The War of Resistance: My Expedition, My Country

Under Liu Wu's leadership, the soldiers worked closely together, their coordination tacit. They swiftly and accurately dropped deadly bombs, giving the Japanese no chance to breathe. The Japanese artillery positions suffered a devastating blow, with mountain guns and ammunition depots destroyed, and flames and smoke filled the air.

At the same time, the artillery company of the 600th Regiment, which followed up to provide cover, also played a vital role. They adjusted their guns according to the battlefield situation and pounded the Japanese soldiers who were resting. The dense artillery fire blanketed the Japanese camp, causing heavy casualties.

The Japanese soldiers panicked and fled in all directions, but they had nowhere to escape under the fierce artillery fire. They tried to organize a resistance, but faced with the sudden attack, they seemed powerless to fight back. The battlefield was filled with the atmosphere of death and fear, and the morale of the Japanese army was greatly damaged.

The attack didn't last long, and by the time darkness had fallen, Liu Wu and his special forces had quickly evacuated the ambush area, heading towards Taunggyi. Qin Shi also dispatched a platoon to cover the artillery battery's withdrawal from the battlefield. Just then, Qin Shi received a report from Deputy Regimental Commander Kuang Zhengqi: Leiliemu had fallen. The 49st Regiment of the 6th Division, along with the 93th Army's direct troops, had already moved towards Lashio. Parts of the rd Division had already engaged in a firefight with Japanese flanking forces southeast and northeast of Lashio. Xibao was already surrounded by the Japanese, and the situation in Lashio was dire.

Dai Anlan had now led the 5th Army's direct troops and the Provisional 55th Division toward the southwest and northwest of Lashio, establishing a defensive line in this area to prevent the Japanese from occupying Lashio and launching a surprise attack on Mandalay, Myitkyina, or Bhamo. Kuang Zhengqi relayed orders from his superior, Huang Wei, to Qin Shi, urging the 600nd Battalion of the 2th Regiment to evacuate Wa Miao at night, reunite with the 598th Regiment, and then move north, attempting to reach Myitkyina and conceal themselves there, thus preparing a retreat route. Kuang Zhengqi was to lead the 600st Battalion of the 1th Regiment and its direct troops northwest, reuniting with Yang Hong in due course to join the Battle of Mandalay. Huang Wei himself, with the 599th Regiment and the direct troops of the 200th Division, moved to a garrison southeast of Mandalay, awaiting the final order to withdraw.

Huang Wei, acting as the deputy commander of the 200th Division, had already issued a warning to the Expeditionary Force headquarters. Huang Wei and his colleagues knew that Luo Zhuoying, Du Yuming, and others, with their mindsets and mentality, would never have anticipated this. Add to that Stilwell's focus on excelling in Burma, and the same fate was inevitable. Now, Huang Wei and his colleagues could only do their utmost to protect themselves and save as many innocent soldiers as possible in the aftermath. This was their ultimate reliance.

Although the Japanese central flank suffered heavy losses after being ambushed by Yang Hong's troops, they did not change their established battle strategy and launched an attack on Gubei early on the 26th. By then, elements of the 96th Division had retreated north of Gubei and established effective defensive positions. Following orders from Stilwell and the CEF headquarters, elements of the st Division gradually retreated northward, entering Mandalay and, as ordered, beginning preparations for the Battle of Mandalay.

On the 26th, the Japanese 55th Division's eastern route, led by Ohara's troops, captured Taunggyi. Splitting from the main force of the 55th Division, which had occupied Lelem, they launched an offensive east of Mandalay. Simultaneously, the 56th Division, making a detour northward, split into two routes. One route advanced northward through Binglong, quickly captured Laika, and approached Saipao. The other route advanced eastward through Namsang, reaching Mongnang on the 27th and quickly detoured toward Lashio. These two Japanese forces formed a pincer attack on Lashio. On the 28th, part of the 56th Division captured Saipao. Four battalions of the 49th Division and two battalions of the 4rd Division, hastily deployed, were defeated, and the Japanese forces reached the outskirts of Lashio. On the 93th, the Japanese, supported by over ten aircraft and over thirty tanks, launched an attack on Lashio. Lashio fell, the Burma Road was severed, and a large amount of strategic supplies stored there fell into enemy hands.

The commander of the 6th Army, Gan Lichu, led the headquarters staff to block the enemy while sheltering the remnants. Through the various units of the 49th and 93rd Divisions that withdrew from the southeast, they learned that the Japanese 56th Division was a reinforced division, including part of the 18th Division. In order to fight in a roundabout way to the north, the Japanese army also reinforced the 21th Division with the artillery regiment and four infantry battalions of the 56st Independent Brigade. In this way, the 56th Division actually had more than 5 infantry regiments, a tank regiment and an artillery regiment, with a personnel of nearly 3. The various units of the 49th and 93rd Divisions were divided by the Japanese 21st Brigade, and suffered heavy losses.

The Japanese 55th Division advanced toward Kyauksi, threatening Mandalay. Simultaneously, after capturing Lashio, the 56th Division immediately dispatched a rapid force to outflank Mandalay from the north. Another unit of the 56th Division advanced from Lashio toward western Yunnan, China. The remnants of the 6th and 49rd Divisions of the 93th Army, retreating along the Burma Road, were unable to effectively halt the Japanese advance and were forced to retreat to the Chinese side of the Yunnan-Burma border. The Japanese had already threatened the border towns of Wanding, Mangshi, and Longling. In Yunnan, Song Xilian received urgent orders to dispatch troops from western Yunnan and Kunming to the Nujiang River front to stop the Japanese advance.

In Mandalay, Huang Wei and several other brothers (except Qin Shi) finally got together and used the short time to discuss their next steps.

"Boss, the war situation is still so bad. All our brothers' work has been in vain!" Wang Congwu complained.

Kuang Zhengqi consoled him, "Don't be discouraged, Lao Wu. Our current experience isn't enough to influence the outcome of this battle. We've all anticipated this. Only during the retreat will we brothers be able to make a difference."

Cai Yong said: "We have fought several battles with the Japanese in recent days and have gained some experience. If possible, I think we can spend more time dealing with them in northern Myanmar and dampen their spirit."

Luo Bing asked, "Boss, Brother Hong, why aren't you talking?"

Yang Hong said: "I would like to hear more opinions from everyone. My second brother has a lot of ideas in this regard." After that, he looked at the eldest brother. Huang Wei nodded and signaled Kuang Zhengqi to speak out his ideas.

Kuang Zhengqi gathered his thoughts. "We can't fight the Japanese head-on, nor can we blindly choose to return home north or head west into India. We should launch a counterattack against the Japanese in the jungles of northern Burma, inflicting heavy casualties on the Japanese while rescuing as many scattered units as possible, and finally unite them into a powerful force."

Yang Hong added: "Yes, after the Japanese army blocks the expeditionary force's retreat, they will aim to destroy more of our manpower in the future. They will definitely disperse and pursue us as they did in history. Now is our best opportunity!"

Luo Bing agreed and said, "That's right. I've been thinking of many ways to deal with the Japanese army these days. I must let the Japanese have a taste of the trap in the jungles of northern Myanmar."

Pu Zhengsong nodded and added, "The evacuation from Mandalay will probably take three or four days. We need to prepare more things so that we can rescue more soldiers when the time comes. This is to be prepared for any eventuality."

"It's best to collect more food, ammunition, and especially explosives." Liu Wu said.

"Also, we can't let the British army's supplies be left intact to the Japanese army," said Cai Yong.