80: Chapter 80 North China Shakes! China Shakes!

A regimental banner!

The Brigade Commander and his men had actually captured a regimental banner!

This was something The Chiefs had never expected!

Things... have gotten big!

"The significance of capturing a regimental banner... is even greater than us capturing ten county towns! This is a humiliation that the devils absolutely cannot accept!"

"Once the news leaks, I fear it won't just be the 36th Division in Shanxi Province; I fear the entire First Army, and even the devils in all of North China, will be alarmed!"

"They will pounce over like mad dogs, and at any cost, they will try to snatch this banner back!"

The Chiefs, who just a moment ago felt that holding He County would not be a big problem, now felt immense pressure.

The Deputy Commander was silent for a moment, then finally said slowly: "Pass on my order!"

"First, the matter of capturing the regimental banner is classified as top secret! It is strictly forbidden for anyone to spread this! Whoever dares to leak it will be dealt with by military law!"

"Second, immediately reply to the Brigade Commander, and at once select the most loyal and reliable soldiers to form a special escort team to send the regimental banner to Headquarters. Without an order from Headquarters, no one is allowed to view it!"

"Third, in the direction of He County, shift to a full defensive posture, reinforce fortifications, stockpile supplies, and prepare to deal with the devils' most insane counterattack!"

The Chiefs listened and could not help but nod.

The arrangement by the Deputy Commander was truly the most prudent course of action!

Although capturing a regimental banner was a massive honor and could be said to have slapped the devils hard in the face!

However! An innocent man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime!

The current Eighth Route Army does not yet have the ability to hold onto this banner!

To suffer the devils' insane retaliation for the sake of a little honor is truly unwise!

Accumulate grain, delay declaring oneself king, and develop steadily; there's nothing wrong with that!

Soon, the order reached He County.

After receiving the news, the Brigade Commander and the others immediately followed the Headquarters' order and sealed off the information.

At the same time, the Brigade Commander dispatched elite soldiers overnight to send the regimental banner back to Headquarters.

Shen Wang opened his mouth, wanting to take advantage of the high morale to attack a few more county towns.

Following this raid model, it was very likely they could capture a few more regimental banners.

But seeing how the Eighth Route Army was acting like they were facing a formidable enemy, Shen Wang ultimately said nothing.

Just one regimental banner had caused such a stir; if they captured a few more, who knows what would happen!

War is not child's play!

But immediately after, Shen Wang smiled.

He looked at the 37,000-plus military merit points on the system panel, as well as that gold ten-consecutive draw.

When it comes down to it, the Eighth Route Army simply lacks confidence!

"Then I... will give you some more confidence!"

...

Meanwhile. Beijing, North China Army Headquarters.

Tada Shun, who had been in a coma for three or four days, finally woke up again.

And the moment he woke up, his adjutant ran over and asked: "Commander, shall I convene a meeting?"

A meeting? Tada Shun shook his head. No more meetings!

Isn't it just one tank? Can't I just ignore it?

Tada Shun leaned against the head of the bed, closed his eyes, and began an intense process of self-persuasion in his heart:

'Forget it... forget it!'

'It is just a tank! No matter how powerful it is, it is ultimately just one vehicle!'

'It might cause some trouble and make me, Tada Shun, lose face, but can it turn the tide of the entire North China war situation? Can it withstand the Empire's hundreds of thousands of elite troops?'

'No! Absolutely impossible!'

'The Empire's holy war will not be stalled because of one tank!'

Thinking of this, Tada Shun seemed to have truly convinced himself, and the dull pain in his chest eased a little.

He opened his eyes, and his gaze regained some of its former majesty.

"Pass the order down: the pursuit operation regarding that unidentified tank... the priority level can be appropriately lowered."

"There is no need to invest too much energy into this matter! One tank cannot turn the world upside down! Our focus must be placed on more important strategic directions!"

"Tell Shinozuka Kazuo to continue implementing the Cage Policy! Further squeeze the Eighth Route Army's living space!"

"Let them fend for themselves in the mountains!"

The adjutant bowed ninety degrees: "Yes! Commander, you are wise!"

As he spoke, the adjutant prepared to go and convey the latest instructions from the Commander of the North China Army.

However, just at this moment, a Japanese staff officer rushed in holding a telegram.

"Report! Report, Commander! Shanxi Province... He County... has fallen!"

Tada Shun frowned: "If it has fallen, it has fallen; just take it back. Why are you panicking?"

The entire North China, hundreds of thousands of square kilometers, over a hundred county towns; what does it matter if one is lost?

It is not worth him, the Commander of the North China Army, losing his composure!

"Speak, when did this happen?"

Tada Shun thought it was something that happened during the few days he was in a coma.

However, the Communications Staff Officer's answer instantly stunned Tada Shun.

"Report, Commander! It was just last night! In the early hours of the morning!"

"Last night?" Tada Shun's voice rose sharply.

"One night? A county town was lost in just one night? Are the ones garrisoning He County trash? Since when has the Eighth Route Army had this kind of capability?"

Losing a county town did not surprise Tada Shun.

Most county towns only had one infantry regiment stationed there. If the Eighth Route Army concentrated heavy firepower and mobilized a few main force regiments, it could indeed be taken.

But to take it in one night? Tada Shun could not accept it!

"What on earth happened? Speak!" Tada Shun demanded sternly.

The staff officer swallowed his saliva and stammered in his response:

"According to reports from reconnaissance soldiers around He County, as well as a few Imperial Army soldiers who luckily broke out... last night... last night the Eighth Route Army used a full 14 invincible heavy tanks..."

"How many?" Before the staff officer could finish, Tada Shun immediately pressed him.

"Fourteen! According to... according to the reconnaissance unit's report, a full... a full fourteen!" the staff officer replied.

Last night, Shen Wang and his men traveled all the way from Yang Village to He County. Although they took advantage of the night, the devils were not blind!

There were still many guard posts and reconnaissance points along the way. Although these devils did not have time to report to He County, it did not affect them reporting to Headquarters.

Coupled with some lucky devils who managed to escape from He County, news of the 14 99A tanks simply could not be hidden!

"Fourteen... invincible heavy tanks..." Tada Shun repeated the phrase, muttering.

He had just convinced himself that it was just a mouse that couldn't turn the world upside down!

He had just ordered not to make a big fuss over a mouse!

He had just thought that this matter would slowly pass!

As a result... reality gave him an incredibly loud slap in the face!

It was not one! It was fourteen! It was not a small skirmish! It was taking a county town overnight!

This would be a major event that would shake all of North China!

"Pfft—!!!" A mouthful of blood sprayed from Tada Shun's mouth again.

Tada Shun, who had been awake for less than ten minutes, passed out again!

"Commander!"

"Military doctor! Quickly call for a military doctor!"

"The Commander has passed out again!"

Meanwhile. A thousand miles away in the mountain city. Although Tada Shun did not convene a meeting, the Principal did hold one. Inside the conference room, stars of the military were gathered! The Principal sat in the center of the conference room, leaning on his cane. As soon as he spoke, it was a familiar feeling. "I do not understand..."