northernbook Chapter 734 A bolt from the blue
Chapter 734 A bolt from the blue
The atmosphere in the Kashima City Command Center was so solemn that it seemed as if water could be squeezed out of it. The occasional sound of artillery fire coming from outside the window was like thunder in the distance, constantly reminding the people here of the cruelty and ruthlessness of war.
Yamamoto Ryuka sat alone behind his desk, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white from the force, his eyes fixed on the communication device on the desk, which was once a bridge connecting the hopes of the Mingshao Division, but now there was only silence and cold unresponsiveness.
As time passed, Yamamoto Ryuka's heart gradually sank to the bottom. His eyes gradually changed from the initial anxiety to despair, a feeling of powerlessness that he knew the result but could not change.
Every attempt to contact him was like a stone sinking into the sea, silently devouring the last hope in his heart. He clearly realized that the Ming Zhao Division, the unit once hailed as the glory of the empire, might have disappeared forever in the smoke of the battlefield.
The mixed feelings in his heart were hard to describe, and regret was like a poisonous snake entwining his heart. Yamamoto Ryuka recalled the decision to dispatch the two major divisions of Ming Zhao and Zentong to southern Kyushu. At that time, he was full of confidence and thought that he could rely on these two elite divisions to turn the tide of the war and rescue the remnants of the besieged Changfeng Division. However, reality gave him the cruelest blow - not only did he fail to achieve the purpose of rescue, but he also buried these two precious divisions on the battlefield.
Just as Yamamoto Ryuka was immersed in deep self-blame and resentment, the door of the office was gently pushed open, and a messenger walked in with a solemn look. The messenger walked to the table, bowed his head and saluted, and then reported the news of the entire Ming Zhao Division's destruction in a voice that was almost choked with sobs.
At this moment, the last bit of luck and hope in Yamamoto Ryuka's heart was completely shattered. He seemed to have been drained of all his strength, and he slumped in the chair, his eyes staring forward with emptiness, as if his soul had left this body. Everything around him became blurry and distant, leaving only the endless pain and despair deep in his heart spreading wantonly.
He knew that the situation in the Kashima area was already precarious. Although the Kumamoto Division was a Class A division, its combat effectiveness would undoubtedly be greatly tested in the face of the large number of Chinese Northwest Army with high morale.
As the commander of Kashima City, he had to face this almost irreversible defeat. The road ahead would be an unknown and difficult journey for him and his soldiers.
To make matters worse, a telegram from Miyamoto Prefecture in southern Kashima soon made Yamamoto Ryuka even more desperate.
The content of the telegram was like a sharp blade, cutting through the already tense atmosphere in the Kashima City Command. The handwriting on the telegram was clear and urgent, conveying a desperate message from the front line: "Urgent report, the defense line of Miyamoto County was attacked by a large force of the Northwest Army of China. The enemy is numerous, well-equipped, and has fierce firepower. Although our First Infantry Regiment fought hard, the situation was grim and the casualties were heavy. Less than two hours after the start of the war, Miyamoto County has been surrounded. Request for immediate reinforcements, otherwise it may be difficult to hold on!"
The telegram fell into Yamamoto Ryuka's hands, and it seemed to weigh a thousand pounds. His eyes were fixed on every word on the telegram, his face turned pale as paper, and his hands trembled involuntarily. The atmosphere in the office instantly dropped to freezing point, the air seemed to freeze, and even breathing became unusually heavy.
At this moment, the door was suddenly pushed open, and a cold wind rushed in along with Kimura Lei's figure. This Lieutenant General of the Fuso Army, the commander of the Kumamoto Division, had a solemn and resolute look on his face. He walked quickly in front of Yamamoto Ryuka, and the two looked at each other. Without saying anything, they could read the deep worry and despair in each other's eyes.
After a moment's silence, Yamamoto Ryuka finally spoke, his voice hoarse and heavy: "Kimura-kun, we...we received a telegram from Miyamoto Prefecture." As he spoke, he handed the telegram to Kimura Lei.
Kimura Lei took the telegram and quickly read it through. His brows were furrowed, and a determined light flashed in his eyes. He slowly put down the telegram, looked up at Yamamoto Ryuka, and said in a deep voice: "Mr. Yamamoto, the situation is indeed critical. But please believe that my Kumamoto Division will never give up easily. I will immediately organize troops to strengthen the defense of Kashima City, and at the same time ask for help from the Kyushu Corps Headquarters."
Yamamoto Ryuka nodded, but his eyes were still filled with worry: "Kimura-kun, I understand your determination. But we must face the reality. The Kumamoto Division alone may not be able to resist the offensive of the Northwest Army. We must ask Commander-in-Chief Yamashita for reinforcements as soon as possible. Otherwise, once Kashima is lost, the entire Kyushu Island defense line will face collapse."
Upon hearing this, Kimura Lei said firmly: "Don't worry, Mr. Yamamoto. I, Kimura Lei, swear here that no matter when the reinforcements arrive, I will lead the Kumamoto Division to defend Kashima City and live and die with Kashima. This is our duty as soldiers of the Empire, and it is also the defense of our Empire's glory."
After saying that, he turned around and was about to leave, but then stopped and looked back at Yamamoto Ryuka: "Yamamoto-kun, please don't give up hope. We will definitely get through this difficult time."
Yamamoto Ryuka looked at Kimura Lei's departing back, feeling mixed emotions.
In Miyamoto Prefecture, 107 kilometers south of Kashima, the sky was covered by thick smoke, and the web of artillery fire enveloped this once important military town. The th Assault Division of the Third Army, with its thunderous momentum, took less than three hours to carve a mark of victory on this land.
When General Wang Yu stepped into the gate of Miyamoto County amid the smoke, he saw a mess. The blazing flames and the black smoke had turned the city into ruins. The once solid fortifications were shattered by the bombardment, and among the broken walls, the remains of the soldiers of the First Infantry Regiment of the Kumamoto Division could be vaguely seen.
Wang Yu's eyes swept through the ruins. The victory of this battle not only meant military advantage, but also won precious time and space for subsequent strategic deployment.
"Clean up the battlefield immediately!" Wang Yu's voice echoed in the ruins, clear and powerful. The soldiers quickly took action and began to clean up the battlefield, collect weapons and ammunition, treat the wounded, and search for possible enemy forces.
Regarding the prisoners, Wang Yu gave the order without any hesitation: "Execute the prisoners according to wartime regulations." On the battlefield, being kind to the enemy is being cruel to yourself.
Afterwards, Wang Yu ordered the establishment of a temporary military headquarters as the command center, responsible for maintaining close contact with the general headquarters and reporting the results of the battle and the next action plan in a timely manner. He personally sat in the temporary military headquarters, commanded and dispatched, and ensured that every order could be accurately transmitted to the front line.
After a short rest, Wang Yu's eyes once again turned to the distant Kashima City. The real challenge has just begun. The Third Army will have a more intense battle with the enemy here.
"March towards Kashima City!" Wang Yu's order sounded like a horn, inspiring the fighting spirit in every soldier's heart.