When Yue Weihan arrived at the Myitkyina Airport, Division Commander Sun Liren was already waiting there with more than a dozen officers from the New 38th Division. To Yue Weihan's surprise, General Stilwell was also there. The old American man hurriedly hurried,
Finally, he flew back to Myitkyina before Yue Weihan.
"Yue, you can't go to Mandalay!" Stilwell waved his hands and said excitedly, "God, this is too risky, this is so crazy, your duty is to be the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force, you should sit in the rear
Command the battle, instead of going to the front line to lead the soldiers to fight like a grassroots officer!"
Yue Weihan said calmly: "General Stilwell, I wonder if you have heard of something?"
Stilwell frowned and asked, "What are you talking about?"
"This was said by General Hao Mengling before he participated in the Taiyuan Battle!" Yue Weihan looked at the North Country in the distance and said in a low tone, "Before the war, in order to boost morale, General Hao Mengling told his officers that generals are determined to die, and soldiers are not willing to die.
Greed for life! After saying that, General Hao Mengling personally led the death squads to launch a desperate charge, and then died for the country."
Stilwell said with horror and emotion: "Yue, this is really a respectable Chinese man!"
"General Stilwell, the *** among us are braver than you think. In terms of courage, we will never lose to anyone, especially the Japanese!" Yue Weihan said to Stilwell sincerely, "
However, there is a saying in China that says, if officials are greedy for life and afraid of death, then soldiers will quickly lose their fighting spirit!"
"Yue, what exactly do you want to say?" Stilwell said, "If you insist on going..."
Yue Weihan waved his hand, interrupted Stilwell and said: "General Stilwell, I dare to bet you that if I change my decision to cancel the trip now, Mandalay will definitely fall tonight! The soldiers of the Sixth Army are now all
With just one breath of energy to hold on, if I can't reach Mandalay before dark, they will immediately be discouraged and collapse thousands of miles away..."
"No! no!" Stilwell stubbornly shook his head and said, "No matter how many reasons you have, I will not agree to it. If you insist on going, I will have to order you as the chief of staff of the China-Burma-India Theater.
I will be responsible for canceling this trip and all consequences arising therefrom, including the fall of Mandalay and the defeat of the Sixth Army."
Yue Weihan could only smile bitterly. He knew that Stilwell was stubborn, but he didn't expect the old American man to be so stubborn. It seemed that if he didn't tell him the truth, the old American man would never agree to fly to Mandalay. If he did this again
If the argument continues, the old man will probably order the airport military police to forcibly control him.
Over there, Stilwell was still chattering: "Yue, please be more sensible. In the series of active offensives launched previously, the Chinese Expeditionary Force has severely damaged the two elite divisions of the Japanese Army, the 33rd and the 18th. The war situation in Myanmar
It has been greatly improved, and even if Mandalay, the transportation hub in central Myanmar, cannot be regained, it will not matter much."
"Yes, Chief, Mandalay is actually not worth defending by the Sixth Army!" Division Commander Sun Liren also advised, "It is true that Mandalay is the railway, highway and waterway transportation hub in central Myanmar, but it is
Even if we hold on, we still won't be able to open the sea line of communication. Similarly, even if we lose, we still have the opportunity to build the Sino-Indian highway."
Regarding the inside story of the Sixth Army's defense of Mandalay, almost no one in the entire expeditionary force, including Sun Liren, knew it.
At first, Yue Weihan's intention seemed to be to cut off the Japanese army's retreat and capture the four Japanese divisions in northern Burma. However, Shojiro Iida, an old devil, put on a good show of cutting off the wrists of a strong man at the expense of the 18th Division.
At the cost, the 55th and 56th Divisions were ordered to quickly shrink and retreat. In this way, Yue Weihan's tactical intentions were completely in vain.
Due to the timely response of the Japanese army, if the Sixth Army continued to move south, it would be a sheep in the tiger's mouth!
At this time, as long as the Sixth Army stops moving south and instead stays on the spot, the war situation in Myanmar will evolve into a brief stalemate between the Chinese and Japanese armies with Mandalay as the dividing line. However, due to the air superiority of the expeditionary force, the United States
Its industrial strength is far superior to that of Japan, so overall, the expeditionary force is at an advantage.
If someone else had been the commander of the expeditionary force, he would have ordered the Sixth Army to stop moving south and station itself on the spot.
However, what is puzzling is that Yue Weihan did not adjust his previous deployment. The result was that although the Sixth Army easily captured Mandalay, it also fell into the siege of the Japanese 55th and 56th Divisions. What was even worse was that
Yes, due to the natural barrier of the Irrawaddy River, although the Fifth Army arrived quickly, it was unable to cross the river for reinforcements!
During this battle, Yue Weihan seemed to be slow to react, which was also the main reason for the resentment among the soldiers of the Sixth Army.
Sun Liren, Dai Anlan, Liao Yaoxiang and others also didn't understand. However, in view of Yue Weihan's previous brilliant achievements, they always thought that Yue Weihan's move might have a deeper meaning, so they all refrained from questioning Yue Weihan's decision publicly. But now, Sun Liren finally asked Yue Weihan.
Yue Weihan openly raised his doubts.
Faced with Sun Liren's doubts, Yue Weihan did not explain.
In fact, Yue Weihan did have other plans, and their plans were big!
In order to keep it secret, Yue Weihan did not tell anyone about this plot.
But now, it seems that it is impossible not to tell this old American man Stilwell, and Stilwell is still worthy of trust. At that moment, Yue Weihan said to Stilwell: "General Stilwell, can you lend me a moment?"
Yue Weihan took Stilwell to a corner of the airport and told him exactly what he thought.
After a full meal, Yue Weihan and Stilwell returned to the tarmac. Sun Liren and other senior generals clearly saw that there was still a look of shock on General Stilwell's face. Perhaps it was Yue Weihan's words that made him
He was so shocked that until now, he has not recovered from the conversation just now.
Yue Weihan and Stilwell gave him an American-style hug and immediately boarded the transport plane.
This time, Stilwell did not stop Yue Weihan, but kept muttering in his mouth: "It's so crazy, this is so crazy, gambler, this guy is a crazy gambler!"
Yunnan, Kunming City.
On the Sichuan-Yunnan Highway, a huge motorcade was slowly marching towards Kunming.
This morning, the whole city of Kunming was deserted. The Baoshan Division was here! The 39th Group Army was here! The most capable ace elite in China arrived in Kunming! Students, businessmen, traffickers and government officials, no matter what they were doing, were all left behind.
With the livelihood in hand, people rushed to tell each other and went out of the city to welcome him.
The enthusiasm of the people in Kunming is beyond imagination, because the 39th Army is a legendary heroic unit!
Since the Songhu battlefield was born, this army has never suffered a defeat, and the number of Japanese troops wiped out by this heroic army is countless! This era needs heroes, and the suffering Chinese people need heroes. They have sunk
The Chinese nation has needed heroes even more for centuries, and now, the heroes have finally arrived!
The old women excitedly took out the hard-boiled eggs, chased the truck and stuffed them into the hands of the officers and soldiers.
The old man held the wine jar high and greeted the soldiers on the truck enthusiastically: "Boss, would you like a sip?"
The boys followed the truck and ran wildly, shouting: "Take me away, take me away..."
Students from Kunming Girls' High School, Girls' School and Girls' Teachers actually came too. With their youthful braids flying, they boldly chased the Baoshan Division's motorcade, throwing love letters folded into paper cranes onto the car and smiling red at the same time.
He shouted with a straight face: "No matter who you are, don't forget to write to me when you get to Myanmar. When I graduate, I will definitely go to Myanmar to find you..."
Surrounded by enthusiastic Kunming people, the motorcade slowly drove into Kunming city at a speed of ten miles per hour.
The jeep of Colonel Du Xuewen, commander of the 1st Regiment of Baoshan Division, finally drove out of the crowded crowd. The jeep of Lieutenant Colonel Li Jiuding, the chief of staff, suddenly caught up with him. Before the two cars could stop, Li Jiuding jumped out of the open door.
, hurriedly came to Du Xuewen and reported: "The group, the general manager is calling urgently!"
"Is there an urgent call from the main office?" Du Xuewen's heart skipped a beat and he said anxiously, "Read it!"
Li Jiuding immediately opened the message and read: "Baoshan Division 1st Regiment: I hereby order your troops to immediately divert to Wujiaba Airport and take a US Air Force transport plane to Ramgarh Base in India. The follow-up matters will naturally become clear after arriving at Ramgarh. This
Order, Yue Weihan, November 15, 30th year of the Republic of China!"
"Going to Ramgarh, India?" Du Xuewen frowned, "Why not Myanmar?"
Li Jiuding could only shake his head. The senior officers of the 39th Group Army were no strangers to the war situation in Myanmar, because during the march, the 39th Group Army headquarters would report the war situation to the radio stations of each division and regiment every day. As for the situation in Mandalay,
As for Yue Weihan's decision, all senior officers of the group army knew about it.
The situation in Mandalay is so dangerous, and Yue Weihan has to put himself in danger again. It stands to reason that the Bao 1st Regiment, which was the first to arrive in Kunming, should have urgently airlifted Mandalay. Why did it go to the Ramgarh base in India instead? Is it possible?
Is it because the returning U.S. Air Force transport plane is unwilling to fly hundreds of kilometers more to take a detour to Mandalay? This seems a bit unreasonable, right?
"Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore." After a while, Du Xuewen said depressedly, "Send the order, go to Wujiaba Airport!"
Mandalay Airport.
The DC-3 transport plane Yue Weihan was riding landed steadily on the runway.
When Yue Weihan led his guards out of the cabin, Peng Bisheng, Lu Guoshuan, Chen Mianyue and other senior officers were already waiting on the runway to greet Yue Weihan. Commander Peng Bisheng and others stood up to attention and saluted Yue Weihan with a standard military salute. Although they
Not understanding Yue Weihan's tactical intentions does not affect their respect for Yue Weihan!
In any case, Yue Weihan dared to fly to Mandalay at this time to live and die with all the officers and soldiers of the Sixth Army. This courage alone was enough to impress the officers and soldiers of the Sixth Army. Before today, Commander Peng Bisheng really didn’t
Why did he take Yue Weihan seriously? But now, he must look at Yue Weihan differently.
Regardless of anything else, Yue Weihan's ambition to serve the country and the people regardless of personal life and death is enough to move the world!
Yue Weihan is listed as a general of the party and state. He is in a high position and does not care about his life. Why do the officers and soldiers of the Sixth Army have any reason to complain about others? What I have not mentioned is that it is worth it even if the whole army fights for it!
Yue Weihan returned the gift while shaking hands with Teacher Peng Bisheng and others one by one.
From the eyes of Peng Bisheng and others, Yue Weihan saw unabashed respect. Yue Weihan knew that his decision had unintentionally won the approval of all the officers and soldiers of the Sixth Army. To put it more tackily, Yue Weihan had initially obtained
The allegiance of the Sixth Army officers and soldiers, Yue Weihan should be able to give orders and prohibitions in the Sixth Army.
He raised his wrist and looked at the time. It was only two o'clock in the afternoon, and there were still at least three hours before the Japanese attack. At that moment, Yue Weihan said to Commander Peng Bisheng: "Immediately summon all officers above the battalion commander to hold an emergency combat meeting at the 49th Division Headquarters. Now
, it’s time to let the brothers know my tactical intentions!”
Yangon, headquarters of the Japanese Fifteenth Army Corps.
In the war room, Shojiro Iida was standing in front of the simulated sand table with his hands behind his back, meditating. Major General Haruki Isayama, the chief of staff of the 15th Corps, stood behind Shojiro Iida with a slight bow and a gloomy expression.
The Japanese 55th and 56th Divisions have been besieging Mandalay for 11 days.
Although the Sixth Army suffered heavy casualties, the two elite divisions of the Japanese army also suffered heavy casualties. The Sixth Army officers and soldiers were close to their limits both mentally and physically, but the Japanese officers and soldiers were also exhausted. Now, China and Japan
Both armies are holding on with their spirit and will, and it depends on who can't hold on first.
Iida Shojiro has realized that it is abnormal for the Sixth Army to defend Mandalay, but he really can't think of what other tricks Yue Weihan can play?
Using the Sixth Army as bait to lure and annihilate the 55th and 56th Divisions at the gates of Mandalay? This is simply a wishful thinking.
Not to mention that the Guards Division has landed in Yangon, the 31st Division will soon enter Myanmar. Even without these two divisions as backup, the Chinese Expeditionary Force cannot annihilate the 55th and 56th Divisions?
The Fifth Army is already exhausted and cannot cross the Irrawaddy River at all. The 39th Army is still far away in Yunnan.
By the time the pontoon bridge on the Irrawaddy River is erected, and by the time the 39th Army enters Myanmar, the Sixth Army will probably be finished long ago!
Although the Japanese 55th and 56th Divisions are exhausted, their strength advantage over the Sixth Army is getting bigger and bigger. The strength comparison between the two sides has evolved from 2:1 ten days ago to now.
4:1. According to the current situation, the Sixth Army will completely collapse in two days at most. Shojiro Iida is fully confident in this.
When Iida Shojiro was frowning and thinking, a Japanese major suddenly strode in. He immediately put his feet back and stood at attention and said: "Your Excellency, Commander, there is an emergency call from the Southern Power Station. Yue Weihan, Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, has arrived in Mandalay at 2 o'clock this afternoon.