Kameda Koji packed up the maimed mule and horse transport team, returned to the main army, and reported to the commander of the division, Takeuchi Hiroshi.
As the core figure of a division, he didn't pay too much attention to the losses reported by Major Kameda. He only said to be more vigilant and continued to advance steadily with the main force of the 55th Division.
After Yuesong led two detachments and fought a comfortable attack battle, while the brothers were happy and happy, Yuesong began to plan the next reconnaissance plan.
Yuesong asked Lei Hang to report to Commander Dai the results of the battle and the current location of the enemy's 55th Division. The reply received from the division headquarters was that a motorized infantry regiment had arrived in Tonggu City to deploy, and one of the battalions was composed of
Battalion Commander Chang led the team to dig simple fortifications and set up defenses at the place proposed by Yuesong where the Japanese cavalry brigade could easily cross the river. After a company from the engineering regiment arrived, stronger defenses would be built.
Another battalion of the Motorized Rifle Regiment, led by Battalion Commander Tong, had already made preparations to block the Japanese attack on the north bank of the Pew River Bridge. What surprised Yuesong when he arrived was that in the reply received from the division headquarters, Yuesong
Songcai knew that although the failed British-Burmese army had planted explosives to blow up the Pew River Bridge, and Yuesong and the others had heard the huge explosion when the bridge was blown up, the British-Burmese army was retreating hastily and the amount of explosives had been destroyed.
It was used too little and the explosion made a lot of noise, but the bridge body was not too damaged and the bridge could still pass Japanese trucks.
Yuesong held the cigarette bitterly with his teeth, took two strong puffs, and said to himself: "I've heard of useless ones, but I've never seen such useless ones."
"Captain, are you talking about the British troops scurrying around?" Lei Hang asked.
"Blowing up all the bridges, what else can the British-Burmese army do?" Yuesong left the cigarette butt on the ground, stretched out his foot, and stamped it out. "Fortunately, Commander Dai's troops were so quick that they were already deployed.
Two important blocking points.”
"What should we do now?" asked the third brother.
"Continue reconnaissance." Yuesong said.
In the evening of that day, the Japanese cavalry brigade arrived at the southern end of the Pew River Bridge. However, Colonel Fukuyama, who led the brigade, rode on his horse, raised his telescope, and observed it, but did not decide to go to the bridge immediately.
"Colonel, why don't you get on the bridge and quickly attack the city?" asked a staff officer.
"The bridge is too narrow and the cavalry troops cannot deploy. As long as the enemy sets up a few machine guns at the head of the bridge, the cavalry will have no choice but to die." Colonel Fukuyama replied calmly.
"Report to Colonel, Colonel Seto's troops have arrived, and the troops are behind us." A Japanese soldier came over to report.
"Seto-kun, how come his troops are so fast and are actually following our cavalry brigade?" Colonel Fukuyama said.
"Reporting to Colonel, the British and Burmese troops retreated hastily, abandoning many trucks, motorcycles, and some armored vehicles. Lieutenant Colonel Seto's troops were transformed from an infantry squadron to a motorized infantry squadron."
"Hahaha, the British are so generous. Yangon gave it to the imperial army and left behind a large amount of strategic materials. Now they are also sending trucks and armored vehicles along the way. It seems that the imperial army will soon be able to capture Mandalay and control the entire
Burma, drive back all the troops from China who have just left the country." Colonel Fukuyama said proudly.
"Colonel, if we don't climb the bridge to attack, Lieutenant Colonel Seto has already arrived. What should we do?" a staff officer asked.
Colonel Fukuyama shook his head, touched the small tuft of beard on his mouth, and said: "Let Mr. Seto attack the bridge. Since Mr. Seto wants to be loyal to the emperor so much, then I will learn from the British and be more generous.
Some, what do you think?"
"Colonel Hideaki."
"Go and invite Seto-kun over," Colonel Fukuyama said.
"Hi." The Japanese who came to report ran over on horseback.
After a while, Seto came over in a British jeep, got out of the car and saluted Colonel Fukuyama.
"Seto-kun, you are so fast, haha!" Colonel Fukuyama smiled, hiding his sword.
"Colonel, the cavalry regiment is even faster." Lieutenant Colonel Seto bowed.
"The cavalry brigade has always been the vanguard of the imperial army. However, since Seto-kun has arrived at the front of the attack this time, please ask Seto-kun to attack the bridge first." Colonel Fukuyama pointed at the bridge.
"Thank you, Colonel!" Seto Nakasa knocked the heel of his leather boots and saluted him.
"Order, the cavalry brigade makes way for Seto-kun's troops!"
"Hey!" the Japanese cavalry shouted loudly, and a road immediately got out of the way.
Lieutenant Colonel Seto proudly got on the British army's jeep and returned to direct his squadron to quickly deploy an attack.
"Order, the cavalry of the Oda team should speed up the Pew River and move upstream to search and find an attack point more suitable for the cavalry to cross the river." After Colonel Fukuyama gave the order, he dismounted and sat down with his staff to set up for him.
We stayed in a temporary tent, slowly brewed tea, and prepared to watch Lieutenant Colonel Seto's attack.
Seto was a cheerful Japanese lieutenant colonel. After setting up the formation, he ordered the squadron to be divided into three echelons, with himself in the middle. Without even doing basic fire reconnaissance, he led the team onto the Pew River Bridge in a mighty manner.
"Seto-kun is really a fierce general of the imperial army. Fire reconnaissance was omitted, hahaha." Colonel Fukuyama was drinking tea and watching the show.
"Hahaha."
Just as the Japanese were laughing, there was a loud "boom", the bridge shook, the ground trembled, Colonel Fukuyama's small tea table almost fell to the ground, and the teapot splashed.
The Japs at the bridge stretched their necks and saw that the explosion occurred on the bridge. The Pew River Bridge was severed from the middle, several military vehicles fell into the Pew River, and a group of imperial soldiers were instantly swallowed up by the river water.
Battalion Commander Chang patted the engineer platoon leader on the head and said, "Brother, this is okay. Just one blast broke the bridge. Look at your masterpiece. Several Japanese vehicles fell into the river."
"Thank you, Commander Chang." the engineer platoon leader said with a smile.
"Brothers, for the first battle abroad, cheer me up and set up all the machine guns."
As soon as Battalion Commander Chang finished speaking, three heavy machine guns and four light machine guns were placed on sandbags by the brothers in an instant.
"Ready, fire!" Battalion Commander Chang shouted in a loud voice, and the brothers opened fire on the Japanese.
"Da da da da da da da". At this moment, it was no longer a matter of burst shooting and strafing. A dense barrage swept towards the Japs. The Japs in front were already frightened out of their wits by the explosion behind them.
Before we could figure out what was going on, the bullets came at us like a wall. We didn't even have time to react. The Japanese in the front row were beaten into a sieve.
"Sure enough, there is an ambush." Colonel Fukuyama stood up, "In the telescope, there is only a sandbag wall, but there are no machine guns or rifles on the wall. I suspect that it is not the British and Burmese troops guarding the bridge. It seems that the Chinese army is fast enough."
"Colonel, the bridge was blown up and our cavalry can't cross. What should we do?"
"Send another cavalry team along the river bank and downstream to find a suitable place for the cavalry to cross the river."