bookrandom Chapter 200: A Big Hole
Chapter 200: A Big Hole
Upon receiving the news that the 1st Independent Army had successfully ambushed the Japanese 53rd Division on the Wendon and Myitkyina railway and highway lines south of Mandalay, killing Suzuki Keiji and Yamamoto Shigesho, and completely annihilating the 53rd Division's direct artillery and supply units, as well as the 119th and 151st Regiments, Liao Yaoxiang was furious like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Even though he rarely swore, he couldn't help but curse: "Qin Shi, you son of a bitch, you disobeyed orders and acted on your own. If you let the 128th Regiment escape, I will never let you go!"
Zhou Zhi, who had also been promoted to Chief of Staff, saw Commander Liao Yaoxiang acting the same way and burst out laughing. Pointing at him, he said, "Commander Liao, you're such a reckless man when you're anxious!" Zhou Zhi then added, "You really have to thank Qin Shi for this. If it weren't for his quick wit and ability to adapt to the situation, I'm afraid he would have let the 54th Division escape!"
Old Liao knew the reason, but he couldn't help but feel furious. Commander Bai Chongxi's orders were ridiculous to begin with. I had finally devised a trap for Takeda, only for him to slip away. If I couldn't find him to vent my anger on, why not Qin Shi? He said angrily, "Qin Shi did perform a meritorious service, but I'm afraid Yamamoto Kazuaki's 128th Regiment will escape. What a miscalculated move! It almost ruined everything."
Zhou Zhi comforted him again, "That's how the battlefield works. If you scheme against others, they'll also scheme against you. Takeda Xin, that old fox, is truly no simple man. If it weren't for Qin Shi's Independent 1st Army, we would have been fooled by him. By the way, now that we've eliminated Takeda Xin's main force, should we launch an all-out attack on the Mandalay front?"
Old Liao, furious, immediately took over and said, "Of course. We've already lost the watermelon, so why should we let the sesame seeds get away? Order all units to launch an immediate full-scale attack. Tell all divisions and regiments that whoever captures Takeda Xin will be given the first prize!"
Whether Yamamoto Kazuaki and his 128th Regiment could escape remained uncertain. Luo Bing's 1st Division was already closing in on them like a hungry tiger. Upon receiving the news that Qin Shi was attacking the 53rd Division's southbound forces, Luo Bing instantly understood Qin Shi's intentions. He had orchestrated the attack on Taunggyi precisely to alert Takeda Kaoru and force him to flee south, allowing him to seize the opportunity to attack the 53rd Division. Luo Bing couldn't help but resent it, "Qin Lao San, you're exploiting even your own brothers! How unkind!"
That being said, Luo Bing wasn't a pushover. He thought to himself, "Yamamoto Kazuaki, it depends on whether you can escape from me. I won't let you get away that easily."
Yamamoto Kazuaki, sweat still wet from his body, secretly rejoiced. Just kidding! If Division Commander Takeda hadn't dispatched him and the 128th Regiment south to defend Toungee, he'd have been attacked and killed like Suzuki Keiji and Yamamoto Shigesho. He hadn't expected Qin Shi's guerrilla army to grow so powerful, and now Luo Bing, the enemy general behind him, was a renowned and formidable opponent. He'd seen through his own little trick, and he'd even clung to him, refusing to let go.
Yamamoto wasn't afraid of Luo Bing's 1st Division. In a head-on confrontation, he believed they wouldn't be able to defeat him anytime soon. However, Yamamoto knew that if they were entangled and unable to retreat south of the railway line in time to escape, he would be the one caught in the crossfire as the Qinshi Army moved south along the line. Commander Watanabe, Division Commander Takeda, had already sent an urgent telegram ordering Yamamoto to ensure the safe evacuation of the 1th Regiment at all costs.
At all costs, at all costs! It seemed that the only thing left for them was to make the Kugi Squadron the sacrifice. Yamamoto acted decisively, ordering the Kugi Squadron and the Security Brigade to fight tooth and nail on the Heihe and Grau lines to ensure the 128th Regiment's smooth retreat southward!
Luo Bing had long seen through Yamamoto's plan. He ordered Tang Xuesi to personally lead the 1st Regiment, lightly armed, and immediately traverse the dense forest, taking a shortcut to reach Yangmi as quickly as possible. They would launch a surprise attack on Yangmi, severing the southern section of the Yangman Railway and intercepting the 128th Regiment.
Tang Xuesi abandoned heavy artillery and other firepower and, with a regiment of approximately 2500 men, stormed to Yangmi in a single night. However, the Japanese had already concentrated heavy forces along the railway lines, including Yangmi. The 127th Division, having arrived at Pyinmana, received orders from the Front Army to dispatch several battalions northward to assist in the defense. Watanabe knew he had to defend this line to the death, not only to rescue the 128th Regiment but also to maintain a route for other Japanese troops on the China-Burma front to retreat southward. He also needed to use these areas to cut off the railway lines and prevent the Chinese from using them to advance southward. If this happened, Pyinmana would be lost, and the 18th Division and other units in Magway would be unable to continue. The Burmese Front Army would lose the entire China-Burma region, including the Yenangyaung oil fields and numerous mines. If this happened, his tenure as Front Army commander would be over. As for the Burmese Front Army, its existence was probably unnecessary.
Tang Xuesi fought fiercely for a long time in Yangmi, but was unable to take it. Instead, he was surrounded by the Japanese army. Of course, this was just a deception of the Japanese army. Their goal was to drive Tang Xuesi and others away as soon as possible. The Japanese army also wanted to continue to strengthen the fortifications here. This was a key bastion of the Japanese army's future northern defense.
Tang Xuesi's actions in Yangmi were reported to the Southern Front Army by local intelligence. Bai Chongxi was furious and personally called Liao Yaoxiang, cursing, "Liao Yaoxiang, what are you doing? You've ruined the flower-growing family's plan. I'll shoot you!"
Liao Yaoxiang was scolded and baffled, until Bai issued a strict order to evacuate Yangmi immediately, and to evacuate in a disastrous manner. Only then did he realize that the 1st Independent Army had stirred up a hornet's nest for him! Lao Bai also pointed out Lao Liao's secret plan for the Ma Gui front, and at the same time issued a strict order that without his order, the 22nd Army could not continue to move south!
After hanging up the phone, Lao Liao was very angry. Damn Qin Shi, you have already taken advantage of me, why are you still trying to stir up a hornet's nest? The 128th Regiment can just run away, I have no objection, but you still have to be unreasonable.
Before Lao Liao could call Qin Shi, Zheng Dongguo had already called him directly. His message was: The 1st Independent Army was now under the command of the 20th Army Group. Qin Shi's troops were ordered to return north immediately. He also ordered the Luobing 1st Division to feign a crushing defeat and retreat. Tang Xuesi's troops in Yangmi were especially ordered to abandon all baggage, even their rocket launchers, and retreat in a rout. Zheng Dongguo's orders were strict. Failure to comply would result in the 1st Independent Army's designation being revoked and the commanders subject to court-martial.