While Suri was fighting the Japanese army in Xiaoxian, Chairman Chiang in Wuhan was also thinking about another matter.
After Chairman Chiang implemented a comprehensive anti-Japanese policy, he lost Peiping, Tianjin, Shanghai, Nanjing, Taiyuan, Xuzhou and other big cities. He felt that it was too shameful. In the huge China, millions of troops were chased by hundreds of thousands of Japanese.
Fighting back and forth lost its identity as an army of a great power, so the idea of defending Wuhan and carrying out a long-term war of resistance grew in Chairman Chiang's mind.
But defending Wuhan is a big deal. Moreover, the fifth war zone is currently undergoing a strategic shift, and the troops cannot be deployed at the moment. Chairman Chiang had no choice but to call Chen Brai, He Yingqin, Chen Cheng, Bai Chongxi, and other close staff members to hold a meeting.
meeting to discuss the possibility of protecting Wuhan.
It was already very hot in Wuhan in mid-May. The fans in the conference room were blowing loudly, but everyone still felt no coolness in their hearts.
Looking at the silent crowd, the chairman felt anxious and said, "Tell me, are you sure of success in defending Wuhan?"
Everyone looked at each other for a while, and then Bai Chongxi, who was sitting under the Chairman, said: "Chairman, defending Wuhan is a big matter. The amount of troops, materials, manpower and material resources that need to be mobilized are unprecedented, and the Xuzhou Battle has not yet begun.
It's completely over. De Lin has not yet led the main force of the five theaters to return, and it is difficult for us to calculate the situation of both the enemy and ourselves now. If we really want to defend Wuhan, I think it is better to wait until late May to discuss it."
"Hmm...do you think so too?" The Chairman glanced at everyone with a majestic look.
Chen Cheng also nodded: "Chairman, what Jiansheng said is not unreasonable. I also think it is too early to discuss the defense of Wuhan at the moment. The Japanese army is still focusing on the Xuzhou area and has no energy to take care of Wuhan for the time being."
"It will be too late when they target Wuhan!" Seeing that Chen and Bai didn't pay much attention to his words, Chairman Jiang couldn't help but narrowed his eyes. Anyone who knew him well knew that the boss was a little unhappy.
It has to be said that as the leader of a country at this time, Chairman Chiang had a very unique strategic vision, although many people knew that the next target of the Japanese army after capturing Xuzhou must be Wuhan, the seat of the Chinese government.
But most people would think that the Japanese would need a buffer period after seizing Xuzhou. However, Chairman Chiang was keenly aware that the Japanese coveted Wuhan too much, and they would not give themselves much time to deploy.
Because only by capturing Wuhan can the Japanese use this opportunity to undermine the morale of China's military and civilians. Now they can capture China more quickly and rule China politically, thereby plundering China's resources and population.
Seeing a thoughtful look on everyone's face. Chairman Jiang thought for a while and then asked Bai Chongxi: "Jiansheng, how is the war in Xuzhou going now? Have Delin and the others escaped and have they arrived?
Western Anhui and southern Henan?"
Bai Chongxi shook his head: "Not yet, the Japanese troops are chasing closely now. As soon as De Lin and the others left Xuzhou, the Japanese rushed over. Now the troops behind Xiao County are fighting fiercely with the Japanese, and the Japanese are red-eyed.
Planes have been dispatched and are bombing Xiao County indiscriminately."
"Oh!" He Yingqin asked curiously. "So, the troops in the rear must be fighting hard. Which army are they?"
Bai Chongxi smiled bitterly: "Who else could it be? They are Zhang Zizhong's 59th Army and Su Rui's 300 Brigade."
"Oh? Is it them?"
Everyone couldn't help but scream in surprise, for no other reason than that Su Rui has been in too much limelight recently. He was responsible for both the defense of Linyi and the Battle of Taierzhuang, especially his two poison gas attacks, which completely wiped out the Japanese army.
The two regiments directly led to the disastrous defeat of the 10th Division, and were even called China's "poisonous general" by the Western media. Such a person could not attract attention even if he wanted to.
"It's him!"
After hearing this, He Yingqin's face suddenly became a little uncertain. He still clearly remembered the last time Su Rui broke out from Nanjing. He also teamed up with his boss to trick Su Rui. Not only did Su Rui
After driving out the Thirty-sixth Division and having made great contributions to the confrontation, he just gave him the title of brigade commander and then drove him to a corner. He didn't even give him military pay or ordnance.
A little bit, if it had been anyone else, they would have rebelled.
But as for them, with the title of empty-headed brigade commander, they not only pulled up a team of six to seven thousand people, but also fought vigorously in Xuzhou. In Linyi and Taierzhuang, they made such a big splash, and now they take the initiative again
Covering the retreat of Xuzhou's hundreds of thousands of troops, such a character can be called a saint.
Thinking of this, even Minister He, who had long been trained to have a heart of stone, didn't know what to say.
He secretly glanced at his boss and found that his boss also looked a little embarrassed. He coughed twice and then said: "Well, it turns out it's this Su Rui. He is blocking the enemy with Zhang Zizhong in Xiao County. This is good.
Well, this...this..." At this point, Minister He didn't know what to say. After all, they had done something very unreasonable in their treatment of Su Rui.
And how could our Vice-Chairman Bai take it easy? After seeing the expressions of Chairman Chiang and Minister He, he sneered secretly in his heart and said: "Chairman Chiang, Minister He, there is something I want to ask for permission from, and it's this Su Rui."
After taking on this enemy-stopping mission, the casualties must have been very high. I wonder how many additional soldiers, military supplies and military pay the Ministry of Military Affairs plans to give him after the war?"
"this……"
General Bai Chongxi is really at the Achilles' heel of the two of them. They have always adopted the strategy of annexing, cannibalizing, and consuming the non-direct-line armies. Even the supplies given to them are barely enough for them to eat.
Not to mention replenishing military supplies or even changing their clothes for them.
But now our Vice-Chairman Bai has put the issue on the table nakedly, and now Chairman Chiang is a little embarrassed.
"Well... well..."
Chairman Chiang couldn't help but feel a little dumb for a moment. He deliberately refused to reward them but was afraid of hurting the hearts of the Gui clan and all the other people. What if those people from all over the country saw this situation and gave up their jobs in the future? Is it possible to rely on the central government alone?
Can the army conquer the world? Chairman Chiang does not think that the Central Army is now so powerful.
Seeing that the boss seemed to be overwhelmed by the question, Minister He on the side hurriedly came to the rescue and said: "Jiansheng, you also know that the country is in financial difficulty now, and there are still many places that need money. It is possible that we will not take care of it for a while. What you proposed
This request is not unreasonable, but can we wait until the respite has passed?"
"Take it easy?"
Bai Chongxi shook his head: "The soldiers are bleeding and fighting on the front line, but some people in the rear not only do not contribute to the front line, but are actually pulling back the front line soldiers, and cannot even meet the most basic guarantees. In this case
, whoever likes to do this deputy chief of staff can do it, I will go back to the front line to fight the Japanese."
When Chairman Jiang heard this, he thought... this guy has just said this, what else can he do? If he continues to play Tai Chi with him, maybe this little Zhuge from the Guangxi family will really give up his choice.
Done." After thinking about it for a while, the Chairman snorted and winked at Minister He.
Minister He groaned secretly when he saw it. Unexpectedly, the ball was pushed around and finally hit his head. He had no choice but to clear his throat and said: "In this case, let's just upgrade the 300 Brigade to the 300 Brigade."
In the Hundred Division, Su Rui was also promoted to major general commander. He has two first-class brigades under his command, and all the generals in the 300 Brigade were also promoted to one level. Su Rui was also awarded a Blue Sky and White Sun Medal. What do you think?"
Minister He said so many words in one breath that his mouth felt a little dry. He picked up the cup on the table and took a big drink of water.
"What about supplies? Where about firearms? Where about military pay? How does the central government plan to allocate it to them?" Vice Chief Bai pressed forward step by step.
Everyone knows these days that certificates, medals, etc. are all empty talk. The only thing that makes these people who hold the seal of military power the most coveted is ordnance, supplies and military pay. Only with these three things in hand can they take care of themselves.
The operation of the army is getting better and better and more stable.
Seeing Vice Chairman Bai pressing forward step by step, Chairman Chiang became angry. He waved his hand and said, "Nothing at all? Now that the defense of Wuhan has just begun, where are the excess supplies to be transported to Anhui?"
Vice President Bai frowned when he heard this. He had already expected that Chairman Chiang would not distribute the supplies so readily, but he did not expect that he would refuse so simply.
However, Vice President Bai was not angry. Instead, he showed a smile as if he had succeeded in his conspiracy and said: "In this case, since there are no supplies to give to others, then I suggest that Su Rui be given the designation of a first-class division. Give him three
The establishment of nine regiments of the brigade!"
"this……"
The Chairman hesitated upon hearing this. At this time, even the Central Army did not have any division with such a large establishment. With three brigades and nine regiments, each regiment had nearly 1,000 men, so the division had reached 20,000.
It has a very large establishment of 70,000 or even 30,000 people. Even the most direct units of the Central Army, such as the First Division and the Central Teaching Corps, do not have this kind of treatment for division-level units with this kind of organization. They are as good as an army of the Central Army.
.
Looking at Deputy Commander Bai's fox-like smile, Chairman Chiang could only grit his teeth and said: "Okay then, I'll give him the establishment of a first-class division, but I have to agree in advance. The Central Committee is not responsible for supplementing their staff.
Ordnance, everything has to be done by themselves.”
In this way, while Su Rui was still fighting hard in Xiao County, Vice Commander Bai, who was far away in Wuhan, won him the title of division commander.