Chapter 512: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 522 The Old Man: The British Are Cunning and Shamele

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Inside Tonggu City, the British Army withdrew from defense, and Dai Anlan led the 200th Division to take over the defensive line.

And inside the Expeditionary Force Headquarters in Lashio, a weighty figure arrived.

Just as the old man said, his energy should be focused on military affairs.

This was the Xia State Army's first overseas expedition; the old man hoped to win a great victory, raise his international prestige, and strengthen his standing among the Allied nations.

Thus, he soon flew to Lashio and arrived at the Expeditionary Force Headquarters to "inspect."

Inside the headquarters' conference room, the Expeditionary Force's generals stood in full attendance.

British Burma Governor Smith was also present.

The old man wore a black cloak, held a civilized cane in his hand, and swept his gaze across everyone's faces.

"Handing the troops over to General Stilwell for command, I am very assured; I believe Chief of Staff Stilwell will surely lead us to win a great victory!"

Although the old man's words sounded pleasant, Du Yuming and Luo Zhuoying both knew clearly that if the old man were truly assured, he would never personally make this trip.

After hearing the translation, General Stilwell smiled and nodded, pointing at the map as he began to explain the current situation of the Burma battlefield.

"The 200th Division has already arrived at Tonggu; that is a strategic point that absolutely cannot be lost."

"And in Pyinmana to the west of Tonggu, it is defended by the British Army."

"Tonggu and Pyinmana, the two points east and west, are connected in a line, constituting our army's current frontline."

Stilwell expressed full confidence that the Expeditionary Force's main force was concentrating in Lashio, being transported toward Mandalay, preparing to join the subsequent combat.

After hearing the report, the old man began to expound his own views:

"The Japanese Army attacking Burma was originally a force defending Thailand, now used to attack Burma."

"Yamashita Tomoyuki, after finishing the fight on the Malay Peninsula southward, immediately led his main force back to Thailand to take over defense duties."

"What does this show? It shows that the Japanese Army is very wary of Zhongnan State; precisely speaking, they are wary of Lv Wei Yue's Youth Expeditionary Army."

"Lv Wei Yue did not come to this venue, yet he still seems as if he is within this venue..."

Luo Zhuoying asked: "You mean..."

The old man's expression became somewhat proud: "The Japanese Army has worries about its rear, you see; that Southern Army commander Terauchi Hisaichi was once a defeated subordinate of Lv Wei Yue in North China; he dare not commit all his troops to Burma."

"Precisely because the Japanese Army cannot exert its full strength, we must seize this concern of the Japanese Army, work together with the British Army, and launch an unprecedented large-scale decisive battle within Burma to consume the Japanese Army's manpower."

"Make the Japanese Army realize that our determination to defend Burma is unshakable, and that forcibly attacking all of Burma comes at a huge cost."

The old man believed that as long as they dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese Army through one great decisive battle, and combined it with the deterrence of the Youth Army to the east,

the Japanese would have to contract their defensive line, unable to continue advancing northward; the British could take the opportunity to recover southern Burma, and Xia State could also keep the Burma Road transport line.

Du Yuming felt his heart sink; although a decisive battle sounded grand, the choice of location was vital.

"Principal, where do you think this decisive battle should be fought?"

The old man pointed to the Yimen Railway running north-south through Burma on the map: "Choose along the railway line; Tonggu, Pham Na, Mandalay, distributed from south to north along the railway—these places are all natural battlefields."

"The railway facilitates our army's maneuvering, transporting troops and supplies to the frontline."

"As long as the British Army can guarantee the safety of the Western Route, our Expeditionary Force's hundred thousand elite troops can fully engage the Japanese Army in a decisive battle."

General Stilwell expressed high approval of this plan and praised the old man's strategic vision.

He said in English: "Since that is the case, we should now begin to send subsequent forces to Tonggu in an endless stream."

"Launch the first decisive battle at Tonggu, give the arrogant Japanese Army a blow to the head, and kill their morale."

Stilwell had already begun to conceive in his mind how to deploy several divisions' worth of forces to strike the Japanese Army beneath the walls of Tonggu City.

British Burma Governor Smith, who had remained silent all along, now showed a hint of worry on his face.

"Gentlemen, although the plan is grand, I must remind you of one thing."

"The Japanese Army's offensive speed is extremely fast; I fear that before the Expeditionary Force's main force arrives at Tonggu, the 200th Division will already be unable to hold on."

Smith did not look favorably on that Xia State force of only ten thousand or so men, after all, he had already experienced the Japanese Army's might himself.

Upon hearing these words, Du Yuming's face darkened.

"Governor Smith, the 200th Division is a force I personally trained; having fought the Japanese Army in bloody battles for many years, I know their division commander Dai Anlan's ability better than anyone."

"I guarantee again: the 200th Division may truly be unable to defeat the Japanese, but without my order, not a single person will withdraw from Tonggu City!"

Du Yuming's sternness made Smith's face turn green and white; for a long time he could not utter a rebuttal.

Du Yuming turned around, stood at attention and saluted the old man, his tone firm.

"I will immediately lead the Fifth Army's main force to advance toward Mandalay."

"After arriving at Mandalay, the entire army will shift to railway maneuvering, heading south at full speed to reinforce Tonggu and bring about the decisive battle."

With Du Yuming's military order issued, the entire Expeditionary Force began to operate frantically.

And at this time, in Tonggu City over three hundred li away, it had already become a battlefield intertwined with blood and fire.

The Japanese Army's 55th Division had by now fully deployed its offensive posture, with troop strength reaching over twenty thousand.

To seize this railway hub as quickly as possible, the Japanese Army's field heavy artillery regiment deployed a large number of 150mm howitzers.

Buildings inside Tonggu City kept collapsing under the mad bombardment; dust covered the sky, blotting out the sunlight.

The officers and men of the 200th Division hid in deeply dug anti-artillery caves, waiting for the moment the artillery fire ceased.

Dai Anlan, inside the underground command post set up within the city, received Du Yuming's telegram.

"Defend Tonggu to the death, at any cost, hold out until the main force arrives to reinforce!"

After reading the telegram, Dai Anlan hesitated not at all: "The entire division, from top to bottom, from the division commander down to the private, shall advance and retreat together!"

When the Japanese artillery barrage ended, large numbers of Japanese soldiers, bayonets fixed, charged out from the edge of the jungle.

"The Chinese army's defensive line has collapsed—charge in and occupy the train station!"

The Japanese commander waved his command sword, attempting to rush into the ruins of Tonggu in one push.

What greeted the devils was the stubborn counterattack of the 200th Division.

Sixty-millimeter mortars fired from the trenches, dense shells exploding among the Japanese assault columns.

Maxim water-cooled heavy machine guns and M1917 water-cooled heavy machine guns opened fire, bullets sweeping toward the charging Japanese soldiers like raindrops.

The 75-millimeter American mountain guns deployed by the 200th Division in the rear were not idle either, constantly suppressing the Japanese attack routes.

This stubborn resistance made the Japanese 55th Division feel unprecedented pressure.

When several Japanese light tanks attempted to cover an infantry breakthrough of the defensive line, the 200th Division's anti-tank guns spoke.

The anti-tank gun shells penetrated the thin armor of the Japanese tanks, and the tanks went down in a burst of firelight.

Some Japanese soldiers charged onto the 200th Division's positions; at extremely close range, the 200th Division's officers and men immediately engaged in close-quarters combat.

This was the fiercest resistance the Japanese had ever encountered!

After entering Burma, the Japanese often found that as soon as they broke through the British defensive line and brandished their bayonets, the British would declare collapse.

The British obviously lacked the experience and courage to engage the Japanese in close-quarters combat.

But the 200th Division before them was already accustomed to fighting the Japanese; when the Japanese charged onto local positions with bayonets fixed, the 200th Division's officers and men immediately counterattacked with bayonets.

The Japanese launched wave after wave of mad charges, yet they could never cross that not-so-tall defensive line at the outskirts of Tonggu City.

Limbs and severed arms lay everywhere on the battlefield; Japanese uniforms and the blood of Xia State soldiers were mixed together, indistinguishable.

The battle thus descended into a brutal tug-of-war, lasting a full ten days.

During these ten days, the Japanese used the many against the few and the strong against the weak, deploying massive heavy firepower support and sending out planes to bomb in rotation.

But the 200th Division garrisoned in the ruins was like a steel nail nailed to the railway track, remaining immovable no matter how the Japanese tugged at it.

——————

Lashio, Expeditionary Force Headquarters.

The old man was in extremely high spirits at this moment.

He looked at Stilwell and Governor Smith beside him, his tone carrying a hint of boasting.

"General Stilwell, look at my 200th Division—they held out against ten days of relentless Japanese attacks at Tonggu."

"This! This is the backbone of my Whampoa soldiers; this is the military soul of Xia State troops!"

General Stilwell at this moment also came to know the Xia Expeditionary Force anew; looking at the battle report, his expression was full of respect.

"Indeed, the 200th Division's performance at Tonggu can be called a miracle—they achieved what the British Army could not on the Malay Peninsula and in Burma, and I have deep respect for the 200th Division."

Stilwell spared no praise, which made Governor Smith beside him look somewhat embarrassed.

Although Governor Smith was not very happy in his heart, looking at the unmoving Tonggu position on the map, he had no choice but to lower his head.

He had originally thought the Xia State Army was just here to fill the line, and indeed had not expected them to play much of a role.

"Now it seems the Xia Expeditionary Force indeed contains enormous energy; I previously underestimated your country's determination."

The old man gave a cold snort and did not heed Smith's softening, but instead turned directly to look at Luo Zhuoying.

"Send a telegram to Du Yuming immediately—tell him to speed up and rush the main forces of the Fifth Army to Tonggu."

"We will pass through this strong city of Tonggu, force the Japanese to send reinforcements there, and thus bring about our decisive battle."

The old man's fighting spirit was extremely high at this moment; he wanted to launch a Tonggu campaign and bury the Japanese fighting spirit there.

At the same time, he thought to himself: "Even without the Youth Army, I can still lead my troops to victory!"

Inside Mandalay Train Station, the train whistle was piercing.

Du Yuming stood on the platform, watching a train loaded with officers, men, and equipment of the New 22nd Division slowly depart.

Although the main force was advancing toward the frontline, his brow remained furrowed.

At this moment, Lv Muzhi's earlier instructions to him involuntarily rang in his ears: be careful of the British!

Lv Muzhi's voice seemed to still echo in his ears, forcing him to walk to the map again and examine that place called Pyinmana.

Pyinmana is located west of Tonggu, defended by the British Indian Army's 17th Division and Burma's 1st Division.

"Tonggu and Pyinmana are like the two legs of the Expeditionary Force's defensive line—neither can be missing."

Du Yuming said to the Chief of Staff beside him, his finger tapping once on Pyinmana.

"Once the British lose Pyinmana, the 200th Division's flank will be completely exposed; the more I think about it, the more uneasy I feel."

Saying this, he immediately wrote a telegram to be sent to the British command headquarters.

In the telegram he pleaded earnestly, asking the British to hold Pyinmana at all costs, for it was the lifeline of the entire defensive line.

He then turned and ordered: "Telegraph the 66th Army—ask them to immediately dispatch a division's worth of troops to reinforce the British in the Pyinmana direction, and jointly defend the 200th Division's flank!"

Du Yuming believed the British at Pyinmana were the weak point of this battle, and the Japanese also realized this.

Rangoon, Japanese 15th Army Headquarters.

Commander Iida Shojiro was yelling at the officers inside the headquarters.

"Good-for-nothings! The 55th Division is simply a disgrace to the Imperial Army—ten days, and they can't even take a ruined Tonggu City!"

55th Division Commander Takeuchi Hiroshi explained: "The Xia State Army is the most tenacious enemy we have encountered since operations in Burma began—truly troublesome."

"You know the 200th Division—they have repeatedly achieved extraordinary feats on the Xia Kingdom battlefield."

"Although their equipment is not as good as those British devils, this kind of fighting will leaves me at a loss; I can only grind them down slowly, unable to win quickly."

Iida Shojiro was after all a veteran commander; after his tantrum, he calmed down.

"Pick the soft persimmons—that is the unbreakable truth told to us by General Terauchi Hisaichi."

"The 55th Division will continue to apply frontal pressure on the 200th Division, drawing the attention of the Xia Expeditionary Force."

Iida Shojiro picked up his command baton and pointed toward Pyinmana on the Western Route.

"Order the 33rd Division to set out at full speed from the Western Route and strike directly at Pyinmana, defended by the British Army."

"Once Pyinmana falls, the flanks of the 200th Division and Tonggu City will be exposed before me!"

The Japanese acted as soon as they said they would.

The 33rd Division moved extremely fast; they abandoned their heavy equipment and went into battle lightly equipped.

Taking advantage of the low morale of the British Army, they quickly maneuvered through the forest.

April 1, a day that was April Fools' Day in the West, but for the 200th Division at Tonggu, heaven played a huge joke on Division Commander Dianlan.

The Japanese 33rd Division seized Pyinmana with lightning speed, expelled the British Indian Army's 17th Division and the British Burma Army's 1st Division there, and forced the British Army to continue retreating north to Reniangqiang.

These British soldiers and Burmese and Indian soldiers resisted step by step and retreated step by step after discovering the main force of the Japanese Army.

Pyinmana fell completely, and the British Army handed the completely exposed flank of the 200th Division to the Japanese like a gift.

Inside Tonggu City, Dianlan, who was looking at a map in the command post, suddenly received a report.

"Division Commander, the British on the West Side have already fled; the Japanese 33rd Division has taken Pyinmana, and our flank is exposed!"

Hearing this news, Dianlan snapped the pencil in his hand and stood frozen in place.

"These bastards! They actually sold us out without a word!"

Dianlan was furious beyond measure; this was nothing short of gambling with the life and death of the 200th Division.

He dared not delay and immediately reported this bad news urgently to Du Yuming in Mandalay.

After receiving the telegram, Du Yuming in Mandalay was equally furious.

"Lu Commander was absolutely right; I truly regret not heeding his warning at the beginning. We should have suggested that the Expeditionary Force take over Pyinmana from the start, and we should not have harbored any illusions about the British!"

Du Yuming looked at the map; the 200th Division was in mortal danger.

They were his direct-lineage troops that he had personally led, the soul of the Fifth Army, and he could not stand by and watch them be surrounded and annihilated.

"The 200th Division has already fulfilled its obligation; this is not Xia Guo territory, but a British colony."

"The British don't take this place seriously, and I'm not sticking around anymore!"

Du Yuming personally issued the retreat order.

The news quickly reached the Expeditionary Force Headquarters in Lashio, and after hearing the translator's report, General Stilwell couldn't help but burst out a string of profanity in English.

Stilwell wanted to curse Governor Smith, but discovered that the Governor had already left.

"The British Army is committing a crime! They actually disregard the safety of our Xia Guo friendlies."

The old man was even more furious at this time: "Deceitful and shameless! The British are deceitful and shameless!"

"They don't treat the lives of the Expeditionary Force's officers and men as lives at all!"