Chapter 5 Reconnaissance of the Battlefield

  Song Yuanhang's sudden appearance made Dai Anrui instantly embarrassed, he himself was not in uniform, shaking hands and being overly familiar, he and Song Yuanhang were clearly not at that level yet, this was the first time they had met since arriving at the 200th Division, what Dai Anrui did not expect was that Song Yuanhang had already regarded him as an idolized figure, which is why he dressed so formally.

  The resourceful Chief of Staff Zhou Zhi hastily rushed to Song Yuanhang's side, first pulling down Song Yuanhang's arm that was raised in a salute, then embracing him and loudly saying: "Brother Song! You've really helped our 200th Division out of a tight spot! The day before yesterday, I and the division commander sent a telegram to Commander Du urging him to provide us with landmines and explosives supplies. And then you 'sent' them to us the very next day - over a hundred tons at that! The comrades below are all saying it's because your surname is auspicious!"

  "What's your surname?" Song Yuanhang, who had just arrived, was afraid of being exposed, so he replied in a neutral tone. He didn't react immediately to Zhou Zai's question about his surname.

  "Ahahahaha! Surname Song, eh? Could it be that you're here to deliver something?"

  Song Yuanhang, with modern ideas, didn't feel anything unnatural about Zhou Zhai's joke and just smiled slightly.

  But Dai Anrui frowned and said, "Zi Fang! You should stop, An Yi is currently a guest of our 200th Division."

  Even Zhou Ziren, who was usually rough and careless, also realized that it wasn't right to make fun of the so-called 'national mother's surname'. If someone were to expose this, at the very least he would be reprimanded by the narrow-minded official from Chongqing.

  So as not to neglect Song Yuanhang, Dai Anrui let him go to the sand table and said: "Yuanhang, you come over too, take a look, what do you think about Tonggu's defense?"

  Everyone, including Song Yuanhang, knew that Dai An was just being modest. With so many professional advisors and commanders present, what brilliant insights could a young master with no learning or skills possibly have? It was simply to avoid making Song Yuanhang feel left out, to ease the atmosphere, and find an excuse to step down.

  Faced with the intricate and complex situation, even Song Yuanhang, who had been nurtured by modern military academies, felt a great headache. Fortunately, he already knew the progress and outcome of this battle, hoping to make up for the loss.

  Song Yuanhang took the baton in front of everyone, turned around the sandbox twice, and said seriously with a expressionless face: "Tonggu is located in the central part of Myanmar, with a prominent geographical location. The Japanese army's northern invasion must be the first to bear the brunt. The overall defensive posture of Tonggu City is very powerful for our army to defend, but the fortifications handed over by the British are just perfunctory. Take this command post we are in now, I believe that without heavy artillery, a few mortar shells can flip it over. Therefore, I think the urgent task is to strengthen the defensive fortifications, build permanent bridgeheads on the Sitang River Bridge, turn 131 high ground into a fortress! And withdraw the engineering troops deployed at the Kyongon Airport to deploy in the new city area near the church, and have the entire division's troops defend Tonggu to the death."

  Song Yuanhang's words had just fallen. A lieutenant colonel staff officer shook his head and sighed slightly: "Turning the 131 high ground into a fortress? How easy is that! What we lack at this moment are steel and cement. The 131 high ground, which exceeds three hundred meters in length from north to south, needs how many materials?"

  Song Yuanhang smiled slightly and said, "Myanmar is rich in cypress. It's thick and sturdy, extremely hard, and the best material for building seafaring ships and bridges. Using cypress as the covering for the enclosed shafts will surely have an effect no less than steel plates."

  "Good!" Dai Anrui, who was concentrating on the plan, exclaimed loudly. Song Yuanhang's idea coincided with his own. He immediately ordered several staff officers to go and inspect the site. If it was feasible, they would execute it at once.

  Song Yuanhang saw Dai Anran still wanted to send someone to verify. He naturally knew that the two armies were engaged in a fierce battle, and it was a matter of life and death, which absolutely could not be taken lightly. So he stood on the spot with an uncertain expression.

  Dai Anrui gazed at the sand table for a while. Pointing to Koryo Airport with his finger, he said: "This is our army's only external communication channel. It would be inappropriate to give it up easily before the war starts."

  Song Yuanhang detected the tone of Dai Anrui's questioning. He really wanted to tell Dai Anrui directly that in history, an engineer battalion stationed there was ambushed by the Japanese 55th Division's 143rd Regiment and was defeated before it could exert its combat effectiveness. Rather than losing a whole battalion, it would be better to withdraw the troops back to Xincheng District and engage in street fighting with the Japanese.

  It seems that I can't stop Dian Wei from deploying the engineering troops at Kurogane Airport, and if I could get them back, it would be a great option too!

  Suddenly, Song Yuanhang's gaze fell on a forest north of Kengtung Airport in the sandbox. In his memory, the Japanese launched an attack on the airport from a thicket at dawn!

  After making up his mind, Song Yuanghai proposed to accompany Dai Anrui to inspect the city defense, and Dai Anrui, who had slightly changed his opinion about Song Yuanghai, hesitated for a moment before agreeing to Song's request.

  All the way, Song Yuanhang saw Chinese soldiers busy repairing and building fortifications in the dusty and chaotic environment. The communication trenches left by the British were only 50-60 cm deep, and the individual shelters were even more inadequate, with Chinese soldiers' buttocks exposed when squatting inside...

  After a bumpy ride, the sweltering and humid weather made Song Yuanhang feel like he had just emerged from water as he climbed up to the airport's control tower. A gentle breeze and the cool tea handed to him by Dai Anrui revived his nearly stagnant brain.

  There is only a dense jungle in the southwest direction near Kerongga Airport, just 200 meters away from the airport runway. Historically, the Japanese army launched an attack from there! Thinking of this, Song Yuanhang turned around and looked at Dai An who was staring at him cautiously: "I'd like to know how many Japanese people Colonel Dai plans to fight here? One division? Two divisions? Or even more?"

  Dai Anrui was stunned by Song Yuanghai's words, the intelligence provided by the Expeditionary Force Intelligence Agency two days ago showed that the Japanese army attacking Tonggu would be the 55th Division, an independent and fierce battle against a Japanese A-class division. Dai Anrui still had confidence, but today, after hearing Song Yuanghai's tone, it seemed that the Japanese army was not just these? Had this kid received hints from Chongqing?

  Song Yuanhang saw Dai Anrui's tightly locked eyebrows and continued: "Previous intelligence showed that the Japanese 56th Division is now in Singapore, has completed its assembly, and the 33rd Division has already broken through on the east line. The location of the 18th Division is still uncertain to us until now. If the Japanese attacking Songgao are not one division but two divisions in intelligence, they will have sufficient troops to complete the separation and encirclement of the airport and Songgao's main defense system. Even if the Japanese only have one division attacking Songgao, the fall of Kulonggang Airport, far from the city and without any danger to defend, is only a matter of time! We must make preparations for being surrounded on all sides and fighting alone."

  Dai An heard Song Yuanhang's analysis and frowned even more tightly. In fact, he had repeatedly thought about these unfavorable factors before. The combat effectiveness of the troops directly under the Engineering Corps was completely counted in his heart. It was said to be a regimental formation, but six mechanized companies were left in the sequence of the army reserve team, and only one and a half battalions, or around 1,600 people, arrived at Tonggu. Even if they were given solid defensive fortifications, they would not be able to withstand the infiltration and attack of a Japanese brigade. If they retreated without a fight, it would not only be difficult for the military department to explain, but also have an impact on the morale of the entire division.

  Song Yuanhang seemed to see through Dai An's mind, using his knowledge of history combined with modern tactics, trying to show off his so-called Confucian general demeanor. After a moment of composure, he pointed to the dense forest outside the airport and said: "The commander of the 55th Division of the Japanese Army, Takeuchi Hiroshi, comes from the Takeuchi family of warriors who were once famous for their glory in the Meiji Restoration. He is a high-achieving student at the Japanese Military Academy, known for his steady style, skilled in night battles and ambushes, often using breaking enemy supply lines as a tactic, and his troops rarely have records of strong attacks! And this forest outside provides the Japanese with an environment conducive to surprise attacks."

  Dai Anru stood up, took out his binoculars and scanned the dense forest before saying: "You mean to ambush him when he's retreating?"

  Song Yuanhang smiled slightly and shrugged his shoulders. In fact, anyone who understands military common sense is clear that a place like Kuroyama, which has no strategic value, will fall sooner or later, and being besieged with no reinforcements is a big taboo in the art of war.

  At this moment, Song Yuanhang has completely reversed the impression he had in Dai An's mind. For Song Yuanhang, only after gaining Dai An's trust can everything truly begin.

  In the late afternoon, dozens of trucks transported nearly a thousand various landmines left behind by the British army and several hundred barrels of gasoline. Under the guard of the military police, several companies of the engineering corps took turns entering the jungle for secret operations.

  Following Dai Anrui's hectic pace for most of the day, Song Yuanghai finally felt a rare coolness. He thought of those soldiers who were sweating profusely under the scorching sun and occasionally fainted from heatstroke. Song Yuanghai couldn't help but speak up: "Commander Dai, shouldn't we let the soldiers rest during the day and work on fortifications at night? This way, while increasing secrecy, we can also reduce non-combat casualties among officers and men."

  "Alas, brother An! I also know how to take care of the soldiers, but right now the Japanese are about to launch a massive invasion. The outcome of this battle will determine whether my expeditionary force can deploy and implement its next plan smoothly. All our officers and men are working in shifts around the clock, doing construction work non-stop for 24 hours. Meanwhile, back home, the Japanese are making moves against our southwestern front, the whole line is on high alert! At this critical moment of national crisis, when life and death hang in the balance, what's a little fatigue compared to losing everything?"

  Song Yuanhang let out a soft "oh". Dai An said it right, compared to the great righteousness of the nation, what does personal gain or loss matter? When the country is broken, where is home? Unconsciously thinking of his family, comrades and friends in that world... Hu Na, unconsciously, as the vehicle bumped along, Song Yuanhang's eyelids grew heavier and heavier...

  In 1942, the main force units under the New Fifth Army included three divisions: the 200th Division (Dai Anlan's unit, the first mechanized unit of the Nationalist Party and the first combat division of the New Fifth Army), the new 22nd Division (Liao Yaoxiang's unit, a motorized unit) and the First Honorary Division (Zheng Dongguo's unit).