BSI Chapter 96 Recruiting Soldiers, Aiming for 15,000 Men, the Chairman's Thoughts
Chapter 96 Recruiting Soldiers, Aiming for 15,000 Men, the Chairman's Thoughts
He glanced at Suematsu Shigeharu, who was bowing his head in thought and remaining silent, and said:
"Let's be optimistic. They have a considerable number of troops, and they are all elite soldiers. Even if they are surrounded by the enemy, they shouldn't be completely wiped out."
Perhaps it was just their communication equipment that was damaged in the fierce fighting.
Although Tani Hisao said this, he knew the truth in his heart.
Even the radios equipped by the battalion can communicate with the division headquarters.
Even if the battle was intense, it shouldn't have resulted in the complete destruction of all the radio stations.
Sure enough, a soldier ran up to report at that moment.
"The vanguard cavalry reports that a large number of destroyed trucks and burned corpses have been found in the area south of Yuefang Village. A large number of our soldiers' corpses have also been found on both banks of the E'xi River and on the river itself."
How many?
Shigeharu Suematsu, who had been silent, suddenly looked up and spoke.
"The initial estimate is four to five thousand people."
The communications soldier reported to the commander.
These words caused the atmosphere in the entire command center to freeze, and everyone seemed to hold their breath for a moment.
Hisao Tani said with a gloomy expression:
"Where is the enemy?"
"No enemy traces were found, so they must have already withdrawn from the battlefield."
The communications soldier replied.
Suematsu Shigeji stood up and said:
"Where is Saburo Isoda?"
The communications soldier hesitated for a moment, then stammered:
"The jade... the jade is broken."
Suematsu Shigeharu's vision went black, and he plopped down in a chair, his eyes flashing with furious flames.
"Cavalry, pursue! Catch them! Tear them apart!!!!"
He let out a hysterical roar.
Seeing that Suematsu Shigeharu was losing control of his emotions, Tani Hisao quickly had someone pull him away and calm him down.
Looking at the map again, Tani Hisao knew that although they had captured Nanjing, they were being played like monkeys in front of Li Jianghe.
We won this battle, yet it seems we didn't.
An incredibly complex emotion swirled in Tani Hisao's heart.
Three days later, the main force of Li Jianghe's troops approached Chizhou.
Before even entering the city, Long Wenzhang, acting as a scout, brought over a newspaper and placed it in front of Li Jianghe.
The newspaper reported that Li Jianghe had led his troops in a bloody battle in Nanjing and died a heroic death. The time of his death, as stated in the newspaper, was the very night that Li Jianghe led his troops in a breakout.
"Commander, it seems the higher-ups are quite generous, even publishing the news for us ahead of time. The only pity is that we didn't die; we really have let them down."
Long Wenzhang's words carried a hint of mockery.
Xiao Shanling also read the newspaper. After pondering for a moment, he said to Li Jianghe:
"Jiang He, you have no backing in the Central Army. This time you disobeyed orders and broke through the encirclement. Your superiors will probably punish you."
He knew very well that the success of Li Jianghe's breakout with his troops depended entirely on how the propaganda was carried out.
If his superiors want him dead, then say it's desertion and disobedience on the battlefield.
To save Li Jianghe, it would be necessary to fight for many days, successfully break through the encirclement, and preserve the main force.
"Chief of Staff, what do you suggest I do?"
Li Jianghe asked.
He had already prepared for the worst. If his superiors ordered him to die, Li Jianghe would lead his troops to defect to the Communists, change sides, and continue to lead troops to fight against the Japanese, but he would have no further connection with the Nationalist army.
He had no feelings whatsoever for this so-called party-state, and was even well aware of the darkness and corruption within the upper echelons of the Nationalist government.
After thinking for a moment, Xiao Shanling said:
"I'm a third-term graduate of the Baoding Military Academy, and I have some connections in the military. Why don't you stay here with your troops, and I'll go to Wuhan to make some connections and see if there's any room for maneuver in this matter?"
Li Jianghe thought this was good; if they could also get resources and soldiers from the Nationalist government, it would be much easier to fight the Japanese later.
If things don't improve, you have the system to rely on, allowing you to move forward or backward freely, so there's no need to worry too much.
Therefore, Li Jianghe's troops temporarily set up camp in the Jiuhua Mountain area next to Chizhou.
As for Zhu Chi, Gao Zhisong, and others from the original 88th Division, they led a small number of soldiers from the remnants of the 88th Division, along with the military police led by Xiao Shanling, to Wuhan along the river.
Before parting, Li Jianghe returned the Zhongzheng Sword, which Xiao Shanling had given him.
"This Chiang Kai-shek sword was a gift from the Chairman himself; it is far too precious. Chief of Staff, please take it."
Looking at the Zhongzheng Sword, Xiao Shanling had mixed feelings.
When Li Jianghe was given the Zhongzheng Sword, Xiao Shanling was already prepared to die and intended to sacrifice himself for his country.
It was only the ammunition and reinforcements provided by Li Jianghe that allowed him to survive.
"Alright, Jiang He, wait for my news. If... if there's no room for maneuver, you should make plans as soon as possible."
Xiao Shanling sheathed the Zhongzheng Sword and said something with a profound meaning.
Only Chief of Staff Xiao Shen and Li Jianghe could truly understand what this so-called "making plans early" meant.
Zhu Chi walked over and said:
"Brother Li, don't worry, I will also mobilize my classmates from Whampoa to try my best to clear things up for you."
You have rendered meritorious service to the country, and now is a time when talent is needed; I believe your superiors will not treat you unfairly.
Gao Zhisong simply patted him heavily on the shoulder and said:
Take care, Brother Li.
After the group of soldiers left by boat, Li Jianghe's gaze fell upon the wide and vast river surface under the setting sun.
He didn't know what the future held, but what he had to do right now was simple.
Recruit soldiers, expand military equipment, reorganize the troops, and train soldiers!
"Long Wenzhang, tomorrow you will lead men to the surrounding areas to recruit soldiers."
"yes!"
Long Wenzhang replied with great excitement.
Within two to three months, a motorized force with high mobility and firepower will be assembled.
The situation in Wuhan, Shandong, and Shanxi was critical, and the Chairman was in a state of great distress.
"Your Excellency, I have some news that's neither good nor bad. Would you like to hear it?"
He Yingqin's voice interrupted the chairman's somewhat chaotic thoughts.
He rubbed his dry eyes and asked in a deep voice:
"What do you mean by 'neither good nor bad'? Tell me."
He Yingqin then said:
"The magistrate of Xiaoshan sent a telegram saying that he was leading the remaining troops of the 88th Division and the remnants of the military police toward Wuhan."
It also brought news that Li Jianghe had not died in the battle of Nanjing that day, but had led his troops in a breakout, killing more than 6,000 Japanese soldiers in the Fanchang area.
"Li Jianghe? He didn't die in Nanjing?"
The chairman was quite surprised, but upon further reflection, it made sense.
If Li Jianghe, whom the Japanese considered a thorn in their side, had actually died in Nanjing, the Japanese army would have certainly publicized it extensively.
However, the Japanese newspapers only mentioned the occupation of Nanjing and even published some of the atrocities committed by the Japanese army in Nanjing, but they never mentioned Li Jianghe's life, death, or whereabouts.
If Li Jianghe successfully led his troops to break through the encirclement, then everything would make sense.
Despite being heavily surrounded by the Japanese army, Li Jianghe managed to escape with his troops. This was certainly not something the Japanese could use as propaganda material and publish in their newspapers.
That was practically a roundabout way of criticizing the Japanese army for its incompetence.
The chairman fell into deep thought, and after a long while, he looked up and asked:
"Jingzhi, do you think Li Jianghe is a hero of the War of Resistance, or a coward who deserted his post?"
He Yingqin was well aware that his next answer would greatly influence the Chairman's next decision.
Whether Li Jianghe lives or dies is just a matter of a single thought.
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