Chapter 136: Officer Du in the Jungle

The rain over Myitkyina kept falling, pattering, as if it wanted to drag this long war into a quagmire.

Although the strategic point was taken without a single drop of blood, Jiang Anguo knew deep down that the real test was only just beginning.

Capturing Myitkyina was the turning point for the Expeditionary Force.

Jiang Anguo naturally had to report the news to the Expeditionary Force Headquarters as soon as possible.

However, the Fifth Army's retreat was simply too slow.

No wonder—this northern Myanmar rainforest was practically a natural trap; even with a railway as a guide, the relentless rain turned the roads into a terrible mess.

As the main force, the Fifth Army had some mechanized equipment, but the massive non‑combat casualties were like a boulder, dragging their steps to a halt.

The mechanized gear was also weighing down the Fifth Army.

Jiang Anguo stood at the mouth of the temporary command Tent, watching the muddy road ahead, his brows knit. He turned to Meng Fanle and said, "Meng Fanle, send a Telegram to Headquarters immediately. Tell them Myitkyina has been taken and they should prepare to receive it. Also, tell them to act faster! Don't let those Transport Vehicles crawl like snails among the retreating column. Have every Transport Vehicle first bring the wounded to Myitkyina! Don't let the vehicles get stuck in the infantry crowd; that not only wastes fuel but also squanders precious mobility."

Mechanized units really aren't something everyone can handle!

Our Officer Du can't either!

"Yes, Regiment Commander!" Meng Fanle replied.

The Fifth Army was, after all, an elite mechanized force, so the retreating column certainly had many trucks. Moreover, when Sun Liren rescued Ren'ankiang, he obtained a batch of Transport Vehicles from the British, part of which was handed over to the Expeditionary Force Headquarters. Yet even now, Jiang Anguo's troops have almost finished receiving Myitkyina, and they still haven't seen any sign of the Fifth Army.

Such efficiency was truly aggravating.

Since Myitkyina is now secure, it must be put to its greatest use as a transit hub for evacuating the wounded.

Although Jiang Anguo's field medics were nervous, they were more than capable of handling emergency injuries and providing basic medical care. To have Transport Vehicles sit idle while the wounded suffered on the road was downright criminal.

At this moment, an endless line of Expeditionary Force troops trudged laboriously along the road to Myitkyina.

Yesterday's downpour had eased to a drizzle, but the humidity was terrifyingly high. Rain soaked the soldiers' uniforms, clinging to their bodies, the bone‑chilling cold mingling with fatigue, haunting each person like a ghost.

Within the ranks, coughs and gasps rose and fell; many soldiers broke out in high fevers, colds spreading among the malnourished fighters. Yet no one dared to stop, for the jungle behind seemed to echo with the footsteps of Japanese pursuers.

Some soldiers were vomiting and diarrheic—essentially suffering from chills, fevers, and malaria!

Many of them were educated youths who had come abroad to fight in Myanmar with burning patriotism. Yet now, looking at the mud‑splattered, disheveled column, a deep sense of helplessness welled up inside them.

Du Yuming sat in the Jeep, his complexion so grim it seemed it could drip water.

Officer Du still couldn't bear to part with his Jeep.

When the signalman handed him the Telegram Jiang Anguo had sent, he could hardly believe it.

"Myitkyina's also taken?"

"Yes, Colonel, just received the news."

Du Yuming fell silent. Soon, the news spread among the Fifth Army's Senior Officers.

To steady the already fragile morale, the Fifth Army didn't broadcast the full story of Bamo and Myitkyina's loss and regain; it only emphasized that the 200th Division had shattered a Japanese 56th Division regiment.

Of course, that was a bit of exaggeration—the so‑called "crushing" was merely a delay. There's no choice; wartime doctrine demands reporting victories, not setbacks, lest soldiers learn of command chaos and a rear collapse, which would shatter morale beyond repair.

Du Yuming kept asking others to confirm its truth, and each time received the same answer; at last, Du Lvming could finally set his mind at ease.

When Bamo fell to the Japanese, Du Lvming was already panicked; he had no thought of counter‑attack, only of finding another route home—Myitkyina!

Stilwell, the pipe‑smoking American old‑timer beside him, heard the news. In his heavily Beiping‑accented Chinese he said, "Unbelievable—within a single day they've taken both Bamo and Myitkyina. I must meet that general; he's truly remarkable!"

Stilwell was utterly disappointed in the British performance. The so‑called elite of that old empire was nothing before the Japanese—despite having more advanced weapons, their conduct along the way was nothing but retreat or collapse.

If Stilwell could choose an ally, he'd pick the Chinese army a hundred times over. At least the Chinese forces' resilience in dire straits earned his solemn respect.

However, Stilwell didn't know that the "general" he mentioned had only just been promoted to Colonel, still a step below a general. By contrast, Du Yuming, though high‑ranking and the Fifth Army commander, held only the rank of Major General.

Jiang Anguo's performance in this battle was a great achievement, especially the total annihilation of Japanese paratroopers at Bamo and the capture of commander Seiki Kum—this merit vaulted him from Colonel to Colonel.

Du Yuming was one of the few who knew Jiang Anguo's identity; everyone knew the Supplement Battalion was just for show, but they didn't expect it to silently solve the Expeditionary Force's biggest problem and clear the retreat route.

Stilwell took the Telegram, examined it again, and suddenly pointed to a passage, saying, "General Du, the telegram is correct. We should have the Transport Vehicles immediately ferry the wounded to Myitkyina; that will speed up the main force's march, instead of the current situation where every vehicle is stuck on the road."

Du Yuming's mind was now a tangled mess; his earlier orders had indeed neglected some aspects. Being "directed" by a Colonel in a Telegram bruised his pride, but he had to admit the other side was right.

Being corrected on a tactical mistake by a subordinate made him feel somewhat embarrassed.

Du Yuming clenched his teeth, finally nodded, and ordered the Chief of Staff, "Do as the Telegram says, and do it quickly!"

The heat, humidity, disease, and the clogged marching column caused the Expeditionary Force's non‑combat casualties to soar. Even though the limited Transport Vehicles were packed with the wounded, many severely injured could only be helped by comrades, inching forward through the mud.

The only belief sustaining these exhausted fighters was one: return home!

The moment the order was issued, the chaotic situation began to improve.

The Transport Vehicles, previously jammed in the infantry column, throttling and braking, received a final command: all units clear the road, Transport Vehicles go first!

When those trucks loaded with wounded finally sped through, a miraculous scene unfolded: the clogged road cleared, and the main force's marching speed actually increased.

The sight not only let the soldiers sigh in relief, but also left Du Yuming thoughtful.

It reflected a deeper issue: senior officers at home still lacked proficiency in employing mechanized units, and they were still short on how to fully exploit mechanized advantages.

(Du's 1942 rank is uncertain, but his authority was indeed high. The before‑and‑after writing—exhausting.)