Introduction: Du Yuming's life can be said to be incomparably brilliant, especially during the War of Resistance Against Japan, he made great contributions to the independence and development of the nation. As an outstanding cadet of the first phase of Huangpu, he also had extremely outstanding talents and talents in military operations.
Du Yuming was a loyal subordinate of lao Chiang Kai-shek, so the evaluation of him in history is often mixed, and today we only look at achievements in the military field. Especially in the process of entering the Burmese war against Japan, Du Yuming showed the unique charm of being an excellent general.
However, when leading the expeditionary force back, Du Yuming suffered the worst defeat of his marching career. In the Savage Mountain, the army of more than 40,000 people was finally less than 10,000 people, and more than 30,000 people died in the Savage Mountain, of which tens of thousands of people starved to death, and there were not a few who died of illness, which hit Du Yuming very hard, and he was unforgettable until his old age.
1. Expeditionary Force Retreat Plan
After the outbreak of World War II, Japan blockaded all of China's sea lanes. This move would be tantamount to strangling China's foreign transportation and cutting off supplies. In order to cope with this situation, the Kuomintang and the Communist Party negotiated the establishment of an expeditionary force. Soon after, the expeditionary force entered Burma to wage a fierce struggle against the Japanese invaders. Their main task is to open up the Burma Highway and ensure the external transportation of our army's southwest rear area.
At that time, Lao Jiang chose one of his own generals, Du Yuming, as the deputy commander of the 1st Road of the Expeditionary Force. All along, Du Yuming, who was well-born and experienced, was very appreciated by Old Jiang, and this time he gave him such a task, and gradually paid attention to him.
On the burmese battlefield, Du Yuming also gave full play to his military talent and command ability as an excellent general. Under his leadership, the Chinese Expeditionary Force soon won the local war. The campaign led by him to win more with less has also become a special case in the history of China's War of Resistance Against Japan.
In April 1952, after the Chinese Expeditionary Force completed its mission, Du Yuming and other generals discussed a plan for retreat with British generals. After some discussion, the crowd unanimously decided to withdraw from the Burmese battlefield by means of a melee retreat. However, the way back to China had long since been cut off. If they want to return to China smoothly, they must take a road full of difficulties and obstacles, that is, Savage Mountain.
Second, the mountain of savages with many difficulties
Savage Mountain, also known as Hukang Valley Mountain, is the junction of three countries, India and Myanmar. The depth of the mountain range is about 300 kilometers, and it does not see the light of day all year round. It is precisely because there is no sunlight that a group of mosquitoes, locusts, etc. often gather here, and the living conditions are very poor.
Not only that, but in a humid and hot environment, it is also very easy to breed viruses. Many inland generals came here, and if they were not careful, they would be infected with diseases such as relapsing fever. In May 1932, Du Yuming, a senior Kuomintang general, led the three-way force of the Burmese Expeditionary Force into Savage Mountain. All the way north, you can successfully retreat and return to China.
At that time, it happened to coincide with the local rainy season. Compared to other weather, rainy days are also the most dangerous times for Savage Mountain. Looking at the terrain here, between the mountains and rivers at a depth of more than 300 kilometers, flash floods and swamps can be seen everywhere. Once the rain is too much, it will bring great danger to the marching team. It is no exaggeration to say that the difficulty of this road is no easier than that of the Long March.
The soldiers who once walked through Savage Mountain always recall this experience, and they all feel that the past is unbearable. According to their recollection, in the environment at that time, locusts would unconsciously burrow into the human body and suck the blood of the human body. Soon, the good guy will fall ill unconsciously.
According to the relevant data and statistical results of the relevant departments, Du Yuming and the army walked for more than three months at that time before they successfully crossed the Mountain of Cross-Country People. After crossing the Savage Mountain, the Burmese Expeditionary Force also lost all its strength, leaving only less than 10,000 people. You know, when the expeditionary force set out, there were 42,000 people!
3. The Mountain of Savages Killed by Hunger
In addition to the locust crisis, Du Yuming and others must always worry about the problem of hunger. In desperation, Du Yuming even ordered the slaughter of horses to feed the soldiers. Although everyone is very reluctant, in the face of hunger, they can only make this decision. But even so, tens of thousands of soldiers starved to death in the Savage Mountains.
Under the double torment of hunger and sickness, more and more people stay there forever. And an emotion called despair spread at this time. The trip to Savage Mountain was still unbearable for male soldiers, let alone the more than 40 women who accompanied them?
The forty or so women were all medical personnel in the military. Although today we all emphasize the equality of men and women, it is undeniable that men are slightly higher than women in terms of physical and psychological qualities. What's more, the women in this army are all medical personnel, not soldiers.
In the beginning, these medical staff will also treat the wounded without hesitation. Later, a female nurse was frightened by the locust crawling out of the wounded man's body, and finally broke her psychological defenses. When others are not paying attention, they simply choose to jump from the top of the mountain and give up the struggle completely.
Fourth, to obtain assistance from the US military
Later, on a sunny day, American reconnaissance planes stumbled upon them in the course of their mission. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. military sent transport planes to fly over the jungle of Savage Mountain to drop food and medicine for them. These foods and medicines were undoubtedly heavenly for the soldiers of the expeditionary force!
Because of the long-term suffering of hunger, many soldiers could not help but overeat when they saw food. In the end, many soldiers survived hunger and long journeys, but they were killed because they ate too much after the desperate situation. Such a tragedy is truly lamentable.
Later, with the help of the American army, the expeditionary force finally staggered out of the Savage Mountain. When more than 40,000 troops were evacuated to India, fewer than 10,000 remained. Of the more than 40 female medical personnel who set out with the troops, only one of them finally successfully walked out of the Savage Mountain.
epilogue
The six-month battle of Burma ended with the withdrawal of the Chinese Expeditionary Force. The hardships and tragic situation in the Savage Mountain have also been deeply rooted in Du Yuming's mind since then. To this end, Du Yuming also vowed to win the War of Resistance Against Japan and use the blood of the little Japanese devils to honor those brothers and sisters who sacrificed in a foreign country.