noffsinger Chapter 431 Something is wrong, there is a conspiracy
Chapter 431 Something is wrong, there is a conspiracy
Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi saw the frown on the commander's brow and felt that something was amiss, so he quickly said, "According to the telegram from Lieutenant General Inaba Shiro, the commander of the 6th Division, the 15th Army of the Chinese government withdrew on its own initiative last night. Lieutenant General Inaba Shiro believes that as long as we attack Changsha, the 15th Army of the Chinese government will not be able to retreat and will definitely defend Changsha to the death. By then, we will be able to achieve the goal of destroying the 15th Army of the Chinese government."
After hearing Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi say that the 15th Army of the Chinese government took the initiative to retreat, Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Neiji frowned even more. After pondering for a long time, Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Neiji said uncertainly: "Mr. Yoshimoto, I have great doubts about the current battlefield situation. I feel that there are great problems with the two breakthroughs of the 6th Division."
"Problem? Commander, what problem are you talking about?" Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto was a little confused. It was so hard to hear good news, so why did the commander say there was a problem?
"Mr. Yoshimoto, have you noticed that the Chinese army's fighting style this time has changed significantly from their previous battles with us? This time, the Chinese army does not seem to attach as much importance to the gains and losses of positions as before. For example, the Xinqiang River defense line and the Miluo River defense line. If it were in the past, the Chinese army would definitely defend these two defense lines until the troops were wiped out. But this time, the Chinese army did take the initiative to abandon the defensive positions and retreat. The purpose of the Chinese army seems to be to constantly consume us and lengthen the logistics supply lines of our offensive troops. At the same time, the Chinese army has also preserved its strength very well." Commander Lieutenant General Ningji Okamura also stated the problems he saw.
Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto thought about the explanation of Commander Lieutenant General Ningji Okamura and it seemed to be true. The Chinese army's combat style had completely changed this time.
"Commander, do you mean that the Chinese army has a conspiracy? And that they were not forced to retreat because they could not withstand the attack of the Sixth Division?" Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto also directly raised his question. After all, it is also possible that the Chinese army retreated because they could not withstand the attack of the Sixth Division.
Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Neiji was thinking about the questions raised by Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi, and was constantly analyzing and weighing them in his mind. However, Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Neiji did not know whether the retreat of the Chinese army was a conspiracy or they were truly unable to resist. Both possibilities exist objectively.
"Mr. Yoshimoto, prepare a plane for me. Since we can't get the answer from the intelligence information, let's go and see the situation on the front line with our own eyes. We will see it more clearly from the air. What do you think? Before we figure out the situation, let the troops of the Sixth Division advance slowly. Anyway, they still need to wait for the heavy weapons that are stuck halfway." Commander Lieutenant General Ningji Okamura also decided to take a plane himself to see what was going on with the Chinese army.
When Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto heard that Commander Lieutenant General Neiji Okamura was actually going to take a plane to observe the front line in person, he was stunned. Although this was indeed a good idea, if something happened to Commander Lieutenant General Neiji Okamura's plane at the front line, it would be a big event.
"Commander, I think I should take a plane to the front line to observe, and you can just stay at the headquarters to command." Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto also quickly expressed that he could take the risk on behalf of the commander.
Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Neiji shook his head and said, "Mr. Yoshimoto, I feel something is not right. This bad feeling makes me very uncomfortable. I must go and observe the situation of the Chinese army in person. You don't need to tell me about the headquarters. Please help me arrange a plane as soon as possible. This observation may take several days."
When Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto saw that Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Neiji had made up his mind, he said nothing more, bowed quickly and left to arrange a plane for the commander.
On the Laodao River defense line, the officers and soldiers of the New 22nd Army spent two days digging out a relatively complete defensive position. After learning that the Fifteenth Army on the Miluo River defense line began to retreat, the troops of the New 22nd Army also entered the defensive positions, resting while waiting for the arrival of the Japanese offensive forces.
However, what the new 22nd Army and Commander Xue of the 9th War Zone did not expect was that the attacking forces of the Japanese 6th Division and its two attached detachments actually stopped their advance after occupying the Miluo River defense line. Commander Xue learned from the reports of the guerrilla troops behind enemy lines that the Japanese were waiting for the heavy equipment that was stuck on the road.
Now Commander Xue had no choice but to order the new 22nd Army to remain on alert and the troops on both wings not to move for the time being, and to wait for the arrival of the Japanese 6th Division before acting according to orders.
Lieutenant General Okamura Neiji, commander of the 11th Army of the Japanese Army, was sitting in a modified transport plane. He looked out through the window of the cabin. On both sides of the transport plane, there were four fighter planes providing air escort. Although the Chinese government's air force was almost destroyed again after the Battle of Three Towns, it would be a lot of fun if a few Chinese planes appeared.
Commander Lieutenant General Ningji Okamura, who was sitting in the plane, was thinking about the change in the Chinese army's tactics this time, and then combining it with the current actual situation, the feeling of uneasiness in his heart became even stronger.
The Chinese army and the guerrilla forces in the rear have caused great trouble to the logistics troops of the Sixth Division. Up to now, not only has the Sixth Division's troops had an extremely difficult time advancing along the way, the officers and soldiers have been unable to get a good rest, and there are also serious problems with ammunition and supplies.
Commander Lieutenant General Neiji Okamura felt that the things done by the Chinese army would definitely not be as optimistic as Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto thought. Commander Lieutenant General Neiji Okamura was more inclined to believe that the main force of the Chinese army was retreating in a purposeful and organized manner.
This can be seen from the Sixth Division's logistics supply lines and rear routes. Although the Chinese army on the front line was constantly retreating, the Chinese guerrilla forces in the rear not only did not weaken their attacks on the Sixth Division's logistics supply lines, but the intensity of the attacks became increasingly stronger.
Commander Lieutenant General Ningji Okamura felt that this was a trap set for him by the newly appointed Commander Xue of the Ninth War Zone of the Chinese Government. This was also the most important reason why Commander Lieutenant General Ningji Okamura insisted on taking the risk to come to the front line to observe in person.