The War of Resistance: My Expedition, My Country

An officer at the level of a security team leader of the headquarters rushed in and shouted, "Your Excellency, the Chinese army has attacked us and is now rushing towards us. Please turn around immediately!"

"Baka!" Tanaka Shinichi rushed forward and slapped the squad leader hard before Mutaguchi Ren'ya could react! At the same time, he pointed at a staff officer nearby and ordered, "You, immediately organize the headquarters personnel to join the battle, surround the sneak attacking Chinese army, and annihilate them on the spot!"

Tanaka issued another order to another staff member: "Immediately ask all units to strengthen their vigilance. The Chinese army attacked the headquarters, which is likely a feint to the east and attack in the west!"

Mutaguchi Ren'ya immediately added, "Order all units not to approach the headquarters. The headquarters can handle the Chinese surprise attack on its own!" He then issued another order, "Artillery and logistics teams immediately put on level one alert. The Chinese are likely to target them as their biggest target!"

Mutaguchi Ren'ya and Tanaka Shin'ichi were truly outstanding figures in the Japanese army. They reacted quickly and accurately determined Liao Yaoxiang and Yang Hong's intentions. Sure enough, less than ten minutes later, loud explosions and blasts echoed from the direction of the Japanese artillery and supply regiments. Simultaneously, chaos ensued in the direction of Japanese headquarters as a fierce exchange of fire ensued, a deafening cacophony of gunfire, artillery fire, and cries of death.

Because the Japanese high command had anticipated the Chinese attack's target, the battle between the two sides was highly targeted. After over an hour of bloody fighting, the Chinese troops clearly failed to achieve their intended objective. Faced with this situation, Liao Yaoxiang and Yang Hong were forced to issue orders for an orderly retreat. Although the operation was not entirely successful, the Chinese troops demonstrated tenacious fighting spirit and courage, inflicting considerable pressure and losses on the Japanese.

Mutaguchi Ren'ya and Tanaka Shin'ichi returned to the headquarters with dejected faces. In the fierce battle just now, at the most critical moment, the two of them had personally taken part in the battle. It must be said that these two old guys still have a certain military foundation, unlike some high-ranking generals of the Chinese army who are very responsible.

"Baka!" Mutaguchi Ren'ya threw his saber onto the table and cursed, "Liao Yaoxiang! New 22nd Division, I'm not done with you!"

Tanaka accepted the towel from a guard, walked over to Mutaguchi Ren'ya, handed it to him, and said calmly, "The New 22nd, 200th, and 38th Divisions—these Chinese troops have always been their elite, and their combat effectiveness is no less than that of the Imperial Japanese Army. Your Excellency, there's no need to dwell on this. The most important thing now is how to break the deadlock. We can't get stuck in the same quagmire as Okazaki and Takeuchi."

Mutaguchi Ren'ya looked at Tanaka Shinichi in surprise, then slowly calmed down and asked softly, "What do you think, Tanaka-kun?"

Tanaka Shinichi said, "The Chinese army is fighting us to the death here for two reasons. First, to cover the expeditionary forces fleeing westward. According to the current situation, the 15th Army Headquarters has ordered the 55th and 56th Divisions to abandon the pursuit of the remnants of the expeditionary force in the quagmire of northern Burma. In other words, the expeditionary force's escape from northern Burma is a foregone conclusion."

Tanaka continued, "Secondly, and this is what worries me the most, there are signs that British troops in India are being integrated and moving here. Rumor has it that some American troops are also being transferred from Africa to India. If the war drags on, more Chinese, American, and British troops may gather here. If the Chinese army receives support from American and British weapons, its combat effectiveness will be greatly enhanced. At this time, our situation will be even worse!"

Mutaguchi Ren also agreed with Tanaka Shinichi's analysis. In fact, this was exactly what he was worried about. However, as a division commander, he could not commit the entire 18th Division to a fight to the death with the Chinese army. If he did so, even if he succeeded, he would eventually become a scapegoat.

Mutaguchi Ren'ya thought of this and immediately made a decision. He looked up at Tanaka Shinichi, who was looking straight at him. They both saw the same purpose in each other's eyes.

Mutaguchi Ren'ya nodded to Tanaka Shin'ichi and gave him an order: "Immediately call Kimura Heitaro and order the 55th Division to concentrate its main forces and detour northwest from Mandalay. Tell him that I don't need the casualties of the 55th Division, I only want results. In three days, the 3th Division must completely cut off all contact with northern Myanmar and India!"

Tanaka calmly accepted the order. Before leaving, he suggested to Mutaguchi Ren'ya: "Your Excellency should order the 33rd Division to launch an attack on Imphal at all costs!"

On the morning of the 25th, the Japanese 18th and 33rd Divisions launched their fiercest attacks against the Chinese and British forces from the south, east, and Indo directions, respectively. The 33rd Division and the 18th Regiment of the 56th Division launched particularly fierce attacks from the south and east, with each attack relying on a reinforced battalion. The British 377th Brigade, which had taken over the defense of Imphal, was thrown into disarray by the fighting and quickly fell into the city. Fortunately, Luo Bing, the military police commander, promptly organized the new 38th Division and other scattered troops who had retreated to Imphal into a commando unit. With the assistance of the remaining tank battalion of the British 18th Brigade, they concentrated their forces to counterattack, suppressing the Japanese's momentum. Almost all of the tanks of the British th Brigade's tank battalion were destroyed.

Luo Zhuoying came to Sun Liren's headquarters and asked Sun about the current battle situation. Sun frowned and whispered to him, "The Japanese may have discovered our purpose. Their units have begun to attack our positions without regard for the consequences."

Luo Zhuoying nodded, thought for a moment, and finally spoke out his heart: "Fumin, according to the news from the British headquarters, small Japanese troops have passed through the dense forest and attacked the supply line behind Imphal along the way. This morning, the guerrilla detachment exchanged fire with the search teams of the Japanese 55th and 55th Divisions in northern Burma. The Japanese army is showing signs of a large-scale attack in northern Burma. The good news is that the guerrilla detachment has reunited with the 200th Division Commander Huang and other troops. It is expected that the 200th Division will be able to withdraw to the north of Imphal tonight and retreat to India via a temporary road."

Sun Liren understood Luo Zhuoying's meaning and nodded, saying, "In other words, our basic mission in Imphal has been completed."

Luo Zhuoying patted Sun Liren on the shoulder and said again, "Fumin, I've seen Yang Hong's battle plan. It's indeed very feasible. I believe that according to this plan, we will definitely be able to deal a heavy blow to the Japanese army! However, the British and Americans will not support it. Besides, we also need time to reorganize our troops."