Grant Stilwell and Zhou Weihan had a close friendship. After the Pearl Harbor incident, the United States and Japan officially broke up with each other, and the Japanese army arrested people from various Western powers in the concessions.
As an intelligence agent of the U.S. military, Stilwell hid under a pseudonym among European and American people arrested by the Japanese army. Later, Zhou Weihan sent someone to rescue Stilwell and his party from Tianjin, and the two began to have a friendship from then on.
After returning to the mountain city, Stilwell became a major military attache at the U.S. Embassy in China. In order to repay the Eighth Route Army for saving his life, Stilwell relied on his personal connections to obtain more art and equipment than was negotiated in advance.
The reason for all this is that his brother is Joseph Stilwell, commander of the U.S. Army in the China-Burma-India Theater and chief of staff of the Allied China Theater.
As the saying goes, there are people in the court who are good at becoming officials. This is a hard truth that is popular in any era.
As soon as the battle at Zhongtiao Mountain came to an end, Hu Zhongnan wanted to repeat his attack on the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia base area. Yanzhou senior officials would not tolerate it.
After all, the civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party consumed China's national defense strength. Even if the Kuomintang army really invaded the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia base area, even if the Eighth Route Army ultimately defeated the Kuomintang army's military operation, direct human losses aside, it would also have a negative impact on production in the base area.
The harm is also immeasurable.
The brigade commander and Zhou Weihan, as the mediation representatives of the Eighth Route Army in Xijian, had many negotiations with Yanzhou, and Zhou Weihan proposed a way to break the situation.
That evening, after the cocktail party, Stilwell changed into civilian clothes and went to a secret stronghold of the Eighth Route Army in the city to meet with Zhou Weihan.
"Mr. Stilwell, you are a very popular big shot in Xi'an today. It is really difficult to meet you in private!" Zhou Weihan joked.
The way Americans get along with each other is very different from that of China. After hearing this, Stilwell thought that Zhou Weihan was dissatisfied, so he quickly explained: "Zhou, you know, we are good friends!"
"After the Military Coordination Department was established, I immediately applied to the commander to come to Xi'an for mediation. However, after all, I represent the U.S. government. Even if you and I have personal relationships, I cannot blatantly show favoritism, let alone during mediation.
Before the end, I had too many personal interactions with you!"
"Okay, my friend, you have helped our Eighth Route Army enough!" Zhou Weihan smiled and waved his hand, motioning for Stilwell to sit down.
In the face of the interests of countries, personal friendships don't matter. Personal interference is nothing more than trying to block the car.
"How was your time back in the mountain city?"
"Zhou, I always felt that it was a wrong decision to stay in China. I should have gone to the front line to fight instead of staying in the mountain city. I couldn't see any hope in the mountain city. The military supplies issued from my hands were...
It actually appeared on the black market the next day!"
"Can you imagine that the pilots were on life-support routes, and the planes actually transported luxuries used by the upper class? When Hong Kong Island fell, the daughter of the President of the Executive Yuan of the National Government dared to draw a gun and let the passengers on the plane go
Come down and let your pet board the plane!"
"I have nothing to disparage China. Your people are hard-working and your soldiers are bloody. Their wages are less than one-tenth of those of our soldiers. Being able to eat rice and flour is already a great satisfaction!"
"Your soldiers are the best soldiers in the world, but why do they lose so many battles? Why did they lose the battle of Zhongtiao Mountain?"
"Your leader is far away in the mountain city, but he has repeatedly intervened in frontline combat affairs. It seems that we Americans can only act as arms suppliers and should not have other ideas!" When talking about this topic, Stilwell seemed to be disappointed.
Endless water of bitterness.
"Mr. Stilwell, what you said is indeed true, but it cannot be generalized. Even in the National Government, there are people who have been practicing Mr. Sun Yat-sen's Three People's Principles!"
"In my opinion, this is a matter of national power and system. I believe that a revolution will be ushered in during this war. Just like the Civil War in your country, our Chinese nation will be reborn from the ashes, and everything will be reborn.
Give it time!"
Zhou Weihan was extremely determined in what he said. If necessary, he would be willing to be the dry wood in this raging fire, just to give the Chinese nation a brighter future.
Stilwell shook his head: "Zhou, with all due respect, your regime is too weak. The center of the capital is surrounded by heavy troops from the national army and is in danger of being destroyed at any time!"
"I know why you came to me, but your doctrine is contrary to what our country upholds. In the eyes of the politicians in the White House, the National Government will always be the first choice!"
Zhou Weihan took the initiative to discuss this topic after hearing this: "Haha, my friend, this is not something you and I can decide. Let's talk about the more practical issues at hand. The mediation work has been delayed for too long. This place is located in the west.
I don’t want to stay any longer!”
"Zhou, me too, please tell me!"
"Although the national army in the three provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia has a lot of troops, it is not certain whether they can work together. The battle of Zhongtiao Mountain is enough to prove that sometimes too many national troops may not lead to victory!"
"Although our army is at a disadvantage in terms of military strength in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia base areas, there are many troops in the various base areas east of the Yellow River. Even if we cannot defeat them, we can always move to the east of the Yellow River. Is it possible that the national army can still pursue them?"
"Furthermore, this civil war goes against the will of all the people. It is a personal act of the die-hards in the Nationalist government. Under the current situation, this is not in the common interest of both the Kuomintang and the Communist Party!"
"Once a war starts, it will not end in a short time and will inevitably affect the international situation. This is also not in the interests of the Allies!" Zhou Weihan said one after another.
"Zhou, I understand what you are saying, but we cannot really break with Jiang because of this matter. After all, only he can represent China!"
There are also many factions within the U.S. government, but in the final analysis, interests are the main priority. Whoever can bring substantial benefits to the U.S. government will be supported by the U.S. government.
In Stilwell's words, the power of the Eighth Route Army was too weak. Even if China was the master of the Eighth Route Army, even if its ideology ran counter to that of the United States, the U.S. government could only pinch its nose and support the Eighth Route Army.
"I do have a way. Maybe I can weaken the strength of the national army in Shaanxi Province and restore the strength of both sides to the previous balance. In this way, some people will not dare to take risks, and the crisis will naturally be resolved!"
"I heard that the expeditionary force's entry into Burma was not going well?" Zhou Weihan asked knowingly.
"Chiang repeatedly intervened in frontline operations. The British were timid before fighting, and instead gave the Japanese a chance!" Stilwell said through gritted teeth.
In fact, the first time the expeditionary force entered Burma, the situation was much better than the same period in history. At least the tragedy of Savage Mountain did not occur, but the Japanese army still had the advantage.
Not everyone has opened their eyes like Zhou Weihan and knows that the situation was even worse during the same period in history, so the United States and China will definitely be dissatisfied with the results of the war.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force is the Chief of Guards. This position is a hot potato. The Chief of Guards is equivalent to being picked up by Li Mo'an in the first theater and sent there.
Chief of Staff Luo Zhuoying was one of the four great kings of the civil engineering department in Chencheng. In history, as commander-in-chief, he was just a yes-man to Chiang. His main task in office was to preserve the strength of the expeditionary force.
The establishment of the Expeditionary Force was jointly promoted by China and the United States. The United States provided equipment and China provided troops. Chiang had a plan to lay eggs by borrowing chickens, but the Americans were not stupid. The Expeditionary Force must enter Burma to fight.
If possible, Jiang would like to transfer the expeditionary force back to China to fight against the Eighth Route Army and the Japs.
"Wherever there are people, there will be factions. You must also be aware of the factional struggles within the national army. Although Chief Wei is a veteran of the National Government, he was parachuted in as commander-in-chief. The key generals in the expeditionary force all graduated from Huangpu.
He is a direct descendant of Jiang’s direct lineage!”
"Once there is a disagreement with Jiang, how many troops can the chief of guard command? It is not easy to maintain today's situation!"
Stilwell nodded: "Zhou, I understand everything you said, but how can I make changes?"
In fact, the Americans had no good intentions either. Chiang had always had conflicts with the Americans over the control of the expeditionary force.
Historically, the first battle into Burma failed. The expeditionary force had two retreat routes. One was to retreat to India in the southwest, and the other was to retreat north to the country. However, because the Burma Highway was occupied by the Japanese army at the time, Chiang Kai-shek eventually
Ordered to return home from Savage Mountain.
Du Yuming, commander of the Fifth Army, insisted on executing the principal's order, which resulted in the tragedy at Savage Mountain, but he gained Jiang's trust.
General Sun Liren graduated from the Virginia Military Academy in the United States and had an innate connection with the Americans. He lacked a teacher-student relationship with Jiang. Later, he led his troops to withdraw to India. This move finally aroused Jiang's suspicion.
"The 14th Group Army that withdrew from Zhongtiao Mountain is the starting force of the Chief of Guards. If the 14th Group Army can enter Myanmar to fight, it will not only solve the current dilemma of our army and avoid the outbreak of civil war, but also solve the problem of the Chief of Guards!
"Zhou Weihan finally revealed his true intention.
"OH, NO, Zhou, how is this possible? How could Jiang mobilize so many troops to fight in Burma? This is equivalent to cutting off his flesh!"
"As long as we pay enough benefits, Jiang will agree and we can do this..." Zhou Weihan sat in front of Stilwell and explained the plan in detail.
After the evacuation of Zhongtiao Mountain, the 14th Army, which originally belonged to the 5th Army, was renamed to the 14th Army, which was regarded as returning to the old army. At this time, the 14th Army was under the jurisdiction of the 14th Army, the 15th Army, and the 93rd Army.
You must know that the expeditionary force only has three armies: the 5th Army, the 6th Army, and the 66th Army. How could Chiang so easily let the 14th Army enter Burma to fight, not to mention that this army is the direct descendant of the Chief of Guards.
What Zhou Weihan meant was that a compromise could be made between the Americans and Chiang Kai-shek, so that the 14th Army would enter Burma to fight, and then some of the troops from the expeditionary force would be transferred back to China.
In this way, not only was Chiang's goal of transferring the expeditionary force back to China achieved, but three more troops equipped with beautiful weapons and equipment were created.
This is a win-win result for both China and the United States. With the military industrial strength of the Americans, the equipment of these three armies is not inferior at all. The 14th Group Army can probably carry out refit training in southern Xinjiang, but it can take over the expeditionary force to fight in Myanmar.
.
Although the 14th Group Army is a direct descendant of the Chief of Guards, it is also the Central Army. When it comes to competing with the Americans for control of the expeditionary force, the Chief of Guards and Jiang are on the same front.
"In order to dispel Jiang's concerns, you can let his direct descendant Huangpu officer cadet serve as the commander-in-chief of the 14th Group Army. I have already thought of this candidate for you. Zhou Weiguo, deputy commander-in-chief of the 34th Group Army and commander of the First Army, has just
He has achieved considerable military exploits in Shaanxi Province and is qualified for this position!" Zhou Weihan said.
"Zhou Weiguo? How come I heard people say that this general seems to be your brother? Zhou, you are so cunning!"
"No, this is called resourcefulness!"
This plan was carefully considered. When Zhou Weihan met his eldest brother Zhou Weiguo, Zhou Weiguo had repeatedly expressed the idea that he did not want to fight a civil war and wanted to go to the front line to fight against the Japs.
However, the First Army was a direct descendant of Jiang and could not easily be transferred to the front line to fight, so Zhou Weiguo had no choice but to give up.
This is a rare opportunity now. The Zhou family has quite a lot of connections in the National Government. Zhou Weiguo himself is the deputy commander-in-chief of the 34th Group Army and a graduate of Whampoa Military Academy. Coupled with the military exploits he just obtained, it is enough for him to rise to another level.
.
After hearing the complete plan, Stilwell himself had no objection. However, the matter involved a wide range of matters, not only involving the art and equipment of the three armies, but also the issue of the repatriation of the expeditionary force that had entered Burma, so he said that he could only
Report.
After the conversation that day, Zhou Weihan returned to his residence, and the brigade commander asked anxiously: "How was it? What did Stilwell say?"
"He himself expressed full support, but such a major decision is not something he, an army major, can decide, but he is at least 50% sure!" Zhou Weihan said.
"Fifty percent is quite a lot. Whenever there is a slight possibility, you should try it!" the brigade commander nodded and said.
In the following days, all forces took action, and Stilwell directly sent a secret message to his brother, stating the plan in detail.
Zhou Weiguo contacted his father in his hometown and worked with contacts in the government and the army to facilitate the matter. The Eighth Route Army also made secret efforts, and the three parties began to make preparations.
The situation around the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia base area was tense, and the Eighth Route Army did not put all its hopes in this plan. The top leaders of Yanzhou also made various preparations.
Two days later, Stilwell wrote back saying that in order to avoid unnecessary war, the United States was willing to try.
In order not to arouse too many concerns to Jiang, the United States should not initiate this plan, and to avoid making Jiang feel that Zhou Weiguo did not want civil war and was suspected of being close to the Eighth Route Army, so the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force, Chief Wei, was the most suitable
candidate.
In the end, the Eighth Route Army sent someone to secretly contact the Chief of Guards and explain the matter in detail. After hearing this, the Chief of Guards thought about it briefly and readily agreed.
