Chapter 518

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

The news that Zhongnan State had officially declared war on the Fascist Camp sent shockwaves through the world.

In the war-torn Europe, perhaps no one noticed a newborn state in distant Southeast Asia declaring war.

But in Asia, this was a major event!

At this time, the Far East war situation saw the Allied Forces in their darkest hour.

In the Philippines, the invincible MacArthur was being battered by the Japanese army, and one hundred thousand allied troops were retreating step by step under Japanese attacks.

On the Burma Front, the British Army likewise collapsed, only thinking of fleeing to India.

The Xia Expeditionary Force was currently mired in a bitter struggle with the Japanese army......

Zhongnan State entering the war at this time undoubtedly gave the Asian theater a strong stimulant.

The Japanese army, engaged in massive operations in Southeast Asia, now had to open another front, with its forces further divided.

Just as Fan Jing declared war, the strike had already fully unfolded along Zhongnan State's border.

The target was precisely Japan's vassal state—Thailand.

After several months of secret transport, a large number of 107mm Rocket Launchers and American 75mm Mountain Guns had been secretly transported to the north bank of the Mekong River.

In concealed artillery observation posts, the Youth Army's artillerymen were preparing for an artillery strike.

On the Thai army outposts and river defense positions on the south bank of the Mekong River, most Thai officers and soldiers were still immersed in their own fantasies.

"Ready—Fire!"

With the Youth Army commander's order, a hundred guns fired simultaneously!

The muzzles of the 75mm Mountain Guns spewed orange-red flames, shells flew across the Mekong River, and struck the Thai army's river defense positions.

The 107mm Rocket Launchers were also thrown into the battlefield.

This weapon, light in body and with extremely wide firepower coverage, was deployed in large numbers on the Southeast Asian battlefield.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Hundreds or thousands of rocket shells trailed long tail flames, like meteors of fire filling the sky, leaping across the Mekong River.

The rocket shells howled down into the Thai army's camps, exploding into towering fireballs.

The border, peaceful just a moment before, was instantly devoured by the flames of war.

Zhongnan State infantry hidden by the river carried small boats and bamboo rafts, and under the cover of artillery fire, forcibly crossed the Mekong River.

——————

News of Zhongnan State launching an attack on its northern border reached Bangkok.

Southern Army Commander-in-Chief General Terauchi Hisaichi was sitting in his office, looking at the translation of Zhongnan State's declaration of war broadcast.

"Truly, heaven has a road you do not take, and hell has no gate yet you barge in!" Terauchi Hisaichi cursed through gritted teeth.

"Originally I wanted to wait until the Burma war ended to settle accounts with you thoroughly, but now it seems I can only start the war early!"

Although Terauchi Hisaichi was tough-mouthed, the current troop deployment made him feel uneasy.

The Japanese army currently had six divisions' establishment across the entire Indochina Peninsula, of which four divisions were deeply mired in Burma.

Left to garrison Thailand were only the Fifth Division led by Yamashita Tomonobu and the Imperial Guard Infantry Second Division.

In addition, the Fifth Division and the Imperial Guard Infantry Second Division were not at full strength, because these two divisions had left several thousand garrison troops in the Malay Peninsula and Singapore region.

Meanwhile, besides seventy thousand National Defense Army troops, Sun Liren's Youth Expeditionary Army had another fifty thousand.

By comparison, Terauchi Hisaichi's Japanese troops in Thailand were not even fifty thousand!

This force comparison made Terauchi Hisaichi, after spouting harsh words, have to seriously consider.

He looked at Yamashita Tomonobu beside him, this was his "Malayan Tiger."

He then looked at Marshal Lawan, this was his puppet ruling Thailand, nominally Thailand's highest ruler.

Eighty percent of Marshal Lawan's Thai Defense Army was unreliable, so Terauchi Hisaichi could only rely on Yamashita Tomonobu.

"Yamashita-kun, immediately dispatch the Fifth Division north to support the Thai Defense Army on the northern border, and hold the Mekong River defensive line."

A staff officer reported: "Reconnaissance has discovered that Zhongnan State's army has about one division's strength, gathering in the eastern border region!"

Lieutenant General Yamashita Tomonobu said: "It seems Zhongnan State acted only after making preparations, wanting to launch attacks from both north and east simultaneously!"

General Terauchi Hisaichi looked at the map: "Fortunately I left two divisions in Thailand, otherwise Zhongnan State would have stolen our home base; now dispatch the Imperial Guard Infantry Second Division to the eastern border for vigilance!"

"Yamashita-kun, I must emphasize, our forces are insufficient; the current strategy is to block Zhongnan State's offensive and maintain the status quo; you must not take the initiative to attack."

"After those four divisions in Burma achieve victory, then turn around to completely strangle Zhongnan State!"

Although Yamashita Tomonobu had earned the title "Tiger of Malaya," having suffered a crushing defeat in Xia Guo's North China, he had also reined in his arrogance.

"Hai! I will defend the northern and eastern borders, preventing Zhongnan State's troops from entering Thailand!"

In the view of General Terauchi Hisaichi and Lieutenant General Yamashita Tomonobu, Zhongnan State had placed cannons on the north bank of the Mekong River on the northern border, with troops forcibly crossing the Mekong River; the main direction of attack was already very obvious.

The Fifth Division hurried north to stop Zhongnan State from crossing the Mekong River.

However, this grand artillery strike launched by Zhongnan State on the northern border, the forcible crossing of the Mekong River, and the one division gathered on the eastern border were all feints.

This war was fully commanded by Sun Liren, and its main target was the mountainous region of northwestern Thailand.

The mountains there accounted for nearly one-fifth of Thailand's land area, with gullies crisscrossing and dense forests.

The mountainous region was a breeding ground for guerrillas, and also the area where Unity Party members were most concentrated in Thailand.

Most importantly, this mountainous region bordered Zhongnan State's Luang Prabang Region.

Everything was for the purpose of sending out a surprise force to advance a thousand li into Thailand's northwestern mountains, where they would take root.

The Central-South Country's main army and the Japanese Fifth Division engaged in an artillery duel across the Mekong River, with ground forces facing off north and south, and fighter planes dogfighting in the air.

More than four thousand Unity Party guerrillas in the northwestern mountains of Thailand were mobilized, attacking Thai army outposts and supply lines throughout the northwest and wreaking havoc within the enemy's interior.

The true main force was the Central-South Country's First Division, which would deliver a powerful blow to the northwestern mountains of Thailand from the outside.

This unit, as the Party Army of the Unity Party, was entirely trained by the Youth Army Advisory Group.

For this sortie, the Central-South Country's First Division, under the guidance of the Youth Army Advisory Group, had sharpened its weapons and fed its horses for nearly a year.

The entire Youth Army Advisory Group, over eight hundred men led by Colonel Long Wenzhang, all participated in the First Division's operation to advance into the northwestern mountains.

To facilitate the First Division's maneuvering in the mountains, Long Wenzhang drew inspiration from Yamashita Tomonobu's proud bicycle blitzkrieg tactics.

The First Division had over ten thousand men and brought more than five thousand bicycles.

The soldiers rode bicycles, carrying weapons and dry rations on their backs.

Extra supplies could also be carried on the rear seats of the bicycles.

For example, more grain, and even disassembled machine guns and mortars could be transported by bicycle, reducing the pressure on the supply units.

In addition, Sun Liren allocated over a hundred motorcycles for the First Division's combat use.

Armored units were also necessary; the Youth Army's armored troops drove Panzer 38(t) light tanks and armored vehicles alongside the First Division in combat.

——————

Although the Japanese focused their attention on the Mekong River coast, they were not undefended in the northwestern mountains.

The mountains of northwestern Thailand were defended by a division of the Thai Army, also numbering over ten thousand men.

But the combat effectiveness of the Thai Army had long been exhausted.

Last year, Thailand, with the "help" of the Japanese Fifth Division, actively invaded Central-South Country territory, only to suffer a devastating blow and be betrayed by the Japanese.

The elite forces of the Thai Army were mostly lost within Central-South Country territory, and what remained were mostly useless troops.

Facing the First Division's military force, the Thai army's ten thousand-plus men were almost certain to collapse at the first touch.

The Thai commander even deployed the Royal War Elephant Corps, hoping to turn the tide.

But under the offensive of the T Tanks, the Thai army was routed, and the Central-South Country's First Division smoothly crossed the border and entered Thai territory.

The remnants of the Thai army fled for their lives across the jungle.

Led by Division Commander Ruan Linqing and Chief of Staff Long Wenzhang, the First Division swept through like an autumn wind clearing fallen leaves, pursuing the fleeing Thai soldiers while marching toward Chiang Mai Province.

Chiang Mai, this pearl of northern Thailand, never imagined the flames of war would burn from this side.

On a mountain road fifty kilometers outside Chiang Mai City, Long Wenzhang sat in the cargo bed of a three-wheeled motorcycle.

Looking back, the First Division's column was like a long dragon, with soldiers pedaling bicycles winding through the mountains.

Long Wenzhang shouted at the top of his lungs: "Brothers, eat his mother, drink his mother, open the city gates and welcome the Chuang King! When the Chuang King comes, no grain is paid!"

The soldiers pedaling bicycles also shouted along, clearly having shouted these words many times before.

They shouted in awkward Chinese, following the Youth Army's instructors over and over again.

The shouts echoed through the valleys of Chiang Mai.

First Division Commander Major General Ruan Linqing caught up in a light armored vehicle and stopped Long Wenzhang.

Ruan Linqing asked sternly: "Colonel Long, we are not far from Chiang Mai City; should we continue to advance next?"

Long Wenzhang shook his head: "Stop upon entering the city."

"We only have one division, not a group army; our task is not to occupy all of Thailand, but to pin down this mountain region."

"The First Division must establish a foothold in this mountain region, using the terrain to restrain the Japanese, while ensuring our retreat route back home is not cut off."

Ruan Linqing nodded heavily; he understood the important significance of the First Division advancing into the mountainous border region of Thailand.

Long Wenzhang climbed back onto the motorcycle: "Let the guerrilla brothers get moving; we will assist, carry out land reform, and conduct propaganda."

"The Unity Party has operated here for ten years; there is a mass base, and you know this better than I do."

"Let the common people know that following us means food to eat and land to farm."

After speaking, Long Wenzhang told the motorcycle driver to drive, and shouted loudly again: "Eat his mother, drink his mother, open the city gates and welcome the Chuang King! When the Chuang King comes, no grain is paid!"

The news of the Central-South Country's First Division launching a blitzkrieg in northwestern Thailand and occupying Chiang Mai Province dealt a huge shock to the Japanese and Thai armies.

If Yamashita Tomonobu was the Tiger of Malaya, then Long Wenzhang, who carried out this operation, became the Tiger of Chiang Mai.

Lieutenant General Yamashita Tomonobu stood to the side, arms crossed, and softly cursed: "A clumsy imitation!"

Marshal Lawan of Thailand, on the other hand, was restless; his army's rout was unsightly!

"Feint east, strike west... actually such a clumsy yet effective feint east, strike west!" Shou Yi cursed.

"Sun Liren never intended to cross the Mekong River; the feint forces at the Mekong River and the eastern border were all smoke grenades!"

"His true target is the mountainous region of northwestern Thailand, to develop power; we will not easily retake this mountain region!"

Marshal Lawan had a bitter face, pointing at the map and saying: "The Central-South Country's First Division... why is its advance speed so fast?"

Yamashita Tomonobu snorted coldly: "According to the battle reports from your routed troops, the enemy is equipped with a large number of bicycles, motorcycles, and horses and mules, coordinating with light tank vehicles and armored vehicles, with aircraft reconnaissance and support in the sky."

"They completely copied my blitzkrieg tactics on the Malay Peninsula!"

As the Tiger of Malaya, Yamashita Tomonobu had always taken pride in his bicycle blitzkrieg.

But now, the Central-South Country actually used the same trick to slap him hard on Thai territory.

Shou Yi turned his head and stared at Marshal Lawan.

"What shocks me most is not the enemy army's advance speed, but that one division of yours stationed in the northwestern mountains."

"Are they dead men? They couldn't even put up a proper resistance, and easily handed Chiang Mai over to the enemy?"

"Now the Central-South Country occupies the mountains; the terrain there is complex, and for us to retake it is as difficult as climbing to the heavens!"

Marshal Lawan felt extremely aggrieved; he stood up and defended himself: "Please understand, the Central-South Country's First Division that entered the northwest is extremely powerful."

"As far as I know, they are equipped with new weapons, and Lv Muzhi has provided them with a steady stream of new Mauser rifles."

"Their machine guns are allocated down to the squad level, and they have even been issued a large number of. 50 caliber heavy machine guns!"

「Mortars, infantry guns—everything is there, and they even have a dedicated mountain gun support company; how am I supposed to hold them off? 」

Marshal Lawan grew more and more agitated as he spoke:

「Furthermore, Sun Liren has built an airfield in Luang Prabang in the Luang Prabang Region; their planes can take off to provide support. 」

A brief silence fell within the headquarters, and the atmosphere grew somewhat awkward.

Marshal Lawan originally had even harsher words to say; he knew clearly in his heart that he was nothing more than a powerless puppet.

Thailand's National Defense Division suffered enormous losses in last year's campaign against Zhongnan State, its strength plummeting from fifty thousand to over twenty thousand.

Immediately after, the Japanese Fifth Division moved in like a cuckoo taking over a nest, forcibly stationing itself in Thailand and turning Marshal Lawan into a puppet of the Japanese Army.

To control Thailand, the Japanese Army was neither willing to provide quality equipment nor willing to conduct proper personnel training.

Now that something has happened, they want to push all the responsibility onto the heads of the Thais.

Terauchi Hisaichi naturally understood the reason behind it, but he had no time now to placate Lawan.

「The First Division of Central-South Country has launched an amphibious assault into the mountains; they want to be mountain kings. 」

「They will surely use the terrain to their advantage, camping there like a dog skin plaster that cannot be torn off. 」

Terauchi Hisaichi's mind raced, yet he long could not make a decision.

Yamashita Tomoyuki reminded him from the side: 「Your Excellency, our front lines are now stretched too long. 」

「Two divisions must guard the front while also attending to the mountains in the northwest; our forces have been spread thin like a da jia. 」

「Should we consider withdrawing some reinforcements from within Burma to return and defend Thailand? 」

Terauchi Hisaichi let out a long sigh; this feeling of being on the defensive was truly unpleasant.

Back again, the feeling of clashing with Lv Muzhi and the Youth Army was back again!

「The war in Burma is at a critical moment; if we withdraw troops now, it is highly likely that the Xia Expeditionary Force will push back the Burmese front lines. 」

「That is a price we absolutely cannot bear. 」

He paced a few steps in the office: 「Still the old method—the war in Burma must achieve a decisive victory immediately before I have enough strength to clean up Central-South Country. 」

Thinking of this, he turned to look at Marshal Lawan: 「You must immediately launch a nationwide mobilization within Thailand, ordering your young and strong nationals to actively enlist! 」

「You must expand your National Defense Army at all costs, preparing for a future attack on Central-South Country! 」

Finished speaking, he looked again at Yamashita Tomoyuki: 「Give me five days; within these five days, I want Iida Shojiro commanding four divisions on the Burma side to achieve a decisive victory at all costs!

Then shift our operational focus onto Central-South Country! 」

——————

「Tianhuang Black Card loaded! 」

In the jungles of Northern Burma, a severely wounded Japanese soldier used the last of his strength to let out a roar.

A grenade pressed against his temple went off with a thud.

This severely wounded Japanese soldier thus committed suicide.

A Japanese captain stood before more than fifty severely wounded soldiers, shouting loudly: 「I repeat once more, the regiment will turn and retreat; the enemy is coming up behind us! 」

「As samurai of the Great Japanese Imperial Army, you absolutely cannot become prisoners of the Xia people; that is shame. 」

「Now, please all commit suicide immediately, to show loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor! 」