In the original plan, Du Yuming and Stilwell prepared for a large-scale battle in Tonggu.
It used its 200 divisions to stick to Tonggu, attract the Japanese army, and buy time. The Fifth Army and other troops encircled the main force of the Japanese army, and then ate the Japanese army in one bite.
However, there is a big problem here.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, Luo Zhuoying, and the Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Du Yuming, were helpless. However, the Chairman of the Standing Committee handed over all command rights to the American Stilwell.
Let a foreigner command the Chinese army. How much can Stilwell know about the expeditionary force?
What is even more lamentable is that as the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force, Luo Zhuoying obeyed Stilwell's orders everywhere.
This has sown dangerous seeds for the Chinese Expeditionary Force.
There are also transportation issues.
Transport in Myanmar has always been managed by the British.
When they decided to fight the Tonggu Battle, the British promised to transport troops and supplies to the front line.
However, transportation management was very chaotic, and the Japanese army controlled Myanmar's air superiority. As a result, the troops were unable to arrive at the designated location on time and equipment supplies could not be received.
The 200th Division is an elite mechanized force of the national army. However, the ratio of artillery, armor, tanks and other heavy equipment in Tonggu is 3:1. Its original tank battalion did not reach Tonggu due to insufficient transportation. Only those who could participate in the battle were Three tanks.
Therefore, at this time, only one person knows best that the battle with Tonggu will inevitably turn into a defense battle with Tonggu!
This person is, Meng Shaoyuan!
But he had no way to tell anyone. If he did, he might be shot for disturbing the morale of the army!
On March 12, 1942, China formally established the "First Route Commander-in-Chief Headquarters of the Chinese Expeditionary Force". Wei Lihuang served as the First Route Commander-in-Chief. Since Wei Lihuang did not take up his post, Deputy Commander Du Yuming took command on an acting basis.
However, the Chairman of the Standing Committee did not clearly stipulate the mutual status between the Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Expeditionary Force and the Chief of Staff of the Chinese Theater Stilwell.
On March 16, after resting and regrouping, the Japanese army began bombing Tonggu!
The battle to defend Tonggu begins!
The Japanese bombing was actually a bit perfunctory.
Since entering Myanmar, the Japanese army has had a smooth journey and has basically encountered no decent resistance.
When the British troops saw the Japanese troops, they basically turned around and ran away.
Rangoon was won by the Japanese without any bloodshed.
In their view, Thong Ku is the next Yangon.
Until now, the Japanese army did not know that the defense of Tonggu had been taken over by the Chinese army.
The defeated British soldiers who were crossing the Pew River Bridge became even more panicked.
Amidst the rumbling explosions, they didn't know which bomb would fall on their heads.
In this way, the "work" of Meng Shaoyuan and the advance battalion responsible for defending the Pew River Bridge will be much easier.
In the past, it took a long time to ask the British to leave weapons and ammunition, and they also had to get a "certificate of custody".
Now above our heads are Japanese planes bombing, and behind us are the Japanese troops who are about to catch up.
There is only one thing on the minds of British people:
Get out of here quickly!
Weapons and ammunition? Which is more important than life?
Meng Shaoyuan was evil again. He found a group of smart soldiers and taught them a few words in English:
"Command orders, put down your weapons and pass through Tonggu lightly!"
As for which command gave the order?
Nothing else was specified.
These soldiers shouted everywhere with loudspeakers, making the British soldiers think they were orders from the newly appointed General Alexander.
One by one, they threw away their weapons and ammunition and passed through the ancients like a race.
The brothers in the advance camp were very happy to pick it up.
Only he, Meng Shaoyuan, could do such a bold thing.
Got rich.
"I'm getting rich."
Ding Wenrui seemed overjoyed: "The weapons we picked up are enough to arm another battalion."
"Are you enjoying being with the chief?" Meng Shaoyuan asked with a smile.
"It's great!" Ding Wenrui gave a thumbs up: "This is the only way you can think of."
"Meng Shaoyuan, Meng Shaoyuan!"
At this time, the leader of the 599th Regiment, Willow Man, actually appeared at the Pew River Bridge.
"Hello, sir!"
Meng Shaoyuan and Ding Wenrui quickly stood at attention.
The willow tree man looked Meng Shaoyuan up and down, like a fox seeing a chicken, or like a gangster seeing a beauty, making Master Meng feel hairy all over.
"Well done, not bad." Willow Tree Man smiled and said: "Meng Tuanfu, have you made a fortune?"
"Ah? Revolutionary soldiers are dedicated to serving the country, how can they make a fortune?"
"You're so polite, so polite." Liu Shuren's eyes made people feel guilty: "You, Meng Tuanfu, know how to deal with the British, and you know how to hoard weapons and ammunition. I am very lucky to have a talent like you in our 599th regiment. I am very lucky." .
Well, I said Meng Tuanfu, with the benefits, you can’t enjoy them alone, right? You are my regiment affiliated after all. I'm not greedy either. You can send me half of the British weapons and ammunition. "
"ah?"
Meng Shaoyuan and Ding Wenrui shouted out at the same time.
Ding Wenrui immediately said: "Why? Meng Tuan and I spent a lot of effort to get this. Why do you want half of it with just one mouthful?"
He is the favorite general of the Willow Tree people, and he has always been like this.
Willow Man didn't talk nonsense to him: "No, that's fine. Your advance battalion is looting everywhere and has a bad influence. In order to avoid conflicts between China and Britain, immediately evacuate the Pew River Bridge. I will replace the troops to take over the defense. All weapons and ammunition will be retained. Next, it will be allocated separately."
"No, Commander." Meng Shaoyuan said bravely: "It's just half, we'll give it to you. To tell you the truth, Battalion Commander Ding and I were still discussing just now about sending a batch of weapons to the regiment headquarters. You I have to come in person, just make a phone call."
"Look, otherwise you are the instructor of the regiment." Willow Tree was satisfied: "You know how to be a good person and have a vision. If it weren't for the fact that the Pew River Bridge is equally important, and your advance battalion has to stick to the front line, I would have put you in a long time ago Transferred to regiment headquarters."
Meng Shaoyuan kept drawing circles and cursing in his heart.
As for the strategic supplies we worked so hard to obtain, half of them were gone as soon as you opened your mouth?
Isn't this taking advantage of the situation?
Master Meng was robbed and there was no place to redress his grievances.
When had he ever received this anger?
"What are you still doing? Take action." Willow Tree Man glared: "Where are the weapons and ammunition?"
"Ah, you want it now?"
"This is not nonsense. Why don't we wait for you to do anything now?" Willow Tree Man said slowly: "I have heard that you Meng Tuan is a traitor like a ghost. Maybe in the blink of an eye, you will come up with some evil idea again. I I’m just watching you from here.”
OK, this is when you meet a master.
Meng Shaoyuan gritted his teeth, but had no choice but to vent his anger on Ding Wenrui: "Send someone to move quickly, don't you see our captain is waiting here?"
"It's okay, it's okay." Liu Shuren actually took out a cigarette and said, "Have a cigarette, Shao Yuan, and be more agile with your movements!"
