After China and the United States declared war on Japan, the Japanese army's victory at Pearl Harbor went to their heads, and military operations in Southeast Asia began rapidly.
The Japanese Southern Army, commanded by Juichi Terauchi, consisted of more than 400,000 troops and divided its forces into several groups to attack Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar.
On June 4, 1940, after the British and French allied forces were defeated in Dunkirk, abandoning their armor and helmets, the local power was in danger. At the same time, the control of the colonies in the Far East by Britain and France was greatly reduced.
Hong Kong Island, which has long been an isolated island in the sea, did not form a resistance when the Japanese army pressed on. The British armed forces on the island did not form a resistance, and fell into the hands of the Japanese army in just one day.
On this occasion, due to the influence of many factors, China's role on the international battlefield has been highlighted.
The United States needs China to consume the main force of the Japanese army within its borders, contain the Japanese army, and prevent the main force of the Japanese army from flooding into Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
For Britain's strategic policy, the first priority in the Far East was to defend India, the colony that exported the most resources.
Britain hopes to use China's long-term experience and strength in the war of resistance to support its military war situation in the Far Eastern colonies, especially Burma, India, and Malaysia, and save the crisis in the Far Eastern rear.
Therefore, as early as October 1940, the United Kingdom first opened the long-blocked Yunnan-Burma Road, and then brewed a Sino-British military alliance.
Once the Japanese army occupied Myanmar and controlled the Yunnan-Burma Road, it would be difficult to transport aid supplies to China, and it would be difficult to maintain China's war of resistance. This would be extremely detrimental to the United States' global strategy.
At this time, the Chinese army's entry into Myanmar to fight was put on the agenda.
After several negotiations, on February 12, 1942, China and Britain signed the "Sino-British Mutual Defense Agreement on the Burma Road", established a Sino-British military alliance, and decided that China would organize an expeditionary force to go to Burma to support the British army in the war against Japan.
After the agreement was reached, the old man forced the commander of the first theater of war to be the commander-in-chief of the first route of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, and Du Yuming was the deputy commander-in-chief. He was expected to lead a total of 10 divisions of the 5th, 6th, and 66th armies into Burma to assist.
British war.
At the same time, the position of commander-in-chief of the first theater of the national army was taken over by Cheng Qian, a veteran of the National Government.
The old man has his own experience in employing people. Under the leadership of Chief Wei, the first theater of the National Army changed its previous decline, mobilized the strength of the theater, combined with the Eighth Route Army troops, expanded the Zhongtiao Mountain Defense Area to the north, and restored the situation to the Japanese attack
The situation before Zhongtiao Mountain.
The First War Zone was not stable internally. Outside, Li Mo'an, who was supported by Hu Zongnan, was competing with the Chief of Guard for actual control of the army. Internally, Yu Mingzhong, director of the Political Training Department of the theater, repeatedly reported secretly that the Chief of Guard had been in close contact with the Eighth Route Army.
Based on all the above, the old man was worried that the Chief of Guards would take the opportunity to cultivate direct descendants if he served in the First War Zone for too long, so he forcibly transferred him to the mountain city to report on his duties.
Just when the expeditionary force was being formed, the 200th Division, the leading force, had already stationed in Baoshan, but Britain was still waiting to see the situation of the Japanese army and did not agree to the Chinese Expeditionary Force's entry into Myanmar.
At this time, the Japanese army had already intended to conquer Burma, and preparations for the planned US aid were underway, in an attempt to equip the Chinese Expeditionary Force through the Burma Highway.
At the official residence in the mountain city of Huangshan, the old man was receiving the Chief of Guard who had returned to report on his duties.
"Jun Ru, thanks to you managing the defense line at Zhongtiao Mountain in southern Shanxi in the past few years, we have been able to contain the Japanese troops in North China. You have contributed a lot!" The old man said something nice as soon as they met.
Chief Wei was born in Mr. **'s guard. If Mr. ** were still alive, he would naturally be a direct descendant of the family. His seniority in the National Government does not belong to the old man.
Even at this time, Chief Wei was still showing off his face in front of the old man because of being forcibly transferred back to report on his duties, and the old man would not reprimand Chief Wei like he scolded the Huangpu students.
In addition to his qualifications, after the Japanese army swept across the Three Jin Dynasties, the Chief of Guard was ordered to organize the national army to fight against the Japanese army north of the Yellow River.
At this time, the First War Zone was as stable as a mountain under the management of the Chief of Guards, but it was suddenly transferred back to report on its duties, which was a bit like picking peaches.
Seeing that Chief Wei was still smoking his pipe vigorously without saying anything, the old man still didn't understand that Chief Wei was still angry, and immediately said: "Junru, the Japanese invaders have occupied the heart of Burma. It is obvious that they intend to cut off the Burma Highway and cut off our country.
foreign aid!”
"At present, most of our country is occupied by the Japanese invaders, and the government is located in the southwest. We can only rely on foreign aid to maintain the current situation. This is not a good place to be, Junru!"
"There are Japanese aggressors invading the country outside, and warlords from various places are separatist in one area and ignoring the government's orders. There are also dissident elements of the Eighth Route Army who are causing trouble in one area!"
"The Supreme Leader handed over the power of the country to me. Every time I think about the current situation, I often can't sleep at night. I am afraid that I will be ashamed of the high expectations of the Supreme Leader. At this time, only the elders of the Alliance and I can work together to complete the Supreme Leader."
His last wish is to build a unified country!"
The old man didn't know whether it was a fake act or a sentiment. When he talked about the emotional part, he burst into tears. The guard chief who was still there at the side quickly took out his handkerchief and handed it to the old man.
"Justice, I am willing to obey the military committee's order!" The guard officer also said with sadness on his face.
"Okay, Junru, I can only rely on you now. The expeditionary force is being formed. With your prestige and ability, it would be just right for you to serve as the commander!"
"Then do I have full command authority?" The guard commander immediately asked a crucial question.
"Of course, but this time we are cooperating with the British army to fight. Junru, you should be more considerate!" The old man was stunned for a moment and then ordered.
In fact, in addition to the internal reasons of the Nationalist government, the appointment of the Chief of Guard as the commander of the expeditionary force also had American intentions.
The performance of Chief Wei at Zhongtiao Mountain caught the attention of the Americans, who wanted to select a capable general from among the generals of the Chinese army to serve as the commander of the Chinese Expeditionary Force. That is why the current situation happened.
The words are divided into two parts.
Although there was controversy within the Japanese army over whether to move south to open up new battlefields in Southeast Asia and even the Pacific, the victory at Pearl Harbor and the nearly overwhelming power of the Southern Army in Southeast Asia silenced the internal opposition.
Then the Japanese army launched a liquidation campaign, and European and American countries all had concessions in major cities in China, such as Shanghai and Tianjin, the areas occupied by the Japanese army.
The concessions of various countries were actually states within a state. Before the official separation, although the concessions were surrounded by the Japanese army, the Japanese army did not dare to act rashly.
At this time, the Allies and the Axis Powers seemed to have lost their last dignity. Since the Japanese army would not allow the existence of a state within a state, they would immediately take action against the British, American, French and public concessions.
