The document that Okamura Neiji handed to Okabe Naosaburo was naturally sent by a Japanese spy from Chongqing. It was about the Eighth Route Army's continuous attack on four large strongholds along the Shotai Railway and two county towns last night, and also completely annihilated the Japanese independent army.

He formed the 1st Brigade and killed Major General Masaomi Yasuoka, the commander of the brigade.

Moreover, it has also been polished by the Chairman.

Naosaburo Okabe looked surprised after reading it.

Shame, this is definitely an unprecedented and huge shame for the Japanese army.

Since the Japanese army entered China, it is not that they have failed without success, but the failure was so complete and embarrassing. It was the first time for a young girl to get on a sedan chair.

However, this loss made life a little more difficult for the 1st Army. It could not threaten the overall strategic situation at all, and it was not enough to harm the Japanese army.

Naosaburo Okabe knew that the reason why Commander Neji Okamura was so angry was definitely not just because of this defeat, but because of Yoshio Shinozuka's concealment.

Sure enough, as soon as he thought of this, Okamura Neji gritted his teeth and said bitterly: "What is this damn Yoshio Shinozuka, what is he going to do? Such a big thing happened in his control area, and he still concealed it and refused to report it.

?

What’s ridiculous is that as the commander of the North China Front, I actually had to go through a press conference in China to learn about this matter.”

Naosaburo Okabe had a close friendship with Yoshio Shinozuka. He thought for a while and explained: "Your Excellency, Commander, I know very well what kind of person Shinozuka-kun is. It is absolutely impossible for him to conceal something and not report it."

"I wonder if this is a Chinese conspiracy to disrupt the morale of the Imperial Japanese Army and thereby undermine the Central China Imperial Army's plot to capture the Zaoyi area?"

Okamura Neiji said solemnly: "Okabe-kun, the press conference held by the China government not only invited reporters from their own country, but also invited many Western reporters?

Do you think Jiang** would joke about this?"

"Chiang ** really does not dare to joke about this matter." Naosaburo Okabe nodded and said: "Your Excellency, Commander, the information received by the China Chongqing government should come from the report of the Eighth Route Army.

If the situation is really as what Chiang Kai-shek said at the press conference, as the defeated side, the battlefield news of the Imperial Army's 1st Army will definitely lag behind that of the victorious Eighth Route Army.

Therefore, Shinozuka-kun hasn’t reported the situation yet, could it be that he doesn’t know the specific situation on the front line yet?”

Okamura Neji did not speak.

Naosaburo Okabe said again: "Your Excellency, Commander, I will send a telegram to Mr. Shinozuka and ask about the specific situation there."

Okamura Neji nodded, acquiescing to Okabe Naosaburo's request.

Naosaburo Okabe winked at the shivering staff adjutant beside him and asked him to clean up the broken teacups on the floor, then turned around and left to send the telegram himself.

…

The screen zooms to Taiyuan.

Japanese 1st Army Headquarters.

Yoshio Shinozuka was still waiting in the war room for the aviation unit's report.

At this time, Communications Section Chief Ono Nobunaga suddenly rushed in from outside with a translated message: "Your Excellency, Commander, there is an urgent message from the Front Army Headquarters."

"An urgent call from the Front Army Headquarters?"

Upon hearing this, Yoshio Shinozuka's expression suddenly changed.

Ono Nobunaga then said: "To be precise, it is a message sent by His Excellency Chief of Staff Naosaburo Okabe."

Yoshio Shinozuka breathed a sigh of relief and asked again: "What did Okabe-kun say in the telegram?"

"Chief of Staff Naosaburo Okabe said that the news that Yangquan County was captured by the Eighth Route Army and that the Imperial Army's independent mixed 1st Brigade was completely destroyed has spread to Chongqing. The Chinese government took this as an excuse to hold a large-scale press conference.

meeting.

In addition, Naosaburo Okabe also asked you why you did not report this matter to the front army headquarters..."

Ono Nobunaga reported the contents of the message in detail, and then respectfully handed the message to Yoshio Shinozuka.

In the cable, Naosaburo Okabe also told Yoshio Shinozuka that Commander Okamura Neiji was extremely angry when he learned about the incident, but he had already explained it to Yoshio Shinozuka.

No matter what the reason was, Yoshio Shinozuka did not report to the front army headquarters, but he must follow his reminder to report later.

The reason why Okabe Naosaburo sent the report personally was to give Yoshio Shinozuka the news in advance.

After Yoshio Shinozuka read the telegram, he felt extremely grateful to Naosaburo Okabe.

Then he gave instructions to Ono Nobunaga in front of him: "Immediately call back to the front army headquarters and say that the reason why our department did not report the situation immediately was because the strongholds fell very suddenly and we did not know the specific situation on the front line yet.

No report was made to headquarters."

After a pause, Shinozuka Yoshio changed the topic and continued: "Also, if you tell Commander Okamura again, say that the defeat of the Imperial Army's 1st Army is only temporary, and this is actually one of my battle plans.

The purpose is to show the enemy's weakness and make the Eighth Route Army relax its vigilance, and then once and for all, completely eliminate the threat of the Eighth Route Army!

As soon as the 41st Division of the Imperial Army arrives, it will be the end of this group of Chinese Tuba Road!"

"Hiyi!"

Ono Nobunaga paused heavily, then turned and left, calling back the commander of the North China Front.

…

In Peiping.

Japanese North China Front Headquarters, Communications Section.

Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Okabe Naosaburo was still waiting by the radio station.

It wasn't until the communications soldier handed him the translated reply that he left and went to Neji Okamura's office.

"Your Excellency, Commander, the situation is indeed similar to what I expected. Due to the delay in news, Mr. Shinozuka did not know the specific situation on the front line yet, so he did not report it to the front army headquarters immediately.

In addition, Mr. Shinozuka also said that the current defeat of the Imperial Army's 1st Army is only temporary, in order to show the enemy's weakness and make the Eighth Route Army relax its vigilance, and then destroy it once and for all.

As long as the 41st Division of the Imperial Army arrives in Taiyuan, it will be the time for the 1st Army to launch a full-scale counterattack!"

After a pause, Naosaburo Okabe changed the topic and added: "Your Excellency, Commander, the strength displayed by the Eighth Route Army now is far beyond my expectations.

Under the constant pressure of the imperial army, instead of weakening, they became more and more lush like tenacious weeds.

What worries me most is that the Eighth Route Army's fighting will is far stronger than most of the Central Army and the Shanxi-Sui Army.

Fortunately, due to Chiang Kai-shek's suspicion, they were unable to obtain logistical supplies from the National Government. Otherwise, if they were allowed to possess weapons and equipment from the Central Army or the Shanxi-Sui Army, it would be disastrous for our Imperial Japanese Army.

of!"

"But even so, the current Eighth Route Army has greatly threatened the security and stability of North China.

Judging from the strength of the 1st Army in Shanxi, it is completely reasonable to lose several large strongholds and county towns in the face of such a crazy attack by the Eighth Route Army. The situation would not be much better if it were replaced by other imperial armies.

I even think that the current Eighth Route Army poses a greater threat to the Imperial Army than the Central Army and the Shanxi-Sui Army.

Therefore, I think we should strongly support Shinozuka-kun in this action and completely nip this threat from the Imperial Army in the cradle!

Even if the Eighth Route Army cannot be completely wiped out, it must be severely damaged so that it can no longer threaten the North China Imperial Army!"
Chapter completed!