The destruction of the 18th Area Army of the Island Nation's Army really frightened 14th Area Army of the Island Nation's Army and 7th Area Army, making them no longer dare to act rashly. However, this is obviously not what German 23rd Area Army wants to see. Lieutenant General William Adam also wanted to severely damage these two front armies.
"Order 23rd Armored Division, 221st Mechanized Infantry Division and 222nd Mechanized Infantry Division to retreat westward in batches. At the same time, the troops deployed in the west also began to gather towards the port, making it look like we are ready to evacuate Borneo at any time. 225th, 226th, 227th, 228th, 229th Infantry Division, then withdraw to defend around Brunei City. At the same time, let the transport troops start transporting Brunei City's war supplies to the western ports. I don't believe that the Island Nation people will remain indifferent even if we are all ready to evacuate!" said Lieutenant General William Adam.
Major General Erwin Willow nodded. "Your Excellency Commander, this is a way. However, I just don't know if the Island Nation people will be fooled. Maybe the destruction of the 18th Area Army has frightened them."
Lieutenant General William Adam smiled bitterly, "It seems that we are too powerful, which is not entirely a good thing! At least many of our strategies cannot be implemented anymore."
Major General Erwin Willow also looked helpless.
"Just implement it according to the plan! If the Island Nation people were fooled, that would be the best. If they don't fall for the trick, then forget it. We have also eliminated many Island Nation people in a series of previous battles. We completely wiped out two of their front armies, thirty More than 100,000 people! The two front armies were also severely damaged by us. At least 500,000 Island Nation people were wiped out by us! This is a very good result, but I am satisfied." Lieutenant General William Adam said.
Although, Lieutenant General William Adam also hopes to eliminate more Island Nation's Army and achieve greater results. But he knew that a bottom line must be adhered to. That is to say, 23rd Army Group must not be put into danger. Otherwise, no matter how great the results are, if the 23rd Group suffers heavy losses, then everything will be in vain.
"Yes, Your Excellency Commander!" Major General Erwin Willow nodded.
Then, German 23rd Army Corps immediately took action. As the main force of the group army, 23rd Armored Division, 221st Mechanized Infantry Division, 222nd Mechanized Infantry Division, and even 23rd Heavy Artillery Brigade all evacuated westward one after another. On the coastal road in the north of Borneo, a long motorcade showed that German military was about to evacuate Brunei City.
In addition, German 23rd Army Corps, 223rd Infantry Division, 224th Infantry Division, and 230th Infantry Division in the west of Borneo, also evacuated their defense areas and headed to the port, as if they were about to board a ship to evacuate Borneo.
Even German military 227th Infantry Division and 229th Infantry Division, who were confronting Crocker Range and Island Nation's Army, suddenly gave up their defense line one night and evacuated the front line.
Although 14th Area Army of the Island Nation's Army and 7th Area Army have suspended their treatment of German offensive, this does not mean that they will ignore German military. Their scouts are also constantly gathering information. At the same time, Island Nation's intelligence agency does not know how many people are lurking in Borneo.
On the morning of April 21, Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma received a report that the German military position opposite was empty. This surprised Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma. You know, in order to break through German defensive line, Island Nation's Army has already paid extremely heavy casualties on this line of defense.
"What's going on? How could the Germany people give up their defense?" Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma was confused. Although Crocker Range's defense line was damaged a lot during the battle, it is still a line of defense that is difficult to break through if heavy troops are deployed. Island Nation's Army If you want to force a breakthrough, you don't know how much losses you will have to pay. Now, German military actually took the initiative to give up this line of defense, which really left Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma a little confused.
"Your Excellency Commander, I don't know. Our people sneaked up on German defensive line last night, and then they discovered that German military was no longer on the defense line. There were supplies scattered everywhere that had not been taken away. Obviously, German military evacuated in a very hurry." Lieutenant General Masami Maeda replied.
"Contact the intelligence department to find out what is going on!" Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma ordered.
Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma will not dare to act rashly until the truth is clear. If you fall into German defensive line because of this, the consequences will be serious. Now 14th Area Army can no longer withstand too much loss.
"Hi, Your Excellency Commander!" Lieutenant General Masami Maeda replied.
That afternoon, Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma got the information he wanted to know.
"Are the Germany people preparing to evacuate Borneo? How is this possible? In the previous battles, they defeated us time and time again and caused us heavy losses." Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma couldn't believe this result.
"Your Excellency Commander, perhaps the losses of the Germany people are not small. In addition, we are continuing to increase the number of troops Borneo. Therefore, the Germany people also know that with only more than 200,000 people, it is impossible for them to fight against the Imperial Army, so they had to choose to evacuate." Lieutenant General Masami Maeda said.
Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma thought about it and realized that it was indeed possible.
"Send someone to confirm which troops of the Germany people have retreated. I want to get the exact information!" Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma said.
"Hi, Mr. Commander!"
Soon, Masaharu Honma knew that German 23rd Army Corps's main forces, 23rd Armored Division, 23rd Heavy Artillery Brigade, 221st Mechanized Infantry Division and 222nd Mechanized Infantry Division, had all retreated. There were only five Infantry Division left around Brunei City. Moreover, these five Infantry Divisions all lost a lot of Infantry Divisions in previous battles, and their total strength is probably only 70,000 to 80,000 people.
After learning such information, Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma was very excited. Because he seemed to have seen an opportunity to avenge his past humiliation and make a supreme contribution.
"If we march towards Brunei City now, we will definitely be able to eliminate the tens of thousands of troops left by the Germany people behind Brunei City!" Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma said.
Lieutenant General Masami Maeda nodded. "Yes, Your Excellency Commander. Although we have suffered a lot of losses, we still have the strength to defeat them. However, if we can also convince 7th Area Army, then our chances of winning will be very high!"
Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma also thought so. He immediately went to discuss it with Lieutenant General Seiichi Tanaka. The next day, 14th Area Army of the Island Nation's Army and 7th Area Army began to climb over Crocker Range and march towards Brunei City.