The War of Resistance: My Expedition, My Country

Stilwell quickly headed north, but Sun Liren insisted on staying behind. He was deeply interested in his young deputy and eager to learn more about him. A West Point graduate with a deep commitment to the offensive, Sun Liren remained primarily to coordinate with Liao Yaoxiang of the 22nd Division, leaving operational responsibility entirely to his deputy, Yang Hong. As Yang Hong led his troops south, he told Sun Liren, "Commander-in-Chief, if our army is truly in dire straits, you must convince Commander Luo and Deputy Commander Du to try to advance westward into India to preserve our strength!"

"Our army has no air superiority and its equipment is backward. Once the China-Burma Highway is cut off, we can only rely on India to obtain support from the United States." Yang Hong added, and Sun Liren nodded in agreement.

Yang Hong said again: "Why do we continue to fight the Japanese army here? It is to let the US and Britain see our fighting power and determination! Only in this way can we win respect and gain more support."

After Yang Hong left, Sun Liren stood there and thought for a long time. Only then did he accept Yang Hong from the bottom of his heart.

Sun Liren, Liao Yaoxiang, and other military personnel who had studied abroad easily reached a consensus on operational thinking. After receiving Sun Liren's call, Liao Yaoxiang immediately began to act according to Yang Hong's plan. Units of the New 22nd Division feigned defeat and fled north, while parts of the Japanese 18th and 55th Divisions quickly followed. Led by Major General Sakuma, the 18th Division's infantry commander, the Japanese 55th Regiment, along with its infantry, artillery, and tank units, and the 55th Regiment of the 114th Division, totaled over 1 troops. After the New 22nd Division withdrew from Binwenna, Sakuma immediately occupied Binwenna and split his forces into two groups, advancing east and west, toward Gubeifa.

By this time, Yang Hong and his men had advanced to a location southwest of Gubei called Wajiagai, a location ideal for an ambush. Yang Hong ordered Luo Bing to lead the 112th Regiment (composed of the 112rd Battalion formed from the remnants of the 3th Regiment and the 600st Battalion, reorganized from the 3rd Battalion of the 1th Regiment) to ambush on the west flank. Li Hong of the 114th Regiment ambushed on the east flank, while the 113th Regiment and its subordinate tank battalion (British) and artillery battalion (a joint Chinese and British unit) intercepted the enemy from the front. They then awaited the arrival of the Japanese.

On the morning of the 25th, the main force of the Japanese 55th Regiment on the west route, led by Colonel Shiro Yamazaki, rushed forward with great momentum. Upon discovering the Chinese army's obstruction, they immediately set up artillery fire and launched an attack on the 113th Regiment's position. At this time, the 113th Regiment was a top-tier force in the Expeditionary Force in terms of weaponry and morale. With the support of a directly subordinate artillery battalion and the knowledge that this Japanese unit was one of the culprits of the Nanjing Massacre, the officers and soldiers' fighting spirit was extraordinary. Despite having a complete advantage in manpower and firepower, the Japanese army failed to make any progress throughout the morning.

Yamazaki was furious. He called for air support and directed all his assigned artillery fire towards the 113th Regiment! Suddenly, the artillery roared, smoke filled the air, and heat waves rolled. Even the surrounding jungle was set on fire, and smoke and dust rose dozens of meters high.

The position occupied by the 113th Regiment and the arrangement of its positions were very scientific. No amount of artillery fire from the Japanese army would have any effect. The battalions and companies hid in bomb shelters and listened calmly to the Japanese artillery fire.

The bombardment lasted for over an hour, and there was no intact area left in the bombarded area. Yamazaki observed for a long time but saw no signs of life. Yamazaki thought to himself: The Chinese soldiers had either been killed by his own bombing or scared away by his own dense artillery fire.

"Yoshi!" Yamazaki nodded with satisfaction and ordered the 1st Battalion to attack again and take the opposite position as soon as possible.

More than 600 Japanese troops launched another attack on the position of the 113th Regiment in a skirmish formation. At this time, Cai Yong was the commander of the 113th Regiment. He quietly ordered the 1st Battalion to return to the position, and various weapons were quickly deployed, waiting for the Japanese troops to enter the firing range.

"Attack!" With Cai Yong's order, several mortars of the regiment unleashed a furious roar, and the soldiers of the 1st Battalion launched a vengeful fire at the Japanese army. The enemy was caught off guard and a large number of them were swept down.

"Baga!" Yamazaki saw all this from behind and shouted angrily. He ordered the machine gun squadron to launch suppressive fire on the Chinese army's positions and ordered the mortars of each battalion and squadron to eliminate the Chinese army's firepower points at specific locations.

At this moment, our artillery opened fire, pinning the Japanese 1st Battalion approximately 150 meters from the front. A stalemate ensued. Yamazaki, impatient, immediately ordered the 2nd Battalion to maneuver from the side, attempting to attack from behind. The Japanese split was exactly what Yang Hong needed. As the 2-man Japanese 800nd Battalion approached the 114th Regiment's ambush position, Yang Hong ordered a counterattack.

Yamazaki deserved his bad luck. The offensive route on the western front was not suitable for the operation of heavy artillery and tanks and armored vehicles. His regiment came lightly with only a part of the mountain artillery, and he did not expect to encounter a targeted attack by the Chinese army!

On the battlefield, the roar of artillery, the blaze of flames, and the thick smoke of gunpowder filled the air. Our artillery units unleashed a powerful firepower, raining down shells on the Japanese positions, suppressing their offensive. The Japanese, however, put up a stubborn resistance, continuously charging our troops.

During the fierce battle, part of the Japanese 2nd Battalion also moved to the side, attempting to break through our positions, circle around to our rear, and attack from behind. The experienced Li Hong reacted quickly, ordering the 114th Regiment's direct troops to press forward and stop this Japanese force.

The tank battalion and its subordinate units, which had quietly circled behind the Japanese army, immediately launched an attack on them. The roar of tanks and the sound of gunfire intertwined, forming a torrent of steel that rushed towards the Japanese army.

Yamazaki was commanding from the rear, and suddenly saw our army's tank unit appear behind him. His face turned pale and he was completely at a loss. He realized that he had fallen into Yang Hong's trap, and at this time he could no longer save the situation.

Yamazaki was stunned. Then, the 112th Regiment rushed out from the west, attacking the 55th Regiment's weak western sector. The 1st Battalion at the front was pinned down, while the 2nd Battalion to the east was ambushed and surrounded. Yamazaki, the 3rd Battalion, and the rest of the troops were forced to retreat, using the firepower of the machine gun squadron to attempt to halt the 112th Regiment's counterattack.

"Baka, baka, baka!" Yamazaki cursed, unable to do anything but order his units to alternate defenses and order the 1st Battalion to find a way to retreat! The Chinese army's targeted artillery fire completely blocked the 1st Battalion's retreat. The 1st Battalion's commander, Hisashiro Harano, was a ruthless man. He ordered his entire unit to launch a "pig-like charge" into the 113th Regiment's positions. The 113th Regiment's various firepower continuously harvested Japanese lives, and the Japanese 1st Battalion was losing troops at a visible rate. Yamazaki immediately understood Harano's intention and decisively ordered his units to alternately cover the retreat, destroying any heavy weapons, including mountain guns, that were unable to evacuate in time. Yamazaki prayed to Harano in heaven to ensure the 55th Regiment's escape.