Chapter 4 4. Iwane Matsui advances to Nanjing

At the same time, Shanghai, the headquarters of Japan's Shanghai Expeditionary Army. Commander Matsui Iwane is ambitiously discussing the deployment of the Japanese army's next military operation with Chief of Staff Tsukada Makoto.Matsui Iwane was born in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan in 1878. His father was a sinologist who studied ancient Chinese literature. Unfortunately, this family full of Chinese cultural atmosphere has cultivated an executioner who destroys Chinese culture and massacres the Chinese people.Under the influence of his father, Matsui Iwane has been interested in everything in China since he was a child. When he grew up and went to the Japanese Army University for further study, he was assigned to Class A by the school. Matsui Iwane immediately applied and said: "No! I want to study Class B!" It turned out that the mission of Class B was to train professional fascist officers who would invade China.After graduating from class B, Matsui Iwane served as a military officer in the Japanese army that invaded China for a long time, or as a military attache in the Japanese embassy in China, actively engaged in various criminal activities of invading China, and constantly stained his criminal collar badge with the blood of the Chinese people .Due to his meritorious service in the invasion of China, Matsui Iwane was promoted to general of the army in 1933. The "August 13" Shanghai War broke out. After the Japanese army suffered a tragic defeat and suffered heavy casualties, Matsui Iwane was finally appointed as the commander of the Shanghai Dispatch Army.Although the combat mission given to him by the Japanese base camp was only "to dampen the enemy's will to fight and obtain a chance to end the war situation", the ambitious Matsui Iwane still expressed to Prime Minister Konoe Fumitsu very excitedly: "Only by taking Nanjing can we win the war." To defeat the Chiang Kai-shek regime, this is the mission I must complete!"

Now, after three months of hard work, when his "mission that must be completed" is in sight, Matsui Iwane is naturally more ambitious and crazy.He proudly said to Tsukata Gong: "You report to the headquarters immediately, the Shanghai Dispatch Army has requested to break through the restriction of the combat area of ​​'connecting Suzhou-Jiaxing to the east of the line', advance towards Nanjing, and take advantage of the victory to take Nanjing!" Tsukada Gong asked: "What if the headquarters does not approve our army's request?" "No! The headquarters will definitely agree to our request!" The thin and thin Matsui Iwane stood up excitedly, and waved his hand vigorously in the air: "Did you forget the Tanaka Memorial?" To conquer the world, you must first conquer China; if you want to conquer China must first conquer Manchuria and Mongolia.' This is the sacred national policy of our Great Japanese Empire!"

Speaking of Tanaka's Memorial, Matsui Iwane couldn't help but flash a trace of complacency and pride on his face.It was 1927. Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Yoshiichi held the "Oriental Conference" in Tokyo to discuss the specific policy of aggression against China. Matsui Iwane attended the meeting as the head of the second department of the General Staff Headquarters (that is, the Chinese Intelligence Department) and listened to Prime Minister Tanaka's speech. Inspirational speech.Since then, the Tanaka Memorial full of fascist madness has been deeply imprinted in his heart, inspiring him to come to China for the Great East Asian Jihad and make contributions.

Seeing Commander Matsui's excited and confident expression, Tsukada no longer hesitated, but asked cautiously, "Would you wait for the call back from the headquarters before giving the order to advance to Nanjing?" "No need!" Matsui Iwane said confidently, "I was in Manchuria during the 'September 18th' Incident, and the young officers from Ishihara Wanji, Itagaki Seishiro, and Doihara Kenji planned the 'Huanggutun Incident', the Kwantung Army occupied Manchuria in one fell swoop. Moreover, there is an old saying in China that foreign military orders will not be accepted. Soldiers are expensive, and if we hesitate and delay the opportunity, we will regret it!"

Subsequently, Matsui Iwane held a meeting of the generals of the various divisions and regiments under his command at the headquarters.At the meeting, Matsui Iwane announced murderously: "We must carry forward the might of the imperial army, punish the violent China, and make China subdue!" Then, Chief of Staff Tsukada Kou issued an order to pursue and advance in the direction of Nanjing: "The 11th, 13th, and 16th Divisions of the First Route advance west along the Tianjin-Shanghai Railway via Danyang, Zhenjiang, and Jurong; The third and ninth divisions of the second route went straight to Nanjing from Jintan; The division attacked Wuhu along the Ningguo and Wuhu highways, cutting off the retreat of the Nanjing defenders; the Fifth Route Guoqi Detachment crossed the river from Guangde via Langxi and Taihu Lake, and captured Pukou to cut off the retreat of the Chinese army across the river. The Fifth Route Army The siege will attack Nanjing, we must wipe out all the defending enemies in Nanjing!"

Finally, Commander Matsui said: "The capture of Nanjing will make China fearful. We will become the first army in the history of the Japanese Empire to capture the capital of China and will be recorded in the annals of the imperial army. The glory of Nogisuno and Togo Heihachiro is calling us." , for His Majesty the Emperor, for the Holy War of Greater East Asia, make contributions and advance courageously!" Matsui Iwane's speech undoubtedly injected a very provocative stimulant for killing the red-eyed Japanese soldiers and for the "Nanjing Massacre" that occurred later.

On November 24, the Japanese headquarters officially approved Matsui Iwane's combat plan to pursue and attack Nanjing, and ordered Matsui Iwane to lead the newly formed Central China Front Army to pursue and advance to Nanjing. The well-equipped and fearless Japanese imperial army, with the wildness and madness of a conqueror, marched mightily towards Nanjing along five routes. Another big battle kicked off the bloody prelude.