On the west bank of the Irrawaddy River, the headquarters of the Fifth Army.
In the war room, Dai Anlan and Liao Yaoxiang were discussing the situation in Mandalay.
Dai Anlan said to the map: "The two main regiments of the Baoshan Division have been airlifted to Mandalay. With the addition of this new force, the Sixth Army should not collapse in a short time. However, the Japanese army has arrived for reinforcements."
The Guards Division and the 31st Division will also arrive in Mandalay soon, and the outcome of this battle is still uncertain."
Liao Yaoxiang nodded and said: "Judging from the current situation, Yue Weihan clearly wants to complete his achievements in one battle and wipe out the main force of the Japanese Southern Army in Mandalay. However, with only the 39th Group Army, the Sixth Army plus our Fifth Army
Army, is it possible to achieve this campaign goal? Is this a bit fanciful? "
As soon as he finished speaking, the rumble of artillery suddenly came from the war room.
"Well, where did the gunfire come from?" Dai Anlan frowned when he heard this.
"The sound of gunfire seems to come from the east bank of the Irrawaddy River." Liao Yaoxiang said.
As soon as he finished speaking, Shi Linxian, chief of staff of the new 22nd Division, suddenly strode in and reported to Dai Anlan: "Military seat, the commander-in-chief has sent an urgent war situation report from Mandalay. The Baoshan Division has sent a report to Mandalay.
The Japanese 55th Division on the western front launched a strong attack, and its operational goal was to tear apart the river defenses on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River and allow our troops to cross the river."
"What? Baoshan Division launched a forceful attack on the Japanese army!?" Liao Yaoxiang lost his voice, "Did I hear correctly?"
"Crazy, this guy must be crazy!" Dai Anlan's face instantly became extremely embarrassed, "The situation in Mandalay is so serious. The strength of these two regiments is not enough to strengthen the defense. This
How dare this guy take the initiative to attack the Japanese army? Does he really think that the Japanese 55th Division on the other side is made of mud and paper?"
Just as the two were looking at each other, Cruise, the secretary of Sir Smith, the British Governor-General of Burma, and Miss Avril, the Reuters war correspondent in Myanmar, broke into the war room. The guards followed and tried to stop them, but Cruise was very angry.
Pushed away rudely, the British guy continued to curse and curse in English, using all his slander.
Liao Yaoxiang could understand simple English and immediately said angrily: "Mr. Cruz, please pay attention to your words, otherwise I can only ask the guards to expel you from our military station."
Seeing that Liao Yaoxiang's face looked a little ugly, Cruise snorted and stopped talking.
Reuters reporter Miss Avril quickly stepped forward to smooth things over and said: "Dear General Liao, please forgive Mr. Cruz for his rude behavior just now, but we are eager to know what happened with the shelling just now? Excuse me
Did a fierce battle break out on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River? Also, was this battle directly commanded by General Yue Weihan?"
"I'm sorry, I have no comment." Liao Yaoxiang frowned and replied coldly.
Liao Yaoxiang was in a very bad mood at this moment, so he didn't want to say anything at all, because both he and Dai Anlan were not optimistic about Baoshan Division's initiative. Yue Weihan's subjective intention was good, but war has always been cruel.
With just two Japanese regiments attacking an elite Japanese division head-on, even the most elite Baoshan Division would be defeated.
However, Dai Anlan and Liao Yaoxiang's bad mood did not last long. Just over an hour later, shocking news came from the other side of the river via radio waves.
Amidst the rapid footsteps, Division Linxian walked into the war room excitedly and said to Dai Anlan: "Military seat, the Baoshan Division just broke through the defense line of the 143rd Japanese Infantry Regiment from the front, and followed the trend and tore it apart again.
On the Japanese river defense on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the Baoshan Division is now tearing apart the defense line of the Japanese 55th Division on the left and right flanks."
"What!?" Dai Anlan was shocked when he heard this, and lost his voice, "A frontal breakthrough!?"
"This is impossible!" Liao Yaoxiang was also surprised and said in disbelief, "The Baoshan Division airlifted to Mandalay were only two infantry regiments. They had neither armored units nor field heavy howitzers, even though they were equipped with American firearms.
, it is absolutely impossible to break through the defense line of the 143rd Japanese Infantry Regiment from the front in such a short period of time!"
"Master, this is absolutely true." Master Linxian said urgently, "You'd better go to the observation post by the river and take a look."
Dai Anlan and Liao Yaoxiang looked at each other, quickly walked out of the war room, boarded their respective jeeps and went straight to the observation post on the west bank of the Irrawaddy River. In less than ten minutes, they walked into the observation post surrounded by guards and passed the artillery team.
Looking across the river, I saw the blue sky and white sun flag fluttering in the wind!
"Fuck, it's true!" Liao Yaoxiang clenched his fists instantly.
"Yue Weihan, it's really surprising." Dai Anlan also had ups and downs in his heart.
"What's surprising is Division Baoshan." Liao Yaoxiang's excitement gradually calmed down and he mused, "I originally thought that Division Baoshan's ability to fight was just a matter of political propaganda and good luck, but today, I finally believe it.
The reason why Yue Weihan and his Baoshan Division were able to conquer North China was definitely not just because of good luck."
"Yeah, I can't accept it anymore." Dai Anlan also sighed, "I really didn't expect that the two regiments of the Baoshan Division could really break through the defense line of the Japanese 55th Division from the front!"
"More importantly, the Baoshan Division has also torn apart the river defense on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River!" Liao Yaoxiang hit the knot hard and continued excitedly, "Now the engineering regiment's bridge-building operation will not be interfered with at all.
In two days, the pontoon bridge will be erected in advance, and our army will be able to cross the river and join the war!"
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a sudden quarrel outside the observation post.
Dai Anlan came out and took a look, but it was Avril, a British female reporter, chasing her to the river. This woman was worthy of being a reporter, and she really had the stubbornness to never give up until she reached her goal. When she saw General Dai Anlan, Avril
He quickly called for help: "General Dai, I am a war correspondent, and I formally apply to you for field coverage."
Dai Anlan immediately waved his hand to signal the guards to let him go.
Avril twisted her waist and entered the observation post, and immediately said to Dai Anlan: "General Dai, I seemed to see the Japanese flag rising on the other side of the river when I was on the river bank just now. I would like to ask, the Japanese army on the other side has defeated the Japanese army.
Has the river been defended? Does this mean that the mechanized troops of the Fifth Army will be able to cross the river soon?"
"That's right." Dai Anlan pulled on his military uniform and said solemnly, "History will remember this day!"
"History will remember this day?" Avril smelled something strange from Dai Anlan's unusual wording, and immediately asked, "General Dai, you mean that today's battle on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River will
It became a turning point in the Battle of Mandalay and even the entire war in Myanmar? Can I understand it this way?"
"It may also be the turning point of the entire World War II!" Liao Yaoxiang, who had just walked out of the observation post, suddenly said.
"Oh, my God, the turning point of the entire World War II!?" Avril's seductive little mouth instantly opened into an O shape.
Seeing Avril's surprised look, even the two tough guys Liao Yaoxiang and Dai Anlan couldn't help but feel a little shaken.
Mandalay, 49th Division Headquarters.
Li Yulong, commander of the Baoshan Division, strode into the war room, immediately stood up at attention, and reported to Yue Weihan: "At the headquarters, the 5th and 6th regiments have successfully completed their combat missions and have now shifted to defense on the spot."
"Yeah." Yue Weihan nodded slightly when he heard this, but did not move his eyes away from the sand table.
On the sand table, the small red flag of the Baoshan Division has been planted on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, vaguely connected with the Fifth Army on the other side of the river. Looking further north, several small red flags representing the divisions of the 39th Group are along the
Rushing towards Lashio along the Burma Highway, after about five days, these little red flags will be able to advance along the Lashio line.
However, the Japanese Guards Division and the 31st Division in the south have also entered Yangon.
Looking at the overall situation, the strategic decisive battle between the Chinese and Japanese armies in Mandalay has basically taken shape!
The strategic intention of the Japanese army is very obvious, which is to eliminate the Chinese Expeditionary Force and the 39th Group Army through the Battle of Mandalay, thereby completely cutting off the Burma Highway and the air corridor over Myanmar, isolating the Nationalist Government from the outside world, and making it impossible for the Nationalist Government to access the United States from the United States.
, to obtain any supplies from the British allies, and finally forced the National Government to surrender!
The strategic intention of the Chinese Expeditionary Force is equally obvious, that is, it wants to eliminate the main force of the Southern Army in one fell swoop through the Battle of Mandalay and clear the way for the next stage of counterattack in Southeast Asia.
This battle is of great significance to both China and Japan!
Moreover, senior leaders of both China and Japan have realized that this battle will likely become a strategic turning point in the Southeast Asian battlefield. If the Japanese army is defeated, they will have no choice but to take a defensive position in the Southeast Asian battlefield. It will be impossible to switch from defensive to defensive for at least two years.
If the Chinese Expeditionary Force is defeated, the consequences will be more serious than in history.
For the National Government and the Chinese nation, this battle can only be won, not defeated.
It is completely conceivable how much pressure Yue Weihan must be carrying?
Although Yue Weihan's face looked calm, as if everything was under his control, no one knew that he was actually more nervous than anyone else.
Yangon, Japanese Army Headquarters.
This morning, two guests were welcomed into the office of Lieutenant General Shojiro Iida, the commander of the 15th Japanese Army Corps. These two guests also carried the rank of lieutenant general on their shoulders. They were none other than the Japanese Guards Division.
Lieutenant General Nishimura Takuma, the division commander, and Lieutenant General Kotoku Sato, the division commander of the 31st Division.
When the two main regiments of the Baoshan Division were flown to Mandalay and tore apart the river defenses on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River this morning, more than 60,000 people from the Guards Division and the 31st Division also rushed to Yangon. In this way, plus the ongoing
The 55th Division and the 56th Division in Mandalay fought fiercely with the Sixth Army. The strength of the Japanese army in Myanmar once again recovered to about 100,000!
Among them, although the 31st Division is a third-class division with a three-unit system, its combat effectiveness is very strong!
Because the soldiers of the 31st Division are all young reserve troops, and they have been fighting the Japanese to the death on the Chinese battlefield for four full years, their fighting will and military quality are not inferior to those of the old Japanese soldiers of the permanent division.
Moreover, the 31st Division is also equipped with a tank search wing, and its armor strength far exceeds that of ordinary standing divisions.
However, compared to the Guards Division, the 31st Division is insignificant.
The Guards Division is one of the first seven established divisions formed after the Meiji Restoration.
The soldiers of the Guards Division originally came from the three die-hard loyalist feudal lords, Satsuma, Choshu, and Tosa. Therefore, from the beginning of its establishment, the Guards Division existed in the name of the Imperial Guards of the Emperor of Japan.
During the period of Emperor Taisho (Yoshihito), the Guards Division began to draw elites from other permanent divisions to enrich its infantry and cavalry regiments, and also drew elites from the Kanto region to form artillery, engineers and baggage regiments. After that, the Guards Division
The status of the regiment began to be further highlighted, and all young people in Japan were proud to serve in the Guards Division.
During the period of Emperor Showa (Hirohito), the 1st Cavalry Brigade and the 4th Field Heavy Artillery Brigade were successively incorporated into the Guards Division.
At this point, the Guards Division became one of only four super-staffed divisions in the Japanese Army. The other three permanent divisions that were also assigned to the Cavalry Brigade and the Field Heavy Artillery Brigade were the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Divisions.
The wartime strength of these four super-staffed divisions can even reach an astonishing more than 40,000 men.
When the Southern Army was formed, the Japanese base camp incorporated the 4th Tank Regiment into the battle order of the Guards Division.
Historically, the Guards Division's expedition to Southeast Asia was actually only the 2nd Guards Infantry Brigade, the 1st Guards Infantry Brigade, and the field heavy artillery brigade and cavalry brigade directly under the division. However, at this time, the Guards Division did not go on an expedition.
The entire Guards Division was dispatched. Although there was a guard station for the Guards Division in Tokyo, it was already an empty shell.
With such an invincible elite Japanese army entering Myanmar, the old devil Shojiro Iida could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"Nishimura-kun, Sato-kun, you've had a hard journey." Iida Shojiro and Nishimura were thinking about it respectively. After Sato Yukoku made a pleasantries, he said awkwardly, "Ordinarily, you have come a long way and are tired from traveling, so you should rest in Yangon.
It only takes a few days, but there have been some small changes in the battle in Mandalay, and the Guards Division and the 31st Division may have to go north immediately."
"Iida-kun, do you still need to be so polite between you and me?" Nishimura waved his hand thoughtfully and said with a smile, "Besides, it is our duty as soldiers to expand territory for the empire and make contributions to His Majesty the Emperor.
Why say more? Since the war in Mandalay is tense, Sato-kun and I will not stay in Yangon any longer, and will lead the troops northward."
"Nishimura-kun, Sato-kun." Shojiro Iida suddenly bowed deeply to Nishimura Takuma and Sato Kotoku, and then said solemnly, "The Battle of Mandalay is about the outcome of the war in Myanmar, and even more about the march south.
I leave the success or failure of the strategy to you, and I ask you to win this battle for the Empire and His Majesty the Emperor!"
Nishimura Takuma and Sato Kotoku quickly bowed in return, and Nishimura Takuma replied extremely seriously: "Iida-kun, please be assured that the Imperial Japanese Army is invincible, and the Guards Division is even less likely to be defeated by the Chinese.
, the final winner of this Mandalay battle must be and can only be the Imperial Japanese Army!"