Adjusting the troop arrangement of a war zone, or abandoning the entire Burma, was a very significant decision. Watching Lieutenant General Lawrence, Commander of the Anglo-Japanese Joint Forces, busy contacting London via telegram, Ishiwara sighed in his heart, but also felt that London might veto Lieutenant General Lawrence's decision.

The war situation was urgent at this time, and Ishiwara had no time to waste precious time on the British army. He began to communicate with the relevant departments in the Joint Forces about the Japanese army's troop deployment in the Chittagong area. Based on Ishiwara's understanding of strategy, if the British army could hold British India and effectively defeat the Chinese army's attack on India, it would be a strategic victory.

As a member of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, the Japanese army had no reason to act as a fire brigade on the long border between Burma and India. As long as the Japanese army could withstand the Chinese army's attack in the Bay of Bengal area centered on Chittagong, it would have fully fulfilled its obligations as an ally.

In addition to completing operational and tactical support, Ishiwara did not mind giving strategic support to the Anglo-Japanese Joint Command. As for whether the British Command in India accepted it, or to what extent it accepted it, it was Britain's choice. Ishiwara felt that he had no reason to aim for winning this war, nor did he have a reason to aim for achieving a certain result.

Ishiwara believed that the British army would inevitably fail completely in Burma. The terrain of Burma was not suitable for large corps operations equipped with a large number of artillery. The light infantry adopted by the Republic National Defense Force was the most effective combat method in the Burma Theater with crisscrossing rivers and dense forests.

Lieutenant General Lawrence was also very clear about the situation in Burma. He did not blame the Yangon Command for the setbacks encountered, but requested London to increase rescue troops as soon as possible. This was retreating by advancing. The lords in London didn't care about the officers and soldiers on the front line at all; they cared about the public opinion backlash in the British mainland.

'If we want to hold Yangon, we need at least 50,000 British mainland troops. 200,000 Republic National Defense Force troops surrounded 3 British divisions. We need to invest at least 100,000 British Army troops to launch a relief operation. The number of British Army troops on the front line is only one division...'

Lieutenant General Lawrence skillfully explained the current situation to London. This was all true. Although Britain prepared to send a total of 500,000 British Army troops to fight in India, the current number of British Army troops in India was less than 150,000. Among the 150,000 Army troops, 60,000 were surrounded by China. British Army troops were needed to go to the rescue.

After these honest words were sent to London, London did not respond for the time being. Lieutenant General Lawrence felt that he didn't care anymore. Before setting off, he had explained to the War Office that what he had to do was to hold India. No matter how the group of people in the War Office hinted, Lieutenant General Lawrence stated, 'I can only hold India.'

The War Office did not reply immediately. Lieutenant General Lawrence knew that other generals must have received telegrams at this time, but he didn't care about this matter. Long before agreeing to accept this order, Lieutenant General Lawrence stated to the War Office that he could only ensure India. The Deputy Minister of War asking opposite asked: "What about Burma?"

Lieutenant General Lawrence replied: "May God save the UK."

After saying this, Lieutenant General Lawrence remembered that this was a variant of the 'God bless America' that the damn Yankees were used to. This was what Lieutenant General Lawrence learned from the Yankees when he commanded the American army in the last few months of the European War.

But Lieutenant General Lawrence did not regret it. If someone was willing to save India, let those people go. After all, in the eyes of those people, Burma was just a part of British India. In Lieutenant General Lawrence's view, Burma was just a buffer zone between Britain and French Indochina, and this buffer zone used to be a vassal state of China.

When London fell into silence, Lieutenant General Lawrence had no fear at all. If someone came to replace him, Lieutenant General Lawrence would not be surprised at all, nor would he have any resistance. After all, the gap between the views of those lords in London and reality was too large.

However, Lieutenant General Lawrence was wrong. When the War Office sent the latest news to British Prime Minister Baldwin, Prime Minister Baldwin did not open it immediately. Up to now, Prime Minister Baldwin felt tired.

The attitude of the He Rui government was not difficult to understand. If He Rui stopped at unifying China, Britain could isolate China with various reasons. But He Rui's current choice was to break the game directly and go to war with Britain. And He Rui's purpose was not to seize India, but to start negotiations with Britain.

Creating opportunities for negotiation before negotiation was originally Britain's forte, and it succeeded repeatedly. When the He Rui government adopted the same means to deal with Britain, Prime Minister Baldwin understood how aggrieved the leaders of countries oppressed by Britain with this method were back then.

For a moment, Prime Minister Baldwin felt selfish anger. From 1840 to now, 86 years had passed, and Britain had changed about 20 governments. Why did the results accumulated by the past 20 governments happen to be borne by the Baldwin government? Why couldn't this guy He Rui wait until the Baldwin government stepped down before launching military operations?

When Baldwin came to power, the goal was only to repay war loans for Britain, and he had no intention of invading China at all. But in the past 86 years, the Baldwin government, the only one that did not consider gaining benefits from China, had to shoulder the previous debts.

However, the British War Office did not understand Prime Minister Baldwin's mood at all. The Secretary of State for War continued to ask, "Your Excellency Prime Minister, please give instructions."

Hearing this, Baldwin was extremely unhappy in his heart. Even the War Office dared to force the Prime Minister, pushing the responsibility that the War Office should bear to Baldwin. But Baldwin fell into the War Office's trap. Now all Baldwin's orders would become the War Office's excuse, so Baldwin must not let the War Office get what they wanted and successfully pass the buck.

"This matter will be decided by the War Office." Prime Minister Baldwin ordered.

Politically speaking, a decision made by the War Office is equivalent to a decision made by Baldwin. But Baldwin had a power, which was to change the appointment of the Secretary of State for War. Since the War Office was unkind, don't blame Baldwin for being unjust.

The Secretary of State for War was very sensible. Hearing Prime Minister Baldwin's order, the Secretary of State for War immediately revealed the plan completely, "Your Excellency, there are still some troops that can be sent to Yangon. Although the Chinese Army has certain combat effectiveness, China has no navy, and Yangon can be held."

Baldwin snorted coldly, but was actually quite happy in his heart. The War Office showing weakness was a good opportunity for Baldwin. Baldwin asked, "Can the Army hold Yangon and India?"

"The War Office believes in General Lawrence's ability." The Secretary of State for War replied.

Baldwin sneered, "Hehe, then let's hope General Lawrence can be as judged by the War Office."

The Secretary of State for War knew that Prime Minister Baldwin was also passing the buck, but when the buck reached this point, there was no other choice but to accept it forcefully. So the Secretary of State for War said, "Your Excellency Prime Minister, we believe that Yangon is indeed a target that must be defended."