Chapter 34: Vanguard: the 200th Division!

Liao Yaoxiang and Dai Anlan could not have imagined that their frontal enemy actually consisted of four divisions—four divisions amount to a hundred thousand troops; on the Chinese battlefield, in a frontal engagement with no defensive advantage, a single Japanese division can chase a Chinese army of a hundred thousand.

In fact, the Japanese invaded Southeast Asia so quickly, and being an island nation, the British were unreliable; the American forces in the Philippines were surrounded, and to this day it is still unclear how many troops the Japanese deployed.

Before the Japanese launched war on Southeast Asia, they mobilized roughly 400,000 to 500,000 troops.

Thus, when Japan attacked Myanmar with a hundred thousand troops, it was not merely for Myanmar but to enter Huaxia directly from the rear; among them was a Pseudo Army, which was Thailand.

"Senior, this can't be true," Liao Yaoxiang said, not believing it, because they had just held a meeting and, regarding Yangon's situation, everyone guessed that when the Expeditionary Force reached Yangon, it would already be occupied by the Japanese.

If the Japanese had only one division, they would combine two divisions for a strong attack—no choice. This time the Expeditionary Force must go abroad with great momentum; moreover, the importance of the China-Myanmar Road is self‑evident— all supplies are concentrated in Yangon, and if Yangon is lost, China would become an isolated island.

If the enemy were two divisions, the command meant that the 200th Division should await the arrival of the main force.

Dai Anlan shook his head, eyes fixed toward Tonggu, "I don't know; after all, my Supplementary Battalion Commander has been at the rear—how did he learn the front‑line situation?"

"Senior, should we inform the headquarters?" Liao Yaoxiang said cautiously.

Dai Anlan chuckled wryly, "Jian Chu, you and I are holding a Brocade Bag of unknown origin and claiming the enemy has four divisions—do you think headquarters would believe it? The Expeditionary Force goes abroad to fight for the nation; we both understand the importance of the Yunnan‑Myanmar line. This battle is about national prestige and the army's soul; we cannot simply retreat without a fight."

Liao Yaoxiang fell silent; he understood that Dai Anlan was stating the facts. The intelligence was too shocking—without proof it would only be treated as rumor that disturbs morale. The Expeditionary Force bears the responsibility of earning international reputation and securing aid; there is no room for cowardice before battle.

Even if the two rushed to headquarters to report that the enemy had four divisions, headquarters would not believe it.

The Expeditionary Force would not withdraw back home without a fight.

Dai Anlan was one‑third convinced and seven‑thirds doubtful, holding two other Brocade Bags, he solemnly said, "Jian Chu, on this mission the 200th Division will be the Vanguard Unit, your unit follows behind. If the frontal enemy truly has four divisions, I, your brother, entrust the lives and fortunes of the 200th Division to you."

Liao Yaoxiang also resumed his formal tone, saying, "Please rest assured, Senior, the New 22nd Division will stay behind you."

Both understood that if the Japanese truly had four divisions, a frontal engagement would be extremely difficult; the 200th Division's future was uncertain, and retreat without unit support would be hard.

The Fifth Army was the main force this time, and Du Lvming had already deployed; the Vanguard would be the 200th Division, the New 22nd Division following it, with the 96th Division and other army units gathering at Mandalay.

The Senary Army held the eastern flank to prevent Japanese forces from attacking from the Thai‑Myanmar border, while the 66th Army protected the Expeditionary Force's rear at Lashu and Myitkyina.

There were no problems with the deployment; both the offensive routes and retreat paths had been arranged.

This deployment was flawless only under the assumption that the enemy had one or two divisions. If a hundred thousand enemy troops suddenly appeared on the board, all the plans would collapse instantly.

Dai Anlan said no more, "Jian Chu, I will rush back to the troops immediately. Since the order has been issued, the 200th Division departs at once; we hope to occupy Tonggu before the Japanese arrive there."

"Yes, Senior, the New 22nd Division will also mobilize at once, but Senior, what does the back of this Brocade Bag mean?" Liao Yaoxiang asked.

The line on the back reads: Do not trust the British; seize British military supplies and equipment for one's own use.

Now the United Kingdom, the United States, and China are allies, a newly formed alliance, making it hard for them to believe the British would betray them.

"Set aside the British for now; this involves international relations. If it's truly difficult, then we must make do locally," Dai Anlan said, meaning to use British supplies—a last‑resort measure.

From what everyone knows, the British forces in Myanmar have far superior weapons and equipment than the Expeditionary Force, plus aircraft and artillery.

The Expeditionary Force has no aircraft of its own; by now Yangon's airport should be in Japanese hands.

Dai Anlan returned to the 200th Division's garrison and immediately convened a meeting above the regiment‑battalion level; his directive was to take all weapons, equipment, and ammunition that could be carried.

"Division Commander, is there a problem?" Regiment 599 commander Liu Shuren asked.

Liu Shuren, a fifth‑session Huangpu graduate, was bold in battle and straightforward in character, having fought in the Tai'erzhuang and Kunlun Pass campaigns.

"The Japanese may be more than we anticipated," Dai Anlan said solemnly.

"Fine, one against one, a pair against a pair," Regiment 600 commander Liu Shaofeng said.

Liu Shaofeng and Zheng Tingji of Regiment 598 were both Huangpu fifth‑session graduates, showing Chairman Jiang's great emphasis and favor toward the 200th Division—a true core of the core.

For this overseas operation, Chairman Jiang also dispatched his best troops, hoping the Expeditionary Force would demonstrate the spirit of Chinese soldiers and thereby secure more international aid.

Dai Anlan immediately ordered, "Zheng Tingji, your Regiment 598, from now on advance at full speed to Tonggu and establish defensive positions."

"Division Commander, didn't the order send us to Yangon?" Zheng Tingji asked puzzledly.

The combat deployment had indeed been issued, but it couldn't keep up with changes; the Japanese advance was too rapid.

"Reach Tonggu first, then we'll discuss," Dai Anlan said, hoping it was a false alarm; if the Japanese had already seized Yangon, it would be a serious problem, indicating they might truly have four divisions.

Dai Anlan now understood why his brother‑in‑law said the British were untrustworthy.

He had a revelation: the Expeditionary Force had been preparing for nearly three months; had they entered Myanmar three months earlier, Yangon would already have been fortified.

Then there would be no need for such haste.

Now the railways in Myanmar are filled with retreating British, some even taking furniture with them, greatly slowing the Expeditionary Force's march.

But Dai Anlan could do nothing; he was only a soldier, and soldiers obey orders—he could not, nor would he dare, to force the British off the trains.

Dai Anlan's orders were passed down layer by layer, yet even so, as a mechanized division, the 200th Division could not carry many weapons and equipment; Dai Anlan managed to bring fifteen tanks.

After much deliberation, Dai Anlan decided to move with Regiment 598; he always liked being on the front line himself.

The 200th Division's departure to Tonggu this time comprised nine thousand men; as a fully‑manned infantry division, its strength is ten thousand, with the remaining two thousand stationed at Lashu because tanks and supplies there still need to be transferred.

Even tank soldiers are of little use at the front without tanks.

Therefore, Lashu still retained two thousand soldiers.