kingnovel Chapter 492: The British Backstab
Chapter 492: The British Backstab
492 British Backstab
Not long after, Luo Zhuoying received Ye Qingshan's telegram.
"Ye Qingshan asked us to beware of the British?"
After hearing this, Luo Zhuoying frowned slightly.
"Commander Ye, are you overthinking it?
We are now fighting on someone else's territory. If we deliberately guard against the British, we will be discovered.
That would affect the relationship between the two militaries.”
Luo Zhuoying thought about it and shook his head, not quite agreeing with Ye Qingshan's suggestion.
In the end, Luo Zhuoying did not warn the commanders of his troops.
Continue to fight according to their plan.
During the month since the expeditionary force entered Burma, its cooperation with the British army has been marginally acceptable.
Although the British army had been deliberately delaying the progress of the operation and not cooperating well with the expeditionary force's actions, they even failed to provide enough vehicles, fuel and other supplies that had been promised.
This has caused some conflicts between the two sides.
But in the past, when they fought against the Japanese and won several victories, these hidden dangers were temporarily suppressed.
Moreover, because of the suppression of the American Stilwell, neither side was willing to escalate the conflict unless it was absolutely necessary.
Ultimately, it was because the expeditionary force and the British army had differences in fundamental interests.
Moreover, at this time, the command of the expeditionary force and the British army in Burma was somewhat confused.
At this time, within the territory of Burma, both the Expeditionary Force and the British Army.
In name, they all had to accept the command of General Stilwell from the United States.
This guy is the real supreme commander.
But Luo Zhuoying was the commander of the expeditionary force and had command authority over it. Even Du Yuming, the deputy commander, had been granted full command authority by the old man.
This is a problem. The expeditionary troops on the front line often receive different orders.
The situation was very good in the previous month, but it took a sharp turn for the worse in April.
April 5, Expeditionary Force Headquarters, Mandalay, Burma.
"What? The Loikaw is lost?
Damn, what do you do for a living? "
Luo Zhuoying was yelling into the phone, very angry.
"Notify the British troops stationed in Leleum and tell them to hold on to the place.
That is the last line of defense leading to Lashio.
Notify the newly withdrawn 29th Division and tell them not to rest for the time being.
Hurry to Lashio for me.
Nothing can go wrong in Lashio.”
boom!
Luo Zhuoying hung up the phone with a rather grim expression on his face, the situation on the battlefield changed too quickly.
On the eastern front, the Japanese 56th Division advanced northward with great force, quickly captured Nanbai and Baole, and severely damaged the Sixth Army of the Expeditionary Force.
Now, the Sixth Army was forced to abandon even its important positions.
In this way, the Japanese 56th Division is very close to Lashio.
Luo Zhuoying could naturally see the strategic intentions of the Japanese.
According to Luo Zhuoying and Stilwell's plan, they were going to have a decisive battle with the Japanese in Mandalay.
Therefore, their main combat deployment during this period was centered around Mandalay.
Mandalay's terrain is high and easy to defend but difficult to attack. It is also backed by the Burma Road, so it can attack or defend. It is indeed a place for a decisive battle with the Japanese.
According to Luo Zhuoying and Stilwell's plan, they wanted to end the war here once and for all and defeat the main force of the Japanese invaders entering Burma in one battle.
Then the expeditionary force can march south and liberate the entire Myanmar.
Therefore, the expeditionary force focused on preparing for this battle.
However, little did people know that Alexander, the commander-in-chief of the British army, and other British officers did not think that the expeditionary force could defeat the Japanese invaders in Burma.
At this time, the British generals who were still on the front line had only one thought in their minds.
That is, to withdraw the troops safely to the territory of India as soon as possible.
They are unwilling to continue fighting the Japanese in Myanmar.
In this regard, these British generals on the front line went against the orders of their superiors.
However, the British high-ranking officials at that time did not know the true thoughts of the British troops in Burma.
Even if they knew, they could do nothing about these British generals thousands of miles away.
This is also why, since the expeditionary force entered Burma to fight.
The British troops still remaining in Burma were paddling almost the entire time, and sometimes even lagging behind.
Therefore, the British generals naturally agreed to the Battle of Mandalay planned by Stilwell and Luo Zhuoying.
They were eager to see the Expeditionary Force and the Japanese fight to the death, as whoever won would benefit them.
Since the Japs won, they had a reason to withdraw voluntarily.
If the expeditionary force wins, they will be able to take over the Burmese colonies again, so they cannot lose in any way.
But they are still certain that the Japs have a greater chance of winning.
The truth is, ever since the Japanese invaded Southeast Asia, the shadow cast upon them has been quite large.
These British troops in Burma were severely beaten by the Japanese before the arrival of the Expeditionary Force.
I was frightened by the ferocity and madness of the Japs.
When they saw the expeditionary soldiers who were wearing straw sandals, tattered uniforms, holding old rifles, and had pale faces and thin bodies.
These tall and strong British soldiers and officers were looked down upon.
So, the British commander Alexander gave secret orders to the British troops on the front line who were assisting the expeditionary force.
If you can defend, then defend; if you can't, then retreat, with the main focus on preserving your strength.
This has laid a huge hidden danger.
The Japanese commander in the Burma operation, Lieutenant General Shojiro Iida, commander of the Japanese 15th Army, discovered that the expeditionary force was preparing for a battle in Mandalay.
I also have my own ideas.
Immediately, he sent the 56th Division to attack northward along the eastern line, intending to capture Lashio and thus cut off the expeditionary force's retreat.
Then let the 56th Division move south quickly, encircle the main force of the expeditionary force in Mandalay and annihilate it.
I have to say that the Japanese commander's plan is very bold.
The expeditionary army wanted to fight a major battle in Mandalay, so he sent troops to attack the expeditionary army from behind and surround it.
Luo Zhuoying is not a fool either. After receiving the news.
I immediately understood the Japs' intention.
The strategic intentions of both sides are not hidden from each other. It all depends on how the front-line troops of both sides execute them.
At present, the Japanese 56th Division has taken the initiative on the eastern front.
Lashio is in danger.
However, at this time Luo Zhuoying decided to send the new 29th Division, which was preparing to rest, to join the Sixth Army and a British colonial division in Lelem.
It should be no problem to stop the Japanese 56th Division.
As long as the fighting starts on the main battlefield in Mandalay, once they have annihilated the main force of the Japanese 15th Army, the battle will be decided.
As a result, that same evening, Luo Zhuoying received another urgent telegram from the New 29th Division in Lashio.
“Commander, Leleem is lost.
A regiment of the British 1st Division fled without a fight, leaving Leleum to the Japanese.
By the time the 29th Division arrived, it was already over.
At present, a regiment of the Japanese 56th Division is advancing rapidly towards Lashio.
The Sixth Army had already suffered heavy losses and had no time to rest.
Commander, Lashio is about to be lost."
A colonel in the National Army's army's voice was trembling as he reported to Luo Zhuoying.
He understands what this means.