Chapter 122: Rescue 'Bamo

Lashu's people were discussing how the Japanese Army had seized Bamo.

At that moment a Messenger came in from outside, "Commander, a Japanese Army transport aircraft crashed in Lashu's northwest."

This news further confirmed that the Japanese Army had parachuted into Bamo.

The defenders at Lashu had already seen with the naked eye the Japanese transport aircraft, which astonishingly brought the Japanese into the rear of the Expeditionary Force.

One must note that the Expeditionary Force's rear defense is truly empty; Jiang Anguo does not know Bamo's troop strength, perhaps only a company, so expecting them to resist is clearly difficult.

"Can we know how many transport aircraft passed?" Jiang Anguo asked anxiously.

"Unable to confirm."

If we could know the enemy's number of transport aircraft, we could determine how many troops they actually delivered.

What troubles Jiang Anguo most is that both Bamo and Myitkyina have airfields, and those airfields are much smaller than Lashu's.

But as long as aircraft can land and the airfields are held, the Japanese can continuously reinforce these two places, which is a huge bad news for the Expeditionary Force.

"Song Yunfei, is there any way to take off now? Find a way to bomb Bamo's airfield for me," Jiang Anguo shouted.

The rain outside grew heavier.

Song Yunfei shook his head and said, "Commander, the difficulty of takeoff is too high, visibility is too poor; within this short time fog has already set in. Northern Myanmar is mountainous, prone to accidents. Of course, our Stuka bombers can conduct low‑altitude bombing, but the risk factor is too great."

Foggy skies and low‑altitude flight easily lead to collisions with mountains.

Jiang Anguo stepped out of the command post, and the sudden downpour drenched him instantly; in an instant his whole body was soaked, feeling completely refreshed!

He needed to calm down and decide what to do next!

"Song Yunfei, I tell you, under safe conditions, seize every opportunity to get the fighter planes airborne; you must bomb the Little Devil's airfield," Jiang Anguo ordered.

If Bamo and Myitkyina cannot be retaken, then bomb those two airfields; we cannot leave them!

"Yes, Commander."

The main force of the 56th Division should be nearby; fortunately the 200th Division managed to crush the 148th Regiment, but it did not annihilate the Little Devils of the 148th on a large scale. Watanabe Masao should have only a 146th Regiment with him, and Jiang Anguo believes the Zai An Defensive Line cannot possibly have problems.

His meticulously arranged absolute defensive circle.

It includes not only tanks, but also 75 mm infantry guns and 105 mm howitzers.

The 200th Division's biggest problem now is Dai Anlan being injured and unconscious, unable to carry out the previously devised plan, a pincer attack on the Expeditionary Force.

Jiang Anguo's rank, compared with the officers of the 200th Division, is indeed too low; the elite units have ranks one level higher than other units.

As commander, he must make a decision now.

Jiang Anguo returned to the command room and shouted, "Meng Fanle, issue the orders! Guard Company, Tank Company, rd Battalion, Seventh Company, Ninth Company, follow me to Bamo."

The rd Battalion currently lacks a company, the Eighth Company—i. e., the whole regiment—is still in Xi Bu.

The Seventh Company commander Jin Jian (Jungle), and the Ninth Company commander Qian Jiaguo (Jungle), both specialize in jungle warfare; compared with the plains of southern Myanmar, the north is more primeval forest.

Jungle combat is also more suitable for the two of them.

Bamo must be rescued, and Jiang Anguo must go personally; if Du Lvming learns that Bamo and Myitkyina have fallen and makes that decision, the Fifth Army's main force could suffer heavy losses.

"Lin Yi, from now on you are Lashu's highest commander; your headquarters must move forward to the Zai An position. If the Japanese 56th Division attacks Zai An, you may mobilize all Lashu forces, including the air force. I have also set up a Defensive Line called Lava behind Zai An."

Jiang Anguo quietly pulled Lin Yi aside and said, "Remember, if Zai An cannot be held, withdraw the Zai An and Nammbang forces entirely to Lava; you must wait for my return from Bamo."

He patted Lin Yi's shoulder again, "Lin Yi, remember, the Japanese in front of you are not carrying heavy weapons, so our advantage is artillery and air power, which can inflict massive damage on the enemy."

"Yes, Battalion Commander." Lin Yi trembled a bit, because he had never commanded troops before.

"Song Yu and Wang Fei will also assist you," Jiang Anguo said, naturally uneasy about leaving Lin Yi alone for this mission, yet he was not worried; he only needed Lin Yi to coordinate the logistics of all units.

Zai An's strength has reached two thousand men; therefore defending against half a Japanese division is not a big problem.

"Song Yunfei, seize the clear‑sky opportunity; your first mission is to destroy Bamo's airfield. Also, the transport aircraft of the 200th Division must not be halted; quickly bring the wounded back to Lashu."

The air force's advantage is huge; even in difficulty, Jiang Anguo hopes his fighters appear over the enemy!

The factor affecting the 200th Division's main combat power is the wounded; Bamo and Myitkyina each have small airfields, but as long as aircraft can take off and land, the Little Devils can continuously support these two locations.

"Yes, Commander."

An additional twenty‑five ground crew and five fighter pilots were added.

Because the Sixth Company and the Eighth Company had sacrificed many soldiers.

Fighter aircraft must first ensure that Japanese planes cannot enter the Xi Bu front line; otherwise, both transport and bomber aircraft become targets for Japanese fighters.

Jiang Anguo immediately exchanged a large number of raincoats, some for the soldiers marching to Bamo, and the rest to be delivered to Lashu's various units.

The troops quickly completed assembly.

"Everyone get in the vehicles."

Tank Company commander Zhang Bing was still a bit at a loss, because they also boarded the transport vehicles; the point is, they are tank soldiers—where are the tanks!

Jiang Anguo naturally could not let them drive the tanks forward; tanks move slowly in mountainous terrain and even slower on the march, and he had no time.

The time now is 12:30, meaning only twenty minutes elapsed from the meeting to departure.

It is precisely because of this heavy rain; otherwise, the troops stationed at Lashu would have seen the battalion commander run backward, and morale would have shattered.

Jiang Anguo also could not leave Lashu; all the logistical supplies of the whole unit rested on him alone, and there was no alternative. If he did not go to Bamo, he could not determine the enemy's numbers or whether further reinforcements would arrive.

At a transport vehicle speed of seventeen to eighteen kilometers per hour on mountain roads, it cannot go fast; the distance to Bamo is over two hundred kilometers, so arrival would be at least ten hours later, near midnight.

One transport vehicle after another set off, everyone holding weapons; fortunately the vehicles have roofs, otherwise they would all be drenched by the rain.

Jiang Anguo sat in the first transport vehicle, leading the way.

He could hand Lashu over to Lin Yi, but he truly could not trust the rear Bamo and Myitkyina; if, if, trouble would be huge. He might once again be killed by the Little Devils moving from Bamo into Yunnan!