Chapter 488: Siege and Conquest

July 15, 1945, weather: overcast.

Jiang Anguo and his men arrived, originally from the 201st Division, guerrilla regiment commander Li Yi.

That is, before Jiang Anguo entered Myanmar, he had Li Yi lead a company-sized force to infiltrate northern Thailand and destroy a large amount of Thai military logistical supplies.

And now Li Yi's guerrilla regiment—no, it should now be called the South China First Guerrilla Regiment.

Jiang Anguo's units are organized with a regiment of 653 men, whereas Li Yi's guerrilla regiment, per Li Yi's request, is organized with only 400 men.

Li Yi's specialty: rainforest.

In other words, Li Yi is especially suited to command troops in rainforest warfare.

Li Yi's guerrilla regiment composition: three 100-man infantry companies, a 60-man cavalry transport unit, a 20-man firepower platoon, and a 20-man company headquarters.

The unit's organization is odd, entirely according to Li Yi's specifications.

Having more personnel would actually make jungle combat unsuitable.

"Li Yi, from now on you must obey President Chen Jiageng's orders; of course, he generally does not command you here," Jiang Anguo said as he found Li Yi.

"Understood, Commander!" Li Yi replied loudly.

Li Yi, feeling a bit puzzled, asked, "But, Commander, may I ask why?"

Seeing Li Yi ask this, Jiang Anguo felt relieved.

At least mid‑ to high‑level officers have their own thoughts, rather than blindly executing orders.

But absolute loyalty!

"Of course, Li Yi, you need not worry; we just need your name so that Da Qili and Qinglai can join South China with proper legitimacy. Of course, you need not worry about Qinglai's defense; Yao Quanyi's Independent Regiment will garrison there, but you understand they cannot use the Independent Regiment's name," Jiang Anguo explained seriously.

Li Yi nodded, indicating understanding.

Jiang Anguo originally intended for Yao Quanyi to join South China, but Yao Quanyi's performance in Yichang was so outstanding that his name appeared in major newspapers at home and abroad.

Moreover, the four company commanders under Yao Quanyi also became famous domestically.

Even the Nonary War Zone's Officer Xue sent people to court Yao Quanyi, not to mention the Principal in Chongqing.

This means that in the short term it will be difficult to get Yao Quanyi to switch sides; he is still a member of the 201st Division.

Otherwise Jiang Anguo's identity would raise suspicion; of course, now he is in Thailand, everyone is abroad, so suspicion is irrelevant.

The most critical thing is the 'R Plan', which has just begun execution.

He still needs this identity to transport more people into Myanmar; once the northern Myanmar cities are all populated by Chinese, Jiang Anguo will no longer need to worry about his status as the 201st Division commander.

Li Yi is different; although Li Yi carried out a splendid raid, Jiang Anguo did not publicize it much at the time, going quietly and returning quietly.

Few people knew about it.

July 7, 1942.

The South China Democratic Federal Republic broadcast to the world, declaring war on Japan.

July 9, Thai forces invaded Myanmar's Da Qili; the Chinese Expeditionary Force's 93rd Division rose to counterattack.

With support from the Expeditionary Force's air units, the Thai invaders were temporarily repelled.

Jiang Anguo, who was far away in Mandalay, heard this and immediately flew to Lashu, then dispatched the Lashu garrison's Independent Regiment under Yao Quanyi, boarding transport aircraft to Jingdong to assemble forces.

July 10, the 201st Division's Independent Regiment set out for Da Qili.

July 11, the Independent Regiment and the 93rd Division's troops launched a frontal attack on the Thai forces at Da Qili, and that day completely defeated the Thai Expeditionary Army, killing Thai commander Luan Caixunuan, and capturing Japanese 15th Army Deputy Chief of Staff Colonel Moriyama Seiji.

It declared Thailand's attempt to seize the opportunity to invade Myanmar a total failure.

July 12, the Independent Regiment gathered its forces and launched an attack on Qinglai, successfully capturing Qinglai; from then on, the Expeditionary Force had a forward base in northern Thailand.

July 15, the Expeditionary Force's Li Yi guerrilla regiment reached the Da Qili front and renamed itself the Thai Democratic Freedom Allied Forces.

That day, the unit announced it had occupied Qinglai, seceded from the Thai government, and joined the South China Democratic Federal Republic; South China warmly welcomed them and renamed them the South China First Guerrilla Regiment.

Because Thai forces invaded the South China border at Da Qili.

The South China Democratic Federal Republic issued another proclamation, declaring war on Thailand.

Inside the Manggu Prime Minister's Office, the air was so heavy it seemed to solidify.

Luan Piwen? Sangjian stood before the large desk, his hand tightly gripping the urgent telegram from the front.

His previously steady complexion flushed bright red, his eyes filled with disbelief and raging fury.

He had expected the campaign to go smoothly, but the outcome was different from his expectations.

Each word on the telegram was like a needle, stabbing his heart mercilessly.

"Failed... it actually failed?"

He jerked his head up, his voice trembling with anger as he shouted at the staff inside, "My four elite divisions, fully equipped in Japanese style, with Japanese advisors co‑commanding—how could we be completely routed by the Chinese Expeditionary Force in just a few days?!"

The staff inside lowered their heads one after another, daring not to breathe.

No one expected that the once‑confident campaign into Myanmar would end so disastrously.

Commander Luan? Caixunuan was killed in action, the main force suffered a devastating blow, Da Qili fell, and even the northern stronghold Qinglai fell into enemy hands.

"Speak! Are you all mute?!" Luan Piwen slammed the telegram onto the desk, producing a huge bang that made everyone shiver.

"I allocated massive military funds, mobilized and prepared troops, sending the most elite four divisions to the front—not to lose the battle! Now the entire army is annihilated, supplies are gone; who can tell me what exactly happened?!"

One staff member mustered courage and stepped forward, his face pale, voice thin as a mosquito: "Prime Minister... according to reports from the routed front lines, the enemy not only has regular Expeditionary Force troops but also a suddenly appearing formidable unit, with extremely heavy firepower, supported by artillery and aircraft..."

"Suddenly appeared?" Luan Piwen furrowed his brow, a colder glint in his eyes; he grabbed the telegram again, his gaze scanning a line before stopping abruptly, "Wait, it says 'South China First Guerrilla Regiment'... what does that mean? South China? Where did this South China come from?!"

He stared intently at the subordinate, his gaze as sharp as a blade, making the other's scalp tingle and legs go weak.

The staff member swallowed, answering cautiously: "Prime Minister... according to our recent verification, this armed group calling itself 'South China' is a newly established regime on the northern Myanmar border, primarily composed of overseas Chinese. Now... they have announced that Qinglai Prefecture is separating from Thailand and joining South China's territory, with them directly assuming its garrison."

"What?!" Luan Piwen staggered back a step as if struck by lightning, hardly believing his ears.

A defeat would be one thing, but to have even our own territory seized and a mysterious 'South China' established to take over Qinglai!

Luan Piwen·Sangjian could not tolerate land being carved up; with Japan's assistance, he had seized parts of Cambodia.

Now Qinglai's declaration of independence feels like cutting a piece of flesh from his own body.

"A bunch of trash! All of you are trash!" He could no longer control his emotions, grabbed the teacup on the table and smashed it hard onto the floor, the shattering sound piercingly loud.

"Four divisions can't defeat that one Chinese division, that's one thing; they even let someone take Qinglai away and make it independent! Send my orders, immediately mobilize troops; I will retake Qinglai and crush this so‑called South China Army completely!"

Rage spread wildly within the Premier's Office; everyone knew that the situation in Northern Thailand had completely spiraled out of control.