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

Faced with the complex situation in Southeast Asia, the decision-making of the Japanese headquarters was like a chaotic chess game, with every step full of misjudgments and struggles.

The Free Army, a force that quietly rose in Southeast Asia, was mistakenly believed by the Japanese headquarters to be supported by the Soviets.

However, they never imagined that behind this was actually Lu Yuhua's ingenious layout, who cleverly used the Soviet army as a shield and achieved unexpected results.

After successfully taking over Southeast Asia, Japan's ambitions expanded rapidly and it soon set its sights on the United States.

During that period, the Japanese army was fully committed to the confrontation with the United States, and became hesitant about the so-called Free Army supported by the Soviet Army.

Although the Japanese headquarters had some hesitations at the strategic level, the officers of the Southern Army were worried.

They knew very well that once the strength of the Free Army continued to grow, it would have a huge impact on the strategic layout of the Japanese army.

Yamashita Tomoyuki was the most anxious one among them. He kept asking Terauchi Hisaichi for help, hoping to resolve the potential threat of the Freedom Army as soon as possible.

But Terauchi Juichi could only play dumb. All he was thinking about was how to deal with the next attack of the Free Army and ensure that they would not invade Siam.

Terauchi Hisaichi secretly thanked God that the Free Army's attack was relatively conservative and had little impact on the Japanese grain collection and resource plundering activities in Thailand. Otherwise, he would have been dismissed and sent back to his country long ago.

This is also the main reason why the Japanese headquarters can still maintain a certain degree of tolerance towards the Free Army.

The Annan region occupied by the Free Army was like chicken ribs to the Japanese, tasteless to eat but a pity to throw away.

Even in Thailand, its most prosperous areas are mainly concentrated around Siam.

Moreover, the Free Army had no habit of sending guerrillas behind enemy lines, which meant that the Japanese plundering operations in Southeast Asia and South Asia were not greatly hindered.

"The more energy the Soviets put into the Free Army, the more they will neglect other areas. As long as they don't cross the bottom line, we don't need to care about them." A senior official of the Japanese headquarters put forward this view, and this suggestion won the approval of many people.

In their view, this is just like playing Go. Even if they lose a lot of pieces locally, it is acceptable as long as it does not affect the overall strategic deployment.

In the end, Terauchi Juichi had no choice but to endure it and defend himself.

However, Yamashita Tomoyuki was not willing to give up.

He brought up the opinion of the headquarters and told Terauchi Juichi a piece of news that surprised him: "The headquarters will send us reinforcements to attack the Freedom Army together."

Terauchi Juichi has been busy conquering Borneo recently and did not even notice this news. In comparison, Yamashita Tomoyuki's source of information seems to be more informed.

But Terauchi Shouichi remained calm, just nodded and said calmly: "If that's the case, we will actively cooperate."

Soon, the news from the base camp was confirmed and reinforcements really arrived.

The 23rd Division was urgently transferred to the Southeast Asian battlefield.

Since the opening of the Southeast Asian battlefield, Japan has continuously transferred troops from home and China.

The newly recruited soldiers in the country still needed some time to adapt to the battlefield environment, so the 23rd Division, which had just been formed, was hastily sent here.

After the reorganization, the combat effectiveness of the 23rd Division declined seriously, but compared with other divisions, it still had stronger combat capabilities and could directly engage in battle after a short rest after arriving.

At the Saigon Pier in Nanyang, the scorching equatorial sun poured down unreservedly, as if to melt everything in the world.

The iron plates of the transport ship sizzled as if they would burst into flames at any moment. The dock was filled with a strange smell that mixed the salty smell of seawater, the pungent smell of engine oil, and the smell of scorching sun.

The Type 23 tanks of the rd Division were being slowly unloaded by a huge crane. The heavy mechanical arms made dull creaking sounds, as if they could not bear the weight.

There is still gunpowder smoke on the tank tracks, which are the traces they left on the battlefield and witness the brutal fighting on the battlefield.

Today, these tanks, carrying the smell of gunpowder from the past, have been brought to this strange and dangerous place.

The division commander, Major General Ryozo Sakuma, was wearing a neat military uniform and standing tall on the dock.

The sea breeze blew past, lifting the brim of his hat, and he subconsciously adjusted it.

At this moment, his sharp eyes suddenly caught a glimpse of several cold glances flashing among the dock workers.

His heart trembled, and his eyes instantly became as sharp as an eagle. He looked in the direction of those gazes and saw a group of hunched-backed Annan coolies carrying Japanese ammunition boxes with bamboo poles with great effort.

Their backs were bent like bows by the heavy burdens, and their dark skin was gleaming with sweat. In addition to fatigue and helplessness, their eyes seemed to hide some unspeakable hatred and resistance.

A sense of uneasiness surged in Ryozo Sakuma's heart. He vaguely felt that the resistance force in this land might be far more complex and tenacious than he had imagined.

"This time, Myanmar will cooperate with your attack, and you must drive the Free Army out of Annan." As soon as he arrived at the Southern Army's headquarters, Major General Ryozo Sakuma began to convey the orders issued by the headquarters. They did not require the complete elimination of the Free Army, but only required the recovery of the land of Annan.

"Annam's loss of territory has caused great loss of face to the empire. We need to punish bandits like the Freedom Army to serve as a warning to others and appease all parties." The commander of the 23rd Division briefly explained the original intention of the headquarters, and everyone understood after hearing it.

The recent series of actions by the Free Army have severely slapped the Japanese in the face. The French's cries and the Japanese army's repeated setbacks have given other resistance organizations in Southeast Asia hope. For a time, people kept rising up to make trouble, which made the Japanese top leaders deeply uneasy. They felt that it was time to kill the chicken to scare the monkey.

Terauchi Hisaichi calculated that the Southern Army could spare about four divisions of troops. If this was combined with the five infantry divisions that the Thais had agreed to send, such combat power would be enough to create an overwhelming advantage over the Free Army.

However, Terauchi Juichi still had a trace of worry in his heart. He frowned and said, "One more question needs to be solved. What kind of air support will the Army Aviation give us?" In his opinion, if the air superiority is not gained, the Japanese artillery advantage will be greatly reduced.

"The new fighter planes purchased by the Empire from Germany will be used in the war." This news from the headquarters surprised Terauchi Juichi.

"What about HNA?"

"We should also send fighter jets. After all, the Freedom Army has sunk many of our transport ships during this period."

Hearing this, Terauchi Juichi was surprised.

This not only means that new fighter jets will be put into battle, but also means that the Navy Aviation, which has always been at odds with the Army Aviation, will also join the war.

This news gave Terauchi Juichi hope of completely resolving the Freedom Army problem, but it also made him realize that the next battle would be a tough one.

In preparation for the upcoming battle, the Japanese army began intensive preparations.

After arriving in Southeast Asia, the soldiers of the 23rd Division quickly began intensive training.

They were familiar with the local terrain and climate, and adjusted their tactics and equipment. At the same time, the Japanese army also strengthened intelligence gathering, trying to fully understand the Free Army's troop deployment, weapons and equipment, and combat characteristics.

At a training ground outside Bangkok, the Siamese 5th Infantry Division is conducting an infantry-tank coordination exercise.

The scorching hot weather was like a huge steamer, covering the entire training ground.

The air became distorted under the scorching heat, making people feel as if they were in an unreal world.

The dark-skinned soldiers moved with difficulty under the scorching sun, their faces filled with fatigue and pain.

Sweat had long since dyed their grass-green military uniforms a dark color, which stuck tightly to their bodies, outlining their thin bodies.

Japanese instructor Captain Fujita was wearing a neat military uniform, with a gleaming saber on his waist, and he paced back and forth in front of the team.

His face was full of anger and dissatisfaction, and he roared at the top of his lungs: "You tropical monkeys! How much steel of the empire has been wasted here!" His voice echoed in the empty training ground, full of condescending arrogance and contempt.

However, his roar did not seem to have much effect, and the soldiers were still slow and their coordination was poor.

Suddenly, a suppressed commotion broke out in the queue.

Several recruits could no longer bear the heat and fatigue, and fell to their knees, vomiting continuously.

The nasi lemak they had for lunch had already gone bad in the 40-degree heat and gave off a disgusting smell.

This little episode, like an ominous omen, indicates that this so-called coordinated operation will not be as smooth as imagined.

As for the Free Army, although they did not have the support of the Soviet Union as the Japanese believed, they were also well aware that the threat from the Japanese army was gradually approaching.

Lu Yuhua keenly sensed the movements of the Japanese army, and he began to actively organize the Free Army to prepare for defense.

The Free Army strengthened the defense line in the Annan region, dug trenches and built fortifications, while also continuously expanding its own military strength and improving the combat quality of its soldiers.

Finally, the horn of war sounded. Before the light of dawn completely dispelled the darkness of the night, the Japanese artillery positions were the first to roar.

Heavy howitzers spewed orange-red flames, and the shells whistled through the sky and poured towards the Free Army's defense line.

The earth trembled at the violent explosion. Soil, rocks and gunpowder mixed together to form a death fog that covered the sky.

The 23rd Division, as the vanguard, rushed towards the Free Army's positions like a tide under the cover of artillery fire.

They wore khaki uniforms, steel helmets, and held rifles with bayonets. They shouted deafening slogans and marched in a neat and rapid pace. The faces of the soldiers were full of fanaticism and ferocity. In their eyes, the Free Army was nothing more than a group of lambs to be slaughtered.

The Free Army's defense line was instantly engulfed in flames under the Japanese artillery attack.

The trenches were blown to pieces, sandbags were thrown into the air, and simple fortifications were completely destroyed.

But the Freedom Army fighters did not retreat at all. They stood up from the thick smoke and glared at the rushing Japanese troops with their faces covered in dust and blood.

When the soldiers of the 23rd Division were still dozens of meters away from the defense line, the machine gunners of the Free Army opened fire.

The Maxim heavy machine guns made dull and dense sounds, and bullets rained down on the Japanese army.

The Japanese army's charge formation was disrupted in an instant, the soldiers in the front row fell one after another, and their blood dyed the ground beneath their feet red.

But the Japanese soldiers behind were not afraid. They quickly lay down, used the bodies of their comrades as cover, and continued shooting at the Free Army.

In the fierce exchange of fire, casualties on both sides continued to increase.

Although the soldiers of the Freedom Army were poorly equipped, they relied on their tenacious fighting will and familiarity with the terrain to stubbornly resist the Japanese attack.

They hid in trenches and used firing holes and bunkers to accurately shoot at the Japanese army.

Some soldiers even took over weapons without hesitation and continued fighting after their comrades fell.

Seeing that the frontal charge was blocked, the Japanese army began to change their tactics.

They organized a death squad and went around the flank of the Free Army's defense line, trying to find a breakthrough.

This suicide squad was composed of a group of strong and experienced veterans. They were armed with grenades and had short knives on their waists. Under the cover of firepower, they quickly approached the flank of the Free Army.

The Free Army soon discovered the Japanese army's intentions, and they immediately dispatched part of their forces to block the flank.

A fierce hand-to-hand fight broke out on the flanks, with the soldiers brandishing bayonets and swords and killing each other.

The sounds of shouting, screaming and weapons colliding intertwined together, making people shudder. In this close combat, the soldiers of the Free Army fully demonstrated their bravery and wisdom. They used their flexible body movements and superb fighting skills to fight a desperate battle with the Japanese army.

At the same time, the Japanese army's new fighter planes also joined the battle, whizzing through the air and dropping bombs.

The Free Army's position was once again engulfed in flames, and the anti-aircraft firepower seemed very weak under the attack of Japanese fighter planes.

But the Free Army did not sit idly by. They took advantage of the terrain, such as woods and caves, and cleverly avoided the Japanese air raids.

Some brave soldiers even picked up rifles and shot at Japanese planes in the sky. Although their hit rate was extremely low, their courage shocked the Japanese pilots.

The Japanese troops in Siam also cooperated with the Southern Army's attack according to plan.

They attacked the Free Army from the flank, trying to encircle the Free Army.

The Free Army faced tremendous pressure and had to divide its forces to deal with it, while engaging in fierce battles with the Japanese army on multiple battlefields.

On every battlefield, the soldiers of the Free Army fought bloody battles, defending every inch of land with their lives.

"Commander, should we send out elite troops?" The subordinate looked at Lu Yuhua and asked.

"Wait a little longer." Lu Yuhua shook his head. The frontline troops were all recruited from the natives during this period. He would not feel bad no matter how many casualties there were. But it was different for the elite troops. He would still feel bad if they lost too much. (End of this chapter)