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

After receiving the plan, Zhang Chi quickly agreed to it and wrote down his own opinion - the destroyer detachment should be dispatched together to conduct actual combat training.

Although there was a Amethyst in the future that could row on the river without oars, relying entirely on the waves, it was eventually hit by the 6th Artillery Regiment of the Third Field Army Special Column on the shore, causing the engine to lose control and run aground.

But Zhang Chi didn't think that the Japanese could gather hundreds of 75 and 105 field guns on the riverside in a small place like Bamao, so he sent Zhang Guangjun's destroyer detachment to go south along the river to assist the attacking forces in shelling the opposite bank.

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On November 6, after three consecutive days of air stranglehold battles, the Japanese air force was almost completely destroyed. The Japanese only had more than 30 fighter planes that could be deployed in Pegu. The rest either lacked spare parts and could not take off, or had been shot down by the An Min Army Air Force.

The Anmin Army's air force gained absolute air superiority, and the sky completely became a hunting ground for the Zhangchi Air Force.

On the same day, the outer defense line of Xinpingyang was breached, and the gateway to the Hukawng Valley and the northwest of Pegu was opened. The Japanese troops defending Xinpingyang were retreating step by step, and the situation was precarious.

同日，第 177 轰炸机师与第 919 近空支援团全面出动，B-25从高空投下的凝固汽油弹与SB2C俯冲投下的1000磅炸弹给在八莫布防的鬼子 112 联队带来了灭顶之灾。

At the Eastern Route Army Headquarters, the Air Force Liaison Officer reported in detail the results of the bombing that day:

"Based on analysis of post-war aerial photographs, this bombing dealt a devastating blow to the Japanese, destroying over 60% of their positions and facilities, and 70% of their ground bunkers were directly destroyed by 1000-pound bombs. The Japanese are estimated to have lost at least 30% of their troops and over 50% of their artillery and machine guns."

Bai Minghui flipped through the aerial photos, a hint of surprise on his face. He looked up at the liaison officer and said in disbelief:

"The Japanese dug these fortifications pretty well, huh? I heard your Air Force launched over 200 bombing sorties, dropping nearly 200 tons of bombs, even blasting out the groundwater, and yet only 30% of the Japanese died?"

You have to know that the Japanese had basically lost air superiority on the front line, and the air force was carrying out indiscriminate bombing almost without interference. Bai Minghui was surprised that only so much damage was caused.

The liaison officer smiled bitterly and explained:

"It was mainly the terrain of the Gaoligong Mountains that limited the effectiveness of the bombing. The Japanese had dug a large number of hidden tunnels and deep fortifications in the mountains, which were highly resistant to air raids."

He then added:

"But the positions along the river are different. The terrain there is open and the fortifications are simple, so our bombing is much more effective. If we only count the Japanese troops along the river, I estimate that 80% of them have been eliminated."

"That's right." Bai Minghui knew that the open area by the river was not as good as the mountainous area. If the trenches there were dug a little deeper, water might seep in, and the Japanese had little room to hide when facing bombing.

Following the success of the air raid, Bai Minghui immediately issued instructions:

"Inform Commander Zhang's naval and amphibious forces to proceed according to plan. They must first control the riverbank to create conditions for our troops to cross the river. Once they secure the beachhead, my Second Division will immediately follow and advance with all their might."

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On the morning of November 8, thick fog enveloped the entire area around Bamao, obscuring visibility to the point where one could barely see one's hand in front of one's face. This weather provided a godsend for the operation.

Lin Laisheng, commander of the 404th Independent Special Operations Battalion, led more than 200 special operations members of the battalion, dressed in camouflage uniforms, and quietly climbed the cliff southeast of Hill 2237.

The thick fog obscured the traces of the action. The Japanese defense focused all its efforts on the front position facing north on the mountainside, and they had no idea that the cliff behind them had already become a fatal loophole.

"Boss, there were only four devils in the Guandi Temple. They were all dealt with."

A soldier with camouflage paint on his face, holding a dagger that was still dripping with blood, reported to Lin Laisheng in a low voice.

Because the development of submachine gun silencers was not smooth and John's SAS refused to provide technical assistance, the special forces unit established by Zhang Chi - the 404th Independent Special Operations Battalion - only had a small number of .22 caliber silenced pistols obtained from the White Eagle Strategic Intelligence Office (OSS) (picture in the author's description).

These pistols were limited in caliber and their lethality was not enough, so the scouts in the battalion were still accustomed to using daggers and crossbows to silently harvest the lives of the devils in the fog.

Lin Laisheng nodded with satisfaction and gave the order, "Use the ruins of the Guandi Temple as cover, hide, eat, and recover your strength."

The special forces members quickly dispersed and hid, using the energy bars they carried to replenish their strength in the thick fog, preparing for subsequent battles.

On this side, Lin Laisheng waved to the communications soldier to come over.

The communications soldier, carrying a walkie-talkie produced by the newly established Radio Institute No. 9, hurried a few steps and came to Lin Laisheng.

Lin Laisheng grabbed the microphone and wanted to report to the command center that everything was going well, and to ask if there were any changes in the plan, but he found that there was only a chaotic rustling sound in the receiver.

He cursed under his breath, "That technician was saying the new silicon transistors were of better quality. The green light is clearly on, but we can't even talk to him. What the heck is going on?"

The communication failure made it impossible for him to confirm whether there were any new order adjustments from the command center. Lin Laisheng decisively decided to continue hiding according to the original plan and wait for the action time to arrive before launching an attack directly.

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At 0700, the battle broke out

In order to ensure that the order was conveyed correctly, Bai Minghui not only conveyed the order for a full-scale attack through radio and telephone, but also specially arranged for personnel to set off signal flares on the hill controlled by his side.

"Red, green, red, green, red. That's right, carry out the operation according to the original plan." Lin Laisheng looked carefully at the flares in the sky and found that the number, color, and order were all consistent with the pre-set ones, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

The next moment, thousands of cannons roared, and the silence in the mountains was torn apart by the sudden sound of artillery fire.

The artillery regiments of the 2nd and 4th Infantry Divisions had already locked onto the hillsides of Hills 2237 and 2599. Their precise firepower destroyed a number of shallowly buried fortifications that the Japanese had dug overnight.

At the same time, after receiving the news that the Navy frogman team had cleared the mines in advance.

In the early morning on the Irrawaddy River, three destroyers sailed down the river under the guidance of minesweepers and torpedo boats.

All of a sudden, the guns and cannons on the ships fired at the same time, the 102mm high-caliber naval gun opened fire, and high-explosive shells rained down on the shore.

The Japanese positions along the river were suppressed to the point that they could not raise their heads, and the entire position turned into a sea of ​​fire.

Faced with the sudden arrival of the river fleet, the Japanese commander hastily ordered several 105mm field guns hidden on Hill 2237 to open fire, hoping to stop the advance of the river fleet.

However, these remaining Japanese artillerymen, who had previously avoided bombing and shelling by relying on camouflage, exposed their positions as soon as they moved.

The 404 Independent Special Operations Battalion led by Lin Laisheng appeared like a ghost and launched a fatal attack on the Japanese artillery.

"Brothers, let's go!" Lin Laisheng picked up his beloved sniper rifle and opened fire first.

Every shot almost took the life of a Japanese gunner, and the special operations battalion soldiers used automatic weapons to quickly fire, smashing the Japanese artillery positions into pieces.

With their skilled tactical coordination and mastery of the terrain, the special operations battalion soldiers quickly took control of the situation and suppressed the Japanese artillery's counterattack.

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At the same time, the main force of the infantry on the highway also began to attack Hill 2237.

Although it is not known whether the special operations battalion has eliminated the Japanese artillery positions on the high ground, once the order is given, it must be executed.

打头阵的 4 师步兵 10 团 1 营在6辆M4A3（105）中型坦克的掩护下，直接发起了进攻。

These main forces not only had the task of attacking the high ground head-on, but also had to attract the main force of the Japanese troops deployed on the front line to prevent them from returning to support the Japanese artillery.

Under the joint attack of tanks and infantry, the Japanese at the foot and hillside of the mountain were exhausted from coping and had to concentrate their forces to defend the front.

The Japanese artillery position lost its infantry support. The squad of more than 70 Japanese soldiers responsible for defending the artillery, with their Type 99 rifles relying on bolt-action rifles, were no match for the special operations battalion.

As soon as the battle began on November 8, the situation developed in favor of the Eastern Army.