Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Chapter 478: The confusion of the command, the choice of the British, and Roosevelt's decision! (Subscribe)

Before leaving the command post.

Chu Yunfei paused, and then said loudly: "Inform all units, all units, immediately strengthen the existing positions, organize the largest air defense, and rescue the wounded at all costs!

Also, take inventory of weapons, supplies, and fodder reserves! Keep communications open, wait for follow-up instructions, and do not attack without authorization. Violators will be subject to military law."

"Yes!"

After walking out, Chu Yunfei walked towards the small river in the distance with the support of Sun Ming.

Only after they were completely far away did Sun Ming anxiously ask, "Sir, what should we do?"

His eyes were full of worry, as if he could see the port of Yangon that had turned into a scorched earth.

"If the port of Yangon is completely destroyed by the Japanese army, our army's subsequent supply will become a huge problem! Once the sea transportation line is cut off, the domestic battlefield will never be able to withstand the Japanese attack."

His voice trembled slightly. "And all our previous plans to seize and use the port of Rangoon, deplete the Japanese army's manpower, and carry out the corresponding counterattack will all come to naught, right?"

Chu Yunfei's footsteps paused almost imperceptibly.

The question that Sun Ming just raised was exactly the core issue that was hanging on his mind like a huge weight at this moment.

With the national strength of the Nationalist Government, it would be useless even if it did nothing at home.

There is also no ability to restore Myanmar's largest port, with an annual throughput of approximately 1.8 million tons, in a short period of time.

Among the current allied forces, only the United States has the ability to reopen the Myanmar port in a short period of time.

If the Americans continue to insist on the strategy of Europe first and Asia second and refuse to provide corresponding assistance, then Chu Yunfei will only have three options left.

First, take the initiative to attack and seize Maodanmian, Myanmar’s second largest freshwater port.

Second, maintain defensive warfare, open up the China-India Highway, and re-gather and distribute supplies from the British territory, which is longer distance and less efficient.

The third and most extreme situation is to try to rely on airdrops to solve the problem. This is second only to the second option in terms of efficiency. The advantage is that supplies can be quickly replenished, but it also requires the full support of the Americans.

But no matter which path he chooses, it is almost impossible for Chu Yunfei to do so.

The sound of explosions in the distance and the noisy roar of the engines of Japanese planes in the sky were extremely loud.

It made him a little upset.

Chu Yunfei did not answer Sun Ming immediately. He just turned his head slightly and signaled him with his eyes to keep moving forward.

Sun Ming suddenly realized and followed silently.

To think about some key strategic issues, one really needs to change to a quiet environment and think carefully before considering them.

Inside the command post, Stilwell looked at the backs of the people leaving one after another, his brows furrowed, his expression complex and incomprehensible, as he fell into deep strategic thinking.

He naturally knew what the destruction of Yangon Port meant.

If it weren't for the previous victory, the Japanese army would never have done such a desperate thing.

Chu Yunfei's departure plunged the command post, which was filled with tense atmosphere, into an eerie calm.

"There's nothing to worry about. Commander Chu will definitely find a way."

"Yes, that's Commander Chu!"

Several staff officers from the sixth class of the Whampoa Military Academy were whispering to each other.

Although the voice was very low, it also told a basic fact.

Everyone in the joint command center was subconsciously waiting for Chu Yunfei's countermeasures.

He is the backbone of the joint command! He is also the answer that the entire expeditionary force wants to get.
-
The Fifth Army Headquarters, inside a semi-underground bunker.

The choking smell of gunpowder penetrated the trenches of the bunker and mixed with the stench of trampling, sweat, and blood, making people feel sick.

Everyone in the command center also knew about the explosion in Yangon Port.

Before they could have any follow-up discussions, a massive fleet of Japanese aircraft attacked the Fifth Army's position again.

This group of Japanese air force should have been deployed in the vast combat area in Southeast Asia.

At this moment, they were deployed almost crazily by Terauchi Hisaichi at airports in Thailand and Myanmar.

They were determined to use almost the entire strategic group of the Southern Army to fight against the expeditionary force of more than 100,000 troops at all costs.

What a huge pressure this is!

"Report! A part of the 3rd Regiment of the 200th Division was dive-bombed by enemy aircraft while on the move, and more than half of them were killed or wounded!"

A signalman, covered in dust and blood, staggered in.

Before he finished his words, another heavy explosion sounded nearby.

The command center shook violently, and more dust fell from the ceiling.

Commander Dai Anlan stood in front of the map, his posture as straight as a pine tree, but his face as gloomy as water.

When he heard the words "more than half of the casualties", his hand holding the telescope tightened suddenly, and his knuckles turned white.

He simply closed his eyes slightly to quickly hide the fleeting pain, and when he opened them again, his eyes had returned to their cold determination.

He turned to Du Yuming and said in a low but loud voice: "Commander Du."

Du Yuming understood what he meant and signaled him with his eyes to be patient.

"Damn those little Japanese! I'll fuck their ancestors for eighteen generations!" Qiu Qingquan kicked a nearby supply box away with a fierce kick, his eyes were so red that they almost spewed fire, like an enraged lion: "These little Japanese bastards! If you can't win, just blow up the port, and if you run away, you still bite people in the ass!
Why don't we fight back?
I will lead the newly formed 22nd Division to charge forward and chop that damn Iida Shojiro into pieces and feed him to the turtles!"

Qiu Qingquan was spitting all over the place, he was so furious that he almost lost his mind. The thick smell of blood seemed to stimulate his tense nerves again, making him think of some old things that had happened before.

"Brother Yu'an!" Liao Yaoxiang interrupted him firmly: "Anger can't solve the problem."

"The Japanese army's series of actions, from bombing the port to their large-scale air raids, were perfectly coordinated and clearly carefully planned."

"The strategic intention is clear: to completely destroy the use of Yangon Port and cut off our sea routes."

"We must immediately consider how to maintain the survival and combat of these more than 100,000 combat troops without the support of sea transport!"

"Don't forget that because of Commander Chu's strategic choice, we tried to monopolize Yangon, which actually offended the British. We don't have much choice now."

His words were like ice water, extinguishing half of Qiu Qingquan's flames, but making the atmosphere in the command post even more solemn.

Everyone's eyes subconsciously turned to the silent Du Yuming.

The supreme commander of the Fifth Army (who was also the deputy commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force) stood in front of the map with his hands behind his back. There was no extra expression on his face. His furrowed brows and the complex emotions surging in his eyes showed the tremendous pressure he was under.

The Fifth Army Command had just received a telegram from the Joint Command. Coupled with the huge explosion at Yangon Port, the short order was like a heavy hammer, shattering all previous optimistic expectations.

He scanned the subordinates and colleagues in front of him: Dai Anlan's forbearance and firmness, Qiu Qingquan's violence and unwillingness, Liao Yaoxiang's nervousness and anxiety.

Du Yuming sighed in his heart: "The balance of the Burmese war has never been so heavy and unpredictable as it is now."

He picked up the telegram from the newspaper, cleared his throat, and announced word by word in an unquestionable, metallic tone:

"Commander Chu of the Joint Command has ordered: All units, immediately reinforce existing positions, organize anti-aircraft defense to the greatest extent possible, and rescue the wounded at all costs! Take inventory of weapons, supplies, and food reserves! Keep communications open, and launching attacks is strictly prohibited. Wait for follow-up orders. Those who violate orders will be subject to military law." The command post suddenly became quiet, with the faint echo of explosions and the crackling sound of radio equipment coming from afar.

Qiu Qingquan's face flushed red as if his neck was being strangled. "Why don't you take the initiative to attack? The vanguard of our newly formed 22nd Division has already opened a gap in the defensive counterattack. Could it be that the Japanese have prepared a pocket formation?"

Under Du Yuming's sharp gaze, Qiu Qingquan turned his head towards both sides in indignation and said no more.

Du Yuming looked at everyone, his voice filled with unquestionable majesty: "Did you hear that clearly?! Execute the order immediately! Find out our assets right away, down to every bullet and every bag of food."

"Yes!"
-
In the mountain city, the headquarters is brightly lit.

A huge map of the Southeast Asian war zone covered the entire wall, with the latest enemy and friendly positions densely marked on it in red and blue pencils.

The air was filled with a strong smell of tobacco and a lingering sense of tension.

Several senior generals in neat uniforms with general stars on their shoulders were discussing something in a low and rapid voice around a map, their faces full of solemnity and worry. The aides and staff officers were hurrying along, continuously delivering the latest telegrams.

As the sound of footsteps rang out, everyone looked in the direction of the sound.

He Jingzhi, looking exhausted, walked quickly into the meeting room.

He had just finished communicating with the British military attaché.

Now his face is gloomy and his brows are furrowed.

Someone immediately stepped forward and asked anxiously, "Commander He, what is the British response? What is their attitude towards the regimes in the Middle East?"

He Yingqin walked to the map, glanced at the anxious eyes around him, and said in a deep voice: "The attitude of the British side is quite cold."

As soon as these words were spoken, the already tense atmosphere in the meeting room became even colder.

He Yingqin said, his voice unable to conceal his fatigue and disappointment: "They seem to have decided to abandon southern Myanmar. Wavell is determined to focus his strategic focus on India, and they are planning to speed up the transfer of crude oil reserves in the Yenangyaung area under their control."

"Transporting crude oil?" Several generals frowned at the same time.

"Yes." He Yingqin nodded: "Moreover, the British also put forward a 'suggestion' or 'condition'."

He Jingzhi paused, with obvious sarcasm in his tone, "They promised that if our expeditionary force is willing and able to continue to maintain the current front, we can buy them some time."

"Then they are willing to transfer 40 percent of their existing crude oil reserves in Yenangyaung to us at a 'preferential price'."

Xu Yongchang, the head of the Military Affairs Department in charge of logistics and combat planning, immediately pointed out a key problem: "General He, the situation on the front line is critical. Our army is already stretched to its limits. I don't know how long it can last. If we agree to the British and send troops to transport or receive this batch of crude oil, we will inevitably have to use our extremely limited automobile transportation capacity.

This will inevitably squeeze the transportation of urgently needed supplies, medicines, food and other military supplies on the front line.”

"We have too few cars! This is simply"

He didn't finish his sentence, but the implication was clear: this was a difficult and potentially fatal choice.

The British obviously have bad intentions.

"These damned British guys!" Xue Yue, who was straight-forward and hot-tempered, snorted heavily and said angrily, "They still have the nerve to make conditions?"

“During the Battle of Singapore, how many supplies and vehicles were captured by the Japanese or sunk into the sea because of their poor defense?”

“I heard there are thousands of cars on the register alone!”

"Now our expeditionary force is bleeding and dying there, and they are so short of oil and vehicles, but instead of helping them, they want to take advantage of the situation and use their unwanted crude oil reserves to force us to hold the line for them so that they can evacuate calmly and keep their oil?"

"This is simply ridiculous!"

Chen Cheng added coldly, his tone full of sarcasm: "Isn't it? Just three days ago, the British military attaché in China was hinting that after we captured Rangoon, they would 'necessarily' send troops to 'take over the defense'."

"The implication is that you want to sit back and reap the benefits."

"Well, the Japanese bombed Rangoon Harbor themselves, and the frontline was in a mess. They never mentioned 'taking over' the defense, but instead started thinking about how to move their own things away and use us at the same time."

"The British are smarter than anyone else in their calculations!"

Within the command center, dissatisfaction and resentment towards the British spread rapidly.

Chang Ruiyuan didn't say anything the whole time, just listened quietly.

The frequency of his fingers tapping on the chair seemed to increase a little, showing his inner unrest.

After He Jingzhi finished reporting the situation, he looked at the expeditionary force struggling to hold on on the map, then looked at the Chairman, waiting for the final decision of the supreme commander.

He didn't say anything after all. He was also waiting.
Waiting for Chu Yunfei's countermeasures and the official response from the lame president.

The sound of hurried footsteps sounded, with a unique rhythm.

Everyone turned to look at the entrance and the telegram in Wang Shihe's hand.
-
Washington DC.

The White House, Oval Office.

President Roosevelt sat behind his desk, listening attentively to the report from Army Chief of Staff General George Marshall.

In his hand he held the latest telegram.

"Mr. President," Marshall said directly, "General Stilwell sent an urgent telegram that the Japanese troops are withdrawing from Rangoon."

Roosevelt nodded, awaiting the inevitable complications.

“Before the evacuation,” Marshall continued, “the Japanese implemented a thorough scorched earth policy. Rangoon’s port facilities, docks, cranes, warehouses, were systematically destroyed.”

"Preliminary reports indicate that Rangoon was almost completely destroyed under the cover of the Japanese army's planned bombing and fierce air strikes, and the expeditionary force's pursuit troops suffered heavy casualties."

Roosevelt's expression turned serious. "Scorched earth policy."

"Damn it. How many casualties?"

"The vanguard in China is the newly formed 11th Army carefully built by War Marshal Chu Yunfei. This unit is very important, Mr. President." Marshall replied gloomily. "General Stilwell confirmed that at least one-third of them were killed or wounded in the air strike, and the port of Rangoon will not be able to be used for major shipping in the foreseeable future, at least for several months."

"If we continue to provide support here, we can only dispatch a large number of small boats for rendezvous."

Roosevelt heard this and said: "This is really a heavy blow. This makes our plan to provide assistance to Chiang Kai-shek extremely difficult."

"Indeed, sir," Marshall agreed. "General Stilwell estimates that if rebuilding the port is feasible, it will require a large amount of engineering investment and may even require the deployment of appropriate naval forces to provide support."

"What about the British?" Roosevelt asked briefly.

“Mr. President, the British are focused elsewhere,” Marshall said carefully. “Our allies seem more preoccupied with India.”

Roosevelt sighed and tapped the table: "Well, we must keep China involved in this war, at least to help us contain the Japanese in Southeast Asia.

Immediately begin assessing the feasibility, cost, and time required to rebuild the port of Yangon.

I need to know if this is possible and how much resources we will need to invest.”

He paused, then added: "Continue to support Stilwell and the Chinese forces under his command, especially General Chu's troops, who appear to be very efficient. Money is no object."

"Yes, Mr. President," Marshall confirmed. "But I must emphasize again that the transfer of the necessary engineering capabilities to the reconstruction of Rangoon Port will affect other key theaters and even the aviation forces in the Pacific Theater."

"I understand, George," Roosevelt said, his tone firm despite the setback: "I understand that nothing in this war is easy. What we can do now is to fully support our Chinese allies!"

(End of this chapter)