Chapter 507

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Long before the Imperial Japanese Army's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, large numbers of Japanese troops had already landed in Bangkok, Thailand.

The entire city had almost become a Japanese barracks, the bustling streets filled with earth-yellow military uniforms.

Japanese squads leading Dogu horses and charging recklessly could be seen everywhere on the streets and alleys.

Thailand became the springboard for Japan to take all of Southeast Asia, and also its forward base for advancing south to seize resources.

Originally, Bangkok had only one division, the Fifth Division, stationed in Thailand.

Now the number of Japanese troops stationed here began to rise continuously, packing all of Bangkok tightly.

The devils of the Fifth Division were also seizing bicycles from the Thai people everywhere, unknown what they intended.

Japanese divisions landed in Thailand one after another, turning all of Thailand completely into a Japanese puppet.

Although the Thai people were not happy about this, they were only angry but dared not speak.

Thai Highest Leader Marshal Lawan signed an alliance agreement with the Japanese army, choosing to submit to Japan, while also deciding to declare war on the United Kingdom and the United States, and Thailand also became half an Axis power.

Marshal Lawan publicly stated in a broadcast that Thailand was willing to fully cooperate with Japanese army actions, allowing Japanese troops to station freely in Thailand, while also declaring war on the Allied Nations.

This decision quickly drew a storm of curses domestically, many officials opposed Lawan's approach, launching the "Free Thai Movement," carrying out anti-Japanese activities.

At the same time, the guerrillas of the Yixin Society within Thai territory also launched attacks on Japanese and Thai troops within their jurisdiction.

On the day the Japanese army launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.

Inside the Southern Army Headquarters in Bangkok City, a high-level operational meeting was convened.

Southern Army Commander-in-Chief General Terauchi Hisaichi stood before the map, with an air of being determined to win.

He formally issued the order for a full-line offensive to the assembled generals below.

For this unprecedented battle, the Imperial General Headquarters had determined extremely detailed code names for each campaign.

The operation to capture American Philippines was called "M Operation," with the goal of completely destroying American bases in the Far East.

The operation to capture British Malaya was called "E Operation," this being the key to capturing Singapore and controlling Malacca.

The operation to capture Dutch East Indies was code-named "H Operation," where endless oil and rubber were the Japanese army's ultimate goal.

Besides this, there was also "G Operation" to capture American Guam, and "B Operation" to capture British Borneo.

The Japanese army also targeted British Hong Kong, formulating an operation named "C Operation."

Even the Australian Bismarck Archipelago far away in the South Pacific, the Japanese army had also prepared an offensive plan code-named "R Operation......

The Japanese army had already formulated an ambitious plan, a series of plans dazzling to the eye, all handed over to the Navy and four hundred thousand Southern Army troops to execute.

The Japanese generals in the headquarters listened to these grand plans one after another, their breathing becoming hurried.

In their view, they could finally escape the war quagmire of Xia Guo, and establish unprecedented merit on the Southeast Asian battlefield.

Especially those Japanese generals who had painful memories in Xia Guo, now they were even more eager to prove themselves on the Southeast Asian battlefield.

Southern Army Commander-in-Chief General Terauchi Hisaichi, 25th Army Commander Lieutenant General Yamashita Tomonobu, 14th Army Commander Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma, and the Fifth Division Commander Lieutenant General Nakamura Akito who had just taken a beating not long ago......

These Southern Army generals were mostly transferred from the Xia Guo battlefield, many of them had been defeated under the Youth Army.

Commander-in-Chief Terauchi Hisaichi warned: "Right now there is one urgent matter, not how to seize the colonies of various countries in Southeast Asia, but to watch Zhongnan State."

Terauchi Hisaichi turned around and pointed the command baton toward the northeast side.

"To be precise, it is to watch the Youth Expeditionary Army stationed in Zhongnan State."

"Pick the soft persimmons to squeeze, this is our main lesson from the Xia Guo battlefield."

The generals below nodded frequently, deeply agreeing.

"So, our Southern Army temporarily do not attack Zhongnan State, to avoid dragging the Youth Army into the water."

"I have intelligence that the Youth Army is forbidden from setting foot in any British colony, this is very favorable to us!"

Lieutenant General Yamashita Tomonobu agreed: "Excluding the Youth Army, Commander-in-Chief is brilliant!"

"But we must also be careful that the Youth Army supports Zhongnan State in taking action; if they advance south to Bangkok, they might destroy our Southern Army's headquarters."

Terauchi Hisaichi had long had a plan for this: "I have already considered it, the Army will leave the 33rd, 55th, and 56th Divisions to garrison within Thailand."

"The remaining troops, according to the established plan, will capture lands throughout Southeast Asia!"

"The 14th Army captures the Philippines, the 15th Army captures Indonesia, the 25th Army captures the Malay Peninsula......"

Listening to General Terauchi Hisaichi's arrangements, Yamashita Tomonobu touched his chin; he was very confident about capturing the Malay Peninsula.

He had already organized a "Silver Wheel Corps" consisting of more than ten thousand bicycles, planning to use the lightweight advantage to implement infiltration.

For this, Yamashita Tomonobu had long ordered the Fifth Division to requisition bicycles throughout Thailand, letting soldiers ride bicycles, and launch a lightning war with the coordination of light tanks.

General Terauchi Hisaichi finished speaking, looking at Lieutenant General Yamashita Tomonobu.

"Commander Yamashita, your troops must capture the Malay Peninsula as soon as possible!"

"After you annihilate the British troops on the Malay Peninsula and eliminate these rear worries, I will order the Japanese troops within Thailand to launch an attack on Burma!"

"Hai!"

At this time in Kunming.

Xia Guo's Central Expeditionary Army had already been organized completely.

The Central Expeditionary Army commanded the Fifth Army, Sixth Army, and Sixty-Sixth Army, totaling over one hundred thousand troops.

The Expeditionary Army Commander-in-Chief was Luo Zhuoying, the Deputy Commander was Du Yuming, and General Stilwell from the United States served as Chief of Staff.

Du Yuming was currently standing before the sand table, frowning tightly while looking toward the Burma direction.

He had already deployed the Fifth Army on the border between Xia Guo and Burma, ready at all times to cross the border and defend the Burma Road.

"General Stilwell, the Japanese will attack Burma sooner or later. I request that our troops enter Burma in advance to deploy and wait for the enemy with ease—that is the best strategy," Du Yuming said, looking at Stilwell, his tone somewhat anxious.

Stilwell shrugged and agreed to send a telegram to British Burma Governor Smith to solicit his opinion.

However, Governor Smith refused the Xia Expeditionary Force's request to enter Burma in his reply.

In his response, he claimed that there were eighty thousand elite troops of the Great British Empire on the Malay Peninsula under Lieutenant General Percival.

Burma also had thirty thousand British troops; the Japanese forces were limited, and he firmly believed that one hundred thousand British troops could completely annihilate the invading Japanese, with no need for Xia people to interfere.

If the Xia Expeditionary Force entered Burma without authorization, this would be regarded as an act of aggression, especially the Youth Army, which was absolutely not allowed to enter!

Expeditionary Force Commander-in-Chief Luo Zhuoying looked at this telegram and sneered: "Hmph! The British are worried that if we go to Burma, it will shake their colonial rule."

"Unless it is the final juncture of life and death, the British will not let us in."

Du Yuming sighed, the worry in his heart growing heavier: it seemed Commander Lu's reminder to him was reasonable in how the British treated Xia Guo.

The Japanese had already launched a full-scale war; Haiphong Port of Zhongnan State would surely be blockaded by the Japanese Navy, and the supply route through Zhongnan State was about to be cut off.

And the Soviets to the north, under Japanese pressure, had long since closed the Northwest Supply Line.

Now Xia Guo's only international transportation line left was the Burma Road.

"I fear that by the time the British ask for help, everything will be too late."

"Once the Burma Road is lost, Xia Guo will become a landlocked island, and the prospects of the war of resistance are worrying!"

Chief of Staff Stilwell comforted him: "General Du, do not be so pessimistic. Malaya has eighty thousand British troops, and Burma has thirty thousand British troops; they are certainly not just for show."

"Let's first see how the situation develops. I think it is possible that Britain can powerfully block the Japanese, and even repel them."

——————

However, the development of the war situation far exceeded Stilwell's expectations.

The 25th Army commanded by Yamashita Tomoyuki dispatched two divisions: the Fifth Division and the Imperial Guard 2nd Division, totaling over forty thousand men, launching "Operation E," moving as fast as the wind, aiming to seize the Malay Peninsula.

The Fifth Division directly crossed the border from the Thai Mainland, surging into the northern end of the Malay Peninsula like a tide.

The Imperial Guard 2nd Division, meanwhile, set sail from Hainan Island aboard warships, preparing to forcibly land in northern Malaya under the cover of the Southern Expeditionary Fleet.

The Fifth Division and the Imperial Guard 2nd Division shared a common characteristic.

That was, the Fifth Division had been annihilated in the Battle of Wuhan; the current Fifth Division was newly reorganized.

The predecessor of the Imperial Guard 2nd Division was the Imperial Guard Division, which had likewise been annihilated by the Youth Army in the Battle of Wuhan, and was also a reconstituted force.

The Imperial Guard Division was the Imperial Guard of the Sky Locusts; they probably felt that continuing to use the name Imperial Guard Division was too unlucky, so they adopted the designation of the Imperial Guard 2nd Division.

Anyway, the Fifth Division and the Imperial Guard 2nd Division led by Yamashita Tomoyuki were quite unlucky in their designations.

Fortunately, this time they were going to fight the British; if they had to fight the Youth Army, Yamashita Tomoyuki would refuse to go no matter what.

The Southern Expeditionary Fleet carried the Imperial Guard 2nd Division's army fools from Sanya, Hainan, and happened to pass through the outer sea of Zhongnan State.

Under the order of General Terauchi Hisaichi, Southern Expeditionary Fleet Commander Harukichi Hyakutake dispatched several warships to attack Haiphong Port of Zhongnan State, severing the external transport line between Zhongnan State and Xia Guo.

Before the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, American merchants had contracted Haiphong Port, openly transporting strategic supplies to the Youth Army, and the Japanese could not easily interfere.

Now that the United States had formally declared war on Japan, the Japanese no longer cared about these things, vowing to sink all American merchant ships and raze Haiphong Port to the ground.

When several Japanese warships arrived at the outer sea of Haiphong Port, they actually found not a single ship in the harbor, and could only fire indiscriminately at the empty wharf.

It turned out that before the Pearl Harbor incident, Lv Muzhi had already ordered all ships in Haiphong Port to be withdrawn and all cargo in the port to be emptied.

The strategic supplies needed by the Youth Army had already been stockpiled in large quantities; they did not fear a Japanese naval blockade of the coast.

Especially the most important oil; the Youth Army's reserves could last for a year without problem.

The news of Japanese warships entering the port to harass reached Hanoi.

Lv Muzhi was still in Xia Guo; for the time being, Sun Liren was responsible for handling major affairs in Zhongnan State.

Sun Liren immediately dispatched a squadron of fighter planes to drive away the Japanese warships coming to harass the port.

At the same time, he notified the British of the departure of the Southern Expeditionary Fleet and the Imperial Guard Infantry Second Division.

Zhongnan State Prime Minister Fan Jing asked Sun Liren: "Why not send our main force of fighter planes to launch a fatal blow against the Japanese Southern Expeditionary Fleet?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Liren thought: this isn't my own stuff being used without heartache; what if it gets destroyed?

Commander Lu had previously issued an order: as long as the Japanese did not launch a large-scale attack on Zhongnan State's homeland, do not act rashly; wait for the situation to change.

"The Japanese fleet is not here to fight Zhongnan State; we should not show off."

"Dispatching a squadron of planes to drive away Japanese warships approaching the coast is enough."

"At the same time, notifying the British of the movements of the Japanese main fleet can be considered doing our utmost!"

——————

The British troops stationed in Malaya received Sun Liren's notification, learned that the Japanese fleet was on its way, and decided to meet the enemy head-on.

British Far East Fleet Commander Lieutenant General Tom Phillips intended to lead the army in person, forming a fleet composed of the Battleship Prince of Wales, the Battlecruiser Repulse, and four destroyers, to intercept the Japanese Southern Expeditionary Fleet.

Malayan Army Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Percival even saw Phillips off, greatly praising the navy's courage.

He declared to the outside world that the British Royal Navy would surely defeat the Japanese's fighting spirit in the first battle.

The Battleship Prince of Wales had a full-load displacement of over forty thousand tons.

It was equipped with six 356mm giant guns, the final pinnacle work of British big-gunism.

The Battlecruiser Repulse was no less impressive, with a full-load displacement of over thirty thousand tons; its six 381mm giant guns were enough to tear apart any warship.

Judging by the fleet's tonnage and firepower, the Far East Fleet dispatched by the British was far superior to the Japanese Southern Expeditionary Fleet responsible for protecting transport ships.

Unfortunately, the British fleet did not bring an aircraft carrier......

Giant battleships without fighter escort were, in the eyes of Japanese bombers, nothing more than slow-moving giant targets.

Lieutenant General Tom Phillips led the fleet on its expedition.

According to the intelligence provided by Sun Liren, he cut through the waves all the way, attempting to find the Japanese fleet and transport ships.

Lieutenant General Tom Phillips wanted to be the hunter, but was first discovered by his own "prey"—what bad luck!

The submarines of the Southern Expeditionary Fleet first discovered the British battleships.

At the time, Japanese Fleet Commander Harukichi Hyakutake was panicked, thinking he was as good as dead this time.

After all, the armor, tonnage, and firepower of the Southern Expeditionary Fleet were far inferior to the British battleship Prince of Wales and battlecruiser Repulse.

It was quite possible that the Southern Expeditionary Fleet and the Army Idiots of the Imperial Guard 2nd Division would all be buried at the bottom of the sea.

However, the Japanese Army Air Force stationed in Thailand took action.

Dense small black dots appeared on the horizon; they were the torpedo bombers and bombers that the Japanese Army had taken off from Bangkok.

Japanese fighter planes swarmed in, and before the British Eastern Fleet could engage the Japanese Southern Expeditionary Fleet, it was besieged by Japanese fighters.

The air raid siren sounded on the deck of the battleship, and the British sailors frantically turned the anti-aircraft gun positions.

Although the battleship had anti-aircraft guns, two fists could not fight four hands.

Japanese planes kept dropping torpedoes and bombs, leaving the British fleet dazed and confused.

Without air support, the British fleet could only passively take a beating.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

After several hours of continuous combat, violent explosions sounded on the starboard side of the "Prince of Wales."

Fleet Commander Lieutenant General Tom Phillips no longer knew how many bombs and torpedoes his battleship Prince of Wales had taken.

The giant ship listed violently, tons of seawater poured into the ship cabin, and the once-mighty steel beast finally lost its speed.

The British battleship did not die at the hands of the Japanese fleet, but was instead besieged to death by the Japanese Army Air Force.

Fleet Commander Lieutenant General Tom Phillips stood on the tilting command tower, watching the battleship slowly sink beneath him.

In the final moment of his life, this veteran naval commander let out a long sigh.

"The era of giant ships and big guns has truly come to an end."

"Now the sky has triumphed over the ocean!"

The battlecruiser Repulse could not escape its fate either; after enduring a saturation torpedo attack, it finally sank into the sea.

As the two main force capital ships sank to the bottom of the sea, British naval power in the Far East was almost annihilated.

Yamashita Tomoyuki finally got his Imperial Guard 2nd Division; twelve thousand bicycles were distributed, and he could finally charge and assault recklessly across the Malay Peninsula without restraint.

British Malaya Army Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Percival did not know what to do.

Two days after the war began, the naval main force was wiped out by the Japanese Army.

Due to the loss of sea control, the entire flank of the Malay Peninsula was completely exposed to the Japanese Navy.

Yamashita Tomoyuki's 25th Army deployed two divisions, forty thousand troops, riding twelve thousand bicycles, and operating over a hundred old Type 95 light tanks.

This type of light tank was already rarely used by the Japanese Army on the Xia Kingdom battlefield.

Because its protection and firepower were simply too weak, against the Youth Army's tanks and anti-tank guns, it had no room for survival at all and was nearly obsolete.

But on this Malay Peninsula, the British Army had not deployed a single tank; only the British Army in Burma was equipped with an armored brigade.

Facing these light tanks despised by the Japanese Army, Yamashita Tomoyuki accepted them all; over ten thousand bicycles paired with over a hundred Type 95 light tanks, Yamashita Tomoyuki was about to launch his own blitzkrieg!

The British were originally full of confidence.

Now, they would have a bitter taste.