After several days of mediation between Alexander and London, Alexander finally gave Stilwell a reply: he was willing to give up his colonial rights in Burma on the condition that Chinese troops immediately cross the Irrawaddy River and advance to Jiangxi, cutting off the Japanese railways and roads to the north.

Hearing this, Stilwell couldn't help but smile with satisfaction, he was not worried that the British would not agree, because compared to India, Burma was just an insignificant outpost for the British, and once the American army cut off the Japanese army's sea transportation channel or the Chinese army took the Irrawaddy Province, then the Japanese army in Burma would only rely on Imphal to enter India, which would be a nightmare for the British at that time.

Of course, Stilwell was also willing to carry out the terms set by the British...... Because it was in the interests of the United States, Stilwell began to think about how to cross the Irrawaddy River and take Jiangxi.

But in fact, the compromise made by the British was not necessary, and Stilwell's idea was not necessary, because the Japanese army had lost confidence in winning the battle.

Compared with Mutaguchi Ryoya's scenery in LinkedIn Parr, Kawabe Shozo sat in front of the chair with a sad face and thought of countermeasures.

At this time, the situation was very serious, and the Japanese army had been divided into several parts that could not be contacted: the 56th Division was blocked in the China-Burma highway and became a lone army, and it was only a matter of time before it was annihilated. After the loss of Rangoon, the 18th Division had no choice but to retreat to Thailand. Although the rest of the troops are in the west of the Irrawaddy River, they are large and empty in the middle, and what is even more tragic is that there are not enough troops in the middle to defend them, and they may be cut off by the Chinese army at any time.

Continue to defend the river?

This is almost impossible to do, because the Americans have air supremacy, and having air supremacy means having supremacy...... The Chinese can easily use aircraft to control the entire Irrawaddy River, and even carry artillery onto ships or use the Ivaddy River to transport supplies, which is a completely winnable battle for the Japanese army, not only has no chance of winning, but will also lose all the remaining 100,000 Japanese troops.

Even more serious, after the Japanese army occupied Burma. The fortifications and defensive lines were all built facing north and south, while the Chinese army now occupied eastern Burma...... In other words, the Chinese army's attack at any place and time was aimed at the flank of the Japanese line, which would cause the rapid collapse of the entire Japanese front.

"Your Excellency, Admiral!" At this time, the staff officer reported to Kawajun Shozo: "Mutaguchi-kun called and said it was ...... Capture a large number of supplies and supplies in the city of Imphal! ”

"Hmm!" Kawabe Masazan nodded, his face even more ugly.

This seems a little strange, his army has won the battle and captured a large number of urgently needed supplies, why is Shozo Kawabe still unhappy?!

But it is not surprising at all that the Japanese need absolute obedience from their subordinates, both in action and psychologically.

At this time, Mutaguchi Ryoya did not say anything to Kawabe Shozo in action...... To be precise, it was also expressed in action, and when Mutaguchi Ryoya had not yet captured Imphal, he released wild words. If he hadn't taken Imphal and promoted him to general, he wouldn't have retreated.

"Promoted to General" ...... Kawabe Shozo is also only a general, but he is a general who has lost the battle, while Mutaguchi Lianya has won the battle and made great contributions, this huge contrast will of course make Kawabe Shozo uncomfortable, and even threaten his prestige in the Burmese army.

"Your Excellency, Admiral!" The staff officer then reported: "Mutaguchi-kun...... It is also recommended that His Excellency the Commander move north and march west to India with Imphal as a base! ”

"Humph!" Kawabe Shozo responded dissatisfiedly: "He said to give up the Bay of Bengal and the coastline?" Attack India without any possibility of supplies?! ”

"Your Excellency, Admiral!" The staff officer replied: "Mutaguchi-kun means that India has a large amount of supplies, as long as the imperial army moves quickly enough. It is possible that the situation of the first Burma campaign will appear......"

"Say no more!" Kawabe Shozo interrupted the staff officer's words impatiently, and after a pause, he squeezed out a few words from between his teeth: "Ignorant and arrogant guy!" ”

Mutaguchi's plan, although a bit risky, was objectively a feasible one, mainly because the British forces in the Imphal direction were defeated...... This was a common situation in the Anglo-Indian army. If they are allowed to defend with strong air superiority and artillery superiority, once the defense line is breached, it is easy for the enemy to run around like a duck.

In addition, Imphal went all the way to the west with military supplies prepared by India to be transported to Sunbrabang in northern Burma, so the Japanese army could indeed fight all the way to get supplies replenishment, and even get more supplies than they imagined...... The reason is that supplies in this direction are not only being delivered to northern Myanmar. There are also shipments to Imphal and even to China.

Therefore, what the Japanese army needs to consider is how to ensure that these arms and supplies are not blown up and burned by the retreating British army. Then learn how to use American equipment and pay attention to solving the equipment confusion when changing equipment.

But this plan was quickly vetoed by Kawabe Shozo.

Kawabe Shozo's veto of this plan is obviously selfish, he doesn't want Mutaguchi Lian to climb on his head, but Kawabe Shozo also has his reasons...... At this time, the Japanese navy still had a fairly strong force at sea, and it was obviously unwise to easily abandon the coastal supply line and put more than 100,000 Japanese troops in uncertain danger, not to mention that the Japanese army at this time had been demoralized in successive defeats, and they needed to rest even more.

"Your Excellency the Admiral means ......," the staff officer asked.

Kawabe Shozo looked at the map and pondered for a long time, then gritted his teeth and said, "Give up Burma and retreat to the Arakan Mountains!" ”

The Arakan Mountains stretch from the south of the Chin Mountains in India to the Ayeyarwady Province in Burma, and the terrain is not only complex and suitable for the Japanese army's defensive operations, which is not suitable for the mechanized troops of the Chinese army, but also surrounds a Rakhine State and the Arakan coast, so that the Japanese army can attack and retreat, and if it is not possible, it can also use the navy to withdraw from the battle.

But what is more important is that if the Japanese army retreats to the Arakan Mountains on all fronts, then Imphal, which Mutaguchi Renya occupies, will become a salient on the defensive line, and it will also be a salient between Burma and India, and it will inevitably become the focus of attacks by the Chinese and British armies.

At that time, whether Mutaguchi retreats or not, his merit and prestige will be weakened to some extent.

Thinking of this, Kawabe Shozo no longer hesitated, and added: "Execute it immediately!" (To be continued.) )