Chapter 21 Chapter 4 The devil is coming (4)

4 In May of the thirteenth year of the Showa era (1938), Tokyo's "Daily Frontline Express" published a report by war correspondent Iwataro Shimizu from Heze, Shandong.The reporter wrote passionately that the imperial tank army forcibly crossed the Yellow River, rolling forward like a torrent of steel.When he was interviewing, he met his high school classmate He Bian Jun unexpectedly. Japan has always followed the ancient shogunate conscription system, conscription by land. The 14th Division was formed in Utsunomiya City, Japan. Most of the officers and soldiers are from the village party, classmates, neighbors and acquaintances, and there are even many brothers, fathers and sons and relatives in the same unit. service.However, due to the large scope of operations of the division and regiment, it is rare to have the opportunity to meet each other.The reporter wrote in a happy tone that after nearly a year of separation, Mr. Hebian has been promoted to the commander of the tank. He is wearing a leather jacket, a mighty helmet, a small pistol on his waist, and a heroic look between his brows. Like Shigeru Yoshida, the movie star that the Japanese adore.The tank soldier proudly told his old classmates that the "044" tank he commanded won a medal of honor in the battle to conquer Xinxiang, Henan.

This is a battlefield report mixed with personal feelings and strong randomness. In the reporter's writing, the war sufferings caused by the Japanese invading army and the various atrocities committed against the Chinese people have all disappeared, leaving only the "imperial army" cavalry to show off their power everywhere. And the victory scene of siege.The reporter wrote that as the sky planes dived and bombed, thick smoke enveloped the enemy's positions, and a fire ignited in the city of Heze.The tank unit, which had already been eager to try, began to attack. The "044" tank took the lead, its barrel was raised high, its steel tracks were zipped and turned, and it hit the enemy line with full power.The reporter did not hesitate to lay out many compliments to beautify the invading army: Mr. Hebian exposed half of his body from the turret, his resolute and powerful face was burning with hatred and anger, just like a Japanese samurai who died bravely.He is really the pride of Utsunomiya High... A tank flying the sun flag is like a tiger descending... and so on.

This battlefield report published in Japan's "Mainichi Shimbun" completely shows us the siege battle that took place more than half a century ago from the perspective and emotional standpoint of the aggressor.The battlefield was overwhelming. The Japanese tanks kept smashing the enemy infantry trying to resist. The machine guns fired violently and the cannons kept firing. However, the rifles in the hands of the enemy did not work against the tanks at all, so they had no way out but failed and fled.The reporter wrote that the battle lasted only a few hours before it was over, and there was light blue smoke floating in the air. It is said that the Japanese tankers were used to such quick assault tactics. They called killing the enemy "hunting", and the commander breathed In the fresh air of the field, he commanded and killed the prey calmly.

I found out from a history book published in China that on May 14, 1938, when the Japanese army captured Heze, the 23rd Division of the 20th Army of the garrison resisted tenaciously. .An anti-Japanese veteran who once served in the Operation Department of the 20th Army told me that the Japanese attack was by no means easy to succeed. Of course, they only occupied Heze City after paying a heavy price. Although Japanese journalists exaggerated the so-called major victories of the invading army, it is not difficult for us to discover the tip of the iceberg of the real battlefield from the battlefield reports of the "pen samurai".The reporter wrote that when the Japanese military flag fluttered over the dilapidated city of Heze, he was surprised to learn that one of the enemy's dead was a General China holding a rifle. It would be unbelievable if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes.The Chinese people's fighting spirit won the respect of the Japanese army, and the commander ordered the body to be returned to the enemy.For this reason, the reporter came to the conclusion: Although General China died like a warrior, his subordinates were very afraid of death. I believe this is the root cause of the inevitable defeat of the enemy.