The commander-in-chief of the Japanese army on the north bank of the Yellow River was the commander of the 2nd Division, Okamura Yasuji.
At this moment, Okamura Yasuji was far from being able to shine and become famous.
Compared to Seishiro Itagaki and Kaner Ishihara, who had planned the September 18th Incident and pushed the Japanese army to invade China, they were much dimmer.
His 2nd division had been urgently transferred over because of the sudden change in the situation on the Shandong battlefield.
At that time, Okamura Yasuji didn't have much experience commanding a large army.
After leading the 2nd division to the front line, he first followed Itagaki Seishiro's request and brought the main force of the 2nd division and a heavy artillery exploration group.
Along with the other four mixed regiments, they deployed along the Yellow River north bank.
When the Tiger Troop launched a counterattack, he was still in the command center discussing military intelligence with a few mixed regiment commanders and puppet army commanders, discussing the next attack route and time.
They had no idea that the Tiger Legion had already begun to attack them. When a communications second lieutenant rushed into their meeting room, Okamura could not help but frown and ask,""Second Lieutenant, what happened? Why are you so flustered?”
The second lieutenant of the Japanese communications team saluted Okamura and the others with a panicked expression."General, it's bad. There's a call from the front line. The Chinese army is counterattacking! All the important points of our front line, including the Heavy Artillery Brigade, were all destroyed by the enemy's powerful artillery and aerial attacks!”
"Nani?" Okamura and the others were all shocked. Okamura caught the main point of the second lieutenant's words and asked,""What did you say? Was it attacked by the Chinese army?"
"How could the Chinese army have an air force? Are you sure?"
As soon as Okamura said this, the Japanese generals and staff officers present reacted.
They all looked at the Japanese lieutenant in unison. The lieutenant was a little timid and hurriedly lowered his head."General, that's what the frontline's telegram said. They were indeed attacked by the Chinese army's bomber planes!
In addition, a batch of Imperial Army fighter planes also encountered the Chinese Army above the Yellow River and were completely annihilated!”
Okamura stood up in shock and asked in disbelief,""What did you say?"
"How is this possible? Hadn't the Chinese Air Force in North China and East China been wiped out by the Imperial Air Force long ago?”
"That's right, Han Tiansheng's Tiger Troop is just a new army formed from the old Shandong Army.
When the Shandong Army was at its peak, they did not even have an air force. How could they have an air force now? Or an air force that could defeat the Empire's air force in aerial combat?”
Not only Okamura Yasuji, but the group of Japanese high-ranking generals present were also shocked and unwilling to believe it.
The second lieutenant was about to cry. He lowered his head and said,""General, these are all reports from the frontline troops. I can't explain the specific situation!”
Okamura Ningji took the message with a serious expression. He hurriedly read it and his expression became even uglier. He pondered for a moment and said,"Looks like it's true. Otherwise, the troops at the front line would never dare to report it like this!”
As he spoke, he passed the message to his chief of staff, Chiaki Masao.
Senior Colonel Chiaki took the message and read through it nervously. He looked up at Okamura Yasuji with a serious expression and said,""General, I can't figure out how strong the firepower is to be able to destroy a Heavy Artillery Brigade in such a short period of time.
As well as the various major firepower support points and commanding heights on the frontline?
Also, how did the Zhina Army control the deployment and firepower of the Imperial Army?”
Okamura Yasuji turned to look at the battle map and said earnestly,""Now is not the time to discuss this. I think we have to make a response as soon as possible.
Otherwise, the previous defeat of Itagaki Seishiro, Dohihara Kenji, and the others will probably repeat itself on us!”
Chiaki Masao's heart sank."General," he asked,"do you mean that our frontline troops are going to be defeated?"”
Okamura Ningji turned around and said meaningfully,""Since the Chinese army has such powerful artillery and air force, they will definitely take the opportunity to attack the imperial army on the north bank!
Do you think that losing the air superiority, the commanding heights, the support points of firepower, and the support of the Heavy Artillery Squadron?
How long can our troops last in front of the powerful assault firepower of the Tiger Legion?”
"But where did the Chinese Tiger Troop get so many armored vehicles and aircraft? Did the Soviets help them?" Chiaki Masao asked with a puzzled expression.
"There's no point in pursuing this now! Okamura Ningji paused and immediately made a plan."Pass down the order immediately. The 2nd division, the exploration teams, and the divisions of the Imperial Association Army will take turns to cover and retreat from the north shore.”
" Ha Yi!" Chiaki Masao and the communications second lieutenant who came to report immediately lowered their heads and left.
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