Age of Conquest Reborn

The sudden report from the communications staff interrupted Stilwell's inspiration. A bright light suddenly appeared in his mind, which seemed to capture the essence of the matter. Then it suddenly went out, and his thinking became chaotic again. Whether it was an ordinary person or a general, this state

Next, if your train of thought is interrupted, you won’t be in a good mood!

Stilwell was full of anger and wanted to kick him to death. The communications staff officer, who came at the wrong time, said coldly: "Read it!" Although the staff officer was aware of the anger of the former chief of staff and current commander, he did not feel it.

Surprised, ever since General Stilwell, who served as the commander of the 7th Infantry Division, came to the Calais Mountains, not a single day has been pleasant. The staff officers who followed him were all used to it...

The staff officer quickly opened the folder and read: "Major General Cindy Hall, commander of the 5th Infantry Division, called to tell us that the defensive positions of the 18th and 19th Infantry Regiments of our division were violently attacked by the Japanese army at about 5 o'clock this afternoon, and the troops suffered casualties.

It’s very big. I would like to ask Your Majesty the Commander for permission to retreat from the current position to the Palapag line and re-establish the blocking line.”

Stilwell frowned. If Major General Cindy Hall's request was approved, it would mean that the entire defense line of the 5th Infantry Division would be withdrawn from its current position by at least 40 kilometers, next to the 8th of the 5th Infantry Division.

The infantry division's defensive position became a prominent location, and all the Japanese attack pressure would be concentrated on the Eighth Infantry Division. It can be said that one move can affect the whole body.

The Japanese army did not make any big moves all day today, but in the evening they launched a fierce attack on the position of the 5th Infantry Division. Could it be that the Japanese army wanted to choose the defensive direction of the 5th Infantry Division as a breakthrough? If that is true.

, the follow-up troops of the Japanese army must be pressing forward. This may be the prelude of a large-scale attack by the Japanese army on the defense line of its own troops in the Calais Mountains!

The confusion and ominous feeling that has been lingering in my mind should not exist. It can cause heavy casualties to two US infantry regiments with full personnel, reinforced by a 155mm caliber howitzer regiment and two tank regiments.

The number of troops deployed by the Japanese army is at least one division. If the Fifth Infantry Division is not allowed to retreat, it will take less than three days. The troops will be exhausted!

But once the 5th Infantry Division retreats to Palapague, it means that the entire defense line in the Calais Mountains will be forced to retreat across the entire line. Next, the depth of the battle defense that he conceived will become empty talk.

Wei suddenly felt a headache and it was difficult to make this decision.

Stilwell thought for a moment and said to the communications staff: "Send a telegram immediately. Ask Major General Cindy Hall, commander of the 5th Infantry Division, how many troops were dispatched when the Japanese attacked your division's defensive position, as well as other equipment, and ask him to send it immediately.

Report the battle situation to the battle group headquarters! I will be waiting at the headquarters!"

The night was as dark as ink, and the sporadic sound of gunfire made the night in the Calais Mountains seem particularly sad and monotonous. Stilwell was still thinking about his fleeting thoughts, but he couldn't connect them anyway.

The adjutant, Major Higgs, held a windbreaker and looked at the sad-looking Stilwell. He put it on him and said: "Your Excellency, it's late at night and the fog is very heavy. I'm worried about your health, so I'd better go back to the headquarters.

Bar?"

Stilwell looked at this loyal adjutant who had followed him for many years. He sighed in his heart. He was rejected by MacArthur and was demoted to the Calais Mountains. His military career had almost reached the lowest point, but his adjutant never left him.

Abandon, follow yourself, come to this battlefield where you may die at any time, let the lonely and hesitant Stilwell feel grateful from the heart.

He looked at the adjutant and said: "Higgs, thank you for always taking care of me. I don't know why, but I always have an ominous feeling in my heart. The Japanese army's attack has always been limited. Otherwise, we would not be able to survive."

In the Calais Mountains, they blocked the Japanese army for six days, and the Japanese army only had two divisions, the 103rd and 104th, in the battle. This is what I don’t understand the most!”

"Higgs, if the report from the Fifth Infantry Division is a prelude to the Japanese army launching a full-line attack, my worries are unnecessary. Our days in the Calais Mountains will not be very long. Next, hundreds of thousands of

Elite Japanese soldiers will flock to Manila like a tide. In the chaos, any unexpected situation may happen. I, the commander, may lose my life at any time. Higgs, I want you to retire. No.

You must stay with me and wait for death on Luzon Island."

These are Stilwell's heartfelt words. His old subordinate who has followed him for many years should be given a good home. When the defense line in the Calais Mountains was broken through by the Japanese army, it was the day when the battle group was completely defeated. After hearing the words of the old officer, Higgs' eyes

, there seemed to be tears flashing across his face. He was about to say something when the communications staff hurried over. Higgs swallowed back the words that were on his lips.

Opening the telegram handed over by the communications staff, Stilwell was so angry that he almost vomited blood and cursed: "Asshole, what a fierce Japanese attack, that's nonsense!"

In the telegram, Major General Cindy Hall, commander of the Fifth Infantry Division, said: "The Japanese troops attacking the defensive positions of the 18th and 19th Infantry Regiments of our division were composed of two regiments, equipped with large-caliber field artillery, and a considerable number of

The exact number of tanks is unknown, and there was no mention in the telegram as to why there were casualties."

Stilwell felt a sense of sadness in his heart. This is the American Army, this is the American general. A division, faced with the attack of two regiments of Japanese troops, was so panicked that it was retreating. It was just running away! I'm afraid it was

Even the heavy casualties were fabricated?

Stilwell angrily yelled at the communications staff: "Immediately convey my order, Major General Cindy Hall, commander of the Fifth Infantry Division, your department must stick to the current defense line, and no retreat is allowed. Without my order,

If you leave the position without authorization, I don't mind executing you personally. Once again, only my orders are the only ones, not Commander MacArthur's orders!"

The communications staff officer was furious after recording the commander's message and ran away in a hurry. Stilwell said sadly to Higgs: "Higgs, look, this is the force under my command, this is our general.

, Higgs, I am very sad, when did the military of the United States of America become like this?"

Adjutant Higgs hesitated for a moment, then plucked up the courage and said, "General, there is something I must tell you, otherwise I will be sorry for you!"

Stilwell looked at his adjutant in surprise, his eyes full of doubts, and of course, encouragement. Higgs said: "Regarding the attack suffered by the Fifth Infantry Division this afternoon, based on the actual combat situation, I

I learned something from other channels!”

"In fact, the attacking Japanese troops did not even have two regiments and were not equipped with tanks. The 18th and 19th Infantry Regiments suffered the greatest casualties. The only reason was that the 5th Infantry Division

The attached artillery regiment made an error in the coordinates of the bombardment instructions due to the forward troops. Most of the artillery shells hit our own positions. The casualties caused to the attacking Japanese troops were far less than our own casualties. Division Commander Sintihor concealed

Failure to retaliate is nothing more than finding a reason for yourself to retreat!"

Stilwell's vision went dark. His tall body shook a few times and almost fell down. His heart began to throb violently. He absolutely believed that the adjutant who had followed him for many years would not lie to him, but it was still unbelievable.

Asked: "Higgs, with your honor as a soldier, you guarantee that you did not lie!"

Higgs did not swear, but looked calmly at the pale Stilwell. Stilwell suddenly lost the courage to ask any more questions. His whole person seemed to be much older at this moment, and his expression was filled with pain.

And lonely.

Suddenly, anger burned in Stilwell's eyes, and he said to the adjutant: "Higgs, I will definitely investigate this matter. That Cindy Hall, I will personally send him to a military court and drive him out."

U.S. Army Corps, before the end of my life, I must severely punish this scum!"

Higgs just said lightly, "General, is this necessary? When dealing with a major general and division commander, you need to get approval from the headquarters!"

Stilwell stopped talking. Higgs's words hit the deep pain in his heart. He couldn't deal with the scum division commander Major General Cindy Hall. MacArthur couldn't get through this. Although he was the commander, his authority was to direct operations.

In other words, he could only unconditionally accept whatever troops and troop commanders MacArthur sent to him.

Stilwell lost all his strength. The U.S. troops in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific had rotted to such an extent. He was still ambitiously organizing battles one after another in an attempt to turn the tide. When he discovered that all of this was...

The kind of disappointment and sadness when working hard in vain is enough to break a person's spiritual support!

He thought he was a fighter, but in the eyes of others, he was an outright clown. Suddenly, the flash of thoughts in Stilwell's mind suddenly jumped out, and they were quickly connected into a clear result.

This should be an epiphany after deep disappointment and sadness.

Stilwell completely understood that it was not how good his commanding ability was, nor how powerful the U.S. Army's combat effectiveness was. A routine attack by less than two regiments of Japanese troops actually frightened a fully-equipped Japanese army.

The commander of the infantry division did not hesitate to lie, conceal the true situation, abandon his position, and retreat to the rear. It is not a miracle that such a unit can hold off the Japanese army for five days, not at all!

It was the Japanese who did it intentionally. The ominous feeling in Stilwell's heart became clear. Facing the U.S. troops that were about to be defeated in one blow, the Japanese were not in a hurry to attack. They were brewing a huge trap. The core of this trap was

, that is, to attract U.S. troops on Luzon Island, continue to consume them, and then attract local troops to come for reinforcements, achieving the purpose of gradually consuming U.S. military strength.

Stilwell almost ran back to the headquarters and drove everyone out. He wanted to report his findings immediately to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and even expose them directly to the president.

(To be continued).