Chapter 521

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

The P47D Fighter mentioned by Lv Muzhi, codenamed Thunderbolt.

The P-47 Thunderbolt performed excellently in air combat, with strong firepower, thick armor, and was also very suitable for ground attack missions.

At the same time, the P-47 Thunderbolt was the fighter plane with the largest production volume in the United States during World War II, and its combat presence could be seen all over the world.

The P-47 Thunderbolt's operational range far exceeded that of the Youth Army's BF109 Fighter, and its combat power was also superior to the P40 Fighter.

When fighting the Japanese Army's main air force, the Type 1 Fighter, the P-47 Thunderbolt could gain a considerable advantage.

Stilwell thought for a moment, then looked into Lv Muzhi's eyes: "I asked the Flying Tigers' guys, they think the P40 Fighter is usable enough."

The Flying Tigers and the Youth Army's P40 Fighter Battalion had conducted joint operations against the Japanese Army; it was said their combat methods were appropriate, and they could often shoot down the Japanese Army Air Force's Type 1 Fighters.

Stilwell's words, between the lines, were all about getting Lv Muzhi to make do with the weaker P40 Fighter.

Lv Muzhi naturally understood Stilwell's thinking; the Americans, with their idea of Europe first before Asia, put the good stuff into the European battlefield first.

The P40 Fighter could naturally be made do with, and the war on the Indochina Peninsula could only be made do with.

To quickly annihilate the six Japanese divisions on the Indochina Peninsula, it was impossible without the Youth Army's participation.

To get the Youth Army to work, it was impossible without giving them some benefits.

Lv Muzhi shook his head: "Without sufficient air support, my Youth Army will find it difficult to actively participate in combat on the Indochina Peninsula."

Stilwell was stunned; was Lv Muzhi trying to throw down the burden and quit?

General MacArthur had already been defeated in the Philippines, and seventy-five thousand United States-Philippine allied forces surrendered to Japan.

The Japanese were now extremely arrogant; among the series of southward invasion plans formulated by the Japanese Army, only the one in Burma had not completely succeeded.

If the Expeditionary Force could continue to hold out in Burma, even launch a counterattack, it would deal a heavy blow to the Japanese Army's arrogance.

He turned to look at the old man and Governor Smith; if Lv Muzhi's Youth Army did not participate in later operations, relying only on the British and the Central Army, not to mention pacifying the Japanese on the Indochina Peninsula, even pacifying Burma would be out of reach.

Zhongnan State was highly bound to Lv Muzhi; if Lv Muzhi was unwilling to do it, Zhongnan State might also be affected.

Thinking of this, General Stilwell said: "Alright, I will report the situation here to Mr. Roosevelt; I only hope Xia Guo can do these two things first."

"First, Lashio must be held."

"Second, the Youth Army must send reinforcements into Burma, to avoid the Central Army's combat power being insufficient in the later stage."

"After this, we will study together how to retake the other lands of Burma."

Governor Smith was very reluctant: "Letting the Youth Army enter Burma, I'm afraid that's not good."

Stilwell said: "If Britain is willing to give Burma to the Japanese Army, or if the British Army can retake Burma themselves, then I won't require the Youth Army to send troops."

"This matter I need to report upward; I have to return to India first to do some preparatory work, especially preparing the Lend-Lease Materials to be transported to Xia Guo this year."

Governor Smith was speechless; if the Youth Army did not send more troops to apply pressure, the Japanese might divide their forces to attack India.

"Then... let's leave it at that for now; I also have to return to India once to notify the troops to prepare for war."

"Before the counteroffensive plan is launched, I hope Xia Guo can hold Lashio, to avoid the Japanese Army occupying all of Burma's land."

The old man nodded and sneered: "That's for sure; I won't lose Lashio like you lost Reniangqiang..."

Governor Smith snorted coldly, then flicked his sleeve and left.

Seeing General Stilwell and Governor Smith leave, the old man looked at Lv Muzhi: "The Americans said there will still be Lend-Lease Materials this year."

"Wei Yue, you can't be stingy like last year."

"Don't look at the monk's face but at the Buddha's face; Du Yuming and the others are fighting bloody battles on the frontline, there will be more and more battles behind, and the Central Army is also bleeding."

The old man seemed to have found a way to handle Lv Muzhi, bringing up Du Yuming and those people, wanting to get more supplies.

Lv Muzhi was not in a hurry: "What's the rush? According to the current situation, unless Mandalay is taken, the Americans' supplies simply cannot be sent to Xia Guo."

The old man thought that was also true; now to obtain the Americans' Lend-Lease Materials, there were only two paths.

One was to use planes to airlift from India to Xia Guo; not only dangerous but also small transport volume, not worth it.

The other path was to capture the central Burmese city of Mandalay, turning northern and central Burma into the Allied Forces' sphere of influence; only then could the Lend-Lease Materials stockpiled in India enter Xia Guo via Burma.

"Wei Yue, your Youth Army must contribute to the matter of counterattacking Burma!"

"The Lend-Lease Materials are divided between the Central Government and the Youth Army; it can't be only the Central Army bleeding. You must, as Stilwell said, send reinforcements into Burma."

The old man was impatient and strongly demanded Lv Muzhi send troops into Burma.

"Only the Central Army bleeding? I airdropped over five thousand paratroopers in Lashio and Xipu, airdropped weapons and supplies to Du Yuming's troops totaling over two hundred sorties, with fighter planes escorting simultaneously... Don't tell me you really count these people and equipment as the Central Army?"

The old man gave an awkward laugh: "That's right, that's right... I was muddled for a moment; you still need to send more Youth Army, transfer some from the Central Plains!"

Lv Muzhi crossed his arms and asked with a mysterious look: "You say I transfer the Youth Army from the Central Plains region away, won't someone take advantage of the vacancy and enter?"

The old man clicked his tongue; speaking so bluntly made him very unhappy: "What kind of talk is this? You suspect me? I'm so cold-hearted!"

Seeing the old man's intense reaction, Lv Muzhi hurriedly explained: "I never thought of that aspect at all; I'm talking about the Japanese, will the Kwantung Army in Manchuria take advantage of the vacancy and enter?"

"Oh oh, you're talking about the Japanese; I thought..." the old man muttered.

"You can send fewer, but you can't send none."

Lv Muzhi said: "Don't rush; a division of the Youth Army is already on the way."

"General Sun Liren stationed in Zhongnan State will mobilize a division of the Youth Expeditionary Army; that division will be transported to Kunming via the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, then transferred via the Burma Road to Burma to participate in the war."

"That's it?" The old man was obviously very dissatisfied.

Lv Muzhi narrowed his eyes and added: "Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst; why are you more anxious than me?"

"Zhongnan State has ready-made Youth Army available; I'll first transfer a division to Burma."

"The Central Plains is too far; later, more will be slowly transferred here."

——————

The old man on this side was urging Lv Muzhi to send troops, while the Japanese side had already begun to grow anxious.

General Terauchi Hisaichi demanded that the Japanese forces in Burma achieve total victory within five days, but the five-day deadline had passed, and the Japanese still could not fully control Burma.

Terauchi Hisaichi specifically summoned Iida Shojiro, Commander of the Fifteenth Army in Burma, to Bangkok to question him in person.

Terauchi Hisaichi held an operations plan, pacing back and forth in front of Iida Shojiro.

"Operation B, capture British Borneo, success!"

"Plan C, capture British Hong Kong, success!"

"Plan E, capture British Malaya Peninsula, success!"

"Our southern operations have almost all succeeded, so why has the Burma operation still not achieved victory?"

"Commander Iida Shojiro, you have four divisions under your command—what exactly are you good for?!"

General Terauchi Hisaichi threw the plan onto the other man's face, sternly interrogating him.

Commander Iida Shojiro said helplessly: "The enemy forces are too strong, especially Du Yuming's Fifth Army, which is fighting to the death in the Xipu area, refusing to retreat."

"In the Lashio area, the Matsumoto Regiment and Jingxiu Regiment responsible for outflanking were annihilated; the Youth Army's First Paratrooper Brigade and the two elite forces of Dian Lan's 200th Division have all become reinforcements for Du Yuming."

"Also, Song Xilian's 71st Army—he sent the 36th Division to support Du Yuming, and dispatched the 87th and 88th Divisions to Myitkyina to support Luo Zhuoying's Sixth Army..."

"In short, the Xia Guo people keep sending reinforcements, and achieving a quick victory is no longer possible..."

General Terauchi Hisaichi glared at Lieutenant General Iida Shojiro, furious but helpless: "Failing to inflict heavy damage on the Xia Expeditionary Force means they are very likely to make a comeback and launch a counteroffensive within Burma."

"We finally cut off all of Xia Guo's supply lines, yet you have left me a huge hidden danger!"

Lieutenant General Iida Shojiro could not defend himself; Du Yuming fought to the death without retreating, Xia Guo kept sending reinforcements—what could he do?

At this moment, Lieutenant General Yamashita Tomonobu walked in, saw that Iida Shojiro was being scolded, and tactfully turned to leave.

Terauchi Hisaichi called out to him directly: "Lieutenant General Yamashita, go ahead and say whatever you have."

Yamashita Tomonobu had no choice but to return with a stiff face and report: "According to reconnaissance, one division under Sun Liren has already rushed from Zhongnan State to Kunming. That division's Youth Army split in two—one part of the Youth Army took transport aircraft from Kunming to Lashio, while another part transported supplies to Burma via road..."

This news undoubtedly poured another bucket of cold water on General Terauchi Hisaichi.

A division of the Youth Army was actually entering Burma so brazenly—apparently they had obtained the British's consent, and cooperation between the Allies had grown deeper.

The Youth Army might send even more troops to fight in Burma, and the Japanese situation would become even more dangerous.

"Youth Army, Youth Army, why is it the Youth Army again!"

"If not for Lv Muzhi airdropping paratrooper units to Lashio, the Matsumoto Regiment and Jingxiu Regiment would have already taken Lashio, and Du Yuming would never have waited for Song Xilian's reinforcements..."

"Almost every plan for the southern operations succeeded—except the Burma operation!"

Terauchi Hisaichi's self-confidence suffered a heavy blow, and he felt deeply uneasy inside.

Would his experience in the Southern Army be like when he once served in the North China Area Army, suffering a crushing defeat before Lv Muzhi?

Yamashita Tomonobu looked at Terauchi Hisaichi's expression; obviously he still had something to say.

"Any more bad news? Say it all—I can take it!" General Terauchi Hisaichi commanded loudly.

Yamashita Tomonobu said seriously: "Sun Liren has dispatched another division of the Youth Expeditionary Army, moving from Hanoi to the north bank of the Mekong River, constantly pressuring Thailand's northern border, apparently with signs of crossing the Mekong River."

"Also, I tried to send a regiment to the mountainous areas of northwestern Thailand to suppress the infiltrating First Division of Zhongnan State, but it failed..."

A string of bad news!

Terauchi Hisaichi looked at Yamashita Tomonobu, then at Iida Shojiro.

One was the commander of two divisions stationed in Thailand, the other the commander of four divisions stationed in Burma—neither of them brought a single piece of good news!

Iida Shojiro comforted him: "No matter how you put it, the United States' supplies can no longer be transported to Xia Guo unless they spare no cost to use air transport; more than two-thirds of Burma's territory has been occupied by us; our objectives have basically been achieved."

Terauchi Hisaichi disliked compromise; he instinctively wanted to go all out and gamble, to completely annihilate the Xia Guo forces within Burma.

But he soon rejected that idea—the lesson from North China had been painful enough, and Terauchi Hisaichi dared not gamble again.

He looked at the map of the Indochina Peninsula: "What our Southern Army needs to do now is hold onto the land we occupy!"

"This land is too vast... the territory of the Great Japanese Empire has never been this expansive before."

"Borneo, the Philippines, Malaya, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands... they are all ours..."

"I am satisfied, Lieutenant General Iida Shojiro—let's stop for now."

"What you need to do now is station troops in Burma to prevent Xia Guo and Britain from counterattacking."

"Also, send the 33rd Division to Thailand, place it under Lieutenant General Yamashita Tomonobu's command, to eliminate the First Division of Zhongnan State that has infiltrated the mountainous areas of northwestern Thailand."

Commander Iida Shojiro felt as if granted a great pardon—he could finally stop for now.

"Yes! General Terauchi, leave Burma to me, you can rest assured!"

"I will deploy three divisions to focus on defense within Burma."

General Terauchi Hisaichi nodded, looking at Lieutenant General Yamashita Tomonobu: "I am assigning the 33rd Division to supplement your 25th Army; you still have the Fifth Division and the Imperial Guard Infantry Second Division under your command—you have plenty of men."

"The 25th Army must absolutely not let Zhongnan State cross the border—eliminate all enemies who have infiltrated the mountainous areas of northwestern Thailand!"

Lieutenant General Yamashita Tomonobu stood at attention: "Hai!"

At the end of May, a multinational conference was held in Kunming.

At this conference, the United States, United Kingdom, Xia Guo, and Zhongnan State agreed to cooperate jointly, striking at Japanese forces in Southeast Asia and on the Pacific islands.

The main enemies of Britain, Xia Guo, and Zhongnan State were the six Japanese divisions on the Indochina Peninsula.

The United States was responsible for fighting in the Pacific and on various islands, annihilating the Japanese fleet and Japanese forces on each island.

The nations agreed to launch attacks at the same time.

British and Xia Guo forces would attack Burma; Zhongnan State would attack Japanese forces in Thailand.

The United States would simultaneously launch the Guadalcanal Campaign, carrying out a series of island-hopping operations.

The timing of the offensive was still being further determined.

After the conference ended, Zhongnan State's Prime Minister Fan Jing visited Dianchi, feeling refreshed in his heart.

This was Zhongnan State's first appearance at an international diplomatic occasion, and also its first truly meaningful meeting at the table, and it was only brought there by Lv Muzhi's insistence.

"The British refused to let Zhongnan State attend the conference; thanks to General Lu Shangjiang's help, Zhongnan State was able to appear on the international stage," Prime Minister Fan Jing said gratefully.

After nearly a year of studying Chinese, and with his own strong learning capacity, Prime Minister Fan Jing could now communicate in Chinese.

Lv Muzhi responded modestly: "It is my duty; the Youth Army and Zhongnan State are friends, and we should provide help."

"In international affairs, if Zhongnan State does not sit at the table, it will end up on the menu; that is why I instructed you to declare war as soon as possible."

Prime Minister Fan Jing nodded: "Indeed. When I declared war at first, there were many opposing voices at home, saying we should not provoke the Japanese; now it seems the benefits are still considerable."

"The Unity Party has been designated as an anti-Japanese force, and the Unity Party Guerrillas within Burma now have a legal identity; the guerrillas in Thailand, Malaya, Indonesia, and elsewhere are the same."

"This is all thanks to General Lu Shangjiang striving for us!"

Lv Muzhi patted Fan Jing on the arm: "The Unity Party Guerrillas within Burma must not be too ostentatious. We in Xia Guo have an old saying: 'Guangji Cang, Huan Wang.' Do you understand?"

Fan Jing's eyes lit up: "I understand! The British are not in Burma right now; this is a good opportunity. I will issue the order at once!"

"By the way, how is the famine in the Central Plains region? We have already prepared the second batch of rice and can transport it to Xia Guo at any time."

Lv Muzhi sighed: "The famine has already begun in some regions; the winter wheat harvest was severely poor, and the current situation is very bad."