Published at 13th of February 2023 06:52:45 AM

The demise of the 18th Front Army of the Island Army really frightened the 14th Front Army and the 7th Front Army of the Island Army, making them afraid to act rashly anymore. However, this is obviously not what the 23rd German Front wants to see. Lieutenant General William Adam also wanted to severely damage these two front armies.

"Order the 23rd Armored Division, the 221st Mechanized Infantry Division and the 222nd Mechanized Infantry Division to retreat westward in batches. At the same time, the troops deployed in the west also began to gather at the port, making a statement that we are ready to evacuate Borneo at any time The 225th, 226th, 227th, 228th, and 229th Infantry Divisions retreated to defend around Brunei City. At the same time, let the transport troops start to transport war materials from Brunei City to the western port. I don't believe it. We are all ready to evacuate, and the islanders will remain indifferent!" Lieutenant General William Adam said.

Major General Erwin Willow nodded: "Your Excellency, Commander, this is a solution. However, I just don't know if the islanders will be fooled. Perhaps the collapse of the 18th Front Army has scared them."

Lieutenant General William Adam smiled wryly: "It seems that we are too strong, and it is not entirely a good thing! At least many of our strategies have no way to continue to implement."

Major General Erwin Willow also looked helpless.

"Let's implement it according to the plan! It's the best thing if the islanders are fooled. If they are not fooled, then forget it. We have also wiped out many islanders in the previous series of battles. Before Before and after, they wiped out two of their front armies, more than 300,000 people! There are also two front armies that have been severely damaged by us. With all our efforts, at least 500,000 islanders have been wiped out by us! Such a result, already It is very good. Although I have some regrets, I am also satisfied." Lieutenant General William Adam said.

Although, Lieutenant General William Adam also hopes to eliminate more island armies and achieve greater results. But he knew that he had to stick to a bottom line. That is, the 23rd Army must not be put in danger. Otherwise, no matter how great the battle results are, if the 23rd Group suffers heavy losses, then everything will be in vain.

"Yes, Your Excellency Commander!" Major General Erwin Willow nodded.

Subsequently, the German 23rd Army immediately took action. The 23rd Armored Division, the 221st Mechanized Infantry Division, the 222nd Mechanized Infantry Division, and even the 23rd Heavy Artillery Brigade, which were the main force of the group army, all withdrew westward one after another. On the coastal road in northern Borneo, a long convoy showed that the German army was about to withdraw from Brunei.

In addition, the 223rd Infantry Division, 224th Infantry Division, and 230th Infantry Division of the German 23rd Army in western Borneo also evacuated their defense areas and went to the port, as if they were going to board a ship to evacuate Borneo.

Even the German 227th Infantry Division and 229th Infantry Division, which were confronting the island army at Crocker Hill, suddenly gave up their defense line one night and withdrew from the front line.

Although the 14th Front Army and the 7th Front Army of the Island Army suspended their attack on the German army, this does not mean that they ignored the German army. Their scouts are also constantly spying on intelligence. At the same time, the intelligence agencies of the island nation do not know how many people are lurking in Borneo.

On the morning of April 21, Lieutenant General Masahiro Honma received a report that the German position opposite was empty. This surprised Lieutenant General Masahiro Honma. You know, in order to break through the German defense line, the island army has already suffered extremely heavy casualties on this line of defense.

"What's going on here? How could the Germans give up the line of defense?" Lieutenant General Masahiro Honma couldn't figure it out. Although Crocker Hill's line of defense was damaged a lot during the battle, it was still a line of defense that would be difficult to break through if heavy troops were deployed. If the island country army wants to break through forcefully, it does not know how much loss it will pay. Now, the German army has voluntarily abandoned this line of defense, which really makes Lieutenant General Masahiro Honma a little confused.

"Your Excellency, Commander, I don't know. Our people sneaked up on the German defense line last night, only to find that there were no German troops on the defense line. There were some supplies scattered everywhere that we hadn't had time to take away. Obviously , the German troops withdrew very hastily." Lieutenant General Maeda Masami replied.

"Contact the intelligence department, what is going on!" Lieutenant General Masahiro Honma ordered.

Before finding out the truth, Lieutenant General Masahiro Honma would not dare to act rashly. If it falls into the German defense line because of this, the consequences will be serious. The current 14th Front Army can no longer afford too much loss.

"Hi, Your Excellency, Commander!" Lieutenant General Maeda Masami replied.

That afternoon, Lieutenant General Masahiro Honma got the information he wanted to know.

"Are the Germans preparing to withdraw from Borneo? How is this possible? In previous battles, they defeated us time and time again and caused us heavy damage." Lieutenant General Masahiro Honma couldn't believe this result.

"Your Excellency, the Germans may have suffered a lot. In addition, we are still increasing our troops in Borneo. Therefore, the Germans also know that it is impossible for them to fight against the Imperial Army with only more than 200,000 people. That's why I had to choose to evacuate." Lieutenant General Maeda Masami said.

Lieutenant General Masahiro Honma thought for a moment, and it was indeed possible.

"Send someone to confirm which German troops have retreated. I want to get exact information!" Lieutenant General Masahiro Honma said.

"Hi, Commander!"

Soon, Masaharu Honma knew that the 23rd Armored Division, the 23rd Heavy Artillery Brigade, the 221st Mechanized Infantry Division and the 222nd Mechanized Infantry Division, the main force of the German 23rd Army, had all retreated. Just an infantry division. Moreover, these five infantry divisions still lost a lot of infantry divisions in the previous battles, and the total strength may only be 70,000 to 80,000.

Lieutenant General Masharu Honma was very excited after learning such information. Because he seemed to see an opportunity to avenge his shame and make great achievements.

"If we march towards Brunei now, we will definitely be able to wipe out the tens of thousands of troops left behind by the Germans in Brunei!" Lieutenant General Masahiro Honma said.

Lieutenant General Maeda Masami nodded: "Yes, Your Excellency Commander. Although we have lost a lot, we still have the strength to defeat them. However, if we can convince the 7th Front Army, then our chances of winning will be very high !"

Lieutenant General Masahiro Honma also thought so. He immediately went to discuss with Lieutenant General Shizuku Tanaka. The next day, the 14th Front Army and the 7th Front Army of the Japanese Army began to cross Crocker Mountain and march towards Brunei.