Chapter 1, Military Police Colonel

A blonde British major brushed past Song Yuhang with his female companion, casting a disdainful glance at the MP armband on Song's sleeve. Unconcerned, he spoke to his companion in English: "The Chinese army is the weakest fighting force in the world. I really can't see any difference between them and a hundred years ago. The country is on the verge of being occupied by the Japanese, and yet they are reaching out to Myanmar? Yesterday, the general allocated 30 Ford vehicles to them, and they are still not satisfied, actually daring to ask for 100 vehicles to transport some troops?" The country is on the verge of being occupied by the Japanese, and yet they are reaching out to Myanmar? Yesterday, the general allocated 30 Ford vehicles to them, and they are still not satisfied, actually daring to ask for 100 vehicles to transport some troops?

After a series of foolish inquiries, Song Yuanhang released two tormented gendarmes. He understood that 1942 was a crucial turning point in the international anti-fascist war. In June, a historically unprecedented naval battle would erupt between the United States and Japan at Midway, while the German army still held absolute superiority on the Soviet front. The Battle of Stalingrad in July 1942 marked a historical turning point in World War II. The domestic situation was also extremely grim; although a so-called victory was achieved in the Third Battle of Changsha, the losses in personnel and equipment were immense and could not be replenished. In the face of the rapidly changing international situation, everything hinged on 1942.

In the midst of the raging flames of war in Myanmar, the British Officers' Club in the perilous town of Tonggu presents a different scene, vibrant with dazzling lights. The entrance is bustling with a continuous flow of vehicles, where people of various languages and skin colors intermingle.

After a flurry of chaos, the girl, whose mood had now calmed, straightened her military cap and strode away.

The only mechanized elite force in China, the 200th Division, will meet its demise here in the sands, as the generation's star general Dai Anlan bleeds on the battlefield, ultimately returning home wrapped in a horse's hide.

In the fragmented memories that remain, there is surprisingly no recollection related to military matters. Aside from the illustrious family background, all that is left are the disreputable activities of brothels, bars, and the trafficking of military supplies and medical goods.

At this moment, Song Yuanhang first thought of the organization, and then he recalled a colonel staff officer of the National Revolutionary Army's expeditionary force, who had studied abroad and was also a member of the Song family, one of the four prominent families. Such a high status seemed like an international joke. In the face of various rectification movements, Song Yuanhang did not believe he would be a very good athlete.

Song Yuhang suddenly stopped in his tracks, as he noticed over one hundred gendarmes staring at him with wide eyes

After organizing all of his personal belongings, Song Yuanhang found a small package wrapped in a handkerchief. Upon opening the package, he discovered that it contained several ledgers and a diary.

With his eyes filled with golden stars, Song fell back onto the camp bed with a sigh. In his memory, he had reserved the last bullet for the enemy, and the only regret was that he had failed to activate the detonator. But what had just happened? Why did everything feel so real? He even felt the warm lips of Huna.

A white 1935 model German Wehrmacht helmet, a Type 42 summer military uniform, a Mauser pistol, woolen gaiters on the legs, thick-soled round-toed leather shoes, a military flag featuring the blue sky and white sun with a red field, and beside it hangs a neatly pressed set of Type 42 officer's uniform

The British, during the most difficult times of the Chinese resistance against Japan, were still draining China's resources! The British are despicable and shameless thieves and vampires, while the Japanese are ruthless bandits and criminals. In order to combat the bandits, they allied with the thieves! At least this is how Song Yuhang perceives the situation

Oh, all the gods and Buddhas! In Song Yuanhang's memory, although he does not have any religious beliefs (the Japanese belief in the deity Amaterasu does not fall within this scope), he has absolutely never shown any disrespect towards any of them

"What the hell, you brat, what are you saying?" As Song Yuhang, who understood English, erupted in anger, he was firmly blocked on the steps by two men.

After a moment of hesitation, Song Yuanhang removed the holster from his waist and placed it on the bed. He called over to his guard for two Mauser pistols, which he slung on either side of his back. With a rather incongruous appearance, he strode out of the tent.

The girl who had managed to break free stood up angrily, glaring at the embarrassed gendarme at the door. She stormed out of the room, just as the gendarme was about to breathe a sigh of relief. Suddenly, the girl turned back and began to kick the shins of several gendarmes in a fit of rage

Damn British, a plan gradually formed in Song Yuhang's mind. In his memory, at this time, there were nearly 800 tons of American military aid arms and ammunition stored in the ancient warehouse. Historically, when this batch of equipment was handed over to the 200th Division after the British used the pretext of arming the Burmese natives to seize and sell it, it turned out to be less than ten tons! And today is March 9, which means the British have not yet found the time to act on this batch of American aid. Historically, when this batch of equipment was handed over to the 200th Division after the British used the pretext of arming the Burmese natives to seize and sell it, it turned out to be less than ten tons! And today is March 9, which means the British have not yet found the time to act on this batch of American aid.

However, in this day and age, having a commander who can be considered generous, while also being able to stay away from the front lines, what harm is there in being a bit cowardly? Yet today’s commander is indeed very peculiar. He looks quite menacing. Could it be that he is looking to trouble the artilleryman who scared him senseless?

Xu Tuan'an

Soon, two American Jeep vehicles and four Dodge trucks carrying a garrison company led by Song Yuanhang commenced the first patrol of the day

Feeling as if he had traveled through time, Song Yuanhang, with a heart full of trepidation, had someone bring him a mirror. His racing heart finally settled down; the person in the mirror was still himself. Although he could not be considered handsome, he had been looking at himself for over twenty years and had grown accustomed to his appearance.

In Song Yuhang's memory, this middle-aged man Xu Tuan, who wore wide-brimmed glasses and had a somewhat lewd appearance, was undoubtedly his unreserved dog-headed military advisor

Song Yuhang watched as the British major entered the club with an air of triumph! The British man's arrogance deeply pricked his fragile nationalist sensibilities

The British major was taken aback to find that the Chinese military officer in front of him understood English. Although it is an unspoken tradition among British gentlemen to speak ill of others behind their backs, being confronted directly caused him to blush. Nevertheless, he retorted without showing any weakness: "Are you in a hurry to send the Japanese to their deaths? Indeed, 30 vehicles are a bit cramped, but it will be much more spacious on the way back!"

Historically, the British made the Chinese suffer greatly over the issue of Burma, and only at the last moment did they have to allow the Expeditionary Force to enter Burma. During the subsequent Battle of Songkhla, the railway used to transport the new 22nd Division was occupied by the British, who were busy moving their furniture and belongings. The 150 kilometers of railway for the new 22nd Division took a full 10 days to transport, resulting in the 200th Division being encircled by the Japanese army, leading to the failure of the Battle of Songkhla. The Chinese Expeditionary Force lost the best opportunity to restrain the Japanese offensive. In the later Battle of Mandalay involving the new 38th Division, the British left flank retreated without orders, giving the Japanese 18th Division an opportunity to exploit. The author is not being extreme but is merely presenting the historical context of the time. This is just a novel, and there will be many aspects that may not make sense; the main thing is for everyone to enjoy it.

Let me go! After struggling vigorously a few times, the girl swung her freed right arm forcefully, and with a loud slap!

Hearing the girl's cries for help, several gendarmes wearing white helmets and red armbands rushed into the room. Upon seeing the scene before them, the gendarmes could only stand awkwardly to the side.

Having calmed his mind, Song Yuanhang had to confront the reality before him. What troubled him the most was his current geographical location: the southern part of Myanmar, a significant transportation and economic hub known as "Tonggu," also referred to as Donggua. In just over ten days, the historically renowned "Battle of Tonggu" would erupt here.

In the evening, Song Yuanhang, dressed neatly, stood in front of the military mirror, almost annotating himself with a narcissistic gaze for a full ten minutes. After a slight sigh, he picked up the silver Browning pistol from the bed, and for a moment, he was taken aback. This pistol was indeed too exquisite for him, especially the gems embedded in the white ivory grip, which felt like a desecration of a weapon.

Song Yuhang glanced at the sign written in English that read "Chinese are allowed to enter on weekends," and was instantly filled with rage. After considering the purpose of his visit, he suppressed his anger and took two steps down the stairs.

Among the four prominent families in China, the Song family, which holds significant financial power, has a young master who is surprisingly impoverished. In the past, for Song Yuhang, debts were never a concern; for him, the most terrifying thing was having no money to spend

Song Yuhang's purpose is very clear, which is to go to the only officer's club in the ancient city. The club is backed by Major General Scott, the commander of the British Myanmar 1st Division, a man with a short brown mustache.

After inquiring with Song Yuhang, it was learned that although there are only a few hundred British troops from the 1st Division stationed in Mandalay who have not yet evacuated from Tonggu City, there is a major general, three brigadier generals, and nine colonels present in the city. This truly exemplifies the situation of having many officers but few soldiers. Now that the Japanese forces have surrounded them on three sides, how can the British still waltz and smoke cigars in an orderly manner? Is this what they call the so-called 'gentlemanly demeanor' of the British Empire? Just thinking about the operational staff of the 200th Division, who are still holding oil lamps to formulate defense plans due to a lack of electricity, ignites a surge of unnamed anger in Song Yuhang's heart. Truly, it is a case of having many officers but few soldiers, and now that the Japanese forces have surrounded them on three sides, how can the British still waltz and smoke cigars in an orderly manner? Is this what they call the so-called 'gentlemanly demeanor' of the British Empire? Just thinking about the operational staff of the 200th Division, who are still holding oil lamps to formulate defense plans due to a lack of electricity, ignites a surge of unnamed anger in Song Yuhang's heart.

Damn it, am I not dreaming? I swear I will never leave you again

Song Yuanhang secretly made a resolution: from today onward, there will no longer be a person named Song Yuanhang in this world, only Song Yuhang! Although the two names differ by only one character, they represent two entirely different lives

The six guards standing behind Song Yuhang were all looking at him with a strange gaze. Everyone knew that their incompetent commander was there to seek personal gain. Logically, members of the Song family should have gone to the New 38th Division, as that was the unit of their Song Family Tax Police Corps. However, this Song Yuhang had instead chosen to go to the Military Law Office of the newly formed Fifth Army's Military Police Corps

After patiently inquiring with the guard outside, Song Yuanhang was suddenly overwhelmed by a desire to die. According to the actual exchange rate of the French franc to the dollar in 1942, combined with the income of a lieutenant colonel serving as a chief of staff during a national crisis, it would take over a hundred years of not eating or drinking to repay the debt! For Song Yuanhang, who in his previous life had taken out a loan to buy a house on a captain's salary, negative assets were undoubtedly a terrifying nightmare!

After spending an entire afternoon, Song Yuanhang finally clarified everything and eagerly prepared to be discharged from the hospital. After reviewing his officer's certificate, Song Yuanhang finally accepted this cruel yet bizarre reality

As early as June 1940, Japan threatened that if American aid continued to flow into China through the Burma Road, the Japanese army would retaliate against Hong Kong and Singapore. The shortsighted British were intimidated by Japan's grandiose claims and trembled in fear, promptly closing the Burma Road despite strong opposition from China and the United States.

As he watched groups of British officers and their families coming and going, Song Yuhang let out a heavy snort. Just as he stepped onto the stairs, he was blocked by two Indians with their heads wrapped in red cloth.

Song Yuanhang is certainly not Song Yuhang. According to his principles of conduct, these debts must be repaid. However, where can he find the money? Song Yuanhang fell into deep thought alone.

As a professional soldier of later generations, Song Yuhang is well-acquainted with the history of the Chinese Expeditionary Force. During his studies at the Army Command Academy, he conducted a specialized research project on this topic. The deployment of the Chinese Expeditionary Force to Myanmar marked the first time Chinese soldiers crossed national borders since the Opium War. Due to the selfishness, arrogance, and ignorance of the British, the Chinese Expeditionary Force paid a painful price. It can be said that they paved a vital path for the survival of the nation with their flesh and blood.

The Mauser 98 sniper rifle! A well-trained sniper can easily concentrate on the target's head at a distance of 300 meters and hit the chest at 600 meters. It represents the pinnacle of German industrial achievement. Although there are only a few dozen units, Song Yuanhang believes that if assigned to sharpshooters, it will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming defense of Tonggu.

Oh my! Song Yuanhang couldn't help but secretly admire Song Yuhang; he truly is a competent gendarmerie chief of staff

I am currently known as Song Yuhang, courtesy name Anyi. I graduated from the accelerated class of the Fifth Branch of the Central Military Academy. Today is March 9, 1942, which corresponds to the 31st year of the Republic of China. I have been promoted from captain to the long-desired rank of lieutenant colonel. To be precise, I serve as the chief of staff of the Military Police Corps of the New Fifth Army of the National Revolutionary Army.

Song Yuhang clearly remembers that the day before yesterday he had stolen and sold thirty boxes of military supplies from the army's replenishment. These supplies were not humanitarian aid for China; they were genuine military equipment from the 200th Division! Most of them were German-made P38 submachine guns, along with a type of Mauser and a rifle equipped with a scope.

"What does it mean?" Song Yuhang's unkind tone did not receive a response. The two tall and robust men, full of arrogance, snorted disdainfully and tapped a sign at the door with a wooden stick painted in red and white.

After a while, Song Yuanhang sat up from the bed, covering his face. When he saw several gendarmes grimacing from being kicked, he realized that he must be dreaming, so he slowly lay back down on the pillow.

However, in September of the same year, the Japanese dealt a resounding slap to the British by capturing Hong Kong and a series of other colonies. The humiliated British were then forced to reopen the China-Burma Road. Under British management, the reopened China-Burma Road faced numerous difficulties. Since 1939, the British used the pretext of losses to continuously and forcibly withhold various supplies, even seizing 150 trucks intended for aid to China and a shipload of munitions as losses. According to historical records, from 1939 to February 1942, the British, under various pretexts, withheld and diverted over 17% of the total international aid supplies to China.

At this thought, Song Yuanhang took a sharp breath. According to his fragmented memories, he was the Colonel Chief of Staff of the Military Police Corps of the Expeditionary Army, accompanying the 200th Division into Myanmar primarily in a supervisory role. As a result, this person, who was not well-regarded, often faced disdain from various ranks within the 200th Division.

With a strong sense of curiosity, Song Yuhang first flipped through the diary, and this glance startled Song Yuanchang greatly. The esteemed young master of the Song family seemed to be not so affluent after all. From the clear records of debts in the diary, it was revealed that this individual actually owed 346 taels of gold and 19,600 silver dollars. Among these loans, there were even secret service fees for the gendarmerie and so on.

Having accepted reality, Song Yuanhang felt an inexplicable excitement. He had long been preoccupied with the Anti-Japanese War, wishing he could raise the Han flag atop Mount Fuji. In fact, he even felt a heightened anticipation for the great battle with Gu in just over ten days.

Where am I?" Song Yuanhang struggled to open his eyes, and the first thing that came into view was a beautifully embroidered and familiar face. Hu Na? Is it you?

"I must be dreaming, I must be dreaming!" As Song Yuanhang comforted himself, he realized that this dream seemed too real, didn't it

Song Yuanhang grasped Hu Na's hand tightly, pulling her into his embrace, kissing her cheek while murmuring softly.

Gazing at the setting sun gradually sinking in the west, it is almost identical to the sun that Song Yuanhang remembers from before the bloody battle. Could it be a portent of something?