142: Chapter 142 Under Okamura's Control!

Facing the burning gazes of the crowd that seemed ready to melt him, Shen Wang merely gave a mysterious smile and did not answer directly.

However, he left behind a sentence that made everyone's hearts pound wildly:

"First, look for people. If there are really those who know how to fly, or have the potential to learn, try to send them to the City Name area to be centralized."

"In addition..." He paused, "During this time, you can find a flat and open place near City Name, far from residential areas, and try to build a... simple airfield."

"As for the requirements, just make the runway as long and as firm as possible."

Flying the Sixth Master might be a stretch, but flying the Fifth Master would be more than enough.

The Chiefs swallowed hard and hurriedly agreed.

If they still didn't understand by now, it would be an insult to their intelligence.

Shen Wang said no more, shifted into gear, and slowly disappeared outside the walls of City Name.

It took a long while before The Chiefs snapped out of it.

"Quick! Send a telegram to headquarters immediately!" The Chief of Staff spun around abruptly.

"First, inquire and compile a list of all personnel across the entire army who have flight experience or relevant technical backgrounds!"

"Second, immediately organize manpower and resources to select a site on the outskirts of City Name and build a simple airfield that meets Mr. Shen's requirements!"

"Be quick! And keep it secret!"

"The sky over Southeast Shanxi... is about to change..."

...

Meanwhile.

The news that the Eighth Route Army had taken Southeast Shanxi in just two days of a three-day period had already spread across the country.

Naturally, it was another scene of nationwide jubilation, while the Mountain City was troubled, which goes without saying.

Beijing, North China Army Headquarters.

North China Army Commander Okamura Yasuji, Chief of Staff Kasahara Yukio, and other high-ranking officials of the North China Army were all present.

The atmosphere in the massive war room was so heavy it felt like it could drip water.

The Rising Sun flags hung limply in the corners. Outside, the summer sunlight streamed through the window frames, yet it could not penetrate the gloom in the hearts of those inside.

Okamura Yasuji sat at the head of the long table, with Chief of Staff Kasahara Yukio, various section chiefs, and senior staff officers sitting on either side, their expressions each more unsightly than the last.

"Gentlemen," Okamura's voice broke the silence.

"I presume you are all aware of the news from Southeast Shanxi."

No one responded.

How could they not be aware?

Two days! In just two days!

With inconceivable speed and power, the Eighth Route Army had swept through the entire heart of Southeast Shanxi, and a total of fifteen towns had changed hands!

This fact was like a series of invisible slaps, fiercely striking the face of every officer who prided himself as an "Imperial Elite."

They couldn't even understand how the Eighth Route Army had done it.

Finally, Chief of Staff Kasahara Yukio braced himself and stood up, bowing deeply: "Commander, the loss of Southeast Shanxi this time is a serious dereliction of duty on my part!"

"After the Battle of He County, although I reminded everyone to strengthen the security of surrounding counties and towns, I... I failed to predict that the Eighth Route Army would be so reckless as to launch such a large-scale lightning raid without any rest after a fierce battle!"

"Failing to adjust deployments in time and strengthen early warnings has led to the Imperial Army suffering major losses again. I cannot escape the blame!"

Kasahara Yukio's words caused a slight stir.

Several Japanese high-ranking officials exchanged glances, filled with helplessness and the somber feeling of sharing a common fate.

Indeed, who could have imagined it?

How many days had passed between the end of the great battle at He County and the launch of the new offensive?

Did the Chinese troops not need rest? Did that terrifying equipment not need maintenance and replenishment?

One must realize that the Battle of He County was a major engagement on the scale of a hundred thousand men!

This ability for continuous high-intensity combat had already exceeded their understanding of the "Chinese Army" and even the current international military standards!

Even the Big Russians to the north, who claimed to have the strongest army, couldn't achieve this, could they?

This kind of combat rhythm and audacity was simply like that of gods or demons!

Inside the meeting room, the clouds of worry were thick, and morale had plummeted to the absolute bottom.

Ever since that mysterious war vehicle caused havoc in Beijing at the beginning of the year, almost nothing had gone smoothly for nearly half a year.

Successive crushing defeats had not only cost them a large number of troops and equipment but had more importantly severely damaged the confidence that the "Imperial Army is invincible" and their sense of control over the North China situation.

However, amidst this gray and dejected atmosphere, the corners of Okamura Yasuji's mouth, who was sitting at the head, slowly and extremely abruptly curled upward, revealing a cold and twisted smile.

"Heh..."

This low chuckle sounded particularly piercing in the silent war room where one could hear a pin drop.

Everyone looked up in astonishment at their Commander.

His Excellency the Commander... he hasn't been driven mad by anger, has he?

At a time like this, how could he still laugh?

However, the smile on Okamura's face deepened as his gaze slowly swept over everyone: "Gentlemen, why be so worried?"

The Japanese officers became even more confused.

Okamura stood up unhurriedly, walked to the giant map of North China, and lightly tapped his finger on the Southeast Shanxi region, which had just been colored a glaring red.

"The Eighth Route Army has taken this place. To you, it is another failure for the Empire, a disgrace."

He paused, his voice suddenly turning cold: "But in my view as Commander... this might be a good thing!"

"A... a good thing?" an officer couldn't help but repeat in a low voice, his face full of disbelief.

"Exactly!"

Okamura turned around, his back to the map, facing the crowd.

"In fact, after the report of the defeat at He County came, Kasahara-kun did indeed suggest strengthening the surrounding alerts. However, I... suppressed that suggestion."

What?

A wave of suppressed gasps sounded in the meeting room.

Even Kasahara Yukio's eyes widened, not understanding why.

Okamura paced slowly and continued: "Are you thinking that I was negligent?"

"No! I considered earlier than any of you whether the Eighth Route Army would continue to expand after taking He County."

"The answer is—they definitely would!"

Okamura smiled again: "You must be thinking that I am crazy. Since I knew they would continue to expand, why didn't I make preparations earlier?"

The Japanese high-ranking officials looked at each other, all sharing the same doubt.

Yes, since he knew long ago, why didn't he make arrangements earlier?

Okamura sneered and continued: "Because I never intended to stop them! In fact... I wished they would expand even a bit more!"

"Na... Nani?"

Exclamations of shock rang out in the meeting room.

Okamura stopped being cryptic and said directly: "Have you ever thought about what we have to fight against those hundreds of war vehicles and thousands of heavy cannons in He County?"

"Assemble another army of two hundred thousand? And then what? Be crushed once again by their unknown artillery fire and iron torrent?"

"No, that would be too foolish!"

"Since we temporarily cannot bite through the toughest bone that is He County, then why not... let the bone move on its own?"

"Let the muscle and sinew hidden inside the bone expose themselves?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of some of the more sharp-witted officers suddenly changed!

"Commander, do you mean... to deliberately show weakness and entice the Eighth Route Army to split their forces?" a Colonel asked tentatively.

"Precisely!" A cold light flashed in Okamura's eyes.

"Based on current intelligence, the Eighth Route Army has hundreds of war vehicles and thousands of artillery pieces in He County. When these forces are gathered in one place, they are as solid as a fortress."

"But once they want to occupy and control the vast Southeast Shanxi, they must disperse these forces to various county towns and key locations!"

"When a hundred tanks are dispersed among a dozen strongholds, how many will be left at each? When thousands of cannons are dispersed, how much defensive firepower will remain in each place..."

*Hiss—*

The Japanese high-ranking officials finally understood completely.

So all of this... was within the Commander's plan...