bayedsolid Chapter 433: Re-exploration
Chapter 433: Re-exploration
After returning to the headquarters of the three towns, Commander Lieutenant General Neiji Okamura had a simple meal, then stood in front of the sand table in the command hall and began to ponder.
After two days of personal observation at the front line, although he did not find a large number of Chinese troops on the two wings, the uneasiness in the heart of Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji became even more serious. This made Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji firmly believe that his previous judgment was correct and that the Chinese army must be plotting some conspiracy.
"Commander, are you too worried? The change in the Chinese army's combat methods this time may be a temporary action. You have risked your life to go to the front line to observe for two consecutive days. You cannot risk going to the front line again. If something unexpected happens, the 11th Army will be leaderless." Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto also came to the side of Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura and said sincerely.
Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji seemed not to have heard what Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi said. He did not give any response and continued to look at the situation on the sand table with a frown. In the past two days, he had observed the areas on both wings of Laodao River. Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji felt that he must have missed something.
"Mr. Yoshimoto, if you were Commander Xue of the Ninth War Zone of the Chinese government, where would you hide the troops on both wings?" Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura looked at the sand table in front of him and asked the chief of staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto without turning his head.
After hearing the question from Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi gave a bitter smile in his heart. Well, what he said just now was in vain. The commander didn't listen at all. He was still thinking about the Chinese army. It is very likely that the two wings of the troops are not there. It seems that the commander has been a little crazy because of the bad news from the front line.
However, the commander had already asked the question, and as a subordinate, he had to respond. The chief of staff, Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi, also carefully looked at the terrain on both sides of the Laodao River, and then said: "Commander, the terrain on both sides of the Laodao River is not suitable for hiding large-scale troops. If I were Commander Xue of the Ninth War Zone of the Chinese government, I would wait for the Sixth Division to attack the Laodao River defense line, and then move the troops from farther away on both wings. Or, let the troops disperse and hide in the farmlands, villages and woods on both wings, and then quickly gather the troops after the Sixth Division attacks."
As the Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi explained, the eyes of Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji became brighter and brighter. Yes, he was being too hypocritical. The troops of the Sixth Division had not yet started the attack, and Commander Xue of the Ninth War Zone of the Chinese government would certainly not expose the troops he had arranged on the two wings. It seemed that he had to give out bait.
"Yes, Yoshimoto-kun, you must immediately send a telegram to the commander of the 6th Division, Lieutenant General Inaba Shiro, asking him to send no less than two battalions of troops tomorrow morning to quickly march to the Chinese army's defense line on the Laodao River. This force should not carry heavy weapons. After arriving at the Chinese army's defense line, it can just launch a tentative attack. In addition, Yoshimoto-kun, ask the Air Force to arrange the planes. After the 6th Division's exploratory troops set off, I want to go and take a look at the two wings of the Chinese army's defense line." Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura quickly arranged the next action orders.
When Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto heard that Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura would personally fly to the front line for observation tomorrow, he felt a little numb. Just when he was about to persuade him again, Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura had already walked up to a staff officer and asked the officer to introduce the current situation on the two wings of Laodao River.
Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi shook his head, then turned around to carry out the order that Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji had just issued. Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi had also given up trying to persuade him. Now it was obvious that the Commander would not listen to anything, so let him do whatever he wanted. What else could he do?
After receiving the telegram from the 11th Army Headquarters, Lieutenant General Inaba Shiro, commander of the 6th Division, immediately dispatched two battalions of officers and soldiers with light equipment to rush to the defense line of the Chinese army in Laodao River. What concerns Lieutenant General Inaba Shiro the most now is when his troops and the artillery and tanks assigned to them will be able to get out of the damn quagmire behind.
After a day's journey, the vanguard exploratory force of the Sixth Division finally arrived at the defense line of the New 22nd Army on the Laodao River at dusk on the second day. This made all the officers and soldiers of the New 22nd Army very happy. They had been waiting here for several days and finally saw the Japanese army coming.
Colonel Fumio Tsuboshima, commander of the 13th Regiment of the 6th Division of the Japanese Army, led all the officers and soldiers of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of his regiment to form the vanguard of the 6th Division. Colonel Fumio Tsuboshima was very satisfied that he could become the vanguard of the entire army this time.
After quickly arriving at the Chinese army's defense line on the Laodao River, the regiment commander, Colonel Fumio Tsuboshima, ordered the troops to rest and recuperate before launching another exploratory attack tomorrow morning.
Although they did not bring heavy weapons this time in accordance with the division commander's request for the sake of rapid march, the regiment commander, Colonel Fumio Tsuboshima, felt that they still had hope of breaking through the Chinese army's defense line on the Laodao River with their soldiers. After all, the Chinese army had been forced to give up two lines of defense by the Sixth Division. The regiment commander, Colonel Fumio Tsuboshima, scoffed at the Chinese army's low combat capability.
When the Japanese vanguard troops arrived at the Laodao River defense line, the new 22nd Army immediately telegraphed the news to Commander Xue, the commander of the Ninth War Zone.
After receiving the news that the Japanese army had finally arrived at the Laodao River defense line, Commander Xue felt relieved. He was really afraid that the Japanese army would not fall into his trap. This was the first time he was looking forward to the Japanese attack so much. Therefore, Commander Xue also issued an order to assemble the troops scattered and hidden on both wings.
At eight o'clock the next morning, Colonel Fumio Tsuboshima, commander of the 100th Regiment, provided a brief offensive fire support with only the four Type infantry guns that came with the team, and then ordered the officers and soldiers of the st Battalion to launch an attack on the new th Division's core defensive position on the Laodao River defense line.
Before the 13th Regiment launched the attack, Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji, commander of the 11th Army of the Japanese Army, had already flown to the left wing area of Laodao River by plane. Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji believed that today he would be able to see clearly what Commander Xue of the Ninth War Zone of the Chinese government was up to.
(Thanks to the gift support from Duke Weiguo who loves beef jerky, the one who eats dumplings without vinegar, and the director of Shenlong Library! Thank you all for your support and encouragement!)