0p0 Chapter 167: Battle of Tianjin 2
Chapter 167: Battle of Tianjin 2
After the 6nd Armored Division entered Langfang, the entire situation in North China underwent earth-shaking changes. The th Motorized Infantry Division, led by the division's independent tank regiment, had also entered Zhuozhou.
After learning that the army commanded by Fujiwara that cut off the main logistics and food supply routes of the Chinese 78th Army had been completely wiped out, the Japanese troops on the Changping front immediately began to retreat.
"Commander! The Japs seem to be retreating!"
When Xu Ren, commander of the 1st Armored Division on the Changping front, heard the report from his subordinates, he was lying down with his eyes closed to rest, but he immediately jumped up after learning the news.
The Japanese troops in the telescope indeed began to retreat slowly, just as his subordinates had said.
In fact, just as Xu Ren saw, Okamura Neiji finally made up his mind and divided the Japanese troops on the Changping front into two.
A part of the troops headed north, including the 125th Division and the 15th Mixed Brigade, which immediately withdrew from Huailai and retreated all the way to the Great Wall. They had to defend the Gubeikou area, which was an important pass for the Japanese army's return to the north.
"Order the 76nd Tank Division to immediately stop reinforcing Langfang. They should retreat to Tongzhou immediately and defend Tongzhou together with the th Division!"
"Takahashi-kun! You must lead the main organizations and departments of the expeditionary force headquarters to withdraw to Tangshan immediately!"
Lieutenant General Takahashi Tan was horrified. He asked hurriedly: "Commander! We..."
However, before he could finish his words, Neiji Okamura waved his hand at him, signaling him not to continue.
At this time, Okamura Neiji looked as if he had aged ten years. His hair on his temples had already turned gray, and his face had become pale and tired.
Gao Qiao Tan's voice was filled with anxiety and reluctance as he continued to ask, "Sir! Are you really going to give up the Beiping-Tianjin area? Has the situation really reached such a point where it cannot be reversed?"
Okamura Neiji looked at Takahashi Tan, with a hint of helplessness and determination in his eyes. He sighed deeply and said, "Takahashi-kun, I know this is hard for us to accept, but this is the fact."
"We have lost too many troops and resources. If we persist, the situation will only get worse. Now, we need to conserve our strength and wait for the opportunity to launch another offensive."
"Three new infantry divisions appeared in the Chinese army in Changping yesterday. They were originally the numbers of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army of the Second Theater of Operations of China, but now their equipment is consistent with the 78th Army Group, and there will be more and more of them as time goes by."
"That damned commander of the 78th Army will not give us a chance to breathe. The troops of the Eighth Route Army have also completed their assembly and will join the war soon!"
"Now I just hope that Yokoyama Isamu can hold back the main force of the Chinese in Tianjin. I now judge that the Chinese army will never dare to launch a campaign against Peking easily. This is our only chance to retreat!"
After listening to Okamura Yasuji's explanation, Takahashi Tan's heart was filled with conflict and pain.
He knew that the commander's words made sense, but abandoning the Pingjin area would mean that they would lose important strategic strongholds and resources, and would also bring huge reputational losses to the Japanese army, but faced with reality, they seemed to have no choice.
After a moment's silence, Takahashi Tan finally nodded, indicating that he was willing to follow the commander's orders.
He understood that in war, sometimes difficult decisions must be made to protect the survival and future development of the military.
Although he was filled with reluctance and helplessness, as a soldier he could only obey orders and do his best to deal with the current predicament.
"What on earth does Okamura Yasuji want to do! This bastard! This coward!" After receiving the telegram from the China Expeditionary Army Headquarters, Hideki Tojo was so angry that he trembled all over, his face turned blue, and he bit his lips until they bled.
He grabbed the documents on the desk and threw them to the ground, then picked up tea cups, pen holders and other items and smashed them against the walls and windows.
"Sir! Please calm down!" The secretary at the side looked at the scene in horror, but still mustered up the courage to say: "Okamura-kun is not a reckless person. Since he has made such a decision, the situation in North China must have deteriorated to an irreversible point!"
"Hmph! Doesn't he know? The Imperial Army has never voluntarily given up territory! If he does this, we will become historical sinners!" Hideki Tojo roared, his eyes full of anger and unwillingness.
"This also explains why His Majesty had no reaction when he heard the news! I believe that Prince Asaka Naruhiko, who went to North China, has already reported the entire situation in North China to His Majesty!" another secretary said cautiously.
"Damn it! Why doesn't His Majesty express his opinion? Does he want me to take this responsibility?" Hideki Tojo asked gritting his teeth.
"Sir, His Majesty may have his considerations. He does not want to bear the blame for withdrawing from North China, so he chooses to remain silent. As the prime minister, you must make a decision." The secretary whispered.
Hideki Tojo clenched his fists and pounded them on the table with a loud bang. He knew that this decision would affect the entire war situation and even the future destiny of Japan.
But faced with such a complicated situation, he was at a loss as to where to start...
Go and invite General Sugiyama Hajime to the Prime Minister's residence and tell him that he has something important to discuss. Tojo could only calm down and let his secretary invite Sugiyama Hajime.
An hour later, a tense atmosphere filled Hideki Tojo's private office in the Prime Minister's official residence.
The Prime Minister of the Empire of Japan was listening quietly to the analysis of the unemployed Army General Sugiyama Hajime.
Sugiyama said solemnly, "Prince Mikasa Takahito is still persuading His Majesty to withdraw from China and end the war! And His Majesty has already recovered from the grief of the death of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
Tojo Hideki frowned slightly, knowing what this meant. Sugiyama continued, "Now we must do everything we can to prevent this from happening."
"Once we withdraw from China, regardless of whether you sign the withdrawal order, all the blame will be placed on you, Prime Minister."
Hideki Tojo nodded silently, he understood the interests involved.
Sugiyama continued, "By then, facing the complaints of 100 million locust country citizens, you will probably have no choice but to resign. And the fruits of our generations of hard work will be wiped out!"
Hideki Tojo clenched his fists tightly, his eyes firm and resolute.
Sugiyama emphasized: "Mr. Tojo! Although I strongly agree with General Okamura Yasuji's decision, we must not agree to his request. Even if it means the annihilation of 300,000 North China Expeditionary Forces, we must not withdraw on our own initiative!"
General Sugiyama Gen analyzed the current situation to his furious old comrade Hideki Tojo, and began to persuade Tojo, who wanted to continue the war just like himself.