Age of Rebirth

Compared with Chief of Staff Kamiya, who is blindly confident about the situation of the Korean troops on the battlefield, General Tanaka Shin, the commander of the Japanese Korean Garrison, does not have such confidence. He saw the anti-landing battle yesterday. The Imperial Korean Garrison and the Independent Division Troops, the huge gap in firepower, regardless of air supremacy, just that burst of earth-shattering shelling made me clearly see the reality.

On the beachhead, the entire Third Brigade, with more than 2 troops, was shattered in less than four hours. Most of the casualties came from the artillery fire and bombing of the Independent Division, especially on the sea surface. In the past, the powerful naval guns of the independent division warships almost blew up every inch of land on the position. Indeed, the independent division troops who rushed to land on the beach also suffered losses, but according to my own judgment, it was definitely not what the guy Kamiya said Yes, more than [-] people, at best, comparable to the number of casualties of the imperial army.

However, the Third Brigade of the Imperial Korean Garrison relied on solid fortifications to carry out defensive operations. According to conventional rules, it is normal for the attacking side to pay more than double the casualties, but it is obviously not the case now. Optimistic, blind optimism is a dangerous signal!

Chief of Staff Kamiya said quite optimistically, but he didn't hear any reaction from General Tanaka. On the contrary, he showed an impatient expression and shut his mouth wisely. He knew that he had talked too much.

"Mr. Shengu, what you saw may not be the real situation. More than 30 people from the third brigade were on the beachhead, relying on strong fortifications. In less than four hours, all jade pieces were smashed, which does not explain a lot. Question? If according to your suggestion, the No.30 Seventh Division continues to stick to the beachhead, our loss will not only be a third brigade. It may be the entire No.[-] Seventh Division!" General Tanaka Said with displeasure.

Speaking of it, it is not surprising that General Tanaka complained about his chief of staff. After the independent division troops landed on the beach, they first started with violent aerial bombardment, and then, large-scale warship artillery and ground artillery bombardment destroyed all the surface fortifications of the beachhead. , and most of the underground fortifications, General Tanaka realized that the situation was not good.Order the third brigade to stand firm, and the No.30 Seventh Division retreats as the second line of defense.

For this wise order of his own, this guy Kamiya still tried his best to oppose it, emphasizing what, the beachhead must not be given up.Without the beachhead, Mokpo would have no danger to rely on.It turns out.His order was correct. The third brigade was sacrificed, the No.30 Seventh Division was preserved, and the strength of the second line of defense was unprecedentedly strengthened.

It was originally thought that the independent division troops would take advantage of the situation to attack the second line of defense.If so, it is possible for the second line of defense with strengthened troops to inflict heavy damage on those Chinese people.Unexpectedly, the independent division troops stopped attacking and turned to consolidate the existing foothold. That's what the guy Kamiya said, because they were forced to stop attacking because of too many casualties. It was clearly adjusting tactics, accumulating strength, and preparing to launch A more aggressive attack.

That's why General Tanaka felt the pressure doubled. In addition, the request for additional troops to the base camp was rejected without hesitation, and he was attacked twice. Today, the whole day, the mist is shrouded in gloom, Your Excellency Commander. His mood is so bad. pole.

Hearing what General Tanaka said, Chief of Staff Kamiya was very uncomfortable. He knew that he made a bad move yesterday. If he followed his suggestion, the No.30 Seventh Division would not be able to come back. Caliber naval guns, ground artillery fire, can bury the No. 30 Seventh Division on the beachhead.

"Commander, please forgive Kamiya's nonsense yesterday! I underestimated the enemy's superiority in firepower and almost caused greater losses to our Imperial Army!" Chief of Staff Kamiya stood up and said after bowing.

Seeing Chief of Staff Kamiya admitting his mistake, General Tanaka's expression brightened a bit, "Mr. Kamiya, you don't have to blame yourself, but you can't underestimate the combat effectiveness of the independent division troops. They stopped attacking to give us the most fatal blow!"

"I ordered the No.30 Seventh Division to evacuate the beachhead, not only because of casualties, but because the location and defense system of the second line of defense is much stronger than that of the beachhead. Our biggest disadvantage at present is not yet On the ground, and in the air, after losing the air supremacy, the mobilization and assembly of the imperial troops cannot be carried out normally at all. In the sky, there is no imperial eagle, which is my biggest worry!" General Tanaka shook his head sadly and said.

Chief of Staff Kamiya reminded: "Commander, isn't the newly formed Korean Peninsula United Air Force at the base camp stationed at field airports in various places in Kyushu? You can issue an order that the United Air Force must ensure that it regains control of the battlefield in future battles." Air supremacy!"

General Tanaka smiled wryly, his smile was as bitter as if he had eaten Coptis chinensis, "Mr. Kamiya, you don't know, this newly formed Korean Peninsula Joint Air Force is not under the command of the Garrison Command, but under the command of the Army Air Force of the headquarters. Ministry command, that is to say, their combat operations are not under our control!"

"Yesterday, I sent a telegram to Major General Sato, the commander of the Joint Air Force on the Korean Peninsula, asking him to send out bombers to bomb the rendezvous of the independent division troops in Mokpo Port and the warships on the sea. After receiving the order from the Army Aviation Department of the base camp, how can the United Air Force be a combat aircraft and cannot take off for combat!"

"Your Excellency, Commander, why is this? Since the Joint Air Force on the Korean Peninsula has been formed, and it is not under the command of the Garrison Command, how to carry out ground-air coordination operations is inexplicable! Didn't you make a statement to the base camp?" Chief of Staff Kamiya gasped I had to jump up and yelled angrily.

General Tanaka's complexion became more and more ugly, and he said: "Mr. Kamiya, the Army Aviation Department of the headquarters, the reason given is that in view of the fact that the Garrison Command has lost all combat aircraft on the battlefield on the Korean Peninsula. It was the loss of the Kyushu Island Third United Air Force, which shows that the headquarters is completely incapable of commanding air combat and does not have such capabilities, so the command of the Korean Peninsula United Air Force belongs to the headquarters!"

Chief of Staff Kamiya sat down dejectedly, and the reply from the Army Aviation Department of the base camp was naked and undisguised, short of naming by name General Tanaka Shin, a layman in commanding air combat, has ruined two Imperial United Air Forces successively , put more than [-] fighter jets and bombers in your hands, we don't worry, we will be tossed by you, General Tanaka!

Seeing his chief of staff, like a defeated rooster, a little downcast, he talked with Chief of Staff Kamiya for a long time, his depression was vented, and General Tanaka, who was in a much better mood, comforted him in turn: "Mr. Kamiya, there is no need to have anything Thoughts, the Korean Peninsula Joint Air Force was formed to cooperate with our garrison troops, that’s all right, the battlefield Mokpo is calm all day today, in my opinion, it may not be a good thing!”

Chief of Staff Kamiya said in amazement: "Your Excellency, Commander, do you mean that tomorrow, the Independent Division will launch a larger-scale attack on Mokpo's second line of defense?"

General Tanaka nodded heavily, and said: "It will definitely. After a day of deployment adjustments, those Chinese commanders should have a formed attack plan. Therefore, tomorrow will be a fierce battle. With the current strength of the second line of defense , still not enough!"

"Your Excellency, Commander, what do you mean..." Chief of Staff Kamiya cheered up.

General Tanaka said with a grim face: "I have decided to transfer the No.30 Ninth Division and the Nakashimano Artillery Regiment stationed on the outskirts of Gwangju overnight to the second line of defense on the Mokpo battlefield, where they will fight a bloody battle with the Chinese. Field! I will not order the troops to retreat anymore, because we have no retreat, Mokpo is lost, Gwangju and Busan will be lost, and we will lose our only bridgehead! Cut off the connection with the mainland!"

"The Battle of Mokpo will be an arduous defensive battle. The soldiers of the empire will face a three-dimensional attack from the air, land and sea from the independent divisions. However, no matter how high the price is, we You must also grit your teeth and persist. The No.40 40rd, No.[-] [-]th, and [-]st Divisions stationed in Busan will also move to Gwangju tonight, as the battle reserve team on the Mokpo battlefield, and reinforce Mokpo at any time. Let's set it up now!"

Chief of Staff Kamiya was very relieved. His Excellency, Commander, has not been overwhelmed by the unfavorable battle situation. After a short period of depression, he regained his strength. This is the demeanor of an excellent general of the Great Japanese Empire! "Hay! Your Excellency, Commander, I will convey your order immediately, and I will personally rush to the Mokpo battlefield to coordinate the deployment of various troops, stay there, and command the battle!" He replied loudly, and asked to go to the front line.

General Tanaka shook his head, "Mr. Kamiya, the headquarters still has some military affairs to deal with, and I can't do without Mr. Kamiya, so I don't have to go to the Mokpo front. In addition, in the order to all mobilization troops, it must be emphasized that all mobilization The troops must arrive at the scheduled assembly point before dawn tomorrow, and the No. 30 Ninth Division and the Nakashimano Artillery Regiment must enter the second position of the Mokpo defense line before [-]:[-] tomorrow morning!"

Seeing the puzzled gaze of Chief of Staff Kamiya, General Tanaka said in a lecturing tone: "Mr. Kamiya, as a commander, you must comprehensively consider the situation on the battlefield. If such a large-scale troop mobilization is carried out during the day, we, who do not have air dominance, will , What will we encounter? The sky will be full of bombers and fighter jets from the independent division, and I am afraid that more than half of the troops will be killed or killed before the troops are assembled!"

Chief of Staff Shengu blushed, and secretly praised: "Jiang is still old and spicy! I didn't think about this level!"

Outside the window, the night was as dark as ink, and the sea breeze from the Yellow Sea was blowing fiercely. General Tanaka faced the night sky. No one knew what he was thinking?

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