Chapter 514

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

The Central Expeditionary Army was the old man's hidden reserve, and more importantly, the anchor that maintained his prestige in the central government.

Especially Du Yuming's 5th Army, which could be said to be the most elite central army that the old man could directly mobilize.

If these hundred thousand troops were totally annihilated in Burma, not to mention that the Burma Road could not be secured, how could the old man himself sit stably at home?

"My elite troops..." the old man muttered to himself, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

"That fool Stilwell, that scoundrel British!" the old man cursed uncontrollably.

Dai Li stood to the side, looking at the old man's appearance, his heart also beating fast with anxiety.

He knew very well what the old man was afraid of; if the central government lost so many troops, wouldn't the local forces within the country rebel?

"You must take care of your health, sir; things haven't reached a dead end yet, there's always a solution."

"What's urgent now is to send reinforcements to hold Lashio, ensuring our Expeditionary Force can return home safely."

The old man turned around and cursed Dai Li furiously: "Reinforcements? Fool! Which reinforcements to send? The mountains are high and the roads are far, it's simply too late."

"Tell me, if I lose the Expeditionary Force, what will Lv Wei Yue think? He is currently hoarding grain in the Central Plains; he will become more and more unscrupulous!"

Dai Li was scolded until he was covered in blood and sweat, but could only keep his head down and endure it; until the old man tired of scolding, he then hurriedly went up to him.

"Actually not necessarily... I received intelligence that there indeed appeared locust plagues in some local areas of Henan; perhaps Commander Lu is truly preparing for famine..."

"Also, Commander Lu built a field airport exclusively for the Youth Army in Kunming over a year ago; an air transport unit has been stationed there all along."

"Air transport unit?" the old man asked doubtfully.

"It's the paratrooper unit, which can be quickly delivered by transport aircraft, parachuting..."

"I know what paratroopers are!" the old man interrupted Dai Li: "It's just that how can Lv Wei Yue be willing to help me?"

Dai Li explained: "Given that there are so many Whampoa classmates in the Expeditionary Force, I think you should send a telegram, with milder words... Commander Lu should not stand by and watch them die..."

The old man was stunned, asking Lv Muzhi for help?

He paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, unable to make up his mind to open his mouth.

Dai Li persuaded: "The Expeditionary Force can't wait!"

The old man hardened his heart, took out paper and pen, and wrote vigorously on the paper.

Wherever the old man's brush reached, it could be said that the words were earnest!

The gist is as follows:

Past matters were all the old man's own fault; how innocent are the officers and soldiers of the Expeditionary Force? Hope Lv Muzhi does not hold past grudges, and for the sake of Whampoa old classmates like Du Yuming, lend the Expeditionary Force a hand...

After the draft was written, the old man had no time to modify it; he handed it to Dai Li: "Send this telegram to Lv Wei Yue according to this, asking him to lend a hand."

"Also! Prepare the car immediately! I want to personally go to the Youth Army's paratrooper airport!"

Soon, Dai Li organized the guard troops, commanding the motorcade, rushing to the field airport like crazy.

The motorcade galloped on the road outside Kunming; the old man sat in the back seat, silent.

Sending such a telegram to Lv Muzhi, thinking about it afterwards, was truly embarrassing!

However, if after my telegram was sent, Lv Muzhi read it but didn't reply, or even replied refusing, that would be even more embarrassing and humiliating.

When the motorcade had just approached the outer perimeter of the Youth Army field airport, it was stopped by the guards at the airport gate; the communication officer was negotiating with the Youth Army guards up front.

A deafening roar sounded from above the motorcade.

The old man hurriedly pushed open the car door, disregarding his identity, and stood directly by the roadside looking up at the sky.

Only to see huge C47s flying out of the airport one after another, slowly climbing in altitude toward the high sky.

"How did they just take off? Are they going to Burma to rescue the Expeditionary Force?" the old man looked at the departing fleet, his expression extremely anxious.

"They flew the wrong way! Why are they flying north? Burma is to the south!" the old man stamped his feet and shouted.

Dai Li also looked up at the sky, his complexion grave; those planes did not fly south toward Burma, but flew toward the north.

The communication officer ran over from the front and saluted the old man.

"Report, the Youth Army's Airborne First Brigade is executing a special mission; their brigade commander Lv Ziqing called the sentry to send you greetings, but it's inconvenient for us to enter the airport."

"They," the old man asked eagerly, "their special mission... is it to rescue my Expeditionary Force?"

The old man's eyes were full of hope.

The communication officer shook his head somewhat awkwardly: "This department is not clear; the Youth Army side refuses to disclose any relevant information."

The old man pursed his dry lips and asked: "I sent a telegram asking Lv Muzhi to send troops for rescue? Did he reply? What did he say?"

The communication officer lowered his head and answered: "The Youth Army Headquarters has not responded so far..."

This sentence completely chilled the old man's heart; he slumped back into the car, looking at the transport planes flying north, looking at the big iron gate of the field airport, gazing until his eyes ached...

At the same time, inside the big iron gate, inside the control tower of the Youth Army Kunming field airport.

Youth Army Airborne First Brigade Commander Lv Ziqing was watching the transport planes and fighter planes taking off continuously inside the airport.

A staff officer walked over, pointing toward the direction of the airport gate: "The old man's motorcade is outside; are you sure not to let them in?"

"No meeting," Lv Ziqing's tone was very calm.

"We only have one big brain, that is Commander Lu; the paratrooper troops only need to act according to Commander Lu's orders."

"If we let the old man in, given his identity, if he makes requests, it will only affect our judgment."

——————

At this time, inside the Expeditionary Force Headquarters, Du Yuming's eyes were full of bloodshot veins.

The main force of the Japanese Army 56th Division had already passed through Tangji like ghosts; the news of Lashio's emergency came one telegram after another.

In Lashio, defense had originally been the responsibility of the Expeditionary Force's 66th Army.

The 66th Army consisted of three divisions: the New 28th Division, the New 29th Division, and the New 38th Division.

Of these, the strongest in combat power was the New 38th Division.

The New 28th and 29th Divisions were weaker in combat power, many of them being new recruits.

Logically, with three divisions at Lashio facing the Japanese 56th Division, neither the Expeditionary Force nor the old man would be so anxious.

But in fact, the 66th Army had only a few hundred men at Lashio, including 66th Army Commander Zhang Zhen himself.

The 66th Army's strongest unit, the New 38th Division, had recently been transferred to Reniangqiang to support the British; in one battle it recaptured the Reniangqiang Oilfield and rescued seven thousand besieged British troops.

The New 28th Division was deployed on the flank of Mandalay, not at Lashio itself.

As for the remaining New 29th Division, due to insufficient Expeditionary Force transport capacity, the unit had not yet gone abroad and was still within Yunnan, unable to reach Lashio in time.

Lashio now had only a large amount of Expeditionary Force supply trains, plus the 66th Army Commander remaining locally—a "bare-pole commander."

This is why the entire Expeditionary Force was concerned about Lashio.

"Where is the 200th Division now?" Du Yuming asked.

The Staff Officer replied: "Division Commander Dai has led his troops northward from Tangji, pursuing the 56th Division with full force, attempting to hold them from behind and delay this Japanese force's advance into occupying Lashio."

Du Yuming nodded; that was his last hope.

Now he no longer thought of defeating the Japanese through a decisive battle, but of preserving Lashio and saving the Expeditionary Force.

At this moment, a US liaison officer walked in quickly.

He looked toward Stilwell, then glanced at Du Yuming.

"General Stilwell, we have just received news that the British main force has begun a full-scale withdrawal toward India."

"Governor Smith believes that the Mandalay campaign has lost its strategic significance, and staying here is suicide."

"He invites you to withdraw immediately into the Indian colony."

The US liaison officer then looked toward Du Yuming:

"Considering that the Xia Expeditionary Force rescued more than seven thousand British allies at Reniangqiang, the British side is willing to offer a convenience."

"If the Xia troops are willing, they may also enter India together to take refuge, and the British will accept you."

After hearing the translated words, Du Yuming gave a cold sneer: the Expeditionary Force went abroad once, just to protect the British in safely withdrawing to India?

Stilwell frowned to the side; although he was dissatisfied with all sorts of British operations, with their rear now cut off, withdrawing to India was indeed the only path to survival.

Moreover, subsequent US aid would also be transported to India, and Stilwell had to follow the British to India.

"Du, you should consider this suggestion; India has US supplies, and we can regroup there."

However, the next words of the US liaison officer left the entire headquarters astonished.

"However, Governor Smith has one requirement: all Xia officers and soldiers must disarm before entering India, handing over their weapons to the British for safekeeping."

"The Xia Expeditionary Force must enter India as refugees."

Slap!

Du Yuming slapped the table with one hand, his face turning bright red.

"What do you mean by this?!"

The US liaison officer stammered: "This... this is the British side's meaning..."

"Refugees? Disarm?" Du Yuming was furious.

"The British were beaten back step by step by the Japanese, begging us to bring our weapons and equipment over."

"Now the British have no use for us, and they demand we hand over our weapons and equipment; what does our Expeditionary Force become?"

"Called when needed, dismissed when not?"

"This is humiliating me, Du Yuming, and even more so humiliating our Expeditionary Force!"

Luo Zhuoying also stood up, his face showing anger: "We rescued seven thousand British at Reniangqiang, and this is how they repay their saviors?"

Du Yuming turned around and ordered the messenger:

"Tell all the brothers of the Fifth Army that even if we die in Burma, we will never go be unarmed refugees!"

"The entire army will take the 200th Division as the vanguard and assault Lashio! Retake our route home! I will lead the Fifth Army brothers back home from Lashio!"

Luo Zhuoying also stood up: "I have also parted on bad terms with the British!"

Stilwell looked at the furious Du Yuming and Luo Zhuoying, helplessly shaking his head, his eyes full of disappointment.

"Du, I admire your integrity, but this is gambling with the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers."

"The Japanese assaulting Lashio are a lightly equipped elite force; perhaps you can defeat them, but their tanks are following behind via the road."

"Your heavy weapons are waiting for transport at Lashio; without heavy weapons, the Fifth Army is no match for the Japanese tank unit."

"Retreat toward India; do not make meaningless sacrifices."

"I understand your pride as soldiers, but in the face of war, survival comes first."

Du Yuming ignored him, looking toward Luo Zhuoying: "I will lead the Fifth Army to follow and pursue the 56th Division rushing toward Lashio, drawing the attention of the main Japanese force!"

"If lucky, I can destroy the lightly equipped units of the 56th Division and return home through Lashio."

"Commander Luo, you lead the Sixth Army back home through Myitkyina."

"The two of us will each lead a force, splitting into two routes via Lashio and Myitkyina to return home; at least one force will be able to return safely..."

The entire Expeditionary Force headquarters was in chaos; the Xia, US, and British sides formally fell apart.

Stilwell saw this and knew he could no longer command this force.

"Since you insist, I can only return command to you."

"I must go to India to fulfill my duties; I hope to see you again in the future."

After saying this, Stilwell left the command post, followed by a group of US advisors.

Du Yuming watched Stilwell's departing back; his eyes held only anger and regret, and now he trusted only his own judgment.

——————

On the jungle highway one hundred kilometers from Lashio, two Japanese infantry groups of the 56th Division moved like venomous snakes, all lightly equipped, moving quickly.

Regiment Commander of Matsumoto Regiment rode a horse, holding binoculars in his hand, looking exceptionally excited.

"Regiment Commander of Ise, look at the map; another hundred kilometers and we'll be at Lashio."

Regiment Commander of Ise also rode a horse, and behind him were many Japanese soldiers riding bicycles.

"Division Commander Watanabe is leading an infantry group and a tank battalion, rushing from the rear to support us; soon we will be able to cut off the Xia Guo people's retreat back home."

Regiment Commander of Matsumoto Regiment laughed after hearing this:

"Why did the Xia Guo people make this mistake again? They fight fiercely on the front, yet forget to guard their own rear and flank?"

Regiment Commander of Ise waved his hand and issued the order to accelerate forward.

"Who knows? Let's just do our own job well!"

Thousands of Japanese infantry ran, rode horses, and pedaled bicycles, kicking up rolling dust on the road, their target pointing straight at Lashio.

——————

At this time, Lashio City was in utter chaos.

Soldiers charging recklessly were everywhere on the streets, as were local civilians fleeing in terror.

Zhang Zhen, Ji Jun Zhang of the 66th Army, stood before a quartermaster warehouse, extremely anxious.

What he could use now were only a few hundred men directly under the army headquarters.

"This battle is fought so pathetically—tens of thousands on the front, but only these few hundred of mine behind; how did the frontline let the Little Devils through?!"

Lashio City stored the vast majority of supplies of the Expeditionary Force, including mountains of rations and bullets, and even some tanks and cannons of the Fifth Army.

"Commander, the enemy's vanguard is less than seventy kilometers from us!"

The Staff Officer reported the latest intelligence.

Everyone knew what the final outcome would be: a few hundred people guarding a city would simply fight until exhausted, then hand the city over to the Japanese.

Zhang Zhen took a deep breath: "The supplies cannot be left to the Japanese; even if they are all burned, not a grain of rice or a drop of oil will be left for the devils."

"Pass the order down; set all the gasoline in the warehouses on fire!"

After the order was issued, the already chaotic Lashio became even noisier; officers and soldiers held torches and began preparing to burn the supplies.

Grain in some warehouses was ignited, sending up plumes of black smoke.

Zhang Zhen was about to personally light an oil depot when suddenly a roar of aircraft came from the distant sky.

"The devils' planes have arrived? Moving so fast?" Zhang Zhen instinctively gripped the pistol at his waist.

The garrison troops and common people inside the city also looked up at the sky.

Only to see a fleet of aircraft flying from the north on the skyline, large planes and small planes too numerous to count.

Several P-40 Fighters painted with shark mouth designs flew low overhead; the Expeditionary Force on the ground saw them clearly.

There were blue-white emblems on the planes!

"Those are planes used by the Flying Tigers! No, they seem to be our Xia Guo planes!"

The Staff Officer beside Zhang Zhen widened his eyes, pointing at the markings on the wings of the fighters and shouting loudly.

"The planes flew from Xia Guo in the north; they definitely aren't the devils' planes!"

Forty C47 Transport Aircraft appeared in everyone's view, carrying paratrooper units of the Youth Army.

Of these forty C47 Transport Aircraft, twenty were Lend-Lease Materials from the Americans, and twenty were purchased by Lv Muzhi with his own money.

"Quick look! Someone is jumping down!"

The cargo doors of the transport aircraft opened.

One, two, three... countless white parachute blossoms bloomed like pear blossoms in the air, covering the blue sky of Lashio.

This left the originally desperate Zhang Zhen completely stunned.

"Paratroopers... this is our support; Lu Commander's Youth Army has arrived!"

"What are you holding torches for? Put out the fire! Don't burn the warehouses, put out the fire quickly! Save the supplies!"

A paratrooper who had just landed moved extremely fast, quickly cut the parachute cords, leapt up, and organized his equipment.

Subsequent paratroopers landed one after another, quickly regrouping near Lashio.

In less than twenty minutes, over eight hundred fully armed Youth Army paratroopers had completed regrouping inside the city and came before Commander Zhang Zhen.

A Lieutenant Colonel officer strode toward Zhang Zhen and gave a standard military salute: "Reporting to Commander, the Youth Army Airborne First Brigade, under the order of Commander Lu, comes at the request of the Central Government to support Lashio's defense!"

"I lead the paratrooper vanguard battalion to report to you!"

Zhang Zhen looked at the over eight hundred fully armed Youth Army paratroopers before him; they carried Thompson Submachine Guns, bore M1 Garand Rifles, and some soldiers even had rocket launchers on their backs—truly imposing!

The transport aircraft had already returned to Kunming, and more paratroopers would be transported later to support Lashio.

Du Yuming was also leading troops of the Fifth Army toward Lashio; this battle could still be fought!

——————

Zhengzhou, Youth Army Headquarters.

Lv Muzhi had long finished reading that earnest plea for help telegram from the old man.

In that telegram, the old man tried to condense his words, writing over a hundred characters, containing self-reflection, old friendship, Whampoa classmate ties, plans for a protracted War of Resistance, hoping Lv Muzhi would send troops to rescue the Xia Expeditionary Force in Burma.

After reading the telegram, Lv Muzhi showed it to Liao Yaoxiang.

After reading it, Liao Yaoxiang said: "Is the old man expressing genuine feelings, or should we reply as soon as possible."

Lv Muzhi nodded: "Yes."

Liao Yaoxiang picked up paper and pen, asking: "How to reply? Let me draft it."

Lv Muzhi said: "Just reply with one word: Yes."

Liao Yaoxiang was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "Lu Commander, isn't that being too sparing with words..."