I've been reading more about Operation Ichi-Go since your post. It is amazing that the Japanese were able to launch such an operation so late in the war and achieve a decisive, if somewhat meaningless, victory. They even utilized armor in a meaningful way. I wonder if it can be attributed more to Japanese martial abilities compared to their Chinese rivals or intentional KMT ceding of ground. During the Battle of Central Henan at least, the Chinese seemed to have offered real resistance.