Chapter 489: Yingpar (1)

Inside the temporary command post of Qinglai Fu, a map marked with Qinglai's terrain was spread on the table.

Jiang Anguo and Yao Quanyi stood side by side, their fingers repeatedly tracing the map as they whispered about Qinglai's defensive deployment.

Qinglai's terrain was extremely unusual, its overall outline resembling an inverted "Y".

Its two branches were a steep canyon and a deep valley, the terrain exceptionally treacherous, making it easy to defend but hard to attack.

On both sides, towering mountains rose and fell in continuous ridges, forming a natural barrier that tightly encircled Qinglai.

In the middle lay an open, flat plain, both Qinglai's core area and a crucial defensive node.

"Qinglai's terrain is our advantage, but also a liability."

Jiang Anguo pointed at the canyon and valley on the map, his tone solemn, "The high mountains on both sides can host troops, giving us the high ground to block enemy routes, but the plain offers no natural defense; if the enemy concentrates forces for a plain assault, our defensive pressure will be great.

Regiment Commander Yao, you will have the Independent Regiment familiarize themselves with the terrain, build fortifications at the canyon and valley entrances, position heavy firepower, and assign mobile units to the plain to counter any enemy raid, ensuring Qinglai's gateway is held."

Yao Quanyi leaned over the map, nodding heavily, "Commander, rest assured, I have already ordered soldiers to survey the terrain and will commence construction immediately.

The canyon and valley entrances are narrow, suitable for machine‑gun positions and mortars; as long as we hold these two passes, the enemy will find it hard to break through.

On the plain I will deploy tanks and mobile infantry to patrol; once the enemy is spotted, we will strike back at once, never allowing them a single step toward Qinglai Cheng.

Northern Thailand's terrain, like northern Myanmar's, is mountainous, so despite Yao Quanyi having only one regiment, together with Li Yi's four‑hundred guerrilla battalion, the force totals just over four thousand.

But that is enough.

The Independent Regiment is Jiang Anguo's most elite unit and currently the highest‑killing force.

Relying on its artillery, tanks, and aircraft, the Thai Army would need at least one hundred thousand troops to launch a counterattack.

Otherwise, they won't even think of crossing a single step of Qinglai.

Moreover, soldiers of the st Division stationed at Lashu Airport, Mandalay Airport, and Dongzhi Airport can be deployed to the front lines within two hours.

As the two were deep in discussion, a rapid footfall sounded outside the room.

Immediately, Xiao Si's voice rang out, breaking the command post's silence: "Young Master, an urgent message from Mandalay reports that the newly formed 22nd and 38th Divisions of the Expeditionary Force have been fully transported to Mandalay, arrived at the camp smoothly, and inventory is underway."

Jiang Anguo heard this, his tense brows slowly relaxed, a faint grateful smile appearing as he gave a gentle nod.

"As long as they return, as long as they return. These two units have been stuck in Yingpar for a while, which isn't ideal; getting them back safely finally lets the soldiers catch a breath."

Yao Quanyi also exhaled in relief, a approving look on his face: "Commander, your decisive decision to dispatch transport aircraft to retrieve them was truly wise. These two units are the Expeditionary Force's elite; had anything happened in Yingpar, it would have been a great loss."

Jiang Anguo slowly walked to the window, gazing at the distant ridges; a complex emotion flickered in his eyes as his thoughts drifted back to the retreat of the Expeditionary Force.

At that time, the Expeditionary Force suffered heavy losses in northern Myanmar; the British main force withdrew early, only to be blocked by the Japanese Army 33rd Division, forcing the Expeditionary commander to send these two units for support.

However, the British surrendered far too quickly.

The newly formed 22nd and 38th Divisions were forced to retreat toward India's Yingpar; along the way, the Japanese pursued and blocked them, supplies were cut off, and the soldiers lacked food and clothing, facing extreme hardship.

During that period, Jiang Anguo was occupied with countering the Japanese 56th Division and had no time to monitor these two units.

He knew these two units were the Expeditionary Force's backbone.

The soldiers were battle‑hardened and formidable.

If they were completely crushed by the Japanese during the retreat, or met disaster in Yingpar, it would be a fatal blow to the Expeditionary Force and the entire northern Myanmar campaign.

Just as the two units entered Myanmar's primeval forest, falling into a dire situation of exhausted ammunition, depleted rations, and utter fatigue.

Jiang Anguo then realized there were still troops hidden in Myanmar's mountains.

He acted decisively, immediately mobilizing all available C47 transport planes into a convoy, loading massive supplies of food, medicine, and ammunition, and racing toward Yingpar to airdrop support to the two units.

He knew that a further delay would likely prevent the two units from reaching Yingpar intact; even if they arrived, casualties would be severe and combat effectiveness lost.

The airdrop was not smooth, mainly because locating the units was too difficult; the high‑mountain jungles hid them, making detection impossible from below.

C47 crews, using their skilled piloting, weaved through a hail of gunfire, risking their lives to deliver supplies precisely to the two units' positions.

The soldiers who received the airdropped supplies seemed to see hope; their exhausted bodies were instantly revitalized. After replenishing food and ammo and resting briefly, they pressed onward toward Yingpar.

Even with the airdrop support, the two units still endured great hardship on the retreat.

Northern Myanmar's terrain was complex, with mountains and dense jungle, roads rugged and muddy; the soldiers trudged gingerly through the forest, uniforms torn by branches, feet blistered, and many, weakened by hunger and wounds, perished, forever remaining on this alien land.

Whenever he recalled those fallen soldiers, Jiang Anguo's heart filled with sorrow, strengthening his resolve to bring the remaining troops home safely.

And Jiang Anguo's willingness to expend massive manpower and resources, employing C47s to transport the two units from India back to Mandalay, stemmed from this.

According to the normal timeline, the Americans had advanced the transport plan, intending to keep the two units in Yingpar to receive American equipment upgrades.

In fact, American weapons had long been shipped from Australia and were about to arrive in India.

But now a change occurred: a new regime emerged in Myanmar, affecting many people and the nation.

There were two other crucial reasons, which formed his carefully considered decision.

The first reason was the establishment of the Nanko Democratic Federal Republic.

Nanko had just been founded, its foundations still shallow; although it gained support from some overseas Chinese and locals, it still faced many challenges, especially diplomatically, as its creation would inevitably affect the attitudes of Thailand, the United Kingdom, Japan and other neighboring countries, triggering a series of diplomatic ripples.

At this critical juncture, ensuring the Expeditionary Force's two elite units return home.

Returning to Mandalay would greatly boost the Expeditionary Force's strength in northern Myanmar and provide robust military backing for Nanko's establishment, deterring restless forces and preventing neighboring nations from underestimating Nanko and the Expeditionary Force.

The second reason, and Jiang Anguo's greatest worry, was the British ambition.

He knew the British style all too well: outwardly allies of China against the Japanese, yet constantly guarding against China, seeking greater gains in northern Myanmar.

The British place great value on their colonies, even toward another nation—ally or not—and have repeatedly betrayed their allies on the Burmese battlefield.

This made Expeditionary commanders realize the truth: relying on others is inferior to relying on oneself.