Chapter 8 3. The Way of Thick Darkness

He Yingqin commanded the troops stationed in Guizhou. After driving the Japanese army out of the Guizhou border, he pursued the victory and recovered Nandan, Guangxi in one go, and began to attack the Hechi area in Guangxi.Japan resisted tenaciously and did not retreat.Since Liuzhou and Guilin continued to increase their troops, the two sides formed a tug-of-war in the Hechi area. Even so, US President Roosevelt was still dissatisfied with Chiang Kai-shek and the Chinese army.Roosevelt even wondered whether the Chinese army could still fight against Japan when the Allied forces continued to hit the Nazis in Germany and the Japanese army heavily and won successive victories.Is there any practical significance for the Allies?

Under the suggestion of Stilwell, chief of staff of the Chinese theater, Roosevelt was determined to implement reforms to the Chinese military, the core of which was to let Stilwell be the commander-in-chief of the Chinese theater.After the fall of Hengyang, Roosevelt sent another telegram urging Chiang Kai-shek to hand over command of the Chinese army to Stilwell. This was the fourth telegram.In the past, Chiang Kai-shek still had the bargaining chip of the Hengyang defense battle, so he adopted the tactic of procrastinating and procrastinating.Now that Chiang Kai-shek had no confidence to publicly refuse the transfer of military power, he had to make some substantive concessions and asked Roosevelt to send a special envoy to China to coordinate the transfer of military power.

Roosevelt sent Hurley to China as a special envoy and reached an agreement with Chiang Kai-shek on three points: first, Stilwell's job title was designated as the commander-in-chief of the former enemy; second, he personally commanded the Chinese army to fight, but the combat plan must be reviewed by the military committee; It is the jurisdiction over the troops, and the right to reward, punish, appoint and dismiss can be implemented in accordance with the laws of the Republic of China. Stilwell was already the supreme commander of the Chinese army in name, but Chiang Kai-shek still did not hand over real power to him.President Roosevelt was very annoyed by Stilwell's continuous writing to complain about Chiang Kai-shek's situation, and he would never tolerate Chiang Kai-shek's practice of waiting for the victory of the Allied forces.He telegraphed by order, please hand over command to Stilwell immediately, without hesitation for a moment.

Chiang Kai-shek received a telegram from the President of the United States, knowing that he was finished this time.So he cried hard to politicians and military generals, and even cried bitterly.Chiang Kai-shek knew very well in his heart that there was a man named Liu Bei in Chinese history who adopted this method, the more he cried, the more stable the country became.As soon as Liu Bei cried, Zhuge Liang tried his best to advise him.Chiang Kai-shek also wanted to exchange for the loyalty of his subordinates. This move is still very effective. People like Song Ziwen went to the United States to engage in activities for Chiang Kai-shek.

At the same time, Chiang Kai-shek also tore his face and vented his anger on Stilwell.He also wrote to Roosevelt, attributing the failure of China's Eastern Front to Stilwell, saying that he did not care about the Chinese battlefield, and that Stilwell held the power to transfer leased arms when the country was in crisis , it is not allowed to be used on the Eastern Front battlefield, to sit back and watch the Chinese army lose the battle, so that he can achieve his ulterior purpose, he is really a conspiracy and careerist.Such a person cannot lead the Chinese army! Song Meiling also stood up and spoke loudly. She said that the Chinese government leaders took the overall situation into consideration and sent the elite of the Kuomintang to Burma. We made a sad mistake.It means that for the benefit of the Allied forces, we would rather sacrifice ourselves, but now we are condemned instead, while Stilwell led the elite on the Western Front to make repeated military exploits, but he became a hero.

Chiang Kai-shek is also ruthless enough. You Roosevelt think that the Chinese army is useless to the allies. Well, we really can't defeat Japan with our own strength. If you don't help, just withdraw from the allies.Not only did he threaten the United States by withdrawing from the Allies, but what was even worse was that Chiang Kai-shek planned to negotiate a separate peace with Japan. In Chiang Kai-shek's words, they are unjust, don't blame me for being ruthless. At the beginning of 1945, Chiang Kai-shek sent Miao Bin to Tokyo to contact.Miao Bin conveyed Chongqing's meaning to Tokyo: Chongqing does not want to see Japan completely destroyed, because China's self-protection depends on Japan's continued existence.

In Chiang Kai-shek's view, the most painful thing is that the United States abandoned him.In this case, if I can't get it, you can't get it in the United States.Chiang Kai-shek clearly told Hurley, President Roosevelt's special envoy, that without the assistance of the United States, China's future and destiny would be twofold: one is to seek refuge in Japan, and let the Japanese use China's resources and military resources to compete with the Allies; the other is to let the Communist Party Rule China, turn China red, and become a member of the socialist camp of the Soviet Union.

Hurley was very friendly to Chiang Kai-shek. As soon as he heard Chiang Kai-shek's idea, he immediately went back to the United States to persuade Roosevelt.Chiang Kai-shek is very shrewd. He just pinched the weakness of the United States with this hand, confirming an old Chinese saying, "If you hit a snake, you will hit three inches."Chiang Kai-shek hit exactly three inches on the Americans. Roosevelt was most worried about two things. One was the defeat of the Chinese army. The Japanese could use China's rich resources and numerous military sources to fight a protracted war with the Allies on that vast land.At that time, if the allied forces wanted to defeat the Japanese army, they had to put in more effort.This is what Americans do not want to see.

In addition, the Japanese were defeated and the Kuomintang army had no foreign aid, so it would also be wiped out by the power of the Communist Party.If this is the case, the United States did not achieve its full goal in its war against Japan, but instead helped the Communist Party defeat the Japanese.China has turned red and turned into a socialist camp against the United States, which will make even greater mistakes. Roosevelt was baffled by Chiang Kai-shek. He thought a lot, but he never thought that Chiang Kai-shek would do this to him. But at the same time, the Americans also saw Chiang Kai-shek's dependence and trust in the United States.The United States abandoned Chiang Kai-shek, just like a mother abandons her own child. Both sides have unspeakable sorrow.

So Roosevelt was determined to fulfill his past promise to the Chinese government and help Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling-shik equip 35 divisions with brand-new American weapons. forward fortress positions.Americans are very snobbish and very practical. As long as it is beneficial to them, they will do everything they can. What Roosevelt could not have imagined was the future. Almost all of the brand-new American equipment was given to the Communist Party's army through the hands of Chiang Kai-shek.From the generals to the soldiers of the Communist army, they all said that Chiang Kai-shek was their transport captain.This is not just a joke to ridicule Chiang Kai-shek, it is indeed the case.The Communist Party's army has seized these weapons from the Kuomintang army, adding wings to a tiger, and the trump card of the Kuomintang army is not in their words. This is a later story.

The relationship between Roosevelt and Chiang Kai-shek finally eased somewhat. This is due to Hurley, the ambassador to China, and the result of his dealing with it and knowing Roosevelt's interests.But Chiang Kai-shek was not satisfied because the fundamental question was not resolved, which was who would command the Chinese army, Stilwell, or him, Chiang Kai-shek? Chiang Kai-shek has played the pier all his life, and he is very proficient in Chinese thick and black studies.Americans certainly don't know China's thick and black studies, and Americans don't even know the surface of the profound Chinese culture.Chiang Kai-shek, who is well versed in the dark way, played Roosevelt like a monkey in the street on the issue of the candidate for the commander-in-chief of the Chinese theater, which makes you dumbfounded. Chiang Kai-shek seemed very generous. For the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, he sent a telegram to Roosevelt saying that he agreed that an American should be the commander-in-chief of the Chinese army.In the past, it was not that he refused to surrender the command of the army, but that the generals of the Chinese army did not trust Stilwell, and Stilwell did not have the trust of the Chinese.If the command of the Chinese army is handed over to Stilwell, he is afraid that the troops will mutiny, so the command cannot be handed over to him. Later, Chiang Kai-shek called Roosevelt through Song Ziwen, asking the president to appoint another candidate whom the Chinese could trust, anyone could, but he firmly disagreed with Stilwell to take up this post.The people whom the Chinese people can trust in the telegram are actually the people who Chiang Kai-shek can trust.When Roosevelt received the telegram, it really made him think hard and weigh it for a while. Chiang Kai-shek struck while the iron was hot, and within two days, he sent a long telegram to the president through Soong Meiling, the meaning was even clearer, and the little tricks were played very skillfully.Song Meiling's telegram to Roosevelt is as follows: Yu always respects President Luo's opinions and opinions, but regarding China's Three People's Principles and China's sovereignty, as well as the personality of China's country and individuals, if there is any loss, I will not hesitate to make any sacrifices, and must not be accommodating, otherwise Even if the allies are completely victorious in the war, they will still be defeated. I will never let China's redification and sovereignty be shaken.If we resume the independent war of resistance, the domestic and military situation will never be worse than it is now... But the facts prove that General Shi not only has no intention of cooperating with Yu, but also thinks that after taking up the new post, General Yu will be under his command instead , so the matter is terminated.If any American general appointed by President Luo is full of the spirit of friendship and cooperation to replace General Shi, I will welcome him wholeheartedly, and will do my best to support his operations and strengthen his authority... Chiang Kai-shek passed Song Meiling's telegram to Roosevelt, there are thorns in the cotton, and there is hardness in the soft.She further expressed Chiang Kai-shek's attitude to the United States, first of all, she respected and supported President Roosevelt, but if the United States ignored China's interests, even if it did not support China, China would not perish.Regarding Stilwell, if his character is not good, he can be replaced by anyone, but Stilwell is not.The failure of China's war situation and the deterioration of Sino-US relations were all attributed to Stilwell.Why did Chiang Kai-shek hate General Stilwell so much?This is because Stilwell wanted to be the commander-in-chief of the Chinese theater. He peeped at Chiang Kai-shek's throne, and he was undoubtedly the most dangerous and annoying figure. Chiang Kai-shek did not hesitate to break with the United States and opposed Stilwell, which made Roosevelt feel very embarrassed.Roosevelt finally gave in. There was no need to turn against China for one person, and Chiang Kai-shek did not oppose the United States, but only hated Stilwell.So Roosevelt called Chiang Kai-shek back and said: Consider replacing Stilwell's position as the former enemy commander-in-chief of the Chinese army, but it is recommended to retain Stilwell's command of the Burma Expeditionary Force.Chiang Kai-shek categorically rejected Roosevelt's proposal, and on Stilwell's issue, Chiang Kai-shek would never budge. General Chennault, the commander-in-chief of the U.S. Air Force in China, was also dissatisfied with Stilwell, which was caused by the conflict between the Air Force and the Army.When Stilwell was the chief of staff of the Chinese theater, General Chennault lived a stinky life as a young daughter-in-law and was often oppressed. Therefore, General Chennault supported Chiang Kai-shek very much and reported Stilwell's blackmail to US President Roosevelt. shape. Hurley, the ambassador to China, urged President Roosevelt to make concessions on this contradictory issue. He not only praised Chiang Kai-shek in front of the president, but also reported the actual situation in China to the president: China's army was cultivated by Chiang Kai-shek alone. The army can be said to be the product of the feudal family. It is not loyal to the country and the nation, but only to the dynasty of the Jiang family.It doesn't help whoever is sent to be the commander-in-chief. This is influenced by the traditional culture of Chinese feudal emperors, just like the Japanese army's allegiance to the emperor. Roosevelt came to his senses. No wonder Chiang Kai-shek did not hand over real power to Stilwell. Even if he handed it over to Stilwell, an American could not control and command such an army.In order to exchange for Chiang Kai-shek's cooperation and prevent a huge China from falling into the hands of Japan or the Communist Party, Roosevelt had no choice but to part with it, and decided to transfer back to Stilwell, with Wedemeyer as the chief of staff of the Chinese theater and the commander of the US military stationed in China. General Wedemeyer was not as sharp-edged as Stilwell. He didn't have much ambition, and he didn't spy on Chiang Kai-shek's position as commander-in-chief. Stilwell was finally squeezed out of China by Chiang Kai-shek.In the contest for the command of the Chinese army, Chiang Kai-shek won the final victory, but the process was very thrilling.Undoubtedly, if Chiang Kai-shek did not adopt China's thick and dark ways and played cards according to the regular rules of the game, then the post of commander-in-chief of the Chinese theater must be Stilwell, not Chiang Kai-shek. If this is the case, Chiang Kai-shek's fate will undergo a major reversal, and perhaps the later president will not have the surname Chiang.But Chiang Kai-shek persevered, although not very gloriously, and finally kept his power.Politics is like this, politics is not moral, politics itself is a matter of black and white, as long as it is beneficial to the ruler.Chiang Kai-shek thought so at that time.