Age of Rebirth

Chapter 88 A Knife in the Heart

The importance of Myitkyina in northern Myanmar is self-evident. If the Japanese army occupied Myitkyina, the British who were single-minded about withdrawing to India would not only jump into the Bay of Bengal, but also be attacked by the Japanese army from north to south, encircling Manda in central Myanmar. In the Le area, it is impossible to escape, and there is no other way to go.

The British army that blocked the remnants of Shouyi in the temple from leaving the Savage Mountain was defeated and returned. Alexander couldn't figure it out, and he couldn't understand that this was the main force stationed in Myitkyina. So how could they wait for work at leisure and recharge their batteries, how could they be beaten into a panic by the Japanese who were only half breathed and retreated in a hurry?

Alexander was furious and ordered the dismissal of the commander of this army on the spot. Terauchi Shouichi suddenly rushed out from the Savage Mountain and caught the British army by surprise. In fact, this was the result of Alexander's self-deception. He commanded the troops from Thailand The British and Burmese troops retreating with southern Myanmar are already in a hurry, and they are not very worried about Shouichi Terauchi who is trapped in the savage mountain.

Even the guide team who brought enough supplies and were familiar with the geographical environment of Savage Mountain never came back, and there was no news. Can the Japanese who were driven into Savage Mountain by the Chinese come out alive?Others may believe it, but General Alexander does not believe it anyway. Several months have passed, and no Japanese has come out. Even the troops sent from Myitkyina to the southern foot of Savage Mountain to be in charge of security, he did it just in case. , Seeking peace of mind, and make temporary deployment. [

Previously transferred to the China-Laos and China-Vietnam borders to deal with the troops of the Chinese, Alexander did not intend to move, that is the capital of his life, once the Japanese army pushes into Mandalay, this part of the troops will be used to relieve the siege, let alone , There was not enough time, and as for confronting Tang Qiuli, Alexander had long since lost the courage and thought.

His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief’s anger had not yet been vented. The next morning, he received news that surprised him even more. Just one day later, there were more than [-] Japanese troops who had just walked out of Savage Mountain and their stomachs were not full. People launched a crazy attack on Myitkyina. The commander of the Myitkyina garrison sent a telegram for help, claiming that the Japanese army had occupied the periphery of Myitkyina and was storming the urban area.

In the afternoon, the situation in Myitkyina worsened. A part of the Japanese army broke through the British defensive positions on the outskirts of Myitkyina and had already invaded the northern part of the city. The British defenders were in danger. This news, like a bolt from the blue, knocked Alexander dizzy Dazzling, my God!What are the Japanese doing?

With the soldiers who were dragged half to death by the Savage Mountain, they attacked Myitkyina, which was defended by more than 8000 British troops, and they actually gained the upper hand. Myitkyina was the only passage to India. Where are you going?Return to China?Can that Tang Qiuli let himself go?At this moment, Alexander suddenly thought of a Chinese idiom, which is the most appropriate to describe the intention of the Japanese. "Catch the turtle in the urn" is just like this. The Japanese cut off their retreat, and they are determined to stay in northern Myanmar.

Seeing His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief of the Six God Lords in a hurry, Chief of Staff Francis couldn't help reminding: "Your Excellency, the current top priority is to immediately send troops to the farthest Myitkyina defenders. Before the retreating troops complete their assembly, Myitkyina must not be lost, otherwise, we will fall into the north-south attack of the Japanese army."

Alexander said angrily: "Chief of Staff, I know that Myitkyina is going to be reinforced, but do I have any troops in my hands? Count on the No. 11 Infantry Brigade, which has only more than 3000 people. It is still lying on the ground and cannot get up. Send that Troops, Chief of Staff, tell me!" Francis was silent, he knew that Alexander was telling the truth, Mandalay had lost all its heavy equipment, was incomplete, and was beaten to death by the Japanese No.11 Infantry Brigade , without any other troops.

Up to now, when it comes to Francis's own safety, he once again suggested, "Your Excellency, Commander-in-Chief, I still insist on reaching an agreement with the Chinese Tang Qiuli through local channels and imploring him to send troops to northern Myanmar. This is the only There is a feasible way, otherwise, you, I and the troops assembled in Mandalay, besides being killed in battle, will be captured by the Japanese.”

After two days of fierce fighting, Terauchi Shouichi commanded more than 9 soldiers who were shaking when they walked, and forced a brigade of more than 8000 troops from the British army defending Myitkyina to fight out from Myitkyina. The only choke point of Plum in the eastern region finally fell into the hands of the Japanese army, and the gate of the British retreating to India was blocked.

Speaking of it, this is a very puzzling battle. With more than 9 people who are extremely weak, they have just escaped the fate of the entire army, and lost all the remnants of heavy weapons. The British army in Myitkyina, even if the Japanese army can finally occupy Myitkyina, I am afraid that the remnants of Shouichi in the temple will be wiped out, right?

But this is not the case. The Japanese army only paid less than 1 casualties. Although the British army suffered fewer casualties, it reached more than 2000 people. After only two and a half days of fighting, the British army could no longer support it. He ran in the direction of Mandalay. It's not that Terauchi Shouyi didn't want to chase, but the soldiers' physical strength had reached their limit.

Tang Qiuli in Tengchong, after learning that the British army had lost Myitkyina, shook his head and sighed again and again, and said to Chang Feng, the chief of staff: "The British are really at the end of their ropes this time. Myitkyina is lost. The Japanese are going to close their doors and fight against it." The dog is dead, order all the regiments to make preparations for fighting in Burma, and the British should also come to the door for help."

Tang Qiuli and Chang Feng also had an in-depth discussion on the Battle of Myitkyina, and the two of them could not explain the strangeness of this battle. Although the Japanese army had [-] troops, their combat effectiveness was almost zero. The combat effectiveness of the soldiers is equivalent to one Japanese soldier in a normal state. In this way, it is almost equal to the strength of the British soldiers defending Myitkyina.

Moreover, the Japanese army did not have heavy weapons to attack fortified positions. In any case, the British army should also hold Myitkyina for more than two weeks. If Alexander reacts quickly, a small part of the main force from the border areas between China and Vietnam and China and Laos will be enough for the life of the temple. It is not certain who will kill the one who drinks a pot, but the British only guarded for two and a half days, and then ran away in a hurry, leaving about one-third of their troops, unable to figure it out.

Regarding the battle to block the British army's westward retreat to India, only Terauchi Shouichi knew how the victory was won. Looking at the fortifications in Myitkyina, Terauchi Shouichi knew how to fight this battle.

With the fighting power and morale of the remnants of the Southern China Expedition Army, we can only go all out to capture Myitkyina. Otherwise, we will organize a second attack without even thinking about it. In the eyes of the soldiers, there are iron walnuts that cannot be chewed.

Therefore, when Terauchi Shouichi came to the soldiers of the army participating in the main attack, he asked the soldiers straightforwardly, "Warriors of the empire, what do you need most?" When the commander-in-chief asked, the soldiers froze for no reason. No one answered, and Terauchi Shouichi didn't need ordinary soldiers to answer, he just wanted this effect.

"I know what you need? Delicious food, mellow wine, comfortable beds, and beautiful women, and these, as your commander, I can't give you, but in this city in front of you, there are Everything you need, capture it, occupy it, want everything you need, I officially announce that the first army to attack Myitkyina will be free to move for three days."

As soon as Terauchi Shou saw and heard the soldier's words, his eyeballs turned red at that moment, revealing a fierce light like a hungry wolf, and a fierce murderous aura suddenly rose above the Japanese soldiers. He nodded in satisfaction, and continued: "In the past three days, this city has belonged to the bravest troops. Military discipline has no restrictions on you, while other troops can only be stationed outside the city. Attack! Warriors of the empire!"

These were the words of the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Japanese Army who boasted of his strict military discipline, not to mention the mobilization before the war. It was clearly the mentality and language of bandits who robbed houses. The words of Terauchi Shouichi were like lighting a gasoline barrel, and the Japanese soldiers issued a There were earth-shattering cries, all of them rushed towards Myitkyina from all directions, like a flood that had burst an embankment. [

With a command knife in one hand, Terauchi Shou looked at the soldiers with strong fighting spirit in satisfaction, and thought to himself, "It is impossible to attack Myitkyina with exhausted soldiers. Under such circumstances, why serve the Great Japanese Empire? His Majesty the Emperor is loyal, it is all useless nonsense, what I have done is not to ignite the primitive animal nature accumulated in the savage mountains, so that the soldiers forget about fatigue and hunger, and fight bravely for the sake of instinct."

Now it seems that Terauchi Shouichi's goal has been fully achieved. Fierce gunshots resounded around Myitkyina like a torrential rain. His chief of staff saw that His Excellency, Commander-in-Chief, had a cruel and cruel grin on his mouth. The corner of his mouth was long, and he didn't quite agree with Terauchi Shouichi's words, but he had to admit that the effect was the best for soldiers who endured months of hunger and despair.

Staying in the reinforced concrete fortifications, the well-dressed British soldiers were horrified to see groups of ragged Japanese soldiers who looked like beggars, holding only rifles in their hands, and some even held a wooden stick. Or a bayonet, just like that without fear, rushing up like a wall of people.

The British army's light and heavy machine guns fired at the same time, knocking down one piece. The Japanese soldiers behind, as if they were unconscious, uttered strange screams, and still rushed forward with their bodies straight. In their eyes, they became an undefeated monster. They didn't know it was a troop. They were the first to withdraw from the trenches, which immediately caused a chain reaction, which caused the British army in Myitkyina to retreat across the board.

If the British army can withdraw from Myitkyina smoothly, it can be regarded as preserving their strength, and it is not too embarrassing, but the fact is not the case. The Japanese soldiers like lunatics have become a disaster for the British.

(To be continued)

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