Kunming, located in the middle of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, surrounded by mountains on three sides and Dianchi Lake in the south, condenses the geographical advantages of Yunnan, and has been the land hub for economic and trade exchanges and political ties between the East Asian continent and the Indochina Peninsula and the countries of the South Asian subcontinent since the formation of the "Southern Silk Road" more than 2,000 years ago.

In 1937, the Anti-Japanese War broke out in an all-round way, and Pingjin and the southeast coast fell rapidly, in order to protract the war of resistance, a large number of factories, schools, financial institutions and people in the occupied areas moved into Kunming from North China, Central China, South China and other places, making the population of Kunming urban area once reached 300,000, making this land hub of the "Southern Silk Road" quickly become one of the economic and cultural towns in the rear of the Anti-Japanese War.

There are the National Southwest Associated University with many masters and bright stars, there is Nanping Street, which brings together banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions that have moved from Pingjin, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong and Hong Kong, and there are new buildings such as Nanping Cinema and Victory Hall, which are "milestones" in the history of Kunming's urban construction...... Several firsts in China's industrial history were born here: the first largest steam turbine and generator manufactured by itself, the first largest 500-horsepower electric motor manufactured by itself, the first boiler of 30 to 40 tons, the first telescope and the first electric wire manufactured by itself......

On August 31, 1938, the Yunnan-Burma Highway was officially opened to traffic, and it became the most important storage and transshipment base for China's aid materials in one fell swoop.

This is a city of great significance to the great cause of China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and it is also one of the cities that the soldiers and civilians of the War of Resistance must defend to the death.

Of course, by 1945, the Japanese were no longer able to launch large-scale offensives on the frontal battlefield, and they did not even have the strength to launch an air attack on Kunming.

Although the threat posed by the Japanese invaders to the city was still weakening, the impact of the war on the city was still intensifying: in 1937, the annual average value of Chinese rice per stone was 8.8 yuan, by 1941 it had risen to 134.3 yuan, and in 1944 it had risen to 6,466.3 yuan...... People's livelihood is extremely difficult!

Of course, this war has the same impact on every region that has not yet fallen.

Thinking about how mighty Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was in the past, he opened up the territory and expanded the territory, but it was the accumulation of the two dynasties that hollowed out the two dynasties of Wenjing in the battles of opening the territory!

Look at how high-flying the Japanese were at the beginning of the war, but at this time of the war, their domestic production also shrank, and the people's livelihood was poor...... The impact of war on a country will never stop at the political and military level, but will continue to deepen, and eventually affect all aspects of the social life of the participating countries.

Even so, the city is still full of high enthusiasm for the Anti-Japanese War: the walls of the streets and alleys are pasted with anti-Japanese war propaganda posters, all kinds of anti-Japanese war songs are sung in the mouths of every soldier and civilian, the scout training in primary and secondary schools is vigorous, the anti-Japanese war publications such as "The All-People War of Resistance" and "Social University" are in full swing, and the mass gatherings of various anti-Japanese war support associations are crowded...... Everyone is doing their best to contribute to the great cause of the Anti-Japanese War!

Because, the Chinese nation has reached the moment of peril, and every son and daughter of China has an unshirkable responsibility!

The 66th Regiment was stationed in the western suburbs, and although Li Siwei and others rarely entered the urban area, they could also feel the hardships of the lives of the people in the city, and they could also feel the enthusiasm of the anti-Japanese war in the city in front of them.

Because of this, the days of recuperation felt even longer for them.

"I knew I wouldn't be in a hurry to come back......"

This is more than half a month, and this whining sentence has become a mantra for the soldiers.

However, Li Siwei couldn't complain, he grasped the training every day, but he was a little less anxious in his busyness, but he never let go of his concern about the situation in Yunnan and Burma...... How's the friendly brethren going? When will the China-India Highway be opened to traffic? With the opening of the China-India Highway, the plight of the military and civilians in the domestic War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression can be improved, right?

The latest news he received was that the New First Army had conquered Nankan on 15 January...... Now that Nankan has been captured, the next target is Mangyou! Conquer Mangyou and Wan Town, and the China-India Highway will be opened!

At dusk on January 27, the sun was setting, and today's training was over, and after Li Siwei finished training the soldiers, Shi Shiran left the school field, and walked in the direction of the regiment headquarters with Hu Dayan, and the afterglow of the setting sun shone on his body, pulling his figure into an old elder.

"Woohoo ......"

Suddenly, the sound of electricity came from the radio in the camp, and then the chairman's voice sounded on the radio: "Compatriots of the military and civilians of the whole country: Today, the expeditionary force and the army stationed in India have joined forces in Mangyou, and the officers and men of the expeditionary force have fought bloody battles for a year and a half, and the officers and men of the expeditionary force have fought bloodily for eight months, and finally the Sino-Indian highway has been completely opened...... The blockade that China has suffered for three years has been completely broken......"

Mentoring?!

It's open to traffic?!

Li Siwei stood stunned on the spot, and after a long time, he slowly turned his head to look at the sunset hanging in the sky.

The sunset on the horizon shone with a golden afterglow, and when the golden afterglow disappeared into the tearful eyes, it turned into a colorful halo, so beautiful that many years later, he still remembered the sunset on the evening of January 27, four or five years, and remembered the joy that surged in his heart at that moment and the tears that burst out of his eyes.

Western Yunnan is restored!

The China-India Highway is open to traffic!

Brothers who died in a foreign land can look at it!

"Commander......"

Hu Dayan behind him also shouted in surprise, "We won, we won...... We have opened up the China-India Highway! ”

They have also fought hard and shed blood to open up the China-India highway!

On January 27, 1945, the Chinese Army in India and the Western Yunnan Expeditionary Force met in Mangyou, and the Sino-Indian Highway was completely opened.

On 1 February, the opening ceremony of the Sino-Indian Highway was held at Wan Town Square, and dozens of officers and colonels of the expeditionary force and the army stationed in India hurried from the front line by jeep or liaison plane, and together with thousands of Wan town soldiers and civilians and Chinese and foreign journalists, they greeted the first convoy of the first way into the country.

In the afternoon, 105 large trucks and jeeps loaded with supplies rumbled from Burma across the Sino-Burmese border, drove through the crowded streets of Wan Town, drove past the Longling Tomb with 10,000 empty alleys, drove past the thunderous Baoshan, drove eastward under the eyes of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Dali, and finally entered the south gate of Kunming City on the afternoon of 4 February.

On this day, Li Siwei led his troops into the city early in the morning, and was ordered to set up a cordon on both sides of Jinbi Street; by noon, there was already a surging crowd outside the cordon, and the surging people crowded the gaps on both sides of the street, and the balconies and windows of the buildings on the street, and even the roofs of some low houses were full of people...... Whether they are crowded on the side of the street, on the balcony upstairs, by the window, or on the ridge of the roof, they all have the same bright smiles on their faces, and they are looking forward to it.

On this day, the haze that shrouded Kunming over Kunming because of the tragic whiteness of the Battle of Yuxianggui has disappeared cleanly.

The China-India Highway was opened to traffic, and the land blockade of the Japanese invaders against the Japanese army and civilians was completely broken, and the lifeline of the great cause of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression was renewed...... Victory is closer to the soldiers and civilians who have been fighting hard for more than seven years.

"Toot ......"

A jeep was the first to enter the city gate, and the American GIs in the car pressed the horn, greeted the soldiers and civilians who welcomed them in the middle of the road, and continued to move forward, the star-striped flags and the blue sky and white sun flags hanging on the left and right in front of the front of the car were waving in the wind.

"Toot toot...... Toot ......"

Behind it, a large truck rushed in, also pressed the horn, and waved the same flag.

"Good! Okay......"

"Welcome! Warm welcome ......"

The crowd on the side of the street cheered, and then spread along Jinbi Street to the city, to Heilinpu, to Bijifang...... In an instant, the city of Kunming was boiling!

This day is the twenty-second day of the lunar month of 1945, the beginning of spring!

A week later, the New Year's Pass came as scheduled, this was the last New Year's Pass before the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, and it was also the most shabby New Year's Pass since the 66th Regiment claimed to be Li, no wine, no meat, each person had a bowl of canned soup, two bowls of brown rice, and a handful of peanuts.

However, compared with most people, such a Chinese New Year's Eve meal is already considered a luxury!

The night is like ink, the lights are dim in the hut in the corner of the regiment headquarters, there is a pot of canned soup, a pot of brown rice, a bowl of fried peanuts, and two pairs of chopsticks on the table.

"Alas......"

Suddenly, Ning Rou stopped what she was doing and sighed softly, "I don't know what happened to Ruolan and Lele?" ”

"Uh......"

Li Siwei also stopped moving, and looked up at Ning Rou for a long time and smiled reluctantly, "Don't worry, there are still many brothers from our group there, and they will definitely have a lively New Year...... The Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is definitely much more sumptuous than ours here! ”

"Just thinking about eating!"

Ning Rou glanced at Li Siwei with disgust, and then her expression darkened, "Siwei...... I miss both of them! ”

"Hmm,"

Li Siwei gently put down the unpeeled peanuts in his hand and gently held Ning Rou's little hand, "Don't worry!" The roads are already open, and it won't be long before they are back! ”

As he spoke, Li Siwei's expression was also a little dazed, and a smile surged up at the corner of his mouth, "In the future...... Every year, we spend it together! ”

"Really?"

Ning Rou's eyes lit up, and then dimmed again, "But...... The battle is not over yet? ”

"It's coming,"

Li Siwei gently patted Ning Rou's little hand and smiled steadily, "This battle...... It'll be over soon! ”

After that, Li Siwei picked up a peeled peanut from the bowl and stretched it to Ning Rou's mouth, his face full of gentleness, "Come, eat more peanuts...... Fight to give me another baby! ”

Ning Rou hurriedly "spitted" Li Siwei, and lowered her head with a flushed face, "I don't want to ...... There are a thousand lives, and the four of them are enough! ”

"Hey......

Seeing Ning Rou's shyness, Li Siwei smiled proudly, "There is a lot of strength in numbers!" There are more siblings...... I can also help more! ”

"Crooked!"

Ning Rou raised her head and gave him a blank look, and hurriedly got up and began to serve rice, "Eat first......

"Yes, yes,"

Li Siwei hurriedly agreed, looking at Ning Rou's pretty face and smiling ill-intentionedly, "I'm full...... It's strong! ”

Hearing this, Ning Rou gently put the prepared rice in front of Li Siwei, and continued to serve herself with her head slightly lowered, but her coquettish appearance was even worse.

In any case, the Spring Festival is the most important festival for the people, and fireworks rose in the city of Kunming on this night, although sporadic, but also bright.

The Sino-Indian highway was opened, and foreign aid and material resources were continuously transported into the Chinese battlefield, and the Japanese could no longer sit still.

Waiting for the Chinese army to calmly change its uniforms is to sit back and wait for death!

On January 20, 45, shortly after the fall of Nankan, the Japanese base camp drew up the "Imperial Army and Navy Operational Outline Plan" and issued a combat mission to the "Chinese Dispatch Army", ordering the "Chinese Dispatch Army" to "rapidly strengthen the strategic offensive of the Chinese mainland...... With regard to the Chinese mainland, it is necessary to carry out a long-term organized surprise attack and advance operation with a large number of small forces, promote the demise of the Chongqing forces, and stop the activities of the US Air Force in China; this is also the main task of the dispatched army. ”

In accordance with the order of the base camp, Senior General Okamura, commander-in-chief of the Japanese "Chinese" dispatch army, convened a military meeting in Nanjing on 29 January attended by the commanders of various armies and the various armies, and worked out a plan for attacking the Laohekou (Guanghua) area in Hubei and the Zhijiang area in Hunan.

At the Nanjing Military Conference on 29 January, the Japanese "North China Front" accepted the combat task of attacking Laohekou and decided that the 12th Army stationed in Zhengzhou would carry out this task, and at the same time ordered the 34th Division of the 34th Army stationed in Dangyang to set out from Jingmen and go north along the area west of Khan to capture Dangyang, Fancheng, Gucheng, and other places to cooperate with the operations of the 12th Army, and ordered the 1st Division of the 1st Army stationed in Shanxi to attack from Shaanxi County on the south bank of the Yellow River to plan for the operation of the 12th Army.

However, at this time, the Japanese invaders were already at the end of their crossbow efforts, and the implementation of this plan was not delayed until mid-March, and when the offensive actions of the 12th Army of the Japanese invaders became more and more obvious, the officers and men of the 1st, fifth, and sixth theaters had basically completed their deployment.

At dawn on 22 March, all units of the 12th Japanese Army launched a full-scale attack as planned, and the Battle of Laohekou began.

Eight days later, the Chinese army stationed in India successfully completed the counteroffensive mission in northern Burma, which was the first large-scale operation in which China assisted the allies to enter a foreign country and won victory since the First Sino-Japanese War. This victory not only inspired the morale of the military and the people of the whole country to resist the war and strengthened their confidence in the victory of the War of Resistance, but also swept away the contempt of the Western powers for China and the contempt of some Chinese people, raised the prestige of the Chinese nation in a foreign land, and showed the world that the Chinese nation is indeed a great nation.

When the news reached Kunming, the military and civilians of the whole city naturally rejoiced.

Li Siwei was also very happy, not only happy for this victory, but also happy to see Ruolan and Lele soon...... The war in northern Myanmar has been decided, and Ruolan and Lele will naturally be able to return to China with the officers and soldiers stationed in India soon.

"Commander,"

On the morning of 19 April, when the sun was shining and Li Siwei was inspecting the school field, Lu Tiesheng hurriedly came over, his expression full of excitement, "The division headquarters has just issued an order to let our unit prepare for ......

"Okay!"

Li Siwei perked up, "It's finally Lao Tzu's turn!" ”

At this time, the Japanese had already been defeated in the Battle of Laohekou, and the Battle of Zhijiang had also begun on April 9...... Li Siwei never received an order, thinking that the 66th Regiment would not be able to fight the battle, but he did not want to give an order but came down.