Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Chapter 475: The Japanese army panicked and admitted defeat? The British were shocked! (Subscribe)
The third day after the encirclement and annihilation campaign began.

Within the joint command headquarters.

General Stilwell walked towards Chu Yunfei's office with almost brisk steps, his face filled with undisguised excitement, holding tightly in his hand a telegram that had just been translated: "Chu! Good news! From Sun Liren, the commander of the newly formed 38th Division!"

He handed the telegram to Chu Yunfei, speaking in a hurried and forceful tone, "The battle is almost over! Sun Liren reported that except for a small number of remnants of the enemy who were desperate and dived into the rain forest in the east and disappeared, the main force of the Japanese 55th Division has been surrounded and annihilated by our army!

Stilwell pointed to the end of the telegram with a smile and added: "There are only a few hundred stubborn Japanese troops left, but they are already at the end of their strength!"

"All participating troops have launched a final general offensive against them. It is only a matter of time before they are completely defeated!"

Chu Yunfei took the telegram, glanced quickly at it, his face calm, and he just nodded slowly, which was in sharp contrast to Stilwell's excitement.

The result of the 55th Division being fully inspected was within his expectations.

This means that the rear front will not be threatened in the short term.

More importantly, two ace troops, Sun Liren's New 38th Division and Dai Anlan's 200th Division, will be drawn out from the Biaoguan direction.

His eyes were cast on the huge map of Myanmar on the wall, and his fingers unconsciously traced between Yangon and Mawlamyine in the south.

"Whether it's the direction of Yangon or Mawlamyine," Chu Yunfei pondered, as if he was talking to Stilwell, or as if he was organizing his own thoughts: "The Japanese army has no chance of breaking through our defense line."

“If the Japanese army, especially the stubborn 18th Division, still chooses to engage in a meaningless war of attrition with our army in Yangon Port and use the so-called refueling tactics, perhaps, three months later, when the rainy season subsides, we can try to gather our forces and launch a decisive counterattack in the direction of Maodanmian.”

Stilwell was about to say something when he saw Chu Yunfei frowning slightly and tapping the location of Yangon Port on the map with his fingers: "However, our own combat supplies, especially the number of artillery shells, are already stretched to the limit."

"It may be a safer option to prioritize retaking Yangon Port and ensuring the smooth flow of sea transportation routes..."

The battle situation in recent days has made Chu Yunfei increasingly puzzled.

He still cannot fully understand what is going on in the mind of Mutaguchi Ren'ya, the commander of the Japanese Army's 18th Division, known as the "King of Jungle Warfare."

Why did they continue to cling to Rangoon like a mad dog when there were nearly 5,000 casualties on the front line in Rangoon, the city was almost completely destroyed, and it was obvious that no reinforcements could arrive?
The Japanese troops in the Mawlamyine direction were unable to take care of themselves and had no chance of going north to provide support.

On the other hand, we still have at least two new forces, the 200th Division and the New 38th Division, which can be deployed to the Yangon battlefield at any time.

Under such circumstances, they still did not choose to retreat to preserve their manpower. What miracle were they waiting for?
Or, are they using this stupid tactic to hide some bigger conspiracy?

Does Mutaguchi Renya really have this kind of brain? —

This was in stark contrast to the excitement within the Allied command.

There was a depressing atmosphere in the Southern Army Headquarters.

Commander Terauchi Hisaichi looked at the telegram from the Burma war zone in his hand, and every word felt like a needle piercing his heart.

He sighed heavily and put the telegram on the table, his eyes full of fatigue and disappointment.

That's it again.

The joy and glory brought by the great victory in Singapore seemed to have not yet dissipated.

The Burmese theater of operations immediately gave him such a "surprise" - a disastrous defeat that caught him off guard and humiliated him.

Although the 55th Division ranks low in the Southern Army's battle sequence, its combat effectiveness is not top-notch among many field divisions.

But that was an entire division after all, with more than 10,000 brave warriors from our country!
If these well-trained and manpower had not been so easily buried in the jungles of Myanmar, they would at least have been nailed like a nail to the east of Biaoguan.

Ensure that the main force of the Chinese Expeditionary Force there cannot easily break through and threaten Thailand.

"Report!" A voice with full energy and steady rhythm came from outside the office door.

Terauchi Juichi quickly adjusted his mood and hid the disappointment and fatigue on his face: "Please come in."

The door was pushed open, and a major general officer dressed in a neat and straight military uniform and looking quite capable walked in. It was Lin Canghui, who had previously been assigned to the 15th Army Headquarters as a staff officer.

He had warned the 15th Army Commander Lieutenant General Shojiro Iida more than once, pointing out that the offensive in the direction of Biaoguan was too aggressive and there was a high possibility of falling into a trap carefully set by the Chinese army.

But unfortunately, it was based on overall strategic considerations and underestimation of the enemy's fighting will.

Shojiro Iida finally chose to force his way forward.

This eventually led to the 55th Division being surrounded.

Lin Canghui stood at attention and saluted, his movements were standard and his eyes were sharp: "Your Excellency, Commander."

"Lin Cang-kun," Terauchi Shouichi nodded slightly, even using a rare honorific title, and pointed to the chair in front of the desk, "Please take a seat."

"Huh!" A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Canghui's eyes, and it could even be said that he was flattered.

The difference between his status and that of General Terauchi Hisaichi was like the difference between heaven and earth.

This sudden respect and courtesy made him a little uncomfortable for a moment, but he quickly adjusted his posture, sat down as he was told, and straightened his back.

Terauchi Juichi looked at the young but supposedly insightful staff officer in front of him and spoke calmly, "I believe you already know the latest situation of the Burmese war. Lord Lin Cang, at this moment, I need to hear your most realistic views on the current situation in Burma and how you think we should deal with the next challenge. Please be honest and give me some pertinent suggestions. Please."

He once thought he understood the Chinese army's fighting style very well.

Repeated failures shattered his self-confidence.

Nowadays, Lin Canghui is the general who knows Chu Yunfei best.

There was a barely perceptible earnestness in Terauchi Juichi's tone, seeking a good solution.

Hearing this, Lin Canghui's straight spine seemed to straighten even more. He quickly sorted out his thoughts, knowing that every word at this moment could affect the direction of the entire Southeast Asian war. After a moment of hesitation, he raised his head, looked firmly at Terauchi Juichi, and spoke in a steady and clear tone:
"Commander," he bowed slightly to show respect, and then got to the point without hesitation, "Excuse me for being frank. Judging from the current situation on the Burmese battlefield, I believe that our army's hope of making a decisive breakthrough against the enemy in front of us is very slim."

Lin Canghui saw that Terauchi Juichi's eyebrows were barely noticeable, but he did not interrupt him, so he continued to analyze in depth: "Our opponents have obviously sent almost all of their few truly elite troops with strong fighting will and combat capabilities to the 'secondary' battlefield in Burma, trying to maintain the fragile Yunnan-Burma lifeline." "According to the information compiled by the 15th Army Headquarters and the Southern Army Intelligence Department, the so-called 'Central Army' ace troops directly under the command of the China Military Commission and deployed in the Expeditionary Force sequence have at least six divisions.

Among them, the 200th Division of the Fifth Army, the New 22nd Division, the Honorable First Division and other units are all elite troops that we cannot easily defeat."

Lin Canghui paused and emphasized, "Faced with such a force that has concentrated the enemy's elite forces and strengthened its command and air power,
I am afraid that it is no longer a realistic strategic goal for us to completely cut off the Burma Road and paralyze its supply lines by relying solely on the existing land offensive. "

Terauchi Juichi listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the table, making a dull sound.

Lin Canghui took a deep breath and began to state his suggestions in a more decisive tone: "Therefore, based on the above judgment, I dare to put forward the following three suggestions for your consideration:

First, an order was immediately issued to the 18th Division, which was fighting hard on the Rangoon front, to stop all offensive actions and immediately begin to formulate a detailed evacuation plan.

We must free this elite division with rich jungle combat experience and outstanding combat achievements from the quagmire of Rangoon.

Whether it is used to consolidate Thailand's defense in the future or transferred to the Pacific battlefield to deal with the increasingly powerful threat of the US military, the 18th Division is an indispensable and valuable force of the empire and must not continue to be consumed in Yangon. "

"Second, before and during the safe evacuation of the 18th Division, the Yangon Port must be thoroughly and devastatingly destroyed with thunderous means! All port terminals, warehouses, lifting equipment, docks and even the waterways in and out of the port must be systematically blasted using large-yield explosives to completely paralyze them so that they cannot be effectively used by the Allies for a long time in the future!"

"And, after that, our aviation forces should list the Yangon port area as a regular harassment target, and carry out bombings from time to time to prevent and delay the enemy from repairing and using it as much as possible! We must not let this largest port in Myanmar become their strategic springboard for future counterattacks on the Southeast Asian continent!"

"Third," Lin Canghui lowered his voice but it was more significant. "Given the huge investment in the Burmese battlefield with little effect and even the risk of further deterioration, we should perhaps re-examine the resource allocation of the entire southern front. I suggest that some of the strategic resources originally planned to continue to be invested in Burma, including the troops of the follow-up echelons, precious aviation forces, and combat supplies, be strategically transferred and reinvested in the main battlefield in China, which is more critical to the empire."

He looked up at Terauchi Juichi and explained, “Currently, most of China’s most elite core troops have been transferred to Burma by the expeditionary force.

Its vast inland battlefields are relatively defense-free in a historical period. We can seize this "window of opportunity".

Concentrate superior forces, select key nodes on the Chinese battlefield, and launch more decisive offensives in order to achieve greater strategic breakthroughs and results.

Compared to a brutal war of attrition with the elite expeditionary forces in the jungles of Burma, this may be more effective in achieving the strategic goal of weakening or even defeating the Shancheng government and consolidating the country's rule on the mainland. Once Chang Ruiyuan is defeated, the country will be able to invest all its remaining resources in the Pacific War. "

Lin Canghui's analysis is clear and his suggestions are straightforward.

After hearing this, Terauchi Hisaichi remained silent for a long time.

The expression on his face didn't change much, but deep in his eyes, he couldn't help revealing a deep sense of loss and fatigue.

Retreat and destroy and shift the focus back to the Chinese battlefield.

Every word of Lin Canghui's words hit his heart like a hammer.

All of this is based on a big premise, that is, Yenangyaung can be in their hands.

But Terauchi Hisaichi and all the high-ranking generals of the empire knew that the ultimate mission of these troops was not only to seize the resources of the South, but also to defeat the British, Dutch and American colonial forces and then march to the Pacific to fight a final decisive battle with the empire's true enemy - the United States.

The Southern Army is probably no longer able to defeat the defending troops in Burma, a strategically important battlefield connecting the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

His suggestion was essentially to admit defeat, cut losses in a timely manner, and pin hopes on "taking money from one pocket to pay another" on the Chinese battlefield.

"Lin Cangjun, I need some time to consider your proposal."
-

Mountain city, headquarters.

The telegram about the basic annihilation of the 55th Division was placed in front of a group of senior generals.

Everyone was surprised, but at the same time, they felt that this was all as it should be.

After all, the expeditionary force's combat sequence is indeed the most elite combat force in the country.

The newly formed 11th Army under Huang Baitao.

The Fifth Army under Du Yuming.

The newly formed 38th Division under Sun Liren.

In addition, the Sixth Army is generally at the second-tier level, with poor quality soldiers, mainly supplemented by soldiers from the southwest region.

They are nominally direct troops, but in reality they are the main force equipped with mainly miscellaneous equipment.

But don't forget who is the actual commander of the expeditionary force.

Although winning this battle was extremely exciting, it was just basic operation for the Shancheng government.

And the other side.

Cabinet War Office, Downing Street, London
When the encrypted war report from the distant front line in Burma was forwarded through layers.

Eventually, the translation was placed on a conference table in Downing Street, London.

It created an incredible stir in the wartime Cabinet Office, which was filled with the smell of cigar smoke and a tense atmosphere.

Several high-ranking officials, dressed in military uniforms or dark suits, looking tired but still trying to remain calm, came closer and read the thin telegram paper over and over again, as if every word on it carried some kind of magic that made them dare not believe it easily.

Perhaps no one’s jaw really dropped, but the shock and confusion written on their faces could not be concealed no matter what.

How can this be? !
Not long ago, the entire British Empire was still mourning the collapse of the Malayan defense line and the humiliating fall of Singapore, the "Far East Fortress".

Losing face!

The Japanese 18th Division and the 5th Division swept across the entire peninsula like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves. The resistance of the Empire's Far Eastern troops seemed so pale and powerless.

Even in the early days of the Burmese battlefield, the Japanese 18th Division, relying only on a vanguard of only 3,000 people, defeated the 8,000 troops of Major General Smith of the British Indian Army in the port of Rangoon, forcing them to flee in panic!
At that time, the Japanese army seemed to be an invincible myth in Southeast Asia!
But how long has it been now?

A month?

Maybe not yet!
The 55th Division, also the main combat division of the Japanese Army, was completely surrounded and annihilated in central Burma?!
(End of this chapter)