Chapter 490: Yingpar (2)

Sure enough, after the newly formed 22nd Division and the newly formed 38th Division entered Yingpar, the British immediately put forward an extremely unreasonable demand.

They said the two units must lay down all weapons before they could enter the Yingpar camp to rest.

The British are synonymous with cowardice and timidity.

If it weren't for the English Channel, and if the strait were filled in, one could probably flatten Great Britain in 24 hours.

This unit simply cannot engage in hard‑fought battles.

Especially when fighting alongside allies, the British' usual practice is to betray them.

"Lay down weapons? That's downright absurd!" Jiang Anguo recalled the matter, his tone tinged with anger, "We are allies with the British, jointly resisting the Japanese.

Not only do they refuse to provide support, they demand that our elite units surrender their arms; this is clearly malicious, aiming to weaken us and perhaps even seize control of the two units."

In the Myanmar Campaign, the British clearly possessed artillery, tanks, and armored vehicles superior to those of Japan, yet they used that firepower to flee.

Yao Quanyi, his face full of indignation, said, "Indeed, commander, the British have gone too far! The soldiers of these two divisions fought bloody battles on the Myanmar battlefield, suffering great sacrifice; they are not only ungrateful but also make such unreasonable demands—truly an egregious betrayal!"

The Expeditionary Force not only protects the Dian-Mian Highway, but can also cooperate with the British to defeat the Japanese; however, things are not that simple.

When Churchill transferred his most capable aide, Yalishanda, from Africa to Myanmar, the outcome was already sealed.

Jiang Anguo nodded, his tone firm: "Precisely because I saw through the British' intentions, I decisively arranged transport aircraft to swiftly bring these two units back."

"Now that the Nanko Democratic Federal Republic is being established, the British will surely intervene; the few British liaisons within the Expeditionary Force are already frantic, jumping about."

"If the soldiers of the 38th Division and the 22nd Division remain in Yingpar, the consequences would be unimaginable; we must not let them fall into danger, nor allow the British plot to succeed."

Jiang Anguo also considered various possibilities; if it were his own troops in Yingpar, he would politely say Yingpar could be renamed Jiangpar.

But after all, they are Expeditionary Force units and must obey orders; having Sun Liren and Liao Yaoxiang defy commands would clearly be impossible.

When the British point the spear at the 38th Division and the 22nd Division, that would be far from a good thing.

As for re‑equipping, let the Americans figure out how to send the gear to Mandalay.

Or, once Jiang Anguo captures Yangon, the Americans can ship the equipment there.

To ensure the transport's safety, he also assigned William to lead a P‑38 Lightning squadron as escort against Japanese fighter interception.

When the transport aircraft arrived at Yingpar, the soldiers of the two units, learning they could return to Mandalay and rejoin the Expeditionary Force, were thrilled; they hurried aboard, bidding farewell to the humiliating and dangerous Yingpar.

The Japanese now only wish to safeguard their existing spoils of victory.

As for Yingpar, they dare not even contemplate it; moreover, after the Japanese 5th Air Brigade in the Myanmar region was annihilated, there is no longer any force to resist.

Under the escort of P‑38 Lightnings, the transport formation sped onward, ultimately delivering the two units safely to Mandalay. As the soldiers disembarked onto Mandalay's soil, many couldn't help but be moved to tears.

They have finally returned, finally escaped Yingpar's predicament, and can once again fight side by side with their comrades.

"With these two units back, we can not only replenish the Expeditionary Force's strength but also provide solid support for our subsequent operations," Jiang Anguo turned to Yao Quanyi, his voice full of confidence.

"Once they finish resting, we can further expand our victories, completely crush the remaining Japanese and Thai Army forces, firmly hold the Myanmar‑Thailand Border, and lay a solid foundation for Nanko's development."

Of course, the Expeditionary Force units will eventually return home to eliminate the Japanese.

But at this time there are Expeditionary Force units in Myanmar—no, now in the Nanko Federation.

With them on Nanko Federation soil, at least the British dare not act recklessly.

Yao Quanyi nodded emphatically: "Yes, commander! With these two units joining, our confidence grows! I'm sure it won't be long before we fully pacify Myanmar, leaving this land free of war's smoke."

Jiang Anguo knew that retrieving these two units was only the beginning.

The current combat forces are still too few: Jiang Anguo's 201st Division and Dai Anlan's 200th Division.

The 200th Division, without the troops Jiang Anguo contributed, could not possibly regain combat capability in such a short time.

In the northwest corner of Lashu, far from the city in the desolate outskirts, an abandoned mine was reactivated.

Tall Barbed Wire was erected around, its tops entwined with sharp wire; every few dozen meters a armed guard stood on duty, eyes keen, vigilantly scanning the mine's interior and exterior.

Moreover, patrolling Expeditionary Force soldiers were accompanied by a sturdy Military Dog, whose occasional bared teeth showed its formidable combat ability.

The air was filled with mineral dust and the sour stench of sweat, exuding a suppressed, solemn atmosphere.

Here is one of the Japanese POW camps Jiang Anguo ordered established, holding hundreds of Japanese soldiers captured in the northern Myanmar campaign.

Jiang Anguo, dressed in crisp uniform and standing tall, walked slowly along the mine's winding mountain path accompanied by Lin Yi, while distant sounds of POWs laboring heavily and supervisors shouting echoed.

Even the crack of a whip could be heard, a sound that gave Jiang Anguo gooseflesh on his back.

Lin Yi followed beside Jiang Anguo, holding a notebook.

Walking, he whispered a report on the mine's situation to Jiang Anguo in a respectful, steady tone: "Commander, this site holds a portion of Japanese captives; per your orders they must perform 16 hours of high‑intensity labor daily, mainly mining and transport, with no rest time except meals and brief breaks."

The captives have no time; allowing them eight hours of rest is because Jiang Anguo does not want them to die so quickly.

Jiang Anguo gave a slight nod, his gaze drifting to the labor area below the mine, eyes calm and untroubled.

On the open ground of the mine, the tightly packed POWs wore tattered prison uniforms, their bodies coated with mineral dust and mud, each one gaunt and sallow, their eyes numb.

There is no longer the arrogant aura of the invasion era.

With heavy shackles, they staggered while hauling heavy ore; each step the shackles clanged "clank‑clank" loudly.

Their eyes were filled with despair.