At noon the next day, the Japanese army still discovered the whereabouts of the Sixth Army.
Although the Flying Tigers invaded the airspace along the Irrawaddy River, the Southern Agency had already done a lot of infiltration work before the Japanese army entered Myanmar. In addition to directly supporting the Kachin Party armed forces, it also trained a large number of Burmese agents, including the Sixth Army. While passing through a small town on the way, he was finally discovered by the Japanese army's Burmese agents.
Yangon, Japanese Army Headquarters.
Major General Haruki Isayama hurriedly walked into the office of Lieutenant General Shojiro Iida. He immediately stopped and stood at attention and said: "Your Excellency, Commander, the Burmese agents of the Special High School Division reported that a large group of Chinese troops were discovered near Miada. A rough estimate is that the strength is at least two divisions!"
"What's the secret?" Shojiro Iida frowned and hurriedly walked to the map.
Isayama Haruki quickly found the location of Miada from the map, and immediately pointed to the map and said: "Miada is here, on the bank of the Irrawaddy River, about 180 kilometers away from Mengong."
"Why did the China Army come so far? Could it be that Yue Weihan wanted to repeat his old trick, go around behind the 55th Division, and then surround the 55th Division and the 18th Division together?" Shojiro Iida snorted and said in a ferocious voice, "Humph. , Yue Weihan has such a good appetite, he wants to devour two elite divisions of the imperial army in one bite? Isn’t he afraid of overeating?”
However, Isayama Haruki seemed to have realized something and was a little distracted for a moment.
Seeing Isayama Haruki didn't respond, Iida Shojiro immediately became a little unhappy and said, "Isayama-kun, what do you think?"
Isayama Haruki suddenly woke up, and immediately said in a solemn tone: "Your Excellency, Commander, I am afraid that the intention of the China Army is not to bypass the 55th Division, but... Mandalay!"
"Well, Mandalay!?" Iida Shojiro suddenly took a breath of air after hearing this.
Haruki Isayama hurriedly stepped forward to smooth the map. Shojiro Iida compared it with his hands and found that the distance between Miya and Mandalay was less than 200 kilometers. At this time, the 56th Division was still As far away as Lashio, the 55th Division has even gone north of Mya Adam. There are no large organized Japanese troops near Mandalay anymore!
"Haga!" Iida Shojiro's heart suddenly lifted, and he asked Isayama Haruki urgently, "Isayama-kun, how many troops are left in the 55th Division to garrison Mandalay?"
"One infantry brigade!" Isayama Haruki said sadly, "actually there are only two infantry squadrons!"
"What! There are only two infantry squadrons!?" Shojiro Iida suddenly broke out in cold sweat on his forehead, and asked with a miserable expression, "Isayama-kun, how many mobile troops are there in Yangon that can be mobilized?"
"There are only two supplementary regiments." Isayama Haruki's face turned pale. "Besides, it may be too late to transfer these two supplementary regiments to Mandalay now." After saying this, Isayama Haru said Shu said in an incomprehensible tone, "Your Majesty Commander, we are too careless. The fall of Mandalay is probably inevitable."
Iida Shojiro wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said in a slightly trembling voice: "Isayama-kun, immediately summon all combat staff to conduct an emergency deduction of the battle situation after the fall of Mandalay!"
"Hai." Isayama Haruki suddenly lowered his head and immediately followed the order and left.
Meng Gong, Expeditionary Force Headquarters.
Luo Youlun, Chief of Staff of the Fifth Army, hurriedly walked into the war room and reported to Yue Weihan: "General, the latest battlefield report from the Flying Tigers is that the Japanese 55th Division has entered near Mengyang, and its forward troops have already joined forces with the 96th Division.
The search team has had small-scale contact, and the main force of its division is already less than a hundred kilometers away from Jiamai!"
"The little devils came so fast!" Luo Zhuoying said sternly, "The Sixth Army is only halfway there, and they are almost there!"
"The kid took the railway. He was afraid of being bombed by the Flying Tigers, so he didn't dare to take the train. But after all, he walked in a straight line. The distance was relatively short, so the speed was of course faster." Yue Weihan waved his hand and said calmly, "And the sixth
In order not to expose their whereabouts in advance, the army took a weaving curve in the first half of the journey and took a lot of unnecessary steps, but the speed in the second half of the journey was faster."
Luo Youlun said again: "Commander, the 96th Division is asking for instructions. Do we need to block the Japanese 55th Division?"
"It's too late, the strength of the 96th Division is too scattered!" Yue Weihan frowned, and immediately ordered, "Telegraph Yu Shao that the mission of the 96th Division is to wipe out the stragglers of the Japanese 33rd Division, and ask them not to cause trouble, and just get out of the way.
, let the Japanese 55th Division go north!"
After that, Yue Weihan said to Luo Zhuoying: "Brother You Qing, call General Chennault immediately. The Sixth Army no longer needs to hide its presence. The Flying Tigers' attack on the airspace above the Irrawaddy River can also be cancelled. Let them immediately
Change the target, bomb the Japanese 55th Division with all your strength, and try to slow down the Japanese army's marching speed!"
Watching Luo Zhuoying go away, Yue Weihan said to Luo Youlun: "Send a telegram to Dai Anlan immediately. Four hours. I only give him four hours. After four hours, his assault group must destroy Mutaguchi Lianye."
The division headquarters! If he can’t do it, he won’t have to come back alive to see me!”
Yangon, headquarters of the Japanese Fifteenth Army Corps.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, the simulation exercise by the combat staff finally ended, and the results were astonishing.
Mandalay is located in the center of Myanmar and is the hub of railway, highway and waterway transportation. Its geographical location is extremely dangerous, and its military value is inestimable. Once Mandalay falls, not only the 18th Division, but also the 55th,
The 56th Division will also be in danger in an instant, and the war situation in Myanmar will suddenly reverse!
The Guards Division is still far away in Bangkok, and the 31st Division is still in Singapore. It will take at least half a month for these two divisions to arrive in Myanmar!
What's more, the Allies can continue to send more troops to Myanmar. After capturing Mandalay, the Allies have taken the absolute initiative strategically. Not only will the air transportation lines be unobstructed, but the Yunnan-Burma Highway will soon be reopened, because the garrisoned
The Japanese 56th Division in Lashio simply could not hold on for long after losing its logistical support.
"Your Excellency, Commander, the situation has become very obvious!" Isayama Haruki walked quickly to Iida Shojiro, then suddenly lowered his head and said, "Once Mandalay is lost, the war situation in Myanmar will suddenly reverse. With Yue Weihan's ability,
Without strategic vision and tactical command capabilities, it may be difficult for the imperial army to regain the initiative on the Myanmar battlefield in the future!"
"Baga, of course I know this!" Shojiro Iida was so furious that he immediately slapped Isayama Haruki in the face and said angrily, "What I want to know is, how can we prevent the loss of Mandalay?"
"Hai!" Haruki Isayama suddenly lowered his head and said, "Your Excellency, Commander, the fall of Mandalay is inevitable!"
Iida Shojiro's eyes widened when he heard this, and he was about to slap Isayama Haruki twice again in anger, but Isayama Haruki continued: "However, as long as the 55th Division and the 56th Division can be
It is not difficult to return reinforcements and retake Mandalay. After all, it is only a lone army that came here this time, and the China Army also lacks logistical support!"
"Let the 55th Division return to support Mandalay?" Shojiro Iida frowned, "Then, what should we do with the 18th Division?"
Isayama Haruki shook his head and said sadly: "Your Excellency, Commander, the 18th Division can only find a way to break out of the encirclement on its own."
"Order, the 55th Division immediately returns south, and the 56th Division immediately returns to support Mandalay!" The corners of Shojiro Iida's mouth twitched violently twice, then he gritted his teeth and shouted in a ferocious voice: "The 18th Division immediately returns
Break it into pieces and break out separately. After the breakout, we will use the people of northern Myanmar as cover to be self-sufficient and fight forever!"
"Hai!" Isayama Haruki lowered his head suddenly, then walked away with the saber in his arm.
Jiamai, the headquarters of the Japanese 18th Division.
Two hours ago, the assault group commanded by Dai Anlan finally arrived at Jiamai, and immediately launched a fierce attack on the defensive positions of the Japanese 18th Division. The remnants of the New 22nd Division, which had been trapped in Jiamai for nearly ten days, also launched a massive counterattack.
In cooperation with the assault group, they launched a fierce attack on the Japanese army from both north and south directions at the same time.
At this time, although the Japanese 18th Division was fully organized and had its main force, almost all the Japanese soldiers had not slept for more than half a month. Both their energy and physical strength had reached their limits, and even more so.
The terrible thing is that a large number of Japanese soldiers have been infected with various diseases, vomiting and diarrhea, and are severely dehydrated.
Furthermore, the Japanese 18th Division also had very little ammunition left.
Now, the Japanese soldiers are solely supported by their crazy samurai spirit. On the battlefield, they only managed to withstand the offensive of the expeditionary force by taking more lives. However, this situation obviously cannot last for long.
When the "will" string that the Japanese soldiers rely on breaks, that is when the 18th Division completely collapses!
18th Division Headquarters.
Mutaguchi Lianya was pacing back and forth in the war room like a trapped animal. This old devil had not slept for three days, and he had not shaved his beard for several days. If it were not for the Japanese Lieutenant General's uniform, he would
With his unkempt appearance, he looks like a Burmese native, and he is also a Burmese gambler who is desperate to lose!
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, the defense line of the 1st Battalion of the 114th Regiment has been breached by the Chinese Army!"
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, the defense line of the 3rd Battalion of the 124th Regiment has been breached by the Chinese Army!"
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, the position of the 18th Mountain Artillery Regiment was attacked by a swarm of Chinese Army tanks!"
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, the counterattack of the 12th Engineer Regiment has been defeated. Colonel Fujii was crushed on the spot!"
Frontline battle reports flowed into Mutaguchi Renye's headquarters. All the news was bad news. Either the defense line of the infantry brigade was breached, or a position was raided, or a senior officer was shattered. In short, it was just
No news is exciting and good news!
When another communications officer came in to report, Mutaguchi Lian finally ran away.
Mutaguchi Renya kicked the communications staff officer, turned around immediately, grabbed the lapel of the division chief of staff Hisashi Takeda, Colonel Takeda, and roared angrily: "Takeda-kun, when will the transport plane of the 5th Flying Group arrive?
?There are also reinforcements. When can the 55th Division arrive in Jamai?"
Takeda Hisashi looked miserable and was speechless.
"Baga Yalu." Mutaguchi Renye cursed angrily, and immediately slapped Takeda Shou to the ground.
At this moment, another major staff officer hurriedly entered, and immediately reported with a sad expression: "Your Excellency, Division Commander, because Mandalay is in danger of being lost, the 55th Division has returned south! The Corps Headquarters ordered our division to be demobilized.
Break it into pieces and break out separately. After the breakout, use the local Burmese natives as cover to be self-sufficient and fight forever!"
"What! Break it into pieces and break out separately!?" Mutaguchi Lian also sat back in his chair slumped, muttering to himself, "Self-sufficient and permanent resistance?"
Before he finished speaking, another major officer walked into the war room angrily. He immediately put his feet back and stood at attention and said: "Your Excellency, division commander, the tank group of the China Army has broken through the last line of defense of the 124th Infantry Regiment.
It’s already less than two kilometers away!”
Mutaguchi Lianye seemed not to hear anything and showed no reaction.
Takeda Hisashi sighed. The 18th Division had actually been abandoned by the Corps Headquarters. You can imagine the grief, anger and depression in Mutaguchi Renya's heart. Takeda Hisashi immediately replaced Mutaguchi Renya and ordered: "Order,
Each unit breaks out separately in squadrons and squads. After breaking through, it chooses its own combat area, is self-sufficient, and fights permanently!"
Meng Gong, Expeditionary Force Headquarters.
Lunch time has long passed, and the cooks in the headquarters kitchen have heated up the food several times, but Yue Weihan has no intention of eating at all. Yue Weihan refuses to eat, Luo Zhuoying, Luo Youlun and the Expeditionary Force Headquarters, Fifth
The staff officers at the military headquarters did not dare to eat first, and all they could do was wait.
Although Yue Weihan looks calm on the surface, he is actually very nervous inside!
If it weren't for his nervousness, Yue Weihan wouldn't be able to wait until now and still not have the heart to eat!
It was impossible for Yue Weihan not to be nervous. At this time, the Japanese 55th Division was less than 50 kilometers away from Kaimai. After entering Myanmar, the 55th Division was equipped with a large number of cars and bicycles. It only took more than two hours to arrive in a hurry.
Even though the Flying Tigers were harassing them with all their strength, they could only delay it for half an hour at most.
The time limit given by Yue Weihan to Dai Anlan was four hours, but it was really hard to say whether Dai Anlan's assault group could break through the defense line of the Japanese 18th Division within four hours! Although the Japanese 18th Division was exhausted, short of men and horses, it could
After all, it is a veteran division with a four-unit system, and it cannot be defeated even if it is too thin!
Yue Weihan subconsciously took out a cigarette, put it under his nose and sniffed it gently.
No one noticed that the half of the cigarette held in Yue Weihan's palm was completely wet. At this moment, the palms of Yue Weihan's hands were all covered with sweat. On the one hand, it was because of the hot weather, and on the other hand, it was because of nervousness. Yue Weihan usually rarely
There are times when I am nervous, but when I am nervous, my palms will become sweaty.