Chapter 435: Divisions 200 and 201 Encircle Mandalay

The rain in Mandalay is the torrential downpour unique to the northern Myanmar rainy season.

Lead‑gray cloud layers weigh heavily over the city, and bean‑sized raindrops pelt down, first as a drizzle, then in an instant turning into a pouring deluge.

The rain mixes with soil, gunpowder smoke and dust, freely coursing through Mandalay's streets, alleys and battlefield trenches, instantly turning the previously dry positions into a mire of swamp.

The rain blurs vision and soaks equipment, yet it offers no hindrance to this decisive offensive that will determine northern Myanmar's fate.

On the Eastern Front of Mandalay, the Expeditionary Force's th Division attacks the position.

In the rain curtain, rows of Tank tracks roll over the mud, splashing up mud waves half a person's height.

Hu Xianqun's Tank Regiment and Zhang Bing's Tank Battalion lie quietly in ambush, each tank's gun barrel wrapped in rain‑proof cloth, yet faintly exuding a poised authority.

The Tank Soldiers, clad in raincoats, sit at the hatches, their eyes fixed on the direction of the Japanese Army's front positions, their gazes brimming with uncontainable fighting spirit.

"This damned weather, really grinds you down," a young Tank Soldier wipes rain off his face, muttering, "If we'd known it would rain, the Little Devil's Poison Gas Shell would be useless; our gas masks would have been worn for nothing."

The veteran beside him pats his helmet and says in a deep voice, "Don't complain; this is for your own good, and the rain conveniently sweeps away the gas. The rain also benefits us. The mud can delay the Japanese Army's movements and make their heavy artillery positions harder to conceal, perfectly suiting our Artillery to deal with them."

As the words fell, a booming command cut through the rain: "All units, attention! Artillery Regiment, deploy! Prepare fire readiness!"

The speaker is Tank Regiment Regiment Commander Hu Xianqun.

He stands at the hatch of a command Tank, clad in a raincoat, rain sliding down his cheek and soaking the collar beneath his cap. Yet his gaze is unusually sharp, looking through the rain at the Japanese Army's position four to five kilometers away, the core defensive zone of the Japanese Army's 18th Division and the primary target of this offensive.

At the th Division's command post, Dai Anlan looks toward the Japanese Army's direction opposite the position.

Dai Anlan's voice carries undeniable authority, broadcasting over the radio across the entire attacking position: "Notify the Artillery Regiment to deploy all twelve 105mm howitzers! At a distance of four to five kilometers from the Japanese Army's position, this range perfectly unleashes the heavy artillery's power! Smash the Japanese positions, artillery, and fire points completely!"

"Yes!"

From the radio comes the Artillery Regiment Commander's response, tinged with excitement.

Everyone knows how precious the 105mm howitzer is.

In previous Huaxia armies, a division equipped with a few 75mm field guns was already top‑end. Let alone a 105mm heavy howitzer—its long range, great power, and high accuracy make it an absolute weapon for breaching fortifications.

But these twelve 105mm howitzers were not part of the original equipment of the 200th Division.

The 200th Division also lacked such firepower; even Du Yuming only had eight 105mm howitzers, counting shells on his fingertips.

That was the "generous gift" personally delivered by Jiang Anguo after the 200th Division stationed at Xibu.

At that time Jiang Anguo laughed, "Regiment Commander Dai, we're all part of the Expeditionary Force; there's no need to divide against the Little Devil. Your 200th Division is the spearhead of the northern Myanmar defensive line; here's heavy artillery for you, so you can stab the Devil hard!"

That was official talk; privately the two were actually in‑laws.

No matter how Jiang Anguo phrased it, he had to lend a hand to the th Division, especially since the th Division is all elite.

It's not that Jiang Anguo is stingy; given Xibu's terrain and the th Division's proficiency with artillery, the twelve 105mm howitzers actually have a bit of extra.

Of course, Jiang Anguo also equipped these twelve howitzers with tow trucks, Transport Vehicles, a full suite of logistics vehicles.

Dai Anlan has kept this friendship in his heart.

And precisely because of these twelve heavy guns, plus Jiang Anguo's Artillery Regiment's twenty‑four 105mm howitzers, now in front of the Expeditionary Force's Eastern Front positions and the southern bank of the Mekong frontier, a full thirty‑six 105mm howitzers stand ready in formation!

Such an artillery scale has almost never occurred in previous Huaxia army versus Japanese Army engagements.

The Japanese Army's 18th Division is a Class A Division, equipped with a full artillery regiment and even a heavy artillery regiment, its firepower fierce and historically its strength. Yet this time, Dai Anlan is not worried at all.

Because he knows the battlefield now is no longer the same as before.

"Relay my order: Artillery Regiment, deploy immediately!" Dai Anlan orders again, his gaze into the rain, "Tell the artillery brothers, no need to hide, our heavy guns are to face the Devil's Class A Division, give them a good duel!"

200th Division Artillery position.

On the muddy ground, twelve 105mm howitzers line up neatly, their barrels wrapped in rain‑proof cloth, wheels sunk deep in the mud yet remaining steady.

The artillerymen, clad in raincoats and rubber shoes, hustle through the rain, swiftly preparing for firing.

"Adjust the guns! Slightly left, ten mils!"

"Load ammunition! High‑explosive shell, instant‑fuse!"

"Observation post coordinates received: distance 4,200 meters, bearing due west!"

Commands rise and fall, rain striking the artillerymen's raincoats with a crackle, yet their movements remain flawless, precise and practiced.

The Artillery Regiment Commander is a burly middle‑aged man named Zhao, who studied heavy artillery tactics at a military academy in his early years and handles the 105mm howitzer with ease, though such guns were truly scarce then; normally a unit having 75mm field guns was already good.

He stands at the command post, flag in hand, his gaze fixed on the observation post ahead.

"Commander Zhao! The Division Commander orders immediate fire preparation!" a communications soldier runs over, loudly relaying the order.

Commander Zhao jerks his head up, rain dripping down his eyebrows; he grins, showing white teeth: "Don't worry! I'll guarantee the Devil a memorable 'Rain‑Battle Gift'!"

He turns, shouting to all the artillery, "Brothers! Remember, opposite us is the Japanese Army's Class A Division, the 18th Division that once swept Southeast Asia! Today, our thirty‑six heavy guns—Commander Jiang's twenty‑four, our twelve—fire together! Smash their positions, shatter their heavy artillery, pave the way for the main assault! Any confidence?"

"Yes!"

"Yes!!"

"Yes!!!"

Hundreds of artillerymen roar in unison, their voices piercing the rain, filled with hot blood and fury.

At that moment, the forward observation post sends the latest coordinate report: "Commander! Observation complete! Within three kilometers depth of the Japanese positions, we've found three artillery sites, two heavy‑artillery shelters, and multiple concealed fire points! Coordinates marked!"

"Good!" Commander Zhao's eyes sharpen, he hoists the flag, loudly ordering, "All units, attention! Target: Japanese Eastern Front artillery positions, heavy‑artillery shelters! Range 4,200, bearing due north, fire rapidly! Fire!"

"Fire—!!"

The Messenger's shout instantly echoes across the entire artillery position.

"Boom! Boom! Boom—!"

Twelve 105mm howitzers roar in unison!

The massive cannon roar remains loud in the rain, shaking the ground slightly; rain is splashed up by the blast. Each barrel recoils sharply, the artillerymen hold the gun carriage firmly, awaiting the next load.

The high‑explosive shells, weighing over ten kilograms, blaze with a fiery tail, tearing through the rain and screaming toward the Japanese positions.