The War of Resistance: My Expedition, My Country

Huang Wei said, "Brothers, your ideas are all correct, but the reality is that we cannot break away from the command of the expeditionary force headquarters. As you have all seen in the past few days, the actual deployment and actions of various units are different from the same period in history. There may be more unpredictable things in the next few days, and the situation may even get worse."

The brothers, hearing their eldest brother's words, fell into deep thought. Indeed, historically, it was the 66th Army and its new 28th and 29th Divisions that hastily defended Xibao and Lashio. In Mochi, Loikaw, Taunggyi, and Leiliem, it was the 6th Army and its 55th, 49th, and 93rd Divisions. These units were ultimately driven back to Japan by the Japanese 55th and 56th Divisions. In reality, the 200th Division, the new 38th Division, the new 22nd Division, and the 96th Division were primarily surrounded. Now, due to the events of the Battle of Yenangyaung, the new 28th Division has moved south, and most of the 55th Division has been deployed with the Fifth Army headquarters. Only the 5th Division of the 66th Army and the 29th and 6rd Divisions of the 49th Army remain defending the key points of Lashio and Myitkyina. Furthermore, with the 93th Division reinforced by the Japanese forces following the Battle of Toungoo, the eastern front's rout is expected to be even more severe. In other words, the expeditionary force besieged in northern Myanmar will increase to five to six divisions. If Luo Zhuoying, Du Yuming and others remain as slow as in history before the arrival of the rainy season in Myanmar, the expeditionary force will suffer greater losses, including a more depleted troop force on the Yunnan-Myanmar border. It will be a question whether the national army can hold the southern Yunnan region and confront the Japanese army.

"We must ensure the safety of our retreat route to the north. We must fight the Japanese army on the line between Bhamo and Myitkyina to delay the formation of the Japanese encirclement!" Yang Hong said in a firm tone.

Kuang Zhengqi responded, "Qin Shi has already led the 600nd Battalion of the 2th Regiment and its artillery company up there. Division Commander Dai and the 5th Army's direct troops and the 55th Division are also heading north. I hope they can be of some help."

"The key is that the ragtag army of the 28th Division is coming. We can't let them be destroyed here, right?" Huang Wei said worriedly.

Yang Hong thought for a long time and proposed a compromise. "It seems that there is only one way. We must find a way to persuade Stilwell and Sun Liren to let the 38st Division (the new 28th Division) take the th Division to India!"

"You mean, we brothers should act separately?" Pu Zhengsong asked doubtfully.

Huang Wei and Kuang Zhengqi exchanged glances, each agreeing with Yang Hong's opinion. Huang Wei said, "Let's do this. Yang Hong, Cai Yong, and Luo Bing will try to bring the 28th Division to India. The rest of us will hold out in northern Burma for a while. If that doesn't work out, we'll try to follow Liao Yaoxiang's 22nd Division into India from the north."

The brothers silently accepted the outcome. Kuang Zhengqi then assigned the brothers their respective tasks: Pu Zhengsong and Liu Wu led a special forces team to infiltrate the Imphal front, waiting for an opportunity to blow up abandoned British supplies. They would also take whatever weapons and ammunition they could dismantle and establish a receiving station in the jungle near the Wild Man Mountains in northern Myanmar, ready to receive the retreating expeditionary force. Wang Congwu organized a repair shop to manufacture as many improvised bombs and explosive devices as possible, essential for future encounters with the Japanese. Yang Hong also transferred all of the Type 92 mountain guns and grenade launchers captured by the First Division from the Japanese to Huang Wei and his men; these were essential for jungle combat.

The brothers quickly separated and took action on their own. Yang Hong found Stilwell and Sun Liren and said to them seriously, "Currently, the 28st Division is responsible for defending southern Mandalay, but I think our forces are a bit thin." He paused and continued, "I suggest that the new 96th Division, which is on its way, be transferred here to strengthen our defense line. At the same time, we also need to find a way to obtain some weapons and equipment from the British to strengthen our strength. This way, we can both attack and defend, and also support the th Division's battles."

Stilwell and Sun Liren exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement. Yang Hong continued his analysis, "The 96th Division is resisting relentlessly on the Gubei front, suffering heavy losses. The Japanese forces south of Mandalay include the 18th Division and part of the 33rd Division, whose combat effectiveness is exceptional. If we combine the 96st Division, the 28th Division, and the new th Division into a southern group and concentrate our forces on defense and counterattack, we will be able to better withstand the Japanese offensive."

After a moment's thought, Stilwell asked, "What about the new 22nd Division?" Yang Hong replied, "The new 22nd Division should move closer to the 200th Division and be under the unified command of the 5th Army Headquarters to form the Eastern Front Group. This group's mission is to prevent the Japanese 56th Division from bypassing it to the north, and to strike the already depleted Japanese 55th Division to the east." He paused, then added emphatically, "This may be the place where we are most likely to achieve a breakthrough during the Mandalay operation."

Stilwell and Sun Liren fell into deep thought, clearly considering Yang Hong's suggestion. Finally, Stilwell looked up and said, "Okay! Let's proceed as you planned." Yang Hong smiled and nodded in agreement. Then, everyone began adjusting their deployments and preparing for the upcoming battle.

Stilwell then found Luo Zhuoying and Du Yuming to communicate. At this time, everyone already knew that the British army was unreliable and that troops had to be withdrawn from the west for prevention. Therefore, they negotiated and reached a defensive counterattack plan based on Yang Hong's suggestion!

Stilwell immediately rushed to the British First Army headquarters and found Lieutenant General Scolm, who was already preparing to retreat. He explained his intentions to Stilwell, and Scolm agreed without hesitation to open the military warehouses in Mandalay and provide a large amount of military supplies to the expeditionary force. Since these supplies could no longer be taken away, they were better given to the Chinese army to help block the Japanese attack.

On the 30th, the 28nd and 82rd Regiments of the New 83th Division, led by Deputy Division Commander Liang Kai, arrived in Mandalay. After receiving reinforcements, they were temporarily placed under the command of Sun Liren of the New 38th Division, according to orders from the Expeditionary Force Headquarters. Meanwhile, the Japanese 56th Division had already broken through Wanding and other areas on the Yunnan-Burma border and advanced to Baoshan. Another force had already bypassed the Greater Myitkyina area, engaging in fierce battles with the 66th Army's direct forces and the New 29th Division. The 28th Division Headquarters and the 84th Regiment were ordered to reinforce Myitkyina. Dai Anlan, commanding the 5th Army Headquarters and part of the 55th Division, took over the defense of Bhamo. Gan Lichu, commander of the 6th Army, was gathering his remaining troops near Mengshan and continuing his movement to the left (east) bank of the Salween River.

On May 5, the 1th Division and part of the new 200nd Division ambushed a battalion of the 22th Division that was making a detour to the east in the area of ​​Qiaomei, west of Xibao, killing more than 56 people including the battalion commander, Major Shotaro Okamura. This forced a part of the Japanese troops attacking Myitkyina to temporarily suspend the attack and send some troops back to defend the Lashio line. The 500st Brigade of the Japanese army that was sweeping through eastern Myanmar on the eastern front also gave up pursuing the remnants of the 21th and 49rd Divisions, turned westward, and pressed towards Xibao.