Nanyang 1931: From piglets to giants

Chapter 209 Alor Star Position
At the same time, in Alor Setar, Zheng Yi was carefully inspecting the construction of the position.

"According to intelligence, the Japanese army coming this time is comprised of five divisions led by Yamashita Tomoyuki, as well as two incorporated Indian and Malay divisions. How's the construction progress?"

Nearby, Zhang Yucai, who was in charge of the construction of all the fortifications in Alor Setar, patted his chest and said confidently, "We consulted with experts from the United States, the United Kingdom, and even China to come up with this plan. Our brothers worked day and night to complete it. There's no problem, it's as solid as a rock."

Zhang Yucai was an old acquaintance after all, and now he was mainly working on the project. Upon hearing this, he couldn't help but say, "Immovable as a rock... Sigh~, those four words don't sound very auspicious in the midst of this world war. You didn't cut corners during the construction, did you?"

Zhang Yucai was so anxious when he heard this that he jumped up and down. "Master Zheng, don't be so slanderous! I led 300,000 men to work day and night on this entire defense project. Forget about cutting corners. We have over 40 subcontractors in the Hongmen, and I bet none of them dared to make a single cent extra on this project. I even lost money on it myself."

Zheng Yi: "Look at you, why are you so anxious? I didn't say you would cut corners. I just asked."

It was just a casual remark. After all, since World War II, basically all the well-known defense lines have been destroyed.

The entire project was undertaken by Chinese builders. All other projects were stopped and were carried out by a special construction team. Xu Shengli personally supervised the work, and the Hongmen also supervised itself.

If there is still any cutting corners in this way, Zheng Yi will have no temper.

After all, we are defending against the Japanese devils. The Chinese in Southeast Asia know that once the devils break through the defense line, it will be difficult for everyone to die well.

The entire defensive line is 18 kilometers long and was built after the Japanese army attacked Pattani. There are 32 trenches with barbed wire alone, which surround the city and protect the entire Alor Setar.

Relying on the mountains and bunkers, there are a total of 420 heavy machine gun bunkers, 700 howitzer, flat-fire gun and mortar positions, and more than 500 latest rocket launcher positions, all of which are cross-fire.

Although their pursuit capability was insufficient, their firepower was indeed strong enough, and Zheng Yi was very sure that they had the air superiority.

At least if they force their way in, the Japanese army will definitely not be able to break through.

Especially in Malaya, tanks cannot be deployed fully. No matter from which direction, it is almost impossible for the Japanese to get too many tanks to attack them.

"How is the strength of the Malay Regiment now?" Zheng Yi asked Anand.

Anand: "The total strength of the regular troops is 32,000 men, all carefully selected. I have divided them into six regiments, each stationed at the Liuchu position. In addition, there are auxiliary troops, about 150,000 in total, all of whom have received simple training and are willing to join the army to defend Alor Setar."

"At present, these 150,000 auxiliary troops are just assistants, but they can shoot with guns and can be used as second-line troops. If the Japanese devils can really enter the city, they can engage in street fighting."

"About 150,000 auxiliary troops?"

The so-called auxiliary troops are actually unorganized Malay soldiers. Because the Malay division adopts a conscription system similar to that of the Song Dynasty, Zheng Yi has to support them for their entire lives and even their families.

Even if he were asked to support 100,000 Malays, he would not be able to do so.

Especially now during World War II, the operating rates of all factories except those in the military industry are quite poor, and the export-oriented economy of the SAARC is greatly affected.

Therefore, there are only more than 20,000 regular soldiers in the Malay Corps. Other Malays who are willing to serve as soldiers to fight the Japanese can be given guns and receive training. Zheng Yi even gives them military pay, but it is just a salary and they do not receive the same treatment as regular soldiers.

However, it is wartime and it is hard to find decent jobs. Alor Setar originally planned to develop the service industry in addition to industry, but now the service industry has stopped. These Malays who left their homes actually have no work to do if they do not join the army.

Even if it is just for a living, there are many Malays willing to join the legion.

To put it bluntly, it is the second-line troops in the National Army and the Type B Corps in the Japanese Army, and should not be considered auxiliary troops.

Of course, if you can make contributions in battle, you can still become a regular soldier.

At least for now, Zheng Yi is not worried that these Malays will turn against him and risk their lives.

This is the benefit of Zheng Yi setting up a filming team. A large amount of film, television and photo materials were also seen by the Malays in Alor Setar, and naturally they all knew clearly about the brutality of the Japanese.

Besides, even though they were auxiliary soldiers, Zheng Yi treated them very well and paid them in US dollars, a full three dollars a month.

The food and supplies are no different from those of regular soldiers.

"I know you don't eat pork, so I brought some lamb and beef from Australia. We're going to fight, so we need to eat something good. During this time, Jiazhi will personally take care of your food. Let me be frank with you: if there's any problem with military supplies, I'll kill you without hesitation, and no one's pleas will be of any use."

Anand: "Of course, Mr. Zheng, don't worry, I know that the soldiers are fighting for their lives. If anyone dares to drink their blood at this time, I will definitely kill him."

"Ah."

The entire position is semi-arc-shaped, covering the entire long strip of Alor Setar. If the position can no longer be defended, they can retreat to the city and fight street battles.

Of course, the Malays were only the main force. In reality, it was impossible to use only Malays to defend Alor Setar. The Chinese were also on the battlefield, and most of them cooperated with the Malays and defended the same position.

This was naturally what Zheng Yi intended.

At the beginning, basically everyone was advised to defend their own territory, divide the entire position into sections, and fight on their own.

After all, the Chinese and Malays are not in the same command system, and even ordinary soldiers do not speak the same language, which will inevitably affect command efficiency.

However, after careful consideration, Zheng Yi decided to let the Chinese and Malays guard the same position together, but most of them would be responsible for cross-fire in one area.

After all, in Zheng Yi's view, the upper-class elites among the Chinese and the upper-class elites among the Malays can speak English, and even the upper-class Malays can speak Chinese. Generally speaking, the problem of communication is not a big one.

Even if this move will have a slight impact on the command system during combat, the impact will probably be relatively limited.

However, fighting together between Malays and Chinese will always be beneficial to the future ethnic integration and harmonious coexistence of the two races.

The Chinese on the front lines were no less numerous than the Malays, perhaps even more. The entire Alor Setar front probably numbered over 200,000, and even then, they could still be rotated. They were organized around various chambers of commerce, each defending their own positions. They weren't professional soldiers, so they were just defensive.

Furthermore, if everyone really fights each other, then no matter which side loses the area defended, it will definitely be blamed, which will affect the subsequent war.

"The enemy's several divisions are all elite, and they have a large number of troops. We should defend as much as possible, but if we can't hold on any longer, we have to retreat. This position doesn't need to be fought for every inch."

"The entire position is layered. We can retreat layer by layer. Even if we retreat 10,000 steps, we can still retreat to Alor Setar and fight street battles with the Japanese."

"Yes, Mr. Zheng, I understand."

"There's another thing I want to tell you. These are very critical times. In Penang, all the men are on the front lines. The women and children are left in Penang to do whatever they can. Alor Setar is, after all, the front line, and there's a high probability that street fighting will take place."

"If you want, you can send your wives and children to Penang. At least, relatively speaking, it is safer than Aro Setar."

"Of course, I'm doing this purely out of protection. It's entirely voluntary. I absolutely don't mean to take your family hostage."

"And I have to tell you, living conditions in Penang are not as good as they used to be. Women and children can still find places to live, but men are sleeping in factories and on the streets."

"But you can rest assured that Penang currently has sufficient food. Although rice is supplied with coupons, people can still eat their fill. Everything other than rice can be bought with money."

"I don't know. What do you think?"

Anand was stunned when he heard this.

They say they don't mean to take you as hostage, but in fact they do. They say they won't force you, but if you really disagree, it's actually hard to explain.

After all, no matter how crowded Penang is, it is still better than Alor Setar, which is not actually completed. Besides, Alor Setar is also quite crowded now.

If anyone disagrees, what do you want to do?
"If Penang is willing to accept Malays like us, that would be our dream."

Zheng Yi: "At this time, facing the Japanese devils, who cares about the distinction between Chinese and Malays? I treat you all equally. The food standards for you and the Chinese are the same. It's just that you don't eat pork, so you share the food."

Anand quickly said, "No, no, I have never thought of that."

"It's fine if you don't."

Zheng Yi met with several key Malay military leaders and even gave a passionate speech in person. He even had meals with them instead of with the Chinese.

After all, when the Chinese fought against the Japanese, there was really no need for any mobilization or encouragement to boost morale. It would be better to leave it to Li Lili and get some young ladies to dance for them to watch. It might be more interesting than listening to Zheng Yi's vernacular.

They mainly come here for the Malays.

"Sir, I just received a call. Penang was attacked this morning."

While eating, Li Lili, who was still serving as Zheng Yi's secretary, whispered.

Zheng Yi didn't even seem surprised. He asked, "Is it serious? Are they firing on the west bank again?"

"Yes, I heard it might be the Yamato, the newly launched Japanese ship known as the national treasure. It must have passed by and fired two rounds. Their target is the Andaman Island."

"The Yamato went to the Andaman Islands... Tsk, this is a bit troublesome."

What Zheng Yi was most worried about happened.

This fleet was going to launch a feint attack on Yangon, which Zheng Yi had known for a long time, but the question was, did the Yamato need to be used in the feint attack?
Who was the commander of the Yamato? Could it be Yamamoto himself?

If that is the case, then is this a feint to attack Yangon?

Ceylon is their target, right?

This matter may not cause such a big reaction to others, but for a time traveler like Zheng Yi, anything that is too different from the course of history will naturally arouse his vigilance.

He certainly couldn't remember many details about the Second World War, but the Yamato, Japan's trump card national treasure, seemed to have never been on a mission in the Indian Ocean in history.

The Battle of Ceylon was definitely not on such a large scale.

"We really need to collaborate with Germany."

"Oh, right, Mr. Toyota found Mr. Chen and said he hopes to lead the Japanese immigrants to the battlefield. He said even if it's just giving them a batch of shovels and letting them serve as engineers on the battlefield, that would be fine."

Zheng Yi frowned. "What nonsense! Most of those Japanese immigrants are technicians. Wouldn't it be a waste to send them to the front lines? Wouldn't it be better for them to stay in the rear and make artillery shells?"

Li Lili: "I think their situation is indeed a bit awkward. The Yamato fired two shots today, both of which accurately hit the coastal defense fort. It is almost certain that there is a traitor, especially General Chen's coastal defense forces, who are very unfriendly to these Japanese residents."

"I see... Actually, it's not impossible. Those unskilled workers can go to the front lines if they really want to. But forget about resisting guns. After all, they are all compatriots. Since we are winning them over with virtue, let's not make it seem like a pledge of allegiance. That would be a bit cruel to them."

"Help them out, or have them make some pamphlets to persuade people to surrender, or let them see what they can do. Medical soldiers and art soldiers can also do it."

"Yes, I understand."

"Oh, right, contact my brother-in-law, Li Xiaoshi, and have him go to Ceylon. I need to confirm whether there are any problems with the Ceylon navy and whether they will be transferred. If so, please ask him to make sure the British inform us in advance."

(End of this chapter)