The War of Resistance: My Expedition, My Country

Outside Imphal, the Chinese army began earthwork overnight, digging deep trenches that connected the entire defensive line. In addition to anti-assault obstacles like barbed wire and pyramids, built with limited supplies, the front lines also incorporated infantry traps and explosive devices.

The frontline positions were arranged in an inverted triangle, with multiple forward firing points and a curved communication trench. Based on historical data, Cai Yong and his colleagues constructed zigzag structures or right-angle turns at various locations in the trenches to mitigate against blast waves and shrapnel. Soldiers compacted the earth to create a sturdy bunker to protect against enemy artillery fire. Soldiers also meticulously laid infantry traps throughout the positions. These traps, disguised as ordinary ground, would trigger explosions or spikes if stepped on by an enemy, inflicting damage. Explosive devices were also strategically placed in various corners, designed to detonate suddenly upon approaching the enemy, inflicting massive damage.

The second and third lines of defense were designed in a circular pattern, interspersed with triangular firing points, diamond-shaped support points, inverted triangle counter-assault fortifications, and other structures. These positions, both real and fake, were interwoven with various pre-buried objects, traps, and trenches, like a spider web. These firing points could support each other, forming a crossfire and effectively curbing the enemy's attack.

Anti-assault bunkers stood at strategic locations, providing strongholds against enemy attacks. Constructed of solid stone and concrete, these bunkers were equipped with firing ports and observation windows, allowing soldiers to safely fire at the enemy.

Anti-tank trenches were built to stop the advance of enemy armor. These trenches were dug deep enough to trap enemy tanks and prevent their advance. Mines and booby traps were hidden in the darkness, waiting to be triggered by an unsuspecting enemy.

Numerous new blast-proof shelters were also constructed at various positions. These shelters were designed based on soldiers' habits and the explosive characteristics of Japanese mountain artillery, infantry guns, and grenade launchers. These shelters were spacious enough to accommodate multiple soldiers, and their entrances and exits were located at different locations to protect them from enemy artillery fire.

At the same time, many underground bunkers were built within the position. These bunkers were hidden underground, where soldiers could hide from enemy artillery fire and serve as support points for concealed counterattacks.

In the city of Imphal, Sun Liren and others also personally directed and participated in the renovation of streets, buildings, bridges, gullies, etc. Yang Hong and others used publicity and guidance to encourage the Chinese in the city to actively participate and gradually transformed Imphal into a fortress.

Early in the morning of the 14th, the Japanese army began to attack and easily captured the outer areas abandoned by the Chinese army, gradually approaching the suburbs of Imphal. Japanese planes also bombarded the Chinese army positions in Imphal city and suburbs in batches, as if they were going to take Imphal in one go.

At this moment, the Japanese army assembled 12 155mm heavy artillery pieces, 18 105mm mountain guns, and artillery of other calibers. Shells rained down on the Chinese positions like hail, enveloping the entire Imphal region in a powerful Japanese firepower. Japanese commander Colonel Harada Takeuchi personally arrived at the front lines, observing through binoculars the effects of his own artillery fire on the enemy's shelling. His deputy, Kobayashi Kazuo, commander of the 213th Regiment, stood behind him. The newly appointed commander of the 215th Regiment, Tato Hikaru, also arrived, along with officers supporting the 33rd Artillery Regiment, the Tank Regiment, and the Engineer Regiment. The Japanese army was eager to capture Imphal as quickly as possible. The order from the 15th Army Headquarters was directed not only at Harada Takeuchi, but also at 33rd Division Commander Sakurai. If Imphal was not captured on time, no one would be safe.

"Order the 215st Battalion of the 1th Regiment to attack from the front, with the st Tank Squadron assisting, and the Infantry Artillery Squadron advancing to assist!"

“命令215联队2大队从左面突击，战车二中队协助；命令213联队3大队从右侧出击，战车3中队协助。”

"The 215th Regiment and the Engineer Regiment circled eastward and forced a crossing of the Dongdun River."

"The 213nd and 2rd Battalions of the 3th Regiment, along with the Mountain Artillery Battalion, will launch a flanking attack, attempting to cut off the Yingmeng Highway!"

Following Harada's orders, various Japanese troops began to move. At this time, the commander of the 33rd Division, Sakurai, led another unit of the 33rd Division and, together with the 70th Regiment of the 18th Division, desperately marched towards Imphal in Jiajianwa, more than 56 kilometers away from Imphal.

Fighting erupted across the Imphal front. The southern front, the primary Japanese offensive, was extremely fierce. Every squad and platoon of the 113th and 114th Regiments faced an overwhelming attack from a Japanese force several times their size. The front lines were quickly lost, but the soldiers stubbornly resisted. The positions, particularly those constructed overnight, not only slowed the Japanese advance but also inflicted massive casualties. Every advance cost the Japanese countless lives. Even the tanks assisting the attack were destroyed, leaving the ground ablaze with flames and strewn with mutilated bodies.

Lieutenant Hatoyama Masada still has more than 70 soldiers under his command. As the main squadron, they have been charging at the forefront since entering Myanmar. He vaguely remembers that there were 185 people in the squadron, and about 100 people were added in the middle. Now only these are left, and many of their faces are unfamiliar. They were obviously transferred from the baggage train last night.

In the struggle to break through this frontier Chinese position, Hatoyama's squadron lost over 20 valuable veterans, especially his fellow countryman and second-in-command, Second Lieutenant Haruo Kuzuki, a loss that left him heartbroken. At noon, Hatoyama had no choice but to order the squadron to halt and rest within their occupied positions. Weary and hungry, the soldiers devoured their rice balls, their simple canned fish, and water, devouring them ravenously. Watching all this, Hatoyama felt a surge of loneliness and desolation.

Facing this Japanese force was the 113rd Company, 4th Battalion, 3th Regiment. Second Platoon Leader Zhu Liang, a native of Fuling, Sichuan, had been a private first class when he entered Burma. After years of fighting, he had risen to become a second lieutenant commander. With fewer than 2 men remaining in 2nd Platoon, he divided them into five groups, each hidden in several underground bunkers surrounding Hatoyama's squadron's temporary resting area. Hatoyama was lucky, however, to be surrounded by several explosive devices planted by 20nd Platoon.

The 2nd Platoon ventured through the underground bunker to their vicinity, ready to deal a devastating blow to this Japanese force. The Japanese soldiers had eaten their fill, and except for a few guards, they lay down in the trenches in groups of three or four to rest. It was the most paralyzed time. Zhu Liang nodded to the 1st Squad Leader beside him, Lao Niutou, who calmly pressed the detonator.