After hearing what Yang Zhen said, Li Yanping laughed and shook his head and said: "Old Yang, what do you want me to say about you? First of all, you are the commander of the military region. Isn't it right to interfere in local work like this?
Okay. Secondly, the commander-in-chief has more experience in handling these matters. Besides, Director Xiang is responsible for liaising with the local government in the military region, so it would not be very good for me to intervene."
"Besides, these things you mentioned. The commander-in-chief did not participate in this negotiation regarding the funds given to the central government. We do not yet know that this amount of money will be provided every year, and we cannot decide at the moment. As for the education funding, the Northeast Bureau and the Northeast
The people's government allocates funds on a per-capita basis. It would rather be in arrears with office funds than be short of a penny in teachers' salaries and education funds."
"Coal for heating is given priority every winter, and it is all high-quality coal produced in Hegang and Qitaihe. After what happened last year, the Northeast Bureau has required all schools with dormitories in various places to provide all the heated kangs in the autumn every year.
We need to reset and clean it thoroughly to prevent this from happening again."
"And all the coal allocated for school use, the Northeast Bureau and the Northeast People's Government will send personnel to conduct random inspections from time to time to ensure that the quality and quantity of the allocated coal will not be used for other purposes. Although it is not in accordance with your request just now, all
It was changed to heating, but adequate preparations were made.”
"Lao Yang, the commander-in-chief has considered the issue very comprehensively and has far more experience in local work than we do. I think it is best for us not to get involved in local work. Since you have decided to quit local work, it is best not to become a mother-in-law.
After all, we are not integrating military and political affairs now. The military interferes too much in local work and can easily cause disputes."
At Li Yanping's reminder, Yang Zhen couldn't help but slap himself on the head after being stunned: "Political Commissar, you are right to criticize me. I am indeed a mother-in-law. In this case, Lao Li, you separate out the part of the agreement that involves the implementation of the local government.
, transfer it to the Northeast Bureau. As for the part involving the military region, we will have a meeting to finalize it after those guys leave."
After saying that, Yang Zhen stretched his waist a little regardless of his appearance, rubbed his aching eyes and said: "Old chief, political commissar, I have to go and rest for a while. I guess I will continue with General Wavell in the evening.
Mo, although this guy has given up on letting us send troops to Southeast Asia, he may be very picky when it comes to cooperation on strategic issues."
"Both the Americans and the British are very realistic, and they are the masters who don't let the hawk know the rabbit. These guys will never let us get equipment and supplies for nothing. They estimate that in terms of strategic cooperation, they will propose
They are very demanding. So I have to be very patient and have to grind with them little by little.”
Yang Zhen's words are not false. The coordination of the two armies is extremely complicated. In addition, there are two major strategic directions, one south and one north, thousands of miles apart. How can it be a simple word of coordination?
Can you explain it clearly? Especially when the two parties are scheming against each other, and the level of trust can be imagined.
Negotiations with General Wavell after dinner lasted all night. It was not until daylight that a general agreement was reached on the issue of strategic coordination between the two armies. The British side agreed to provide a batch of tanks before the end of the year.
And transfer a batch of tactical aircraft to the Anti-Japanese Alliance.
And according to the previous proposal of the British, train a group of long-range bomber pilots and navigators for the Anti-Japanese Alliance. At the same time, when these pilots and navigators return, the British will provide a group of flights for the Anti-Japanese Alliance that can reach Japan, depending on the situation.
strategic bombers and a batch of navigation equipment.
Considering that the number of tanks and direct firepower of the Anti-Japanese Alliance was slightly insufficient, the British decided to provide a batch of two-pound anti-tank guns and a full set of two-pound gun shell manufacturing technology. In addition to the British army's standard anti-tank guns, the two-pound guns
In addition to the cannon, there are also main guns for the Crusader and Matilda II tanks, which can be used interchangeably with each other.
At the same time, during the entire war, the British captured German tanks, artillery with a caliber of more than 100 mm, all anti-tank guns, and helmets in the current North African and future European battlefields, and transferred them to the Anti-Alliance side. The captured German troops were also
Armored engineering and technical personnel, staff officers, and some armored and artillery command officers were transferred to the Anti-Alliance side.
Yang Zhen also agreed that after the arrival of British equipment, once the Japanese army launches an attack on the British army in Southeast Asia, the Anti-Resistance Alliance will invest major forces in northern China within two to three months to launch a strategic-scale offensive.
Containing the Japanese troops in Northeast China or North China prevented them from moving south to reinforce the battlefield in Southeast Asia.
In this military negotiation with a strong political flavor, Yang Zhen and Wavell, two soldiers who should be decisive and decisive, are trying their best to compare every penny like two small traders. Almost every clause
It takes repeated discussions before it is finally decided.
Just whether the Japanese army attacks Hong Kong and the British concessions in coastal areas of China is also included in the scope of the British army in Southeast Asia. However, if the Japanese invaders attack these concessions and Hong Kong, it is not counted as the Japanese army attacks the British army.
The argument lasted for more than half an hour.
Hong Kong is close to the Japanese-occupied area of China. If the Japanese army completely turns against the United States and Britain, then the tiny Hong Kong will be the first target of the Japanese army. I am afraid that the time of attack will be much earlier than that of Southeast Asia, which still has the ability to defend itself.
.If the requirements of the British are followed, the Anti-Japanese Alliance will enter the battlefield much earlier. Including Hong Kong in this plan is undoubtedly not in the interests of the Anti-Japanese Alliance.
Therefore, Yang Zhen insisted that only when the Japanese army launched an attack on the Malay Peninsula, the British army would be considered a full-scale offensive by the Japanese army, and Hong Kong must be excluded. Admiral Wavell insisted that Hong Kong be included. If once Hong Kong
Encountering an attack, the Anti-Japanese Alliance must launch an offensive in Manchuria within two months.
In fact, Admiral Wavell knew very well that Hong Kong was blockaded by the powerful Japanese navy. Unless the main force of the British fleet was deployed to fight the Japanese navy, there would only be a dead end. But the blockade of the European continent would still be implemented.
In addition to the task of escorting the fleet and fighting against the German and Italian navies, it was already too busy to do all the work.
Nowadays, the newly formed Far East Fleet has taken great pains to mobilize ships. However, a few warships alone cannot compete with the powerful Japanese navy. Relying on a few limited forts that are not even equipped with coastal defense guns,
It is almost impossible to compete with the powerful Japanese navy.
In addition, because there is no depth, Hong Kong is equipped with almost no aviation, and Hong Kong has no defensive value at all. Even symbolic defense does not have much value. Admiral Wavell knows this very well
.Otherwise, he would not have repeatedly requested from London to withdraw all Hong Kong troops to Singapore and directly declare Hong Kong an undefended city.
Admiral Wavell, who knew full well, was entangled in this matter because of their usual British habit. They felt quite uncomfortable when they could not gain an advantage during negotiations. Until after a quarrel.
, after Yang Zhen showed an unusually tough attitude, General Wavell finally made some concessions and stopped demanding that Hong Kong be included in the scope of the British military in Southeast Asia.
In order to have a buffer period of two to three months, Yang Zhen even slapped the table with Admiral Wavell. In the end, when Admiral Wavell was not prepared to back down, Yang Zhen, who had lost the patience to argue, directly told
He. If he could deliver the promised equipment tomorrow, no matter when the Japanese army launched an attack on the British army, the Resistance Alliance would launch an attack on the Kwantung Army the next day.
If not, then please shut up General Wavell. As a British Army general, he should know that after the equipment is in place, there must be a necessary process of changing equipment and forming combat effectiveness. And a war has just ended
It will take at least five months to train and replenish the anti-alliance force. Without a period of replenishment and training, it will be impossible to launch an attack.
He, General Wavell, comes from a military family and is not a general from some country who relied on nepotism. He should be quite aware of these situations. If the Japanese army launches a war against the United States and Britain at the end of this year, it will not be completed yet.
The Anti-Japanese Alliance, without a certain buffer time, would not be able to launch an attack on the Japanese army. If General Wavell didn't even understand this, then he can only be said to be a fool.
Although he was speechless by Yang Zhen's words, after hesitating for a long time, General Wavell agreed to the two to three months buffer period proposed by Yang Zhen. However, even though he agreed to give the Anti-League a certain amount of
During the buffer period, General Wavell, who was not too relieved, also repeatedly asked Yang Zhen that the scale of the Anti-Japanese Alliance's promised offensive should be stipulated in this negotiation.
Faced with General Wavell's request, Yang Zhen could only shake his head and tell him with a wry smile. Now he was not sure how big the scale would be, but he could use his own personality to guarantee that the Anti-Union Alliance would definitely do its best.
However, this is subject to the premise that the equipment promised by the British must be shipped.
And the British must not make any decisions about the military raw materials provided by the Americans to the Anti-Alliance, because the Anti-Alliance must hoard enough ammunition. Otherwise, once there is not enough ammunition, gasoline and heavy equipment, the effective strength of the Anti-Alliance will only be consumed endlessly.
in a point-by-point battle.
Regarding this point, General Wavell assured that the British side would strive to deliver the promised equipment as soon as possible. At the same time, before February next year, the British side would provide another batch of Crusader cruise tanks to the Anti-Japanese Alliance.
and Matilda II infantry tanks. He will also coordinate with London to provide another batch of tactical bombers and fighter jets to the Anti-Japanese Alliance.
It's just that Yang Zhen didn't pay much attention to General Wavell's guarantee. Although the British promised to provide a batch of equipment before the end of the year, according to their usual practice of putting themselves first before others, they also need a large amount of weapons and equipment on the North African battlefield.
, it would be good if the promise can be realized before March next year.
And after the Pearl Harbor incident broke out, whether their promise could be taken seriously was another matter. After all, the British army refused to give up the battlefield in Southeast Asia, and even refused to give up Hong Kong, a tiny place that could not be defended at all.
, the British army in Southeast Asia itself also needs a large amount of supplies and weapons and equipment.
Even the two tanks provided by the British army, especially the Crusader cruise tanks, have been proven to be unsuitable for combat in tropical areas. Yang Zhen still believes that the British, who have reached the point of being hungry and unselective, will prioritize increasing their defense in Southeast Asia at all costs.
strength, regardless of whether these are most suitable for fighting in tropical areas.
In Yang Zhen's view, whether this batch of equipment is transported from the United Kingdom via the Arctic route or transported from the Middle East via Iran to the Resistance Alliance, it takes a lot of time and energy, plus the Soviets have some hands and feet in it. The British
No matter how fast my hands and feet are, I'm afraid it won't arrive until February next year. So Yang Zhen's idea is to stretch it for as long as possible to buy himself some training time.