nucmednet Chapter 693: Tiger of South Asia
Chapter 693: Tiger of South Asia
In Nagasaki, Kyushu Island, the atmosphere in the Kyushu Army Headquarters was solemn and dignified. The sun shone through the half-open curtains, dappled on the quaint wooden floor, interweaving with the dim lights in the room to form a shadow of history. In the spacious hall, on both sides of the long conference table in the center, the generals of the Fuso Army stood up straight, with different expressions, but all revealing an indescribable tension and determination.
Yamashita Tomoyuki, the army general known as the "Tiger of South Asia", sat at the head of the long table in a well-tailored dark green military uniform with golden shoulder straps representing honor and status. Although he was not tall, he had an aura of majesty without anger. His height of 1.5 meters was not conspicuous in the army, but his short flat hair made him look particularly capable. The smile on his face revealed unquestionable determination in his gentleness.
Unlike his younger brother Yamashita Tomoyuki who is flamboyant, Yamashita Tomoyuki is more like a wise man with hidden talents. His eyes are deep, as if he can see through every subtle change on the battlefield.
As Yamashita Tomoyuki tapped the tabletop lightly and rhythmically, the subtle sound echoed in the silent conference room, like the prelude to a war drum, foreshadowing that an important decision was about to be made.
His eyes swept over the generals present one by one, and everyone present felt this invisible pressure.
"Everyone," Yamashita Tomoyuki finally spoke, his voice steady and powerful, "Now, our navy is facing unprecedented challenges. The Chinese fleet is like a tiger descending from a mountain. Our maritime forces have shown signs of fatigue under their heavy pressure. But it is precisely this predicament that has pushed us to the forefront of defending our country. We, as the army, will shoulder the responsibility of guarding the first line of defense of Kyushu Island. The responsibility is heavy and the mission is glorious."
After he finished speaking, Yamashita Tomoyuki lightly snapped his fingers, like a command signal on the battlefield, and several soldiers in neat uniforms quickly walked into the conference room, holding piles of heavy files and documents, and distributed them to each general present with steady steps. These documents were undoubtedly important information about the current battle situation analysis, enemy and our strength comparison, and defense strategy.
Yamashita Tomoyuki leaned forward slightly, his eyes flashing with a serious look, which was respect and vigilance for the powerful opponent he was about to face.
He said in a deep voice: "Everyone, I must be honest. I have done in-depth research on China's military strength, especially the army troops that landed on Kyushu Island this time. According to our most reliable intelligence sources, these troops are very powerful. They are the five most elite ace divisions in the Chinese Army - the Skeleton Division, the Revitalization Division, the Viking Division, the Imperial Division, and the most mysterious Presidential Guard Division, or the Guard Flag Division."
At this point, Yamashita Tomoyuki unconsciously emphasized his tone, as if every word carried a heavy weight. "These five troops have repeatedly made remarkable achievements in previous battles. Their soldiers are well-trained, disciplined, and extremely powerful. Especially their armored forces, which are well-equipped and tactically flexible. Once they form an offensive, they are like a torrent of steel rushing across the grassland, indestructible and unstoppable. In plains, they are even more adept and almost unstoppable."
Yamashita Tomoyuki's words echoed in the conference room, and every general could feel the solemnity and seriousness in his words.
However, these words unexpectedly aroused the dissatisfaction of the deputy commander Fujiwara Akira. Fujiwara Akira's face darkened, and a trace of displeasure flashed in his eyes. He slapped the table hard, interrupting Yamashita Tomoyuki's narration.
"Your Excellency, the General!" Fujiwara Akira's voice was filled with an unquestionable firmness. "I admit that these Chinese troops are indeed powerful, but our great Fuso Empire Army has been known for its bravery and fighting skills since ancient times. We are never afraid of any enemy, no matter how powerful they are, they cannot shake our determination and will to defend our homeland. Your Excellency, the General, attaches so much importance to the enemy, isn't it just boosting others' ambitions and destroying your own prestige? How will this benefit the defensive battle we are about to launch?"
Fujiwara Akira's words were like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples. The atmosphere in the conference room instantly became tense, and the generals' eyes moved back and forth between Yamashita Tomoyuki and Fujiwara Akira, as if they were all thinking about the deep meaning behind this sudden dispute.
Yamashita Tomoyuki did not refute immediately, but looked at Fujiwara Akira with a calm and deep gaze, as if he was weighing something.
After a moment, Yamashita Tomoyuki slowly spoke: "Fujiwara-kun, please allow me to remind you that understanding and respecting the enemy does not mean that we are afraid of them. On the contrary, this is the premise for us to formulate correct strategies and adopt effective tactics. Only by fully understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the enemy can we better play our own advantages and find a good strategy to defeat the enemy. What I said is not to boost the prestige of others, but to enable each of our generals to clearly recognize the challenges they are about to face and be fully prepared for them."
Yamashita Tomoyuki's words were like a bombshell dropped in the conference room, instantly stirring up waves. His words revealed a kind of determination and foresight, but such a strategic decision made the generals present look at each other in disbelief.
"There is an old Chinese saying, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you can fight a hundred battles without danger.'" Yamashita Tomoyuki's voice echoed in the conference room, sounding particularly clear and powerful. "We are well aware of the strength of the Chinese Army's ace divisions, especially their advantage in fighting in plains. The plain terrain around Nagasaki Port is open and unobstructed, which is a paradise for armored troops to gallop. Such terrain is extremely disadvantageous to us."
At this point, Yamashita Tomoyuki's eyes became unusually firm. He glanced at the generals present and continued, "Therefore, the strategy I propose is to voluntarily abandon Nagasaki Port and even the entire city of Nagasaki. This is not an escape, but a strategically necessary choice. We must move the defense line eastward to Fukuoka City, use the hilly and mountainous terrain there to build solid fortifications, and use the geographical advantage to block the attack of the Chinese army."
This proposal immediately caused an uproar in the conference room. The faces of the generals showed shock, confusion and even anger. Nagasaki Port, a natural deep-water port that took decades of hard work to build, is not only one of the most important military ports on Kyushu Island, but also an important part of the country's economic lifeline. And Nagasaki City, as the third largest city and industrial center on Kyushu Island, has an immeasurable strategic position and economic value. Giving up such an important city and port is an unacceptable decision for anyone.
"General, this... this is unbelievable!" A general could not help but stand up, with obvious excitement in his voice, "Nagasaki Port and Nagasaki City are of great significance to us. Once we give them up, it will cause a huge blow to the country's economy, military and even public opinion. How can we make such a decision so easily?"
Other generals also echoed and expressed doubts and opposition to this strategic decision. The atmosphere in the conference room became extremely tense, as if a heated debate would break out at any time.
However, Yamashita Tomoyuki remained calm and composed. He understood the worries and dissatisfaction of the generals, but he was more aware of the severity and urgency of the current situation. He knew that in this life-and-death struggle, any negligence or hesitation could lead to irreversible consequences.
"I understand everyone's worries and concerns." Yamashita Fengwen said slowly, "But please believe that I did not make such a decision rashly. I have conducted an in-depth analysis and evaluation of the current war situation, and I believe that abandoning Nagasaki Port and Nagasaki City is the most sensible choice at present. Only in this way can we concentrate our limited forces and resources to build a solid defense line on a more favorable terrain, so as to more effectively resist the attack of the Chinese army."