Chapter 62

  In the Bay of Bengal. Fleet Commander Johnson sat silently in his chair, Chief of Staff Wilson looked down at the ground thinking about something, Major General York of the Third Division and Major General Breyman of the Fifth Division were smoking cigarettes nervously. At this time, the deputy officer pushed open the door to report: "Washington has sent a telegram." As soon as the words fell, the four of them looked up at the deputy officer, Commander Johnson said weakly: "Read it."

  "Yes, sir." The deputy paused for a moment before continuing: "Relieve Admiral Janson of his command of this operation. He is to return to Washington immediately to report to the President. All ships are to set sail at once and return to Guam."

  "Alright gentlemen, our mission is accomplished! At least my mission is over! Now we head home, pass the order to each ship to return to Guam."

  "Yes." The deputy officer went out to pass on the order.

  When the news of the disastrous defeat on August 6, 2064 reached the Green Empire, public opinion was in an uproar. The people began to take to the streets to protest the government's incompetence, and the families of soldiers who had gone to war also began to flock to Congress to demand explanations and a ceasefire. Just three days later, when news of Afghanistan and North Korea's defeat reached home again, the public was outraged, with large-scale demonstrations calling for the president to resign and dissolve the government, followed by new elections. And what about Xizang?

  At 0:00 on August 5, the 25th and 107th Armies of my Western Zhun Military Region launched a counterattack without waiting for the arrival of the 11th Army and the 63rd Division. Nearly a hundred cannons of various types carried out a 30-minute carpet bombing, and under the impact of the 107th Army as the vanguard, the already exhausted 32nd Army of Western Zhun suffered a disastrous defeat like a textbook. Because they were too arrogant and completely underestimated our military strength, many Western Zhun soldiers didn't even understand the situation before being captured by the 107th Army speaking in Western Zhun language. The cunning Daviel immediately ordered his soldiers to change into Western Zhun military uniforms after capturing a large number of prisoners, disguising themselves as Western Zhun troops to launch an attack from within, causing the enemy's 32nd Army, the ace unit of Western Zhun, to be divided and surrounded at 1:23 on August 5. At 1:58, the headquarters of the 32nd Army was occupied by soldiers wearing Western Zhun military uniforms and speaking in Western Zhun language, making it look like a complete Western Zhun army. As a result, when the commander of the 32nd Army was captured, he initially thought it was a mutiny and even tried to persuade the soldiers of the 107th Army to surrender. It wasn't until he saw Daviel that he finally realized the soldiers in front of him were from the 107th Army, not his own troops who had mutinied. Daviel smiled and said, "Welcome, dear Mapusan, welcome to my humble abode." The commander of the 32nd Army, Mapusan, was a bit surprised and asked, "How did you get here?"

  Davril said with a smile: "How could I possibly get here? Congratulations on becoming the highest-ranking officer of Xizhou Country to be captured."

  At 2:28, the 5th Division of Sichuan and the British 3rd Mixed Brigade were attacked by the 107th Army, leading the British command to believe that the Sichuan army had mutinied. They hastily ordered their troops to retreat, causing the defensive line to open up again. The 5th Division, which had lost its flank protection, soon followed in the footsteps of the 32nd Army and was annihilated at a plain 20 kilometers west of Siliguri by 3:14.

  The British army, having abandoned a large amount of baggage, fortunately retreated to Darjeeling. By this time, it was already 10:23. They also set a record for the entire army, carrying heavy loads and running 150 kilometers at a speed of 25 kilometers per hour, showing that human desire for survival can still produce miracles when it erupts.

  Three hours later, when the follow-up troops of the British army's three divisions arrived, they saw soldiers lying on the ground and thought they might have been collectively poisoned?! After learning about the defeat at the front line, the British army retreated again to the other side of the Hogen River in Muzaffarpur to rest.

  After counting their losses, the British army's 3rd Mixed Brigade, which had 7,000 men, was left with only 5,023 men. Even after three days, when scattered soldiers returned, the number only increased to 5,148. Later, according to the numbers released by the Longwu Army, 1,212 were captured and 438 were killed.

  At 6:38 on August 5, I received the battle report from Xili Guli in the western front during my anxious wait. I read it and excitedly waved my fist, shouting "Well done!"

  Director Zhang looked at the battle report and said with a smile: "Good, it seems that this time the enemy will be in pain."

  Commander Xu Feng said: "Hmph, they don't even know how high the sky is or how thick the earth is."

  "I said: 'Director Zhang, Minister Yang, Director Di will take over from here. The ideological work of so many captives must be done well!'"

  Director Zhang nodded and said, "You don't have to say this is also our job."

  Director Yang said with a smile: "Our political department finally has something to do."

  Dyakov exclaimed with some excitement: "How about putting me in charge of the prisoners? Especially those from the 32nd Army, I'll make them understand the greatness of communism."

  Director Yang sneered: "Cut the crap, don't I know what you're thinking? You've always wanted to experience the feeling of being controlled by Davier back then."

  Diluo hastily said: "Comrade Yang, you can't do this. In the past, Davier was my guide, and now it's my turn to be the guide." As soon as he finished speaking, he asked again: "That Comrade Yang, what did you mean by 'withdrawal of eggs'? Can chicken eggs retreat?"

  Director Yang said with a dark face: "Don't call me Comrade Sheep, you can call me Comrade Yang or Director Comrade, it sounds like I'm a goat."

  We couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  At 10:00 am, I received another order from the Military Commission to organize and launch a new round of offensives after the arrival of the 11th Army and the 63rd Division, capture Darbanga and Gidhaur on the east bank of the Heng River, and garrison and fortify this line.

  I hastily looked at the geographical location of Darbanga and Gethal, ordered the 107th Army to send out reconnaissance troops to investigate the situation, let the 25th Army return to Xili Guli for rest and reorganization, and the 107th Army was stationed in the suburbs of Xili Guli.

  At 1:19 pm, the 11th Corps and the 63rd Division finally arrived. I hastily met with the commander of the 11th Corps, Gong Sicheng, and the commander of the 63rd Division, Tian Shengli, and conveyed the Military Commission's orders. After receiving the order, Gong Sicheng said with a smile: "Finally, we've caught up! I was worried that there wouldn't be any battles to fight!" I felt a bit embarrassed and said: "Sorry about this, you've just arrived and haven't even had time to drink water yet, but now you have to rush off again." Tian Sheng, the commander of the 3rd Division, smiled and said: "Don't be polite, Commander Tang! As long as there are battles to fight, that's all that matters. I've been idle in Shuzhou for so long that I almost forgot I was a soldier!" Gong Sicheng, the commander of the 1st Corps, also said: "Yes, let's not be polite about this. It's all for the sake of our country!"

  I also nodded solemnly and said: "For the motherland." After finishing speaking, I said: "Then I won't say much more, wishing you a victorious start."

  "Goodbye, Commander Tang."

  "Goodbye."

  I just returned to the headquarters, and received good news again. The 27th Army of General Yao on the west finally opened up the road to New Delhi, and the 13th Army took over Banipat. The 27th Army has advanced towards New Delhi. However, the Western Garrison put up a fierce resistance, and it was almost at the last moment that the Western Garrison soldiers surrendered in Banipat. The casualties of the 27th Army were not heavy, but they were held back for half a day.