Chapter 186: A Single Touch, Ready to Ignite

Myanmar's weather really changes too fast.

One moment the sky is clear, the next a torrential downpour.

But the monsoon rains come every day, turning mountain paths into mud pits and the jungle into swamps.

Rainwater runs down the steel helmet into the collar, soaks the leg bindings, makes the soles turn white and ulcerated, leeches seize the chance to crawl into the wounds, yet not a single person complains.

Even the heaviest rain cannot stop the Expeditionary Force's resolve for revenge.

Clomp clomp clomp.

One foot steps into a puddle; no one complains, only the sounds of running and weapons clashing, the whole unit otherwise silent.

When the th Division retreated, it was harassed all the way by the Japanese Army and Burmese People, losing many brothers.

This march saw no ambushes; even if there were, after Lashu's anti‑sniper and anti‑infiltration training, scouts could spot ambushes from a single shifting leaf, and the elite squad equipped with MP40 Submachine Gun would sweep the enemy on sight, never lingering in battle.

A few Burmese guerrilla units that tried to ambush were shredded by MG42 fire within a hundred meters. Those "local armed forces" that once cooperated with the Japanese Army to raid Lashu are now abandoned. The 56th Division is too preoccupied to spare any aid.

The Burmese guerrilla bands encountered along the way were repelled by the Expeditionary Force's overwhelming firepower.

These Burmese people originally cooperated with the Japanese Army to raid Lashu.

But the Japanese Army's 56th Division suffered such heavy losses that it could not attend to those units, leaving them unlucky as rear‑guard troops.

Everyone wasn't foolish; lacking supplies, they could only retreat slowly toward Tonggu Direction.

These Burmese, when they lower their guns they are "Ping", when they pick up knives they become "rebels".

The Expeditionary Force cannot identify them, nor has time to do so.

Thus, the soldiers of the Independent Regiment understood tacitly: solve it in secret, leave no lingering trouble.

Dai Anlan knew this act violated military discipline, but in this foreign rainforest, survival is paramount. He pretended not to see, turning a blind eye.

"Division Commander, you little brother‑in‑law are really rich!" Zhang Zhige, chief of staff of th Division, said.

"Oh, what do you mean?" Dai Anlan replied.

"Look, inside these supplies it's either Beef or fruit, plus chocolate and candy—nothing like we've seen before, and it's an Air Drop!" Zhang Zhige exclaimed.

"If we had such strong logistics before, we wouldn't have been beaten so badly by the Japanese Army; if not for the weather, the Air Force could have taken care of the Little Devil (Japanese soldier)." Zhang Zhige said.

Dai Anlan nodded, "Indeed, with such powerful weapons we could at least keep the Little Devil (Japanese soldier) at Nanjing."

For an instant, everyone fell silent.

Nanjing is the pain of every soldier.

The th Division rested in place, and the Tank behind seized the main force's rest period to move in front of the th Division.

Now it's fine: the Tank had originally belonged to the th Division, but after the Fifth Army was formed, the Tank reported directly to the Fifth Army headquarters.

Everyone were old acquaintances; Hu Xianqun of the Tank, because of the earlier battles, felt his Tank had not been effective, also since the Tank had driven from Kunming to Lashu and was mostly broken.

The Tank's soldiers, all holding their breath, vowed this time to win a splendid comeback battle, proving that even without a Tank, they remain a principal force.

"Charge, get up! How could we be outpaced by the Tank's guys?" a th Division soldier, after quickly finishing his food, sprang up and kept pace toward Tonggu Direction.

Twenty kilometers outside Tonggu City.

The Independent Regiment's main force drew step by step closer to Tonggu.

Jiang Anguo stared at the map and issued his first order: "Mielong, take the Guard Company, loop to Tonggu Airport. When the artillery fire here, you must have the Guard Company occupy Tonggu Airport at once."

Mielong, Platoon Leader of the rd Battalion, Sixth Company.

Now he is alone, having run out with Jiang Anguo's main force, naturally without any subordinates.

Mielong stood at attention and said, "Yes, Division Commander."

Mielong is becoming increasingly confident; the number of Little Devil (Japanese soldier) he has killed keeps rising, no longer the laziness he felt in Chanda, especially after the battle at Xibu, which gave him a killing thrill.

Jiang Anguo was unsure whether the airport could handle takeoffs and landings, the Myanmar weather being so severe; if they could seize the chance for aircraft operations, Jiang Anguo would make the Little Devil (Japanese soldier) drink a full pot.

The best way to eliminate the enemy is, of course, to launch an aerial attack; the enemy cannot reach you yet you can inflict massive damage.

"Considering the Japanese Army may send reinforcements, Mielong, when you deploy forces, include the northern defensive line as well," Jiang Anguo instructed.

Jiang Anguo feared that the northern Myitkyina and Mandalay Japanese main forces might descend from the north to support Tonggu's defenders.

"Understood, Division Commander, but when do we launch the general offensive?" Mielong asked.

Jiang Anguo said, "Once all support units arrive, the th Division should be within a day. After Shi Xiaomao's artillery ceases fire, you will attack Tonggu Airport, must do so at once, that airport."

"Yes, Division Commander!" Mielong obeyed and took Jiang Anguo's Guard Company.

Although the th Division's radio was silent, neither Du Yuming nor Chongqing could be reached, and Jiang Anguo could not contact the th Division.

Fortunately, because of the Air Drop, when Song Yunfei's air squadron's transport planes delivered supplies, they saw the th Division's route; after Lin Yi learned of it at Lashu, he immediately sent a Telegram to Jiang Anguo.

This is how Jiang Anguo learned the th Division's situation.

"Keluobo, can your artillery fire ten base shells within ten minutes?" Jiang Anguo asked Shi Xiaomao.

Shi Xiaomao's run is very accurate, he can achieve it within three shots, guaranteed to hit the enemy.

Shi Xiaomao stood at attention, his gaze steady, and said, "Division Commander, we only have some 60mm and 80mm mortars, which pose little threat to Tonggu."

This time it's not about hitting Myitkyina and Bamo, those small fish and shrimp.

The 60mm and 80mm mortars are already unusable.

Jiang Anguo stepped onto the map and punched the east side of Tonggu, "Who told you I only have mortars? I will provide you with German-made 150mm Howitzers, genuine German Keluobo production; your mission is to drop the shells onto the enemy's heads."

Shi Xiaomao had used Keluobo's big guns when he was in Germany; after returning home he never handled them again, even mortars are scarce, let alone mountain guns.

"Yes, Division Commander, mission guaranteed!"

Shi Xiaomao's eyes lit with joy; he knew the Division Commander was sincere, for he had used the 150mm Howitzer at Lashu, practiced shooting, and his artillerymen were all trained.