Quartermasters can also fight the devils

Chapter 432 Nothing Gained

The commander of the 11th Army of the Japanese Army, Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura, first flew a plane to the Laodao River. He could clearly see the defense line built by the Chinese army on the ground with a telescope from the air. Looking at the perfect and neat defense positions below, the commander, Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura, doubted whether the 6th Division could quickly break through the Chinese army's defense line on the Laodao River.

After circling over Laodao River for several times, Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji ordered the plane to fly towards the left wing of Laodao River. He wanted to see whether the Chinese army had any troops gathering on the two wings. If Commander Xue of the Ninth War Zone had any ideas about his offensive forces, then there would definitely be Chinese troops gathering on the two wings, ready to outflank the Sixth Division from both wings when it attacked the Laodao River defense line, cutting off the Sixth Division's retreat route.

However, in the left wing area of ​​Laodao River, the plane of Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji circled for a long time but could not find any trace of the Chinese army. As the fuel was almost exhausted, Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji could only order the plane to return to the airport first.

When the plane landed at the airport in Sanzhen, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto was already waiting on the tarmac. After Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura got off the plane, he and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto got directly into the headquarters' exclusive car and rushed to the 11th Army Headquarters in Sanzhen City under the protection of two teams of soldiers.

After the car started, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi also asked the commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji with concern: "Commander, did you find anything today?"

As soon as Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sadaichi Yoshimoto saw something was wrong from the frown on the commander, Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura's brow, as he got off the plane, so he started asking in a low voice after the car started.

Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji looked ahead, staring at the troop transport truck in front of the car and said slowly: "Mr. Yoshimoto, I carefully observed the Chinese army's defense line on the Laodao River today. The Chinese army has built a complete defense line on the Laodao River. I don't think the Sixth Division will be able to break through this defense line of the Chinese army easily. Moreover, I also sent planes to the left wing of the Chinese army's defense line, but after a long time, I didn't find any trace of the Chinese army. I think this is very strange."

Strange? When Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi heard Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji say that it felt strange, he was a little confused. The Chinese army had built fortifications on the Laodao River, and it was obvious that they were preparing to stop the 6th Division from advancing. As for the fact that there were no Chinese troops on the two wings, this was also normal. Why did it feel strange?

"Commander, isn't this normal? The Chinese army has not carried out large-scale troop movements on both wings, which shows that the Chinese army is determined to defend the Laodao River defense line." Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Sadaichi felt that this was very normal and there was nothing strange about it.

"Mr. Yoshimoto, I think there is a big problem with the Chinese army. I didn't find any Chinese army in the flank area. This is incredible. It means that they either didn't deploy troops on the flank, or the troops there have been hidden. I think the Chinese army should have been hidden. So, tomorrow I will need to continue to take a plane to observe the flank of the Chinese army." Commander Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura closed his eyes, leaned back in the seat of the car and stated his decision.

Still going? This high-ranking commander always takes risks to observe in person. If something goes wrong, he will bear a great responsibility. However, seeing that the commander, Lieutenant General Okamura Neiji, is very determined, he can only try his best to ensure air safety.

The Chinese government and the Ninth War Zone were completely unaware that the commander of the 11th Army of the Japanese Army, Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji, had personally flown to the Laodao River defense line to observe this matter. If the Chinese government had received such news, it would have sent the few remaining planes to shoot down the plane that Okamura Yasuji was on, even if it meant crashing into it.

In fact, when Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji's plane was circling overhead, Zhang Wenwu, who was on the defense line, was also holding a telescope and looking at the Japanese planes in the sky.

"Division Commander, the troops are ready for air raids. Why are these Japanese planes circling over our sky? It looks like they are conducting reconnaissance. But aren't there usually only one reconnaissance plane? Why are there several this time?" Ouyang Heng walked to Zhang Wenwu and also looked at the Japanese planes in the sky through a telescope.

"This is a Japanese transport plane. It looks like it's here for reconnaissance. It's escorted by fighter jets. It looks like a high-ranking official is sitting on it. It would be great if we could shoot it down." Zhang Wenwu also fantasized about it with some emotion.

Everyone knew that at the current altitude of the Japanese planes, unless the Chinese army had anti-aircraft artillery units here, it would be impossible to shoot down the Japanese planes. But now the remaining anti-aircraft artillery units of China were all over the mountain city, providing protection for the mountain city's air defense.

"Division Commander, don't think about it. We are all destined to be poor. After the Battle of Three Towns, it is said that the Air Force has only a few planes left. Now it has really become an 'Air Force'." Ouyang Heng directly interrupted Zhang Wenwu's fantasy.

Zhang Wenwu put down the telescope in his hand, rolled his eyes at Ouyang Heng beside him, and thought to himself that his good partner was really tactless. Did he really want to shoot down the Japanese plane? Wasn't he just venting his anger? Did he have to hit himself like this?

"That's enough, Brother Ouyang, you don't need to look anymore. The Japanese planes will not drop bombs on us. It must be that some important figure of the Japanese army suddenly wanted to come and see the scenery on the front line." Zhang Wenwu also spoke out his judgment slowly and teased Ouyang Heng by the way.

But Ouyang Heng just slapped Zhang Wenwu on the back of his head, and then continued to look at the Japanese planes in the sky with a telescope, as if he didn't hear what Zhang Wenwu said at all.

The visit of Japanese planes did not affect the Chinese troops at all. Everyone was used to seeing Japanese planes on the battlefield, and all officers and soldiers continued to do what they were supposed to do.

The next morning, Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji, commander of the 11th Army of the Japanese Army, flew to the front line again for observation. This time, he ordered the plane to fly directly to the right wing of the Chinese troops on the Laodao River defense line. Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji believed that the Chinese army must have hidden a large number of troops on both wings, but after nearly a day of searching, Commander Lieutenant General Okamura Yasuji returned to Sanzhen without any results.