mesbooks Chapter 545 Yamashita Tomoyuki's Ambition
Chapter 545 Yamashita Tomoyuki's Ambition
545 Yamashita Tomoyuki's Ambition
At this time, Yamashita Tomoyuki, whose headquarters was in Siam, had already learned that the Southern Expeditionary Fleet carrying his 25th Army had arrived in the waters near Rangoon.
"Tell Ono-kun to carry out the landing operation in the Rangoon area according to the original plan.
According to our intelligence, the 200,000 British troops commanded by Stilwell have been deployed in the area from Rangoon to Beliaon.
Trying to stop our army from rescuing the 15th Army.
This American is quite confident that he can stop us with 200,000 people.
This time let this American know that our imperial army is unstoppable.
Two days, just give Ono-kun two days.
I want to see them land safely near Rangoon."
Yamashita Tomoyuki held a cup of tea, stared at the map leisurely, and gave orders to the chief of staff Suzuki Sou beside him.
In Yamashita Tomoyuki's eyes, he did not take the 200,000 British troops commanded by Stilwell seriously at all.
During these three days, Yamashita Tomoyuki had already figured out how to break the unfavorable war situation in Myanmar.
The actions of Stilwell's 200,000 British troops were within the expectations of Yamashita Tomoyuki.
At this time, Yamashita Fengwen turned his attention to the area around Mandalay in the north and continued: "Send a telegram to the headquarters of the 15th Army divisions in Mandalay.
Tell them if I'm right.
The Chinese army should launch a general attack on them in the next two days.
Next, they will face an extremely fierce offensive from the Chinese army.
If we continue to defend ourselves, we will end up dead.
It's time for them to break out.
Notify the 18th Division and ask them to immediately capture Meiktila and defend it.
Notify the 33rd Division and ask them to attack Dongsha and move quietly towards Yenangyaung.
On the Toungoo side, tell the 19th Armored Regiment to continue with their feint attack on Toungoo, but they should not be able to take Toungoo.
Have them wait for my next order."
After issuing the order to the 15th Army, Yamashita Fengwen stared at the map and muttered to himself: "Ye Qingshan, I have heard of this young Chinese general for a long time.
Even Matsui-kun was defeated by him.
This time it's finally my turn to fight him. I want to see how capable he is."
Yamashita Tomoyuki had just experienced several great victories at this time, and he was extremely confident and even a little inflated.
In his mind, this time he not only had to rescue the trapped Japanese 15th Army.
They also wanted to take the opportunity to annihilate the British army commanded by Stilwell and the expeditionary force commanded by Ye Qingshan, cut off the Burma Road, and invade western Yunnan and India.
Complete the task that the old devil Shojiro Iida failed to accomplish before.
And what Yamashita Tomoyuki guessed was absolutely correct.
Just as he was commanding his 25th Army to land on the coast of Rangoon in the southern battlefield, and commanding the Japanese 15th Army to break out from Mandalay.
Ye Qingshan also began to issue general attack orders to various units of the expeditionary force.
"Notify the entire army to begin the general offensive tonight.
They must break through the enemy's defenses around Mandalay."
As early as three days ago, Ye Qingshan had ordered the four armies of the expeditionary force to prepare for the general attack in advance.
Ye Qingshan had already completed all the necessary deployments.
During these three days, the various expeditionary forces have been waiting for the follow-up supplies and ammunition to arrive.
Now, ammunition supplies have been delivered to the Fifth Army, the 66th Army, and the reorganized Sixth Army.
Ye Qingshan’s 86th Army is not short of ammunition.
The conditions for a general offensive are in place and the timing is right.
As long as Ye Qingshan's order is given, the four armies of the expeditionary force can start the general offensive.
“Commander, just received a message from General Stilwell.
The main force of the Japanese 25th Army launched a landing battle on the coastline more than ten kilometers south of Yangon."
Chief of Staff Luo Zhuoying walked in from outside and said to Ye Qingshan.
"Oh? Here we go.
What General Stilwell said."
"General Stilwell said that they are well prepared and confident that they can stop the main force of the Japanese 25th Army."
“Haha, General Stilwell is quite optimistic.
I hope so.”
Ye Qingshan didn't say anything either. He didn't quite believe in the British army's combat effectiveness.
In terms of weapons and equipment, the 200,000 British troops commanded by Stilwell were much better than the Expeditionary Force.
Especially in terms of artillery, even though Stilwell left an artillery division to Ye Qingshan.
Stilwell still has three artillery divisions under his command, and the firepower alone is enough to crush the Expeditionary Force and the Japanese.
In addition, they were fighting on the defensive while the Japanese were landing on the beach, which gave them a huge advantage.
Stilwell's own command ability is not weak. As long as the British army does not perform poorly, they can delay the Japanese 25th Army for a week.
As long as we don’t let the Japanese land successfully, it’s no problem.
However, Ye Qingshan can’t take care of Stilwell’s side. What Ye Qingshan has to do now is
The question is how to wipe out these 100,000 Japanese troops of the 15th Army in Mandalay in the shortest possible time.
Luo Zhuoying, who was standing next to him, saw Ye Qingshan staring at the sand table and said, "Now Yamashita Fengwen has taken over the command of the 15th Japanese Army.
Why are the 100,000 Japanese soldiers from the 15th Army defending around Mandalay still not making any moves?
There is no sign of a breakthrough yet, this is not normal."
The Japanese 15th Army has been cut off from supplies for the past ten days.
However, relying on Mandalay's easy-to-defend and difficult-to-attack terrain, the expeditionary force was simply unable to absorb it.
Even if the expeditionary force attacked with all their might, they could not break in.
Therefore, Ye Qingshan never let the expeditionary force launch a real general attack, but instead continued to consume the ammunition of the Japanese 15th Army.
However, during these ten days, Ye Qingshan commanded the expeditionary force not only to defend Toungoo and capture Yenangyaung, but also to launch a surprise attack on Yangon.
The Japanese commander Shojiro Iida was beheaded.
The Japanese 15th Army has been surrounded like an iron barrel and cannot get any ammunition or supplies.
Now, even if tens of thousands of Japanese troops from the 25th Army came to support, there were still 200,000 British troops responsible for stopping them.
No matter how you look at it, the 100,000 Japanese 15th Army trapped in Mandalay will be doomed if they continue to stay there.
According to Luo Zhuoying and others, the Japanese should have broken out long ago.
Only by breaking through can these 100,000 Japanese devils have a chance of survival.
But the Japanese haven't broken through yet.
This made Ye Qingshan very angry too.
Because, according to Ye Qingshan's plan, it was not cost-effective for the expeditionary force to attack Mandalay by force.
Drive the devils out of Mandalay.
Using the newly formed armored division's superior mobility and penetration capabilities, they cut off and annihilated the Japanese troops that broke through.
This style of fighting will result in the least casualties for the expeditionary force.
"I just don't believe that the Japanese 15th Army will really defend Mandalay to the end.
If this is true, they will really be courting their own destruction.
Wait until they run out of ammunition.
By then, these devils will all be lambs to be slaughtered.
I don't believe that old devil Yamashita Tomoyuki can't see this.
Therefore, the devils in Mandalay will definitely make big moves today and tomorrow."
Ye Qingshan said with certainty.