Chapter 1125: The Sound of Cannons in the Gangao Mountains (I)

In the headquarters of the independent division in Myitkyina, northern Burma, after the staff officers marked the situation map of the enemy and us, they began to discuss in a whisper, how to fight this battle, Chief of Staff Chang Feng and Chief of Staff Yang Ketian, the two of them kept comparing and drawing on the situation map, occasionally arguing in a whisper, and then, the two frowned at the same time, this battle is really not easy to fight.

Gradually, the sound of talking and arguing completely stopped, and in the command headquarters, the eyes of dozens of people were focused on the wall with their backs to everyone, staring intently at the wall, the large Indochina Peninsula combat map, and the division commander Tang Qiuli, who had not turned back for a long time, had maintained this posture for more than half an hour.

No one made a sound to disturb the division commander, Chang Feng, Yang Ketian, including all the staff officers, after careful argumentation and detailed analysis, they were all inclined in their hearts that it was better not to fight this battle, and it was also a safe and prudent strategy to abandon Myitkyina for the time being, and wait for the Japanese army to occupy northern Burma, divide troops into other areas, and disperse the troops, and then find an opportunity to clean up the little devils.

Also, temporarily avoid the edge of the Japanese army, and wait for Feng Jiwu's corps and Ma Chaoyang's corps to arrive, when the strength of the independent division is about the same as the Japanese army, whether to disperse and annihilate the enemy, or the main force to fight a decisive battle, it is up to Ito Yanzaburo, the initiative will be manipulated in his own hands, how to fight, he has the final say.

After a long time, Tang Qiuli turned around and said, "I have decided to fight with the Japanese army in northern Burma, Chang Feng, record orders!" Everyone was shocked and looked at their division commander in amazement, with the style and operational principles of the division commander, such an obviously passive battle situation would not force the battle to continue?

Doesn't the division commander often say? "The enemy changes and I change, regardless of the gains and losses of one city or one place, in every battle, we must achieve the most results of destroying the enemy at the minimum cost, and this is the principle of fighting against the Japanese army by all units of the independent division," but what happened to the division commander today? Chang Feng and Yang Ketian glanced at each other, and Chang Feng felt that he was the chief of staff, and it was necessary and obligatory to remind the division commander.

He took a step forward, tried his best to control his tone, and said: "Division commander, I and Director Yang just now, on the combat map, carefully marked the situation of the enemy and us, as far as the current situation is concerned, I, Director Yang and all the staff officers of the combat department do not agree to conduct any operation against the Japanese army under the current conditions, and ask the division commander to consider our construction!" ”

In fact, this is the first time that since the establishment of the independent division, the chief of staff, the chief of staff, and all the officers of the operations department have opposed the division commander Tang Qiuli's battle plan, not that Tang Qiuli's authority has weakened, but that the officers of the independent division have experienced nearly nine years of fighting with blood and fire from raising the flag in the northeast to the present, and they have all matured.

Chang Feng and Yang Ketian, as well as the actions of all the staff officers, made Tang Qiuli very pleased, although he has the experience and memory of two worlds, and can avoid fatal mistakes in major events, but it does not represent himself, he can be together on the same issue, and he will never go on a business trip, and the mature expression of the staff officers is the best line of defense for himself to avoid bad luck.

Tang Qiuli smiled and said: "I know what everyone means, now, the situation is urgent, we are not allowed to discuss it for a long time, and when the battle in northern Burma is over, I will have a good debate with you, how about it?" Now, all departments have entered the operational state, and the wind is constantly blowing, recording my orders, and regarding the northern Burma campaign, the following adjustments are now made in the deployment of the campaign. ”

Chang Feng and Yang Ketian are their own duties, what is a staff officer, is not to put forward their different opinions and views to the division commander, so that every battle, as far as possible to avoid mistakes, since the division commander's mind has been decided, as a subordinate, then only without hesitation to carry out orders, this is also the duty of staff officers.

Tang Qiuli continued: "The deployment adjustment is as follows, the operational objectives of this campaign are the 11th, 15th, and 19th divisions of the Japanese army on the front line of Mengmi, the second and third brigades of the tank, and the first brigade of heavy artillery, with a strength of about 75,000 Japanese troops and more than 500 tanks, to launch an attack on the Japanese army, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd tank brigades, attached in this direction. ”

"It should be noted that within 24 hours, the battle must be ended, Meng Mi's battle, under my personal command, Tang Qiusheng's Sulu Mobile Corps of the first, second, and third brigades, with the fourth and fifth tank brigades, to the Japanese 17th and 21st divisions, the first tank brigade, and the first cavalry wing of the Japanese army that entered the front line of Degang, to prevent it from turning around to reinforce the second echelon of the Japanese army, and to annihilate the Japanese army in this department, this battlefield is commanded by Deputy Division Commander Tang."

"The 8th Brigade of the Corps, the 4th and 5th Brigades of the Sulu Mobile Corps, the 6th Tank Brigade, and the 4th Battalion of Rocket Artillery, immediately went south and rushed to the Mogok line to take up the task of blocking the main force of the Japanese army. More than thirty-six hours. ”

Tang Qiuli from this battle plan, Tang Qiusheng in the direction of Degang, and himself in the direction of Meng Mi, the pressure is not great, for the Japanese army, the strength and firepower are in an absolute advantage, but the blocking troops on the front line of Mogu, the pressure is unprecedented, with three brigades of frontal blocking troops and five brigades of flanking troops, if you want to slow down the march speed of the main force of the Japanese army of more than 300,000 people, it is a great test for the commander in charge of this direction.

Using eight brigades to send reinforcements is already all the troops that Tang Qiuli can use, and even the reserves are not left, not to mention, at the beginning of the attack on the second echelon of the Japanese army, Ito's main force of the Japanese army will inevitably come to the rescue desperately, how to complete the campaign requirements with the minimum casualties, is a consideration of a commander's command ability, judgment of the battlefield shape and other comprehensive capabilities.

The candidate for this commander couldn't help but be imprudent, he groaned, he looked at Chang Feng, and said: "Chang Feng, the task of blocking the main force of the Japanese army will be completed by you commanding the strength of eight brigades, are you sure?" Also, I will order the 1st and 2nd Groups of the Air Force to fly south and fully cooperate with you in blocking the main force of the Japanese army. ”

As Tang Qiuli's orders were issued, it was gradually clear in Chang Feng's mind that the division commander's combat plan seemed to be risky and impulsive, but what the division commander took advantage of was Ito's tactical loophole, the main force was separated from the second echelon by a day's journey, and it was this time difference that allowed the division commander to seize the opportunity.

To sum up, the tactics of the division commander are to pinch the head, disturb the tail, and stab in the middle, if the intermediate link connecting the vanguard and the main force of the Japanese army is annihilated, then the two divisions and Japanese troops in the vanguard are also meat sent to the mouth, from Mogok to Myitkyina, more than 600 kilometers of the road, all the troops of the independent division in northern Burma can be concentrated until the arrival of Feng Jiwu's corps and Ma Chaoyang's corps.

In this way, there is no need to give up Myitkyina, and the Japanese attack on northern Burma can be repulsed, and all unfavorable factors can be avoided, Chang Feng feels that he is short-sighted because of his opposition to the division commander's battle plan just now, and now, the division commander has entrusted himself with such an important task, and in the mind of the division commander, Chang Feng is still the original Chang Feng.

"Division Commander, Chang Feng can ensure the thirty-six hours required for the Battle of Mengmi, unless Ito steps over my corpse!" Chang Feng said loudly, his face was full of fortitude, this is a guarantee, but also a senior commander's declaration of going out, in an instant, his blood actually had a boiling feeling, and the anxiety and gains and losses of many days were swept away.

Tang Qiuli gently patted Chang Feng's shoulder, shook his head and said: "I don't need such a guarantee from you, remember, there are many ways to fight in the blocking battle, and the frontal hard top is the simplest one, you can use the distance of more than eighty kilometers from Mogu to Mengmi to make more articles." ”

As the orders of the independent division headquarters were issued one after another, the participating units immediately marched to the designated place, and the two troops with an inextricable blood feud were like two trains driving at extreme speed, colliding head-on, and there would definitely be a loud sound of sparks flying around.

On the morning of 29 June, the shape of the battlefield changed again, and the vanguard of the Japanese army, without any resistance or disturbance, advanced at an extremely fast pace, and by noon reached Inyuva, which had entered the edge of the Gangau Mountains, in order to maintain constant contact with the vanguard.

By the afternoon of the 29th, the vanguard of the Japanese army had advanced to the Xinbo line in the hinterland of the Gangao Mountains.

According to the changes in the battlefield situation, Tang Qiuli immediately ordered the 1st to 7th Brigades and the 1st to 3rd Tank Brigades of the Corps directly under the south, to change their plan to encircle and annihilate the Japanese troops in the middle of Mengmi and set up an ambush on the front line of Inyuwa, so that they could gain at least six hours of time for the troops heading south, so that they could make more adequate preparations.

Tang Qiuli followed the troops south, and after arriving at the designated place, the troops immediately built fortifications at the ambush site, he took the mountain tiger and a dozen special guards, climbed a mountain peak, stood on the edge of the Gangao Mountain Range, and looked south, in the twilight, the mountains and mountains of northern Myanmar fell into a haze, fog, and a murderous aura appeared.

In another eight hours, this calm land will be awakened by the continuous artillery fire and soaked in the blood of Japanese soldiers.

(To be continued)

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