Age of Rebirth

Chapter [-] The first battle against Myitkyina

Gensaburo Ito, the commander-in-chief of Japan’s Southeast Asian Expeditionary Force, was shocked when he learned that China, the United States and Britain had signed a military alliance agreement. What he was most worried about was the independent division troops stationed on the Chinese border. Although some time ago, they fought against the British See, there are no permanent enemies in the world, only permanent interests.

China, the United States and the United Kingdom came together because of the fierce offensive of the imperial army in Southeast Asia. Britain and the United States wanted to preserve their interests in Southeast Asia, and the Chinese people were also afraid that Southeast Asia would be used as a base to attack the mainland of China again after it was occupied by the Japanese Empire. However, Ito Yanzaburo measured the mentality of Britain and the United States exactly, but he could speculate on China, but lost a thousand miles.

Japan dispatched troops to Southeast Asia, is it not an important pawn in Tang Qiuli's strategy plan for Southeast Asia? For the sake of safety, Ito sent a large number of troops along the north of Mandalay without affecting the encirclement of Mandalay .In the direction of China to the east, do battle alert.

Two days later, Ito Yansaburo's prediction became a reality. The Chinese finally dispatched troops to Burma, and it was the daunting independent division. Ito Yansaburo was very nervous. Although Dele's order is reluctant, it is still much better than fighting on two fronts and attacking from both inside and outside. [

If Ito Yansaburo attacked Mandalay immediately, Tang Qiuli's battle plan had not been completed, and the British did not have the determination to break through. The result of the battle would make Tang Qiuli very disappointed. It can be said that it was a failure. plan.

Another day later, Tang Qiuli intentionally exposed his intentions, and the Feng Jiwu Corps and Ma Chaoyang Corps, which advanced into Laos and Vietnam, were deployed in both places at the same time. The momentum was huge. Ito was relieved when he received the information. Mandalay is more than a thousand miles away. The geographical conditions of the Indochina Peninsula greatly limit the marching speed of mechanized troops.

Even if Tang Qiuli's independent division troops came from two places day and night, they would not be able to climb to the outskirts of Mandalay in less than two weeks. Let him rest assured. One more thing, the place where Tang Qiuli's troops attacked , There is no main force of the empire at all, only some pioneer groups and local forces controlled by the Japanese.

It can be seen from this that first, Tang Qiuli was unwilling to fight the imperial army that had gathered heavily in Mandalay, and second, he took the opportunity to seize the original sphere of influence of the British and take advantage of the chaos. Such an alliance, itself There are interest entanglements, mutual dismantling, and it is impossible to form a joint force. Thinking of this level, Ito Yansaburo's worry is reduced a little.

Tang Qiuli's strategic deception in the Indochina Peninsula has achieved unprecedented success. This is what Sun Tzu said in the Art of War, "showing it with form." All the attention of Yanzaburo Ito was attracted to the eastern part of the Indochina Peninsula.

The Corps directly under the Independent Division and the Tang Qiusheng Corps that participated in the Battle of Myitkyina disappeared among the mountains in northern Myanmar. While recovering from Myitkyina, Toshiichi Terauchi, who was stuck in the retreat of the British, did not realize that the huge danger was approaching step by step.

On the morning of June [-], the [-]st Brigade of the vanguard of the Corps directly under the Independent Division, and the [-]th Brigade, which turned northward from Nankan, had successively arrived at Waza, which is due north of Myitkyina, and Mofeng, which is to the southeast. The third brigade is rushing through the Hukang River Valley, the fourth brigade has arrived at Magao, east of the Mengguan line, and the rest of the follow-up troops are also rushing to the predetermined area. A large net is quietly spreading towards Myitkyina. go.

The troops of the six brigades of the Sulu Mobile Corps of the Independent Division under the command of Yu Guanghan also deployed on the main traffic route from Mandalay to Myitkyina, like a string of pearls, at suitable locations for ambush according to the planned plan. In four days, Tang Qiuli's battle layout in Myitkyina in northern Myanmar has been completed.

Major General Liu Hongzhang, commander of the first brigade directly under the Corps, stood on a mountain 5000 miles outside of Waza Town. This place is the only commanding height in Waza. The small plain at the foot flows slowly, and the mountain is densely forested and overgrown with bushes. It is a good place to hide soldiers naturally. Let alone a brigade with more than 10,000 people, it means [-]+ people. If they are scattered here, the planes in the sky will scout , can not be found.

Ascending to the top of the peak, a gust of cool mountain wind blew away the sweat and heat all over the body. In June, northern Myanmar was already as hot as a steamer. Liu Hongzhang refreshed himself and wiped the sweat from his forehead without turning his head. , ordered the confidential section chief standing behind him: "Send a report to the division. Our brigade has arrived at the predetermined area of ​​Sawan according to the stipulated time. The troops are hiding and resting. Please ask for instructions on the next step."

Then, I picked up the binoculars and looked in the direction of Myitkyina. Of course, this is not the vast North China Plain. Standing on a high mountain, you can see dozens of miles away, covered by forests, surrounded by fog, and even the shadow of Myitkyina. Didn't see any of them.

Liu Hongzhang put down the binoculars annoyedly, and muttered, "A damn place is nothing but mountains and trees." Colonel Ren Zhaoquan, the chief of staff of the brigade, said half-jokingly: "Brigade commander, don't complain. Criticize harshly, didn't you snatch the mission of the vanguard from other brigades?"

Liu Hongzhang said somewhat proudly: "That is, with our first brigade here, who dares to compete with me for the main attack. The first brigade of the independent division is the main force among the main forces. If you don't accept it, pull it out and make gestures!"

Ren Zhaoquan laughed, and then said: "At the military meeting when the Corps went abroad to fight, Qiao Manshan, the brigade commander of the second brigade, complained to me after the meeting. Tell your brigade commander not to fight over everything. The other brigades are no worse than your first brigade, anyway, I was convinced by your loud Liu, but I heard him making noises at the venue, he can do it!"

The seemingly relaxed dialogue between Liu Hongzhang and Ren Zhaoquan concealed the arduous journey of the first brigade from Tengchong to Vasa. In four days and four nights, in order to conceal the whereabouts of the troops, they traveled to Vasa. There are roads, full of virgin forests and swamps, completely temporary roads.

Almost all the soldiers in the brigade have become engineers, overcoming all obstacles and hardships, crossing the southern edge of the Gaoligong Mountains and crossing the Wenlikai River before they started to look like they were on the road. There were more than [-] non-combat casualties on the way. There are so many people that Liu Hongzhang scolded the sky and the earth angrily, scolding the damn place in northern Myanmar.

Not long after the telegram to the division was sent, I received a reply, "Brigade Commander Liu Hongzhang, your troops are hiding on the front line of Vasa on the spot. At [-]:[-] a.m. on June [-], you will launch an attack on the Japanese army in Myitkyina on time. The direction of the attack is secret. China is due north, I suggest that you are the first wave of attacking troops, responsible for attracting the full attention of the Japanese army in Myitkyina, and you must play the momentum of a large force."

Liu Hongzhang was happy. This trip was not in vain. The blood blisters on the soles of his feet were worth it. He was the first unit to attack. At the moment when he was happy, Chief of Staff Ren Zhaoquan handed him a telegram with a wry smile. When Liu Hongzhang saw it, he became angry at that time, and shouted loudly: "Tell the brigade's first and second heavy artillery regiments and rocket launcher headquarters that even if they are carried by people, they must get the cannons to the designated position. There are no cannons. Use your teeth to gnaw the little devil's position?"

Ren Zhaoquan hurriedly persuaded, "Brigade Commander, it's not their fault. You know what kind of road we are taking. It is difficult for infantry to pass, not to mention those big and heavy artillery. I think so, the regiments should not rest Now, except for a small number of guard troops, the rest are all going to repair the road.”[

Liu Hongzhang let out a heavy "hum", exhaled a turbid breath from his chest, and said, "Okay, let's do it like this, Zhaoquan, just work hard and be responsible for the organization. Also, ask, the No. [-] tank assigned to us The first brigade, where did you arrive? Don’t tell me it’s also hundreds of kilometers away? If you don’t have the military skills, what should I use to fight Myitkyina tomorrow morning?”

Ren Zhaoquan shook his head naively. He knew that the brigade commander did not lose his temper with the artillery and tank troops, but that he was tortured by the terrain conditions in northern Myanmar these days, and the time before the general offensive was launched was 21 hours. It was quite difficult to get those heavy artillery and rocket launchers in place on time, and he didn't dare to delay the time. After leaving, he left in a hurry.

On the night of June [-]th, in Bhamo, Myanmar, Tang Qiuli asked Chang Feng, the chief of staff of the Independent Division Myitkyina Campaign Headquarters, "Chang Feng, have all the troops arrived at the designated positions?" Chang Feng replied: " The division commander, the five brigades responsible for attacking Myitkyina, have all arrived at the designated location, but some of the heavy weapons are still on their way to the designated area due to the road."

Tang Qiuli's face darkened, and he said: "Send a telegram to the brigades and order them, no matter what method to take, heavy weapons must be in place before the general offensive is launched. More than 7 people are hiding around Myitkyina, and they can hide it from the temple. Therefore, the time for the general attack on Myitkyina remains unchanged, we cannot wait any longer, otherwise, there will inevitably be unexpected changes in the British troops in the direction of Mandalay."

After Chang Feng recorded the division commander's order and asked the confidential officer to issue it immediately, Tang Qiuli asked again: "What is the situation of the troops in other directions?" Chang Feng replied: "The fourth brigade passing through Mengguan has arrived at the designated position , only the second and third brigades whose intended targets are in the Hukang River Valley, because the journey is far away and the terrain conditions encountered are more complicated than other troops."

"According to the telegram from their brigade headquarters, it will arrive at around ten o'clock in the morning on June [-] at the earliest. There are still infantry units, heavy weapons and tank units, and there is still a lag. It seems that these two brigades cannot follow the The allotted time, the attack is launched! Commander, do you want to adjust the time of the general attack? In order to achieve the unity of the campaign launch?"

Tang Qiuli shook his head and said: "The time of the general attack remains the same. The Hukang Valley is a relatively isolated battlefield. It is close to India. The Japanese army does not have many defensive troops. I have two main brigades of more than 3 people equipped with heavy artillery and tanks. It is already very important to deal with less than [-] Japanese troops, and the battle in the direction of Myitkyina will not affect the normal progress of the Hukang Valley Battle."

(To be continued)

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