In the dense tropical jungle, Dai Anlan is leading the assault group to advance northward.
By this time, the rainy season in Myanmar had passed, and the terrain did not pose much hindrance to the march of the assault group.
After receiving Yue Weihan's order, although Dai Anlan had doubts in his heart, he still resolutely carried out the order. He immediately led the tank regiment and the main force of the 200th Division to bypass Longdong and advance northward until Captain Nasu of the 55th Japanese Infantry Regiment arrived.
When Colonel Yoshio got the news and emerged from the tunnel, the expeditionary force was already a hundred miles away.
Yoshio Nasu was so frightened that he immediately called the headquarters of the 18th Division and led his troops in pursuit.
As a result, the 55th Japanese Infantry Regiment ran into the ambush of the main force of the 200 Division. After two hours of fierce fighting, the Japanese 55th Infantry Regiment suffered heavy casualties and was forced to withdraw from the battle. The main force of the 200 Division was not willing to fight.
After retreating from the 55th Infantry Regiment of the Japanese Army, they immediately turned around and headed north, following the tank regiment and the 600th Infantry Regiment and marched straight into Jamai.
When the troops marched to a small river, Dai Anlan discovered that two tanks had broken down.
Dai Anlan immediately jumped out of the jeep and stepped forward to ask, "What's going on? Is there a mechanical failure?"
"Reporter's seat!" the *** officer who was resting against the tank stood up quickly and said, "There is no fuel!"
"No fuel?" Dai Anlan's brows jumped when he heard this, and he turned back to the adjutant and said, "Call the headquarters immediately and ask when the American transport plane will arrive?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the rumble of aircraft engines suddenly came from the northwest airspace.
"Master's seat, plane!" the adjutant pointed at the northwest airspace and shouted, "Allied transport plane!"
Dai Anlan put up an awning and looked up at the sky. Sure enough, he saw the Allied transport aircraft painted with stars, stripes and rice patterns. Dai Anlan was overjoyed and immediately ordered his adjutant: "Quick, send a signal immediately to guide the Allied transport aircraft to airdrop."
supply!"
Gamai, headquarters of the Japanese 18th Division.
Colonel Takeda Hisashi walked into the war room with a dark face and said angrily to Mutaguchi Renya: "Your Excellency, division commander, Nasu Yoshio sent an urgent message that the China tank group has bypassed Longdong. With the cooperation of the China 200 Division
, crossed over to Jiamai, our division will soon be in a desperate situation of being attacked from both sides!"
"What!?" Mutaguchi Lian's face suddenly changed. "The tank group has bypassed Longdong? Isn't the Chinese Army afraid that the 55th Division will cut off their logistics supply lines?"
"The China Army doesn't have to worry about logistical support at all." Hisashi Takeda said with a wry smile, "The aviation reconnaissance team reported that Allied transport planes have just airdropped supplies to the China Army's northward assault group!"
"Airdrop of supplies?" Mutaguchi Lianya asked in shock, "Why didn't the 55th Wing try to stop it?"
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, the 55th Regiment has tried its best." Hisashi Takeda sighed sadly, "The 55th Regiment was able to hold off the Chinese Army's tank cluster in Longdong for three full days. In fact, it has exceeded expectations. However, Jia Mai
The tenacity of the defenders far exceeded our expectations, which is why our division is in the predicament it is in today."
"Baga Yalu." Mutaguchi Lian also tore open the lapel of his clothes and said angrily, "Order that all infantry regiments immediately shrink and build a circular defense circle based on the division headquarters and prepare to defend! Call the legion headquarters again.
, requesting the Army Air Force to urgently airdrop disinfectant and ammunition supplies!”
"Hai." Takeda Shou suddenly lowered his head and immediately took the order and left.
At this point, the 18th Division had no choice but to shrink its defense.
Although there are still more than 30,000 people in the 18th Division, there is not much food and ammunition left, and the artillery shells of the mountain artillery regiment have long been exhausted. If it is just the new 22nd Division in front of Kaimai, Mutaguchi Lian
We are still confident of defeating it, but if we add the tank group and the 200th Division that have detoured from the south, the 18th Division will only be beaten!
While the tank group and the 200th Division from the south have not yet come around, hurry up and repair the defenses. The 18th Division still has a chance to resist. If we continue to attack Jiamai, once the Chinese Expeditionary Force's tank group and the 200th Division arrive,
It only took one charge to break through the Japanese defense line that lacked depth. At that time, no matter how well-trained the 18th Division was, it would still have to herd sheep.
Yangon, headquarters of the Japanese Fifteenth Army Corps.
Major General Haruki Isayama hurried into Iida Shojiro's office, immediately put his feet back and stood at attention and said: "Your Excellency, Commander, the 18th Division received an urgent call. The North and South China Army has formed an encirclement situation, and the 18th Division has been forced to shrink its defenses.
, Mutaguchi Ren also requested the aviation force to urgently airdrop ammunition and anti-virus potion to him!"
"Bagagaru." Iida Shojiro said angrily, "Myanmar's air supremacy has been lost. At this time, rashly dispatching transport planes to airdrop supplies to the 18th Division is tantamount to suicide! Order the 18th Division to persist no matter what.
, the 55th Division has already moved north from Mandalay, and it will take at most three days for the 55th Division to reach Jamai!"
"Hai!" Isayama Haruki lowered his head suddenly, then quickly walked away with his saber in hand.
Meng Gong, Expeditionary Force Headquarters.
Chu Zhongtian strode into the war room and said to Yue Weihan: "General, the Japanese 55th Division has left Mandalay."
"Okay, Iida, this old devil, finally lost his temper!" Yue Weihan said after that, "Has the Sixth Army been assembled?"
As soon as he finished speaking, General Peng Bisheng, acting commander of the Sixth Army and commander of the 49th Division, strode into the war room, stood at attention and saluted Yue Weihan: "Report to the chief, the Sixth Army of the Chinese Expeditionary Force of the National Revolutionary Army has been assembled. Please
You instruct!"
"Okay." Yue Weihan nodded and said in a deep voice, "Commander Peng, I believe you have heard of it. Yes, I said it in front of everyone. Your Sixth Army is just a ragtag bunch. I will never transfer you."
The Sixth Army went to the front line of Jiamai because they were worried that you would delay their retreat. I know that you are not convinced and are holding back your anger. Now, I will give you a chance to prove yourself!"
"Please give me the order, sir!" Peng Bisheng stared at Yue Weihan coldly, wishing he could kill someone with his eyes.
Yue Weihan strode to the wall, pointed at the map and said: "Mandalay, the straight-line distance from Mengong is 350 kilometers. The Japanese 55th Division originally stationed in Mandalay has moved north. Now Mandalay is almost
Fortified! The mission I give you to the Sixth Army is to capture Mandalay within five days, and then nail it there like nails!"
"It doesn't take five days!" Peng Bisheng said coldly, "Isn't it just 350 kilometers? Three days is enough!"
"Okay, then I will give you three days!" Yue Weihan was not polite and immediately followed Peng Bisheng's tone and said, "However, one thing I must remind you is that the Japanese Southern Army Command has deployed the Guards Division and the 31st
When the division enters Myanmar for reinforcements, the Japanese reinforcements will arrive in Mandalay in twenty days or seven days!"
After saying this, Yue Weihan added: "Also, after discovering your whereabouts and intentions, the Japanese 55th Division that went north is likely to turn around and return south. In other words, after you capture Mandalay, it is very likely that
It will be besieged by three Japanese field divisions, among which the Guards Division is a first-class elite division!"
"So what?" Peng Bisheng said murderously, "No one in the Sixth Army is afraid!"
"Okay, you have some momentum! I hope your Sixth Army can be consistent with your words and deeds, and don't let me and the people down!" Yue Weihan nodded and solemnly said, "Execute the order!"
"Yes!" Peng Bisheng stood at attention, then turned around and walked away.
Watching Peng Bisheng's figure go away, Yue Weihan said to Luo Zhuoying: "Brother You Qing, call General Chennault immediately and request the Flying Tigers to dispatch fighter jets to attack the airspace above the Sixth Army's marching route. At least not until dark tomorrow."
The Japanese aerial reconnaissance discovered the whereabouts of the Sixth Army!"
Although the Japanese aviation force had lost air superiority over Myanmar, it had no problem dispatching reconnaissance aircraft for aerial reconnaissance. In order to ensure that the whereabouts of the Sixth Army were not exposed in advance, it was necessary to request the Flying Tigers to clear the airspace along the march route.
"Okay, I'll make arrangements right away." Luo Zhuoying immediately took the order and left.
Meng Gong's immediate effect is the gathering place of the Sixth Army.
More than 20,000 officers and soldiers have been assembled, and each division has formed three huge square formations in the wilderness.
Commander Peng Bisheng was lecturing all the officers and soldiers through the microphone: "Brothers, the commander-in-chief ordered us to get to Mandalay within five days! I said, it doesn't take five days, three days is enough! Isn't it just marching 120 meters a day?
Kilometers? It’s so tiring! Listen up, throw away all the useless things, equip the entire army lightly, and set off!”
Immediately, more than 20,000 officers and soldiers turned around and marched south in four columns.
Half an hour after the Sixth Army set off from Mengong, the "escort formation" of the Flying Tigers arrived.
There are two ways to go from Mengong to Mandalay. One is to march along the Man (Dele) Mi (China) Railway, and the other is to march along the Irrawaddy River. The Sixth Army chose the Irrawaddy River route because it is going north.
The Japanese 55th Division will definitely take the railway line. If the Sixth Army also takes the railway line, the two armies will meet on a narrow road.
The next morning, the Flying Tigers, who were "escorting" in the air, suddenly discovered the whereabouts of the Japanese troops.
Across the Gangao Mountain in the middle, on the left are the Japanese troops heading north along the railway, and on the right are the Sixth Army of the Expeditionary Force heading south along the Irrawaddy River. However, because the Flying Tigers invaded the nearby airspace, Japanese reconnaissance planes
Unable to get closer, therefore, the Japanese troops on the left side of Gan Gao Mountain did not know that a huge Chinese army was advancing southwards on the other side of Gan Gao Mountain at this time.
There is no doubt that both the Chinese and Japanese armies are racing against time! The Japanese 55th Division is moving north at full speed, trying to rescue the 18th Division before it is destroyed, while the Sixth Army of the Chinese Expeditionary Force is rushing south, trying to
Seize the empty Mandalay before the Japanese army reacts!