RPAGF Chapter 191 A dead Taoist friend is not dead but a poor Taoist
Chapter 191 A dead Taoist friend is not dead but a poor Taoist
Zhang Shishou led his cavalry regiment in a rampage through the routed troops of the Nakamura Brigade, leaving the Japanese soldiers dead and howling in terror.
Just as Zhang Shishou was getting into the swing of things, the chief of staff rode over on horseback.
"Commander, a telegram from headquarters! Reconnaissance planes have spotted a group of Japanese troops fleeing ahead, suspected to be a Japanese division headquarters. We are ordered to pursue them immediately!"
"Alright! Leave one company behind to clean up the battlefield and treat the wounded. The rest of you continue the pursuit!"
A few minutes later, the large cavalry force kicked up dust and chased after the enemy into the distance.
Five or six kilometers ahead, a large group of soldiers were fleeing in disarray. Dozens of horse-drawn carts were hauling heavy supplies, and the Japanese soldiers driving them were cracking their whips incessantly.
The horse, panting heavily, struggled to pull the carriage forward at breakneck speed.
The infantrymen following behind were filled with terror. They couldn't understand why, just a few months ago they had been singing triumphant songs all the way from the coast to this place. Why were they suddenly being forced to flee?
Saburo Ogasawara, riding on horseback, watched this scene with a stern face. He came from a wealthy family in Osaka, whose three factories employed thousands of workers.
Saburo Ogasawara was intelligent from a young age. After graduating from military academy, he went on to study at the Army War College. After graduation, he was assigned to the 1st Division.
Thanks to his excellent military skills and family support, he rose through the ranks to the rank of major. During the Russo-Japanese War, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel for his military achievements and was transferred to the division's guard regiment.
He was originally full of confidence and planned to work for a few more years to climb to the rank of colonel and regimental commander. He might even be promoted to major general when he was forty.
Unfortunately, his hopes were dashed! The two brigades belonging to the division were defeated by the Chinese one after another, and the division headquarters had no choice but to retreat.
In particular, upon hearing that the Chinese had dispatched a large-scale cavalry pursuit, the regimental commander led a small force of about a hundred cavalrymen to escort a group of high-ranking officers from the division headquarters as they retreated first.
He was left behind to lead the two or three thousand men in the retreat!
"Damn bastard!" Saburo Ogasawara cursed inwardly. He'd been abandoned!
Two or three thousand people may seem like a lot, but most of them are late-stage personnel with little combat ability. Only the thousand or so men in their own guard regiment are capable of fighting.
With so many supplies to carry, and all the soldiers being infantry, how could they possibly escape?
Was he really going to die here? Saburo Ogasawara felt a deep sense of desolation.
No! I have a bright future ahead of me, and my beautiful wife and three children are waiting for me to come home.
Even if I can't join the army in the future, I can still live a wealthy life. How can I just die here like this!
Saburo Ogasawara gradually made up his mind!
"Pass down the order: everyone rest!"
"Everyone, take a break!"
Upon hearing the order to rest, the soldiers who had been running for over ten miles stopped in their tracks. Many frail logistics personnel collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
"Ogasawara-kun, why did you order a rest?" A short, stocky lieutenant colonel, carrying a sword, strode over. This man was Lieutenant Colonel Ida, another battalion commander of the guard regiment.
Ida graduated from the military academy and served in the army for one or two decades before being promoted to lieutenant colonel.
He inherently looked down on people like Ogasawara, who graduated from university and rose rapidly through the ranks thanks to their family connections. He and Ogasawara had always been at odds.
Especially during this retreat, the division commander didn't choose him, the most experienced and senior battalion commander, but instead handed command to Saburo Ogasawara, which made him even more unhappy.
“Look at them, Mr. Ida. Do you think they still have the strength to walk?” Saburo Ogasawara said disdainfully to the aggressive Ida.
I've always had a problem with that idiot Ida. And Saburo Ogasawara certainly won't tolerate him.
Saburo Ogasawara despised this man of humble origins, uneducated, and whose only skill in warfare was leading his soldiers in reckless charges.
"But the Chinese cavalry are about to catch up! Every minute we delay, they will catch up with us sooner!" Jingtian roared angrily.
Every time Ida saw Saburo Ogasawara's disdainful look, he couldn't help but get angry.
If it weren't for the division commander and regimental commander stopping him, he would have beaten this pretty boy to death long ago! Damn spoiled brat.
"Since we'll be caught up sooner or later anyway, what difference does it make if we're a minute earlier or later? It's better than the soldiers dying from exhaustion!"
"You," Ida was about to explode in anger when several officers quickly stepped forward and pulled him back.
“Lieutenant Colonels, we are facing a formidable enemy. Stop arguing and think about how to deal with the pursuers!” Fujita Kazuo, who was in his fifties, advised.
Fujita was the director of the field hospital, and his medical skills were superb. The officers were all reluctant to offend him, and everyone gave him some face.
“What else can we do! We’re all infantry, and most of us are logistics personnel. There’s no way to escape. Everyone, prepare to sacrifice yourselves for His Majesty the Emperor!” Ogasawara Saburo shook his head and said.
Upon hearing this, the officers' expressions changed drastically. Who would willingly die in a foreign land?
I've heard that Chinese people love beheading. According to Japanese legend, the soul of someone whose head is cut off cannot return to their hometown.
He can only be a lonely ghost, bullied by other ghosts in the underworld!
“Unless…” Saburo Ogasawara saw the expressions on everyone’s faces.
"Unless what? Ogasawara-kun, hurry up and tell me! Please!" a major said urgently. All the officers were staring at him.
"Unless someone is willing to stay behind to cover our retreat and lead a group of soldiers to hold off the pursuers, we'll most likely all die here!"
"I wonder if anyone has the courage to do this!" As Ogasawara Saburo spoke, he glanced at Ida.
All the officers understood, and they all looked at Ida. Ida was the most senior officer there, and had fought the most battles. He was always a daredevil; who else could handle this mission?
"I'll stay behind to cover the rear! I'm willing to stay and hold off the Chinese, but you must agree to two conditions!" Unable to bear the gazes of the crowd, Ida had no choice but to step forward.
"Ida-kun, tell us your conditions quickly. As long as we can do it!"
"That's right, that's right! As long as we can do it, let alone two conditions, ten or a hundred are no problem."
The officers all spoke up. They were willing to agree to anything as long as they didn't die here.
"Iida-kun, I misunderstood you before! I apologize to you. I deeply admire your willingness to stay and cover our retreat!"
Seeing that Ida had taken the bait, Saburo Ogasawara was secretly delighted. However, on the surface, he still put on a sorrowful expression.
"Ida-kun, just name your conditions! As long as it's within my power, I won't hesitate!"
Seeing that the arrogant Ogasawara Saburo had finally bowed his head before him, Ida felt a surge of satisfaction.