Bright Sword: The Flowers of War

Chapter 347 At a loss

In Xinkou, dozens of kilometers away from Panlongling, the atmosphere inside the Fourth Division Command Post was as oppressive as the stagnant rain clouds outside.

The flame of the kerosene lamp flickered restlessly in the damp air, casting long, distorted shadows on the map on the wall.

Colonel Keiji Suzuki, Chief of Staff of the 4th Division, stood in front of the map, his brows furrowed, his expression a mixture of worry and confusion.

He finally couldn't hold back any longer and turned to Kitano Kenzo, who was sitting upright wiping his saber, asking in a strained voice, "Commander, are we really going to retreat?"

Kitano Kenzo didn't stop wiping the blade; he didn't even look up. He just let out a soft chuckle, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of sarcasm: "What... Suzuki-kun, are you reluctant to part with the scenery of this mountain valley in Xinkou?"

"of course not!"

Suzuki Keiji was momentarily speechless at the question, then immediately straightened up, bowed slightly, and hurriedly explained, "Your Excellency, the 27th Division is on its way to reinforce us at all costs. If we withdraw now, the Chinese army will surely turn its guns on the isolated 27th Division like a pack of wolves. At that time, General Honma's troops will be in danger!"

A long silence fell over the command post, broken only by the patter of raindrops hitting the tent roof and the soft scraping of a saber sliding in its sheath.

Finally, Kitano Kenzo slowly sheathed his cleaned military sword with a soft "click." He raised his head, his gaze icy, and looked directly at his chief of staff: "Suzuki-kun, I know all that you're saying."

His voice was steady but cold, each word like a cold stone: "But you must understand, I am first and foremost the commander of the Imperial Fourth Division. My top priority is how to safely withdraw this Imperial Class A division, my soldiers, from this damned quagmire."

He stood up, walked to the map, and tapped his finger heavily on the location of Xinkou: "Moreover, the retreat was ordered by Commander Tada and Commander Iwamatsu."

We are barely able to protect ourselves now, do you think we have the capacity to care about the fate of the 27th Division?

The last sentence was spoken with a sudden increase in emphasis.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Keiji Suzuki felt a chill run down his spine, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

He immediately lowered his head, not daring to meet Kitano Kenzo's gaze again. He understood that the division commander was giving him a warning, telling him not to have excessive sympathy or unrealistic strategic fantasies.

In the eyes of Kenzo Kitano, a division commander known for his "shrewdness" and "preservation of strength," any action that might endanger the safety of the Fourth Division was absolutely unacceptable.

The plight of friendly forces was worthless in the face of the survival of the 4th Division.

Outside the tent, the rain seemed to be getting heavier.

The soldiers of the 4th Division were packing their belongings in the icy mud, preparing to evacuate. They moved swiftly, their faces showing little sign of defeat, but rather a sense of relief at being about to escape their misery.

Although the 4th Division tried to keep its retreat secret, the commotion of tens of thousands of people could not be completely concealed in the dead of night.

The clanging of metal, the deep shouts of commands, and the scraping of heavy objects being dragged through the mud, like the whispers of ghosts, drifted intermittently across the no-man's-land between the two armies.

On the front lines of the New First Regiment, Regiment Commander Ding Wei held up binoculars, struggling to discern the anomalies on the opposite Japanese positions through the rain.

The once densely packed figures of soldiers became sparse, and even their movements became furtive, not like they were about to attack, but rather like thieves nervously moving house.

He put down his binoculars, spat out a mouthful of muddy water, and couldn't help but blurt out a curse:
"Damn it, no wonder they're called the renowned 'Osaka Division,' even their scurrying away is so well-trained!"

Beside him, Political Commissar Li of the New First Regiment was wiping his pistol with an oilcloth.

Hearing Ding Wei's complaint, he smiled and leaned closer, saying, "Old Ding, with the Japanese devils gone, Xinkou is ours now."

You got a great deal for free, what's there to be unhappy about?

Ding Wei didn't laugh. He just sighed deeply, leaned against the damp, cold trench wall, and looked at the dark position opposite with a complicated expression.

"To be honest, Lao Li, if this were a few months ago, I wouldn't have dared to dream that we could stand up to an entire Japanese Class A division head-on and even force them to retreat."

If this really works out, it'll be something I, Ding Wei, can brag about for the rest of my life.

He paused, then changed the subject, his tone revealing an undisguised sense of frustration: "But things are different now! This time we've mobilized over 100,000 troops, along with airplanes, heavy artillery, tanks... all the heavy equipment we never dared to dream of before. In my entire life, I've never fought such a well-equipped war!"

"But what's the result?"

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, "So many good brothers sacrificed themselves, fought for almost half a month, and didn't even take half of the Japanese's positions. The only reason we were able to take Xinkou was because they just packed up and left! What kind of victory is that?"

Ding Wei became more and more agitated as he spoke, pointing towards Niangziguan: "Think about Niangziguan again! The Shanxi militia decimated the Japanese 3rd Division, almost wiping them out! I just don't understand, we all have two shoulders and one head, is our fighting strength really that much weaker than the Shanxi militia?!"

Upon hearing this, Political Commissar Li shook his head helplessly.

He knew it; Ding Wei's stubborn and arrogant nature had kicked in again.

Although the battle was nominally won, in the heart of a proud and arrogant person like Ding Wei, this victory, which was "gifted" to him, was more painful than a defeat.

What he longed for was a decisive battle where he could crush the enemy with sheer skill, rather than watching the enemy abandon their positions.

Seeing Ding Wei's unwilling and somewhat stubborn expression, Political Commissar Li's smile faded, and his expression turned serious. He leaned his clean rifle against the trench wall and looked directly into Ding Wei's eyes.

"Alright, Lao Ding."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the rainy night: "I've noticed something's wrong with your mindset right now! Have you forgotten what your teacher said in 'On Protracted War'?"

Political Commissar Li's tone became more serious: "This war is a long-term process."

From strategic defense to strategic stalemate, and then to strategic counter-offensive, it always takes a process.

But what about you? Anxious and impatient! You've achieved a resounding victory, yet you're still dissatisfied that you didn't completely annihilate the enemy?

He continued, "What do you think all Japanese people are? Clay idols?"
Although the Fourth Division was not as famous as the Third or Sixth Divisions and was nicknamed the "Merchant Division", its ability to stand firm for over a century and maintain its position as a permanent division proved that it was not a name without substance.

You're just a regimental commander, yet you're thinking of wiping out an entire enemy division! If the Japanese devils were really that easy to defeat, we would have already marched to Tokyo and captured the Japanese Emperor alive!

These words were merciless, like a bucket of ice water poured over Ding Wei's head, instantly calming down his head, which had been swelling with fever due to comparison and resentment.

For a moment, the only sound in the trench was the dripping of rain.

Ding Wei stood there, his lips moved, but he couldn't utter a single word. Political Commissar Li's words struck a chord deep within him.

Yes, when did I become so unrealistic?

Just because they had some good equipment, they thought they could become rich overnight, and even compared their troops to the notoriously monstrous Shanxi militia...

After calming down for a moment, Ding Wei showed a hint of shame on his face and rubbed his nose somewhat embarrassedly: "Old Li... you're right. It seems that things have been going smoothly for me lately, and I've started to get arrogant. Luckily, your criticism came in time, waking me up before I made a big mistake."

Seeing that Ding Wei had realized his mistake, Political Commissar Li's expression softened, and he smiled and patted Ding Wei on the shoulder: "Old Ding, what are you saying? We're comrades-in-arms, partners! How could I just stand by and watch you make a mistake without helping you up?"

"Yes...we are partners."

Ding Wei's tense face finally relaxed, and he laughed heartily, all his frustration vanishing. He pulled a small cardboard box wrapped in oil paper from his damp pocket, opened it, and found a pack of "Lucky Strike" cigarettes inside.

He pulled out one and handed it to Political Commissar Li, then lit one up himself.

Political Commissar Li took the cigarette, and in the dim light of the distance, his eyes widened in shock: "Whoa... you, Ding Wei! I've been without food for days, my mouth is so bland, and you still have this kind of contraband hidden away! You little rascal, that's not fair!"

"Isn't that unfair?" Ding Wei lit a cigarette, took a satisfying drag, then blew a smoke ring at Political Commissar Li and said with a laugh, "Do you think I'm like that kid Li Yunlong, so shameless? I got this pack from the brigade commander when I went to the brigade headquarters for a meeting last time. This is the only pack I have, and it'll be gone once it's finished."

Let me tell you, even the brigade commander himself doesn't have many. You should be grateful you got any!

The two men, in the cold trench, smiled at each other while sharing a rare cigarette.

…………

Inside the 129th Division headquarters, the atmosphere was just as tense as a fully drawn bowstring.

Seven or eight gas lamps illuminated the command post brightly, and staff officers moved between the sand table and maps, while the telephones and telegraph machines rang incessantly.

“Dingle bell…Dingle bell…”

A red telephone suddenly emitted a sharp, piercing scream, shattering the rhythm of the room.

The deputy chief of staff, who was discussing the map in hushed tones with the division commander and political commissar, frowned, strode over, and grabbed the receiver.

"Hello, this is the 129th Division headquarters, I am *." His voice was steady and powerful.

A slightly hoarse voice came from the other end of the phone: "Hello, Deputy Chief of Staff! I am Lu Ruiying, Commander of the 61st Army."

"That's right. According to our reconnaissance at the front, the Japanese 4th Division has begun a full-scale retreat. Our unit has received orders from Commander Yan to immediately prepare to take over the defense and occupy the positions around Xinkou."

Lu Ruiying paused, then her tone became even more "sincere": "Commander Yan specifically asked me to convey to you that he hopes your unit can immediately advance and pursue the retreating Japanese Fourth Division, inflicting even greater casualties on the Japanese army! He hopes your unit can carry forward its heroic and fearless spirit, and for the sake of the Party, the country, and the nation, inflict even greater casualties on the Japanese army!"

"Hey!"

Hearing these high-sounding words, the deputy chief of staff almost laughed out of anger.

This scheme was so well-planned that it could be heard throughout Taiyuan.

Let the Eighth Route Army tackle the tough challenges and pursue the Japanese Class A divisions that had retreated but were still intact, while the Jin-Sui Army could comfortably take over the positions and reap the rewards.
He suppressed his displeasure and his tone became indifferent: "Commander Lü, is this Commander Yan's official order?"

If so, please convey this to Commander Yan, asking him to personally write a written order and affix his official seal. This way, I can report to headquarters and execute the order legitimately.

"This one……"

Lu Ruiying on the other end of the phone was clearly taken aback, her voice filled with awkward hesitation.

He stammered, "Deputy Chief of Staff, this... this is just a verbal order from Commander Yan. As you know, opportunities are fleeting, and if we want a written order, we'll probably have to send someone to Taiyuan to get it in person."

“Oh, a verbal order?” the deputy chief of staff replied crisply. “Then I’m truly sorry, Commander Lü. Without Commander Yan’s personal written order, I’m afraid my unit cannot carry it out.”

After all, we also have our own combat missions.

Before the other party could say anything more, he offered an irrefutable reason: "Moreover, the Japanese 27th Division is also fleeing into our defense zone. Our troops have already mobilized a portion of our main forces to block them in the Panlongling area."

To prevent the 27th Division from escaping, we must concentrate our forces immediately to encircle them and strive to annihilate them completely.

Therefore, the glorious and arduous task of pursuing the 4th Division can only be left to your esteemed unit to complete. I am confident that with the strength of the 61st Army, you will surely achieve a brilliant victory.”

These words were perfectly veiled, and the implication was clear: we have more important fish to catch, and if your Jin-Sui Army wants to reap the rewards, then go and play the whole pursuit game yourselves. Don't try to use us as pawns.

Lu Ruiying was rebuffed by the deputy chief of staff's firm but not overt approach, and could only hang up the phone in frustration.

After hanging up the phone, the deputy chief of staff snorted and said to Commander Liu, "This old Yan is already busy picking the fruits of others' labor before the war is even over. He's so petty. No wonder everyone says he's good at dancing on three eggs."

Commander Liu laughed heartily: "This guy is notoriously stingy, so why are you angry?"

Commander Yan wanted us to go and die, but we refused to go, just to spite him.

"Hahaha……"

All three of them burst into laughter.

After laughing, the deputy chief of staff pondered for a moment, "Commander Su is leading his troops this way and is expected to arrive tomorrow. With the addition of the Shanxi militia, we are more confident in annihilating the 27th Division. However, what I am worried about now is that Li Yunlong's independent regiment has too few troops."

The 27th Division, after all, is a division of over ten thousand men. If they were to launch a full-scale attack, the Independent Regiment wouldn't be able to withstand it.

The political commissar standing nearby added, "The problem is that the road to Panlongling is now blocked by the 27th Division, making it impossible to bypass the 27th Division for reinforcements."

"Yes, the reinforcements sent by headquarters will take several more days to arrive, which is far from enough to solve our immediate problem. Yan Xishan's First Cavalry Army is a good option, but I'm afraid they might not be willing to join us."

"Hope for those Jin-Sui Army troops? Don't dream about it." The deputy chief of staff never had any hope for the Jin-Sui Army.

For a moment, all three of them were at a loss.

(End of this chapter)