The First Volume: The Lonely Castle of National Martyrdom - Blood War Chapter 1: Lieutenant Colonel of the Imperial Guard

  "Where am I?" Song Yuanhang struggled to open his eyes, and the first thing that came into view was a beautifully embroidered and familiar face, Hu Na? Is it you?

  "For God's sake, am I dreaming? I swear I'll never leave you again!"

  Song Yuanhang grasped Hu Na's hand and pulled her tightly into his arms, kissing her cheek while muttering to himself.

  Upon hearing the girl's cry for help, several gendarmes with white helmets and red armbands rushed into the room. Seeing the scene before them, they could only stand by awkwardly.

  "Let me go!" The girl struggled with all her might for a few moments before swinging her freed right arm in a wide arc, slapping him loudly.

  Song Yuanhang, with stars in his eyes, let out a cry of "Ah" and fell back onto the military bed. In his memory, he had left the last bullet for the enemy, and his only regret was that he hadn't been able to successfully activate the detonator. But what just happened? Why did everything feel so real? He even felt the warmth of Hu Na's lips.

  The girl who managed to break free stood up in a rage, glared at the constables who were standing at the door with embarrassment all over their faces, and stormed out of the room. Just as the constables thought they could finally breathe a sigh of relief, the girl suddenly turned back and kicked the constables' shins repeatedly.

  After a flurry of commotion, the girl, whose mood had already calmed down, adjusted her military cap and strode away.

  After a while, Song Yuanhang covered his face and sat up from the bed. When he saw several constables who were kicked and had their teeth clenched, Song Yuanhang knew he must have been dreaming, so he slowly lay back on the pillow.

  "It must be a dream, it must be a dream!" Song Yuanhang comforted himself while realizing that this dream seemed too real.

  White 1935-style German Wehrmacht helmet, Type 42 summer uniform? Mauser pistol? Feet wrapped in woolen puttees? Thick-soled round-toed leather shoes? The flag of the blue sky with a white sun and red earth on one side, and a crisp Type 42 officer's uniform hanging beside it.

  "Oh, all the gods and Buddhas in heaven!" In Song Yuanhang's memory, he didn't have any religious beliefs (the Japanese people's faith in Yokai Tensho was not included in this range), nor had he ever shown disrespect to any of them.

  Dazed and confused, Song Yuanhang's anxious heart finally calmed down when he saw his reflection in the mirror, a face that wasn't handsome but had grown accustomed to over twenty years.

  After spending the entire afternoon figuring everything out, Song Yuanhang hastily prepared to leave the hospital. After looking at his military ID card, he finally believed in this cruel and bizarre reality.

  The current self is called Song Yuhang, courtesy name Anyi. Graduated from the fifth branch of the Central Military Academy's accelerated class, now it is March 9th, 31st year of the Republic of China, which is also March 9th, 1942! He has been promoted from captain to his long-awaited lieutenant colonel, accurately speaking, he is the chief of staff of the garrison regiment of the military law department of the New Fifth Army of the National Revolutionary Army's Expeditionary Force. Moreover, he also has a very prominent background.

  At this moment, Song Yuanghai first thought of the organization, and then thought that a Kuomintang expeditionary army constabulary lieutenant colonel chief of staff, who had studied abroad and was also a member of one of the four major families, the Song family! Such a high birth is simply an international joke. In the face of several rectification movements, Song Yuanghai does not think that he will be a good athlete.

  Song Yuanhang had to face the reality in front of him, what made him restless was his current geographical location, Tengyue, a transportation and economic hub in southern Myanmar, also known as Donggu! And more than ten days later, the famous "Tengyue Defense War" would erupt here!

  China's only mechanized elite division, the 200th Division will be buried in the sand and broken here, a generation of generals Dai Anlan will die on the battlefield, and end up being wrapped in horsehide.

  Song Yuanhang took a cold breath, according to his fragmented memories, he was the lieutenant colonel and chief of staff of the Constitutional Guard Corps of the Expeditionary Army Headquarters, and followed the 200th Division into Burma solely as a supervisor. As a result, this unappreciated person had not been spared the disdainful looks from the top to bottom of the 200th Division.

  In the remaining fragmented memories, there isn't a single memory related to military affairs? Apart from that glorious family background, all that's left are shameful records of brothels, bars, and embezzlement of military supplies and medical equipment!

  "My goodness!" Song Yuanhang couldn't help but secretly admire this Song YuHang, who was indeed a qualified military advisor.

  After a series of silly inquiries, Song Yuanhang let go of the two exhausted constables. He knew that 1942 was a crucial moment in the international anti-fascist war. In June, the US and Japan would engage in an unprecedented naval battle at Midway Island. At this time, the German army still held absolute advantage on the Soviet battlefield. The Battle of Stalingrad in July 1942 was a turning point in World War II history. The domestic situation was also extremely grim. Although they had won the so-called victory in the Third Battle of Changsha, the loss of personnel and equipment was huge and irreparable. In the face of the rapidly changing international situation, everything depended on 1942!

  Song Yuanhang, who had accepted reality, was inexplicably excited. He had always been resentful of the Anti-Japanese War and wished he could raise the Chinese flag on Mount Fuji. He even looked forward to his upcoming battle with Gu Da in over a dozen days.

  After sorting out all his personal belongings, Song Yuanhang found a small package wrapped in a handkerchief. When he opened the package, he was surprised to find several account books and a diary inside.

  With a strong curiosity, Song Yu Hang first flipped through the diary, and this look scared Song Yuan Hang greatly. The proud young master of the Song family seemed to be not wealthy at all? From the clear records of debts in the diary, it was astonishing that he had borrowed 346 taels of gold and 19,600 yuan, including confidential fees from the constabulary...

  After patiently inquiring the guard outside the door, Song Yuanghai suddenly had a suicidal impulse. According to the actual exchange rate of Fabi currency to yuan in 1942, combined with his income as a lieutenant colonel staff officer who received national hardship pay, even if he didn't eat or drink, it would take him over a hundred years to pay off the debt! For Song Yuanghai, who relied on his first lieutenant's salary to take out a loan and buy a house in his previous life, being in debt was an absolute nightmare!

  "Is the only visible young master of the Song family, who holds the financial power among the four major families in China, so poor? If it were the old Song Yu Hang, owing money wouldn't even be a consideration for him. What's terrifying to him is not having any money to spend!"

  Song Yuanhang was not Song Yu Hang, with his principles these debts had to be repaid, but where could he get the money? Song Yuanhang fell into deep thought alone.

  In the evening, Song Yuanhang stood in front of the military uniform mirror, almost with a self-loving gaze, staring at himself for over ten minutes. After a slight sigh, he picked up the silver-plated Browning pistol on his bed. Song Yuanhang was taken aback by this pistol, which seemed too exquisite for him, especially the white ivory handle inlaid with gems, which was simply a desecration of weapons.

  Hesitating for a moment, Song Yuanhang took off the gun holster at his waist and put it on the bed, then asked his guard Ma Zi for two Mauser pistols, which he hung on either side of his back, wearing an unconventional outfit as he strode out of the tent.

  Looking at the setting sun that was slowly going down in the west, it was almost identical to the one before the bloody battle with Song Yuanhang. Was it a premonition of something?

  Song Yuanhang made a secret decision, from today on, there is no longer a person named Song Yuanhang in this world, only Song Yu Hang! Although the two names differ by only one word, they are two completely different lives!

  The six guards standing behind Song Yu Hang all looked at him with a strange gaze, everyone knew that their commander was here to get rich, logically speaking, people from the Song family should go to the new 38th division, that's where the Song family tax police team is, but Song Yu Hang ran to the newly formed fifth army military law enforcement provost battalion?

  But these days, being a soldier and having an officer who is generous enough to be away from the front line, what's wrong with being a bit cowardly? However, today's officer is indeed very strange. Looks like he's full of killing intent? Won't he be looking for trouble with that artilleryman who fainted?

  Soon, two American jeeps and four Dodge trucks carrying a gendarmerie company led by Song Yuanhang set out on today's first patrol.

  Song Yu-Hang's destination was very clear, that is, the only military club in the ancient city, the backer of this club was Major General Scott, the commander of the 1st Division of British Burma Garrison, a guy with a short red beard.

  Song Yuhang clearly remembered that two days ago, he had stolen and sold thirty boxes of military supplies replenished by the military department. Those military supplies were not aid materials for China, but rather the equipment of the 228th Regiment of the Second Hundred Division! Most of them were German-made P38 submachine guns, and there was also a type of Mauser rifle equipped with a scope.

  Mauser 98 sniper rifle! A well-trained sniper can easily concentrate on the target's head at 300 meters and hit the chest at 600 meters. It represents the pinnacle of German industry, although there are only a few dozen, but Song Yuanhang believes that if it is assigned to a godly shooter, in the future battle to defend the ancient city, this will be an unstoppable force.

  In the midst of war and turmoil in Burma, the British Officers' Club inside Thagaya was a different scene altogether. It was resplendent with neon lights, and its entrance was thronged with cars, horses and people coming and going, amidst whom were mixed various languages and skin colours.

  After inquiring about Song Yuhang, it was learned that although there were only a few hundred people left in the British 1st Division in Taungoo who had not yet withdrawn, there were indeed one major general, three lieutenant generals and nine brigadier generals of the British army inside Taungoo. It can be said that there are many generals but few soldiers. Now that the Japanese have surrounded them on three sides with a large army, how can the British still dance waltzes and smoke cigars in an orderly manner? Is this what they call the "gentlemanly demeanor" of the great British Empire? As soon as Song Yuhang thought about the staff officers of the 200th Division's headquarters making defense plans while holding oil lamps due to a lack of electricity, a fire suddenly ignited in his heart.

  Looking at the British officers and their dependents coming in and out in groups of three or five, Song Yu Hang's nose let out a heavy hum! He had just walked up the steps when he was blocked by two Indian thugs with red cloth wrapped around their heads.

  "What does it mean?" Song Yu Hang's not-so-good tone did not get a response, the two tall and proud A San hummed proudly, using the red and white wooden stick in his hand to tap on the door plaque.

  Song Yu-Hang took a glance at the English sign that read "Chinese Not Allowed on Weekends" and instantly burst into flames, but after thinking about the purpose of his trip, he suppressed his anger and turned to descend the two steps.

  Song Yuhang suddenly stopped in his tracks because he found that more than a hundred gendarmes behind him were staring at him with wide eyes.

  A blonde British major, accompanied by his female companion, brushed past Song Yu-Hang's side and cast a disdainful glance at the MP insignia on Song's sleeve. He spoke to his companion in English, as if no one was around: "The Chinese army is the weakest fighting force in the world. I really can't see any difference between them and what they were like 100 years ago? Their country is almost being occupied by Japan, yet they still have the nerve to stretch their hands into Burma? The general approved 30 Ford vehicles for them yesterday, but that's not enough; now they're asking for 100 more cars to transport some troops?"

  "What the f**k are you saying, you son of a b*tch?" Song Yu Hang, who understood English, suddenly stood up and was immediately blocked by two Ah San at the stairs.

  The British major was surprised to find that the Chinese military officer in front of him could understand English. Although it is a traditional British gentleman's habit not to openly criticize others, being caught red-handed and still showing no weakness, he said: "Are you guys in a hurry to send yourselves to death to the Japanese? The 30 cars are indeed crowded, but they will be much more spacious on the way back!"

  Song Yu Hang saw the British major swaggering into the club! The unreasonable behavior of the British deeply stimulated his fragile nationalist nerves!

  As a professional soldier of the younger generation, Song Yu Hang is very familiar with the history of the Chinese Expeditionary Force. During his studies at the Military Academy, he had done in-depth research on this topic. The Chinese Expeditionary Force's expedition to Burma was the first time Chinese soldiers had crossed the border since the Opium War. Due to the selfishness, arrogance and ignorance of the British, the Chinese Expeditionary Force paid a heavy price, it can be said that they paved the way for the survival of the nation with their flesh and blood.

  As early as June 1940, Japan threatened that if US aid materials continued to enter China through Yunnan and Burma, the Japanese army would retaliate against Hong Kong and Singapore. The short-sighted British were frightened by the big talk of Little Japan and immediately closed the Yunnan-Burma Highway despite strong opposition from China and the US.

  But in September of the same year, the Japanese slapped a loud slap on the British, capturing Hong Kong and other colonies. The angry British were forced to reopen the Burma Road, but under British management, the reopened Burma Road was difficult to navigate, and from 1939 onwards, the British used losses as an excuse to repeatedly detain various materials, even seizing 150 trucks and a shipload of military supplies destined for China as "losses". According to historical records, between 1939 and February 1942, the British detained or diverted more than 17% of international aid to China under various pretexts.

  The British are actually sucking the blood of China at the most difficult time in China's war of resistance! The British are despicable and shameless thieves and vampires, while the Japanese are ruthless robbers. In order to fight against the robbers, they form an alliance with the thieves! At least that's how Song Yuhang sees it.

  Damn the British, a plan was gradually forming in Song Yu-Hang's mind. In his memory, at this time, the ancient arsenal had accumulated nearly 800 tons of US military aid and ammunition equipment. Historically, when these equipment were handed over to the 200th Division by the British under the pretext of arming the Burmese natives, there were less than a dozen tons left! And today was March 9th, which means that the British had not yet had time to lay hands on this batch of US aid.

  "Xu Tu'an"!

  In Song Yu Hang's memory, this middle-aged man Xu Tu An, who wore glasses with wide frames and had a slightly lewd face, was absolutely his own loyal military advisor.

  Historically, the British have made the Chinese suffer on the Burma issue, and it was not until the last moment that they had to let the expeditionary army enter Burma. In the subsequent Battle of Tengchong, the railway transporting the new 22nd Division was occupied by the British who were rushing to transport their furniture and property, resulting in the 150-kilometer railway taking a full 10 days to transport the troops, causing the 200th Division to be surrounded by the Japanese army and leading to the failure of the Battle of Tengchong! The Chinese Expeditionary Army lost its best opportunity to contain the Japanese offensive. In the subsequent Battle of Mandalay, the British left wing abandoned their position without permission, allowing the Japanese 18th Division to take advantage of the situation. The author is not biased, but rather speaking from a historical perspective at that time. This is just one example, and there are many other instances where emotions ran high, but mainly it's just for everyone to enjoy!