readx; After a few days of walking, we began to enter the tropical jungle of the Naga Mountains on the border between Myanmar and India. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 ｉｎfo

There are no roads or guides. The direction could only be judged with a compass, and occasionally there were traces of local natives going west, such as confetti, melon peels, and fruit shells thrown down, and the troops followed the trail.

In the reckless jungle, the officers and men of the new 38th Division trekked through mountains and rivers, endured hunger and cold, walked to the top of the mountains, and lay in the grass at night. It is said that the army is surrounded and intercepted, and the Burmese annihilation is a tiger, with thousands of difficulties and dangers, and nine deaths. After more than 20 days of hard work, in early May, the officers and men of the division finally arrived at Infar, an important border town in India. At this time, the number of people was counted, and there were still more than 7,000 people in the whole division.

The new 38th Division is basically still a mess.

If it had not been compared to the tragic scene of crossing the Savage Mountains in northern Burma, the new 38th Division might have walked what it had walked on the road to hell. However, compared with the painful experience of the 5th Army, the new 38th Division can be regarded as the luckiest.

Having just broken free from a catastrophe and standing on Indian soil, the officers and men of the new 38th Division felt that they had gone from hell to heaven. The mountains here are more beautiful than Myanmar, the water is sweeter than Myanmar, the air is fresher than Myanmar, and even the sun is brighter than Myanmar.

But, after all, this is a foreign country, India, a British territory, not China, not its own homeland.

Sun Liren ordered the troops to camp on the spot, build fortifications, wipe guns and oil, straighten out the army's appearance, cut hair and wash their bodies, sew clothes and mend trousers, and rest and be on standby. At the same time, liaison officers were dispatched to negotiate with the British army.

Lieutenant General Alvin, the commander of the British Eastern Garrison Corps in India, is an arrogant and neurotic fellow. While drinking coffee, he listened to the statements of the Chinese liaison officer, sometimes looking at his nails, sometimes combing his sideburns, full of style, and full of energy.

Hearing that it was a Chinese [***] team that had retreated from Burma to India and asked for help, Alvin had a look of contempt and disgust on his face, like a rich man meeting a beggar.

What the army that had been defeated from Burma looked like, he had seen. A few days ago, the British army stationed in Burma was defeated and entered India, which is not called an army, but a disaster. The soldiers were in groups of three, five in groups, unkempt, unkempt, and had old and long nails. Disheveled, disheveled, firearms. Looting and plundering along the way, like hungry wolves, disturbing the neighbors and restlessness.

This is still the case with the British Royal Army, not to mention the [***] team.

The British general said slowly: "This is the territory of the British Empire, and foreign troops must not be allowed to enter. However, you are allies, and from the perspective of humanitarianism, we cannot see death without help. However, it can only be contained. ”

Speaking of this, Alvin straightened his waist and looked at the surprised expression of the envoy of the [***] team with the gaze of a donor, and repeated point-of-fingers: "Containment, understand?" ”

Chinese understand, you ungrateful, heartless British!

At noon, the liaison officer came back to report the negotiations, and Sun Liren, who was usually gentle and elegant, was also furious at this moment, jumping like thunder, and asked sharply:

"Didn't you say we were a Chinese expeditionary force?"

"Got it." The liaison officer replied.

"Didn't you say we came from Burma?"

"Got it."

"Didn't say we were the new 38th Division?"

"Got it."

"Didn't you say anything about the Battle of Ren'anqiang?"

"Got it."

Everything that needs to be said has been said. But the British didn't listen to a word. Their credo is: there are only permanent interests, no permanent friends.

"Assemble the whole division and prepare for battle!"

The trumpet of the [***] team in the "Da Da" sounded majestically in this merciless land. The Chinese officers and men, who had just finished fighting to the death against the Japanese army, took up arms again and prepared to deal with the rude behavior of the British army.

Sending the envoy of the [***] team away, Alvin thought carefully, things might not be so simple, so he asked New Delhi for instructions. General Wavell, commander-in-chief of the British forces in India, received the telegram and could not make up his mind for a while. At this time, Alexander, who had returned from the defeat in Burma, happened to be in New Delhi, and he thought that Alvin had screwed things up. He said to Wavell:

"On the battlefield in Burma, the Chinese army played a great role in the safe retreat of the British army. The new 38th Division made great contributions to the British army at Ringanqiang. If they were disarmed, then Britain's image with the Allies would be too bad. ”

He also said: "General Sun Liren is a foreign general who has been awarded the medal of 'Imperial Commander' by the British King, and it is not absurd that the imperial [***] team has surrendered the weapons of the imperial commander?" ”

Wavell listened, extinguished the cigar in his hand, and said angrily: "Elwin, this guy, play the piano randomly!" ”

Commander Slim, who had returned from Burma, also happened to be being treated in the Anglo-French British military hospital, and heard that the daredevil, Erwin, wanted to surrender the weapons of the new 38th Division, for fear of causing trouble. He met with Alvin and warned him: "This Chinese army is capable of fighting. When Ringanqiang broke out, I stayed at their command post. If you don't believe me, go check it out! ”

The new 38th Division was encamped in the mountains east of England and France and in the vicinity of Kuilong Village, and was ready to meet the British army. However, for several days, there was no movement. The British refused to supply food or collect their guns. Fortunately, this area is densely populated and rich in rice. It is also the India-Myanmar border, and the currencies of both countries are passed. The troops brought some Burmese rupees. If you have money, you can buy food. This unit, far from the motherland, lives in a corner of a foreign country, and is a hundred times more vigilant and quietly waits for changes in the situation.

On this day, Alvin made a surprise visit.

Sun Liren couldn't figure out what medicine he was selling in his gourd. Anyway, there is one thing, there is no other language between soldiers and soldiers, only strength.

As soon as Alvin arrived, Sun Liren sent a guard of honor to welcome him at the camp gate.

Good guys, I can't think of a defeated army, and I can still pull out a guard of honor.

200 sturdy soldiers, as soon as they went to the camp gate, there was a wall and a mountain range. The soldiers, though not taller and burlier than the British army, were sturdy and small iron piers. Keep your chest and abdomen straight, your legs straight, your eyes blazing, and your head full of energy. They have been in India for 10 days. I took a shower, got a haircut, shaved my beard, and mended my robe. Besides, Indian rice is delicious, boiled in a pot, white flowers, fragrant, which meal is not eaten for eight taels. They are all young men in their twenties, and after the catastrophe of the Burmese battlefield, they can grow a circle of meat in three days with this white rice. Now that it has recovered, it is another dragon.

The uniforms were a little torn, but the guns were shiny and glittered in the sun.

In front of the honor guard, there were also two small steel cannons and four heavy machine guns.

Alwyn was amazed.

He knew that the British troops who had withdrawn from Burma had thrown everything in the Naga Mountains, including chariots, artillery, machine guns, submachine guns, pistols, pouches, radios, and even quilts, mosquito nets, clothes, and trousers. And the Chinese soldiers, carrying both steel cannons and heavy machine guns, why is this?

Alvin walked to the front of the group and asked the heavy:

"How did you get the heavy machine gun?"

One of the Chinese soldiers' "horns" stood upright and replied loudly:

"Weapons are our lives. Man in the weapon. ”

"Great! Great! ”

Alvin listened, and gave a thumbs up. He understood a reason: the weapon is the life of a Chinese soldier, and if you want to surrender his gun, can you agree?

Sun Liren led Alvin to visit the barracks. In the tent, the military blankets were stacked like square bricks, with edges and corners, the kitchen was well organized, even the toilets were cleaned, and a layer of fine white sand was covered. On the field, Sun Liren specially arranged a military performance. Rifle shooting, 100 steps through Yang; white-knuckle fighting, dragon soaring and tiger leaping; Especially with bare hands, it is confusing and dazzling.

Alwin watched all the way and was full of praise. He also graduated from the Royal Army College. "Infantry Classics" and "Camp Management Regulations", he memorized them well. You have to do it, you can do it in normal times, but you can do it when you win a battle. And in addition to the big defeat, it is too difficult to be strict and not chaotic. Alvin asked himself: Can they call the defeated soldiers?

No! This is the real Iron Army!

Alvin is gone. The next day, the British army drove a car and brought rice, white flour, vegetables, beef, canned food, cigarettes, and tea. In addition, according to the number of Chinese officers and soldiers, two months' salaries will be paid on behalf of them.

In the pockets of the Chinese officers and soldiers, there was an enticing rustling sound of Indian rupees.

President Roosevelt, who had been watching the battlefield in Burma, saw that in this defeat, there were also some outstanding figures, and when the new 38th Division entered India, he sent a telegram to Sun Liren to congratulate him, the full text of which is as follows:

Chinese Lieutenant General Sun Liren, in the 1942 Burma Campaign, in a difficult environment, established a brilliant record, the Battle of Ringanqiang, General Sun with a wise command, repelled the strong enemy, rescued the besieged British army, so as not to be annihilated. Later, he covered the retreat of the Allied forces, and in the midst of great difficulties, calmly returned to the palace, and then fought for several months to reach India, and still the army was cleaned up, and the vigor was undiminished, which is really commendable. His wisdom and courage were outstanding, and he was a model for the Allies.

Reading Roosevelt's beautiful telegram, listening to the sound of the strings of medals on his chest, looking at the team that had just suffered defeat in front of him and behind him, and recalling the tragic course of the Burma battlefield, Sun Liren's heart was extremely sad:

What a hero I am!

Savage Mountain seems to have no end.

Every morning when he woke up, Du Yuming carved a knife mark on the crossbar of the stretcher. Counting, 56 have been engraved. There are no nails in the mountains, and it should be mid-July.

Since he got relapser fever in Da Luo, Du Yuming's physical strength has not recovered. There is no medical treatment, no medicine, no death, and it is a fortune.

How many people died in the forest, and how many remained? No one can tell. Along the way, corpses were strewn and bones were piled up.

"One general is incompetent, and the three armies are exhausted." The soldiers complained, and Du Yuming had to turn a deaf ear. He felt very uncomfortable. As a general, he did not spared the blood of his soldiers too much. Laughing on the battlefield and dying vigorously, this is the glory of a soldier. However, in this way of death, the soldiers fell silently and rotted like rows of dead trees, without even struggling. This is a sin for the general!

Du Yuming didn't know how many officers and soldiers had been swallowed up by Savage Mountain. However, he clearly remembered that just carrying a stretcher for him killed five people. Among them, the commander of the spy company, who was as strong as an iron pillar, died because of relapsing fever. It is likely that Du Yuming transmitted the virus to him.

Du Yuming felt that he, a half-dead commander, could not only fail to inspire the troops and bring hope to the soldiers in Savage Mountain, but he was simply a burden.

The only hope is radio. But it was also the radio that repeatedly disappointed him.

When I entered the mountain, I threw everything, but I didn't dare to throw the radio.

However, Savage Mountain is a sealed world, and the trees that cover the sky and the earth are tightly covered, birds cannot get out, sunlight cannot enter, and even radio waves cannot penetrate this green barrier. Since entering the Savage Mountain, the radio has cut off contact with Yucheng. Every day at camp, Du Yuming ordered the confidential staff officer to set up the radio in front of his stretcher, and threatened: "If you don't send out the newspaper tonight, you will be punished!" ”

But after the start-up, Yucheng was called, but Yucheng did not respond; Calling to Kunming, Kunming was silent.

Every day.

Staff Officer Li said with frustration: "It rains every day, and the machine seems to have been blistered, and electricity runs everywhere. Can't do it. ”

Calling the heavens and the earth not spiritual, Du Yuming looked up to the sky and sighed: "Is it over like this?" ”

The heavens know that a righteous army should not be submerged in the merciless forest.

On this day, the weather was fine. The rainy season in northern Myanmar is rarely sunny. The radio soldiers found an open space and quickly opened the radio and batteries to dry.

The sun in the forest was so hot that the machine was sweating all over the body, and after half a day's work, all the rain and damp accumulated in the radio and batteries were evaporated.

Taking advantage of this enthusiasm, Du Yuming ordered the confidential staff officers to start the machine immediately.

The radio soldier set up the antenna, plugged in the power supply, plugged in the headset and the transmitter button. In less than two minutes, everything was ready.

Staff Officer Li personally sent the report. He put on the headphones, and the fingers of his right hand lightly rested on the transmitter button, and his expression was very serious. The fate of all the officers and soldiers is tied to his fingers.

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The crisp and pleasant sound of the report knocked on the big forest and hit everyone's heartstrings. After the confidential staff officer skillfully sent out the signal calling the Yucheng Telecommunications Station, the next step was to wait for Yucheng's reply.

Expectation and disappointment, anxiety and patience are intertwined, gnawing at everyone's heart.

One minute passed, two minutes passed, five minutes passed, and there was no sound in the headphones.

"Didn't get through." The confidential staff officer hung his head and was drenched in sweat, as if he had committed a great crime.

"Continue calling." Du Yuming's tone was extremely stern.

The confidential staff adjusts the machine, touches the part, pinches the thread. Three calls in a row, but no response.

Du Yuming was also desperate. He sighed heavily: "Alas"

The sir's sigh was like a whip on Staff Officer Li's body, which was more unsettling than an order. He didn't give up, smashed the machine again, and continued to call. He couldn't figure out how many times he had called.

Suddenly, there was a short ringing sound in the headphones:

Toot toot

This is the echo of Yucheng!

Staff Officer Li was overjoyed and couldn't believe his ears, but when he listened carefully, the other party repeated the call signal again.

It's Yucheng, that's right!

"Hurry up." Du Yuming couldn't wait and urged.

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Staff Officer Li quickly pressed the button and photographed out the telegram reporting the current position and situation of the troops.

I just took a screenshot and the battery died again.

Although the telegram was not finished, it was important to send the information that the expeditionary force troops were still surviving in the Savage Mountain.

For many days, Du Yuming always felt that Savage Mountain was like a magic cover, holding him, covering him, and suffocating him to death in the forest. Now, at last, a crack has been torn open, a ray of light has been leaked in, and a breath of fresh air has been blown in. He believed that as long as Commander-in-Chief Chiang knew that they were still alive and knew their general location, he would definitely rescue them at all costs.

Definitely!

The officers and men who struggled in the Savage Mountains had long since become stragglers and moved freely.

Survival has become the only norm for officers and men. In order to survive, they had to keep moving west. To the west, to the west, it is the officers and soldiers themselves who give themselves orders. There were no deserters, no deserters, no one dared to deviate from the march route of the troops without authorization. Thus, this is again a highly unified force.

It can be said that there is no unit in the Kuomintang army that has the same goal and the same pace as the officers and men of the expedition in the Savage Mountain.

The news that "I have been in contact with Yucheng" disappeared in the forest and spread to all the officers and soldiers overnight. The lifeless forest is the first to rise with the light of hope. The pace of the march was greatly accelerated. The officers and soldiers rushed forward desperately, as if a ladder had been hung down to rescue them in the forest in front of them; It was as if someone was opening their arms to them on the opposite mountain beam.

There has been a certain change in the rhythm of Savage Mountain. The quiet forest seems to be a little lively. Someone is talking loudly. Someone keeps screaming in order to show his existence. As people marched, the sound of plucking the branches of the grass and trees was also louder, and the footsteps of the march were more firm and powerful. What people are looking forward to.

As the sun rose above the treetops, the sound of airplane engines could be heard in the sky. The sound was too familiar, so wonderful.

The forest suddenly became noisy.

"Our plane is coming."

"We have salvation."

The soldiers were elated and rushed wildly, forgetting hunger, forgetting pain, forgetting sickness, forgetting death. Lying on the stretcher, he sat up, threw away his crutches with crutches, and straightened his back when he was on the verge of death. People all looked up in unison, their anxious gazes shooting into the sky.

But where is the sky? And where are the planes?

The thick green barrier of Savage Mountain separates the sky from the earth, and the dense and windtight woods block people's view. I only heard the sound of airplanes from far and near, gradually flying overhead. The loud roar shook the forest and buzzed, and frightened the birds and beasts into hiding in all directions. The soldiers only heard the sound of the engine, but could not see the plane, and were so anxious that they ran and jumped, shouting and screaming in the woods, some banging on the iron tools in their hands, some desperately swaying the branches and bamboos, and some blowing up grenades, but they could not break through the green cover fastened above their heads to make contact with the plane. In the vast forest, the sound and action of people are just like mosquitoes "camping" and fleas jumping.

The plane circled overhead, flying farther and farther, and the sound of the engine, which had given great hope to the officers and men, gradually disappeared. The forest was as silent as death.

This cursed forest!

(To be continued)