The War of Resistance: My Expedition, My Country

On Hill 501, the 96th Division's advance battalion held its defensive position. First Company Commander Wang Tao nervously gazed ahead. Artillery fire rumbled from the Yenangyaung front, smoke billowed in the air. Soldiers from the 1th Regiment, in groups of two or three, retreated past their position, crossing the Bin River Bridge and heading north. These soldiers looked exhausted, demoralized, and incompletely equipped. As they ran, they glanced back, their eyes filled with fear and despair.

112团3营残部在新38师副师长的强令下，与先遣营2营一起防守在高地右侧的敦贡村一带，与501阵地形成犄角之势。先遣营3连则在宾河大桥北面，与英军的3门105mm榴弹炮阵地一同部署于此，以支援南岸的防御。

At that moment, the remnants of the 112st and 1nd Battalions of the 2th Regiment, protected by the remaining two British tanks and one armored vehicle, quickly retreated. Their faces were filled with fear and helplessness, as if countless evil spirits were chasing them. Japanese howitzers periodically exploded around the retreating column, sending blasts over ten meters high and sending rocks flying. Each explosion brought a sense of death, making the already chaotic situation even more difficult to control.

"Not good!" Wang Tao's heart tightened. He realized that the situation was extremely critical. If he didn't take action in time, the consequences would be disastrous. He immediately ordered: "Prepare for battle!" With his order, the soldiers of the 1st Company quickly entered combat mode and prepared for battle.

While the 96th Division's equipment wasn't as good as the newly formed 38th Division's, the companies of the advance battalion had received some British-issue weapons at Chokberdang. Currently, the 1st Company, numbering 138 men, was armed with a Vickers-Maxim 1912 water-cooled heavy machine gun and two Soviet-made Degtyarev DS2 heavy machine guns, like two impenetrable fortresses. They also had three Bren light machine guns, six Czech light machine guns, nine Sten submachine guns, and two 39mm mortars. Ammunition was plentiful.

Wang Tao's layout for Hill 501 was to build two trench lines on the front line, near the Yangon-Mandalay highway. Two squads from 1st Platoon would defend each, while 2nd Platoon and the firepower platoon would jointly defend the hill. Multiple trenches and four permanent fortifications previously built by the British were also built. 4rd Platoon, the 3rd Squad from 1st Platoon, and the company headquarters would guard the bridgehead, where two mortars were also stationed.

Chen Mingren, commander of the 112th Regiment, led the remnants of the 1st and 2nd Battalions through the 501st position. He ordered the commander of the 2nd Battalion to lead his troops across the bridge to assist in defending the northern side, while he himself rushed to Dungong Village to take command of the battle south of the bridge from Deputy Division Commander Qi Xueqi. Qi Xueqi advised Chen Mingren not to linger in the battle and to gradually shift the defenses on the southern bank to the northern bank. However, Yu Shao, commander of the 96th Division, called in, announcing his troops' arrival from Qiaokebotang, demanding that the 112th Regiment and other units hold the Binhe Bridge. Yu Shao had already contacted Yang Hong and others, preparing to attack the Japanese Okazaki forces from the north and southeast. Chen Mingren immediately called back elements of the 1st and 2nd Battalions, which had not yet retreated across the bridge, to reinforce the two positions. By then, the Japanese 94mm mountain artillery had already approached the Binhe Bridge. The troops had no time to establish additional defensive positions, and some soldiers had to seek cover nearby, awaiting the Japanese arrival.

The Japanese pursuit troops arrived near the Binhe Bridge. Due to aerial reconnaissance, the Japanese knew that the Chinese army had built fortifications in Binhe. Under the order of the forward commander Lieutenant Colonel Sato Akio, the Japanese stopped the blind attack and waited for the arrival of the follow-up artillery units. Japanese fighter planes also dived down from time to time to attack Dungong Village and Hill 501.

"Damn, damn, damn!" 12.7mm aircraft cannon bullets splashed countless mud in front of the trenches of the 1st Company position in Dungong Village. Squad Leader Wu Yiwu climbed out of the bunker, spitting out mud-stained spit and cursing: "You son of a bitch, if you dare to come down, I'll kill you if you don't."

A veteran soldier in his thirties, Lao Liaotou, patted the dirt off his shoulder and said, "Squad Leader Xiao Wu, save your breath. We can't deal with the one in the sky. When he comes down from the ground, we'll beat him up!"

"Old Liao, be careful later. This time it will probably be another bloody battle. You and I are the only two old men in the squad." Squad Leader Wu said cautiously.

"Xiao Wu, I'm afraid we can't escape this time. Look, all the retreating soldiers of the 38th Division have been called back. This time we'll probably have to fight the Japanese head-on!"

"Old Liao, I've fought for so many years and seen a lot of dead people. How many of us in the Hunan Army are cowards? At most, I'll die. This time, I'm going to get enough from the Japs!"

Old Liao nodded and said, "Xiao Wu, do you think we can hold on this time?"

Wu Yiwu was silent for a moment, then said, "Lao Liao, our mission is to hold our ground. No matter what the outcome, we must do our best."

Old Liao took a deep breath and said, "Okay, Xiao Wu, I'll listen to you. This time we'll fight the Japs!"

Wu Yiwu patted Lao Liao's shoulder and said, "Lao Liao, we will definitely hold our ground!"

The two looked at each other, their eyes filled with determination.

"Swish, swish, swish!" Japanese artillery fire roared in like hungry wolves, interrupting their conversation. "Boom, boom, boom!" Various shells exploded around the positions of the 1st and 2nd Companies of the Advance Battalion and the remnants of the 112th Regiment, sending a shower of explosives, splinters of wood, rocks, and dirt everywhere. Occasionally, the torn bodies of unfortunate soldiers soared into the sky, like dismembered dolls, a horrific sight.

The Japanese artillery bombardment continued for about three minutes. Then, another bomb dropped from a Japanese bomber. One of the bombs landed inside Dungong Village, shattering the already shattered village beyond recognition. Like a crumpled piece of paper, it was completely devoid of life. Then, the Japanese artillery fire returned, continuing for another ten minutes.

"Sh ...

Inside the frontline trenches beneath Hill 501, Squad Leader Wu and Lao Liao quietly raised their heads to observe the Japanese attack's personnel, routes, and tactics. The enemy advanced in groups of two or three, alternating between them. As they did so, veteran Japanese soldiers continuously fired at suspicious targets within the positions. Squad Leader Wu and Lao Liao shifted positions several times, dodging enemy sniper fire.

100 meters, 90 meters, 80 meters, 70 meters. "Shoot!" With the platoon leader's command, the platoon's two machine guns unleashed a vengeful blaze. Squad Leader Wu calmly took aim at a shorter soldier and, "Bang!", he killed him. To Squad Leader Wu's left, Lao Liao also aimed at an enemy. "Bang!" Bullets flew over the enemy's head, and the enemy quickly fell forward, raising his Type rifle. Lao Liao quickly fired three shots at him.