I am Jiang Weiguo in World War II

Page 525

These are the credits of Zeng Liwei, Jin Dingguo, Zhao Haijun, Tang Feihu and others. They have been in the Golden Triangle for several years, and all of them are self-taught "experts in tropical mountain and jungle warfare", providing Nanjing Army with valuable experience: In the jungle, light tanks are far more useful than heavy and medium tanks, cars are difficult to move, pack animals are more effective than cars, but soldiers can't ride pack animals because there are not so many pack animals, and pack animals Feed is also needed. What means of transportation can be used conveniently in the tropical jungle without increasing the logistical burden?The answer is bicycles.

Almost all the officers and soldiers of the Central South Expeditionary Force had a bicycle, thus maintaining strong mobility in the tropical jungle where tanks and cars were difficult to pass through.

In the sky of Malaya, the fighter planes of the Chinese Air Force roared past wave after wave like clouds. In the tropical jungle on the ground of Malaya, the bicycle army of the Nanjing Army was like a cavalry unit, flying like a cavalry unit. The officers and soldiers gathered into long winding dragons.

In just one day, the 74th Division of the Nanjing Army penetrated more than 100 kilometers into Malaya and achieved victory.

Chapter 609 Expedition to Central South (3)

On the day when the Battle of Malaya broke out, the Nanjing army smashed the British troops on the Thai-Malaysian border (most of them were Malaya British troops), and then marched forward, traveling more than 100 kilometers in the daytime, and arrived in the northwest of Malaya that night. On the northern outskirts of Penang, the fifth largest city in Malaya, the Nanking Army encountered the first real line of defense in northern Malaya.

This fortification, known as the "Jhitra Line of Defense", was heavily guarded by the British army. In the plan of the British commander-in-chief Percival, it was the first phase of the British army's staged battlefield of resistance.

The Jitra line of defense is composed of dotted concrete machine gun fortifications, criss-crossing anti-tank trenches, cobweb-like trenches, countless barbed wire and thousands of mines. More than 500 people, one-third are British officers and soldiers, one-third are Indian British officers and soldiers, and one-third are Australian officers and soldiers. They are equipped with more than 300 light and heavy machine guns and more than 100 artillery pieces of various types. There are more than [-] tanks.

Percival inspected this line of defense before the war, and confidently believed that "it can withstand the attack of [-] enemy troops for three months", and even named it "Malayan's Maginot Line of Defense".

"The Maginot Line in Malaya?" Liao Yaoxiang raised his binoculars to look at the British defense line, and couldn't help laughing, "This nickname was a good reputation in the past, but it's just a sarcasm now, right? Percival Don't you know that the French's Maginot Line is completely useless in the Western European campaign?"

Liao Yaoxiang has a well-thought-out idea of ​​how to break through this Jhitra line of defense.

The east and west coasts of the Malayan Peninsula are plains, and the central part is the "Central Mountain Range". The Jitra defense line of the British army was built from the foot of the mountain range to the seaside, like a Great Wall. Liao Yaoxiang ordered the 74th Division, the 74th Brigade, and the The soldiers of the 75th Brigade approached the Ridera line of defense and stood still, while the 76th Brigade climbed over mountains and ridges, got into the central mountain range, and detoured in the forest to the rear of the British line of defense.

The officers and soldiers of the Nanjing Army's southward troops who had received rigorous training were familiar with trekking mountains and rivers at this time, and they were also walking on the ground in the deep mountains and old forests.

Liao Yaoxiang then found a dozen British soldiers among the captives, and specially showed them such a scene: dozens of elephants dragged a dozen heavy howitzers slowly advancing in the rubber forest.

"Tomorrow at noon, we will have more than 300 heavy artillery pieces delivered to the front line to bombard the Jitra line of defense!" Liao Yaoxiang told these British soldiers, "By then, the Jitra line of defense will definitely be breached, and the British troops inside will definitely be defeated." The whole army is wiped out, I will let you go now, let you tell the British commander of the Jitra defense line for me, if he peacefully gives up the Jitra defense line before noon tomorrow, neither he nor his subordinates will die, If he chooses to resist, then he and his subordinates will die together with the defense line.

Also, tell your fellows that we will not abuse, torture, or slaughter prisoners of war!"

The dozen or so British soldiers who were released kept saying "thank you", and then hurriedly ran from the Nanjing Army-controlled area to the British positions at the Jitra Line of Defense.

"Master, it is impossible for our heavy artillery to be transported to the Jitra defense line at noon tomorrow!" Wang Yecheng reported, "The traffic is really bad. There are mountains, dense forests, and rivers everywhere along the way, and heavy tractors cannot use it. , there are not so many elephants!"

"As a teacher, can I not know about this situation?"

"Master, are you planning to intimidate the British? Let them run away and retreat without a fight?"

"You look down on the British army too much.

I'm not scaring them, I'm lying to them, making them misjudge our attack direction!"

"The teacher is brilliant!"

"Stop flattering, and inform the troops for me by the way, sleep peacefully, replenish your strength, must be tired after driving for a whole day, and continue to fight and continue on the road tomorrow!"

"Ah? What if the British army takes the initiative to attack at night?"

"No!" Liao Yaoxiang was very confident, "First, the British army relies on the defense line, and taking the initiative to attack means breaking away from the defense line, and our army has more troops than the British army. Isn't the British army's active attack tantamount to courting death? Second, the British army The army doesn't have the guts!"

In the British headquarters of the Jitra defense line, the commander in chief of the defense line and the commander of the British 11th Infantry Division, Major General David Mayfair Lyons, after listening to the reports of the dozen or so British prisoners released by the Nanjing Army, he said: On the one hand, they suspect that "the Chinese are bluffing" and "there are certainly not so many large-caliber heavy artillery, but there should be more than one hundred." Frontal attack" on the conclusion.

Major General Lyon ordered the troops to recharge their batteries and prepare for the battle that will break out in the daytime tomorrow. A staff officer suggested that "the Chinese army must be exhausted after a long-distance raid all day long. It is better to take the initiative to attack. First, it is unexpected, and second, it can attack the Chinese army." arrogance".

Major General Lyon rejected this proposal. He believed that the strength of his own troops was not as good as that of the enemy, so he should rely on the line of defense and fight a defensive battle without taking risks.

That night, most of the British troops inside the Jitra line of defense could not sleep because of nervousness. In the rubber forest in the north of the line of defense, most of the officers and soldiers of the Nanjing army preparing to attack also had trouble falling asleep, but not because of nervousness, but because of excitement. At the same time, in the central mountain range near the Jitra line of defense, more than [-] Nanjing troops were crossing the mountains and mountains at night and day. The officers and soldiers were striding tirelessly while munching on chili and dried meat to refresh themselves.

Everyone in the army marched lightly and wore leggings. In front of the team were dozens of guides. These guides were local overseas Chinese youths in Penang who were very familiar with the mountain roads here. .

In the morning of the next day, the Nanjing Army formally attacked the Jitra line of defense, but unlike Major General Leon's expectations, the Nanjing Army came from behind the line of defense.

Amidst the earth-shattering shouts of killing and the stunned British army, a large number of Nanjing soldiers in camouflage uniforms came out of the forest near the defense line with red eyes, and rushed to the British defense line like a torrent.

At the same time, hundreds of bombers of the Chinese Air Force flew over the Jitra line of defense and launched indiscriminate bombing.

The Jitra line of defense shrouded in lightning, thunder, and earthquakes collapsed in an instant. Amidst the fireworks, officers and soldiers of the Nanjing Army brandishing guns and bayonets ran downhill like tigers, strafing, and throwing grenades.

The Indian 45th Brigade, which was the first to fight against the Nanjing Army, was immediately defeated. The officers and soldiers of the Nanjing Army only saw crowds of Indian soldiers with beards and towels wrapped around their heads panicking towards the army. They raised their hands.

"All attack!" Liao Yaoxiang gave the order for the general attack.

More than 74 infantrymen of the [-]th Division flanked and roared towards the British line of defense at Jitra one after the other, and the two sides fought in a melee.

Compared with the lack of fighting spirit of Indian soldiers, the performance of the British army as the "master" is almost the same. The most powerful fighting force in the Commonwealth army is the Australian army.

A large number of Australian officers and soldiers actively participated in the battle, driving the fleeing Indian troops back to the front line, and even unceremoniously driving the fleeing British troops.

Although the Australian army was quite tenacious, it still couldn't stop the impact of the Nanjing army.

The officers and soldiers of the Nanjing Army who were on the attack roared like a swarm of bees. They rolled on the spot immediately after being intercepted by firepower. They continued to crawl and roll while dodging with skillful evasive movements. There were very few British troops on the battlefield. The scene where the Nanjing army was knocked down with a machine gun, what surprised the British army even more was the marksmanship of the Nanjing army. Almost all soldiers of the Nanjing army can run and dodge while firing and shooting, and the bullets can still hit the enemy's level of accuracy. Hard training and hard work The advantage of an individual soldier who has experienced many battles is reflected at this time.

After the two sides fired at each other, the British army fell one after another, while the Nanjing army fell sparsely. At the same time, the Nanjing army was still charging.

The soldiers of the Nanjing Army who had run out of bullets or had no time to change the magazines did not hesitate to swing their bayonets and stab the British army crowd from left to right, killing blood.

The 74th Brigade of the 76th Division, which detoured to the rear of the British defense line, rushed to the British defense line like mercury, jumped into the trenches, drilled into the bunkers, and rushed into the fortifications. Nanking Army and Commonwealth Soldiers.

The soldiers from both sides, who were spattered with blood by the bullets, rolled to the ground. More than three-quarters were British Commonwealth soldiers. The casualties of the Nanjing Army were only one third or even one quarter of the British Commonwealth soldiers. The third-rate army, and the Indian British army has low combat quality because the British army rarely gives them enough bullets for training, and the fighting will is even less worth mentioning. Only the Australian soldiers barely hold on, but they are also alone. As for the Nanjing army, All of them are well-trained and most of them were killed from the dead on the Soviet battlefield. Their fighting qualities and fighting will completely overwhelmed the Commonwealth Army, which naturally made it difficult for the Commonwealth Army to fight; the fallen Commonwealth Many soldiers were stabbed down by the Nanjing Army with bayonets. Their blood flowed like a fountain, and they were in pain. When fighting hand-to-hand, although the British and Australian soldiers were generally half a head taller than the Nanjing Army, they were no match for the Nanjing Army when fighting with bayonets. The Nanjing army stabbed the guts, and there were ghosts and wolves everywhere.

In fact, apart from the Japanese army being able to compete with the Nanjing Army, there is no other country whose army is still an opponent of the Nanjing Army.

In the trenches, bunkers, and fortifications of the British army, soldiers from both sides killed each other. The Nanjing army pressed the Commonwealth soldiers with vigor, or shot the British soldiers with submachine guns and rifles, or threw grenades. Accurate and very accurate, the British army was blown to pieces, or the British army was stabbed with a bayonet to make the British army feel cold, and then chased after a large number of British troops who were faceless and scurrying around like ducks. There were even such scenes on the battlefield. : Hundreds of British or Indian troops surrendered to dozens of Nanjing troops in fear, and dozens of British or Indian troops who had run out of bullets were killed by a few men who also had no bullets but held bayonets The Nanjing army chased them out of their wits, not daring to turn their heads, and ran away desperately like rabbits.

The Nanjing Army is not only stronger than the Commonwealth soldiers in battle, but also stronger than the Commonwealth soldiers after being injured. The wounded Commonwealth soldiers basically fell to the ground, crying for their father and mother, while the wounded Nanjing Army soldiers fell to the ground Afterwards, they seldom yelled, or rescued themselves, or continued to shoot, or felt that they couldn’t hold on anymore and there were enemy troops around them, so they blew the grenade directly, blowing themselves to pieces, and pulling a piece of enemy troops together. All flesh and blood flew.

Although this battle was not based on the weak and the strong for the Nanjing Army, and there was no need to "extremely desperate", there were still dozens of loyal and brave soldiers who pulled grenades on their bodies after being injured.

Probably because the psychological endurance of "civilized people" is much lower than that of "barbarians". Facing the fierce and violent attack style of the Nanjing Army, how could the British army who had lived in a "civilized world full of human rights" since childhood It was able to hold on, and the fierce battle lasted for less than half an hour. The Indian British troops surrendered all over the field, and the British troops also surrendered one after another. , some retreated, some surrendered.

In one go, the Nanjing Army successfully broke through the Jitra defense line that had been turned into ruins.

This battle was the first tough battle after the outbreak of the Malaya Campaign. The Nanjing Army suffered more than 2000 casualties (a large part of which was caused by landmines, machine guns, and artillery of the Commonwealth Army), and wiped out more than 4000 British Commonwealth troops. More than 8000 people were captured and a large number of spoils were seized.

After throwing the captives to the following Thai army, the Nanjing army continued to advance, entered Penang, and occupied the first large city in Malaya.

On the road, the officers and soldiers of the Nanjing Army were non-stop, their footsteps were like thunder, and by the roadside, there were densely packed Commonwealth soldiers and captives squatting dejectedly.

The Nanjing Army marching into Penang was greeted by officers and soldiers who were caught off guard. The whole city was decorated with lanterns and festoons, with gongs and drums beating, because a quarter of the population of Malaya was Chinese.

After the Nanjing Army entered the city, the local Chinese and overseas Chinese rushed to the streets in extreme excitement to warmly welcome the Nanjing Army.

For these Chinese and overseas Chinese in foreign countries, there is nothing more exciting than seeing the army of the motherland.

On both sides of the road entering the city, countless Chinese and overseas Chinese put on the most colorful clothes, cheered and applauded desperately, and stuffed cigarettes, candies, fruits, flowers, towels and other things prepared in advance to the officers and soldiers of Nanjing. In the hands of the officers and soldiers, the faces of the compatriots were full of joy, and the cordial and warm Chinese cheers were all in the ears.

"Welcome! Welcome! Warmly welcome!" "Warmly welcome the army of the motherland to Malaya!" The Chinese and overseas Chinese were all excited, and many elderly Chinese and overseas Chinese even cried with joy and tears.

Although Chinese and overseas Chinese account for a very large proportion of the population in Southeast Asia, the locality is a colony of Western powers after all, and China’s national strength has been weak for nearly a hundred years, and it cannot shelter these compatriots in foreign countries. Therefore, overseas Chinese have suffered a lot in Southeast Asia. , suffered humiliation, grievances, and even disasters. For example, in 1603, the Spaniards massacred more than 2 overseas Chinese in the Philippines; in 1740, the Dutch massacred more than 1 overseas Chinese in Jakarta, Indonesia (the Hongxi massacre).

At that time, the Central Dynasty of China did not come to the rescue.

When the first massacre occurred, the Ming Dynasty was already in turmoil and its national power was in decline. Zheng He’s fleet to the West no longer existed. How could he rescue the Filipinos? The second massacre occurred during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. The Chinese living and thriving in Nanyang are all "barbarians who are willing to leave the king's transformation, and no longer belong to the people of the Qing Dynasty", so there is no rescue.

Therefore, the situation of overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia can be imagined.

At this time, seeing the army of the motherland approaching, the overseas Chinese really felt a sense of pride and security, and then immersed in unprecedented excitement, many Chinese and overseas Chinese broke down in tears.

The whole of Penang was full of excitement. The local Chinese and overseas Chinese greeted the Nanjing Army with joy, and the officers and soldiers of the Nanjing Army also waved to the overseas Chinese in emotion and excitement.

The Chinese and overseas Chinese in Malaya were of great help to the Nanjing Army. In addition to providing intelligence, they also played an irreplaceable role in stabilizing people's hearts.

The local overseas Chinese and Malays lived together all the year round, and they were very familiar with each other. Naturally, the Malays were in a state of panic when the overseas Chinese’s homeland army came. However, according to the request of the Nanjing Army, the overseas Chinese comforted the Malays one after another, “It will be all right. The Chinese army has strict military discipline and will not kill innocent people indiscriminately, nor will they rape or plunder.” “As long as you don’t resist, the Chinese army will protect you, just like protecting us, and you will live a better life in the future than you are now.”

Under the communication of the overseas Chinese, the local Malays basically did not adopt a hostile attitude towards the Nanjing Army.

In this battle between China and Britain for Malaya, most of the locals in Malaya did not help each other. Although some Malays helped the British, more Malays helped the Nanjing Army.

After all, under the rule of the British, the Malays in Malaya and the Chinese in Malaya were the targets of the British. People who come here are definitely more willing to trust the Chinese than the British.

After breaking through the Jitra line of defense and capturing Penang, the 74th Division took a short rest and continued southward. They will be warmly welcomed by the local overseas Chinese.

When the Nanjing Army came, the British were invincible, the Malays were hesitant to wait and see, and the overseas Chinese lined up to welcome them, and at the same time persuaded the Malays around them to believe in the Nanjing Army.

On the other hand, since the Nanjing Army faithfully did not abuse or massacre the prisoners, they took many prisoners along the way and continued to advance. Facing the British defense line, they asked the prisoners to shout to persuade them to surrender. This strategy achieved very good results. Morale The sluggish British, Malay, and Indian troops surrendered to the Nanjing Army one after another. The Thai army who came behind the Nanjing Army took over the cities captured by the Nanjing Army, and at the same time received the prisoners handed over by the Nanjing Army. Almost grasping softly.

The 74th Division fought fiercely and reported frequent successes. The 17th Division, which participated in the battle with it, also dispatched, but the 74th Division took the land route, and the 17th Division took the sea route.

In the Gulf of Bangkok, Thailand, ships are like clouds, and there are mountains and seas of soldiers on the pier.

The ships in the bay belong to the 2nd Mixed Fleet of the Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet, and the army on the pier is the 17th Division of the Nanjing Army.

The combined fleet of the Japanese Navy has undergone a comprehensive reorganization. Previously, the fleet of the Japanese Navy was divided into two types: "fleet" and "air fleet". The former is the formation of battleships and the latter is the formation of aircraft carriers. The very backward organization prevents aircraft carriers and battleships from learning from each other's strengths and complementing each other. Right now, the Japanese Navy's fleet has canceled the establishment of a fleet that separates aircraft carriers and battleships, and has changed to a "mixed fleet" that combines aircraft carriers and battleships.

At present, the Japanese Navy has two official mixed fleets. The first one is commanded by Jisaburo Ozawa and has four aircraft carriers (Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Hiryu) and four heavy cruisers. The fleet is completely an aircraft carrier fleet, and the second is commanded by Nagumo Chuichi. It has two aircraft carriers (Xianghe and Zuikaku) and two battleships under its jurisdiction. It is a strictly mixed fleet of aircraft carriers and battleships.

The Japanese fleet in Bangkok Bay is Chuichi Nagumo's 2nd Mixed Fleet. The mission of this fleet is to transport and cover the 17th Division of the Nanjing Army to land at the southern tip of the Malaya Peninsula.

On the wharf in Bangkok Bay, Feng Shengfa, commander of the 17th Division, and Huang Baitao, deputy commander, were conducting "pre-war discussions" with Nagumo Chuichi, commander of the Japanese Second Mixed Fleet, and Chief of Staff Kusa Shika Ryunosuke.

The so-called "pre-war discussion" is more like a quarrel.

Feng Shengfa frowned: "Why are there only two battleships? How can we provide the most sufficient naval gun firepower then?"

Kusanagi Ryunosuke said, "Two ships are enough.

General Feng, the cost of a battleship is very high, and any damage will be a very serious loss.

According to our intelligence, there are quite a few British submarines, Dutch submarines, and American submarines in the waters of Southeast Asia, we must proceed with caution!"

Feng Shengfa was a little dissatisfied: "General Nanyun, it seems that there are not enough transport ships in your fleet. Our division has more than [-] officers and soldiers, as well as a large amount of ordnance equipment and supplies, but I see that there are [-] tons in your fleet. There are a mere eight class transport ships!"

Nanyun Zhongyi replied: "General Feng, please forgive me, the Japanese navy has also participated in the war now, the task is heavy, and there are many places that need transport ships. For example, we want to strengthen control over Indonesia. We have done our best to squeeze out these transport ships. !"

Kusanagi Ryunosuke said: "If these transport ships of our army cannot transport all your personnel and ordnance at one time, then divide them into two transports!"

Huang Baitao questioned: "If it is divided into two transportations, then only half of our troops will land in the first batch, and the other half will need your fleet to return to Bangkok Bay from the southernmost tip of the Malaya Peninsula for transportation. Wouldn't it be a waste of time? ?And the first batch of landing troops may also be caught in a bitter battle due to insufficient firepower. Isn’t this tactic the most inferior refueling tactic? In addition, if you need a second transportation, then your battleships will remain in the Does the frontline battlefield provide naval gun support for our army's landed troops?"

Kusanagi Ryunosuke said bluntly: "Of course we won't stay at the forefront. Our transport ships need the protection of battleships and aircraft carriers!"

Huang Baitao was angry: "Then your fleet will leave our landing force at the forefront? If the war worsens and the British army counterattacks aggressively, and you can't arrive in time, won't our landing force wait to die?"

Nan Yunzhong frowned and said, "We don't want such a prospect, but we have too many difficulties..."

Feng Shengfa couldn't bear it anymore: "General Nanyun, we asked you to provide more capital ships. You reasoned that there were difficulties. We asked you to provide more transport ships. You also said that there were difficulties. Such behavior is not an ally. Why?"

Huang Baitao continued: "General Nanyun, the light cruisers and destroyers in your fleet basically protect your heavy cruisers, battleships, and aircraft carriers. Transport ships without enough warship protection are very vulnerable. If an army submarine attacked, wouldn’t our officers and soldiers on board be drowned?”

"Fuck you Japanese devil!" Zhang Yun, commander of the 18th brigade behind Huang Baitao, cursed without delay.

The Nanjing Army officers and soldiers at the scene laughed together.

Everyone couldn't help the Japanese's attitude of pushing, dragging, and researching. Feng Shengfa and Huang Baitao had to swallow their words and talk. After all, it's not as straightforward as Zhang Yun's open-mouthed scolding.