As the second largest city in Myanmar, Yangon's permanent population reached 500,000 as early as the 1940s.
However, 55% here are Indian or South Asian, and only one-third are Burmese. Karen, Chinese, Anglo-Burmese and others make up the rest.
This has also resulted in the customs here being extremely confusing, like a hodgepodge.
Take the popular morning tea here as an example, there are Burmese milk tea, British black tea, and curry milk tea full of Indian flavor.
And now, our Chief of Staff of the Chinese Theater, Mr. Stilwell, was holding a cup of curry milk tea and frowning. He frowned at the people who walked by from time to time, either wearing big turbans or carrying burdens.
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"I really can't understand, how do Indians drink such unpleasant tea? This is really terrible." Stilwell, who couldn't bear it anymore, put the milk tea on the table and frowned into the Chinese character "Sichuan".
, asked Doolittle on the side very puzzledly.
Doolittle slowly tasted the Burmese milk tea in his hand and said with a smile: "The cup in my hand is quite good. Not only is the tea fragrant, but it also has a faint milk fragrance. Joseph, you can try it."
"Okay, maybe I made the wrong choice." Stilwell threw the milk tea aside helplessly and waved to the breakfast shop owner not far away.
The boss, wearing slippers and holding a turban, trotted over and asked in curry-flavored English: "Sir, what are your orders?"
"Give me a cup of black tea instead."
"Okay, please wait a moment."
After the boss left, Doolittle asked: "Joseph, what are the benefits of continuing to have a stalemate with the Chinese Expeditionary Army like this? Now General Luo has withdrawn all the troops that originally broke up the British Eighteenth Army. If this
If this incident affects the plan to open the Burma Highway, Washington will not sit idly by and ignore it."
"You don't understand Jimmy." Stilwell snorted, "The military power of the Chinese Expeditionary Force must be in our hands. Only in this way can we defeat those Japanese monkeys faster."
"No... your idea will not work. Those Chinese people will not agree to this condition." Doolittle shook his head like a rattle, "Based on my experience in China these days, those Chinese people will not agree to this condition."
Generals generally have one characteristic, that is, they attach great importance to military power, and they will not give up these rights."
"Then just use it up." Stilwell sneered.
"Currently, the Chinese 200 Division is still surrounded in Tonggu. Without our military assistance, they would not have the strength to launch a counterattack. They can only watch the 200 Division being eaten by the Japanese.
If Commander Luo Zhuoying wants his troops to be eaten by the Japanese, then he can continue the stalemate with us."
"Joseph, you are playing with fire!" Seeing Stilwell's stubbornness, Doolittle had to remind him: "Don't forget that Chairman Chiang in Chongqing will not just watch you do this.
made."
"I am a general of the United States of America." Stilwell raised his head proudly, "Only the U.S. government can order me. No one else has the right to order me."
Seeing that Stilwell looked convinced, Doolittle shook his head helplessly: "Well, it seems that I can't convince you anymore, but as a friend I have to remind you about this matter.
Once it is not handled properly, big problems will arise.”
"Even if something goes wrong, it's their problem." Stilwell still insisted on his point of view.
Just as the two were exchanging views on this matter, a rapidly approaching jeep made a creaking sound and stopped next to them. A U.S. Army second lieutenant jumped out of the car and saluted the two of them, "
General Stilwell, this is the telegram that General Luo Zhuoying and General Du Yuming just sent jointly to all the troops. The situation is a bit urgent, so I sent it to you."
"telegraph?"
Stilwell took it with some confusion, then his expression changed and he stood up, "Jimmy, let's go!"
"Where to go?" Doolittle asked in confusion.
"Headquarters!" Stilwell's voice sounded like it was coming from a cold storage room.
half an hour later
"General Luo, General Du, can you tell me why you didn't notify me of such a big counterattack? Do you still recognize me as the chief of staff of the Chinese Theater?"
This was the first sentence a furious Stilwell shouted at Luo Zhuoying and Du Yuming after he rushed into the expeditionary force headquarters.
Looking at Stilwell, whose face was flushed with excitement, Luo Zhuoying didn't say much, and just said lightly: "General Stilwell, you also said that you are the chief of staff, and I am the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force.
I don’t need to report to you when I’m doing military deployment, right?”
"Okay... very good..." Stilwell's face was no longer red, but turned livid. He glanced at the generals sitting in the conference room.
It could be said that almost all the generals of the expeditionary force were here, but no one informed him. This shows that any fool would understand.
He laughed angrily and said: "If I understand correctly, China no longer needs military assistance from the United States, is that right?"
Gao Hongming stood up slowly: "General Stilwell, we are allies. China is an ally of the United States, not a slave. You have no right to dictate to us in a superior manner.
China does need military assistance from the United States, but please don't forget that the United States also needs China's help.
If we didn't have the millions of elites who could hold back the Japanese on the Asian battlefield, once the Japanese put these troops into the Pacific battlefield or the Soviet battlefield, and attack the Soviet Union together with the Germans, once the Soviet Union is defeated, I'm afraid the United States will have to prepare its own troops on the mainland.
Are you ready for battle?"
Stilwell was so angry that he was shaking all over, and his teeth were almost broken: "Very good, I hope you can keep this attitude, farewell!"
After that, he left without looking back.
Looking at Stilwell disappearing at the door, Luo Zhuoying said worriedly: "Brother Gao, have we gone too far? If Stilwell goes back to complain to the White House, we will be very passive."
"do not be afraid."
Gao Hongming snorted: "Although this guy has no brains, Roosevelt is not confused. I think he will make a rational judgment.
Chief Luo, let’s send today’s events to the Chairman and ask him to prepare. I estimate that Roosevelt will definitely put pressure on Chongqing in these two days.”
Liao Yaoxiang, commander of the new 22nd Division, slapped the table: "What are you afraid of? Before the Americans gave us military assistance, we didn't come here the same way.
It's only been a few days now. Without the assistance of the Americans, won't we fight? The worst case scenario is that we retreat to the country, and I will lead the troops to fight guerrillas with the Japanese.