Chapter 200: Du, We Cannot Attack Mandalay

Myitkyina, Expeditionary Force temporary command post.

The humid air was mixed with the smell of ink from the map.

Du Yuming stared at the telegram just sent from Chongqing, his finger unconsciously tracing the map, and finally he let out a bitter laugh.

"Counterattack Mandalay?"

He had naturally seen the report from the 200th Division. That unit, which had still been considered strong and well‑mounted when entering Myanmar, after successive bloody battles now had only five or six thousand combat troops left.

The counterattack at Tonggu was again earth‑shaking, but the cost was another loss of over two thousand men.

The casualty report Du Yuming received was also false.

Now, you expect these four thousand remnants—less than half a division's strength—plus an Independent Regiment, barely six thousand men total, to set out from Tonggu and attack the heavily concentrated Japanese forces at Mandalay? Moreover, you also intend to detour to rescue the British troops already captured alive by the Japanese?

"It's sheer fantasy," Du Yuming muttered softly, his voice full of helplessness.

"Du, we shouldn't engage in the Mandalay Battle," a hoarse English voice sounded beside him. Stilwell stood with his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth in the cramped command post, his facial wrinkles so deep they could crush a mosquito.

"The British are not worthy of our trust."

Although Myitkyina still has a British liaison, it has been reduced to the margins, no longer even qualified to attend important meetings. The British main force has already been "encircled" by the Japanese, and the highest‑ranking officer left is merely a Major Company Commander.

Stilwell had seen through those gentlemen completely.

In Myanmar, he tried repeatedly to engage the Japanese in an honorable decisive battle, but each time the British's "strategic retreat" caused the battle plan to die before it even began.

"Du, we should wait for reinforcements to arrive," Stilwell halted, his gaze sharpening. "I have already contacted President Luo Si Fu; he will provide you with more weapons and equipment."

He was very confident, for he had concluded that in this damned jungle, only the Chinese Army truly came to fight. The British only thought of fleeing back to India, lacking any courage.

What troubled him, however, was that the overland supply routes had been completely blocked by the Japanese, leaving only an aerial corridor over the Minjin Mountains.

That was far better than the previous death‑flight route.

The key reason for choosing the Hump Route was that the Japanese occupied northern Myanmar, positioning their fighter aircraft along the Myitkyina line, able to strike transport planes flying directly across the China‑Myanmar border.

And if they wished to ship supplies from Assam, India to Myitkyina, it would mean having to compromise with those British who had just betrayed him.

"Thank you." Du Yuming's face looked a little uneasy; he nodded. "General Stilwell, thank you for what you've done for us. I hope... you can join me in sending a telegram to Chongqing."

Du Lvming inhaled deeply, his tone growing heavy: "Because the 200th Division is truly unable to fight any longer, and my Fifth Army has only the 96th Division left with full combat power. A decisive battle at Mandalay is now impossible."

Stilwell nodded; he fully understood the Expeditionary Force's difficulties. Initially, the British needed Expeditionary Force troops to protect even their retreat to India. Because of that, the Expeditionary Force's New 22nd Division and New 38th Division, two elite German‑equipped divisions, were redeployed to the Western Front to cover the British rear.

Fortunately, those two divisions had already arrived safely at Yingpar.

But regarding the British, Stilwell could be said to hate them to the point of grinding his teeth.

These swindlers!

There were clearly four Japanese infantry divisions in Myanmar, yet these people insisted the Japanese had only two. The fatal intelligence error caused him to underestimate the Japanese from the outset. Moreover, with advantageous terrain, American fighter support, and British tanks, he thought the fight would not be so disastrous.

But repeated deceit and betrayal made Stilwell completely lose patience with those so‑called elegant swindlers.

He even, based on the false intelligence supplied by the British, shuffled the Expeditionary Force's strongest 200th Division back and forth on two routes, only to discover that it was a lie fabricated by the British to buy themselves time to escape!

Stilwell empathized with Du Yuming's worries. Though he wasn't a 'China expert,' he understood some aspects of Huaxia.

"Du, rest assured," Stilwell's expression turned unusually solemn. "I will now, as the Allied Forces' supreme commander of the China‑India‑Myanmar theater, send a telegram to Chongqing telling them to abandon the Mandalay Battle!"

Stilwell's words finally eased Du Yuming's tense shoulders. He truly feared that this hot‑blooded American might again contemplate a massive showdown with the Japanese.

"Thank you, General Stilwell," Du Yuming said sincerely.

Even though Du Yuming and Stilwell had their unpleasant disputes in Myanmar, their ultimate goal was to defeat the Japanese; yet facing Chongqing's absurd counter‑offensive opportunity...

Sending the exhausted Fifth Army to attack Mandalay now, if the New 22nd Division and New 28th Division had not withdrawn into India, Du Yuming might consider it.

But now Du Yuming only wants his troops to seize any chance to recuperate, because no one knows when the next battle will occur.

The supplies and equipment obtained from Jiang Anguo partially replenished the Fifth Army's lost weapons and gear in Myanmar.

Now, if you have him fight a defensive counterattack to hold Myitkyina and Bamo, Du Yuming remains very confident.

Moreover, he has received word that his friend Song Xilian, leading the 36th Division, along with his 71st Army, two other divisions—the 88th Division and the reserve 2nd Division—have already departed Chongqing heading for Kunming.

Song Xilian's reorganization was also hurried, because early news of a Japanese attack on Lashu caused the Military Commission to panic and hastily dispatch the 36th Division southward to Kunming.

The 36th Division had already reached Kunming, indicating that the Principal in Chongqing was aware of the dire situation in the Myanmar campaign and immediately mobilized troops.

Moreover, they repeatedly ordered the 36th Division to be given priority; the 36th Division rushed at all costs and will soon enter Tengchong, Yunnan, serving as the Expeditionary Force's General Reserve. Thus the Expeditionary Force's rear now has solid reinforcements. Song Xilian's movements also show that Chongqing is not entirely short‑sighted; they too fear the Japanese might strike Huaxia from behind in Myanmar.

Yet, despite all this, Chongqing still entertains thoughts of a Mandalay Battle—utterly incomprehensible.

Of course, Du Yuming would not reveal any of these thoughts in front of others.

He stared at the dense markings on the map and felt a wave of dizziness. The position of Expeditionary Force supreme commander was simply too exhausting to bear. He could not speak, nor had anywhere to speak.