Canteen System Assistance Notes

Therefore, the battle to capture Pingding County was relatively smoother than before. After the Communist Army discovered that the 36th Division had come to reinforce, they did not choose to fight head-on.

He took the initiative to retreat.

It seems that they did put their main forces into besieging and annihilating the First Army.

Using only a small force, they were able to hold back two divisions for over a week. The Communist Army was truly tenacious… Village couldn't help but sigh. As if he was worried, he gave another instruction:

Tell Division Commander Jing Quejin that the Snow Corps will assume responsibility for the upcoming attack. Without a fierce battle in Pingding County, the Communist Army will undoubtedly fight to the death to stop the Imperial Army's offensive in Yangquan. Please be prepared to make sacrifices and ensure the speed of the attack—the First Army is still waiting for us in Yangquan."

"Hi!"

However, before the staff officer, who stood at attention and bowed his head, could leave the office at the train station, the signalman in charge of the radio station walked in. He saluted Okamura, respectfully handed over the telegram, and began to report:

Commander! The latest telegram from the Snow Corps: "We have dispatched a search detachment, advancing along the railway. We have now arrived at Baiyangshu, east of Yangquan. The entire journey has been smooth, with only sporadic resistance from the Communist Army. We have not encountered any obstruction." Considering that the opportunity for battle is fleeting and Jinyang is currently empty, with only overseas Chinese guarding it, the Snow Corps proposed: Let the Feng Corps enter Yangquan, while they themselves continue to advance.

Rush to Jinyang City as soon as possible to take over the defense and complete the cross-position exchange - Is the above appropriate?

"

What? The Communist Army didn't set up a defense line in Yangquan? That's great, let the troops advance quickly...

Okamura Neiji cast his gaze at the sand table with a look of shock. On it, the flags and arrows of the red and blue factions intertwined, forming a highly complex and chaotic scene. But the next moment, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and a fierce wind blew, as if the fog that had obscured the truth had been blown away. In that split second, Okamura suddenly stopped himself from expressing his joy.

No! No! This is not right!

First Army, run!

Chapter 615: The Bad Team (I) The Invisible Mountain

(Update)

Let's turn back time to more than ten days ago.

At this time, the battle situation had deteriorated rapidly, so much so that even Ryutaro Kawakami, a new recruit of the former 90th Independent Infantry Unit, could feel it.

Perhaps unwilling, perhaps afraid, the Japanese army didn't share the Eighth Route Army's habit of explaining the war situation and strategy to its rank-and-file soldiers. However, at the remote Lukou stronghold, after a "working trip" in late 40, squad leader Ishii Linye, carrying taro, began reading Japanese newspapers to the soldiers, explaining the war situation and domestic conditions.

So Kawakami Ryutaro knew that the Communist army had broken through the Imperial Army's defense line and defeated several divisions, and was rushing towards Jinyang from the north and south. However, the railway turning east from Jinyang was blocked by the Communist army - in short, the First Army was surrounded.

However, this strategic encirclement hardly gave people a sense of imminent danger. Rather than the fear of slow death, Kawakami Ryutaro was actually more concerned about when his infantry unit would be withdrawn to fight on the front lines. Several divisions had been defeated, and if they really went to the battlefield, he was afraid that his unit would be thrown into the most dangerous area and eventually die under the Communist artillery fire.

If only I could stay in this base forever. I used to be an elementary school teacher, so I shouldn't have been on the battlefield... Soldier Kawakami Ryutaro thought unsurely. If I were to teach Chinese characters to my peers and seniors in the base, I'd have some confidence, but if I were to go fight the Communist army...

It was really difficult for him to associate the kind folks in Kangjia Town with the stereotypical "violent Chinese" who were ferocious and vicious. It was even more difficult for him to equate the village militia captain and the little devils in the children's group with the evil communist army that would "cut off the tongues and pull out the testicles of prisoners" in propaganda.

Kawakami couldn't imagine that at some point in the future, he might need to point a gun at them. "Alas...what can I do? Commander Ishii can't do anything about them..."

Thinking back to the scene a few days ago, the situation is still vivid in his mind, but what can he do? Kawakami can only sigh.

Ryutaro Kawakami knew that the Luguchi stronghold had been "disarmed".

What was originally a simple matter of mobilizing troops through a transfer order and then having the relief troops come to hand over to the original troops almost led to a fight between the two sides at the Lukou stronghold.

After reading the transfer order to the lieutenant who had arrived to relieve the defense, Warrant Officer Ishii Linye casually asked a few questions about the lieutenant's whereabouts and mission. Unexpectedly, he clashed with the lieutenant—a rare moment of anger. With the uncharacteristic arrogance of a twelve-year veteran, he loudly questioned the lieutenant.

"...This is destroying the lives of Japanese people. This is a crime of chaos!"

In the Japanese military, veterans with long service often held a much stronger position than non-commissioned officers a rank or two above them. Kawakami had been deeply "taught" this during boot camp, and the fear of veterans was etched into his body like muscle memory.

However, this time it didn't seem to work. "Are you going to disobey me?!"

When Kawakami Ryutaro ran back from his sentry post, he saw the lieutenant interrupting Ishii's explanation, raising his chin and hand.

There was a sound of "slap", a solid slap in the face.

"What?" Private First Class Kawakami was shocked by the scene before him. But the other veterans in the squad had seen it all before - the 9th Squad was an unpopular group, but they had never been bullied to this extent! "Hey! Are you bullying me?!"

They stood up immediately, not caring that the enemy had nearly double their number, and grabbed their rifles and raised them. At the same time, two men nimbly climbed onto the roof and turned the muzzle of the Type 11 light machine gun on the roof, pointing it in the opposite direction.

For a moment, the sound of rifle bolts clicking incessantly filled the air. Seeing the murderous aura of the enemy, the laborers on the Peninsula quickly became timid, and the few remaining soldiers from the squadrons were completely unable to hold their own. "Ishii Linye! You—you!"

The lieutenant's spirit instantly deflated, and he took a step back. The veteran soldier standing nearby took a step forward, and with a thud, the lieutenant fell to the ground, his hands and knees twitching as he retreated a few more steps. "You..." he shouted, his legs trembling.

“Stop it first!!!”

Squad leader Ishii called out to several men who were running toward the Taisho Infantry Cannon. He stood straight and spoke loudly. After looking around at the soldiers behind him, Ishii glanced at the military rank with three stars and three red stripes on the shoulder and collar of the person opposite him.

He took another closer look.

Private First Class Ryutaro Kawakami looked around and found that his colleagues were also looking at him, but no one put down their guns.

"I say, you, and you, put your guns down first!" Ishii yelled, startling Kawakami. He took a deep breath, gathered his emotions, and pleaded, "You too, turn the safety on."

Captain Ishii's tone softened instantly, and even his body seemed to hunch a little, as if something invisible was weighing heavily on his shoulders—what a strong man he used to be!

Finally, everyone lowered their guns, both here and there. Some stepped forward, trying to carry Captain Ishii from behind, but failed. Captain Ishii remained at the front, facing the lieutenant assigned from the squadron. "Sir, the soldiers of the Empire have always regarded obedience to orders as their first duty, and the Independent 90th Infantry Division is no exception."

Ishii Linye's tone was calm. He took half a step back and did not move forward.

"The training mission will be completed without compromise, with guaranteed quality and quantity. Squadron 90 needs a day to prepare. Tomorrow morning, we will set off on our own and return to the squadron headquarters." "In that case, you..." The lieutenant stood up again.

"but!"

Ishii Linye suddenly stood up straight and shouted. This sudden roar frightened the lieutenant and made him shrink back. Seeing that no one around him continued to move, he finally came to his senses, patted the dust off his butt, and tried to maintain a decent appearance.

"I want to take all these people with me. I don't trust anyone else to take care of them. Your Excellency, when it comes to training new recruits, I'm quite capable." Warrant Officer Ishii bowed slightly, symbolically lowering his head. "Please grant this request."

In the end, the Independent 9th Infantry Detachment returned to the company structure, and the company began to march back to the 27th Infantry Regiment of the 58th Division (formerly the Independent Mixed 9th) that remained in Jinyang City (the result of the division reorganization).

After arriving at Jinyang City, the entire squadron was split into smaller units, each placed on standby in their designated areas. Kawakami Ryutaro secretly observed several squadrons being broken up in this way, with each independent "unit" consisting of approximately 20-30 men.

What...what is this for? And what is that "training mission"?

Squad Leader Ishii had been called away for a meeting, leaving him with no one to explain the situation or educate him. Kawakami Ryutaro secretly asked a few veteran soldiers nearby, but they also expressed confusion, saying only that the current situation must be related to the Communist offensive.

You're not going to ask us to fight the Communist tanks, are you?

Kawakami Ryuutarou thought about it over and over, but couldn't figure it out. In the end, he could only focus on maintaining the rifle. After some trouble, he put the rifle back together and pulled the bolt a few times. It was very smooth and refreshing, so there should be no problem. "Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-"

The call for assembly sounded at the door, and Kawakami's hands and legs sprang into action before his mind. He quickly grabbed his rifle, buckled his helmet, and ran to the open space outside the house. There, Warrant Officer Ishii Hayashino was holding a whistle, puffing out his cheeks as he blew.

Hmm? Behind him, there is a large group of...

child?

Chapter 616: Bad Team (II) Teachers and Children

(Update)

Before receiving the red conscription postcard, Mr. Ryutaro Kawakami was an ordinary elementary school teacher in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, working in a very ordinary elementary school.

Because most of the local young people went to work in Aichi Prefecture and Osaka City, there were not many teachers in the village elementary school, whose name had almost been forgotten. Mr. Kawakami not only had to teach arithmetic and Chinese classes, but also had to act as a physical education teacher, leading the students to complete the "National Spirit Uplifting Week" curriculum - uh, that is, pulling weeds on the roadside.

It was strange, but it was true. Moreover, this ridiculous life actually made Kawakami Ryutaro, an ordinary private first class, now squatting in the distant and unfamiliar North China, with a rifle on his shoulder, feel a little nostalgic. He became a teacher again after a long time.

The Independent 9th Infantry Squadron was actually a very strange organization, and normally would not exist in the Japanese Army's combat sequence. In fact, as a defensive organization full of "people that no one likes", the people in the squad were also "a mixed bag".

Aside from Commander Ishii Hayano, who had earned the rank of Warrant Officer purely through seniority, the squad consisted of 25 men, including two three-man rifle teams totaling six men, a four-man machine gun team, Chao Mian, who controlled a Type 11 light machine gun and a captured ZzB light machine gun, and a four-man grenade launcher team. Because the squad was essentially composed of "unwelcome individuals," they also included a dozen or so "miscellaneous soldiers" transferred from various other departments, serving various roles.

Ryutaro Kawakami is one of them.

Because they were already old when they were conscripted, in normal Japanese military units, "younger people" like Kawakami were often the most embarrassed: they had no qualifications to show off in front of younger people, lacked the physical fitness of pure young people, and their professional skills could not be put to use immediately, so they were always in the middle and lower levels of the Japanese army's "discrimination chain" and found it difficult to turn over.

However, this problem is not serious in the Independent 90th Infantry Unit.

Because he could read and calculate, and because Captain Ishii had said that infantry alone was essentially useless in the North China war, and that a cannon was essential to defending a stronghold, Private First Class Kawakami Ryutaro honorably transferred to the infantry department at Lukou Stronghold and became an infantry gunner, operating the 11th-year-old infantry gun alongside several veterans.

Finally, although our level was far inferior to that of a true infantry artillery team, and this artillery piece was completely useless in field operations, it still served as support fire for the stronghold, ensuring everyone's safety. Anyway, it didn't fire many times.

However, this strange and defensively specialized independent 90th infantry unit has finally come to an end, and has been replaced by a "Special Infantry 90th Squadron" - the Japanese army has added nearly 60 new "privates" here, which has rapidly expanded the number of this unit to nearly 90 people.

For these child soldiers aged 14-16, with the oldest being only 17, Ryutaro Kawakami, who has teaching experience and is a military veteran, has become an unattainable "sky".

With the support of Warrant Officer Ishii and the assistance of many veteran colleagues, Private First Class Ryutaro Kawakami began his career as an instructor, preparing to train this group of children.

However, the current situation is indeed too bad.

The first is lack of time.

According to information passed down from the battalion headquarters, the training period was only seven days, and the outcome after that would depend on the soldiers on the front lines. Having frequently listened to the captain's briefings on the battle situation, Kawakami and several veterans agreed that the training period would definitely not exceed two weeks.

The second problem is the lack of equipment.

The Communist Army's situation was no secret: they possessed long-range howitzers, field artillery, and indirect fire, and were fond of using machine guns to cover the assaults of "individual non-reactionary artillery" gunners. Ishii Jun'e had studied this, consulting with veterans within the unit, and reached the following conclusion:

To deal with such a communist army, it was necessary to dig extensive fortifications, set up anti-artillery holes, and deploy two lines of defense on the position - only a small number of personnel would be deployed on the front line, while the majority of personnel would be deployed in the rear, waiting for the enemy to launch a charge before entering the position to counterattack. The frequency of bayonet thrusts should be reduced, and only used when it was certain that the enemy could be entangled...

Therefore, according to Captain Ishii's arrangement, the current emergency training should focus on "earthwork", teaching these children how to dig fortifications and avoid artillery fire.

And select some of the stronger ones to carry out the "ammunition delivery" and "wounded transport"

Don't let them go to the front line for the "transportation" and "communication delivery" tasks.

To this end, it is necessary to apply for some shovels, pickaxes, stretchers and shoulder poles. Training should also focus on such auxiliary tasks and enable the children to understand the whistle orders of the squad leaders and sergeants.

However, the brigade rejected the proposal, reprimanded the Ishii team for submitting it, and once again argued with Ishii Linye. In the end, the sullen-faced special task force leader did not receive any earthwork tools, but only a copy of the "Special Tactics Field Training Manual" that he had nearly crushed.

Now, this "Tactics of War" is in the hands of Ryutaro Kawakami, and several veterans are sitting next to him, listening to his explanation.

"...All units should firmly implement the spirit of 'Battle Training,' adhere to the tactics of the 'Model Orders,' and practice the essentials of defensive operations... In view of the current urgent situation of occupation, training should focus on destroying Communist tanks—in other words, the battalion headquarters requires us to be prepared for anti-tank and anti-vehicle operations.

"Doesn't our battalion have anti-tank guns?" Kawakami Ryutaro asked the veteran beside him, and the latter shook his head and waved his hands, indicating that the few 37 guns had been taken away by the division headquarters, saying that they were for concentrated use and had not been left for them at all.

"Our Type 11 tanks don't even have armor-piercing shells, and can't even penetrate light tanks. How can the Communist medium tanks (T26) do anything to us? Alas!" the old soldier sighed. "If it really doesn't work, it would be nice to have some of the Communist non-reactionary guns. How are we supposed to fight now? Kawakami, how do we fight in this manual?"

"Let me see... Here, after encountering Communist tanks, you must remain calm and clear-headed... When facing enemy tanks, you should wait until the tanks are trapped in obstacles, suppress the rear of the tanks with projectiles, and fire enfilades to intercept enemy infantry. Infantry artillery should target the tank tracks for destructive fire..."

In short, the first step was to immobilize the tank, then suppress the infantry beside it. Kawakami Ryutaro continued to look down, but soon his hands began to tremble. He finally understood why Captain Ishii was so angry.

"...The destruction of enemy tanks should be carried out by commandos. Commandos should be armed with Type 99 demolition tubes and Type 99 demolition mines, and with the spirit of the Three Warriors of Bombs, they should launch an assault on enemy tanks. Destroyers should prioritize attacking the bottom of enemy tanks, while mines should prioritize attacking the sides..."

The words were printed in lead type, still smelling of fresh ink and seemingly still a hint of warmth, but Kawakami Ryutaro felt a deep chill seeping from his eyes into his brain. "Priority should be given to selecting overseas Chinese, Korean Peninsula mobilization soldiers, and the Imperial Army as commandos, with priority given to training them in assault and self-sacrifice blasting capabilities. Overseas Chinese and Korean Peninsula soldiers should be given priority in training."

The Imperial Army only needs to train in advance and blasting operations, and does not need to train in retreat.

"Nowadays, regardless of race, anyone who dedicates their life to the empire can become a god."

—―Behind these printed characters, there is a handwritten order.

"This manual must not be distributed in its entirety without any abridgement. It may only be read by squad leaders and above. "Distribution of this manual to overseas Chinese, Peninsula soldiers, or the Imperial Army is strictly prohibited."

Chapter 617: Bad Team (3) Fujino Seibei

Following orders from the battalion headquarters, the members of Squad 90 began practicing "self-sacrifice blasting tactics" against tanks. Squad Leader Ishii did not openly disobey orders. He divided the twenty-odd veterans in his unit into three groups, each consisting of six or seven people, each with twenty or so children. He personally selected the remaining members and appointed them as squad leaders, leading them personally. They first dug a simulated training position and then erected three "tanks" on wooden scaffolding to serve as targets.

These three tanks could be pushed by humans, and the "turrets" were made of wooden sticks. Under the guidance of the carpentry apprentices in the team, they were made quite well. However, Ishii Linye did not completely follow the order.

Not only did he distribute the battalion headquarters manual to his 20-plus former subordinates, he personally revised the procedures. Furthermore, Ishii retained the entire battlefield "signal discrimination" curriculum—assembly, attack, dispersal, firing... as well as the temporary retreat signal, which was not included in the instructional plan. He repeatedly instructed the veterans to teach them all to the letter.

The modified process is basically as follows:

After encountering Communist tanks, the first thing to do was to suppress the urge to open fire and use trenches, concrete piles, and barbed wire to block and guide them. Secondly, after the Communist tank units deployed into battle formation and covered the infantry, grenade launchers and light and heavy machine guns could open fire and shoot at the infantry.

At this point, the Communist tanks would undoubtedly counterattack. The grenade launchers were indirect fire weapons with minimal signature, allowing them to continue firing, while the light and heavy machine guns would have to move to several pre-determined positions to avoid the incoming fire. At this point, the 37mm rifle guns within the squadron would use armor-piercing grenades to fire at the tracks of the Communist tanks, forcing them to stop and become paralyzed.

Then, they applied for fire support from their superiors to drive away the rescue tanks, and the grenade launcher team fired smoke bombs to block the tanks' vision.

Finally, the children's demolition team was dispatched to blow up the tank. This was the most dangerous phase, so at the same time, the rest of the team needed to increase their firepower and continue firing, blocking enemy forces coming in from other directions and covering the children's retreat...

"If we work together, there's a chance they'll survive," Squad Leader Ishii Linye said stubbornly, pursing his lips as if forcing himself to believe.

He repeated, "There must be a chance."

The designated position for Special Unit 90 was in the northwest corner of Jinyang City, at a location called "Xiaobeimen," nestled against a strikingly imposing, classical rammed-earth and stone castle, near the Jinyang Locomotive Factory. This rocky wall was riddled with firing slits, and under Japanese supervision, the conscripted Imperial Chinese Army continuously carried ammunition and weapons into the firing bunkers.

However, Special Squad 90 didn't receive many weapons. After replenishment, the nearly 90-man squad only received a dozen Chinese rifles, adding to the original twenty-some guns, leaving just over thirty. There were no machine guns or grenade launchers at all. They even lacked the Type 99 demolition canisters and Type 99 demolition mines needed for practicing "life-threatening blasting." They only had wooden stakes wrapped in cloth strips and cloth bags with rocks added to simulate demolition canisters and magnetic mines.

Ryutaro Kawakami and a few others went to find the quartermaster of the brigade, but they received nothing except a slap in the face.

Unfortunately, training could only be conducted under these circumstances. The seven-day timeframe was tight, with much to do and a packed schedule. Thus, the training of Special Unit 90 unfolded in a very Navy-like, "monthly, fire, water, wood, metal, gold" fashion.

The artillery unit Kawakami Ryutaro was assigned to was also reassigned to an infantry unit, and several of the men who had been reassigned from infantry to gunners were reinstated. They began training with about twenty children. They woke up before dawn at 6 a.m. to practice shuttle runs, obstacle courses, and physical fitness. They also practiced "circumvention" and "charging" against "medium tanks" made of wood and rammed earth.

"When facing enemy machine gun suppression, first seek cover to save yourself and leave the blasting to your allies!" Kawakami raised his voice, speaking like a veteran. "If you can't find a crater or cover, stop circling. Run straight through the danger zone! The human body is ridiculously slow to move back and forth against bullets!"

It was not until sunset that they could return to the houses where they were stationed, where they learned how to distinguish the commander's whistle on the battlefield and understand its meaning. Some of the older children followed the veterans to learn how to maintain and shoot rifles.

The children were still young, but their receptive abilities were excellent and they were full of energy. Away from the dull classroom, and armed with weapons previously reserved for adults—even if they were only fake—they were all very excited. Even the exhaustion from daily practice didn't dampen their excitement.

Among them, those who trained hard and made rapid progress quickly stood out: Fujino Seibei, a 16-year-old boy, quickly attracted the attention of teacher Ryutaro Kawakami and several veterans.

Fujino Seibei wasn't the oldest, nor the strongest, and even his grades at his old school were average. Yet, he was the hardest-working person in his daily training, bar none. Because of the tight schedule, the training was incredibly intense, but Fujino Seibei took the initiative to run and leap on the training ground during the brief free time before lights-out each day, training until he could barely stand before returning to his bunk to sleep. The next day, he would still persevere, braving the aching muscles all over his body, and persevere on the training ground.