The War of Resistance: My Expedition, My Country

"Boom-boom-boom--", several violent explosions suddenly sounded around the Japanese army, splashing huge mud and dust around. The shock wave of the explosion swept down several Japanese soldiers standing on guard. The Japanese soldiers near the explosion point were blown into the sky, like fallen leaves swept away by a gust of wind, floating helplessly in the air.

Hatoyama was lifted from the ground by the huge shock wave and slammed heavily into the trench wall on the other side. Without caring about the pain, Hatoyama drew his equipped pistol, grabbed the fallen saber nearby, and shouted in a tearful voice: "Enemy attack, prepare to counterattack!"

Some Japanese soldiers were still dazed by the aftermath of the explosion. A small number of elite veterans quickly reacted, found nearby cover and began to fight back. However, they were greeted by more than a dozen British-made grenades. Hatoyama was horrified and shouted in horror: "Grenade--"

"Boom boom boom--", the rising and falling sound of explosions rang out again, followed by the sound of gunfire from the Sten submachine gun, Bren light machine gun and Zhongzheng rifle coming from all around. The Japanese soldiers who could not avoid it in time were shot and fell one after another. The counterattack gunfire was sporadic and weak, and soon almost stopped.

Hatoyama Masada's right arm had been injured by the grenade explosion. He didn't know where his pistol and saber had fallen. He struggled to his feet, enduring the excruciating pain as he took the Japanese grenade at his waist and pulled the safety with his mouth. In the hazy gray fog, he waited for the enemy to arrive. In the dimness, two shadows approached him. Hatoyama thought they were enemies and was about to trigger the grenade when they rushed up to him and whispered, "Lieutenant, Hatoyama-kun."

Hatoyama took a closer look and found that it was his own Sergeant Tayufu and Private Yukima. Hatoyama quickly asked, "Anyone else?"

The two men shook their heads at him. Duoyoufu said, "The Chinese army has retreated. There are only about ten people alive. Most of them are seriously injured and may not survive." Xingjianbu said, "Lieutenant, let's retreat."

Hatoyama smiled sadly, put down his grenade, and said to Tayufu, "You lead everyone back. I'm afraid I can't go back." Hatoyama knew that retreating would also lead to death, so it would be better to end it here. As he spoke, he fumbled on the ground for his pistol or saber. Tayufu and the other two looked at him in bewilderment. At this time, the other remaining soldiers slowly gathered around. Hatoyama said weakly, "Take care, Tayufu-kun. You lead everyone back."

"Baga!", an angry shout rang out not far away. It was the voice of the battalion commander, Oda Chutaro. Oda Chutaro heard the violent explosions as the 1st Squadron occupied the position and immediately rushed over with the battalion headquarters. Zhu Liang and others hurriedly evacuated because they saw the Japanese reinforcements.

Oda looked at his incompetent subordinates angrily, and slapped a few soldiers who were still standing. When he saw the look on the face of his beloved general Hatoyama at the moment, the anger in his heart disappeared at once. He signaled the soldiers around him to help Hatoyama down. At this time, the brigade law enforcement officer Yamamoto also arrived here. Yamamoto coldly stopped the soldiers' actions, pulled out the pistol at his waist, loaded it, and threw it to Hatoyama Masada, "(You should be responsible for the death of your subordinates. I give you the opportunity to commit suicide)君は部下の死に责任を负うべきだ。自裁するチャンスを与えてやる。

Hatoyama picked up the pistol on the ground, his eyes filled with desolation. Oda turned around and angrily yelled at Yamamoto, "What are you doing? What are you doing? You can't do this!"

Yamamoto said coldly, "The defeated do not stand a chance. The Empire does not need sympathy for the defeated! Oda, do not forget your duty. If you fail to capture the suburban position today, the fate that awaits you will be no different from his."

Hatoyama Masada stood up slowly, endured the severe pain, and bowed tremblingly to Oda, and then bowed to his remaining soldiers, "みんなにconfusionをかけてしまいました. After the death of private, private bones.のかばんって帰ってください。 private mother bury してください! (It’s a drag on everyone, please take my ashes back after my death and bury me next to my mother!)”

With a single gunshot, Hatoyama ended his own life. Meanwhile, several seriously wounded soldiers pleaded for a chance to die with dignity. Under Yamamoto's strict watchful eye, Oda ordered his men to stab the wounded to death. Then, hysterically, he ordered the entire brigade to launch a final charge...

Harada quickly received information about the situation at the 215st Squadron, 1st Battalion, 1th Regiment. He no longer had the same exuberant energy he had just had when he arrived in Imphal. He knew Hatoyama well, having been the former commander of the 215th Regiment. He was deeply saddened by the fate of this unit's bravest, junior commander. He told his adjutant, "Lieutenant Hatoyama fought bravely, personally leading the charge on the Imphal battlefield, but unfortunately, he was killed!"

"Hi!" The adjutant understood what Colonel Harada meant, nodded in agreement, and immediately went down to make arrangements.

The battle continued fiercely, the Japanese troops charging forward like a pack of fearless wolves, their artillery even firing directly at soldiers on both sides in the melee. Fortunately, Cai Yong had anticipated these possible Japanese actions and made full use of strategically arranged positions to block the enemy, minimizing the chances of close combat. This was also the biggest change in the Chinese army during the Imphal campaign.

As the Japanese advanced, the Chinese positions were continuously squeezed, gradually retreating into the city of Imphal. Sun Liren accepted Yang Hong's advice, prioritizing the destruction of Japanese troops over the loss of positions. In fact, the Chinese and the British troops, who had already arrived, were constructing pontoon bridges and establishing more fortified positions over 30 kilometers north of Imphal. This was the crucial route for the CEF's evacuation. In Imphal, the Chinese served as both a strategic plank road and a platform for striking at the Japanese. Sun Liren, Yang Hong, and others briefed Stilwell, Luo Zhuoying, and others on their battle plan. Besides securing the CEF's westward retreat route, they also planned to inflict a devastating blow on the Japanese here. Of course, all this depended on whether Imphal could be held, and for how long!

According to Sun and Yang's plan, if Imphal could be held until the 20th, when the US mechanized regiment arrived, most of the expeditionary force retreating westward would have been able to gather in the surrounding area. This would become a battlefield with the Allies' advantage. As long as the arriving US and British air forces could control the sky, the Allies' concentrated superior mechanized forces would surely inflict a heavy blow on the Japanese. This might even change the situation in Burma!

The Allied command, including Stilwell, was extremely interested in Sun and Yang's plan, especially the British and Indian forces. The Chinese soldiers, with a small number of poorly equipped troops, had held off a Japanese force several times their size for several days at Imphal, a feat far beyond anyone's expectations. It also revealed the Japanese's apparent strength but true weakness. President Chiang and Alexander clearly saw this, too. Everyone agreed: more British troops were being transferred, and the Americans, even Donrad's Flying Tigers, were being transferred from the Chinese battlefield.