Chapter 72: The Division Receives Reinforcements

Front line, th Division headquarters.

"Division commander, a unit has rushed in from Lashu," the Messenger shouted.

Dai Anlan, who was studying the map, lifted their head, turned their neck, "Our reinforcements."

Dai Anlan repeatedly requested reinforcement units, but unfortunately the Fifth Army had no troops left to spare.

Liao Yaoxiang's 22nd Division was the same; the Japanese Army did not attack, only deployed Cold Guns everywhere.

Moreover, what gave Dai Anlan and Liao Yaoxiang a headache was the incessant gunfire emerging from the jungle.

Because of this, both units suffered considerable personnel losses.

These were also harassment units dispatched by the Japanese Army, typically a few Japanese soldiers accompanied by Myanmar Independent Volunteer Army troops, constantly harassing the Expeditionary Force.

"Division commander, they say they are soldiers of our Supplement Battalion, a company of over 160 men, and they have quite a few transport vehicles," the Messenger said.

Dai Anlan nodded, "Let's go take a look together."

Dai Anlan, accompanied by several staff officers, approached Quanzong.

"What an elite unit," Deputy Division Commander Peng Bicheng praised.

The 8th Company's equipment is uniformly German-made; however, after the Sino-Japanese war began, Germany's weapons no longer entered China, and Germany also has no surplus weapons to sell.

"Impressive, these must be Germany's latest weapons; apart from the rifles, I've never seen the others."

"Which unit are you?" Dai Anlan stepped forward.

Quanzong merely held an MP40, straightened up, and said, "Report, Division commander, we are the Supplement Battalion 8th Company; I am Captain Company Commander Quanzong."

Zhou Zhizai, seeing that Quanzong did not salute, became a bit angry; after all, their th Division is a well‑trained unit, and etiquette matters as well.

Dai Anlan also awaited Quanzong's reply.

Quanzong glanced at Zhou Zhizai, then said to Dai Anlan, "Before entering Myanmar, our battalion commander specifically instructed that Myanmar people and Japanese be friendly; the Myanmar Independent Volunteer Army specifically brings Little Devils to shoot our soldiers. Therefore, after entering Myanmar, we are not allowed to salute superiors, and all non‑commissioned officers must not wear arm patches or rank insignia."

Indeed, Quanzong was not wearing any arm patches or rank insignia; it was only when they first entered the position and spoke with the Messenger that the origin of Quanzong's unit became known.

Dai Anlan nodded, "Relay the order: no troops may salute superiors, and all officers must not wear rank patches."

Rip—

Dai Anlan led the way, taking off the arm patch and also removing the rank insignia from the collar; everyone present, seeing the division commander do so, immediately followed suit.

This truly is a matter of life and death; though it seems minor, there have already been cases of being shot by the Japanese Army, and they don't even know where the Japanese are.

"Whole Company commander, report your unit's weapons and equipment," Dai Anlan clearly was most interested in the 8th Company's armaments.

"Report: our Whole Company has 160 men, three platoons, a machine‑gun squad, a mortar squad; the company is equipped with 15 MG42 machine guns, five 50mm mortars, and one 81mm mortar," Quanzong shouted.

Quanzong said exactly what Dai Anlan wanted to hear—"Impressive, how does my little brother‑in‑law have so much firepower? A single company's firepower is so fierce."

Regiment commander Zheng Tingji of the Regiment said, "Impressive, this company's firepower equals half of my battalion's."

Firepower naturally isn't the rifles; the Expeditionary Force's rifles are still fully supplied, while machine guns and mortars constitute the firepower weapons.

Everyone nodded; these firepower weapons, before American equipment entered China, the Chinese Army had long cooperated with the Germans, and the Hanyang rifle was also modeled after the Mauser 1888, including the later standard issue, with 7.92mm ammunition.

"Where did your battalion commander obtain the weapons and equipment?" Dai Anlan asked curiously.

Nowadays acquiring German weapons is not easy.

"Report, Division commander, our battalion has a doctor named Lei Ao; he is German and has channels to obtain weapons," Quanzong said.

In fact, Jiang Anguo hadn't considered this at first; later he thought, Lei Ao is German, so if anyone asks about the weapons' source, they can point to Lei Ao.

"How much supplies did you bring over?" Dai Anlan asked curiously.

"200,000 rounds of 7.92mm bullets, four Type 92 Infantry Cannons, 400 shells, some medical supplies, and 4,000 rations."

When Quanzong mentioned the Type 92 Infantry Cannon, everyone showed incredulous expressions.

The th Division is not yet short of ammunition, but having ample ammo would of course be a good thing.

"Great!" Dai Anlan's current biggest shortage is heavy weapons.

Not only the th Division, Liao Yaoxiang's new 22nd Division also lacks artillery; the only artillery that has reached the front line is the Fifth Army's directly attached Artillery Regiment.

There are also a few decent 105mm howitzers.

As for the th Division's and the 22nd Division's artillery, they remain in Lashu, not yet transported to the front.

These divisions truly are mainline; although they lack howitzers, they do have 75mm mountain guns.

Whether in the Tonggu Campaign or later battles, the th Division only has 60mm and 80mm mortars, and against the Japanese Army's tank aircraft, firepower remains insufficient.

"How do you have the Little Devil's infantry cannon?" Zhou Zhizai asked skeptically.

Quanzong shook his head, "I don't know; our battalion commander obtained them."

This issue isn't just unknown to Quanzong; Jiang Anguo himself has no explanation. If he knew they would ask, Jiang Anguo would simply provide Germany's 75mm infantry cannon.

"With these cannons, it's enough for the Little Devils to have a drink," Regiment commander Liu Shuren of the 599 Regiment said.

"Division commander, this time the good gear can be allocated to our regiment first," Liu Shuren continued, noting that previously the British's weapons had all gone to the Regiment.

Dai Anlan thought it over; with three regiments, none could be favored, "Reallocate artillery, these four cannons, to form a division‑direct artillery platoon."

No regiment was favored over another; with firepower, many problems become easier to solve.

The Type 92 Infantry Cannon is familiar to everyone present; on Chinese battlefields it is a killer weapon, yet in reality it only has a 70mm caliber.

Dai Anlan looked at Quanzong's company and said, "The situation is urgent; Whole Company commander, your unit must be ready to enter the battlefield at any time."

"Yes, Division commander."

Quanzong recalled the battalion commander's instructions before departure and immediately said, "Division commander, this time we have brought transport vehicles, hoping to move some seriously wounded to the rear."

Dai Anlan clearly agreed to the plan; indeed, continuous combat has produced too many casualties, not only in the th Division but also in the new 22nd Division.

These wounded need to be sent to the rear for treatment.

Dai Anlan's idea of the rear was Mandalay; in fact, the Allied Forces were not prepared to receive so many wounded, so when the first batch retreated into Mandalay, many casualties occurred.

Meanwhile, Quanzong's transport vehicles hauled the wounded straight back to Lashu—yes, Lashu—after looping through Mandalay, they took more wounded from Mandalay and brought them all to Lashu.

PS: Answer the question about the weapons—why use German arms, I like it! Why I write this, I like it! If you want, I'll hand you the keyboard, I'll say…