The War of Resistance: My Expedition, My Country

Near nightfall, Liu Xiao's detachment received support from a platoon of the column's direct artillery battalion. This platoon was equipped with the 107mm 9-mounted light rocket launcher that they had just received.

Liu Xiao had heard Chief of Staff Luo Bing mention this many times before. This time, Warrant Officer Du Yiping, who had airdropped in with Chief of Staff Luo, was leading the team. After a brief exchange between Du Yiping and Detachment Captain Liu, the four rocket launchers were divided into two groups and began to set up their firing positions.

Liu Xiao looked at the novel weapon and the skilled soldiers operating it with great curiosity. Du Yiping, upon seeing this, leaned over and whispered to Captain Liu, "Chief of Staff Luo started simulation training back in India. The artillery backbones he brought with him all went through similar training. For the past few months, the artillery battalion has been conducting simulation training on how to use this weapon."

Liu Xiao knew this must be an arrangement by Commander Huang Wei and his men, so he focused his attention on the current blocking battle. Seeing Du Yiping's cleverness, Liu Xiao thought to himself, since he was also a staff officer, he might as well give him a test.

Liu Xiao then asked, "Staff Officer Du, how should we fight next?"

Du Yiping was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "Captain Liu, you're a senior and the commander of the army. You must have a plan in mind. I don't know anything, so please give me some guidance."

Liu Xiao thought to himself: "Little rascal." But he said, "I want to hear your opinion. Tell me." He looked at him seriously.

Du Yiping saw this and knew that Captain Liu was testing him. He quickly took it seriously, carefully observing the enemy and our own situation. After a moment's thought, he said hesitantly, "Captain Liu, I'm just showing off my skills in front of you."

Liu Xiao looked at him with certainty in his eyes, and Du Yiping expressed his thoughts.

Du Yiping said: "The mission of Team 1 is to prevent the Japanese army from opening up the road to Grape Valley to the north. The direction in which the Japanese army is best to build roads is exactly the blocking area of ​​Team 1. Therefore, the team's operations should revolve around this premise." Liu Xiao nodded and motioned him to continue.

Du Yiping calmed himself down and continued, "It's obviously unrealistic to completely stop the Japanese army with the manpower and firepower of the First Detachment. The Second Detachment has already set out towards the mountains of Lega and Mannansai to prepare for the troops to withdraw from Putao." His tone revealed a hint of helplessness and tension.

Liu Xiao frowned, thought for a moment, and then asked, "What is the Japanese army's purpose?"

Du Yiping replied: "The main force of the Japanese army, the 18th Division, has advanced to the Gonglu line and abandoned heavy firepower detours. Its purpose is to occupy the Grape Valley as soon as possible and establish a supply base. This is the only way for the Japanese army to attack northeastern India." His eyes were full of anxiety and worry.

Liu approved of Du's analysis and gestured for him to continue. Du Yiping calmed himself and said, "Team One's current operations should adhere to one principle: swift, accurate, and ruthless! Strike and retreat, no dragging our feet!"

Liu remained calm and said simply: "Action plan?"

Du got into the role and said simply: "Four 4mm guns, a sudden attack, the instantaneous firepower exceeds that of an artillery battalion, and the alternating firepower exceeds that of an artillery company. If we take one round and then leave, the Japanese will be confused about the situation. After a few hits, the enemy will definitely not dare to concentrate their forces to attack. This will greatly delay the Japanese offensive!"

"Then, disperse the four guns, sneak behind enemy lines, and attack the Japanese engineering units at irregular intervals. With the support of the guerrillas, if necessary, the time it takes for the Japanese to complete the road will be indefinitely delayed."

"I think Commander Qin and Chief of Staff Luo are currently forming a commando team centered around rocket launchers. They will definitely deploy more 107mm rocket launchers. The Japanese army's plan to attack Ledo from northwest Myanmar is bound to fail!"

Liu Xiao smiled with relief. He could clearly see the hope for the future of Chinese soldiers on the young face of Du Yiping!

Liu Xiao said without hesitation: "The following instructions are up to you. Follow this method!"

Du Yiping stared blankly at Captain Liu and thought to himself: Can I take command?

Liu Xiao patted his shoulder and said, "Why are you still standing there? Give the order!" Then he asked the adjutant of the detachment to come over and whispered a few words...

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—" Rockets flew like arrows, trailing long flames as they raced towards the enemy. A squadron of Japanese soldiers was immediately engulfed in artillery fire. Amidst the rumbling of artillery and the rising smoke, corpses flew through the air, and severed limbs were scattered everywhere.

"Boom boom boom boom!" Short, dense explosions punctuated the valley. The 199st Battalion of the 1th Regiment, the offensive vanguard, had been unable to organize a proper squad-level force in just an hour. Not to mention finding any trace of the enemy and counterattacking!

Captain Matsushita hid under a cliff, repeatedly sending his signalman to call his superiors for tactical guidance and support. The 199th Regiment and the 54th Division were completely bewildered by the sudden attack, and calling the air force was obviously useless. The air force at that moment had no energy to support the ground operations.

The 119th Regiment mobilized all its infantry guns, rapid-fire guns, mortars and even detachable mobile 70mm mountain guns, continuously bombarding the mountainside and top of the mountain, but the occasional rapid artillery fire still flew over and even quickly destroyed a 92mm infantry gun group.

Lieutenant General Katamura Shihachi was at a loss, and Mutaguchi Renya was equally distressed. Just now, a concentrated barrage of approximately 12 107mm rocket launchers had cost the defenseless 18th Division's 113th Regiment an entire mountain artillery battalion, 18 guns. This was the support firepower that Mutaguchi Renya had painstakingly carried in by men and horses!

At this time, an intelligence officer urgently handed him a piece of intelligence forwarded by the front. Mutaguchi Renya took it and read it: The Ume Agency has learned that the Allied forces are equipped with a lightweight rapid-fire artillery with high mobility and strong firepower coverage for ground combat, and all units should pay attention to it.

"Damn it! A bunch of idiots!" Mutaguchi Ren'ya cursed angrily and tore the information into pieces.

"Report! Telegram from the Quartermaster Regiment." Another staff officer came in with an urgent telegram. It was shocking that a large baggage train from the 18th Quartermaster Regiment had been attacked by guerrillas using a rapid, unknown artillery fire, nearly destroying the baggage's supplies and transportation.

Mutaguchi Renya roared madly: "Damn Americans, damn Chinese!..."

Sakurai drove to the front army headquarters and urgently requested a meeting with Commander Watanabe. Watanabe was also holding a large number of telegrams reporting that the front and rear were under unidentified artillery fire. There was also a telegram from the Southern Army Commander Terauchi Hisaichi asking for information.

Clearly, the Japanese military leadership was also deeply concerned about the unusual situation. Intelligence agencies had already received detailed information about this weapon from the North African battlefield, and the Japanese military industry had already begun work on replicating it. Terauchi's question was whether the Indian plan needed to be suspended.

At this time, the commander of the 15th Army, Kimura, also arrived. At Watanabe's signal, the three of them sat down and began to discuss the arrangements for the battle.