Chairman Mao, Duke Zhou and Boss Zhu were also discussing the unusual movements of the Japanese troops in Central China.
As a rare great strategist at all times and in all over the world, Chairman Mao quickly understood the strategic intentions of the Japanese army in Central China. He immediately said to Duke Zhou and Boss Zhu: "Enlai, boss, the strategic intentions of the Japanese army in Central China are actually quite obvious.
They want to sweep across the Southwest with a thunderous force and destroy the National Government."
"Ah? Sweeping the Southwest?"
"Destroy the National Government!?"
Duke Zhou and Mr. Zhu looked at each other in shock.
Chairman Mao added: "Ningji Okamura still has a very strategic vision. He knows that once the Nationalist Government is destroyed, China will be legally destroyed, and it will be difficult for all forces to unite as one to fight against the Japanese invaders as now.
, then the morale of the Chinese military and civilians will be seriously frustrated, but the Japanese will be greatly encouraged."
After saying this, Chairman Mao said with some concern: "The public sentiment in the Japanese-occupied areas of central China and the four eastern provinces may also undergo subtle changes. Once the Chinese people in these two areas become iron-clad because of loss of confidence,
If we are careful about being a traitor, the Japanese's shortage of soldiers will be greatly alleviated, and the outcome of this war will be uncertain."
Mr. Zhu frowned and said: "Old Mao, although the situation in North China is very good, the equipment of the Eighth Route Army is still very backward after all, especially the lack of transportation vehicles such as cars. It does not yet have large-scale strategic maneuverability across theaters. If you want to mobilize
The Eighth Route Army marched into Sichuan to fight the war. The time was not ripe and the conditions did not allow it."
"How about..." Zhou Gongdao, "Telegram to the Nanyang Bureau to mobilize the expeditionary force to Sichuan?"
Chairman Mao waved his hand and said regretfully not far away: "There is no need to send a telegram. Zhongshu and Xiaoping will definitely judge the strategic intentions of the Japanese army in Central China. However, if we want to mobilize the Chinese Expeditionary Force to fight in Sichuan, only Zhongshu agrees."
It won’t work. The Americans must agree. But I heard that Stilwell had a deep grudge with Chairman Chiang Kai-shek.”
"Then what should we do?" Mr. Zhu asked anxiously, "The Eighth Route Army wants to go but cannot, and the expeditionary force can go but is not allowed to go. Is it possible to watch the Japanese army in Central China occupy Sichuan? To be fair, the National Government and Chairman Chiang Kai-shek
Life and death has nothing to do with us Communists, but this matter is related to the life and death of the nation and the country, and we must not stand idly by and watch!"
"Alas, there is no other way now." Chairman Mao sighed and said, "Immediately call the Northern Bureau and the Eighth Route Army's frontline headquarters to organize several large-scale offensive operations in the near future, and we must attack all of North China's
The main transportation lines, and strive to occupy one or two large and medium-sized cities to greatly mobilize the Japanese army, at least not to allow the Japanese base camp to devote all its strength to conquering the southwest."
"Chairman, are you talking about surrounding Wei and rescuing Zhao?" Duke Zhou nodded and said with regret, "As of now, this is all we can do."
Yangon, small conference room at the Expeditionary Force Headquarters.
Deng Gong had already seen Yue Weihan's dilemma, and immediately said: "In this case, why not we also take the initiative to attack the Southern Army. Although this move may not be able to stop the Japanese Army in Central China, it can distract the attention of the Japanese Army's base camp, making it unable to
Put all war resources into the Central China battlefield."
"I think it's okay." General Wei Lihuang immediately agreed.
General Wei Lihuang was not from Huangpu, so he was not loyal to Chairman Chiang Kai-shek. There was even a serious conflict between the two during the Anti-Japanese War in Shanxi. However, as a conscientious Chinese soldier, Wei Lihuang
The general knew very well what the Nationalist Government and Chairman Chiang meant to China today.
Huang Jie didn't say anything. He naturally wanted to lead his troops back to China directly.
Stilwell also nodded to express his comradeship, and everyone's eyes were focused on Yue Weihan.
Yue Weihan also hesitated. Due to the drastic changes in Europe, the assistance of 30 art divisions previously promised by the U.S. government has not been fully received. Therefore, so far, the Chinese Expeditionary Force has only organized a total of 12 art divisions, including 2 armored divisions.
The division has such strength that it is more than enough to defend, but it is still somewhat reluctant to attack.
If in another six months, the ordnance produced in Yangon alone will be enough to form 10 art divisions, then the Chinese Expeditionary Force will have more than 30 art divisions and more than 5 armor divisions, and then it will have more than 10 art divisions.
If the Southern Army launches an attack, it will basically be sure of victory. However, if it launches an attack now, it will not be the case. There are still certain variables in the battle situation.
The Japanese base camp has more than 800,000 troops stationed in Southeast Asia, of which more than 600,000 are gathered on the Indo-China Peninsula and the Malay Peninsula. A large number of defensive fortresses have been built against the Chinese Expeditionary Force in Burma, and these fortresses are extremely solid and have large-caliber weapons.
Field howitzers and heavy aircraft bombs are not enough to break through these sturdy turtle shells.
At this time, even if all the 12 art divisions that had been organized were put into the attack, it would not be enough to gain an overwhelming advantage. Yue Weihan did not dare to say that he would definitely be able to tear apart the defense line of the heavily armed Japanese army. Once the war reached a stalemate, it would be easy to
Damaging the morale of the expeditionary officers and soldiers is more likely to dampen the confidence of the country's military and civilians in the war of resistance.
In short, if we attack now, the expeditionary force will not be sure of victory.
Seeing Yue Weihan's hesitation, Stilwell suddenly said: "Yue, I know that the Japanese army has stationed heavy troops in the Indochina Peninsula and the Malay Peninsula, and has also built a large number of fortifications on the front. If we attack by force, our army has a low chance of winning, but why do we
Why don’t you try to bypass the Japanese army’s heavy troop groups and solid fortification groups and strike at the weakly defended Japanese army’s rear?”
"Attacking the weakly defended Japanese army?" Yue Weihan's heart suddenly moved when he heard this.
Why not try the leap-frog tactic? The leap-frog tactic is the leap-frog tactic!
Historically, MacArthur used the leap-frog tactic to directly bypass a large number of islands heavily garrisoned by the Japanese army, land directly on Luzon Island, then seize the Ryukyu Islands and use it as a base to directly threaten the Japanese mainland until Japan was defeated and announced its unconditional surrender.
, the main force of the Southern Army stationed in Southeast Asia and the Southwest Pacific almost still maintains its complete organization.
Of course, MacArthur's leapfrog tactic cannot be copied casually. It requires strong sea and air transportation capabilities and absolute sea control as a prerequisite.
Sea control is not a problem. The U.S. Navy has already controlled the entire Southwest Pacific, and the Japanese Navy Combined Fleet was officially disbanded half a year ago and was completely reduced to a coast guard.
However, the sea and air transportation capabilities of the Allied Southeast Asian Theater are somewhat weak, because the U.S. government has invested almost all strategic transportation forces in the Mediterranean battlefield. Although the United States is powerful, it has to maintain more than 2 million Allied troops in the Balkan Peninsula.
The pressure is still very high.
However, the problem of transportation capacity is not insurmountable.
The dock transport ship expeditionary force used for beach landings cannot be produced, and it is impossible for the U.S. government to invest in the battlefield in Southeast Asia. However, it is more than enough to recruit hundreds or thousands of large and small merchant ships. Although these merchant ships do not have the ability to protect themselves, as long as they have
With the protection of the US Navy, it is still not a problem to transport personnel and materials.
At that moment, Yue Weihan strode to the map hanging on the wall, waved to Stilwell, Deng Gong and others: "Come on, you all come over."
Deng Gong, General Zuo, General Wei Lihuang and others were obviously moved by Stilwell's suggestion. Everyone's eyes were no longer limited to the Indo-China Peninsula or the Malay Peninsula, which were located at the extended end of mainland China, but turned their attention to
It includes the isolated islands of Southeast Asia and many islands in the Southwest Pacific.
Yue Weihan took a picture of the map and said: "Two years ago, when the German army attacked France, they detoured through Belgium to avoid the Maginot Line, which was heavily stationed by the French army. In the end, France only lasted less than three months before surrendering. The German army carried out
What we have is land blitzkrieg. We lack sufficient armored strength, and the road transportation in Southeast Asia is not as good as Europe, so we cannot follow suit."
"But we can definitely launch a blitzkrieg from the sea!" Stilwell removed the pipe from his mouth, stepped forward and tapped the map gently, and said to everyone, "The Chinese Expeditionary Force can completely use the cover of the US Navy to launch a blitzkrieg from Yangon.
Set sail, enter the Strait of Malacca via the Andaman Sea, and seize this place first - Singapore!"
"Yes, that's Singapore." Yue Weihan nodded with deep understanding.
If the leap-frog tactic is adopted, the Chinese Expeditionary Force’s first attack target must and can only be Singapore!
First of all, Singapore is at the end of the Malay Peninsula and is not the center of gravity of the Japanese army. Stationed on the Malay Peninsula are the Japanese 5th and 10th Divisions. The forces of these two divisions are basically deployed in the narrow Malay Peninsula.
Above, more than a dozen lines of defense were built in the direction of Yangon and Mawlamyine, and the number of troops defending Singapore would not exceed two regiments at most.
Secondly, Singapore has an excellent deep-water military port, and by occupying Singapore, the US Navy will have an advanced base.
Finally, Singapore is located in the heart of Southeast Asia. Once the Chinese Expeditionary Force captures Singapore, the Allied air power can use Singapore as a base to carry out air strikes on the Japanese-occupied areas within thousands of kilometers. In this way,
It is almost impossible for Japan to safely transport the strategic resources it plundered in Southeast Asia back to its homeland.
Stilwell and Yue Weihan both nodded, and naturally the others would not object.
The decision to attack Singapore took effect immediately, and the next step was for the General Staff to urgently formulate a combat plan. Huang Jie, Chief of Staff of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, and General Zuo, Deputy Chief of Staff, did not dare to neglect, and immediately summoned dozens of senior staff members from the General Staff to start formulating a combat plan.
Soon, giants such as Yue Weihan, Stilwell, and Wei Lihuang no longer plan to return to their official residences.
However, before formulating a combat plan, Yue Weihan still asked Huang Jie to send a warning message to Chongqing.
Chongqing, Central Military Commission Conference Room.
Chairman Chiang was also greatly surprised when he received Huang Jie's telegram.
Chairman Chiang did not dare to be careless and immediately drove to the Military Commission and urgently summoned senior party and state generals such as General He, General Chen, General Li, General Bai and General Xue Yue to discuss countermeasures.
After everyone had finished circulating the telegram sent by Huang Jie, Chairman Chiang said worriedly: "Everyone, tell me, what should we do at this time of crisis for the party and the country?"
"Commissioning, this is clearly a scaremongering." Admiral Chen was somewhat disapproving.
After saying this, General Chen continued: "How many troops does the Japanese army in Central China have? Less than 500,000! With such a small number of troops, in addition to guarding the nine provinces in Central China, we also have to guard against the 500,000 New Fourth Army's attacks. How many troops can be mobilized?
Invest in the attack? The troops will be divided into two groups to attack Sichuan and Yunnan. Neiji Okamura will never do this unless his brain is filled with water!"
Chairman Chiang frowned and said in a thick Ningbo accent: "Whether this is a scaremongering or not, we must rather believe it than not. If the Japanese army in Central China really has this plan, how many troops can they invest at most? The Central Committee
How much combat power does the army have left at present, and is it possible to defend Sichuan and Yunnan?"
Admiral Chen pursed his lips and stopped talking. This flattery was considered a slap in the face.
Admiral Bai suddenly snorted and said: "Although the Central Army still has nearly 2 million troops, it has not paid military pay for more than half a year. What do the officers and soldiers eat on a daily basis? Everyone here knows it very well. Be honest.
"I'm surprised that these officers and soldiers have persisted until now without becoming deserters. How can such an army still have combat effectiveness?"
Chairman Jiang's face immediately darkened. Admiral Bai's words undoubtedly touched the pain in his heart.
However, General Bai was still rubbing salt on Chairman Chiang's wounds and said rudely: "With all due respect, unless the Chinese Expeditionary Force urgently mobilizes one or two armies to return to China to fight the war, the Japanese Army in Central China will only need to mobilize 30
Ten thousand people are enough to invade Sichuan and Yunnan. With the current combat effectiveness of the Central Army, it is absolutely impossible to defend the southwest."
"Don't even think about dispatching the expeditionary force back to China." Chairman Chiang said angrily. "On this point, Yue Weihan did not interfere with it. He only hated Stilwell but resolutely refused to allow it. Niang Xipi, the Yankees have made it clear that the China Expedition
If the military wants to return home, they can, but they must give up all their beautiful weapons and equipment and return home empty-handed."
"Then we can only move it." General Li sighed, "Hurry up and move the government to Jiuquan."
As early as the 26th year of the Republic of China, when the Anti-Japanese War broke out, the Nationalist Government and Chairman Chiang had already foreseen the fall of the coastal areas, so they made Chongqing the capital. However, what few people know is that in addition to making Chongqing the capital,
The Nationalist Government actually established a second capital, Jiuquan, Gansu.
It is obvious that the purpose of setting up the second capital was to prevent the Nationalist Government from moving west to Jiuquan after the fall of Sichuan to continue leading the people of the country in the anti-Japanese struggle. However, from the beginning, Chairman Chiang was very resistant to the establishment of the second capital, and he also
I never thought I would have to flee to Jiuquan after the fall of Sichuan.
As soon as General Li finished speaking, Chairman Chiang became furious and said: "Mother Xipi, I will die in Chongqing without going anywhere!"
Soon, Chairman Chiang realized that he had lost his composure. He immediately adjusted his mood and said in an extremely serious tone: "I don't believe that two million Central Army troops can't defend Sichuan. I have already decided to live or die with Chongqing."
, I swear to live and die with Sichuan, and I swear to live and die with the twenty million people in the Southwest!"