Anti-Japanese War: The whole world is a base vehicle

Although the French took control of the Indochina region early on, they were extremely stingy in infrastructure construction.

There are only a handful of highways in the entire region, and asphalt or concrete roads, they are as rare as sweet springs in the desert.

Even in the next few decades, highway construction will continue to progress slowly and will be difficult to improve.

At its root, the vast tropical rainforest here has become an insurmountable natural barrier.

Building roads in a tropical rainforest is more difficult than you might imagine.

Wet soil, frequent rainfall and dense vegetation all pose huge challenges to road construction.

Every inch of land seems to be telling the majesty of nature and resisting human transformation.

The project of hardening the road surface alone requires a huge amount of manpower, material and financial resources, and also faces many technical challenges.

In addition, the original intention of the French to come here was to plunder wealth, so they naturally avoided infrastructure construction, which was time-consuming and labor-intensive and difficult to see returns in the short term.

In their eyes, this land is just an inexhaustible treasure trove, not a home that needs to be managed carefully.

The "road" mentioned by the Free Army is far from a real highway.

These roads are little more than narrow paths that can barely pass oxcarts, and in some places, cars can also pass with difficulty if you are lucky.

But once the rainy season comes, the entire area will be submerged in a vast swamp, and the roads will instantly become muddy and no vehicles can pass through.

Those paths that seemed solid on weekdays became soft and easy to sink under the erosion of rain, and the wheels often sank into deep mud pits and were difficult to extricate.

"We must deliver the ammunition to the soldiers before the rainy season arrives!" Lu Yuhua stood in front of the makeshift command tent, looking at the rolling mountains in the distance with a firm and resolute expression.

He knew that time was running out and the arrival of the rainy season would make transportation more difficult and might even lead to a shortage of ammunition on the front line, thus affecting the entire war situation.

So he quickly organized the logistics troops and raced against time to transport ammunition to the front line.

Although fuel was extremely scarce, cars were still used to buy time.

These cars struggled forward on the rugged road, and their engines roared, as if expressing their dissatisfaction with the bad road conditions.

Lu Yuhua also specially produced a batch of motorcycles. These small and flexible means of transportation became a powerful assistant in transporting logistical supplies.

They shuttle through the jungle trails like a group of agile cheetahs, transporting supplies to their destinations quickly and efficiently.

In addition, thousands of fuel-free bicycles also form the transport fleet.

These bicycle teams are like lively streams, winding through the dense jungle.

The riders were dressed in simple military uniforms, with determined looks on their faces. They were not afraid of hardships or dangers, just to deliver supplies to the front line in a timely manner.

Not only that, the Free Army also recruited 12 elephants.

These huge monsters move through the jungle as if they were walking on flat ground. They walk with steady steps and carry heavy supplies, becoming the key force in transporting heavy materials.

The elephant owners fought alongside the Free Army, skillfully controlling these docile beasts and contributing their efforts to the Free Army's logistical support.

Together with more than 5,000 local people, they formed a large and special transport team.

Most of these locals came from nearby villages. They knew the land well. Under their leadership, the transport teams were able to avoid dangerous swamps and steep slopes and choose the most convenient route.

In ancient times, the transportation of materials was often accompanied by huge consumption. Transporting a truckload of grain might consume half a truckload or even more, so ancient people relied more on water transportation.

At least half of the transportation methods adopted by the Free Army were similar to those in ancient times, mainly relying on horse-drawn carriages and manpower.

Along the way, the food and necessities for people and horses were huge.

The wheels of the carriage left deep ruts on the muddy road, and the horses pulling the carriage were panting, their fur soaked with sweat.

The soldiers and local people in the transport team were also exhausted after the long journey, but they never gave up. They had only one belief in their hearts: to deliver supplies to the front line.

It was precisely because of the poor transportation and inefficient logistics that the French did not pay too much attention to the advance of the Free Army.

They really couldn't imagine that the Free Army could advance so quickly under such harsh conditions.

In the eyes of the French, the Free Army was just a group of poorly equipped and poorly trained rabble who could not pose any threat to their rule.

However, they never expected that the Free Army had set up many food supply points along the way.

There are many local villages along the way.

Due to their limited military strength, the French were simply unable to defend themselves and clear the countryside.

Compared with the French, the locals did not have much aversion to the Free Army.

The Free Army has strict discipline and never harms anyone. They respect local customs and get along well with the local people.

Moreover, the Free Army is not short of money. Their intelligence department used money to build a food supply line.

They negotiated with local village leaders, purchased food and supplies at reasonable prices, and won the trust and support of the local people.

This means that the Free Army's logistical transport supplies are mainly weapons and ammunition, maximizing the effective transportation volume.

With these unexpected strategies of the French, the Free Army created a miracle.

In just two days, they broke through the forest that the French thought was impassable and successfully got behind the French.

The French defensive positions were mainly concentrated between rivers. They believed that using the rivers to build fortifications could effectively block the enemy's attacks.

The river became their natural barrier, and the strong fortresses and trenches built on the river banks formed a seemingly indestructible line of defense.

However, due to insufficient manpower, their defense line was strong in front and weak in the back.

The French had considered it very carefully. If the front was defeated, they could retreat to the rear to consolidate their defenses. But they never expected that the Free Army would ignore the front and attack the rear directly, and advance so quickly.

"Damn it! They are crazy!" Governor Degu was stunned for a moment when he heard the news from the front line. When he came to his senses, he was filled with rage.

He stood up suddenly and slammed his fist on the table, causing the documents and maps on the table to scatter all over the floor.

The Free Army did not play by the rules, but was half successful.

Although the French had made some preparations, the speed of the Free Army's advance still caught them off guard.

The Free Army was lightly armed this time. Only half of the entire forward commando team carried guns. The only heavy weapons they carried were some 82mm mortars and machine guns, except for the Soviet-made 50mm mortars.

If it weren't for the deciphered telegrams and actual observed intelligence, Lu Yuhua would never have dared to send out such a small force so boldly. He knew very well that this action was extremely risky, but the opportunity was fleeting.

If successful, they would break the French defenses and open up a new path for the liberation of Indochina; if unsuccessful, they would face the danger of annihilation.

The French defense was even weaker, and the defense line was filled with a large number of colonial puppet troops.

Most of these puppet troops were local people who were forcibly conscripted by the French. They were dissatisfied with French rule and had no will to fight.

As soon as the Free Army charged, they instantly collapsed and fled in all directions like frightened birds. The Free Army almost ran all the way, taking over the defense line all the way.

Except for a few tough obstacles, half of the French defense line fell into the hands of the Free Army in just over half a day.

How could Governor Degu not be angry?
Those native soldiers who fled without their weapons not only lost their positions to the Free Army, but also handed over a large amount of logistical supplies to the French.

These supplies were originally placed in the rear to be supplied to the front at any time, but the front was defeated so quickly that Governor Degu did not even have time to issue the order to destroy the supplies. He could only hope that the front-line commanders would take action on their own.

The Free Army obtained these supplies, and at least more than half of the hidden dangers of unstable logistics were eliminated.

At this time, Governor Degu began to worry about the French officers and soldiers on the front line.

The familiar words "Dunkirk Evacuation" involuntarily emerged in his mind, and the scene before him always made him feel like déjà vu.

"It's totally different. The Free Army can't hold it. We are well prepared. I remember there are two fortresses ahead with a large amount of food supplies. It will be enough to support us for a year." He tried to convince himself. He paced back and forth, trying to calm himself down, but the anxiety in his heart surged like a tide and was difficult to calm down.

On the day the Free Army attacked southern Annam, the French had already begun preparing their defense lines and stockpiled a lot of supplies.

However, due to the complex situation in the colonies, supplies were only supplied to some key areas.

At this time, Governor Degu was still feeling uneasy.

He knew in his heart that except for those two fortresses, the reserves in other places were simply insufficient, otherwise the material storage warehouses in the rear would not have been occupied by the Free Army.

This means that if we cannot eliminate these free forces and open up the supply channels to the front line, the front line may really be undefendable.

"To fight or not to fight?" Governor Degu kept hesitating in his heart.

It was not only too late to withdraw troops at this time, but he was also not sure whether he could withstand the attack of the Free Army.

His eyes fell on the military map on the wall, and the marks on the map seemed to tell him the grim situation on the battlefield. He knew that once he made a decision, there would be no turning back.

He couldn't help but recall some of the words spoken by the envoys he sent during negotiations with the Free Army.

At that time, the envoy went to the camp of the Free Army with the expectations of Governor Degu. He tried to understand the intentions of the Free Army through negotiations and seek the possibility of a peaceful resolution of the dispute.

During the meeting with the Free Army, the two sides had a fierce confrontation.

"You should know that France's strength should not be underestimated. Continuing to resist will only lead to more bloodshed and sacrifice." The messenger sat in the tent, looking at the representatives of the Free Army opposite him, and said with a serious expression.

There was a hint of threat in his tone, trying to make the Free Army realize the consequences of confronting France.

"We are not afraid of sacrifice. We are willing to pay any price for freedom and independence." The representatives of the Free Army responded without flinching.

His eyes revealed a firm belief, as if declaring to the French that their determination to pursue freedom was unshakable.

The negotiations between the two sides reached a deadlock and eventually ended in a bad mood.

Today, Governor Degu recalls these conversations with helplessness in his heart.

He knew that the Free Army was determined and that the possibility of a peaceful resolution to the dispute was slim.

At this time, the situation on the battlefield became increasingly tense.

After occupying part of the French defense line, the Free Army did not stop advancing.

They continued to push forward, trying to expand their gains.

Lu Yuhua stood at the front line, looking at the battlefield in front of him, his heart full of fighting spirit. He knew that the dawn of victory was just ahead, but they still needed to make more efforts.

The French army reorganized its defense in a panic, trying to reverse the defeat.

Frontline commanders constantly adjusted their troop deployments and strengthened defensive fortifications.

They set up more obstacles on the battlefield and deployed dense firepower networks to try to stop the attack of the Free Army. The two sides launched a fierce exchange of fire on the battlefield, with the sound of gunfire and shouts of killing intertwined and echoing over Annan.

Governor Degu sat in the command center, reading the battle reports from the front line, feeling extremely anxious.

He knew he had to make a decision quickly.

If he chose to attack, he would need to quickly mobilize troops and develop a detailed combat plan to deal with the Free Army's offensive.

But he also knew that the fighting power of the Free Army should not be underestimated, and a rash attack might result in greater losses.

If he chooses to defend, he needs to strengthen the fortress's defenses, ensure the supply of supplies, and wait for the opportunity to counterattack.

But this would put the French officers and soldiers on the front line in a more dangerous situation.

At this critical moment, various options and possible outcomes kept emerging in Governor Degu's mind.

He thought of France's interests in Indochina, his own duties and mission, and the officers and soldiers fighting bravely on the battlefield.

He knew very well that one decision of his could change the course of the entire war.

After some painful thinking, Governor Degu finally gritted his teeth and made a decision.

He decided to withdraw some troops to counterattack the Free Army.

He ordered the front-line commanders to concentrate their forces to recapture the defense lines occupied by the Free Army, while strengthening the defense of the fortresses and ensuring the safety of supplies.

He hoped that through this counterattack, he could deal a heavy blow to the Free Army and turn the tide of the war.

However, it remains to be seen whether his decision will go as he wishes.

The Free Army was ready to face the French counterattack. They were waiting for the arrival of the French army with flexible tactics and firm beliefs.

The French counterattack force quickly assembled and moved towards the positions occupied by the Free Army. They advanced along the narrow jungle path, full of trepidation.

The dense vegetation on both sides of the road seemed to hide endless dangers, and every rustling of leaves made them tremble with fear. (End of this chapter)