After some careful consideration, Mutaguchi also answered the five questions raised by Shozo Kawabe: "First, use the 54th and 55th divisions to control the direction of Agip and resolutely block the possible landing operation of the British army and protect the security of the left flank of the Imphal operation.

2. The strength of the three divisions is sufficient for the Imphal operation, and there is no need to increase the troops, once the Battle of Imphal is won, not only will it not bring adverse consequences to the defense of Burma, but it will also cut off the logistics supply line of the Chinese army in the north and bring great benefits to the defense of Burma.

3. It is suggested that our air force should be fully engaged in the operation in Imphal and form air superiority over the enemy in this local area of Imphal.

Four: There may be a shortage of supplies, but it is believed that the Imperial Japanese Army can overcome it with spirit and will.

Five: Provide sufficient reinforcements for the 18th Division, which will block the attack of the Chinese army and protect the security of the right flank of the Imphal operation. ”

It should be said that Mutaguchi Lianya's replies are a bit ridiculous, especially the fourth one...... The solution to the lack of supplies is actually to rely on spirit and will.

But this does make sense in the Japanese army, so Kawabe Shozo finally agreed.

So the Japanese army launched an attack on India from the north of the Arakan Mountains with the main force of the 15th, 31st, and 33rd divisions, plus two armored wings and aviation divisions.

Mutaguchi Lianya was even dreaming of his own sweet dreams, thinking that under the instigation of the "Indian National Army" led by Bowes, the Indian people would rise up one after another to fight with the Japanese army, just like the Burmese people.

But what he didn't know, including the rest of the Japanese, was that ****** had recently visited India, during which ****** had long talks with Gandhi and reached a consensus...... China and India have worked together to defeat fascism.

Due to Gandhi's great influence at home, and the fact that Indians have a kind of "obedience" in their bones, they lack the national sentiment like in countries such as Myanmar and Vietnam. Therefore, the situation that the Japanese army was expecting that "a spark can start a prairie fire" was purely on paper.

The Japanese tactics at the beginning of the Battle of Imphal were extremely clever.

They adopted a tactic of attacking the West with the 55th Division and launched a fierce offensive against the British and Indian forces stationed in western Bangladesh (note: this offensive is historically known as the Second Battle of Agip). In this battle, the Japanese army easily surrounded the Anglo-Indian Seventh Division, which was not strong in combat, and advanced to the strategic location of Chittagong.

The British did not expect the Japanese to attack from this direction at all, and had to send reinforcements in order to keep Chittagong...... As a result, among the three armies stationed in Imphal, the 15th Army, which had the strongest combat effectiveness, was hastily transferred to the direction of Chittagong.

This left a gap in the British defense in the direction of Imphal, so the Japanese easily crossed the Chindun River and launched a real attack on Imphal with lightning speed.

It was also when crossing the Chindun River that Mutaguchi made a ridiculous mistake...... In order to compensate for the supply difficulties, he ordered his soldiers to drive tens of thousands of cattle and sheep collected from the Burmese people across the Chindun River to Imphal.

This trick should have been learned by Mutaguchi Lian from Genghis Khan.

The characteristic of Genghis Khan's battles was that he used cavalry to penetrate the enemy in great depth without much provisions. In addition to the way these cavalry survived, that is, to seize the enemy's supplies as supplies, there was another way to survive when they were unable to grab supplies, that is, to drive cattle, sheep and horses with them.

This is not to say that cattle and horses can be slaughtered and eaten, but these livestock "eat grass and milk milk", Genghis Khan's elite cavalry unit often carried several mares in a cavalry, and if they were really thirsty and hungry during the march, they would go to the mare to drink mare's milk, which is said to allow the Mongolian cavalry to fight for more than ten days without provisions.

Mutaguchi was inspired by this tactic, so he asked the soldiers to bring cattle and sheep to the battlefield and strictly ordered the soldiers not to slaughter these cattle and sheep for food until absolutely necessary.

But modern warfare is no different from ancient warfare, and the Japanese are not Mongols...... The Mongols are all masters of animal husbandry. They know how to control herds of livestock, and although the Japanese may have raised a few sheep and cows, it would be difficult for them to control tens of thousands of animals.

So when the British saw the spectacle below, they only made a dive and fired rows of bullets. They were so frightened that the cattle and sheep ran all over the mountains, and no matter how much the Japanese army chased and shouted, it was useless.

Most of the Japanese army were also mentally prepared for the imminent shortage of supplies, and the commander of the 31st Division, Sato Division, said when he instructed his subordinates: "Everyone. Tonight we are going to start crossing the Chinton River. Before that, I have something to say to you, so please listen well! As long as miracles don't happen. Your lives will be lost in the upcoming battle. But instead of falling under bullets, most of you will starve to death in the Arakan Mountains. Be prepared! ”

In the end, the Battle of Imphal was indeed as Kawabe and the Japanese themselves feared, they were defeated not by the British aircraft and artillery, but by the lack of supplies...... Although the hungry Japanese soldiers still showed amazing combat effectiveness, by the time they reached Imphal's doorstep, they were already at the end of their crossbows, and they no longer had the strength to take a step forward.

Therefore, the so-called "Imphal victory" of the British was actually a narrow victory, and it was also a narrow victory with the support of the Chinese army and the United States.

But things are a little different now.

Because Zhang Chi knows one thing...... When attacking Imphal, the Japanese army actually really had the opportunity to "feed the enemy", the British army because the 15th Army was hurriedly transferred to Chittagong and caused a blank in the defense, so that the Japanese army quickly interspersed with the rear of the British army, but because of the unknown situation, there was only one brigade of interspersed troops, but after occupying the two British military stations, they could only watch the British army thousands of cars and a large number of artillery and ammunition flee because of insufficient troops, and later even the British army recaptured the Japanese military station, which will include 1200 vehicles, A large amount of ammunition, gasoline, food and other materials were burned to ashes.

Because of this, Mutaguchi was so angry that he dismissed Lieutenant General Yanagida, the commander of the 33rd Division who fought in this battle. (To be continued.) )