The Japanese &mdash; often referenced as " Japs " and less often as " Nips " &mdash; blockading and occupation of China 's ports is discussed and the rebuilding of China 's destroyed rail system called the work of " slave labor " . " New China " &mdash; here used to reference the Republican government-in-exile in Chongqing &mdash; is shown as connected to the outside world only through the " narrow-gauge " Indo-Chinese railway and the " camel caravans " from Russia across the Gobi Desert . ( The railway is described as " limited " and " too near Jap territory to be safe " , with French compliance in closing the line for Japan omitted . ) The construction of the Burma Road between Lashio in Burma and the truck road to Kunming is then described . A task said to have needed seven years with the most modern machinery is shown being constructed with simple laborers in less than 12 months . Japan 's assault on the junction of the Pinghan and Longhai Railways at Zhengzhou ( " Chengchow " ) is shown being prevented by the induced flooding of the Yellow River , although the immense death count involved is quickly passed over as another example of trading space for time . The guerrilla warfare behind Japanese lines is lionized and treated as nearly unique in the war
induced flooding of the Yellow River
1938 Yellow River flood
The Battle of China