Tonggu, a major town in Myanmar, became the focus of fierce competition between China and Japan. At this time, General Dai Anlan stood in the command center, staring at the battle map, as if he wanted to engrave every piece of terrain into his mind.

The determination on his face was like a rock carved by time, and under the dim light, it outlined the profile of a tough soldier.

“Report to the division commander! Another round of attack by the Japanese army has begun. The artillery fire is very fierce and the brothers have suffered heavy casualties!” The communications soldier Xiao Li ran in breathlessly, his voice trembling slightly with nervousness and anxiety.

Dai Anlan frowned slightly, which was a sign of his deep concern for the safety of his soldiers, but in a flash, his eyes became more determined, and his tone was steady and powerful: “Tell the brothers, our 200th Division will never retreat a single step! German equipment is our confidence, hit them hard and let the Japanese know how powerful we Chinese soldiers are!” His voice was not loud, but it echoed in the command center like a loud bell, conveying an unshakable belief.

At this time, the Tonggu battlefield was filled with smoke, and the pungent smell of gunpowder made it hard to breathe.

The soldiers of the 200th Division relied on German weapons to stubbornly resist the frenzied attacks of the Japanese army.

Heavy machine gunner Wang Hu was holding a German-made MG34 heavy machine gun. The thick barrel was spewing flames like an angry fire dragon, mowing down the rushing Japanese troops one by one.

“Damn it! If the Japs come again, I can shoot them into sieves with this machine gun!” Wang Hu shouted loudly, his voice sounding particularly heroic amid the sound of gunfire.

His face was covered with smoke and sweat, and his eyes were shining with a fiery light, which was hatred for the enemy and desire for victory. Beside him, empty ammunition boxes had been piled up into a small mountain, and each empty box witnessed his bravery and tenacity.

The new recruit Xiao Zhang beside him swallowed nervously, his hands shaking slightly with fear: “Brother Hu, can we hold on? There are too many Japanese devils.” Experiencing such a brutal war for the first time, Xiao Zhang’s heart was filled with anxiety and fear.

Wang Hu glared at him, and that look seemed to see through his heart: “Why can’t you hold on? The commanders are watching us from behind. If we are afraid of death, how can we face people in the future!” Wang Hu’s words were like a heavy hammer, hitting Xiao Zhang’s heart hard and giving him courage.

The fierce fighting on the Tonggu battlefield made Du Yuming, who was far away at the expeditionary headquarters, extremely anxious. He paced back and forth in the headquarters, his steps were hurried and heavy, and every step seemed to be stepping on the lifeline of the soldiers on the battlefield.

His brows were furrowed, and the anxiety on his face was like a dark cloud that was difficult to dissipate.

He said to the chief of staff, “Tonggu is our important line of defense in Myanmar. The 200th Division is under tremendous pressure there. We must send reinforcements as soon as possible and cannot let Dai Anlan and his men fight alone!” Du Yuming’s voice was full of anxiety and worry. He knew the importance of Tonggu and also understood the difficult situation the 200th Division was facing at the moment.

The chief of staff nodded in agreement. He was also worried about the situation on the battlefield. “Commander Du, I think we should transfer the newly formed 22nd Division. They are highly mobile and can provide quick support.”

Du Yuming pondered for a moment, quickly weighing the pros and cons in his mind. He knew that time was running out and every second could determine the life and death of the 200th Division.

Finally, he said decisively: “Okay, send a telegram to Liao Yaoxiang immediately and ask him to lead his troops to reinforce Tonggu as soon as possible!”

But in the British Indian Army camp, the scene was completely different.

General Smith, the commander of the British Indian Army, was sitting in the tent, looking at the map and sighing. His face was full of helplessness and frustration, as if the failure of this war was already doomed.

His adjutant came over and asked cautiously: “General, should we cooperate with the Chinese army in the battle as agreed?” There was a hint of hesitation in the adjutant’s voice, and he was also confused by General Smith’s attitude.

Smith waved his hand with a trace of disdain on his face: “Burma is a place full of jungles, supply is difficult, and the Japanese attack is fierce. I don’t think we can hold it. We should prepare to retreat. The most important thing is to preserve our strength.” His words were full of selfishness and cowardice, and he completely disregarded the agreement with the Chinese army.

The adjutant was a little hesitant and tried to persuade General Smith: “But the Chinese army is still fighting hard on the front line. Isn’t it inappropriate for us to retreat like this?” The adjutant still had a trace of conscience in his heart. He admired the bravery of the Chinese army and was uneasy about General Smith’s decision.

Smith frowned, dissatisfied with his adjutant’s questioning: “That’s what war is like. We can’t sacrifice our troops just to defend a place that is doomed to be lost. Issue the retreat order immediately and withdraw to the Indian border first.” His tone was firm and unquestionable, as if he had already put the life and death of the Chinese army aside.

At this time, on the Tonggu battlefield, the 200th Division had been fighting fiercely with the Japanese for several days, with casualties increasing, but the defense line was still firmly in their hands. Every inch of land was soaked with the blood of the soldiers, and every trench witnessed their tenacious resistance.

Dai Anlan looked at the tired but determined soldiers, and his heart was filled with emotion and pride. He knew very well that these soldiers were fighting for the country and the nation, and their bravery and sacrifice would be recorded in history forever.

“Division Commander, we have repelled six large-scale attacks by the Japanese army, but our brothers have consumed a lot of ammunition and the reinforcements have not arrived yet. We…” The deputy division commander said with some concern, his face full of fatigue and anxiety.

Dai Anlan patted him on the shoulder, encouraging and supporting him: “Reinforcements will surely come, let’s hold on a little longer. Let the logistics troops hurry up to count the ammunition, save as much as possible, and make the most of every bullet.” Dai Anlan’s words were like warm sunshine, dispelling the haze in the deputy division commander’s heart. At this moment, the signalman rushed in again: “Division Commander, we received a telegram from the Expeditionary Force Headquarters, the newly formed 22nd Division has set off and is coming to us!” The signalman’s face was filled with joy and excitement, and this news seemed like a ray of light in the darkness.

There was a glimmer of surprise in Dai Anlan’s eyes, which was the expectation of victory and the trust in his comrades: “Great! Notify all soldiers that reinforcements will be here soon. We will hold on for a while, and once the reinforcements arrive, we will encircle the Japanese!” His voice was full of passion and fighting spirit, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

On the battlefield, the soldiers’ morale was boosted when they heard the news that reinforcements were coming. Their tired bodies seemed to be injected with new strength, and their eyes were full of hope and courage.

Wang Hu shouted loudly: “Brothers, reinforcements are coming, let’s beat the Japanese again!” His voice was like a charge horn, inspiring the fighting spirit of every soldier. The soldiers shouted and launched a more fierce attack on the Japanese army.

The Japanese commander was also very angry when he saw the long-standing defense line of Tonggu. He roared at his subordinates: “Why are the Chinese troops so tenacious? Increase the intensity of the attack and concentrate all the artillery fire. We must take Tonggu before their reinforcements arrive!” His face was full of anger and helplessness. He did not expect the Chinese army’s resistance to be so tenacious.

A new round of artillery fire covered the positions of the 200th Division. The ground was shaking and the air was filled with smoke. The soldiers fought tenaciously in the smoke. People kept falling down, but no one retreated. Xiao Zhang’s arm was scratched by shrapnel and bleeding, but he gritted his teeth and continued to shoot. “Brother Hu, I can still fight. I want to avenge my dead brothers!” Xiao Zhang’s eyes flashed with hatred. He was no longer the timid recruit, but a brave soldier.

As time went by, the vanguard of the newly formed 22nd Division finally arrived at the Tonggu battlefield. Liao Yaoxiang personally came to the 200th Division headquarters and met with Dai Anlan.

“Commander Dai, we are here to support you!” Liao Yaoxiang held Dai Anlan’s hand tightly, his face filled with joy and relief. At this moment, they seemed to have become a whole, fighting together for the dignity of the country and the nation.

Dai Anlan said excitedly: “Commander Liao, you came just in time! The brothers are almost furious, let’s teach the Japanese a lesson together!” Dai Anlan’s words were full of gratitude and expectation. He knew that with the support of the newly formed 22nd Division, they would surely win this battle.

The two quickly formulated a battle plan, deciding that the 200th Division would contain the Japanese army head-on, while the newly formed 22nd Division would go around to the rear of the Japanese army to encircle and attack them. This plan took into account the characteristics of both sides’ troops and made full use of the terrain of the battlefield, demonstrating the outstanding military talents of the two generals.

The battle started again. The soldiers of the 200th Division charged at the Japanese artillery fire like a tiger descending from a mountain. Their shouts were deafening, as if they were going to overturn the entire battlefield. The newly formed 22nd Division also launched a fierce attack in the rear of the Japanese army. They were like a god descending from the sky, catching the Japanese army off guard. The Japanese army immediately fell into chaos, their defense line began to waver, and the soldiers fled everywhere.

“Charge! Kill the devils!” Wang Hu led the way with a machine gun, and the soldiers behind him shouted as they engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand combat with the Japanese army. Wang Hu shuttled across the battlefield, and his machine gun continued to harvest the lives of the Japanese army. The soldiers followed him closely, their eyes full of determination and courage, as if they wanted to wipe out all the enemies on this land.

The Japanese commander found himself surrounded and was terrified, so he quickly ordered a retreat. In the Battle of Tonggu, the Chinese Expeditionary Force won a brilliant victory. This victory not only broke the myth of the invincibility of the Japanese army, but also let the world see the courage and strength of the Chinese soldiers.

After the war, Dai Anlan stood on the battlefield, looking at the devastated land and his fallen comrades, his eyes full of grief and relief. He slowly walked to a fallen soldier and gently closed his eyes. “Brothers, you are all great! We defended Tonggu and won glory for the country and the nation!” Dai Anlan’s voice was low and hoarse, his heart was full of thoughts and respect for his comrades.

After Du Yuming learned the news of the victory of the Tonggu Defense War, he was filled with emotion: “Dai Anlan and his 200th Division are the pride of our Expeditionary Force! This victory allows the world to see the courage and strength of Chinese soldiers!” Du Yuming’s words were full of pride and relief. He was proud to have such a brave army.

When the British Indian Army learned that the Chinese Expeditionary Army had won, General Smith showed a complicated expression on his face. His adjutant whispered: “General, perhaps we should have cooperated with the Chinese army in the first place.” The adjutant’s words were full of regret and self-blame. He felt ashamed of his retreat.

Smith was silent for a long time and sighed: “Yes, they proved their determination with their blood and lives, but we chose to retreat…” Smith’s heart was full of regret and helplessness. He knew that his selfishness and cowardice made him lose the opportunity to fight side by side with the Chinese army, and also made him lose his dignity as a soldier.

The victory of this battle also made the expeditionary force realize that fighting in a foreign country not only requires facing powerful enemies, but also dealing with complex situations and the attitudes of allies. They know that the road ahead is still long and full of challenges and difficulties, but they are not afraid, because they are the Chinese Expeditionary Force, warriors fighting for the dignity of the country and the nation.

As time went by, the situation on the Burmese battlefield remained tense. The Japanese army was unwilling to accept defeat, and they continued to increase their troops in an attempt to retake Tonggu. Under the leadership of Du Yuming, the expeditionary army continued to fight arduous battles with the Japanese army. After experiencing the baptism of the Tonggu Defense War, the 200th Division became more tenacious. They became a sharp blade of the expeditionary army and continued to play an important role in subsequent battles.

At a military meeting, Du Yuming looked at his generals and said seriously: “The Battle of Tonggu is just the beginning. The Japanese army will not give up. We must be prepared for a long-term battle. Let us know what you think.” Du Yuming’s voice was full of worry and determination. He knew that future wars would be more brutal and would require the joint efforts of all soldiers.

Dai Anlan stood up and said firmly: “Commander, I think we should strengthen cooperation with the local people and establish a stable base. This will not only solve the supply problem but also get intelligence support.” Dai Anlan’s words were full of wisdom and foresight. He knew that fighting in a foreign country could not be separated from the support of the local people.

Liao Yaoxiang also nodded in agreement: “Commander Dai is right, we still need to further optimize our combat strategies and formulate flexible and changeable tactics based on the characteristics of the Japanese army.” Liao Yaoxiang’s words were full of thoughts and preparations for future wars. He knew that only by constantly adjusting tactics could we win the war.

Other generals also expressed their opinions. The meeting lasted until late at night. The discussions and arguments of the generals were intertwined, as if drawing a grand blueprint for future wars.

They knew very well that this war not only concerned the fate of the country and nation, but also the life and dignity of every soldier.

They will continue to fight side by side, strive for victory, and fight for the dignity of the country and the nation. (End of this chapter)