The War of Resistance: My Expedition, My Country

Liu Wu thought about it and nodded in understanding, then said calmly, "Boss, Second Brother, the US military engineering troops are arriving one after another. Is it true that the construction of the Stilwell Road must be started early?"

Huang Wei said: "It is certain that it will be brought forward. Look at the current Indian Army. Compared with the same period in history, I don't know how many times stronger it is. It is impossible for them to just sit here and wait!"

Wang Congwu nodded. "The troops also need to be integrated and trained, especially the artillery. This will probably take another three or two months."

Kuang Zhengqi said, "We can't wait. I suggest that the 200th Division move first. We must strive to be the vanguard!"

Liu Wu stood up and said, "I'm going to find General Merrill right now and ask the 600th Regiment to move out as soon as possible. It feels so frustrating that a mechanized reinforcement regiment is not on the battlefield!"

The tropical rainforest region bordering northern Myanmar and India boasts a complex and varied terrain, with mountains and hills rising one after another, and dense vegetation covering every inch of the land. The crisscrossing undergrowth here creates a maze-like impenetrable barrier. In some lower areas, weeds grow incredibly densely, reaching heights of several meters. Walking in this environment feels like being immersed in a sea of ​​green, and even a hurried pace is unlikely to disturb the birds that inhabit it.

Just after New Year's Day, on the side close to India, under the leadership of native guides, the 200th Division's search company was divided into three echelons and was on the move.

Miles or even dozens of miles ahead of them, several Chinese and American task forces had already airdropped and seized key positions. Behind them, the 200th Regiment of the 600th Division, a fully mechanized and reinforced regiment, with the assistance of a US engineer battalion, was clearing simple roads and advancing toward Burma. On either side, other units of the 71st and 200th Divisions also deployed along the route. Aerial above, US reconnaissance aircraft were also surveying the terrain, revising maps and routes.

Of course, the Japanese army was not a pushover. The Special High Technology Department and the Mei Agency kept warning the 28th Army, and the 3rd Air Force Regiment also kept dispatching aircraft. The combat reconnaissance aircraft formations of both sides had engaged in many exchanges of fire in recent days, resulting in casualties on both sides.

Parts of the Japanese 33rd Division had already advanced into the dense forests west of Namsan, establishing several forward strongholds to serve as defensive and offensive fulcrums. The Japanese military's deployment remained offensive, especially that of the newly appointed 28th Army Commander, Shozo Sakurai, who vowed to avenge the defeat at Yenangyaung and defeat the Chinese forces in northern Burma and northeastern India.

Lieutenant Zhang Deqing, the 1st platoon leader of the search company, was from Shangrao, Jiangxi Province. He was in his 30s and had experienced many battles. After entering Burma, he was very cautious. When he arrived at an unknown river, he concluded from the broken branches scattered on the opposite bank that there must be a Japanese stronghold nearby.

After a brief discussion between Platoon Leader Zhang and his three squad leaders, Platoon 1 quickly dispersed and laid low, deciding that Squad 1 would search upstream along the stream, Squad 2 would search downstream, and Squad 3 and the platoon headquarters would ambush the area, ready to cross the river at the appropriate time.

The entire platoon only had one SCR-536 handheld walkie-talkie, which was also because they were the search company. Of course, the platoon headquarters also had a small radio, which was used to transmit urgent information to the rear.

Platoon Leader Zhang immediately activated his walkie-talkie and contacted the other two platoons to see if they were within range. Soon, he received a reply from Platoon 3, stating that they had detected no enemy forces within a 1.3-kilometer radius to their right. Platoon Leader Zhang informed Platoon 3 of his situation, stating that he was temporarily unable to activate the radio and asked them to contact their superiors, stating that they anticipated requiring support.

Soon, Squad 1, which had been searching upstream, returned and discovered a Japanese stronghold 500 meters across the river. They estimated it to be a small-scale stronghold, most likely a Japanese search unit. Squad 3 searched for about 7 to 800 meters but found nothing and retreated.

Platoon Leader Zhang has reported the situation to his superiors through the 3rd Platoon. The 3rd Platoon informed them that the company headquarters is on the way. According to the instructions of Company Commander Li Xiangyang, they plan to wipe out this Japanese search team at dusk when the Japanese army is preparing to eat!

Platoon Leader Zhang asked a soldier under the leadership of a sergeant to stay where he was to support the company commander, while he led the entire platoon to rush over and set up the ambush line.

Just as Platoon Leader Zhang was arranging the ambush firepower, the Japanese army suddenly became restless. Under the arrangement of their squad leader, they prepared to cross the river in three groups, obviously to further infiltrate and search.

The vast jungle made it difficult for the Japanese to find them once they were submerged in it. With 40 men against more than 50 men, they occupied advantageous terrain for an ambush and had superior firepower.

We must not let the Japanese enter the jungle! Platoon Leader Zhang did not hesitate and immediately ordered an advance attack!

"Bang, bang, bang", several American-made Thompson submachine guns and carbines were fired by the search row 1, and the Garand rifles in the hands of other soldiers also fired at the Japanese army in bursts from multiple hidden points.

The platoon's NCO was loading his M7 grenade launcher onto his Springfield rifle, preparing to attack the Japanese grenade launchers. Platoon Leader Zhang ordered the fire team to move around to the right flank with the platoon's only heavy firepower, an M1917A1 heavy machine gun, waiting for the Japanese to counterattack and deliver a fatal blow.

The Japanese squad woke up from the brief chaos of the sudden attack. Judging from the gunshots, they realized that the other side was most likely a search team, and much smaller than their own, with only more than 10 to 20 people, and no machine guns or artillery.

The squad leader was furious. A small enemy unit had dared to attack them. They must not be let off! The Japanese quickly launched a counterattack, with one squad putting up a frontal attack while two squads formed a flanking formation. Under the squad leader's command, the Japanese launched two grenade launchers, while the Type 97 light machine guns also responded simultaneously.

"Boom!" A grenade exploded at the ambush point where Platoon Leader Zhang had been lying in wait. Platoon Leader Zhang had foreseen the situation and dodged the enemy's artillery fire. He ordered the sergeant, "Kill the Japanese grenade launchers!"

"Whoosh", a rifle grenade flew in an arc and landed precisely on the place where the Japanese army had just fired a grenade launcher. The two Japanese grenadiers were obviously unaware that the other side also had counterattack firepower, and they had no time to dodge. With a "boom", they were blown into the sky!

"Baga!" The enemy had grenadiers. The sergeant in charge of the grenade launcher group cursed angrily and immediately asked another group to adjust their positions and fire towards the enemy's grenadiers.

The 1st Platoon also had a 60mm mortar. Platoon Leader Zhang was waiting for the Japanese troops to bypass the river. Two M1918A2 light machine guns were already in ambush on the left side, and the M1917A1 heavy machine guns were on the right side. If the Japanese troops were to bypass the left and right, they would receive a fatal blow. Finally, it was time for the mortars to attack the Japanese.

Obviously, the Japanese army has lost at least 10 to 20 people after the initial sneak attack and the melee just now. The casualties on our side are not large, and the strength of both sides should be roughly equal. Once the Japanese army's flanking forces are eliminated, it will be the best time to deal with this Japanese army.

Platoon Leader Zhang's rich experience allowed him to fully control the situation on the battlefield, pinning down the enemy and making the enemy think that they had superior manpower and firepower and that they were within his sight, thus playing a decisive role in his ultimate annihilation!