This was indeed a headache, given that the Japanese had also been operating in Mandalay for a long time, and that the garrison was an old adversary...... The 18th Division of the Japanese Army.

The 18th Division of the Japanese Army has been fighting against the Chinese army since the Chinese army's counteroffensive, so it can be said that it has a clear understanding of the combat effectiveness and tactics of the Chinese army.

Then, now that the main force of the 18th Division is in Mandalay, it is very likely that Mandalay will fight a protracted battle like Bamo.

However, the current situation requires the Chinese army to take Mandalay quickly, otherwise the Japanese army is likely to discover the intentions of the Chinese army and fill the gap on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River in time.

Of course, Zhang Chi also considered this question, so he replied without thinking about it: "General, not long ago...... When the Japanese attacked Imphal, they pretended to attack Chittagong and transferred the British 15th Army out of Imphal, the Japanese can do this, why can't we do this? ”

"Oh...... What do you mean......"

"We can attack Lashio with heavy troops first!" Zhang Chi said: "Lashio is a place where the Japanese army must be saved, because once Lashio falls into our hands, the 56th Division of the Japanese army will be completely surrounded by our army and lose supplies, so ......."

"In this way, the Japanese thought that the focus of our attack was Lashio!" Stilwell continued: "Then we will send troops from Mandalay to reinforce Lashio, and then our army will launch a surprise attack on Mandalay!" This is called ...... in your Chinese words."

"Sound from east to west!" Zhang Chi and Stilwell uttered the idiom almost at the same time.

Due to the urgency of the military situation and the fact that the Chinese army was well prepared, the battle was quickly launched.

In order to be able to transfer as many Japanese troops from Mandalay as possible, the Chinese army's attack on Lashio was huge...... In the air, dozens of fighter planes bombed in turn, two howitzer regiments bombarded Lashio day and night, and dozens of tanks and two entire divisions were deployed in front of them.

This frightened the commander of the 56th Division of the Japanese Army, Yuzo Matsuyama, but Lashio was the supply line and retreat route of their entire division, and Lashio was lost. Then the 56th Division is afraid that it will stay in western Yunnan and the China-Burma highway forever.

So he immediately asked for help from the commander of the 33rd Army, Lieutenant General Honda Masasai...... This is also one of the characteristics of the Japanese command system, which will always organize several related divisions and regiments into a group and establish a corps headquarters for command during a campaign.

For example, the 15th Division, the 31st Division, and the 33rd Division were attacking Imphal, so they were organized into the 15th Army, and the commander was Mutaguchi Yoshiya. The 18th Division and the 56th Division were responsible for the defense of northern Burma and western Yunnan, and were organized into the 33rd Army, and the commander was Honda Masasai. The 28th Army, which also had to defend against the British landing, was commanded by Sakurai Province.

The advantage of this is that once there is something that needs to be decided, there is no need to report everything to Shozo Kawabe and wait for his orders and commands, so the process can be streamlined and more flexible.

As soon as Honda Masako heard that the Chinese army was attacking Lashio, he immediately ordered Tanaka Shinichi to immediately lead his troops to reinforce Lashio.

But at this time, Shinichi Tanaka hesitated.

"Your Excellency, Lieutenant General!" The staff officer persuaded on the side: "Hurry up and carry out the order, I am afraid that Lashio will fall into the hands of the Chinese!" ”

"Kato-kun!" Shinichi Tanaka asked, "Do you really think that the Chinese are attacking Lashio?" ”

"Of course!" The staff officer replied: "They threw a lot of air force and artillery. And there are also two divisions of troops, all of which indicate that the goal of the Chinese army is Lashio! ”

Tanaka Shinichi shook his head and replied, "If you want to fight Lashio, you don't need so many troops at all. ”

"Your Excellency, Lieutenant General!" The staff officer replied: "The reason why they invested so many troops is probably because they hope to fight east along the China-Burma Highway after they have defeated Lashio, so that they can cooperate with the Chinese troops to completely annihilate the 56th Division!" ”

"But now the task of the Chinese is not to open the China-Myanmar highway, but to relieve the siege of Imphal!" Shinichi Tanaka replied: "We have accurate information, the British have been asking for help from the Chinese army. Moreover, once Imphal is defeated by Mutaguchijun, the Chinese army will face a situation where supplies will be cut off, and the time will be ...... Even if the Chinese open up the China-Myanmar highway, what is the use?! ”

Shinichi Tanaka's words make sense, it's like playing Go, although the inside is connected, but the outside is surrounded by a larger area. In the end, it was all for nothing. The Chinese army's approach to Lashio was to be in the company, and if the Japanese took Imphal and then captured Ledo, they would encircle all the Chinese forces, including the Chinese Expeditionary Force.

"Your Excellency Lieutenant General, you mean ......" the staff officer seemed to be a little moved.

"Kato-kun!" Tanaka Shin said in a deep voice: "The Chinese are very cunning, and I think they are implementing a strategy to attack the west. The aim is to move our troops out of Mandalay. Therefore, their ultimate goal should be Mandalay, and only to defeat Mandalay and then continue south. It is possible to threaten the rear of the 15th Army, and only in this way can the siege of Imphal be relieved, understand? ”

If Zhang Chi heard Tanaka Shinichi's words, he was afraid that he would have to admire Tanaka Shinichi.

Therefore, this guy Tanaka Shinichi, although he is sometimes not resolute enough to fight because of his staff background, he considers the problem very carefully and analyzes it very well, and Mutaguchi Lian is a bit of a reckless man and a gambler.

Hearing this, the staff officer couldn't help but nodded, and then asked with some concern: "Where is Commander Honda......?"

"I'll explain it to the commander!" Shinichi Tanaka said.

But Shinichi Tanaka was too confident on this point.

"Tanaka-kun!" Honda Masasai replied, "Are you scared of being beaten by the Chinese army?" sat back and watched the 56th Army being besieged and ignored it! The focus of the Chinese army is Mandalay, but I haven't gotten any information about the activities of the Chinese army near Mandalay! ”

"Your Excellency the Commander......"

"Say no more!" Honda Masasai ordered: "Obey the order, Lashio cannot be lost." As soon as Lashio loses the 56th Division, it's over......"

In fact, Honda Masako also has his reasons, because if Lashio is lost, it is indeed as he said, and it is only a matter of time before the defense distance in western Yunnan and northern Burma that he, the commander is responsible for, collapses.

The contradiction between Tanaka Shinichi and Honda Masasai is: Tanaka Shinichi considered the entire Burma war situation, so he did not hesitate to sacrifice the 56th Division, while Honda Masacai considered the tasks of the 33rd Army and the 33rd Army, so Lashio must not be lost.

This is also the harm of Zhang Chi's trick...... Attack it and save it. (To be continued.) )