You were tasked with guarding the Sihang Warehouse, and you brought out a Tiger tank?

Liu Guitang was frightened.

That was genuine fear from the bottom of my heart.

That's Lin Feng, the man who could single-handedly annihilate an elite Japanese brigade.

Even the arrogant Japanese devils were wary of this name.

Who does Liu Guitang think he is?

The title sounded impressive, something like "Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Army," and he supposedly commanded seven or eight thousand imperial troops.

But actually?

That was a group of defeated soldiers, thugs, and bandits that had been gathered together.

They might be able to bully ordinary people, but if they really encountered a heavily armed and fierce army like Lin Feng's, they probably wouldn't even be able to withstand a single round of artillery fire.

"Quickly, answer Itagaki-sama's call for me."

Liu Guitang, as if grasping at a lifeline, lunged at the crank-operated telephone on the table.

As soon as the call connected, Liu Guitang immediately switched to an extremely obsequious tone, tinged with tears:

"Sir, Itagaki-sama, please help me!"

An extremely fierce Chinese army suddenly attacked from the flank. Their firepower was too intense, and my troops couldn't hold them off.

There were at least forty or fifty thousand men, and hundreds of cannons, and so many machine guns that they kept firing non-stop!

"Please, Your Excellency, send troops to support us immediately!"

On the other end of the phone came Itagaki Seishiro's voice:

"Liu Sang, don't panic."

The Imperial Japanese Army is invincible.

"You must immediately organize your troops and hold the position to the death. I will send my most elite troops to support you right away..."

"Beep...beep...beep..."

The call was disconnected.

Liu Guitang stood there, holding the receiver, stunned, his face turning pale and then red.

Hold out and wait for reinforcements?

Fuck it!

What is the ultimate survival rule for bandits?

It's better for me to die than for my fellow Daoist.

"Commander, what did the Japanese officer say?" The bandit's advisor, now the chief of staff of the puppet army, came over anxiously and asked.

"The Japanese commander told us to hold out to the death."

Liu Guitang slammed the receiver on the table, his triangular eyes darting around, revealing cunning and ruthlessness:

"Guard my ass."

Relay my order: assemble the personal guard battalion immediately.

Load all the looted silver ingots, dollars, and grain onto the carts, and we're ready to make a quick getaway!

The chief of staff froze, pointing towards the direction of the continuous artillery fire outside the door:

"What about the thousands of brothers who are still fighting to the death with the Northwest Army on the front lines?"

And that Japanese regiment that's with us...

"I can't worry about that anymore."

As Liu Guitang hurriedly put on the stolen silk clothes, stuffing silver coins into his pockets, he said viciously:

"Let them hold the line and serve as cannon fodder to buy us time."

"How can we escape if we don't leave some meat on the cutting board?"

The chief of staff still hesitated, swallowing hard.

"But Commander, are we just going to run away like this?"

"If Itagaki-sama blames us afterwards, we'll lose our heads."

"Blame me?"

Liu Guitang sneered, holstering a Mauser pistol at his waist, his eyes extremely clear:

"If it really is Lin Feng, that living devil, who comes."

That old devil Itagaki might end up being crippled here this time.

He still has the life to come and settle accounts with me?

At worst, we can just send a telegram to the whole country announcing our defection and returning to the National Revolutionary Army.

In short, as long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn.

Walk!"

After saying that, Liu Guitang, along with a few trusted confidants, rushed out of the command post without looking back.

-----

Meanwhile, in Tangtou Town.

Seishiro Itagaki was sitting at a low table, holding a cup of freshly brewed matcha.

"Commander, I've arrived."

Chief of Staff Major General Sakurada Takeshi barged in without even knocking, his face extremely grim.

"I just checked."

Our flank at the Yi River ferry crossing has indeed fallen.

The defending troops were subjected to extremely intense artillery fire. According to reports from the retreating puppet troops, the enemy's artillery fire was very dense and powerful, and was suspected to be heavy artillery of 100mm or more.

Moreover, the enemy's crossing speed is extremely astonishing; a large number of troops have already established a solid bridgehead on the east bank.

"Clatter."

Seishiro Itagaki gently tapped the teacup in his hand onto the table.

Liu Guitang was not lying; he did indeed have a strong army that had outflanked his troops.

who can that be?

The next second, a flash of lightning struck Itagaki Seishiro's mind.

It dawned on me.

"Extremely intense artillery fire... the ability to cross the river in an instant..."

Seishiro Itagaki suddenly stood up, his small eyes, hidden behind round-framed glasses, widening:

"It was neither the Northwest Army nor the Central Army that came."

This is Lin Feng!

It was his Thirty-Third Army Corps.

Unlike Liu Guitang, Itagaki Seishiro did not panic.

On the contrary, after a brief moment of shock, an extremely fanatical, even somewhat perverse, excitement appeared on his face.

A surge of fighting spirit.

"Hahaha, well done, Lin Feng."

Seishiro Itagaki drew his sword and slammed it down hard on a nearby wooden pillar, sending splinters flying.

"I thought he would go to Jinpu Road to cause trouble for Isogai-kun."

Unexpectedly, this black tengu is coming after me, Itagaki Seishiro.

He's trying to use my 5th Division as a stepping stone for his own fame and fortune.

But he was, after all, a top strategist among the Japanese, not a good-for-nothing who only knew how to bark.

After the initial excitement, Seishiro Itagaki immediately realized the enormous tactical crisis he was facing.

The breach on the flank meant that Lin Feng's army could cut off his connection with the front lines at any time.

Currently, in addition to Liu Guitang's 7,000 puppet troops, the 41st Infantry Regiment under his 5th Division is also blocking the defense of Linyi.

If Lin Feng acts quickly enough, all 10,000 people will be completely surrounded and wiped out.

"Sakurada-kun."

Seishiro Itagaki turned around abruptly, his eyes turning extremely cold, and made his decision without hesitation:

"Immediately send a telegram to the commander of the 41st Regiment."

He ordered them to immediately cease their attack on Linyi.

Before the Chinese encirclement was fully closed, they immediately began a cover retreat, quickly moving towards the main force in Tangtou Town.

Sakurada Takeshi paused for a moment, then hurriedly asked:

"Commander, what should we do with Liu Guitang's seven thousand puppet troops?"

If the 41st Regiment retreats, they will be left alone to face Lin Feng's main force and will be torn apart instantly.

"Tear it to pieces if you want."

Itagaki Seishiro sneered, his tone devoid of any pity, as if he were discussing thousands of pigs awaiting slaughter:

"I just gave Liu Guitang a strict order on the phone to hold the position to the death."

This is the best moment for these Chinese people to demonstrate their value.

Itagaki Seishiro walked to the map and drew a line between Linyi and Tangtou with his sword:

"I will use the lives of these seven thousand puppet soldiers as human shields and as bait."

They used their flesh and blood to consume Lin Feng's artillery shells.

To slow down the advance of the 33rd Army Corps.

As long as they can hold Lin Feng off for half a day.

I can then calmly deploy the main force of my 5th Division south of Tangtou Town.

Give Lin Feng a counter-encirclement.

Itagaki Seishiro confidently continued to issue orders:

"In addition, immediately send an urgent telegram to the North China Area Army Headquarters."

Tell them that I have discovered the whereabouts of Lin Feng's main force.

The request was made to headquarters to immediately dispatch all reconnaissance aircraft and gather battlefield intelligence at all costs.

And requested support from tactical bomber groups.

"Hi."

Sakurada Takeshi immediately bowed his head in acceptance and turned to run off to make the arrangements.

The command center fell silent again.

Seishiro Itagaki walked to the window and looked at the gloomy sky outside.

What happened to those puppet troops?

He doesn't care at all.

"Lin Feng..."

Seishiro Itagaki gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, a cruel smile playing on his lips:

"Since you've come to me of your own accord."

"Then this plain of southern Shandong will be the graveyard of your so-called elite force."

Seishiro Itagaki is going to make a central breakthrough this time!