Spy game? Stop guessing, I really am an undercover agent!

Chapter 100 Hankou Operation Plan
Chen Yang thanked him and followed Abe Mitsuhiro into the headquarters building.

The two quickly arrived at a conference room on the third floor, where many people were already seated.

Everyone immediately stood up when they saw Abe Mitsuhiro enter, which proves that Abe Mitsuhiro's status is indeed not low.

Abe Mitsuhiro walked to the front of the conference room and addressed the crowd: "Gentlemen, I've called you here today because His Excellency Sato has an important announcement to make."

"However, His Excellency Sato is currently attending a high-level military meeting upstairs, so please be patient and wait a moment."

After saying that, Abe Mitsuhiro picked up the documents in his hand and left the conference room on his own.

A thunderclap suddenly sounded outside, followed by large raindrops falling continuously, and a torrential downpour began outside the window in an instant.

Raindrops pounded on the glass windows outside the conference room, the water dripping down the glass and quickly blurring the view outside. Even the conference room became unbearably stuffy.
At this moment, in the conference room on the fourth floor.

The walls of the spacious yet somewhat oppressive conference room were covered with large military maps.

The map of Wuhan and its surrounding areas is the most eye-catching, densely marked with red and blue arrows, troop numbers, and defense line markings.

Several long tables were put together and covered with green velvet.

The table was scattered with battle plans, telegram drafts, pencils, and an ashtray.

The air was thick with the smell of tobacco, the dampness of wet clothes, and a faint, musty smell unique to the rainy season.

Tian Junliu, commander of the Central China Expeditionary Army, sat in the main seat, dressed in a crisp general's uniform.

His face was serious, his eyes were sharp, and his fingers were unconsciously tapping on the table.

Although he tried his best to maintain his dignity, a hint of fatigue could not be hidden between his brows.

To his left sat His Excellency Okamura, Commander of the Eleventh Army.

His gaze was fixed on the location of Wuhan on the map, his eyes focused and cold, his lips tightly pressed together, seemingly somewhat anxious.

In front of the military map, Saburo Kawabe, the chief of staff of the Central China Expeditionary Army, used a baton to introduce the operation plan to the crowd.

"Commander, Commander Okamura."

"The Hankou Operation Plan issued from the mainland will begin in June, with the goal of annihilating the main force of the Blue Army in the Wuhan area."

"As of this morning, battle reports from various units indicate that our army's advance along both banks of the Yangtze River and the northern foothills of the Dabie Mountains has encountered unprecedentedly fierce resistance from the Chinese army."

"Xue Boling's army group used the complex water network around Poyang Lake to construct deep fortifications."

"Li Delin's troops in the Fifth War Zone have been exceptionally resilient in their defenses in the Dabie Mountains, especially along the Fujinshan and Shawo lines. Our 13th and 16th Divisions have launched fierce attacks for days, suffering heavy casualties and making extremely slow progress."

"On the naval side, the Third Fleet needs to clear mines and sunken ships laid on the Yangtze River and cannot provide effective assistance at the moment."

"Moreover, the most troublesome issue now is the transportation of supplies for the logistics department. Due to excessive rainfall, severe weather, the breach of the Huayuankou dike, and the change of the Yellow River's course, ammunition, supplies, and medicines are almost impossible to transport quickly."

"Originally, we wanted to transport it by sea via the navy, but the other side, the other side..." Kawabe Saburo didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear to everyone...

The navy, it's those damn idiots again. These fools who only waste oil are unreliable when it really matters.

The Imperial Army has no need for a navy; only a powerful army is the main force in the war.

Those idiots in the navy only know how to steal the few resources the Empire has left...

Tian Junliu cursed inwardly, then turned his gaze to Sato Fumita below the conference room.

"Sato-kun, do you have any good suggestions regarding the issue of transporting supplies?"

"The current logistical support situation is extremely serious, and I hope you can come up with a reasonable solution..."

Sato Fumiyasu stood up and said, "Commander, I have summoned all the heads of the southern transport lines downstairs." "As advised by the Operations Staff, we will integrate all the major transport agencies to provide the strongest logistical support for the Hankou operation plan."

Tian Junliu nodded and looked at Hebian Sanlang, saying, "Continue."

Kawabe Saburo bowed slightly, but before he could speak, a "Report!" rang out.

A major from the information section quickly walked up to Saburo Kawabe with a telegram in his hand and presented it to him.

Kawabe Saburo glanced at the telegram and said in a deep voice, "Commander, urgent telegram from the 106th Division: Their vanguard is surrounded by heavy forces from the Ninth War Zone of the Chinese Army in the vicinity of Jinguangqiao and Shahezhen on the Nanchang-Jiujiang Railway. After several days of fierce fighting, they are unable to break through and request urgent support. Otherwise, they will withdraw..."

"Trying to retreat?" Tian Junliu frowned and said angrily, "Baka yarou, the 106th Division? What is Matsuura Junrokuro doing? His troops are newly formed, but they shouldn't be surrounded so easily."

"The riverside staff officer told Matsuura that the Imperial troops never used the word 'retreat'."

"In order to ensure the smooth implementation of the Hankou operation plan, he had to stay there, draw the main force of the Chinese army, and create opportunities for battle in other directions."

"Request the Third Flight Group's Air Squadron stationed in Hangzhou to provide full bombing support and stabilize the situation."

"Furthermore, send a telegram to the 106th Division. Local setbacks are inevitable, but we must not be intimidated by the Chinese army."

"Yes, sir." Saburo Kawabe responded and quickly ordered his staff to relay the order.

Commander Okamura looked at the military map and said slowly, "Commander, the core of the Wuhan campaign plan is to quickly encircle and defeat its main force. Now that the various fronts are locked in a stalemate, it is time to test the fighting will of the troops."

"We must speed things up and complete the encirclement as soon as possible. The longer it drags on, the more disadvantageous it will be for us."

Tian Junliu slowly walked to the map, stared at the huge red circle of "Wuhan" and said in a deep voice: "The headquarters demands a swift victory, to capture Wuhan as soon as possible and end the China Incident."

“But the current situation…” He pointed to the dense blue markings and complex terrain markings on the map representing the Chinese defense line, “Xue Boling, Li Delin, Chen Cixiu… these Chinese generals were not incompetent.”

"Their objective was very clear: to rely on the natural defenses of the mountains and rivers and their superior numbers to resist step by step and wear us down."

"It now appears that every step we take forward comes at a price far exceeding our expectations."

Commander Okamura nodded and said, "We have spent too much time on the Chinese battlefield."

"They have found our weakness: we cannot sustain this level of consumption for an extended period of time."

"That's precisely why we need a thunderous strike!"

"Commander, if we slow down the offensive now and give the Chinese army a chance to regroup, strengthen their fortifications, and call in reinforcements, the subsequent battles will be even more difficult."

"As long as we can grit our teeth and overcome these key obstacles..."

Looking at the huge map, Tian Junliu seemed to have made up his mind: "Wuhan must be taken. This is His Majesty the Emperor's will, and it is also the key to ending the war."

"Lord Okamura, the Chinese often say that the success of one general is built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers."

"To succeed, you have to pay a price."

"Order..." Everyone stood up at once.

"Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko of the Second Army led the Third, Ninth, Tenth, Thirteenth and Sixteenth Divisions in a full-scale attack on the north bank of the Yangtze River."

"Lord Okamura, you are in charge of leading the nine divisions of the 11th Army to attack the south bank of the Yangtze River."

"Also, notify the Third Fleet of the Navy to implement the auxiliary plan."

"Sato-kun, the logistics team needs to plan the supply delivery as soon as possible to ensure that the supplies are delivered correctly..."

"Hi……"

(End of this chapter)