength and vigor of the independent division troops. How to arrange it, no need Did I say too much?"

Lieutenant General Hengshan's tone suddenly became ferocious, with the madness of a gambler. Of course, Major General Katano understood what the commander meant, which was to use those armed civilians as cannon fodder to consume the strength of the independent division. , hiding behind, although a little cold, but it is also an effective means, those civilians who migrated from the mainland, relying on the Seventh Army, have lived a good life in the Liaodong Peninsula for many years, this time, It should also be their turn to contribute their strength to the Great Japanese Empire and His Majesty the Emperor!

Chief of Staff Katano got up and solemnly saluted Lieutenant General Hengshan, "Commander, please take care of yourself. The soldiers are in danger. If you can't do anything about the battle at Lushunkou, please don't hesitate to retreat immediately. The second line of defense, welcome the arrival of Your Excellency Commander!"

Chief of Staff Katano's tone was absolutely sincere, with a deep feeling of reluctance, and advice from the heart, but it was not the same thing in Lieutenant General Hengshan's ears, "This guy Katano, how does he seem to give It’s as if I’m leaving a last word, as if I’ll just say goodbye and never see you again! The big battle is coming, so it’s really fucking unlucky to say such frustrating words!”

Lieutenant General Hengshan endured the unhappiness in his heart, waved his hands and said: "Katano-kun, I will judge the situation, so you don't have to worry too much. The battle at Lushunkou will break out at any time, and go on the road immediately!" Listening, I felt uncomfortable, "What are you going on the road? Will you be able to talk, as if I were going to the execution ground?"

The two people who are not thinking about it are not in the mood to talk too much. The two who have been partners for several years are also strange. Why do they feel awkward when they say something today?The so-called words are not speculative, and the chief of staff Katano left immediately, facing the morning sunshine of the Liaodong Peninsula, led the guards, and drove north in a car.

Watching Chief of Staff Katano leave, Lieutenant General Hengshan dressed neatly, and ordered the captain of the guard: "Enter the underground command post immediately!"

The underground command post of the Seventh Army Headquarters is located at the foot of a rocky mountain about ten kilometers south of the Lushunkou seashore. Perfect, the original shooting requirement was to be able to withstand large-caliber naval guns. After two hours of continuous bombardment, Lieutenant General Hengshan had already entered the underground command post, so he ordered a staff officer next to him: "Call immediately and ask the frontline troops. What's the matter?"

After a few minutes, the staff officer ran back and reported: "Your Excellency, according to the report from the Laotieshan observation post, the shadow of the troop transport fleet of the Independent Division can already be seen, and the forward troops have entered the fortification! It is estimated that in an hour, the Independent Division The troop transport fleet can enter the fire range of my forward troops!"

"Yo Xi!" Lieutenant General Hengshan said with satisfaction, "Order, Coastal Defense Artillery Regiment, get ready for shelling immediately, target, the troopship fleet of the Independent Division!" He ordered viciously with fierce eyes .

This is Lieutenant General Hengshan's secret weapon, and it is also a big killer. Lushunkou is a military port, so there is the only coast defense artillery unit of the Seventh Army, with Japanese-style 48-caliber coast defense There are [-] howitzers with an astonishing range. All the targets on the [-]-kilometer sea around Lushunkou Military Port are within the shelling range. Lieutenant General Hengshan's intention is to use the Coastal Defense Artillery Wing to send troops to the Independent Division. With a sudden blow.

Lieutenant General Hengshan was not afraid of being retaliated by the firepower of the independent division's landing troops after the coastal defense artillery exposed the target. His large-caliber howitzers were all concealed in solid fortifications. The shooting elements had long been set up, and it was enough to fire according to the set target. Even if he was counterattacked by artillery fire from the Independent Division, it would not hurt at all. This is another reason why he decided to land troops with the Independent Division at Lushunkou and fight a battle.

(to be continued) (to be continued..)