On December 24, when the rescue operation on the Western Front officially started.

The Seventh Army, the Eighth Army, and the 200th Division, the 22nd Division, the 96th Division, the 49th Division, the 55th Division and other units belonging to the 2nd Army simultaneously launched an attack on the Mandalay area.

In the face of powerful troops and firepower, the defense lines of the Japanese 33rd Division and the 1st Guards Division around Mandalay were breached one after another.

Seeing that the two divisions were about to be encircled by the Chinese army, the plan for a decisive battle in the Mandalay area would be aborted. The commander of the 15th Army, Shojiro Iida, planned to preserve his strength and prepare for the battle. On the night of the 24th, he sent an order to the two divisions.

The regiment issued a retreat order.

Mandalay is an important town in central Myanmar. After the Japanese army withdraws from Mandalay, it will completely lose the initiative in the Myanmar campaign.

The 33rd Division and the 1st Guards Division retreated southwest of Mandalay on the night of the 24th, and Yan Yilun's Seventh Army took advantage of the situation to occupy Mandalay.

Since the Sixth Army of the 2nd Army had penetrated into Taunggyi and other places south of Mandalay, the Japanese intersecting troops did not dare to go south along the central railway line, but chose the direction of the jungle and Yan'anqiang further west.

After a day and night of fighting, the Japanese forces were completely driven out of northern and eastern Myanmar.

The war situation in Myanmar instantly changed from dark clouds to clear skies.

The Japanese army retreated in a panic, and many active forces fled to southern Myanmar. Shojiro Iida chose Tonggu as the location for the next battle.

On January 1, 1942, the new Myanmar government supported by the Military Intelligence Bureau was established in Mandalay.

Mandalay had just experienced a war, and there were a lot of ruins piled up inside and outside the city.

The new government was established amidst the ruins and smoke of war, giving people the feeling of a phoenix rising from the ashes.

The establishment of a new government based on the people of this land has great and important significance. It is also the most important means for Koto and the Japanese to compete for the commanding heights of public opinion and propaganda in this region.

In order to establish a new government, the Military Intelligence Bureau had been preparing for a long time. They not only notified influential Chinese and foreign media reporters and political leaders in the war zone, but also spread the news to villages and towns in Myanmar.

On January 1st, under the auspices of Jiangdong, the new government was formally established.

Slim, Alexander and General Stilwell all attended the founding ceremony.

After the great victory in northern Burma and the successful rescue of 100,000 British troops, Alexander's face turned ugly again!

The three of them stood together and looked at Jiang Dong, who was not far away and was being interviewed by Chinese and foreign reporters.

In the constantly flashing spotlights, Jiangdong looks like stars over the moon.

Alexander snorted coldly and wanted to leave this false scene, but was stopped by General Stilwell.

After the joint declaration of China, the United States and Britain, Great Britain has legally lost its right to rule in Myanmar. In the eyes of all Great Britain, this land with rich resources and docile people was forcibly snatched away by Jiangdong.

Forming a new government and helping the Burmese people embark on the path of independence and self-reliance are high-sounding words only for reporters, and no one in the government believes them.

Since the Great Victory in Northern Burma had just ended, Jiangdong was regarded as the benefactor of the entire Western world, so foreign reporters showed relative restraint when asking questions and were not as aggressive as before.

The most frequently asked question by reporters is still about the great victory in northern Myanmar. As for the new government established on the ruins, not many people sincerely expressed concern.

After dealing with reporters, Jiang Dong brought Fu Yisheng to Alexander and others.

Facing the Chinese general who personally rescued him from the Japanese encirclement, Slim took the initiative to say hello to Fu Yisheng, forcing a smile on his face.

Alexander was the same, but his greetings and smiles were condescending and condescending.

Jiangdong likes to see Alexander and others looking down on the Chinese but helpless.

With a spring-like smile on his face, he shook hands with the three of them enthusiastically.

This smile made Alexander feel uncomfortable.

At Jiangdong's invitation, Alexander, General Stilwell, Slim and others went to meet the new leader of Myanmar, Meng Bo.

Meng Bo's appearance had changed drastically from the first time Jiang Dong saw him. He was wearing bright clothes, his face was much rosier, and there was no trace of the slums anymore.

He sat in the position of the king and enjoyed the kneeling and congratulations of the elders of the dynasty!

Even from a distance of more than 20 meters, Jiang Dong and others could see Meng Bo's restraint. His body was as stiff as a wooden board, and there was a trace of confusion and panic in his eyes.

When his eyes met Jiangdong's, he almost stood up from his position as the king and ran over to salute Jiangdong.

A 13-year-old boy was struggling in the slums just a week ago.

Fate is so wonderful. After a week, he became the most respected and most well-fed person in this land.

All this seems like a dream, and Meng Bo still can't accept it calmly.

In his immature heart, he attributed all these changes to Jiang Dong, and instinctively wanted to rely on Jiang Dong to seek a sense of security.

Everyone saw Meng Bo's reaction, some shook their heads and sighed, while others became even more depressed.

At the suggestion of the attendant, the young king expressed his gratitude to Jiangdong, Alexander, Stilwell and others.

He stumbled and said that he hoped that the Allied forces would continue their efforts to drive the Japanese out of this land and liberate the Burmese people.

He has practiced these words many times, but now they still sound so stiff and false.

After going through the formalities, Alexander, Slim and other British personnel were the first to leave Mandalay.

The British troops have retreated to the north of Myitkyina, and according to the agreement, they will all withdraw from Myanmar within 10 days.

All the supplies that were not removed were left behind, which was regarded as a little compensation from the British to the local people colonized by them.

After the new government is established, 60% of the government officials will be local Chinese, and 10% will be administrative personnel who came from China to serve in the name of support and guidance.

Most of the remaining 30% are the young and old of the Gongbang Dynasty!

Jiangdong's approach is too obvious, but Shenzhou is the local suzerainty.

Only the ruler with the consent of China has legal status!

This is what the ruler of the country does, not to mention other officials, big and small.

After January 1, under the guidance and organization of the Military Intelligence Bureau and Chinese administrative personnel, the liberated cities in northern Myanmar began to formally establish their own administrative systems.

Lu Jiu used the weapons and equipment left by the British to help Meng Bo form a division of self-defense forces.

Tasks such as suppressing guerrillas and maintaining public security will be undertaken by the local national defense forces.

The problem of the guerrillas was no longer a problem of the Chinese and the Japanese, but a problem of resistance to the local government.

As the administrative system improves, there will be less and less room for guerrillas to survive.

Jiangdong hopes that the local area can be peaceful and tranquil. With a stable environment, the 6th Corps can continuously exploit local oil and other resources.

This point is the most critical!

The grand establishment ceremony of the new government lasted for three days before it ended!

Driven by common interests, Western governments have recognized the legal status of the new government.

…

The expeditionary force headquarters has been moved to Mandalay, not far from the palace of the king.

"The Military Intelligence Bureau played a decisive role in the establishment of the new government. Judging from the feedback in the past few days, you have done a good job in this matter, which is enough to be considered a great achievement!"

Jiang Dong looked at Lu Jiu and said:

"But there are still many things to do in the future. You can't relax. The most critical one is the formulation of the constitution, which must be completed within a month!"

"Yes!" There was no trace of pride or complacency on Lu Jiu's face. He was still so serious, even a little cold.

Jiang Dong patted him on the shoulder, and then led a group of officers to the battle map.

"The government has been established, and the local people's resistance to us should be much less. You must take this opportunity to drive the Japanese out of Myanmar in one fell swoop and reopen the Burma Highway!"

The officers all looked at the map with serious eyes.

Lu Jiu glanced at everyone, and then said to Jiang Dong:

"The Japanese Fifteenth Army has been crippled, with only more than 30,000 soldiers left in the entire army. In order to save the decline of the war situation in Myanmar, the Japanese base camp not only dispatched servant troops to southern Myanmar, but also deployed elite Japanese army troops from other theaters.

, in an attempt to prevent us from opening the Burma Highway.

Not long ago, I received a telegram from Director Song that the Japanese are about to send the 18th Division and the 56th Division to fight in Burma.

The Japanese 18th Division has rich jungle combat experience, we must pay enough attention to it!"

"It was the 18th Division that attacked Nanjing through burning, killing, and looting all those years ago!" Wei Junru clenched his fists.

"The little devil came just in time, we must avenge Nanjing!"

The officers were excited. Jiang Dong pressed his hands and asked Lu Jiu:

"Where are the 18th Division and the 56th Division now?"

“I landed in Bangkok the day before yesterday and should have entered Myanmar by now!”

Jiang Dong frowned and calculated:

"After the 18th Division and the 56th Division enter Myanmar, Shojiro Iida will have about 80,000 troops.

The 80,000 troops are nothing to be afraid of. The only thing I worry about is that Shojiro Iida will break up the troops and play jungle warfare, guerrilla warfare and stalemate warfare with us!"

Jiangdong's eyes passed through the southern Myanmar region and finally stopped in Yangon.

"Yangon is the end point of the Burma Road in a broad sense and is an important port for us to connect with the outside world!

In the next stage of the operation, in addition to opening up the north-south transportation trunk lines, the most important thing for our army is to annihilate the effective forces of the Japanese army. We must not just beat them away like the first stage of the operation!

Order the Sixth Army to continue moving south, without giving Shojiro Iida time to calmly arrange the defense line!

Lao Fu protected the Ren'an Qiang Oilfield, and at the same time drove away the Japanese invaders on the Western Front, allowing them to gather in the direction of Tonggu, creating conditions for the follow-up of our army's large-scale annihilation war!

The Seventh Army and the Eighth Army formed a double-arrow posture, pushing southward along both sides of the central communication line with a devastating force. The target was tentatively set to be the same as in ancient times!

Send a report to the country and ask trading companies to send important technical elites from oil companies and mining companies to Myanmar! Strive to resume oil and mineral production in various regions within a month!"
Chapter completed!