Chapter 9 3. No Word Monument-"Hump" route

1 In midsummer and June, Chongqing, the companion capital known as the "stove in the south of the Yangtze River", is scorching hot and the heat is unbearable.The leaves hang their heads down, and the hot sunlight penetrates the branches, scattering jumping light spots on the hillside, stone steps and lawn. This was 1942, when news of the moths at the front was frequent.Chiang Kai-shek is fighting in front of the window of a living room called "Old Thatched Cottage". The Chairman was dignifiedly silent. There were also several KMT military and political dignitaries sitting in the living room.He Yingqin, Minister of Military Affairs and Chief of the General Staff, Bai Chongxi, Minister of Military Command and Deputy Chief of Staff, Lin Wei, Chen Cheng, Chen Bulei, Yu Feipeng, Shang Zhen, etc.They sip tea quietly, shake their fans lightly, and occasionally talk in a low voice, lest they disturb the leader's meditation.

In another hour, the Chairman will have a banquet at Huangshan Villa for General Stilwell, who just flew in from India. For Chiang Kai-shek, the Battle of Burma was undoubtedly a stupid thing done for the British that outweighed the gains.His original intention was not to please Churchill, but to make Roosevelt re-understand and evaluate China, so as to improve China's bargaining position with the Americans.In a sense, this is a long-suppressed great power impulse of the Chinese leaders. It shows that the Chinese are not only eager to receive more aid, but also more eager to restore their former status as the leader in the world.Leaders are not without impulses, but their impulses are more secretive, more tinged with personal ambition and cruelty.

However, contrary to expectations, Chiang Kai-shek just lost face for this.More than half of the three elite troops suffered casualties, and all their weapons and equipment were lost. Not only did Yangon not keep it, but it almost allowed the Japanese to break into Kunming.It was really beyond the expectation of the chairman of the Chinese Communist Party that a 100,000-strong army was exchanged for a shameful defeat. But Chiang Kai-shek was a politician with military background after all.His genius lay not in war but in intrigue.The failure of the Chinese Expeditionary Army undoubtedly strengthened his consistent belief in China's War of Resistance: that is, it is a ridiculous idea that only an idiot would have to use a half-fallen poor and weak country to try to defeat a powerful Japanese empire.

China is not an opponent of the Japanese, nor is the British, only the Americans are capable of winning this war.The Anti-Japanese War was an unavoidable gamble for China. You have already sat at the poker table, so you must continue to gamble.Therefore, the only way to avoid losing everything is to bet carefully and accumulate capital. There were whispers behind him, and the chairman recognized He Yingqin's voice.The chief of staff seemed to be discussing with Shang Zhen about kabuki and cuisine in Tokyo, Japan. The chairman of the committee nodded slightly towards He Yingqin and said:

"Respectfully, you read them the American share." What the chairman called "something" was a diplomatic letter from across the ocean.Mr. Harry Hopkins, the powerful presidential assistant in the White House, sent a letter to the chairman, in addition to reiterating the attitude of the US government in supporting China's war of resistance, he also informed the chairman that the president planned to urgently dispatch 100 transport planes to China to deliver supplies. To make up for the loss of the Yunnan-Burma Highway being cut off.At the end of the letter, it was stated that General Stilwell had been authorized to come to China to deal with specific matters concerning the assistance.

The attitude of the White House is very clear. The US government does not want to see the Chinese government lose confidence due to failure, so it decided to use the expensive increase in aircraft transportation to boost the morale of the resistance.The problem was that the White House had delegated power to an overconfident American general, which made Chiang Kai-shek somber.Because Stilwell happened to be one of his least favorite foreigners. "Qiyu, read Ziwen's telegram to them." Chiang Kai-shek pointed to Shang Zhen who was by the door.General Shang Zhen served as the director of the general office and the director of foreign affairs in the military committee.

"Foreign Minister Song received a telegram from Washington on the 2nd, saying: The defeat in Myanmar has had a great impact, and both the White House and the Pentagon were shocked. The American public's distrust of China's war of resistance is growing. Considering that the US Congress will soon pass the China Aid Amendment and the China Loan The Chinese government should pay enough attention to this plan. It is also reported that Stilwell has drawn up a plan to counterattack Burma, the specifics of which are unknown.” "Tell me, um, what do you think?" Chiang Kai-shek glanced at everyone one by one and asked.

"Could it be that Stilwell still wants to organize an expeditionary force?" Chen Cheng, deputy director of the Ministry of Military Affairs, asked.At the beginning of the formation of the expeditionary force, the post of commander-in-chief was held concurrently by Chen Cheng. Fortunately, Luo Zhuoying and Du Yuming were assigned after he failed to take up the post for some reason. He is still secretly grateful to this day. "The battle has to be fought, otherwise why are the Americans so generous to bring you equipment?" He Yingqin glanced at his rival and said with a strong Guizhou accent: "Besides, China has plenty of people, as long as the Americans are willing to pay for it." , use guns and cannons, equip a few more troops, how to fight at that time, big fights, small fights, real fights and fake fights, Stilwell will not be up to him."

"Minister He, believe it or not, Stilwell will use aircraft and cannons to make a deal with the Chairman?" Bai Chongxi, a general of the Guangxi Faction known as "Little Zhuge", interjected with a sneer. This sentence happened to touch Chiang Kai-shek's most sensitive nerve, but he remained calm on the surface. "Minister Bai, do you think Stilwell will ask for a frontal battlefield?" Chiang Kai-shek asked lightly. Bai Chongxi hesitated for a moment, and immediately replied respectfully: "In my opinion, Stilwell may not have such a big appetite."

Chen Cheng interjected: "Why don't you dare to have such a big appetite? If you don't believe me, you can hand over the Central Army to him for a try. The Americans are eager to take over China. If you serve other people's bowls, they will be in charge of them." The last sentence irritated Chiang Kai-shek. He gave Chen Cheng a dissatisfied look, and said sharply, "How can Cixiu say such a thing? Well! In the previous years of the War of Resistance, there were no American guns. Didn't we also fight here? Now we are not only fighting for China, but also for the United States, shouldn’t they have more guns?”

He Yingqin kicked his opponent without losing the opportunity. "The words of the commissioner are very true. In my opinion, it is good for us to eat American food, but whether we are controlled by others is our own business. In ancient times, there was a Xu Shu who was 'in Cao Ying and his heart is in Han'. If you don't want to be controlled by others, you naturally have a way to deal with it, how can you be led by others? For example, in Myanmar this time, Luo Zhuoying suffered a crushing defeat, so he should be held accountable." Luo Zhuoying obviously belonged to Chen Cheng, while Du Yuming was He Yingqin's general.Chen Cheng seemed to have been stung by a hornet, his face was red and his muscles were swollen, and he wanted to discuss it with He Yingqin, but was stopped by Chiang Kai-shek. "I said, um, we must unite with sincerity! When the country is in crisis, you still quarrel like this. How decent is it to spread it? Wouldn't it disappoint the people of the country?!" Chiang Kai-shek reprimanded again with full of vigor and vigor.In fact, he knows all about the activities of his factions, but he has no intention of eliminating factions.China is a country full of factions, and there is no China without sects.The more clever a politician is, the more he has to create various factions, and control and use these factional contradictions to serve himself. "I also want to say that you must keep it in mind. First, there is an old saying in China called 'use barbarians to control barbarians'. How can there be no cure for the Japanese barbarians? Second, I have said long ago that the most important thing is to "resist the outside world first". Don't forget that it is not the Americans who will compete with us in the future. Not the Japanese, but the Communist Party!" Picking up his teacup, Chiang Kai-shek took a loud sip, turned to Shang Zhen and said, "Tell me about Stilwell's personal situation. This American, we will concentrate on dealing with him in the future." "As far as I know, Stilwell is a very difficult person to deal with." The foreign affairs director took out the materials from the briefcase, flipped through them and said, "You all know that he has served in China three times and is quite familiar with China. He has a close personal relationship with General Marshall, the chief of the US general staff, and is trusted by the US president. But in Stilwell's military life, at most he only had the experience of leading a group of people to fight, and that was in the First World War It is important for me to point this out, because the American lieutenant general was very eager to have the opportunity to lead a large army into battle, to be a general like General MacArthur or Field Marshal Montgomery. "Information also shows that Stilwell and Chennault have relatively large conflicts, and they tend to intensify. Chennault is a retired soldier with a pretentious personality. He is brave in battle, arbitrary, and likes to be admired. He doesn't like others to interfere in his affairs. Especially interfering with the Air Volunteer Corps he created with his own hands. But General Stilwell was appointed by the President to be the commander-in-chief of the U.S. Army in the China-Burma-India Theater. He will undoubtedly command Chennault and take over Chennault's independent kingdom. I will add one more point, Stilwell's coming to China this time holds the power to distribute supplies, and he will propose to have absolute command over the army that will counterattack Burma in the future, which is almost obvious." Chiang Kai-shek fell silent.Gao Shen Lin Wei suggested a showdown with the Americans and made a clear agreement on how many divisions to exchange for how much equipment.He Yingqin smiled slyly and said, "According to Cixiu's opinion, wouldn't it be better for the Americans to think they are the commander-in-chief? For example, during the Burma campaign, Du Yuming's Fifth Army let Stilwell know that other people's armies cannot support their families. Well." Chiang Kai-shek twitched his brows, and as if realizing something, he raised his head and asked, "Has Du Yuming arrived in India?" He Yingqin shook his head. Chiang Kai-shek suddenly expressed emotion and was full of admiration: "Du Guangting swears allegiance to the party and country to the death, and his spirit is commendable. As an officer, he shares life and death with the soldiers. Such outstanding soldiers are rare in our party and country." Bai Chongxi interjected: "Please make it clear that Luo Zhuoying has arrived in India. Does the committee want him to return to China or stay there?" Chiang Kai-shek thought for a moment and said decisively: "Tell him to listen to Stilwell's command. Anyway, he lost all his equipment and came back empty-handed. And that Sun Liren, I am worried." An antique parquet alarm clock struck eleven crisply.Qian Dajun, the director of the attendant's room, reported that the American guests had arrived at the foot of the mountain.Chiang Kai-shek asked everyone to wait outside the door, and only Shang Zhen was left behind. "Qiyu, you will mainly deal with these Americans in the future." Chiang Kai-shek whispered: "You have to remember that we Chinese are the most strategic. There is a famous Chinese saying: 'A hundred battles are victorious, and those who are not good Also. A soldier who surrenders without fighting is a good man.' Defeating the enemy is valuable, but it is even more difficult to win without bloodshed. This is the highest level of a military strategist. But this is not military, but politics. Our Central Army is both They cannot be given to the Americans, let alone the Japanese, they are the capital for me to solve China’s problems in the future, do you understand?” The director of foreign affairs bureau nodded frequently, he was completely impressed by the wisdom and mind of the leader. After Shang Zhen went out, the "Old Thatched House" was quiet for a while, and there was the rustling sound of cars driving in on the mountain road.Chiang Kai-shek saw from the window that two black "Ford" cars drove in one after the other and stopped at the bottom of the stone steps.The door opened, and the American ambassadors, Goss and Stilwell, got out. Almost at the same time, there was a crisp knocking of high heels in the corridor.Song Meiling appeared at the door of the living room as if stepping on the clock.The great couple representing the highest power in China smiled at each other. The man stretched out his arms, and the woman held him affectionately, and then walked out the door gracefully. On this day, the negotiations at the Huangshan Villa's banquet almost broke down.