The Japanese army's combat operation to attack Imphal has begun, and the offensive plan of more than 100,000 people cannot be completely hidden, although they have drawn the entire Fifth Flying Division for air cover, but the Allied air power in India is also very strong, and their actions have been discovered.

"Imphal? This is our offensive base and our back road. ”

Feng Yi put down the intelligence, Stilwell's face was excited, that means that Imphal's defense will not be a problem, besides, the British can't fight in Burma, it doesn't mean that they can't do it in India, now India is very important to the British, they can't give up Imphal and let the Japanese army enter India to destroy.

"Imphal don't worry, General Slim's 14th Army is ready around here, once the Japanese army crosses the Chindun River, the 4th Army and the 33rd Army under the 14th Army will all be involved in the battle within a few hours, and there is also the second batch of troops of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, including the new 30th Division, the 50th Division and the 14th Division, although they are not yet formed, but they have already been reloaded."

Sure enough, Stilwell looked like he didn't have to worry, in fact, the Allies had long been aware of the Japanese army's intentions at Imphal, and as early as a few months ago, three divisions of the Chinese Expeditionary Force had begun to arrive at Imphal by air, in order to ensure Imphal's safety.

"Oh, I see!"

Feng nodded, he finally understood the reason for Stilwell's excitement now; In the whole of Burma, the use of Japanese troops has reached the limit, the 18th Division of the new army fighting in northern Burma, the 56th Division of the confrontation between the western Yunnan and the Chinese army are formed as divisions, and the areas that the 49th Division, 53rd Division and 55th Division need to defend are too wide, because of the beginning of the entire Imphal Campaign, the Japanese army in the entire Burma region seems to be very empty, and more importantly, the 49th Division and the 53rd Division exist as the second echelon of Imphal troops, and they may enter the attack line at any time, expand the battle line, and occupy India.

"The Japanese troops in Burma are now fighting on both sides, and we need to face an 18th Division, if we can eliminate them here, we can even directly attack Myitkyina, so that the 56th Division that entered China will become a lone army, do you understand the strategic significance of this?"

Stilwell reminded Fung Ng.

"The Japanese troops attacking Imphal may come back to help, the entire Burma railway is in their hands, and they will maneuver very fast!"

Feng Yi reminded.

"Therefore, we must wait for the large Japanese army to cross the Chindun River, and that will be the time for the new 38th Division to start the offensive."

Stilwell nodded, of course he had considered this situation, the new 22nd Division in front was not enough to make the Japanese army return, compared to the huge temptation of India, they would rather take the risk.

In fact, the division that Stilwell did not know was also prepared by the Japanese base camp for the attack on the Burma battlefield, and the 2nd Division and the 54th Division were already at sea, and they would arrive in Burma in more than ten days and be ready to support the battlefield at any time.

"But the 18th Division is not a soft persimmon, they have lost less than 2,000 soldiers on the front line of Yubang, most of them are the corpses of the Burmese Defense Army, a field division with a strength of more than 20,000 is not a soft persimmon, the new first army plus the Sino-US mixed commando, the total strength is less than 40,000, if you want to be encircled, there will be holes everywhere, the Japanese army can choose any direction to break through, we can't stop it."

Feng still didn't think that the 18th Division could be wiped out, the Japanese army's field divisions were not vegetarians, they had a lot of heavy firepower, as long as they concentrated their forces to beat at one point, their encirclement would become a joke.

"I think we should work hard for this, instead of blindly emphasizing the difficulties; The history of Chinese soldiers tells me that every time they get a chance in a desperate situation. ”

Paterno interjected and told Feng that the purpose of their gathering here now was to find a way to get out.

"Alright! You win, let's take a look here! ”

Feng Yi pointed to the entire Mengguan and Waruban regions, his brows furrowed.

The Americans' maps are detailed, with regional areas interspersed with maps of key areas, and they even mark every river, ferry, or jungle; Feng Yi checked all the information and worked with the staff officers.

"Where is this?"

Feng Ye stared at a river in the Waruban area, and he found that if the Japanese army wanted to break through from the Waruban area, this river was a must, otherwise they could only abandon their heavy equipment and break through the jungle piecemeal, and it was obvious that the jungle breakthrough was a very dangerous road, because it was impossible to carry a lot of baggage, and even their rations and drinking water would be a problem, which they had already experienced when they withdrew from Burma.

"Colonel, this is the North and South River."

An officer from the staff department quickly rummaged through the information and handed the information on the Nanbei River to Feng Yi.

"General, the new 22nd Division and the new 38th Division will attack the Mengguan and Warruban areas, as long as the new 38th Division appears from the east, the Japanese army will be worried that the back road will be cut off, they will not dare to fight us to the death in this area, they will definitely break through, so I think we might as well block them here."

Feng Yi read the information of the North and South Rivers at a glance and ten lines, on this line, there are only three ferry crossings marked, and there are no conditions for erecting pontoon bridges in other places, relying on the river, they can build complete field fortifications, and wait for the Japanese army to collide.

"But then we won't be able to stop Shinichi Tanaka's big fish."

Stilwell reminded Fung Ng.

"General, our target is more than 20,000 soldiers of the Eighteenth Division, as long as these soldiers are dead, what do you think one Tanaka Shinichi can do? Does he still have the spare time and energy to train so many soldiers with strong combat effectiveness to come out and reorganize the 18th Division? ”

Feng asked.

"Alright! Tell us about your plans! ”

Stilwell nodded, indeed, although the commander of a unit is important, but more important is the grassroots officers and veteran backbones, they are the basis for the improvement of the combat effectiveness of the entire army, without these, no matter how powerful the commander is, there is no way to greatly improve their combat effectiveness.

"The North and South River, in the northeast of the Warruban area, is the passage for the withdrawal of the 18th Division to Myitkyina, and if we intercept it here, we will not only eliminate the retreating forces of the 18th Division, but also may lure out the troops of the 18th Division and the 56th Division remaining in Myitkyina."

Feng Yi pointed to the river, but in fact, the location of the river was beyond the area of this battle, and the place he said had jumped out of the battlefield currently set; In the original plan, the Allied command did not expect to advance the battle here so quickly by attacking the Mongguan and Warruban areas, which was their plan before the rainy season.

"Here?"

Stilwell and Paterno looked at the map at the same time, their brows furrowed, Feng Yi's stroke directly increased the scope of the battle, that is to say, the vast area from Mengguan to the Nanbei River will become a battlefield, which is not conducive to encircling and annihilating the 18th Division, and it has nothing to do with their purpose.