Chapter 399 The hidden worries of the expeditionary army
Chapter 399 The hidden worries of the expeditionary force
Yangon, Myanmar, Japanese Fifteenth Army Headquarters.
The Japanese Fifteenth Army was formed to attack Burma. At first, the Fifteenth Army only had two field divisions, the 33rd and the 55th. Later, after the 100,000 elite Chinese Expeditionary Force rushed to Burma, the Japanese Southern Army Headquarters
The deployment was quickly adjusted and the two elite divisions, the 18th and 56th, were transferred into the battle order of the 15th Army.
Now, the Fifteenth Army is the largest army in the entire Southern Army.
Amidst the rapid footsteps, Major General Haruki Isayama, Chief of Staff of the Fifteenth Army, walked into the office of Lieutenant General Shojiro Iida, Commander of the Fifteenth Army, carrying a saber. He immediately put his feet back and stood at attention and said: "Your Excellency, Commander, Nan.
The agency reported that the commander-in-chief of the China Expeditionary Force, Yue Weihan, has landed in northern Myanmar and officially took over the command of Du Yuming."
"What?" Shojiro Iida said slightly lost, "Airborne in northern Myanmar?"
"Hai." Isayama Haruki suddenly lowered his head and said, "And he personally flew the plane to make an emergency landing."
"It's unbelievable." Shojiro Iida said solemnly, "What a crazy guy."
"Your Excellency, Commander, Yue Weihan is obviously more difficult to deal with than Du Yuming." Isayama Haruki said, "Although Du Yuming is powerful, he also severely damaged the 5th Division in the Battle of Hengyang. However, Du Yuming is indecisive by nature, and he is constantly attacked.
China's leader Chiang was constrained and did not demonstrate his extraordinary commanding ability in Burma."
"But Yue Weihan is completely under no one's control. This guy is a war madman. In order to win, he dares to disobey anyone's orders and do the craziest things! I think Yue Weihan will definitely not lead the army to withdraw to India.
, it is even less likely that he will go back to his country over the Mountains of Foreigners, this guy will probably fight the imperial army in northern Myanmar!"
"Well, Isayama-kun, what you say makes sense." Shojiro Iida said with deep understanding. "Yue Weihan can be said to be born for war, and it is very difficult to deal with him!" After saying this, Shojiro Iida became very talkative.
Then he added, "However, it was an extremely stupid decision for Yue Weihan to land in Burma so recklessly!"
Isayama Haruki said in astonishment: "What do you mean, Commander?"
Iida Shojiro waved his hand and said: "Isayama-kun, you have never been in China before setting foot on the battlefield in China, so you do not have enough understanding of the factional struggles of the China Army. The China Army can be said to be the most powerful in the world.
**, the army with the most fierce factional battles, even within the Central Army, which is directly affiliated with Chiang Kai-shek, there are many factions!"
"On the surface, the Chinese Expeditionary Force is well-trained, well-equipped, and has 100,000 soldiers, but this is only a superficial phenomenon."
"In fact, these 100,000 troops are composed of several factions. Among them, the Fifth Army is the Central Army of the direct line of China leader Chiang Kai-shek, the Sixth Army is a miscellaneous army based on the Guangxi Army, and the Sixty-sixth Army
The main force is Cheng Qian's Hunan Army, but the predecessor of the New 38th Division is the Eight-Country Bank Tax Police Corps organized in the Songhu area."
"The big factions include the Central Army, Gui Army, Hunan Army and Songhu Tax Police. There are countless small factions. There are also many grievances and grievances among senior officers at all levels such as army commanders, division commanders and brigade commanders.
Although Du Yuming, commander of the Fifth Army, was appointed commander of the expeditionary force by Chiang Kai-shek, it was difficult for him to effectively command this improvised force."
"And this is also an important reason why Du Yuming has not dared to engage in a decisive battle with the Japanese imperial army in Burma despite having all the advantages, because after the war started, the Chinese squadrons of these four factions were very difficult to fight.
It is difficult to advance and retreat together, and share the same hatred and hatred of the enemy. Once Du Yuming is slightly negligent in his command, the military will immediately become disorganized."
After listening to Iida Shojiro's analysis, Isayama Haruki suddenly realized: "Oh, I understand."
Iida Shojiro waved his hand and said: "Although Du Yuming was unable to effectively command the entire expeditionary force, he could still control the most elite Fifth Army. However, Yue Weihan just parachuted into northern Myanmar alone. It is amazing to lead dozens of people.
Even if he has great military exploits, he will never be able to effectively control the entire army."
Just as he finished speaking, Lieutenant General Oda Hideyoshi, commander of the Japanese 5th Flying Regiment, strode in, immediately stood upright, and reported to Shojiro Iida: "Your Excellency, Commander, the reconnaissance squadron reports that the China Expeditionary Force has stopped moving northward.
Field fortifications are being built along the Hukang River Valley, the Mengong River Valley and the Kuman Mountains."
"Isayama-kun, you really guessed it right. Yue Weihan is really going to have a decisive battle with the Japanese imperial army in northern Myanmar!" Shojiro Iida exclaimed, "This is really an extremely stupid decision. Just rely on such an army.
There are many factions, and the rabble, who seem to be in harmony with each other, but also want to resist the attack of the Japanese imperial army? It is simply overestimating their own capabilities!"
"What's more..." Isayama Haruki also said, "The supply of the China Army is also a problem."
"Yes." Shojiro Iida nodded happily, "The China Expeditionary Force has a lot of tanks, armored vehicles and field heavy howitzers. However, if there is no supply, these heavy equipment will immediately become scrap metal, and the big **
The *Imperial Army, however, could continuously obtain supplies through Myanmar’s railway lines and roads.”
"As for the supply line..." Oda Hideyoshi suddenly said, "The reconnaissance squadron also reported a situation. Tens of thousands of American and British engineers and hundreds of thousands of Indian workers are repairing roads near Tingjiang Airport in eastern India. Engineers from the China Expeditionary Force
We are also rushing to repair simple roads between the Hukang River Valley and the Mengong River Valley."
"Oh? Are the Allies trying to repair the China-India Highway?" Shojiro Iida's expression changed slightly, and he strode to the map hanging on the wall.
After drawing on the map for a moment, Iida Shojiro showed a smile on his face and said calmly: "Most of the areas from northern Myanmar to eastern India are uninhabited areas, and the natural environment is extremely harsh. How easy is it to build a road here?
Even the lowest level of simple roads can’t be completed without more than half a year!”
"Half a year?" Isayama Haruki said, "In thirty days at most, the China Expeditionary Force should have run out of ammunition and food."
"It won't take that long." Iida Shojiro said with a smile, "In ten days at most, the various factions of the China Expeditionary Force will fight over the distribution of the only military supplies. At that time, the Japanese Imperial Army will be able to
If we defeat it without any effort, the Burma Campaign will come to an end, haha."
Hukang Valley, 49th Division Headquarters.
The military jeep made a beautiful flick and stopped steadily outside the field tent of the division headquarters.
When the car door opened, Chen Mianyue, the temporary commander of the 55th Division, bent down and got out of the car. The guards guarding outside the tent quickly raised their hands in salute. Chen Mian waved his hand and then bent down and got into the tent.
In the tent, Peng Bisheng, commander of the 49th Division, was shaving.
Seeing Chen Mianyue, Peng Bisheng couldn't help but be startled and said in astonishment: "Brother Mianyue, why are you here?"
"Brother Bisheng, if I don't come here to find out what's going on, I'll feel really guilty." Chen Mianyue said with a bitter smile, "Brother Bisheng, are we really going to let Yue Weihan be relieved of his military duties like this? Yue Weihan is so
Is it too much to do this? If you want to remove the military commander, why should you report it to the Military Commission for approval?"
"Brother Mian Yue, have you forgotten the Military Commission's telegram so quickly?" Peng Bisheng said, "The Military Commission's telegram couldn't have made it more clear. Yue Weihan has the power to make improvised decisions! What does it mean to make improvised decisions? That is
The power of life and death! In that situation, if you and I had supported the military throne, Yue Weihan would have most likely become angry and killed the military commander on the spot!"
"He dares!" Chen Mianyue said angrily, "He alone, I don't believe he can really rebel!"
"He really dares!" Peng Bisheng said coldly, "Yue Weihan even fabricated Chairman Chiang Kai-shek's edict, what else would he not dare to do? In ancient times, this was falsely passing on imperial edicts! According to
The law wants to destroy the nine tribes!"
After saying this, Peng Bisheng said again: "The military leader openly opposed Yue Weihan at the military meeting. If Yue Weihan wanted to kill him, wouldn't it be like killing a chicken? Can we really avenge the military leader and kill Yue Weihan too?
No? If you and I, brothers, really do this, we will never be able to return to China in this life, and we will have no choice but to stay in Myanmar and be lonely ghosts."
Chen Mianyue was silent. After all, Yue Weihan was the supreme commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force. Although it was a bit excessive to shoot Gan Lichu, who blatantly disobeyed military orders, it was his right. But if they killed Yue Weihan, it would be a rebellion. All four people in the country
Tens of millions of compatriots will never let them go lightly, and even Chairman Chiang probably won't let them go.
"Brother, Jun Zuo is a smart man, but you think too much." Peng Bisheng patted Chen Mianyue on the shoulder and said, "It is actually a good thing that Jun Zuo can return to China in this way. When the Sixth Army defeats Burma,
If you bring the remnants of the defeated generals back to China, then Chairman Chiang and the Military Commission will only hold the military commander accountable, not Yue Weihan, do you understand?"
"Understood, what should we do?" Chen Mianyue was a little depressed. Gan Lichu was shirking responsibility after making trouble for a long time.
"Let's wait and see first." Peng Bisheng said with a sigh, "Yue Weihan has taken office as a new official and is in high spirits. Don't touch his bad luck at this time. Whoever touches him will be unlucky. Wait until he is defeated in northern Burma. He will be dissatisfied.
After the little *** is defeated, it won’t be too late for you and I to lead our troops to retreat to India, it won’t be too late in a few days anyway, what do you think?”
"It seems...that's all we can do." Chen Mianyue put on his military cap and left with some depression.
Northern Myanmar, deep in the jungle.
A company of Chinese soldiers was escorting General Stilwell and a dozen American advisers as they retreated toward India, accompanied by the recently dismissed Commander of the Sixth Army Gan Lichu and his accompanying guards.
Among Stilwell's entourage was a young American engineer and technician.
The young man excitedly said to Stilwell as he walked: "General, General Yue Weihan is truly well-deserved. He abandoned his direct troops and landed in Burma alone, and he subdued these arrogant Chinese generals so quickly. In this regard, he is comparable to the Chinese Expeditionary Force."
The previous commander, General Du Yuming, was much more powerful."
Stilwell looked at Gan Lichu who was not far away and shook his head silently.
These senior generals of the Chinese Expeditionary Force only obeyed Yue Weihan's orders on the surface. Once the next war went slightly wrong, they would immediately return to their old ways, and the fighting between the factions would only become more intense. How could Stilwell also
I don't understand why there can be such fierce factional fighting within the same Chinese Communist team?
To put it bluntly, the generals of different factions just want others to die and save their own troops.
This is what Stilwell discovered after repeated negotiations with Du Yuming failed. In fact, Du Yuming was reluctant to fight the decisive battle with the Japanese army in Burma. Chiang's remote control was the main reason. However, there were many factions within the expeditionary force and the command was not smooth.
It is also an important reason that cannot be ignored. The existence of factions has greatly weakened the combat effectiveness of the expeditionary force.
Of course, not all Chinese generals have such ulterior motives.
According to Stilwell's observation, at least the two major generals Sun Liren and Dai Anlan, as well as the two colonel commanders Hu Xianqun and Zhu Maozhen, are real Chinese Communists. In their eyes, they only have the duty of being a soldier.
There are only the interests of the country and the nation, and no selfish thoughts at all. It is for this reason that Sun Liren led the New 38th Division to raid Myitkyina.
In the dense jungle, the New 38th Division is fighting hard towards Myitkyina.
Colonel Liu Fangwu, the new commander of the 113th Regiment, waded through knee-deep murky muddy puddles and came to General Sun Liren's side. He gasped and said: "Master, please let the brothers rest for a while? This ghost
The place is stuffy and hot, and there is no road at all. The physical exertion of the brothers is too great, and they will become dehydrated if they continue to march!"
"No!" General Sun Liren tugged at his collar and categorically objected, "We can't stop. This ghost place is too evil. I'm afraid I won't be able to stand up if I sit down! Tell the brothers to hold on for another two hours and wait until we get out.
There is a small town ahead of us when we enter this dense forest. When we get to the town, we must let our brothers eat well, drink well, and sleep well!"
Captain Liu Fangwu said in astonishment: "Master, how did you know there was a small town ahead?"
General Sun Liren sighed, lowered his voice and said to Commander Liu Fangwu: "Look at the plum blossoms to quench your thirst!"
"Ah? I really thought there was a small town ahead." Commander Liu Fangwu was obviously a little disappointed and whispered, "Master, if you ask me, our new 38th Division should not listen to Yue Weihan! Who knows?
Is what that guy said true or false? What if the Japanese troops in Myitkyina are not a regiment but a division? Then our new 38th Division will be in serious danger."
"Shut up!" General Sun Liren said coldly, "No matter how many Japanese troops there are in Myitkyina, our New 38th Division must fight this battle. Liu Fangwu, listen to me, we are not fighting this battle for
Who is it, let alone Yue Weihan, we are doing it for the Chinese nation, and for the continuation of the Yanhuang bloodline, do you understand?"
"Yes." Liu Fangwu immediately stood up and said solemnly, "Thank you, Master, for your teaching!"