A Journey Through the Worlds of Film and Television.

Chapter 280 Allied Commander-in-Chief

The Ramgarh Military Camp in India, located in a small town in northeastern India, was originally a place where the British army detained Italian prisoners. It was later transformed into a military camp and became a training base for the Chinese Army in India.

According to the Allied agreement, the Chinese troops stationed in India were provided with logistical supplies by the British, weapons and equipment and training instructors by the Americans, and the troop organization was also closer to that of the United States.

According to the new organizational requirements, General Sun's new 38th Division and General Liao's new 22nd Division must both be expanded, with each division consisting of three infantry regiments and a division-affiliated unit.

A division's direct troops include a 105mm howitzer battalion, two 75mm howitzer battalions, an engineering battalion, a communications battalion, a logistics battalion, a special forces company, a divisional field hospital, etc.

Similarly, a regiment also consists of three infantry battalions and the regiment's subordinate units, including an 3mm mortar company, a 81mm anti-tank gun company, a communications company, a baggage company, a medical team, a special forces platoon, etc.

Even every infantry platoon has a 60mm mortar artillery squad, and the soldiers are equipped with American Springfield rifles, M1 carbines, submachine guns, Browning light machine guns, M1919 heavy machine guns, etc.

If the Chinese army met the devil's army, it was like a beggar among beggars meeting an elite force. After being armed by the Americans, the Chinese troops stationed in India directly became a luxurious ace force.

When Lu Cheng and one of his company arrived in India by plane and then took a car to the Ramgarh training camp, they just happened to catch the opening ceremony of the Ramgarh training camp.

Without even having time to register, Lu Cheng and his company came directly to the large training ground of the Ramgarh Training Camp, stood next to more than 38 troops from the New 22th Division and the New nd Division, and participated in the opening ceremony of the training camp together.

On the high platform, the 60-year-old American veteran, wearing a casual military uniform and gold-rimmed glasses, with his hands in his trouser pockets, looked at the soldiers below and spoke loudly: "I have always believed that as long as the Chinese army has good equipment, strict training and excellent commanders, it will be invincible in the world."

This veteran visited China many times between World War I and World War II. He was a well-known China expert in the U.S. military. He spoke Chinese fluently and could even use many idioms and two-part allegorical sayings skillfully.

"Be good and train hard, then I will lead you back to Burma and crush those devil bugs to death!"

After these words were spoken, the soldiers below were immediately inspired and shouted in unison: "Fight back to Burma and trample the Japanese to death!"

After the camp opening ceremony, a liaison officer brought Lu Cheng to the Allied Headquarters. Brigadier General William had been waiting there for a long time. When he saw Lu Cheng, he immediately opened his arms and gave Lu Cheng a hug: "Lu, my friend, welcome to India. I have been looking forward to meeting you again."

"Me too, old William."

"The last time we met, you were a major, and this time you've become a colonel. Congratulations, you're a 23-year-old colonel. It took me decades to become a colonel, and you, my friend, have a bright future ahead of you."

Lu Cheng smiled faintly: "Old William, you should know that I didn't choose to wear this military uniform for my personal future."

"Yes, if there is no war, who would be willing to come to this damn battlefield? Come on, I will take you to see the commander-in-chief. The commander-in-chief has always wanted to meet you."

Lu Cheng nodded, and walked into the Allied Command's operations conference room with Brigadier General William, and saw Stilwell standing in front of a huge sand table.

"Your Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, Lu Cheng, the commander of the 118th Regiment of the th Division of the th Army of Western Yunnan, China, is reporting in."

"Colonel Lu, welcome to the Ramgarh training camp. I have heard of your name from Brigadier General William a long time ago, and I also know some of your brilliant achievements. I heard that you brought back more than 1700 soldiers from Burma. I would like to know how you led so many soldiers through the jungle back to China?"

After the Allied defeat in Burma, Stilwell advocated retreating to India, but General Du, commander of the Fifth Army, insisted on following orders from his superiors and retreating to China through the Wild Man Mountains.

In the end, Stilwell gave up the idea of ​​evacuating to India by plane and walked on foot with a group of Chinese soldiers through the jungles of northern Burma to India. With sufficient logistical support and military doctors, Stilwell and his team suffered no casualties.

On the contrary, the Fifth Army and some other troops that went through the Wild Man Mountains suffered heavy casualties, with nearly 4 people dying forever in the Wild Man Mountains.

This also made Stilwell extremely sad, and he felt sorry for the nearly 4 innocent soldiers. Hearing that Lu Cheng was able to lead more than people through the jungle and return to China with minimal casualties, Stilwell was really curious.

"Mr. Stilwell, I am not only a soldier, but also a Chinese traditional Chinese medicine practitioner. I am proficient in wilderness survival and can lead soldiers to avoid danger and overcome poisonous insects, snakes, ants and harsh environments in the jungle. Moreover, when I led people to evacuate from the airport, I had a battalion of troops under my command, fully equipped.

I personally led a commando team to clear the way for the main force with the firepower advantage of submachine guns, clear the Japanese ambushes along the way, and clear the obstacles..."

Lu Cheng briefly described the entire process of the withdrawal. Stilwell nodded repeatedly after listening: "Lu, you are a responsible general and a good commander who cares for his soldiers. If General Du could be like you, the soldiers of the 5th Army would not have suffered so many casualties. Those poor children came to a foreign country to fight. They did not die on the battlefield, but eventually fell in the jungle..."

Stilwell was a true veteran who had participated in two world wars. He had rich experience in leading troops and had a simple affection for grassroots soldiers.

After sighing, Stilwell pointed to the sand table in front of him and said, "Colonel Lu, I heard Brigadier General William talk about your prediction of the situation in the Pacific War, and I admire your foresight. I wonder what you think about the situation in Southeast Asia?"

“Mr. Stilwell, although the Japanese army has occupied most of Southeast Asia, they are advancing too hastily, stretching the front line and causing the troops to be dispersed. In addition, the progress on the Central Plains battlefield is not favorable. In the future, the Japanese army will inevitably switch from strategic offense to strategic defense, and the initiative of the war will gradually shift to the hands of the Allies.

The Battle of Midway in the Pacific also dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese army..."

Lu Cheng briefly analyzed the current situation in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, and combined it with the situation in the European and North African battlefields, and boldly predicted the future direction of the war and some key points...

"Colonel Lu, just based on your strategic vision, you will be a very qualified staff officer. Perhaps you can stay in the Allied Command and serve as my advisor."

"Mr. Stilwell, the overall war situation is not difficult to predict. My analysis is just theoretical. In comparison, I hope to lead my soldiers on the battlefield and win victory after victory."

Lu Cheng did not forget his main mission in this world, which was to try his best to keep the main members of the cannon fodder group alive until after the Battle of Nantianmen.

"That's such a pity. I heard from Brigadier General William that Colonel Lu's personal combat capability is also very strong. I wonder if Colonel Lu is willing to enter the training camp and receive training from the American instructors together with those soldiers?"

Lu Cheng smiled confidently: "General, your instructors may not know how to fight better than me."

"Oh? It seems that Colonel Lu is not only familiar with strategy, but also proficient in tactics? Do you want to compete with my instructors?"

"I'd love to hear that. General, if I can defeat your instructors, would you allow me to be an instructor in the training camp?"

"Of course, no problem, as long as you prove your ability."

Before long, the government will call on aspiring young people from all over China to join the expeditionary force and come to the Ramgarh training camp for training. Among them will be many college students from various universities. They are all highly educated people and will become qualified officers.

What Lu Cheng's subordinates lack most are educated and cultured officers. Even the special forces team does not have a suitable captain.

If Lu Cheng served as an instructor, he could easily recruit talents and use them for his own benefit...