The War of Resistance: My Expedition, My Country

Chapter 108 The Cunning Japanese Army

Obata Hideyoshi went on to say: "Based on the experience gained from previous battles, the Imperial Army will face the threat of a large number of sophisticated tank armored forces from the United States and Britain after entering India. These tanks and armored vehicles are not comparable to the existing tanks and armored vehicles of the Imperial Army. Our Axis Ally Germany relied on its powerful tank mechanized corps to eliminate France and other Western European powers within a week, and defeated millions of elite Soviet troops within half a year. Not long ago, it even annihilated the Soviet heavy armored group in one fell swoop in Stalingrad!" A smug smile appeared on his face, as if he had already seen the victory of the Japanese army on the Indian battlefield.

"His Majesty the Emperor and the Imperial Headquarters managed to obtain a batch of Leopard tanks and supporting weapons from Germany, and secretly formed the 4th Tank Division. It has now quietly entered Burma and will arrive in Imphal soon." Obata Hideyoshi's voice was full of confidence. He believed that the strength of the Japanese army could win on the Indian battlefield.

Kimura stood up and stopped Obata Hideyoshi from explaining. He said, "At present, the main tasks facing the 15th Army are: to break through the blockade of the United States and Britain in East India as soon as possible, cut off the railway artery in northeastern India, encircle and suppress the Chinese troops stationed in northeastern India, and destroy the Hump Route. Force Chongqing, China to give up resistance. In this way, the Empire will withdraw more troops from China to join the stranglehold of the United States and Britain in the Middle East!" His eyes revealed a cold light, as if saying, "We will definitely win!"

At Kimura's signal, Obata Hideyoshi continued, "Commander Kimura's decoy plan has achieved certain results. According to intelligence, the main forces of the United States and Britain in East India have gathered on the Aizawl front, attempting to engage in large-scale positional warfare with us and try to block our army's advance. This is very beneficial to our central line raid. The Southern Army and the Burmese Front have approved our combat plan!" A sinister smile appeared on his face, as if to say, "American and British troops, your doom has come!"

After Obata Hideyoshi finished speaking, he looked at Kimura Heitaro and waited for Kimura to give the final order.

Kimura nodded, collected himself, and with a serious expression, he glanced majestically at the generals at all levels present, then said loudly: "Order!"

"Swish!", senior officers of various Japanese military units immediately stood up, bowed their heads and saluted, then stood straight waiting for Kimura's order.

"31st Division, 115th Division! Your troops will pretend to be the main force and cooperate with the heavy artillery brigade transferred from the 28th Army to continue the diversionary attack on the US and British forces on the Aizawl line!"

"Hey"

"1st Division! Your unit will march lightly with three main infantry regiments from Kerlang, southwestern Myanmar, and secretly cross the Kaladan River. Make a detour to seize the important southeastern Indian city of Longlai. Then, split into two groups: one to the north to attack Aizawl, and the other to the south to launch a surprise attack on Chittagong!"

"Hey"

"2nd Division, 53rd Division! Your main force will advance stealthily along the newly opened road, suddenly appearing east of Silchar, crushing the current enemy in one fell swoop. Then, quickly maneuver and encircle the main US and British forces on the Aizawl front and annihilate them!"

"Hey"

"The Imperial Headquarters has made a great determination this time. The 3rd, 5th, and 11th Air Regiments will be dispatched together to provide us with air support. At the same time, a naval battlecruiser fleet has been secretly dispatched to ambush the US and British Indian Ocean Fleet in the waters south of Chittagong!"

"The rise of the empire depends on this battle. I urge you to work hard to realize the empire's grand aspirations! The Emperor is aboard!"

"Onboard!"

"Boom boom boom——"

On the Aizawl front, 155 heavy artillery shells continued to fall on the front line of the British and Indian positions. The explosions raised smoke more than ten meters high, and dirt, dust, and debris were everywhere.

The Japanese heavy artillery fire became increasingly frequent, with small-scale surprise attacks occurring on consecutive nights. The Japanese were also attempting to clear the obstacles set up by the 18th Group Army. All signs indicated that the Japanese were about to launch a large-scale offensive!

As the theater chief of staff and commander of the southern front, Wedemeyer once again came to the front line of the 18th Army to carefully observe the actions of the Japanese army. New intelligence showed that the Japanese 31st Division and various parts of the 1st Division had once again advanced to the east of Aizawl.

Wedemeyer was wondering if the large-scale mobilization of the Japanese army would lead to a new round of offensive in the near future?

However, Lieutenant General Wilson still looked indifferent and was dissatisfied with Wedemeyer's decision to have the 14th Army strengthen its defense along the depth of the 18th Army.

Wedemeyer ignored the arrogant Englishman and whispered some precautions to his adjutant. Earlier, a US search party had spotted a lightly armed Japanese force south of Aizawl, east of the Kaladan River. It was clear the Japanese were attempting to cross the Kaladan River and attack the Longlai front.

Wedemeyer had already informed Sun Liren on the Idgan front to be careful and prevent the Japanese army from moving south along the Kaladan River. At the same time, he ordered the British Indian 27th Division responsible for defending Longlai to advance and build defensive positions on the west bank of the Kaladan River.

After communicating with Mountbatten, Wedemeyer decided to continue to use the Allied First Army as a mobile force. Mountbatten even redeployed the expanded 7th Tank Division back to the First Army. He also transferred the British Sikh Rifles to the First Army.

Mountbatten vaguely felt that the Japanese army's sudden action must be hiding a huge conspiracy.

That night, the Japanese 31st and 1st (115th) Divisions suddenly concentrated three main regiments and attacked the defenses of the British Indian 18th Army. Wilson was caught off guard, and the positions of the 18th Division of the 35th Army were breached overnight, and the Japanese army headed straight for Aizawl!

At Silchar Theater Command, Mountbatten and Wedemeyer berated Wilson as a fool while mobilizing nearby forces to reinforce Aizawl's defenses. The 37th Heavy Artillery Brigade, originally intended to defend along the Aizawl-Silchar road, had to be transferred to Aizawl. It was clearly too late and impossible for the Allies to launch a plan of luring the enemy deep into their territory and annihilating them. The most important thing now was to hold Aizawl secure and prevent a breakthrough, while reorganizing a new defensive counterattack.

A battalion-sized force of approximately 700 men, part of the 18th Infantry Brigade of the 35th Division of the 114th Army, was surrounded by Japanese forces in the Basand region. Commander Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Mohammad Saddin was tenaciously leading his troops in resisting the Japanese attack.

This unit, from the Muslim region of northwest India, had always been disliked by the top brass of the predominantly Hindu 18th Army. The 35th Division withdrew without any notice, and even reported to Allied headquarters that the Muslim battalion of the 35th Brigade of the 114th Division had mutinied.

Fortunately, a US reconnaissance plane spotted this unit, still struggling to hold out deep within the Japanese-held positions. At the urging of General Tony Matthews (Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army), a British air force assisted Sardin's forces. Simultaneously, the airborne liaison officer, British Captain Robert Neal, relayed the order to Sardin to break out to the southwest.