As expected, the 200th Division Cavalry Regiment attacked the Japanese army head-on at the Huguan Bridge, and after an unexpected result, Stilwell hurried back to Lashio from Mandalay. Entering the headquarters and seeing that the atmosphere was extremely warm, Stilwell said in high spirits: "Commander Bai, Deputy Commander Ouyang, the Japanese army is nothing more than that. The cavalry regiment of our 200th Division inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese army at the Huguan Bridge, almost wiped out a large group of Japanese troops, and greatly boosted the morale of the Sino-British allied forces. General Alexander and I have agreed to a decisive battle of Pingmanna. ”

Stilwell continued: "When I left Mandalay, General Alexander also went to the front line to send troops and take command of the front. Bai Chongxi said: "I have no opinion on the decisive battle with the Japanese army on the Pingmanna line, but the main force of our 5th Army, only 200 divisions have reached the Tonggu front, and the 22nd and 96th divisions, including the headquarters of the 5th Army, are still squirming on the railway line from Mandalay to Lashio. Our 66th Army is still in the vicinity of Lashio, and if the Japanese army gathers heavy forces to launch an attack on Tonggu, the 200th Division will be left alone in battle. ”

"Commander Bai, General Alexander promised to let the main forces of the expeditionary force reach the front line as soon as possible." "General Stilwell, I am in favour of the decisive battle of Pimpuna, but I am concerned about the defense of the British army on the western route. The performance of the British army was so bad that if the British army collapsed on the Western Front, there would be no decisive battle for Pingmanna. Ouyang Jian knew that Alexander's deployment of troops to the front line would be a cover-up, but he was actually preparing for escape. He deliberately delayed the pace of the expeditionary force with complete ulterior motives.

Alexander's purpose was very clear, to delay as much as possible the deployment of the main force of the Chinese army on the front line of Tonggu and Pingmanna. If the main force of the Chinese army cannot be assembled on the front line in the short term, it cannot ask the British army to counterattack together, and can only do short-term defensive operations. Alexander experienced the Dunkirk retreat, knowing full well that his command had become a tofu army, and completely lost the will to resist. A unit with no combat effectiveness, a counteroffensive that does not work on defense is pure nonsense. Therefore, he agreed to the Battle of Pingmanna, in order to buy time for his escape.

Alexander's abacus was very fine, allowing the Chinese expeditionary force to attract the main force of the Japanese army on the central and eastern routes, and he took advantage of the situation on the western route to ensure that his strength would not be lost. How could Stilwell see such a despicable method. Stilwell belongs to the category of Zhida talent, who was fooled by Alexander, and was actually led by the nose. In fact, Stilwell's decision to counterattack Rangoon at the Battle of Pimphmana was not for nothing. At present, the Japanese army only has a 71st Division, a 55th Division, and a 33rd Division.

The Chinese Expeditionary Force was 100,000 troops, and the British Army was 40,000 troops. Although the Japanese army has 71 divisions more than in its original history, the combat effectiveness of the expeditionary force is also higher than this year, which can completely offset the superiority of the Japanese army. In the original history, the 3 divisions of the 6th Army, including the 66th Army, had a big gap in combat effectiveness compared with the 200 divisions. It was under this circumstance that Lao Chiang assigned Sun Liren's 38th Division, a strong combat unit, to the 66th Army. Nowadays, under the invisible polishing of Ouyang Jian's ghost hands, the expeditionary force has improved its weapons and equipment and combat effectiveness to varying degrees.

Except for the 38th Division, the expeditionary force did not participate in the Battle of Guinan, and other units experienced the brutal Battle of Guinan. After the Battle of Guinan, Ouyang Jian suggested that Bai Chongxi reintegrate the troops and recruit a large number of young students. At present, except for the 200th, 22nd, and 38th divisions of the expeditionary force, all other divisions are equipped with Jiangxi's standard weapons, and the officer system of these units has changed to a certain extent. Ouyang Jian passed through Bai Chongxi's hands, and some of his subordinate officers came from the Eighth Route Army Military Academy.

As for the understanding of the weapons and equipment of the expeditionary force and even the combat effectiveness, Stilwell naturally had confidence after a comparative experience. In fact, his idea was not wrong, blocking the northward advance of the Japanese 71st Division on the Eastern Front, concentrating the main force of the 5th Army in the middle to eat the Japanese 55th Division, and then waving the West Road to join forces with the British Army to eat the Japanese 33rd Division, and then recovering Rangoon, which was empty. At this time, he did not know that the 56th Division and the 18th Division of the Japanese Army had already reinforced Burma.

"Commander Bai, Deputy Commander Ouyang, let's wish a victory in the Battle of Pingmanna!" "Cheers!" Ouyang Jian was very happy, and drank the wine in the cup in one gulp. However, Bai Chongxi was a little reluctant, he disagreed with the battle of Pingmanna, but seeing that Ouyang Jian was also full of confidence and not worried at all, he had to go with the flow. Later, Ouyang Jiansha and Stilwell studied how to conduct the Pingmana battle, and it seemed that victory was beckoning.

On the night of March 16, the wind was high and the moon was dark. The situation was not good, and the British legions, which assisted in the defense of the same ancient people, quietly assembled. The commander of the British regiment was shocked to hear that the main force of the Japanese army had appeared on the Huguan Bridge, and immediately reported to the commander of the 1st British Division, who did not hesitate to order the regiment to retreat, but did not let the Chinese army know. At midnight, the British troops quietly assembled at the British positions on the west side of Cuba. British trucks lined up on the road, and several cannons were particularly ghostly in the dark. Just as the British army was about to hit the road, a group of men and horses suddenly appeared on the road.

The men and horses that appeared quickly blocked the British troops, and the soldiers with torches were armed with guns and ammunition as if they were facing the enemy. At first, the British commander was startled, but when he looked closely, it turned out to be an expeditionary force. At this time, Zheng Tingji, the commander of the 598th Regiment, appeared in front of the commander of the British Regiment and asked: "May I ask the major, what are you doing here, if you want to leave, you must at least say hello." The British commander was annoyed and quibbled: "You have no right to know what we are doing, please get out of the way!" "At this time, the division commander Dai Anlan came." Report to the division commander, the British are ready to flee! ”

"Major, even if your department is transferred, you have to inform him, isn't it too much." "Our unit was ordered by the division headquarters to go to the west to strengthen the defense." I called the 1st Division, but no one answered, so how can I contact your boss? The British Legion Commander said arrogantly: "Please get out of the way, you have no power to stop us!" "Yes, we have no right to stop you, you can go, but you must leave the artillery and ammunition behind."

The British commander was a little confused, "Give you 5 minutes to think about it, otherwise you will stay and fight side by side!" In the face of Dianlan's strength, the British commander who was eager to flee immediately compromised. The British left behind 6 cannons, 30 machine guns including ammunition and military supplies. Then the British soldier in a relaxed fit got into the truck and ran, and returned to the division headquarters The chief of staff said with a smile: "Commander, I didn't expect the British army to be so cooperative!" "It seems that the British army is a thief, and if they escape, they will inevitably lose money, so immediately report to the headquarters: The 1st Division of the British Army has escaped!"

Dai Anlan slept for a few hours before dawn, and the military situation was urgent. He got up and hurried into the telecommunications room to ask, "Is there any news from the headquarters?" "Report to the division commander, no!" Dai Anlan was a little confused. "The news of the unauthorized retreat of the 1st British Division, the command knew why there was no reaction. When Dai Anlan turned to leave, the red light of a radio station began to flash. "Division commander, headquarters radio call!" The headquarters telegraphed an order to immediately take over the British position, ignore the British army, and asked Dai Anlan to block the Japanese army from going north in Tonggu.

On the position, Dai Anlan inspected the tunnel fortifications, and the brutal battle would come soon, and there could be no negligence. The tunnel fortifications built by the Eighth Route Army have been tested in actual combat and have no problems, and at present all units of the expeditionary force have been used proficiently. After five years of fighting against Japan, the various units of the Expeditionary Force had a lot of combat experience, so building fortifications was their specialty.

Liu Shuren, the commander of the 599th Regiment in front of a tunnel, reported: "Division commander, the tunnel is supported by teak. Myanmar is rich in teak, which is everywhere, and Tonggu is a teak distribution center. ”

"This wood is hard, wear-resistant, and a good material for building fortifications. I didn't expect that there were a large number of teak logs in Tonggu, and the British were very well prepared. The willow tree people were like a few treasures, with a confident look on their faces, and Dai Anlan listened and examined meticulously. In 10 days, the three main regiments of the 200th Division built strong civil tunnel fortifications on the periphery of Tonggu. Dai Anlan inspected tunnels, trenches, machine-gun fortifications, traffic trenches, and even makeshift toilets.

"Report to the division commander, the headquarters called, General Stilwell, Deputy Commander Ouyang, and Commander Du Yuming came to inspect, the special plane has taken off from Mandalay!" A communications officer quickly reported the situation. When Dai Anlan heard this, he hurriedly drove to the airport in the north. Soon, a transport plane, escorted by 4 British fighters, landed one after the other. There was no need to greet each other, Du Yuming accompanied Stilwell to inspect the fortifications, and the chief of staff led the way. Since Ouyang Jian and Stilwell couldn't stay in Tonggu for too long, they signaled to Dai Anlan to explain.

"Division Commander Dai, the Expeditionary Force Headquarters has decided to block the Japanese army in Tonggu and conduct a decisive battle of Pingmanna. At present, the biggest variable is the British army on the western route, and whether the battle of Pingmana can be carried out smoothly depends on the performance of the British army. Now, regardless of the British army on the western route, we must deal a severe blow to the arrogance of the Japanese army in Tonggu. Commander Du's military headquarters has already arrived at Driftie, but the heavy equipment of the 22nd and 96th Divisions is still on the railway line, so you will have to hold off the Japanese army in Tonggu for at least 10 days. ”

"Please rest assured that our department will resolutely complete the task!" "Division Commander Dai, your unit is almost alone, and the safety of the officers and men of the whole army is the key. I just watched your covert artillery fire, it's good! The 55th Division of the Japanese Army in front of you is a second-rate unit with average combat effectiveness. At present, the 55th Division is very arrogant, and we must let him know how powerful the expeditionary force is. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen the defense of the eastern part of the country to prevent the Japanese army from outflanking from the east. If the attack of the Japanese 55th Division is weak, the Japanese 71st Division will come to reinforce it, so you have to be prepared. ”

"I understand!" "Also, after the Japanese launched a large-scale attack, you asked the cavalry regiment to retreat to Pingmu to stand by. If there is any change in the British army in Pingmu, immediately take over the British army's munitions warehouse, and the British army will not be allowed to take away war materials! In continuous combat, there can be no problems with logistical supply! Dai Anlan's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he immediately understood that Ouyang Jian had arranged for the 200th division to retreat, and suddenly a warm current surged into his heart. You just need to know about it! "Understood!" In the afternoon, Stilwell, Ouyang Jian, and Du Yuming flew back to Mandalay by special plane.