mtl008 Chapter 336: Handover of Command
Chapter 336: Handover of Command
After learning that Shinno had been occupied, the commander of the 16th Division, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, rushed to the Shinno front with his troops in advance. The commander of the 13th Division, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rippei, and the chief of staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma, also brought officers from their division headquarters to welcome the arrival of Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke at the gate of the camp.
"Your Excellency the Division Commander, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke is really fast. It's only half past nine, and the troops of the 16th Division have already arrived in Shinno." Chief of Staff Major General Ishikawa Takuma spoke a little sourly about the actions of Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, the commander of the 16th Division.
Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei, commander of the 13th Division, smiled and glanced at his unhappy chief of staff. He knew that the commander of the 16th Division, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, came so quickly this time as a manifestation of dissatisfaction with the previous attack operations of the 13th Division.
Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke believed that the slow attack of the 13th Division caused the 16th Division to have nothing to do for a long time. He arrived early so impatiently to show the officers and soldiers of the 13th Division and himself that the morale of the 16th Division was high and they had already prepared for the attack. It was another kind of mockery of the 13th Division.
"Mr. Ishikawa, the previous attack of our 13th Division did not meet the requirements of the pre-war headquarters' combat plan. The time for occupying Shinno was also a few days later than previously expected. It is understandable that Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke is anxious. I hope that Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke's attack will be successful." Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei still comforted the Chief of Staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma.
Chief of Staff Major General Takuma Ishikawa heard the deeper meaning behind the division commander's words. Yes, the 16th Division will later launch an attack on the 31st Army of the Chinese government in Zaoyang. Will this battle be easy to fight?
You can see from the tenacious defense of the troops of the Fifth War Zone of the Chinese Government in Xinye that the 31st Army, as the direct force of the Chinese Government, can be so easy to fight? Their weapons and equipment are much better than those of other troops in the Fifth War Zone of the Chinese Government.
The 13th Division had such a hard time in the encirclement operation, how could the 16th Division, which was about the same strength as the 13th Division, achieve any outstanding results in the subsequent operations? Impossible.
Chief of Staff Major General Takuma Ishikawa sighed in his heart that the division commander had a long-term vision. He would let the commander of the 16th Division, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, get carried away for a while, so that Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke would have a headache later. By that time, he and the division commander would be already in Changshoudian, enjoying the scenery in a relaxed mood.
"Ogisu-kun, why do you have to wait at the camp gate? I should have come earlier if I had known. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, commander of the 16th Division, and Major General Nakazawa Mitsuo, chief of staff, brought people from the 16th Division to the gate of the 13th Division headquarters.
Lieutenant General Ogisu Rippei of the 13th Division and Major General Ishikawa Takuma, the Chief of Staff, felt that the words of Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke were a bit harsh. Are you talking like a human being? Isn't this a veiled satire on the slow action of the 13th Division? What do you mean you should have come earlier? You are so bad at talking.
"No, you're too polite, Fujie-kun. It's my duty to welcome you here. And according to the pre-war combat plan, I also need to hand over battlefield command to you." Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei smiled and pretended not to hear Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke's previous teasing of him.
Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke also walked into the 13th Division headquarters with a smile on his face, side by side with Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei. The commanders of the two divisions were responsible for the handover of battlefield situation, intelligence and command of combat forces.
"Mr. Fujie, come and have a cup of tea. I hope that you can lead your troops to successfully complete the combat tasks assigned by the commander. I would like to wish you victory in advance with tea instead of wine." Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei also poured a cup of tea for Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke and said politely.
Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke also took the teacup, drank a sip of tea, and then slowly said: "Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Ogisu. Thanks to your good words, this battle will go smoothly. After this battle, my 16th Division will be ordered to return to the mainland. To be honest, I really envy Mr. Ogisu. You can continue to lead the troops to make achievements on the battlefield in China."
After filling the cup with tea, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuei said, "In fact, I envy Fujie-kun. You can return to your homeland and reunite with your family. Moreover, you are returning to your homeland with many honors. After destroying the 31st Army of the Chinese government, Fujie-kun's achievements will be greatly improved."
Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke was somewhat proud of Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei's praise. The temptation to destroy the 31st Army of the Chinese government was too great, which was why he could not wait any longer.
Lieutenant General Keisuke Fujie was more eager to complete this combat mission than the commander, Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura, because he needed to return to his homeland with honors.
The handover between the chiefs of staff of both sides went very smoothly. After only thirty minutes, the command of the Japanese encirclement troops on the battlefield was successfully transferred to Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke, commander of the 16th Division. From this moment on, Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke became the decision maker on the battlefield.
After completing the handover, the commander of the 13th Division, Lieutenant General Ogisu Rikuhei, retreated with his chief of staff, Major General Ishikawa Takuma, and the officers and soldiers of his own division. He needed to rush to Changshoudian to defend the encirclement.
"Your Excellency the Division Commander, Colonel Kototo Kurayashi, commander of the 58th Regiment of the 13th Division, sent a telegram saying that Shinno Castle has been completely occupied and the Chinese army has withdrawn from the city. They did not encounter any resistance in the city." Major General Mitsuo Nakazawa, chief of staff of the 16th Division, reported the news he had just handed over to the division commander, Lieutenant General Keisuke Fujie.
Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke nodded, and then ordered the Chief of Staff Major General Nakazawa Sanfu: "Mr. Nakazawa, order the troops to act according to the previous combat plan. The 16th Division and the attached attack forces must all arrive at the designated location before 9 am tomorrow. The division headquarters will also move forward with the troops. Order the 58th Regiment of the 13th Division to prepare for the defense of Xinye."
With the issuance of the first order by Lieutenant General Fujie Keisuke after taking over the command, all the Japanese encirclement and attack forces began to move.