Chapter 193

At the 11th Division (Japanese) command post, Takatani Naojiro stood before the table, his face set in grim anticipation. The annihilation of the Takeshita Regiment, coupled with the sudden disappearance of Lin Feng, had put the old man on high alert. Based on the tactical situation on the ground, even with two regiments pulled away to create a gap in the encirclement, Takatani Naojiro remained convinced that as long as the remaining regiments he held in formation could maintain their grip, they would hold the bulk of the 88th Division, which was clearly attempting a panicked retreat. Even if the 88th Division managed to find a breach and attempt a breakout, it would be of no major consequence. The entire 11th Division (Japanese) was simply transforming from a massive encirclement trap into a tightly sealed pocket. At this very moment, the 3rd Division (Japanese), advancing from the north, would act as a sharp blade, severing the 88th Division's last hope of retreat.