Chapter 84: Tank Regiment Hu Xianqun

Watanabe Masao's idea can hardly be called anything but bold; the Expeditionary Force's combat and defensive capability is indeed weak, and the only unit capable of fighting a positional battle against the Japanese is truly only the Fifth Army.

Senary Army collapses at the first touch.

Watanabe Masao wasn't entirely relying on others; after capturing Taunggyi, his subordinate 113th Infantry Regiment, commanded by Colonel DaSuJiaShi, fell under his command.

The defense of Taunggyi is held by the 113th Regiment; an infantry regiment positioned near the front under a division typically has naturally stronger combat power.

Moreover, half of the 56th Field Artillery Regiment remains.

The movement of artillery does indeed affect speed; simultaneously, orders were given to the 146th and 148th Regiments to advance north quickly toward Lashu.

Jiang Anguo wore an expression of disbelief at this moment, wondering how a division's manpower could be defeated so quickly; even the Temporary 55th Division supposedly had eight or nine thousand troops. Even if they weren't attacking the Japanese, they should at least be defending Taunggyi, and even in retreat there should be layered defensive withdrawals.

The result was a retreat without any resistance.

Captain, Senary Army commander Gan Lichu has entered Lashu, Meng Fanle reported to Jiang Anguo at that time.

It can be said that Meng Fanle, having been mixing around Lashu for this period, knows any wind or rustle of grass.

Jiang Anguo nodded, "The speed really is fast."

Jiang Anguo actually wanted to scold him: you, a commander, have lost your troops and come back yourself; what fighting spirit remains among the subordinate generals and soldiers?

Now, in Lashu, aside from having no soldiers, there is a large group of officers: Chief of Staff Lin Wei, th Army commander Zhang Zhen, and a bunch of Lieutenant Generals.

And what about Lashu's defensive forces!

Lashu has only the manpower of four battalions from the new 28th Division; two regiments are missing, having rushed to Mandalay to take part in the impossible Mandalay Battle.

The new 29th Division's two battalions, when they entered Lashu, Jiang Anguo also knew, had no heavy weapons; the only heavy arms were a few machine guns and mortars.

Hu Xianqun's Armored Corps, with twenty-six Soviet T26B Tanks, had a fairly large force of two thousand men.

Conversely, among all units, Hu Xianqun's Armored Corps had the most personnel, yet Lin Wei considered it the most useless, because Lin Wei had known from the start that the armored corps had no combat-ready tanks; all the tanks were lost severely on the road from Kunming to Lashu and were unable to fight.

As a result, in Lin Wei's eyes there essentially was no such unit.

Moreover, Jiang Anguo not only repaired the damaged tanks but also made simple modifications inside each tank, equipping every tank with a radio set; this made tank operations easier, eliminating the need for observers to climb out, relying solely on shouting.

"Meng Fanle, notify everyone: all soldiers, load your bullets, be ready to fight at any moment." Jiang Anguo was unsure when the Japanese would reach Lashu, but at this marching speed, they would arrive in three to five days.

Additionally, order the Sixth Company of Changshan to enter Position One and defend together with the Fourth Company.

Jiang Anguo divided the positions into four; Position One is the front battlefield of Lashu, at the southern railway-road location of Lashu, which is the hill where Jiang Anguo previously dug trenches and placed anti-aircraft weapons.

Position One now has two and a half companies: the Fourth Company under Liu Guangsheng, specialized in ambush.

The Sixth Company of Changshan, specialty defense.

And half of an Anti-Aircraft Company.

Position Two is the western hill of the Fifth Company's defensive position; because a small road explored by the Myanmar Independent Volunteer Army was discovered, the Fifth Company was placed here, the Tank Company is also hidden at Position Two, and the Artillery Company is there as well, its barrels pointing toward Position One.

The Fifth Company's Liang Tiancheng, specialty defense.

Jiang Anguo also placed another Anti-Aircraft Company at Position Two.

Position Three is the main camp, Lashu.

Jiang Anguo currently has no assigned troops, only the 1,600 'Burmese' people, and he has already killed many suspicious Burmese; the houses of those suspects have been taken over by Jiang Anguo to house these soldiers.

Position Four, on the east side of Lashu, has only a single small road that Huang Ping passes while hunting, making it unsuitable for Transport Vehicles; therefore Jiang Anguo has not dispatched troops there for defense.

It so happened that Hu Xianqun was at the gate of Jiang Anguo's camp, apparently coming to find Jiang Anguo.

"Brother Hu, is there something?" Jiang Anguo asked.

Hu Xianqun didn't know how to start.

Jiang Anguo replied, "Brother Hu, whatever it is, just say it."

With so many bad reports already, Jiang Anguo still had more bad news.

"Brother Anguo, I received a telegram from Deputy Commander Du today, ordering me to lead the Tank Corps soldiers back to the interior. The Japanese have already taken Taunggyi, and now the Japanese 56th Division has disappeared; they must be moving north to prepare an attack on Lashu," Hu Xianqun said apologetically.

Jiang Anguo nodded, "Brother Hu, are you preparing to retreat, or what are you thinking!"

The fact that Hu Xianqun could come to find him shows he is also hesitating.

Hu Xianqun looked at Jiang Anguo for a long while and said, "Anguo, I, your brother, want to hear your opinion; during this period, following you and observing the positions you set up, it seems you are preparing to fight the Japanese at Lashu."

Jiang Anguo indeed took Hu Xianqun on a tour of his positions, and he didn't hide anything.

Hu Xianqun seemed to have made a great decision and finally said, "Anguo brother, as long as you give me one word: if you choose to hold Lashu to the death, then I, your elder brother, will disobey orders and fight alongside you. If you retreat, the Japanese haven't reached Lashu yet, there is still time."

It was unexpected that Hu Xianqun actually wanted to disobey orders.

During this period, Jiang Anguo has been using Jiang Anguo's resources; crucially, Jiang Anguo also repaired Hu Xianqun's tanks, and this favor makes it hard for Hu Xianqun to abandon his junior brother Jiang Anguo.

Jiang Anguo smiled and stepped in front of Hu Xianqun, saying, "Brother Hu, no need to be hard on yourself; this Lashu, I must defend, but not to the death. As for staying or leaving, that depends on you, elder brother!"

Jiang Anguo set this question aside for Hu Xianqun and walked out of the camp tent.

Hu Xianqun also came out, then quickly asked, "Little brother, what do you mean by not a death defense?"

Jiang Anguo explained, "Brother Hu, I don't know if you've ever seen a map of Lashu and the China-Myanmar border."

Hu Xianqun nodded; of course he has seen the map.

"Then you should know that Lashu is the starting point of the Dian-Mian Highway; the Expeditionary Army Fifth Army is far out in Mandalay. The Japanese attack on Lashu aims to cut off the Expeditionary Army's rear. Once Lashu falls, the Japanese can move into Bamo, Myitkyina, and even threaten the deep rear," Jiang Anguo explained his view.

In fact, the Japanese do exactly that.

Hu Xianqun's eyes widened, "You mean the Japanese would also attack Myitkyina."