Chapter 535: Republic of China: Starting from the First Whampoa Class Chapter 545 — Total Annihilation of Remnant Enemies, Full-Scale

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Stilwell and Lv Muzhi were discussing the subsequent deployment in front of the sand table when Du Yuming walked in from outside the door.

"General Mountbatten has led the British Army here; I have already arranged for them to be garrisoned in the eastern suburbs."

"General Mountbatten himself is waiting outside the door."

Stilwell raised his head, exchanged a glance with Lv Muzhi, then nodded at Du Yuming: "Let him in."

Led by Du Yuming, Mountbatten strode in, his military boots thudding heavily.

The moment he entered, his face was written full of displeasure.

"Commander-in-Chief of Burma Lv, Chief of Staff Stilwell, I have something to say."

Mountbatten did not sit down either; he spoke standing up.

"I have personally seen the situation inside Mandalay City."

"The Xia Guo Army is conducting large-scale infiltration; the entire city holds the Youth Army in high esteem."

"The streets are plastered with all kinds of propaganda posters, extolling your anti-Japanese merits."

"There are also those Unity Party people, openly active in the city, with the common people singing their praises."

"I want to ask one thing: what position do you place the British in?"

"Does anyone still remember British interests in Burma?"

Lv Muzhi leaned back in his chair, replying in a flat tone: "General Mountbatten, I don't quite understand your meaning; I have always respected the British."

Mountbatten pointed outside the door and said: "What I want to say is, this is Burma, a colony of the Great British Empire."

"The British have operated in Burma for over a hundred years, yet now not a single British flag can be seen in the city."

"What exactly do the British merits in this war count for in your eyes?"

"Merits?" Lv Muzhi cut in before he could finish.

"General Mountbatten, since you bring up merits, let's talk about this matter."

"When the Japanese originally invaded Burma, where was the British Army?"

"You were chased all the way by the Japanese Army, routed to India, nearly causing the Xia Expeditionary Force to be annihilated by the Japanese — where were your merits?"

When Lv Muzhi mentioned this past event, Du Yuming, standing to the side, glared at Mountbatten in displeasure.

"After you were driven away, during the time the Japanese ruled Burma, was it not the Unity Party fighting guerrillas in the mountains, leading the Burmese people to resist the Japanese? Where were your merits?"

"In the current counteroffensive in Burma, your forces dragged their feet, arriving at Mandalay only after the campaign ended — where were your forces' merits?"

Mountbatten's complexion grew even uglier: "Never mind that; just look at the streets full of Youth Army posters — this is clearly you, Commander-in-Chief Lv, conducting large-scale infiltration, trying to exclude us British."

Lv Muzhi looked at him and smiled: "The posters you saw speak nothing but facts."

"The Xia Guo Army sending troops to expel the Japanese, fighting alongside the Unity Party, and so on."

"I publicize that we won a battle and recovered Mandalay — what is wrong with that? Is there something wrong with winning a battle?"

Mountbatten countered tit for tat: "But our British Army also won battles!"

"The British Army's great victory at the Chindwin River — why doesn't the China-Burma Theater Command publicize it?"

This was exactly the line Lv Muzhi had been waiting for.

He stared into Mountbatten's eyes.

"The British Army won battles? I recall you claimed in the battle report to have annihilated over ten thousand enemy; then let me ask you — which Japanese troops did you capture? Which colonel did you kill? Even one?"

Mountbatten's mouth opened and closed.

Lv Muzhi gave him no chance to speak: "The common people haven't seen the British win battles, and I don't believe your battle reports either."

"In your British actual battle results, at least half belong to the Youth Army air force."

Upon hearing this, Mountbatten said: "Don't quibble over battle reports; just take this Mandalay Campaign — wasn't it you who refused to wait for the British Army to arrive and launched the campaign first, attempting to strip the British Army of its qualification to participate?"

Lv Muzhi walked to the side of the sand table, righteous and confident:

"General Mountbatten, I never had any intention of stripping the British Army of its qualification to participate."

"Before the campaign began, I repeatedly urged you to arrive at the battlefield as soon as possible, but your troops dragged their feet and were long in getting into position."

"That is your British Army's own problem; if you weren't British, I would have sent you to a military tribunal long ago."

"Later, Iida Shojiro crossed the Irrawaddy River westward; the enemy was already at the end of its tether."

"I kindly handed the pursuit mission to you and even dispatched the Air Force to continuously support you."

"The result? Iida Shojiro still slipped away from your hands."

Lv Muzhi paused, then said with full vigor:

"I gave you a chance, but you yourself were useless; now you come blaming me?"

Mountbatten was so angry his face turned red; he took two deep breaths before suppressing his emotions.

He did not respond to Lv Muzhi's words, instead switching to a formal tone: "Regardless, I represent the Great British Empire and demand the restoration of British colonial rights in Burma. This is a matter of principle."

The moment this sentence was spoken, Stilwell, who had been sitting silently to the side, raised an eyebrow.

The war has been fought to this extent, the British Army barely showed its face a few times, and now it still has the cheek to come back and talk about colonial rights?

Not to mention whether Lv Muzhi and the Americans would agree; just the Unity guerrillas, omnipresent, widely distributed, and powerful throughout Burma — where is it that Mountbatten can easily suppress them?

The British still cling to the old almanac and won't let go; what kind of matter is this?

Simply unable to tell big from small!

However, Stilwell is after all the Chief of Staff; some words cannot be slapped directly in Mountbatten's face like Lv Muzhi does.

He stood up and spoke in as calm a tone as he could manage.

"General Mountbatten, the fighting in Burma has not yet ended."

"Iida Shojiro's remnants are still fleeing south, Rangoon has not yet been captured, and the fighting on the Thailand front is still ongoing."

"Regarding British interests in Burma, I believe they should be discussed after the war."

Stilwell paused, observed Mountbatten's expression, and solemnly warned: "Moreover... pardon my bluntness."

"Restoring British colonial interests in Burma right now will likely provoke fierce resistance from the Burmese people and the Unity Party."

"Zhongnan State is governed by the Unity Party and is part of the Allied Forces."

"Before the war against Japan ends, your contradictions with Zhongnan State should not be escalated."

Mountbatten was about to speak in rebuttal when Stilwell raised his hand and pressed it down, not letting him speak.

"Before the war is completely over, all matters shall be decided solely by the China-Burma Theater Command."

Stilwell spoke to this point, then turned his head and glanced at Lv Muzhi.

The meaning could not have been clearer: the China-Burma Theater Command holds supreme decision-making authority in wartime.

Mountbatten was pondering his wording when a staff officer entered carrying a piece of intelligence.

Du Yuming took the telegram from the staff officer's hand, then reported to Lv Muzhi:

"Commander Lu, the aerial reconnaissance report just received."

"Iida Shojiro's remnants have appeared approximately fifty kilometers northwest of Reniangqiang, estimated strength about five thousand men."

The command room fell silent for an instant.

Lv Muzhi slowly turned his head and looked toward Mountbatten.

His gaze made Mountbatten feel somewhat ashamed.

"General Mountbatten, if I recall correctly, the battle report you sent to the War Zone Headquarters stated: 'Battle of Qindun River, enemy annihilated over ten thousand'."

Mountbatten stood in place, not uttering a single word.

"Enemy annihilated over ten thousand." Lv Muzhi repeated this figure, then added: "I recall the fleeing Japanese Army numbered just over ten thousand."

"So where did these five thousand-plus Japanese troops come from now?"

No one answered this question; Stilwell picked up his water cup and took a sip.

Du Yuming, meanwhile, gave Mountbatten a sidelong glance, watching how he would quibble.

Yet Mountbatten remained stubbornly silent, not saying a word.

He merely flicked his sleeve and fled the War Zone Headquarters in panic.

Seeing Mountbatten had tactically withdrawn, Lv Muzhi issued an order:

"Send a telegram to Xie Jinyuan."

"Japanese remnants approximately five thousand men, currently northwest of Reniangqiang."

"The Youth Army garrisons at Reniangqiang and Pyinmana, plus the Unity Party Guerrillas, all mobilize — bring Iida Shojiro back to me!"

——————

Southwest of Reniangqiang, Xinbiao Town.

A small river runs horizontally along the south side of the town; the water is turbid, flowing slowly from west to east into the north-south running Irrawaddy River.

A wooden bridge spans the small river; the deck is narrow, barely wide enough for two horses to pass abreast.

Iida Shojiro's remnants are currently crossing the bridge from the north bank, the column straggling out for several li.

The devils hung their heads, walking listlessly.

Some devils used rifles as crutches; some were supported by comrades, dragging one foot as they shuffled forward.

Iida Shojiro rode a horse in the middle of the column.

Takeuchi Hiroshi rode beside him on a donkey of unknown origin.

Takeuchi Hiroshi looked back at the crooked marching column behind them, then turned to Iida and said: "Commandant, we have already covered one-third of the distance."

"As long as we persevere a bit more, we will definitely reach Rangoon."

Iida Shojiro nodded, but did not reply.

His gaze swept over the soldiers hanging their heads on the bridge deck, swept over the wounded soldiers sitting on the shore gasping for breath, and recalled the empty supply train.

Under such circumstances, he had no mood to boost morale.

A major ran up from the rear of the column, carrying a stolen live chicken in his hand.

The major ran to Iida's horse and exclaimed excitedly: "Commandant! Found food! We have meat to eat!"

The devils marching alongside heard this and all turned their heads, staring at the chicken and swallowing saliva.

Takeuchi Hiroshi glanced at it and cheered: "Yoshi, hurry and make it into chicken soup, send it over for Commandant-sama to enjoy."

The major carried the chicken and ran off.

Iida Shojiro watched the straggling column crossing the bridge and asked: "Takeuchi-kun, this retreat of ours is like walking on thin ice. Tell me, can we make it to Rangoon?"

Before Takeuchi Hiroshi could answer, a whistling sound came from the air.

An officer shouted: "Get down!"

"Enemy attack!"

Shells landed in the small river, exploding water columns that splashed onto the bridge deck.

Immediately more shells crashed down; one shell hit the middle of the wooden bridge.

The bridge deck was blown into four divisions and five splits; planks and ropes flew into the air amid firelight.

Soldiers crossing the bridge were thrown into the river by the air wave.

Traffic on both banks of the small river was instantly severed; the front and rear sections of the devil column were completely cut off.

【119】 Gunfire came from the west side.

Gunfire came from the West.

A Japanese scout rushed up to Iida: "Report! Enemy forces spotted on the western flank!"

"Judging by the firepower, at least a regiment, and by the equipment, it's Youth Army troops!"

Iida was about to give an order when another scout came running: "Large numbers of armed personnel discovered on all sides, quantity unknown, rapidly approaching our forces!"

Takeuchi Hiroshi flew into a rage: "Are they Youth Army or guerrillas after all?"

The scout answered: "Both!"

Iida Shojiro closed his eyes, struck his horse's flank, and said: "The Youth Army has come; I'm afraid we're doomed......"

——————

The Japanese army hurriedly deployed defenses, using their remaining weapons and ammunition for a final resistance.

The Youth Army's M2 Browning Heavy Machine Guns opened fire.

. 50 caliber bullets struck the river beach, sending mud and gravel flying; Japanese soldiers who couldn't scatter in time were mowed down in swathes.

The machine gun positions had been pre-arranged; their firing arcs perfectly covered the ferry crossing areas on both sides of the wooden bridge and the Japanese assembly area after crossing the river.

The 107mm Rocket Launchers followed with fire.

Rocket shells trailing white smoke plunged into the Japanese ranks; explosion shockwaves sent gravel on the river beach scattering in all directions.

The enemy's horses were frightened into bolting wildly, carrying their supplies and plunging headlong into the river.

The river beach was littered with charred shell craters from explosions; the Japanese's remaining baggage wreckage lay tilted and scattered across the beach.

The Youth Army's Garand Rifles pressed forward in dense ranks; semi-automatic fire continuously suppressed the Japanese returning fire in panic.

Japanese soldiers lay in shallow ditches on the river beach firing back; some were shot down, and those behind picked up the rifles and kept shooting.

Takeuchi Hiroshi organized a defensive line; several surviving light machine guns were set up on the river beach, firing back at the Youth Army positions to the west.

But the enemy's firepower density was limited, completely on a different level from the Youth Army.

The Youth Army not only formed firepower suppression against the Japanese on land, but also called in air support.

P-47 Fighters came to support; bombs and rockets fell one after another on the Japanese positions.

Aerial bombs bombarded, rocket shells struck in succession; smoke and firelight from the Japanese positions reflected on the turbid river surface.

This encirclement and annihilation battle lasted a full day and night, in order not to let a single enemy escape.

The Youth Army's machine gun positions and rocket launchers continuously advanced; Unity Party Guerrillas fired cold shots from the surrounding mountains and forests, compressing the Japanese survival space.

The Japanese were pressed into continuous retreat eastward — first from the outskirts of Xinbiao Town to the riverside ferry crossing, then from the crossing to the jungle on the east bank, and finally completely driven out of the jungle zone.

Iida Shojiro was carried along by his subordinates retreating eastward all the way, fighting while retreating, until he reached the west bank river beach of the Irrawaddy River.

By the surging great river, the sound of the river waves was even more clamorous than gunfire.

The Japanese forces had been completely split up; all communication between units was cut off; ammunition was nearly exhausted.

Many enemy soldiers' rifles had become empty guns, usable only for bayonet fighting.

Commander Iida Shojiro stood on the river beach; beside him remained only Division Commander Takeuchi, plus fifty-odd officers and soldiers.

They had fought for a day and night; all bullets on them were completely expended.

Iida Shojiro glanced at the opposite bank of the Irrawaddy River; the Youth Army's flags were also flying on the opposite bank.

Truly enemies on all sides!

The Japanese army could not escape.

Youth Army soldiers closed in from the west and the north and south flanks, forming a semi-encirclement around the Japanese, trapping them on the river beach.

Some officers and soldiers half-crouched on the ground, some lay prone on the river beach, raising rifles to aim, but did not fire.

A Youth Army officer who understood Japanese shouted toward the river beach, his voice carrying far across the beach:

"Lay down your weapons, cease resistance, the Youth Army guarantees your personal safety!"

Several Japanese soldiers shouted loudly, thrusting bayonets forward, charging from the river beach.

The Youth Army gave them no chance to reach their front; several bullets fired simultaneously, and all the charging enemy soldiers fell on the river beach.

Iida Shojiro slowly raised his command sword; Takeuchi Hiroshi beside him likewise drew his military sword, clearly unwilling to surrender.

Iida shouted: "For the Emperor!"

Fifty-odd Japanese remnants followed with a shout, leveling bayonet-fixed rifles and charging together.

Takeuchi Hiroshi ran at the very front, sword held high.

The Garand Rifles sounded.

The Youth Army's semi-automatic fire continued without pause; with every step the charging Japanese took, someone fell.

Takeuchi Hiroshi was hit in the abdomen; his whole body crashed heavily onto the river beach, face up, lying on the ground crying out.

The remaining Japanese were picked off one after another.

Iida Shojiro still charged forward holding his sword; his soldiers fell one by one beside him; by the time he reached the end, not a single one of his own men remained standing around him.

A Youth Army soldier aimed at his thigh and pulled the trigger.

Iida staggered and fell onto the river beach; his military sword also flew from his hand several meters away.

He struggled trying to stand; the Youth Army infantry had already rushed up.

A Youth Army soldier reversed his rifle and smashed the rifle butt into Iida's face; his whole body went limp and he collapsed, falling into the mud and sand by the Irrawaddy River.

Two days later, Mandalay city was bustling with excitement.

People passed around newspapers, pointing and commenting at the contents.

The newspaper wrote clearly: Xie Jinyuan's Youth Thirteenth Division coordinated with Unity Party Guerrillas in combat, completely annihilated fleeing Japanese forces near Reniangqiang, captured Japanese Commander-in-Chief in Burma Lieutenant General Iida Shojiro, killed and captured over five thousand enemy.

Not only was it written clearly, the newspaper also published various photographs as corroboration.

Mandalay citizens began to mutter; not long ago Mountbatten also publicized British Army killing over ten thousand enemy.

The newspaper said the total fleeing Japanese was only ten thousand; hasn't Mountbatten already annihilated the entire Japanese army?

But this time the Youth Army again killed and captured over five thousand Japanese, and even attached large numbers of photographs of captured Japanese officers.

As a result, the British Army's propaganda appeared highly unreliable.

Lv Muzhi finished reading the battle report in the command post and issued a brief order to the staff officers at the sand table.

"Send a telegram to all units stationed in Burma, continue advancing south, and while the Japanese Navy's main force is in the Pacific Ocean, attack Rangoon with full force."

"Then send a telegram to Sun Liren: the Japanese Army has no reinforcements in Thailand; ask him to accelerate the pace and launch a full-force attack against the enemy facing him."