The Burmese meaning of Hukham Valley is the place where the devil lives, which shows the harsh natural conditions.
The Hukang Valley is located in the northeast of Myitkyina, and further north is the Savage Mountain that even the locals talk about.
Not long after nearly 80,000 Chinese Expeditionary Forces entered the Hukang River Valley, the original main road turned into a path in the jungle. Coupled with the continuous heavy rain, the road was muddy, and heavy equipment such as cars, tanks, and heavy artillery were no longer able to move.
Du Yuming immediately ordered the troops to gather all the heavy equipment together and then poured gasoline on it.
Since these heavy equipment cannot be brought back to the country, they can only be burned.
Looking at the rows of tanks, cars and large-caliber heavy howitzers parked neatly on the river beach, Du Yuming's mood can only be described as desolate. When the expeditionary force just stepped out of the country, the torrent of steel formed by these heavy equipment was once
It brought strong self-confidence to all the officers and soldiers, and the people in western Yunnan also sent them off to see each other off. Everything is still before their eyes, but now...
"The military seat cannot be burned. This is the only wealth our Fifth Army has. We really cannot burn it!"
Hu Xianqun, the commander of the tank regiment who was standing behind Du Yuming, knelt down. Immediately, Zhu Maozhen, the commander of the artillery regiment, and Hong Shishou, the commander of the automobile regiment, also knelt down. Du Yuming looked dull, and Dai Anlan, Liao Yaoxiang, Yu Shao and others also looked at each other.
Sadly, no one is willing to burn these heavy equipment, but can it be done without burning them?
"Military seat!" Zhu Maozhen, commander of the artillery regiment, stepped forward on his knees, hugged Du Yuming's thigh, and roared ferociously: "You leave the cannon and all the shells, and then my artillery regiment, I promise not to
I will not embarrass you, the military commander, but I will never embarrass the Chinese people, let alone let these cannons fall into the hands of the little devils!"
Du Yuming remained silent, and Luo Zhuoying said next to him: "Captain Zhu, what do you want to do?"
Zhu Maozhen snorted and ignored Luo Zhuoying, the deputy commander-in-chief, and then said to Du Yuming: "Sir, our artillery regiment has not fired a single shot since it entered Myanmar, but now we have to burn all the equipment. I feel really sad."
It’s not a good feeling, military commander, just promise me that we will let our artillery regiment fight against the Japs!”
It's really sad to say that the artillery regiment really didn't fire a single shot after entering Burma.
The fierce fighting of the 200th Division was the same as in ancient times. The artillery regiment was still far away in Lashio. When the artillery regiment finally arrived at the front line, the situation on the Myanmar battlefield had deteriorated sharply. Before a single artillery shell could be fired, the artillery regiment hurriedly followed the headquarters.
Withdrawn to the north, how could such an ending make Zhu Maozhen embarrassed, who was originally planning to fight in the Burmese battlefield?
"Yes, Military Seat, let's fight with the little devil!"
"If we go back like this, how can we meet anyone face-to-face?"
"Yes, even if you die, you will die on the battlefield. The *** among us are definitely not cowards!"
Dai Anlan, Liao Yaoxiang, Sun Liren and other division commanders suddenly became furious and asked for battle one after another.
Not far away, Stilwell shook his head with emotion. The Chinese *** Corps has the best soldiers in the world, and also has a large number of officers who dare to fight to the death. Unfortunately, the Chinese *** Corps has
Most of the commanders are mediocre people, and their supreme commander is even worse.
"What are you yelling for?" Du Yuming finally pulled his face down and reprimanded loudly, "It is Chairman Chiang's order to lead his troops back to China. As a soldier, it is your duty to obey orders. Do you want to disobey?
?”
"It's okay to disobey orders like this!" Seeing that Du Yuming had made up his mind, Sun Liren could no longer hold back and said coldly, "Savage Mountain is hundreds of miles away from people, and there is no way back. I would rather take the troops of the New 38th Division with me.
Seven thousand brothers died in battle, and I will never lead them down a dead end!"
"Sun Liren!" Du Yuming said coldly, "What do you want to do?"
"Our New 38th Division has decided to implement General Stilwell's order and withdraw to India!" Sun Liren did not flinch.
Du Yuming was furious. It took him a long time to control the anger in his heart, and said sadly: "Okay, then you and I will go our separate ways."
After saying that, Du Yuming turned around and was about to order all the heavy equipment and supplies that could not be taken away to be burned when a major staff officer suddenly ran over in a hurry, stood up at attention and said: "General, the Military Commission is calling urgently!"
Du Yuming waved his hand and said without thinking: "Read it!"
The major staff officer immediately opened the telegram and said loudly: "Du Yuming is hereby relieved of his post as Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force and Commander of the Fifth Army. He will immediately return to India to report on his duties. Yue Weihan is appointed as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force, and Dai Anlan is appointed Commander of the Fifth Army.
He still serves as the commander of the 200th Division. This order was issued by the Military Commission on October 2, 30th year of the Republic of China."
"ah?"
"this……"
"Yue Weihan? Did I hear correctly?"
The division commanders and regimental commanders present looked at each other in disbelief.
Du Yuming's face instantly became extremely embarrassed. Being dismissed before the battle was definitely a great shame for any general. What's more, Du Yuming had a high self-esteem. He also wanted to bring the troops back to the country and regroup.
When he went abroad to fight the Japanese army again, he never expected that Chairman Chiang would directly dismiss him.
Before the army commanders, division commanders, regiment commanders and staff present could recover from the huge shock, the staff major opened another telegram and read: "Commander Yue orders: All divisions of the expeditionary force.
Relying on the Hukang River Valley and building fortifications on the spot, he will parachute into the Hukang River Valley before noon tomorrow."
"What? Defense in place?"
"Airborne into the River Cam Valley, did I hear you correctly?"
"He dares to parachute without training. Does he really think he is a god?"
The Japanese officers present were in an uproar, and Stilwell shook his head repeatedly. As a senior general who graduated from West Point Military Academy, Stilwell knew very well how dangerous low-altitude parachuting was, even as a well-trained paratrooper.
Accidents often occur and people fall to death. As a commander, it is extremely unwise to risk airborne landings.
However, Stilwell was still full of expectations for Yue Weihan, the new commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force.
At least one thing is certain, Yue Weihan will never be like Du Yuming, who behaves submissively to the remote control instructions of "Peanut", like a puppet without any opinion. Stilwell has heard Yue Weihan's name more than once, half a year ago
, Yue Weihan even appeared on the cover of Time Magazine in the United States, and is also somewhat famous in the United States.
However, Stilwell was deeply worried about the first military order issued by Yue Weihan after taking office.
In Stilwell's view, the opportunity for the Chinese Expeditionary Force to engage in a decisive battle with the Japanese army has been lost. The best choice at this time should be to withdraw to India, receive a full set of American equipment in Imphal, and train the expeditionary force in accordance with the training standards of the US military.
80,000 officers and soldiers were trained, and then it was possible to counterattack Burma.
However, Stilwell also admitted that although the expeditionary force had lost its strategic advantage, it was not without the power to fight.
Judging from the excited expressions of the senior officers when Du Yuming decided to go to Savage Mountain just now, the morale of the expeditionary force has not been weakened and the fighting spirit has not been lost. It may not be incapable of fighting. However, the logistics support of the expeditionary force is a big problem.
, the Japanese army could obtain a steady stream of supplies through roads and railways, but the expeditionary force could not.
There are neither railways nor roads connecting the Hukkan Valley to India.
If the expeditionary force defends the Hukang Valley for a long time, the only thing it can rely on is military supplies. Although the U.S. government is constantly strengthening its military forces in Asia, especially its air force, it cannot maintain an eight-member army for a long time through air supplies.
The logistical supply for a large army of ten thousand people is still insufficient.
Of course, the expeditionary force can also choose to fight a limited defensive war with the Japanese army, wait until the food and ammunition are almost exhausted, then destroy all heavy equipment and withdraw into India lightly. With the road conditions in the Hukang Valley, the Japanese mechanized equipment
It is difficult to carry out effective maneuvers, and the expeditionary force can retreat calmly.
Niangziguan.
Yue Weihan walked out of the gate surrounded by a large group of generals.
"Okay, let's send it here." Yue Weihan turned back and blocked the accompanying generals.
All the generals immediately stood at attention and saluted Yue Weihan in unison. Li Qinglong, who was always known for his coldness and ruthlessness, could not help but have one eye turn red at this time. He choked and said: "Master, take care all the way.
"
"What, what are you doing?" Yue Weihan said with a smile, "It's not about separation between life and death."
"Okay, everyone, let's go back." Yue Weihan waved his hand and immediately turned around and got into the truck. Chu Zhongtian, who returned to being Yue Weihan's adjutant, and the thirty special operations elites responsible for protecting Yue Weihan also got into the truck.
Accompanied by the roar of the engine, the truck quickly disappeared on the mountain road leading from Niangziguan to Taiyuan.
When the truck disappeared, Liu Yi turned back and said: "Okay, let's go back and prepare separately. In three days, the troops will leave on time. In less than three months, everyone will be able to meet with the headquarters again in Myanmar. There is no need to cry.
."
After saying that, Liu Yi patted Li Qinglong's shoulder specifically to comfort him. Among the many division commanders and brigade commanders present, only Li Qinglong would find it difficult to return to Yue Weihan's command.
On the mountain road from Niangziguan to Taiyuan, trucks are speeding slowly.
Yue Weihan was sitting in the co-pilot with his eyes closed. He was about to go to Myanmar. He had to face a completely unfamiliar battlefield environment and a completely unfamiliar tribe. Even though Yue Weihan was already used to seeing life and death and countless bloody events.
Feng couldn't help but have some ups and downs at this time, because the opportunity to change history has been placed in front of Yue Weihan!
As for the Taihang Base Area and the 39th Group Army, Yue Weihan had already made arrangements.
As a Communist Party member, Yue Weihan would never hand over the Taihang base area to the Central Army or the Shanxi-Sui Army.
As for the 39th Group Army, Yue Weihan did not have the slightest worry. If Chairman Chiang or Commander Yan wanted to bribe senior generals such as Cao Xinglong and Chi Chengfeng during the march and try to intercept one or several divisions halfway, that would be wishful thinking.
Yue Weihan is still very confident in the direct troops he brought out.
Even if there are individual division commanders who really want to find another high branch, they may not be able to pull the troops away!
Yue Weihan's influence on the 39th Group Army is unparalleled. His prestige has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of every officer and soldier of the 39th Group Army. What's more, the 39th Group Army's military pay and enemy-killing bonuses are much higher than those of other *** troops.
, and officers at all levels never deduct their military pay, which even the Central Army is not as good as.
The only thing that worried Yue Weihan was that the road from Shanxi to Myanmar was too far, at least seven or eight thousand miles.
Fortunately, roads have been built from Taiyuan to Xi'an, and from Chongqing to Myanmar. The really difficult part is the "Shu Road" between Xi'an and Chongqing. However, with the quality of the 39th Army, plus
There is no heavy equipment, and it is impossible for the mere Shu Road to hold them back. The 39th Group Army will definitely be able to reach the Yunnan-Myanmar border in two months at the fastest and three months at the slowest!
At noon, Yue Weihan and his party arrived in Taiyuan smoothly.
Chief Yan held a banquet at the residence and warmly entertained Yue Weihan and his entourage. He expressed great appreciation and admiration for Yue Weihan's generous trip to Myanmar and wished Yue Weihan a great victory.
Yue Weihan stayed at Yan Mansion until six o'clock in the evening before taking a bus to Taiyuan Airport.
At this time, the Japanese army should not have equipped its troops with night fighters, so it should be safe at night.
Necessary security measures are still needed. It is such a big thing that Yue Weihan is appointed as the commander-in-chief of the India-Burma Expeditionary Force. It is impossible for Japanese agents not to know the news. Yue Weihan does not dare to fly to Yunnan in broad daylight on Chief Yan's special plane. What if?
It would be a tragedy if the Japs' fighter jets intercepted it.
In fact, the secret service at the Japanese base camp has indeed received the news.
This morning and afternoon, the Aviation Corps directly under the North China Front sent two reconnaissance planes to conduct aerial reconnaissance over Taiyuan Airport. However, no Chinese aircraft were found, so they had no choice but to return. However, the Japanese base camp did not give up and sent another reconnaissance aircraft to the Southern Army.
An order was issued to dispatch aviation troops to Baoshan Airport in Yunnan to intercept the aircraft.
However, General Juichi Terauchi, commander of the Japanese Southern Army, did not intend to carry out the orders from the base camp.
The reason is very simple. Chennault's Flying Tigers are stationed at Baoshan Airport in Yunnan, and the American has also established an extremely powerful early warning system in Yunnan. Before the Japanese aircraft enter Yunnan, the Flying Tigers' fighter jets
We had known the news in advance and were ready for air combat.
The flying group of the Southern Army had conducted several air battles with the Flying Tigers, but the result was a disastrous defeat.
The Japanese base camp and the Southern Army Headquarters are both puzzled by this. In terms of aircraft performance, the Zero fighter just equipped by the Southern Army Flying Group is obviously better than the P-40 fighter equipped by the Flying Tigers. In terms of the quality of the pilots, the Southern Army
The pilots of the Military Flying Group are all veteran pilots drawn from the Kwantung Army and the North and Central China Front Armies. Their rich flying experience is by no means comparable to the rookie pilots of the Flying Tigers who obviously lack actual combat experience. However, the Southern Army
The Flying Group just couldn't defeat the Flying Tigers, and the ratio of battle losses was extremely disparate!