Age of Rebirth

In Tang Qiuli's mind, there was still a question, who was his opponent?So far, the intelligence department has not sent any detailed information, so I can only keep this question in my heart.

Tang Qiuli went through all the British commanders stationed in India in his mind, but he laughed himself, not having the slightest impression, the senior commanders of the British, except for the former supreme commander of the British army stationed in the Indochina Peninsula Well, apart from Alexander, who was overshadowed by himself, there is no name of a British general in his memory.

It's no wonder that my biggest enemy and opponent in the Indochina Peninsula is the Japanese. As for the British, India, far away in the South Asian subcontinent, has no intersection with me. I don't pay attention to collecting information on senior commanders of the British and Indian troops. The big responsibility is not just ignoring, but not treating the British as opponents.

It's not a big mistake, it's just that when it's time to use it, his hands are empty. Thinking of this, his little dissatisfaction with the inadequacy of the Deshui Intelligence Department's work disappeared.

At this time, Zhao Yuhe, the chief of staff of the division, hurried in and said, "Master, I have contacted Wen Rongcai, the commander of the northern Myanmar border security zone!" Tang Qiuli hurriedly asked, "How is the situation?" [

Zhao Yuhe took a telegram and replied: "The situation is not optimistic. Wen Rongcai led a guard battalion last night, followed the first and second garrison teams of the department, and rushed to Xiduo to set up a blockade. On the front line, as of around four o'clock this afternoon, they have exchanged fire with the vanguard of the British and Indian troops. At present, the battle is still going on. According to Wen Rongcai's telegram, the troops suffered heavy casualties. At the same time, he also told the division commander that even the guards The district troops are exhausted, and they will never take half a step back!"

Tang Qiuli was silent for a while.Slowly said: "Good job, Wen Rong is worthy of coming down from the field army, with such a vigor, about the situation of the British and Indian troops. How much does he know?"

Zhao Yuhe looked at the telegram and said: "Master, according to Wen Rongcai's report, the British and Indian troops on the opposite side have mediocre combat effectiveness, and there is nothing new in tactical command. They are mainly Indian soldiers and carry out assaults on our position. However, the weapons and equipment Very good, we have launched multiple attacks on the blocking line of our army in Xiduo, the artillery fire is very fierce, and a large number of tanks have been dispatched. In addition, the planes of the British and Indian troops also carried out large-scale bombing of the position."

"In addition, Wen Rongcai also provided an important information. The heavy weapons used by the British and Indian troops are not the standard equipment of the British army. They look like American products." "Oh!" Tang Qiuli raised his eyebrows and said, "Americans come from Guns, the British let the Indians take the lead. This is the consistent method of the British and the United States. It is logical. It seems that the Americans still have reservations about this action of the British. In other words, there is no way to stop it. Otherwise, they provide That’s not all, it clears up a mystery for me.”

Zhao Yuhe asked strangely, "Teacher, what is the mystery?" Tang Qiuli waved his hands and said, "Don't talk about that. Yuhe, you should immediately send a telegram to Wen Rongcai, the troops in the Hukang River Valley of the Northern Burmese Frontier Security Zone, Withdrew from the Xiduo front line and assembled in the Magao area, you must emphasize that it is my order, otherwise, this guy Wen Rongcai will be stubborn and won't retreat until he wipes out all the troops."

Zhao Yuhe said with a smile, "It's still the division commander who understands Commander Wen's temper." Tang Qiuli said with a look of reminiscence, "Wen Rongcai was originally the deputy brigade commander of the Fourth Brigade directly under the Corps, and Chu Ziye's deputy. He was just transferred when the northern Burmese border guard area was established, and he was promoted by half a grade according to the rank, but he was unwilling at the beginning and asked me several times, but in the end he went."

In the Hukang River Valley under the thick night, on the Xiduo blockade position, Tang Qiuli and Chief of Staff Zhao Yuhe, Major General Wen Rongcai, commander of the northern Burmese border security zone, were talking about it. .

In a bunker that had already been bombarded halfway, Wen Rongcai was holding a military meeting while taking advantage of the bombardment by the British and Indian troops. On his left arm was a rope covered in mud and dust, whose true colors could no longer be seen. Bandages, just ten minutes ago, the headquarters was hit by heavy artillery from the British and Indian troops.

Amidst the loud noises that shook the mountains, the flames were shining, tall trees and soil flew into the air, and several staff officers were sacrificed. If it wasn't for Wen Rongcai's guards, they risked their lives to cover the commander by themselves I am afraid that the commander of the major general who commanded two garrison teams plus a guard battalion with a strength of more than [-] troops has died in the line of duty.

Wen Rongcai was very angry. It took only five or six hours for the troops to come up, and the casualties reached more than 3000 troops. Moreover, most of them were sacrificed under the artillery fire of the British and Indian troops. Wen Rongcai was transferred from the main force. I have never fought such a useless battle.

No way, the troops belonging to the border guard area are originally configured as second-line troops. The equipment level is incomparable with the first-line field troops. A garrison team with a reinforced regiment size has 600 people, and only one heavy weapon is equipped with mortars. The artillery battalion of Heshan Pao is full of more than 70 small and medium-caliber artillery.

Also because it was marching in a hurry, in order to ensure the speed of the march, the troops left behind all the heavy equipment, including the more than 30 mountain cannons, and did not rush to the battlefield until more than three hours after the battle started. The troops can only rely on more than 40 mortars to provide fire support.

Looking at the British and Indian troops on the opposite side, there are no less than 100 large-caliber heavy artillery pieces in one attack, and the firepower is suppressed. The large-caliber artillery blows up the mud and water in the position, and coupled with the geographical conditions of the Hukang River Valley, There is mud everywhere, and there is not even a decent stone to be found. The fortifications built, in the words of the soldiers, "a machine gun bunker can be collapsed with a piss!"

Fortunately, the Xiduo area is located in the primeval forest, and there is no shortage of wood. After the hard work of the soldiers, they finally rushed ahead of the British and Indian troops and built a blocking position. The vanguard of the army got fired, and started to fight well. Those British guys and Indians, who didn't know the details, rushed up screaming.

The soldiers of the garrison, of course, would not be polite, they beat them hard, and after more than an hour, the British and Indian troops left hundreds of corpses and retreated crawling and crawling, but the situation later was not so good.

The main force of the British and Indian troops behind came up, and there was a heavy artillery shell, and the fortifications piled up with wood and mud. In the face of such a fierce shelling, debris flew across, and then, there was a group charge under the cover of tanks. A garrison team and a guard battalion gritted their teeth and repelled the enemy's many attacks, and persisted until dark.

As night fell, the infantry of the British and Indian Army did not dare to attack, but the artillery fire was more intense than during the day, and there was no time for the troops to repair trenches. Wen Rongcai could only order the troops to dig individual bunkers on the spot, and then, the neighbors on the left and right Gradually dug through, and finally formed a fortification, against the artillery fire of the British and Indian troops, in the dark night, the soldiers raced against time to build the fortifications that were collapsed by the artillery bombardment.

Although Xiduo's topographical conditions are not conducive to the defense of the defenders, but also because of the narrow terrain, it is not conducive to the large-scale attack of the British and Indian troops. It is also impossible to invest more troops at one time, so that the troops can last for a day and ensure the position Not to be breached.

However, as a general transferred from the main force, Wen Rongcai is more aware that, without heavy fire cover, relying on temporary civil and engineering fortifications, less than 20 soldiers can stop more than [-] heavy artillery, tanks and aircraft How difficult is it for the British and Indian troops? After one day, the casualties of the troops reached one-third, but what about tomorrow?What about tomorrow? [

This is the purpose of Wen Rongcai's emergency military meeting. He looked at a dozen officers with sharp eyes, and said in a hoarse voice: "I don't want to talk nonsense. Everyone knows the current situation. The British and Indian soldiers on the opposite side, It is bullying that we have no artillery support. If we continue to fight like this, our casualties will be even greater tomorrow. Maybe, by tomorrow evening, we will not be there anymore! This is the reality!"

Wen Rongcai's voice was heavy and hoarse, and he was talking about the real situation. The officers did not speak, but just listened to the commander's speech quietly. From time to time, guns whizzed towards them, explosions near and far, and sudden flashes of fire. It reflects his resolute face, bloodshot, tired eyes, and gunpowder smoke all over his body.

Wen Rongcai continued: "However, I, Wen Rongcai, am a soldier of the Independent Division. I am a Chinese soldier. I know that we are at a disadvantage, but we still have to fight. This is not only our responsibility, but also the integrity of our Chinese soldiers. The lads and the Indians will surely step over our lines, but only after we are corpses."

"I have reported the situation on the Xiduo battlefield to the division commander, and I want to tell everyone a good news. The division commander has personally led the corps directly under him to the northern Myanmar battlefield to command this battle. There is only one thing we have to do , At the cost of all the deaths in battle, hold back the British and Indian soldiers as much time as possible, deploy troops for the division commander, and buy the most time, okay, everyone go back and prepare, hurry up and rest, tomorrow, there will be a battle Fierce battle!"

All the officers stood up suddenly, and after a farewell tonight, they each returned to their combat posts. Perhaps it was the last time they met. Seeing the resolute expression of the commander, the officers suddenly roared: "Please rest assured, Commander, none of our soldiers You are cowards, let the British and Indian soldiers taste the power of our Chinese soldiers. After this battle, we have played the majesty of the Chinese army, and it is worth dying!"

Wen Rongcai's nose was sore, he waved his hands and turned his face away, he was afraid that his subordinates would see the man's tears welling up in his eyes.

(to be continued) (to be continued...)