The expeditionary force began to dominate Southeast Asia by recruiting defeated soldiers

September 7, evening.

"Has the Fast Column arrived at Mogang Bridge ahead of schedule and joined up with Zhang Guangjun's Marine Corps?" Zhang Chi, who had just returned to the command center, was overjoyed.

He checked his watch, looked up, and joked to the chief of staff, "It's almost 30 hours early. How many wheels and tracks did Lao Hao lose in his quest for merit this time?"

Tan Zhijie laughed heartily. "It was you, my Lord, who said you'd give him a motorized regiment and a medium tank battalion if he could arrive on time. Captain Hao was like a bull in heat, charging like crazy."

The war was tense, so the two of them took a break from their busy schedule to joke around and lighten their mood.

"Great, the hole is sealed. Matsuyama Yuzo's 56th Division and Independent Brigade are like meat in our pot, and they can't escape even if they have wings." Zhang Chi, who hadn't slept for over 20 hours, was exhausted but still beaming with joy. "Zhijie, remember to give orders. The transportation of supplies through the Irrawaddy River tributaries must keep up."

"Yes, Captain Hao's quick arsenals have strong firepower and are fast, but their fuel and supplies consumption is also frighteningly high. The daily logistical supplies consumed by a 10,000-man column are almost the same as those of two infantry columns. If it weren't for water transportation, we really wouldn't be able to handle it."

Zhang Chi nodded and went to the province of Bago, where the roads were poor and the railways were scarce. If there were no major rivers for transport ships to pass, it would be a real hassle to supply logistics for tens of thousands of troops.

Good news came one after another.

Soon Zhang Chi learned that Hill 093 had also been captured by the 2nd Column.

The battle has been going very smoothly so far. After thinking for a while, Zhang Chi spoke directly:

"Send out an independent air force to scout the specific location of the Japanese Imperial Guards 3rd Wing heading north. We shouldn't rush to eat Matsuyama Yuzo, that old bacon." Zhang Chi pointed at the road from Mandalay to Mogang. "Execute Plan B-1. We'll surround the enemy and attack their reinforcements to eliminate the Imperial Guards 3rd Wing."

"Aren't the 1st and 2nd Imperial Guards known as the Showa Locusts? They're the guardians of their locust rooms. Today, I'm going to stomp those devil locusts in the mud!"

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On July 16, under the cover of artillery and aircraft, the 1st and 2nd columns launched an attack on the third line of defense north of Mizhi City.

Since the two small hills in the north of the city were lost, the artillery column's 105 and 155 artillery could now bombard Myitkyina city with impunity.

After repeated attacks, the two Saka puppet army divisions were left with only two regiments of troops after continuous deaths in battle and escape.

After a series of battles, only about 18,000 Japanese soldiers under Matsuyama Yuzo were left.

With no way to retreat, he had to conscript all the Japanese expatriates in the city into the army and fill the defense line outside the city.

Although Zhang Chi took the initiative to surround the city on three sides and leave one side open to create a gap in the south of the city for Songshan Youzo, Songshan Youzo was very clear that with the Mogang Bridge, a node leading to the Mandalay Railway, completely cut off, even if he evacuated, he could only go to Bamao on the border of Qian State along the southeast road.

The question was what to do after retreating to Bhamo? Would they enter Yunnan Province and join the defenders of Songshan Fortress?

Without supplies from Myitkyina, what would the tens of thousands of troops crammed into the Songshan Fortress eat? Did they really eat grass as Mutaguchi Renya suggested?

Yuzo Matsuyama is not a herbivore. He can only frantically ask for tactical guidance from all the superiors he can call and hold on for help with all his strength.

The 15th Army Headquarters, the Pegu Front Headquarters, the Southern Army Headquarters, and the Imperial Headquarters, Matsuyama Yuzo's radio station ran at maximum power and sent out radio waves to them.

His nominal subordinates (the Japanese army commander and division commander were both lieutenant generals, nominally superiors and subordinates, but in fact the relationship was quite delicate) sent telegrams for help all over the world. Mutaguchi Ren'ya, with an embarrassed face, could only send a telegram requesting the 3rd Guards Regiment to overcome all difficulties and go north to open up a retreat for Matsuyama Yuzo.

At the same time, he ordered the old unit, the 18th Division, to send another infantry regiment with artillery to the north from Mandalay.

Although this arrangement seems to be a tactic of adding fuel to the fire, Mutaguchi Ren'ya has his own reasons.

On the one hand, the flank offensives of the New 1st Army from Sindhu and the expeditionary force in the direction of Yunnan Province made little progress, which allowed him to concentrate on the Myitkyina direction.

On the other hand, as the battle unfolded, the Nanyang Japanese Army's flying squadrons stationed in other countries were continuously rushing to Pegu to reinforce, and air supremacy was not completely lost. Mutaguchi Renya was optimistic that the battle could still be fought.

As long as Matsuyama Yuzo can hold on and wait for the reinforcements from the north to open up the railway, even if Myitkyina cannot be defended in the end, it will be no problem to bring those more than 2 Japanese devils back to Mandalay Province in Central Pegu safely, right?

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7月16日开始，在独立航空队故意减少了空袭频次后，近卫 3 联队近4000鬼子，与加强给他们的战车第17联队47辆战车，外加1个野炮大队、1个山炮大队组成的北进支队重新回到了公路上。

After one day of forced march, the Japanese northward detachment encountered an ambush by a motorized battalion of the Fast Column on the highway.

After several hours of fighting, the motorized battalion of the Fast Column pretended to be defeated. After a round of artillery fire, all the members quickly retreated in half-track vehicles.

On the afternoon of July 18, the Northward Detachment fought and stopped, and finally arrived at a location less than 15 kilometers away from the Mogang Bridge.

There was still no news from the Takachiho Airborne Corps, which was supposed to airdrop onto the bridge in advance as originally planned. Major General Kuni Shigeshige, who commanded the Northern Advance Detachment, did not know whether the paratroopers were completely wiped out or retreated due to unfavorable circumstances.

Time was of the essence. Matsuyama Yuzo, who had suffered a nervous breakdown from the heavy artillery fire, sent telegrams for help everywhere. Major General Guo Fanmao did not have time to think too much and arranged for his troops to continue advancing rapidly.

结果北进支队刚刚开始展开进攻阵型，就遭到了早已等候多时的快纵大部队的迎头痛击，战车第17联队的九五式轻战车和八九式、九七式中战车完全不是快纵M5A1与M22两款轻型坦克的对手。（白鹰37mm主炮比鬼子37mm主炮穿深高3分之1，八九和九七只有47mm榴弹炮穿深更低）

The entire Northward Advance Detachment was forced to retreat 2 kilometers before it was able to hold its ground under the bombardment of more than 20 75mm mountain and field guns.

As night fell, Major General Guo Fanmao felt worried as he looked at the Mogang Bridge on the map, which was getting farther away from him.

On July 19, the anxious Major General Guo Fanmao immediately launched an attack at dawn in the foggy environment, trying to break through to the vicinity of Mogang Bridge in one fell swoop.

As a result, not long after the attacking force went deep into the fog, Major General Guo Fanmao, who was in the rear, heard the sound of artillery coming from behind him.

"Isn't that the direction of the artillery position? I haven't given the order to fire yet, why are you firing without permission?"

The puzzled Guo Fanmao soon received the report.

"The rearguard squadron reported encountering an enemy tank unit?"

"Baka, we're camping right on the road, with swamps and rainforests on both sides. Could the enemy have flown in behind us at night?"