Cross the Songhu battlefield and rise to become the most powerful warlord

Chapter 864: The Port is Lost

864 Port Falls

"Commander, something bad has happened."

On the night of the 28th, British commander Roberts finally woke up peacefully, but he was urgently awakened by a British staff officer not long after he slept.

"Walter? What's going on?"

Roberts forced himself to be alert and asked.

"Commander, we just received an urgent telegram from Hongskan Port.

They are under attack from the Japanese army."

The British staff officer next to him said this anxiously.

"The Japanese army attacked Hongskan Port?

Damn!

How did they get there?"

After hearing this, Roberts almost jumped up, his face as gloomy as water.

Of course he knew the importance of Hongskan Port to them, and he also anticipated that the Japanese might launch a surprise attack there.

For this reason, Roberts never transferred an elite British infantry division stationed at the port.

It was also because of this that Roberts felt that Yamashita Tomoyuki would most likely not take the risk of sending more troops to attack the port of Hongskan.

After all, it is impossible to send too many troops.

The main target of the Japanese Imperial Guards Division's attack now is their blocking forces in the Yibao area.

The Japanese troops sent were too few and could not capture the Hongshikan port at all.

Unfortunately, it now seems that Roberts still underestimated Yamashita Tomoyuki's confidence.

The Japanese chose to attack the Hongshikan port at night.

Roberts quickly put on his uniform and walked back to the command center, remaining calm on the surface.

“Everyone, don’t worry.

Although the Japanese army launched a surprise attack on the Hongskan port, the 7th Division was stationed there.

The Japs want to take over the port, but that's just wishful thinking."

Roberts' statement calmed down many panicked British officers and eased the tense atmosphere in the command center.

Then, Roberts returned to his seat and gave orders: "Keep in touch with the port.

Tell the Seventh Division that I need to be kept informed of the battle situation at the port.

Have them send a battle report every ten minutes."

Soon the sky gradually brightened, but the tired Roberts did not feel sleepy at all.

Every ten minutes he would receive a telegram from the port, which made him feel more at ease.

Time quickly passed from a little after five to half past eight.

As a result, after 8:30, as time passed, Roberts did not receive any more telegrams from the port.

"John, what's going on?

Where's the new message from the port?"

Roberts had a bad feeling and shouted to a British staff officer.

"Commander, the time has come.

But this time, the radio station at the port did not send a new message as promised."

The British military telecommunications staff said this with a bitter look on his face.

"Call them immediately."

"We called, but there was no response."

Roberts' body shook.

The unusual communication from the port made him nervous again from his originally calm mood.

"Fake."

"Immediately send a reconnaissance team from the nearest troops to understand the battle situation at the port."

"Yes!"

More than an hour passed, during which time they had no contact with the 7th Division at the port.

Roberts couldn't imagine what would happen if the Hongskan Port was really captured by the Japanese.

How big a blow will it be to their military morale?

At 9:38, the reconnaissance team sent by the British army closest to the port of Hongskan finally sent back the news.

"Commander, latest news.

Hongskan Port has been lost."

The British military communications chief finally brought Roberts such bad news.

Roberts staggered and almost fell.

"commander."

The British staff officer supported him.

“How could that be, the Seventh Division is there.

How could the port be lost?"

Roberts murmured softly, finding it hard for him to accept such a result.

"I am fine."

After a moment, Roberts broke free from the support of his staff. He couldn't fall down now, as countless British officers were watching him.

At this moment, figuring out why the Hongskan Port fell is not the point.

The key point is how they will deal with the adverse impact of losing the Hongskan Port.

"Block the news. Don't spread the news of the port's fall."

After thinking for a moment, Roberts immediately gave the order.

This news can only be blocked for the time being and cannot be known to the British troops fighting on the front line.

Otherwise it will cause unrest in the military.

Fortunately, the British army had stockpiled enough weapons, ammunition and food in advance to last them for more than a month.

The fall of Hongskan Port did not have much impact on them in the short term.

"Immediately send a telegram to General Stilwell, asking where the main force of the expeditionary force is.

Let them go south as quickly as possible."

"Forget it, I will personally send a telegram to Commander Ye in my name.

Ask them to speed south."

Roberts finally gave in and chose to send a telegram to Ye Qingshan for help himself.

However, he still concealed the news of the port's fall from Stilwell and Ye Qingshan.

Fortunately, Ye Qingshan sent a telegram back soon.

"Commander Ye replied that we must hold on for half a month.

They were clearing out the remaining Japanese troops in Siam.

At most a week later, the main force will be able to move south.

However, the Japanese also left blocking troops in the north, and it will take some time for the expeditionary force to eliminate these Japanese blocking troops."

The British military staff officer read out.

"Half a month, that's not bad."

Roberts breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Ye Qingshan's reply.