Chapter 5, Inspection of the Position

Good! At this moment, Diane, who was listening intently, exclaimed in approval. Song Yuhang's thoughts coincided perfectly with his own. He then instructed several staff officers to conduct a field investigation, and if feasible, to implement it immediately

The sudden appearance of Song Yuhang put Diane Lanton in an awkward situation. She was unkempt in her military attire, and while they shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, it was clear that she and Song Yuhang had not yet reached that level of familiarity. This was the first time he had seen her since arriving at the 200th Division, and Diane had no idea that Song Yuhang already regarded her as an idol, which was why he was dressed so formally.

The bumpy journey, combined with the hot and humid climate, made Song Yuhang feel as if he had just emerged from the water. Upon reaching the airport control tower, a refreshing breeze, along with the cool tea personally handed to him by Diane, revitalized his nearly stagnant mind.

Everyone, including Song Yuhang, knows that Dai Anlan is merely using a term of modesty. With so many professional advisors and commanding talents present, what remarkable insights could an uneducated young master possibly have? It is simply an attempt to ensure that Song Yuhang does not feel neglected, to create a harmonious atmosphere, and to find a way to ease the situation.

Song Yuhang let out a soft "oh"! Dai Anlan was right; compared to the greater good of the nation, what do personal honor and disgrace matter? When the country is in ruins, where is home? Unknowingly, he thought of his family, comrades, and friends in that world! ... Hu Na, unconsciously, as the vehicle jolted, Song Yuhang's eyelids grew heavier and heavier...

In 1942, the New Fifth Army had three main divisions under its command: the 200th Division (led by Dai Anlan, the first mechanized unit of the Kuomintang, and the primary combat force of the New Fifth Army), the New 22nd Division (led by Liao Yaoxiang, a motorized unit), and the Honorary 1st Division (led by Zheng Dongguo)

Along the way, Song Yuhang saw Chinese soldiers busy constructing fortifications amidst the swirling dust. The communication trenches left by the British were only fifty to sixty centimeters deep, and the individual foxholes were even more inadequate, as a soldier of Chinese stature would have to crouch inside, leaving more than half of his backside exposed

Song Yuhang smiled faintly and shrugged his shoulders! In fact, those who understand military knowledge are well aware that in a place like Keryonggang, which has no defensible positions, losing it is merely a matter of time. Moreover, being isolated and besieged is a significant taboo in military strategy.

Zhou laughed again and said: "Your surname is Song! It wouldn't be the 'Song' that means to deliver something, would it?"

Dai Anlan was momentarily taken aback by Song Yuhang's words. The intelligence provided by the Expeditionary Force's intelligence department two days ago indicated that the Japanese army attacking Tonggu would be the 55th Division. Dai Anlan was confident in facing a single Japanese armored division, but upon hearing the implications in Song Yuhang's words today, it seemed that the Japanese forces were not limited to just that. Could it be that this kid had received some hints from Chongqing?

Faced with the intricate and complex situation, even Song Yuhang, who has been trained in a modern military academy, felt a great deal of headache. The most advantageous aspect is that he is already aware of the course and outcome of this battle, hoping to take remedial action before it is too late

Diane Lan gazed at the sand table for a moment, then pointed at Keronggang Airport and said, "This is the only channel for our military's external communication. Would it be unwise to easily abandon it before the war has even begun?"

Song Yuhang saw that Dai Anlan was still going to send someone to verify, and naturally understood that in the clash of two armies, the matter of life and death was absolutely not to be taken lightly, so he stood in place with an unpredictable expression

Zhou Zhizai, who had always been careless, suddenly realized that something was amiss. Making a joke about the so-called "surname of the national mother"? If someone were to take offense, the narrow-minded individual from Chongqing would at least hold him accountable.

Song Yuhang seemed to see through Dai Anlan's thoughts. Utilizing his knowledge of history combined with modern tactics, he endeavored to present himself with the so-called demeanor of a Confucian general. After a moment of restraint, he pointed to the dense jungle outside the airport and said: "The commander of the Japanese 55th Division, Takeuchi Hiroshi, hails from the illustrious Takeuchi samurai family of the Meiji Restoration. He is a distinguished graduate of the Japanese Army Academy, known for his steady approach. He excels in night raids and flanking maneuvers, often employing the disruption of enemy supply lines as a tactic. His commanded troops rarely engage in direct assaults! And the jungle outside provides the Japanese with an ideal environment for surprise attacks."

Is the surname good? Song Yuhang, who has just arrived, is cautious to avoid revealing any flaws, so he behaves in a conventional manner. He momentarily fails to respond to Zhou Zhizai's so-called good surname.

However, Diane, standing nearby, frowned and said: "Zifang! You must know when to stop; Anyi is currently our guest from the 200th Division"

Near Keronggang Airport, there is a vast expanse of dense jungle only 200 meters from the airport runway, from which the Japanese army historically launched their attacks! Thinking of this, Song Yuhang turned to look at Dai Anlan, who had been staring at him, and cautiously asked: "May I inquire how many Japanese troops Commander Dai plans to resist here? One division? Two divisions? Or even more?"

Song Yuhang smiled slightly and said: "Myanmar is rich in cypress wood, which is thick, sturdy, and incredibly hard. It is the best material for constructing sea vessels and bridges. Using cypress wood as the covering for enclosed tunnels, I believe the effect will be no less than that of steel plates"

As soon as Song Yuhang's words fell, a major staff officer shook his head and sighed slightly: "Turning Hill 131 into a fortress? It's easier said than done! What we lack at this moment are steel bars and cement. How much material will be needed for Hill 131, which stretches over three hundred meters from north to south?"

After making up his mind, Song Yuhang proposed to accompany Dai Anlan in inspecting the city defenses. Dai Anlan, who had already slightly changed his opinion of Song Yuhang, hesitated for a moment before agreeing to his request

At this moment, Song Yuhang has completely transformed his image in Dai Anlan's eyes. For Song Yuhang, only by gaining Dai Anlan's trust can everything truly begin

Song Yuhang continued, seeing Dai Anlan with a furrowed brow: "Previous intelligence indicated that the Japanese Army's 56th Division is currently in Singapore, having completed its assembly. The 33rd Division has already advanced on the eastern front, while the position of the 18th Division remains uncertain. If the attacking Japanese forces at Tonggu are not just one division as reported, but two divisions, they will have sufficient troops to encircle and divide the airport and the main defensive system at Tonggu. Even if the Japanese only deploy one division to attack Tonggu, the fall of Keronggang Airport, which is far from the urban area and lacks defenses, is merely a matter of time! We must be prepared for a situation where we are surrounded on all sides and fighting as a lone force."

In full view of everyone, Song Yuhang confidently picked up the baton. After circling the sand table twice, he said with a serious expression: "Tonggu is located in the central throat of Myanmar, with a prominent geographical position. The Japanese army's advance from the north will inevitably put it at the forefront. The overall defensive posture of Tonggu City is extremely advantageous for our forces to hold their ground. However, the fortifications handed over by the British army are merely superficial. Based on our current command post, I believe that heavy artillery is unnecessary; a few mortar shells would be sufficient to overturn it along with the maps. Therefore, I propose that the urgent task is to reinforce the defensive works, build a permanent stronghold at the Xitang River Bridge, and turn Hill 131 into a fortress! Additionally, we should withdraw the engineering regiment stationed at Keronggang Airport and coordinate with the heavy artillery battalion to relocate the defensive position to the area around the new district church, with the entire division firmly defending Tonggu."

After following Officer Dai for most of the day, Song Yuhang finally experienced a rare moment of coolness. He recalled the soldiers who were drenched in sweat under the scorching sun, occasionally collapsing from heatstroke, and could not help but speak up: "Officer Dai, shouldn't we let the soldiers rest during the day and build fortifications at night? This would enhance confidentiality while also reducing non-combat attrition among the soldiers"

Zhou Zhizai, who was adept at navigating various social situations, hurried to Song Yuhang's side. He first pulled down Song Yuhang's arm, which was raised in salute, then embraced him and exclaimed, "Brother Song! You have truly helped our 200th Division immensely. Just the day before, I was still urging General Du via telegram for supplies of landmines and explosives. Lo and behold! The very next day, you delivered them to us, and it was several hundred tons! The brothers below say this is all thanks to your good surname!"

In the evening, dozens of trucks delivered nearly a thousand various landmines and several hundred barrels of gasoline left behind by the British army. Under the guard of military police, several companies of the engineering battalion entered the jungle in succession to carry out secret operations.

Diane stood up, took the binoculars, and surveyed the dense forest before saying: "Do you mean to ambush that guy during his retreat?"

After listening to Song Yuhang's analysis, Dian Lan furrowed his brows even tighter. In fact, he had already contemplated these unfavorable factors repeatedly. He was fully aware of the combat effectiveness of the army's direct engineering battalion. Although it was organized as a regiment, six mechanized companies had been retained in the army's reserve sequence. The force available to Tonggu was merely one and a half battalions, approximately 1,600 men. Even if they were provided with solid defensive fortifications, they would still be unable to withstand the infiltration and assault of a Japanese army regiment. If they were to retreat without a fight, it would not only be difficult to explain to the military headquarters, but it would also impact the morale of the entire division.

Song Yuhang detected the tone of doubt in Dai Anlan's voice. He truly wanted to directly inform Dai Anlan that a construction battalion stationed there in history was ambushed by the 143rd Regiment of the Japanese 55th Division, and before it could exert its combat effectiveness, it was already defeated by the Japanese. Rather than losing an entire battalion in vain, it would be better to withdraw the forces back to the new urban area and engage the Japanese in urban warfare.

It seems that I cannot prevent Diane from deploying the engineering regiment at Keronggang Airport. If I could bring the engineering regiment back, that would also be a very good option! Suddenly, Song Yuhang's gaze fell on a patch of forest to the north of Keronggang Airport on the sand table. In his memory, the Japanese had launched their attack from within a thicket in the early morning!

Song Yuhang, who possesses modern ideas, did not find anything unnatural about Zhou Zhizai's joke; he merely smiled slightly.

In order not to neglect Song Yuhang, Dai Anlan invited him to the sand table and said: "Yuhang, come over here and take a look. What are your thoughts on the defense against Tonggu?"

Dai Anlan sighed deeply after listening: "Brother Anyi, I understand the importance of caring for the soldiers, but the Japanese forces are about to press in on us. The outcome of the battle at Tonggu is crucial for whether our expeditionary forces can gather their strength and smoothly implement the next phase of our combat plan. Right now, all the officers and soldiers in the entire division are working in shifts, tirelessly engaged in construction work for twenty-four hours straight. Meanwhile, the Japanese are also plotting in the southwest on the domestic front, and the situation is urgent across the board! At this critical moment of national peril, we can sacrifice our lives; what does a little fatigue matter?"