"Your Excellency Commander, Kinabatangan is already empty. General 35th Army Commander Sōsaku Suzuki reported that when they arrived, the Germany people had already retreated!" 14th Area Army of the Island Nation's Army Chief of Staff Major General Lin Yixiu reported.
"What? The Germany people have retreated?" Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma frowned.
In order to ensure that Germany can be defeated in the battle, Island Nation's Army is fully prepared this time. They waited until all the ministries under the 14th Area Army, 7th Area Army and 18th Area Army arrived before launching the attack. But unexpectedly, the Germany people actually retreated on their own initiative, which left Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma a little confused.
"Is there any conspiracy in this?" Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma asked subconsciously.
The previous disastrous defeat of the Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army had always made him a little worried.
"Your Excellency Commander, it's not clear yet. However, this cannot be ruled out." Master Lin Yixiu said.
Obviously, German military easily destroyed Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army with its main force, which has caused a great shock to the generals of the Island Nation's Army.
"Let Army Air Force send a plane to conduct reconnaissance, and then take the next step after confirmation!" Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma ordered.
"Hi, Your Excellency Commander!" Major General Lin Yixiu replied.
Subsequently, 7th Area Army, 14th Area Army, and German military also successively reported that German military had evacuated. Such a result made Island Nation's Army's generals a little overwhelmed. They don't know why German Army retreated? It's like they clenched their fist and punched the air.
With no other choice, several Front Commanders could only report the news to Southern Army Headquarters, and asked General Southern Army Commander Hitoshi Anami to decide what to do next.
General Southern Army Commander Hitoshi Anami was equally surprised when he learned that German military had withdrawn across the board from the east of Borneo. Originally, he thought that a big war would break out in the east of Borneo. He was even prepared to suffer heavy losses from the Southern Army's subordinate ministries. But he didn't expect that the Germany people would take the initiative to retreat?
"Tsukata-kun, are you sure it's not a conspiracy of the Germany people?" General Hitoshi Anami was also a little worried.
"Your Excellency Commander, this is probably not a conspiracy. The troops on the front line have been confirmed again and again. The Germany people really retreated this time. Perhaps, they learned that we sent a large number of troops to land on Borneo, so they did not dare to continue to fight against us." Lieutenant General Tadaichi Tsukada said.
General Hitoshi Anami thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Although we sent a large number of troops to land, if we can scare the Germany people, it is almost impossible. Germany The people must have their purpose in doing this. However, no matter what they do, our purpose is clear, that is to occupy the entire Borneo and completely defeat the Germany people!"
Lieutenant General Tadaichi Tsukada nodded.
"Order all the troops on the front line to continue the attack. However, during the attack, be as careful and vigilant as possible to avoid falling into the Germany people's trap." General Hitoshi Anami said.
Obviously, General Hitoshi Anami has always been resentful that Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army fell into German military's trap, resulting in the total loss of the entire front army.
"Hi, Your Excellency Commander!" Lieutenant General Tadaichi Tsukada replied.
"However, Your Excellency Commander. Now we have three front armies in Borneo. If the three front armies all go their own way, problems are likely to occur. Then the Germany people will seize the opportunity and defeat them one by one." Lieutenant General Tadaichi Tsukada reminded.
Hitoshi Anami General nodded, he knew that this problem was very likely to arise. Lieutenant General 14 Front Commander Masaharu Honma, Lieutenant General 7 Front Commander Seiichi Tanaka, and Lieutenant General 14th Area Army Akito Nakamura are not people who easily obey the orders of others. If they are allowed to command the troops on their own, there will probably be big problems in the end.
"Let's do this, send a copy of Telegram to the front line, and let Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma be responsible for controlling the other two front armies!" General Hitoshi Anami made a decision. The reason why he put Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma in charge of controlling the other two front armies was that Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma was the oldest and very capable. On the other hand, it is because 14th Area Army has the most powerful troops.
"Hi, Your Excellency Commander." Lieutenant General Tadaichi Tsukada replied.
When General Hitoshi Anami's order was issued, no matter what Lieutenant General Seiichi Tanaka and Lieutenant General Akito Nakamura thought in their hearts. But they had no choice but to accept the order and temporarily obey the command of Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma.
Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma is very ambitious and wants to take advantage of this opportunity to defeat German 23rd Army Corps and establish his reputation and status in the military.
Under the command of Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma, 14th Area Army of the Island Nation's Army, 7th Area Army and 18th Area Army, began Full-scale Attack and occupied the entire east Borneo. However, during the march, they also remained vigilant to avoid falling into German military's trap.
Fortunately, German military has indeed reduced its troops to the vicinity of Brunei City, and their advance can be considered a near miss.
After finding out the truth and knowing that German 23rd Army Corps's main force had gathered around Brunei City, Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma and others breathed a sigh of relief. However, the main forces of German 23rd Army Corps are gathered near Brunei City, which is obviously more difficult to deal with. This made Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma and others feel great pressure.
At this moment, German 23rd Army Corps is making full preparations for the battle. Five Infantry Division, two Mechanized Infantry Division, 1 Armored Division and 1 Heavy Artillery Brigade of Brunei City have been assembled, as well as the reconnaissance brigade, engineering brigade, baggage brigade, etc. affiliated to the group. We are doing our best to build fortifications, with the intention of building a strong defensive position around Brunei City. In the next battle, we can resist Island Nation's Army's attack and cause as many casualties to the Island Nation's Army as possible.
At the same time, the Air Force 5th Air Group also increased its attack intensity and began to compete with Island Nation's Army Air Force for air supremacy. This made the air battle more and more fierce. The losses of Island Nation's Army Air Force 3rd Air Force and 4th Air Force are also getting bigger and bigger.
At the same time, German Navy Pacific Fleet and Indian Ocean Fleet also received requests from 23rd Army Group, requesting them to send a Capital Ships team to the South China Sea secretly to prevent Island Nation Navy from dispatching Capital Ships to bombard Brunei City. After all, this place is located on the seaside, completely within the range of the Capital Ships main gun.