. Chapter 1101: The First Battle of Myitkyina (Middle)

Ito Yanzaburo, commander-in-chief of Japan's Southeast Asian Dispatch Army, was extremely shocked when he learned that China, the United States, and Britain had signed a military alliance agreement, and what he was most worried about was the independent division troops that had been stationed on the Chinese border.

China, the United States and Britain came together because of the fierce offensive of the imperial ** team in Southeast Asia, Britain and the United States wanted to protect the interests of Southeast Asia, and the people of China were also afraid that after Southeast Asia was occupied by the Japanese Empire, they would use it as a base to attack the interior of China again.

Japan's dispatch of troops to Southeast Asia was not an important chess piece in Tang Qiuli's strategy plan for Southeast Asia, and Ito, for the sake of safety, sent a large number of troops along the north of Mandalay without affecting the encirclement of Mandalay. To the east of the Chinese direction, do combat alert.

Two days later, Ito's speculation became a reality, and the people of China finally sent troops to Burma, and it was the formidable independent division troops that were dispatched, Ito was so nervous that he almost immediately gave the order to attack Mandalay, although he was reluctant, but in the end it was much better than fighting on two fronts, and attacking inside and outside.

If Ito Yanzaburo attacked Mandalay immediately, Tang Qiuli's battle layout had not been completed, and the British did not have the determination to desperately break through, the result of the battle would have made Tang Qiuli very disappointed, and it could be said that it was a failed plan.

Another day passed, Tang Qiuli deliberately exposed his intentions, and the Feng Jiwu Corps and Ma Chaoyang Corps, which advanced into Laos and Vietnam, were launched at the same time in both places, and the momentum was huge, Ito received the information, but he was relieved, Laos and Vietnam are thousands of miles away from Mandalay in Burma, not to mention thousands of miles, and the geographical conditions of the Indochina Peninsula greatly limit the marching speed of mechanized troops.

Even if Tang Qiuli's independent division troops came from the two places day and night, and in less than two weeks, they could not climb the outskirts of Mandalay, which reassured him, and there was another point, where Tang Qiuli's troops attacked, there was no main force of the empire at all, only some pioneer regiments and local forces controlled by the Japanese.

It can be seen from this that Tang Qiuli was unwilling to fight with the imperial ** team gathered in Mandalay, and secondly, he took the opportunity to seize the original sphere of influence of the British and take advantage of the chaos.

Tang Qiuli's strategic deception in the Indochina Peninsula achieved unprecedented success, which is what Sun Tzu said in the Art of War, "showing the form," and Ito Yanzaburo's entire attention was attracted to the eastern part of the Indochina Peninsula.

The Corps of the Independent Division and the Corps of Tang Qiusheng who participated in the Battle of Myitkyina disappeared into the mountains and mountains of northern Burma, especially the Corps directly under them, quietly approaching Myitkyina with unprecedented covert movements.

On the morning of 7 June, the 1st Brigade of the vanguard of the Corps directly under the Independent Division and the 8th Brigade turned north from Nankan and arrived at Wazha in the north of Myitkyina and Mofeng in the southeast.

The troops of the six brigades of the Sulu Mobile Corps of the Independent Division commanded by Yu Guanghan also unfolded in accordance with the predetermined plan on the main communication artery from Mandalay to Myitkyina, like a string of pearls, in a suitable place for setting up an ambush.

Major General Liu Hongzhang, commander of the First Brigade of the Corps directly under him, stood on a mountain peak fifteen miles outside the town of Wazha, this place is the only commanding height of Waza, the clear Maili Kaijiang water, rushing down from the Sawan Mountain, flowing slowly on the narrow plain at the foot of the mountain, the mountain is densely forested, the bushes are thick, it is a good place to hide troops naturally, not to mention a brigade of more than 15,000 people, that is, more than 100,000 people, if it is scattered here, the planes in the sky will not be able to find it.

Ascending to the peak, a cool mountain breeze blew, eliminating the sweat and heat all over the body, in northern Myanmar in June, it was already as hot as a steamer, Liu Hongzhang was refreshed, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and did not return his head, and ordered the confidential section chief standing behind him: "Send a report to the division commander, our brigade has arrived at the predetermined area of Sawan in accordance with the specified time, and the troops are resting in concealment, please ask for instructions on the next move." ”

Then, I picked up the telescope and looked in the direction of Myitkyina, of course, this is not the endless Great Plain of North China, standing on the high mountains, you can see that dozens of miles away, the woods are blocked, the fog is shrouded, and even the shadow of Myitkyina is not seen at all.

Liu Hongzhang put down the binoculars in annoyance, and muttered, "Damn the place, except for the mountains and trees," Colonel Ren Zhaoquan, the chief of staff of the brigade, said half-jokingly: "Brigade commander, don't complain, if you let the division commander hear it, it will be another harsh criticism, didn't you snatch the task of this vanguard from other brigades?" ”

Liu Hongzhang said somewhat proudly: "That is, with our first brigade here, who dares to grab the main attack with me, the first brigade of the independent division, the main force among the main forces, if you are not convinced, pull it out and compare!" ”

Ren Zhaoquan laughed, and then said: "At the military meeting when the Corps went abroad to fight, Brigade Commander Qiao Manshan of the Second Brigade, after the meeting, complained to me, you tell your brigade commander, don't compete for everything, other brigades are no worse than your first brigade, anyway, I obeyed your Liu Da Voice, but the venue listened to him quarrel, he can do it!" ”

The seemingly relaxed dialogue between Liu Hongzhang and Ren Zhaoquan concealed the hardships of the First Brigade's journey from Tengchong to Vasa through Pian Ma, and in four days and four nights, in order to achieve the purpose of concealing the whereabouts of the troops, it took the road, which was full of primeval forests and swamps, and it was completely a temporary road.

The soldiers of the whole brigade, almost all of whom became engineers, all the way through thorns and thorns, difficult to move forward, through the southern edge of Gaoligong Mountain, after crossing the Wenli Kaijiang River, only a little bit of the road, the non-combat attrition on the way, there were more than 2,000 people, Liu Hongzhang angrily scolded the heavens and the earth, and scolded the damned place in northern Burma.

Soon after the telegram to the division was sent, he received a reply: "Brigadier Liu Hongzhang, your unit is hiding on the front line of Vasa, and at 5 a.m. on June 8, you will launch an attack on the Japanese army in Myitkyina on time, and the direction of the attack is due north of Myitkyina. ”

Liu Hongzhang was happy, this trip, after all, he was not busy in vain, the blood blisters on the soles of his feet were also worth it, he was still the first to attack the troops, and when he was happy, Chief of Staff Ren Zhaoquan smiled bitterly and handed him a telegram, Liu Hongzhang saw it, and it was on fire at that time, and he roared loudly: "Sue the first and second heavy artillery regiments of the sù brigade, the rocket artillery headquarters, even if you use people to carry them, you have to get the artillery to the designated position, there is no artillery, I gnaw the position of the little devil with my teeth?" ”

Ren Zhaoquan hurriedly persuaded, "Brigade commander, don't blame them, you also know, what kind of road we are taking?" It is very difficult for the infantry to get through, not to mention the large and heavy artillery, I think that in this way, the regiments should not rest, except for a small number of vigilant troops, the rest will go to repair the roads. ”

Liu Hongzhang snorted heavily, exhaled a breath of turbid breath from his chest, and said: "Okay, just do it, Zhaoquan, you just work hard, take charge of the organization, and, ask, where did the first tank brigade assigned to us arrive, isn't it also hundreds of kilometers away?" Wen Qi is not even, let me fight Myitkyina in the early hours of tomorrow morning? ”

Ren Zhaoquan shook his head helplessly, he knew that the brigade commander was not angry with the artillery and tank troops, but in the past few days, he was tormented by the terrain conditions in northern Burma, and the time from the launch of the general attack, that is, twenty-one hours, let those heavy artillery and rocket artillery arrive on time, it was not easy, he did not dare to delay the time, and after saying goodbye, he hurried away.

On the night of 7 June, at the Myitkyina Campaign Headquarters of the Independent Division in Northern Burma in Bhamma, Tang Qiuli asked Chief of Staff Chang Feng: "Chang Feng, have all the troops arrived at their designated positions?" Chang Feng replied: "Division commander, the five brigades responsible for attacking Myitkyina have all arrived at their designated positions, but some of the heavy weapons are still on their way to the predetermined area because of the road. ”

Tang Qiuli's face sank, and he said: "Send a telegram to the brigades, ordering them, no matter what method is adopted, before the general offensive is launched, heavy weapons must be in place, more than 70,000 people, hidden around Myitkyina, can hide how long the temple can live, therefore, the time for the general attack on Myitkyina remains unchanged, we can't wait any longer, otherwise, the British troops in the direction of Mandalay will inevitably have unexpected changes." ”

After Chang Feng recorded the division commander's order and asked the confidential officer to issue it immediately, Tang Qiuli asked again: "What is the situation of the troops in other directions?" Chang Feng replied: "The Fourth Brigade that penetrates Mengguan has already reached the designated position, and only the Second and Third Brigades, which are intended to be in the Hukang River Valley, because the road is far away and the terrain conditions encountered are more complicated than those of other troops. ”

"According to the telegram from their brigade headquarters, they will arrive at about 10 a.m. on June 8 at the earliest, and they are still infantry units, heavy weapons and tank units, and there is still a lag, it seems that these two brigades will not be able to launch an attack at the specified time! Divisional commander, do you want to adjust the timing of the total attack? In order to achieve unity in the campaign launch? ”

Tang Qiuli shook his head and said: "The time of the general attack remains the same, the Hukang River Valley is a relatively isolated battlefield, close to India, the Japanese defense is not much, I have two main brigades of more than 30,000 people, equipped with heavy artillery and tanks, to solve less than 20,000 Japanese troops, I already look down on them, Myitkyina direction will not affect the normal progress of the Hukang Valley Campaign." ”

(To be continued)

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