In mid-February 1942, the residents of western Yunnan beat gongs and drums to send the Chinese Expeditionary Force abroad to resist Japan. This is a rare scene of spontaneous farewell to the troops to the front line since the deepening of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

The 200th Division of the Fifth Army, as the vanguard of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, set off from Baoshan to enter Burma.

The most difficult task fell on Dianlan. Standing on a hill, this battle-hardened tiger general observed his troops, sang the majestic military song of "Guns are outward, aiming at the enemy's ......", and generously marched westward. The morale of the troops is an important guarantee for defeating the enemy. The 200th Division entered Burma with high morale, and Dai Anlan should be comforted. However, he always frowned, looking worried.

The reasons are manifold.

First of all, the British promised to send a car to transport the 200th Division, but they did not fulfill their promise, the military situation was urgent, and they could not wait any longer, so the 200th Division had to move on to its own conditions. If they have not fought side by side, they are so untrustworthy, how can they expect tacit cooperation on the battlefield?

Second, Dai Anlan remembered: On 1 February, Chiang Kai-shek explicitly stipulated that the troops of the Sixth Army entering Burma would be under the command of Gan Lichu, commander of the Sixth Army, because at that time, the Peng Bisheng Division of the 49th Division under the jurisdiction of the Sixth Army was ordered to defend the Yunnan-Burma Road, and at the end of 1941, at the request of the British, they went to Lashio, but the result was that the Burmese government intervened and did not allow the Chinese troops to enter Burma, and the 49th Division was blocked in Wan Town, and Burma was a British colony at that time, so the obstruction of the Burmese government was actually an expedient measure to cover up the British side's rebellion. Chiang Kai-shek naturally understood the reasoning very well. In order to dispel the concerns of the British side, on 2 February he issued another explicit order: After the Sixth Army enters Burma, it will be under the command of the British; On 15 February, the Fifth and Sixth Armies entered Burma to fight under the unified command of Commander Du Yuming; Commander Du Yuming was under the command of General Hu Dun of the British Army.

Dai Anlan held that the two armies are fighting side by side, and both sides should consult on combat plans and military arrangements, and each side should have the right to put forward opinions, and handing over command to one side is a subordinate relationship, and the other side can only accept orders and has no right to put forward opinions. To be more precise, even if the battle plan and deployment were drawn up by the British army, the British army of course only acted in consideration of its own interests, and the interests of the Chinese expeditionary force were not guaranteed.

For this reason, he once put forward his opinion to Du Yuming. However, Du Yuming just shrugged helplessly and didn't say anything. In that case, what can he do to change the situation?

When I think of these things, it is like a shadow hanging over my heart, and in addition to melancholy, I can't help but blurt out:

"The wind is sluggish and the water is cold, and the strong man will never return once he is gone!"

Zheng Tingji, who was standing on the side, heard the division commander actually reciting such ominous words, and couldn't help but look at Dai Anlan in surprise and said: "Division, the troops have embarked on the journey, and their morale is very strong, and they will be able to eliminate the Japanese in one go and return triumphantly, so there is really no need to worry too much about the division." ”

Dai Anlan suddenly realized that he had lost his words, and when he saw Zheng Tingjian again, he looked uneasy, and regretted it even more. In order to hide his mood, he deliberately pretended to be heroic, and looked up to the sky and laughed: "At the beginning, Jing Ke assassinated the King of Qin, and he was determined to die to strive for success, so he made such bold words, can we win the expedition without the determination to die?" You see what kind of hospitality the common people are sending off their children, we don't fight for victory with the determination to die, how can we say goodbye to Jiangdong fathers! You and I are soldiers, don't be superstitious. ”

Zheng Tingjian said sincerely: "The master's majesty is touching, and his subordinates are willing to be the forerunner!"

The 200th Division was ordered to enter Burma at the same time, and its mission was to take over the British defense line at Dong Ku (Dong Kua).

The troops crossed the Nu River through the chain bridge Huitong Bridge, and then entered the Burmese territory through Songshan, Longling, and Wan Town. Take the highway to Lashio via Xinwei, and then take the train via Xibao, Meimou, Mandalay (Wacheng), Mithra, Huangbei, Yangmidian, Kaidanggang, Pingmanna, Yedasi to Tonggu. By the time we arrived at Tonggu on such a marching route, it was March 8, 1942.

After entering Burma, the troops were warmly welcomed by overseas Chinese in various parts of Burma. Hundreds of thousands of overseas Chinese scattered throughout Myanmar, when they saw the Chinese Expeditionary Force entering Burma, they shed tears and raised their arms and shouted slogans, and donated all their purchases to the Chinese Expeditionary Force. Wherever there are overseas Chinese living there, slogans will be posted. They volunteered to serve as guides and interpreters for the troops, briefing them on the situation and complaining about their grievances. Because they live in Burma, live a life under the fence, and are bullied, they expect the Chinese expeditionary force to raise the prestige of Burma, so as to improve the status of overseas Chinese; Drive away the Japanese invaders and be able to live and work in peace and contentment.

The commanders of the Chinese Expeditionary Force at all levels received the overseas Chinese who came to welcome them, thanked them for their hospitality, comforted the overseas Chinese, and resolutely said that they must drive the Japanese devils out of Burma and restore the peaceful environment in Burma. The soldiers were inspired by overseas Chinese, and their fighting spirit became even higher.

Dai Anlan said to Deputy Division Commander Gao Jiren with great emotion: "The strength of the country directly affects the status of overseas Chinese abroad. The Father of the Nation struggled all his life, and wrote in his will: "We must arouse the people and unite the nations of the world to treat me on an equal footing", and the revolutionary purpose of the Father of the Nation has not yet been achieved in the decades since the National Revolution. Now that I see overseas Chinese, I feel even more that my generation of Huangpu students has a great responsibility. ”

Gao Jiren also sighed: "Yes, the subordinates also feel ashamed of the overseas Chinese, and this time to fight in Burma, we must show the prestige of the Chinese and grow their ambition for the overseas Chinese!"

However, when the troops arrived in Tonggu, there were no overseas Chinese to welcome them, and when they saw the Anglo-Burmese army, they were all in a panic, and the 200th Division wanted to slip away as soon as they arrived. Dai Anlan solemnly proposed: First, the position fortifications must be explained clearly; 2. The situation against the enemy will be described in detail.

At Dai Anlan's insistence, Hu Dun reluctantly came forward to handle the handover procedures with Dai Anlan.

The British general was at first quite arrogant, and he said to Diane: "I have nothing to say. The supplies in the warehouses here have been delivered to you, and if you look at the positions and fortifications, I will send an officer and a car to take you around. We have other tasks to do, we cannot stay here for long, and we are leaving today. ”