The War of Resistance: My Expedition, My Country

Following Skom's plan, Yang Hong had secretly moved to the jungle east of Yenangyaung. As he was preparing to continue his advance toward Yenangyaung, he encountered the remnants of the 112rd Company, 2nd Battalion, 3th Regiment. Upon learning of the situation at Yenangyaung, Yang Hong was shocked to see the Japanese counterattack so quickly and with such ferocity. After learning about the situation at Yenangyaung from Deputy Lieutenant General Liu, Yang Hong concluded that the main force of the Japanese 33rd Division had arrived. Yang Hong, Cai Yong, and Luo Bing conferred with each other. Based on historical analysis of the same period, the Japanese 33rd Division should be concentrated in the Magway area. Combined with the remaining troops assigned to the 33rd Division, the Japanese force now numbered at least 1.2. With approximately 5000 men attacking Yenangyaung, it was unlikely that the defense of Magway would require more than 7000 men. Given Japanese combat habits, they would have at least dispersed their forces. West of the Irrawaddy River lies a densely forested mountainous region, making it impossible for the Japanese to open a route to Mandalay. Time would also be insufficient for such a move. The best option for the Japanese was to advance northward along the Yangon-Mandalay highway and seize Mandalay. The Japanese must quickly capture Yenangyaung and open the road. At this point, the best position to stop the Japanese 33rd Division would be the line between Yokwe and Chokbothang. The Pin River is too narrow, allowing the Japanese to construct a makeshift pontoon bridge and cross northward from any point. Another route for the Japanese would undoubtedly be to find a shortcut and attack Yokwe and Chokbothang!

Yang Hong and his three men quickly divided the forces. Luo Bing led the 113st Battalion of the 1th Regiment north to assist the 112th Regiment, which had retreated northward from the Bin River Bridge. Cai Yong led the 600rd Battalion of the 3th Regiment south to Magway, hoping to exploit the cover of darkness and seize an opportunity to attack the Japanese transit line at Magway if the Japanese split their forces. Yang Hong led the majority of his forces to continue their movement toward Yenangyaung, attempting a surprise attack on the Japanese forces there at night. Simultaneously, Yang Hong reported the evolving situation to Skom and the First Expeditionary Force's headquarters, advising them to abandon the Yenangyaung line and return to defend Yokwe and Chokbothang. Yang Hong also secretly contacted his commander, Huang Wei, and others, reminding them to be mindful of historical trends and prevent the collapse of the Expeditionary Force's front.

After receiving Yang Hong's telegram, Scom received Qi Xueqi's report of his defeat at Ren'anqiang, immediately realizing that the planned operation was no longer viable. He hastily ordered the 95th Division and other units to halt their advance southward, and the 96th Division to return to defend the Yuegui and Qiaokebodang lines. However, in his haste, Scom forgot to notify Qi Xueqi and his troops, who were holding out at the Bin River Bridge. Luo Zhuoying, commander of the First Expeditionary Army, apparently ignored the military intelligence report from Yang Hong, a junior officer, and made no adjustments to his deployment. This was the reason why the 112th Regiment fought a desperate battle at the mouth of the Bin River, resulting in the deaths of Qi Xueqi and General Liu Mingren, and the near-annihilation of the 112th Regiment.

That night, a battalion of the Japanese Gosaki Force, under cover of firepower, forced a crossing of the Bin River from the south bank and attacked the remnants of Qi Xueqi's 112th Regiment on the north bank. Unable to defend themselves, Qi Xueqi and his men destroyed three heavy artillery pieces and dispersed northward to break out. Before leaving, General Qi did not forget to send an urgent military telegram to Scolm and Luo Zhuoying! Only then did Scolm realize his mistake, and Luo Zhuoying remembered Yang Hong's telegram. Luo Zhuoying quickly contacted the theater's Chief of Staff, General Stilwell, and the two quickly adjusted their defense plan in northern Burma based on the situation on the western front. Alexander, the commander-in-chief of the Burma Theater, had already arrived at the Chindwin River and ordered the British army to open a temporary road to clear the way to India.

The 96th and 286th Regiments of the 287th Division, along with a battalion of the 38th Regiment of the New 114th Division, led by Yu Shao, commander of the 96th Division, hastily arrived at Chokpattan. Before they could fully deploy, they were attacked by Japanese troops from Harada's unit, approaching from the direction of Yokpattan. Harada, having secretly crossed the Bin River, received news that Gangqi had captured Yenangyaung and immediately turned to attack Yokpattan. Meanwhile, part of the British-Burmese 1st Division stationed in Yokpattan had already retreated northward, following Alexander's orders. Skom had also been ordered to withdraw, leaving only one company in Yokpattan for a symbolic defense. Upon the Japanese arrival, they immediately surrendered. Yu Shao was forced to order his troops to retreat northward, fighting their way toward Mandalay. Late that night, Yang Hong received orders from the Expeditionary Force and Theater Chief of Staff General Stilwell, ordering the Dragon Corps to seize an opportunity to return north and, if necessary, gather scattered units on the southern front.

Luo Bing, leading the 113st Battalion of the 1th Regiment, also secretly crossed the Bing River from the east and headed north, using the cover of darkness to advance northward along the eastern side of the Yangon-Mandalay highway. In the darkness, the constant sound of gunfire from the northwest attracted Luo Bing and his men. They cautiously approached and finally, in an unnamed location, they encountered over 96 remnants of the 3rd Battalion, the 300th Division's advance battalion. They learned that General Qi Xueqi, deputy commander of the new 38th Division, had been killed in action, and the 112th Regiment and British artillery had been nearly annihilated, blocking their way north. Luo Bing was forced to turn south, crossing the Bing River again and rushing towards the designated rendezvous point with Yang Hong.

This night was also a night of fighting between the two sides on the western front of Myanmar. While the Japanese army attacked the 96th Division of the Expeditionary Force and the 38th Regiment of the New 112th Division from the north and south, Yang Hong and other British Army Dragon Teams also attacked the Japanese-occupied Yenangyaung and the transit supply base Magway. In particular, the 600rd Battalion of the 3th Regiment led by Cai Yong used 7 mortars to launch another surprise attack on the Japanese army's baggage train and the 33rd Division headquarters in Magway. Sakurai Shozo was almost killed in the explosion.

The next morning, Sakurai, furious, clearly realized that the Chinese army had an unknown number of troops hiding south of Yenangyaung. Sakurai was unsure of the purpose of this Chinese force, but their presence posed a direct threat to the 33rd Division's supply lines, potentially severing its retreat at any moment. Thinking of Araki's fate, Sakurai immediately ordered Harada's troops to occupy the Yokki and Chokbetang lines and temporarily halt their advance northward. He ordered Gosaki's troops to move south along the highway to defend Yenangyaung and ensure the safety of the occupied oil fields. At the same time, he requested reinforcements from the 33th Division, requesting that they send a force northward along the western line to search for and encircle this mysterious Chinese force.

After leading the majority of the Dragon Corps to harass Yenangyaung, Yang Hong rushed back to the assembly area overnight. After reuniting with Luo's troops heading south, Yang Hong, basing his understanding of the enemy situation, boldly made the decision to return north along the route opened by the Japanese army's Harada. Yang Hong and his men skillfully penetrated the Japanese defenses north of Magway, reunited with Cai Yong's 600rd Battalion, 3th Regiment, and followed the Japanese army's northward route from Harada, quietly escaping the enemy's planned encirclement.

The Battle of Yenangyaung was greatly expanded due to the sudden intervention of Yang Hong's troops. After two major battles, the Japanese 33rd Division on the western front suffered over 5000 casualties, with the 214th Regiment in particular being nearly completely annihilated, dealing a heavy blow to the Japanese army's arrogance. Losses also increased on the Chinese and British sides, particularly due to the mistakes of Skohm and Luo Zhuoying, which resulted in the loss of the 38th Regiment of the New 112th Division and part of the 96th Division. Qi Xueqi and General Liu Mingren (posthumously) were also killed in action, and the Chinese Expeditionary Force also suffered over 2000 casualties.