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

At that time, Myanmar had extraordinary strategic significance for China.

It is not only an important barrier on China's southwestern border, but also the key to maintaining the channel for international aid materials to China.

Once Burma falls into the hands of the Japanese army, China will face the desperate situation of being completely blockaded, the lifeline of international aid will be ruthlessly cut off, and the situation of the War of Resistance will become more difficult.

At that time, Britain's colonial rule in Southeast Asia was already crumbling.

The fierce offensive of the Japanese army came like a storm, and the British troops stationed in Burma were simply unable to resist.

At this critical moment of life and death, the British army had no choice but to send an urgent request to China, hoping that the Chinese Expeditionary Force could quickly enter Burma to fight and help them solve the urgent problem.

On the Chinese side, Shancheng resolutely agreed to the British army's request out of considerations of its own strategic interests and the moral obligation of mutual cooperation among the allies.

However, this seemingly simple decision to send troops triggered a fierce argument during the subsequent negotiations over the issue of weapons and equipment.

In the headquarters of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, the atmosphere was solemn and depressing, as if the air was frozen by this tense atmosphere.

The generals sat around the conference table with serious expressions, and everyone's face was full of worry.

A life-or-death discussion was underway, and at the heart of it was the upcoming battle plan in Burma.

"We are all aware that this battle in Burma is an arduous one. Our soldiers are not afraid of sacrifice. They have firm beliefs and fearless courage. But without sufficiently sophisticated weapons and equipment, it will undoubtedly be like hitting a rock with an egg, sending them to die in vain." A young regiment commander was the first to break the silence. His words were full of worry, and his voice trembled slightly with excitement.

The Expeditionary Force Commander-in-Chief Du Yuming nodded slightly. "I have communicated with the British Army and solemnly proposed that they support a batch of weapons and equipment. This is not only a guarantee for the lives of our soldiers, but also the key to improving the odds of victory. We cannot let our soldiers fight against the Japanese guns with bare hands."

Du Yuming's tone was steady and powerful, and every word seemed like a reassurance, bringing a glimmer of hope to the generals present.

At the same time, a similar discussion was taking place intensively in the British military base.

"The Chinese are asking us to provide weapons and equipment, which is simply an exorbitant demand! Our own armaments are very tight, and we wish we could break every weapon in half to use. How can we have any extra ones to give them?" A British colonel said unhappily, his brows tightly furrowed, his face full of dissatisfaction and resistance.

The British commander frowned, his eyes revealing a hint of helplessness and confusion.

"But without the support of the Chinese army, we may not be able to hold out in Burma for long. Once Burma falls, our colonial rule in Southeast Asia will completely collapse. Weighing the pros and cons, it is necessary to provide some equipment appropriately. We cannot only consider our own interests and ignore the overall situation of the war." Although the commander's words were calm, they revealed an unquestionable authority.

The negotiations between the two sides were carried out with difficulty under such circumstances. At the negotiation table, the Chinese and British representatives each insisted on their own opinions, and the atmosphere was as tense as a taut bowstring that seemed to break at any time.

The Chinese representative spoke sincerely, his eyes full of expectation and determination. "We should fight the Japanese together, this is our common goal. And it is your duty to provide equipment. The Chinese army lacks heavy weapons and it is difficult to compete with the Japanese army on the battlefield. Without enough weapons, how can we effectively fight the enemy and protect our soldiers and civilians?" The Chinese representative's words were sincere and every word was full of desire for victory and care for the soldiers.

The British representative was embarrassed, his face was full of helplessness and embarrassment. "Our material supply is also extremely tight, you should understand this. It is really powerless to meet your needs. We are also facing huge pressure in other battlefields. The distribution of materials is already stretched to the limit, and every weapon must be used carefully." There was a hint of bitterness in the British representative's tone. He also knew the importance of the Burmese battlefield, but his own predicament made it difficult for him to make concessions.

As the negotiations progressed, the conflict between the two sides gradually intensified, like a volcano about to erupt, the long-suppressed emotions finally broke out.

The Chinese representative slammed the table in excitement, his voice becoming high-pitched with anger.

"Without sufficient weapons and equipment, how can our soldiers fight bloody battles with the Japanese army on the battlefield? Are we going to let them die in vain? They are also flesh and blood people. They also have families and friends. They are willing to sacrifice their lives and shed their blood to fight against the invasion. We can't let them face the enemy unprepared!" There was a flash of anger in the eyes of the Chinese representative, and every move he made was full of power.

The British representative was not to be outdone. He stood up suddenly, put his hands on the table, and leaned forward, as if he was ready to compete with the other side.

"You have to understand that we are also facing tremendous pressure in other battlefields, and the distribution of supplies is already stretched. We also have our own soldiers who need equipment, and our own defense lines that need to be held. It's not that we don't want to help you, but we really don't have the ability to meet all your requirements." The British representative's voice was equally high, and his eyes revealed a kind of stubbornness and persistence.

Quarrels broke out one after another, and the meeting room was filled with a strong smell of gunpowder.

Everyone was arguing for his or her own position and no one was willing to give in easily.

At this time, the Japanese offensive in Burma became increasingly fierce, and their iron hooves trampled the land ruthlessly.

The British army was defeated one after another, and the situation in Myanmar was precarious, like a building about to collapse, which could fall into an abyss of no return at any time.

As for the Chinese Expeditionary Force, the plan to send troops was at a standstill due to the delay in the delivery of weapons and equipment.

They knew very well that with every day of delay, the situation in Myanmar would worsen, and the crisis in China's southwestern border would deepen.

The Japanese army's invasion would not stop because of their waiting. Every minute and every second, countless lives were lost in the war.

On the one hand, they continued to engage in difficult negotiations with the British army, trying to persuade the British army to provide more weapons and equipment.

Every negotiation is a fierce confrontation, with both sides fighting for their own interests.

The Chinese representatives argued their case using facts and data to illustrate the importance of the Chinese army on the battlefield in Myanmar and the difficulties they faced due to the lack of weapons and equipment.

They hope that the British army can understand their situation and lend a helping hand. On the other hand, they are also actively trying to allocate some weapons from the country, although the quantity is limited, but it is better than nothing.

They ran around and coordinated resources from all parties, hoping to provide even a little bit of protection for the soldiers who were about to go to war.

Fierce divisions also arose within the British army, like a fierce civil war, with different voices colliding within.

Some people believe that in order to keep Myanmar, an important strategic stronghold, the equipment needs of the Chinese Expeditionary Force must be met.

They were well aware of the importance of Burma to the entire war situation. Once Burma fell, the Japanese army would advance straight in and their defense line in Southeast Asia would completely collapse.

The Chinese Expeditionary Force is their last hope. Only by providing them with sufficient equipment can they exert their maximum combat effectiveness on the battlefield.

Another group of people were worried that once a large number of weapons and equipment were provided to the Chinese army, their own defense in other areas would become weaker. They were worried that their defense line would be broken by the Japanese army due to the reduction of weapons, and their soldiers would be in danger due to lack of equipment.

Amid this tense situation, the international situation is also quietly changing.

As the war continued, Japan faced the dilemma of resource shortage. The lack of strategic materials such as oil and rubber seriously restricted the operation of its war machine.

Japan is like a giant with its hands and feet bound. Although it is still struggling, it is gradually losing its strength.

Their planes could not take off for lack of fuel, their tanks could not move for lack of rubber tires, and their warships could not fight for lack of spare parts.

At this time, the United States, as a powerful country in the world, not only imposed economic sanctions on Japan and restricted the export of materials to Japan, but also deployed powerful military forces in the Pacific region, posing a huge threat to Japan.

The United States was like a solid fortress, blocking Japan's expansion path.

Their warships patrolled the Pacific and their planes circled in the sky, keeping a close eye on Japan's every move.

Isoroku Yamamoto, commander of the Japanese Navy Combined Fleet, knew that in order to break the strategic blockade of the United States and clear the obstacles for Japan's expansion, he had to take a bold and risky action. After careful consideration, he set his sights on Pearl Harbor, the US naval base in Hawaii.

Pearl Harbor is like a shining pearl of the United States in the Pacific Ocean. Once it is destroyed, the US Pacific Fleet will suffer severe damage and Japan will gain a temporary strategic advantage.

Isoroku Yamamoto developed a careful battle plan. He carefully selected elite pilots and warships from the Japanese Navy to form a powerful attack fleet.

The fleet included six aircraft carriers, carrying hundreds of fighters, bombers and torpedo planes, as well as several battleships, cruisers and destroyers.

Each warship has been carefully prepared and each pilot has undergone rigorous training. They are like a group of warriors about to go into battle, waiting for the call to battle.

To ensure the success of the raid, the Japanese fleet strictly maintained radio silence during the voyage and secretly crossed the vast waters of the North Pacific.

They were like a group of ghosts, moving quietly in the darkness without leaving a trace.

Every soldier held his breath, afraid of making any sound that would expose their whereabouts.

In the early morning, Pearl Harbor was still immersed in tranquility.

The US Navy's warships are neatly moored in the port, some soldiers are still asleep, while others are conducting daily training.

They had no idea that a huge disaster was about to happen.

The sky over Pearl Harbor is clear blue, the sea breeze is blowing gently, and everything seems so calm and peaceful.

However, they never expected that the Japanese fleet launched an attack deployment in waters about 200 nautical miles from Pearl Harbor.

The first wave of attack aircraft quickly took off and roared towards Pearl Harbor.

When the U.S. military radar discovered this group of unidentified aircraft, it mistakenly thought they were its own patrol aircraft and did not pay enough attention to them.

They were still busy and leisurely, unaware that danger was approaching.

It was not until Japanese planes flew over Pearl Harbor and dropped the first bomb that the U.S. military woke up and realized that they were under attack.

In an instant, Pearl Harbor was engulfed in flames. Bombs and torpedoes continued to fall on American warships, and the explosions were deafening, as if they were going to shatter the entire world.

The battleship "Arizona" was hit directly by a bomb in the ammunition depot, causing a huge explosion. It sank to the bottom of the sea almost instantly, and more than a thousand officers and soldiers on board were unfortunately killed.

Before they could react, they were engulfed by the ruthless flames of war. The battleship USS Oklahoma was also hit by multiple torpedoes and quickly capsized, like a collapsed mountain, sinking to the bottom of the sea. Other warships were also severely damaged, and the port facilities and airport runways were also severely damaged. The fire was blazing, black smoke filled the sky, and the entire Pearl Harbor turned into a living hell.

The U.S. military was thrown into chaos and panic by the sudden attack. Fighters hurriedly took off to meet the enemy, but due to insufficient preparation, many planes were blown up on the runway before they could take off. Although anti-aircraft guns began to fight back, due to the lack of effective command and coordination, the firepower was very scattered and could not pose an effective threat to Japanese aircraft. The U.S. soldiers fled in all directions, their faces full of fear and despair. They didn't know how to deal with this sudden attack and could only struggle to survive in the chaos.

The second wave of Japanese attack aircraft followed suit. They carried out more intense bombings on the remaining targets in Pearl Harbor, further expanding the victory. In more than two hours of attack, Japan dropped thousands of bombs and torpedoes, causing huge losses to the US military. A total of 8 battleships, 3 cruisers, and 3 destroyers of the US military were sunk or severely damaged, 188 aircraft were destroyed, 2403 people were killed, and 1178 people were injured. Behind these numbers are countless broken families and countless lives lost.

The Pearl Harbor raid gave Japan a huge strategic advantage in the short term. The US Pacific Fleet was severely damaged and could not pose a substantial threat to Japan's expansion in the short term.

There was cheering in Japan, and militarist frenzy reached its peak. They thought they had won, but they didn't know that they had completely angered the giant of the United States.

However, Isoroku Yamamoto was not optimistic about this.

He knew very well that the United States had a strong industrial base and war potential. Although this attack was temporarily successful, it also completely angered the American giant, and the United States would definitely fight back with all its might.

As Yamamoto Isoroku expected, when the news of the Pearl Harbor incident reached the United States, the whole country was shocked and the people's anger reached its peak. The United States was like an enraged lion, roaring angrily.

The participation of the US military has also brought a glimmer of hope for Myanmar’s equipment dispute.

As an important member of the Allies, the United States realized the importance of the Burmese battlefield and also paid attention to the conflict between China and Britain over equipment issues. The US government decided to mediate and promised to provide some weapons and equipment to ease the tension between the two sides.

After receiving this news, the attitudes of both China and Britain eased.

The British Army expressed its willingness to provide some auxiliary weapons and equipment within its capabilities.

They finally realized that only by uniting together could they defeat the common enemy. The Chinese Expeditionary Force also made certain concessions and no longer insisted on the initial full equipment requirements. They also understood that compromise and cooperation were necessary at this difficult time.

Finally, the two sides reached an agreement. After receiving some weapons and equipment, the Chinese Expeditionary Force quickly assembled and set out to the Burmese battlefield. (End of this chapter)