Chapter 18 The Strategic Intentions of the Central Committee
Yang Zhen's heart dropped completely from this reply, which was actually equivalent to the Chief of General Staff of the Military Commission. As long as the central government did not agree to this guy, then the problem would be easy to solve. Moreover, the central government has now shown clear support for him.
This reassured him even more. The chairman is the chairman and sees much longer term than himself.
However, in response to the old commander's reminder, Yang Zhen smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Please rest assured, Central Committee, what happened last time will never happen again. Even if this guy behaves badly again, I will remain tolerant to him. This person's people
Although he is not very good, his background is tough. Although we are not afraid of him, we can't cause trouble for ourselves."
"I really don't know now. Is this old guy who suddenly ran to the Northeast at this time too naive, or is he pretending to be confused? At this time, whether it is from the domestic situation, the international situation, or even the situation we are facing.
, it is impossible for us to agree to their request."
"Does he really think that the little American-made equipment he can bring out can get us to take the bait? He only has the right to distribute U.S. aid supplies, but he has no right to decide the quantity. Does he really think we don't know about this? Still five
A squadron of fighter jets boasts that he doesn’t pay taxes, but he really dares to say anything and really thinks he is the President of the United States.”
"His promises can be ignored, but they really don't matter. The amount and targets of aid supplies are a matter for the US government. It is not decided by him as an army lieutenant general, or by the commander of the US ground forces in the most important theater.
Come on. Flashy is a very appropriate description of him."
"At this time, we have to think carefully about this guy's thoughts when he comes to the Northeast. Because he came to beg us, we might as well think carefully about how to get reinforcements from Washington or London. Or how to get reinforcements in the shortest possible time.
Enhance the combat effectiveness of Chongqing's army to regain western Yunnan, thereby threatening the flanks of the Japanese army in India. Isn't this more convenient than coming to rip us off?"
"Boss, he came to the Northeast at this time and offered such a high price. I think the reason is definitely not just for the war situation in India. He has great ambitions and his appetite is definitely not small. We must not treat him as
The chess pieces in his hands cannot be used as pawns to realize his ambitions."
"Does this man with high vision and low hand really think that US aid is a panacea? Or does he really treat us as beggars? In last year's Yunnan-Burma battle, if Chongqing followed the plan, even if Burma could not be defended, it would not be possible.
It will be so ugly to lose. Of course, the reason for the failure is that the British are behind it. But the main responsibility still lies with this man."
"The only elite mechanical army in Chongqing was destroyed by him. I am not full of food, so I sent part of my troops to let him squander it. The blood of Americans is precious, but the blood of us Chinese cannot be exchanged for salt.
He came here. He couldn't handle Chongqing, so he came to us to take advantage. It's a shame he figured it out."
"Boss, no matter whether his prices can be realized or not, there is one thing we must be aware of. He has offered so many prices that he cannot fulfill at all, and he has absolutely no good intentions. I will never agree to his request.
. Whether it was Southeast Asia before or India now, once it gets involved with the British, it will be a quagmire, and nothing good will come of it."
"Not to mention the several divisions he proposed, I would not send even a company or even a platoon. But what I am worried about now is nothing else. I am worried that after he is defeated here, he will use his influence to do things in Washington.
Some tricks that affect the Americans' assistance to us in materials and military machinery will interfere with our next industrial construction."
"After all, this guy still has a certain influence in Washington. Since there are many people in the U.S. Army who are more senior than him, Roosevelt can choose him to serve as the chief of general staff of the China Theater and be fully responsible for U.S. supplies to China.
Assistance will never be given just because he is a China hand."
"This man is narrow-minded, and he is definitely the kind of person who will retaliate for his flaws. Although we don't have to worry too much about this person, but being tricked by him is a bit of a mistake. But I think by this time, Pearson should have already dealt with it.
This guy went to the Northeast without authorization to fight the autumn wind, and reported it to Washington. I think it is not impossible for us to deal with this guy forcefully, but it is better to leave him alone for the time being."
Regarding Yang Zhen's response, the boss nodded and said, "I'm relieved if you have this idea. The central government has clearly seen this, so he came to Yan'an twice in a row without making any promises to him.
I'm telling you, we can't be pawns to realize his ambitions."
"Actually, the central government sent me here this time, in addition to accompanying Lieutenant General Stilwell in the Northeast. He also wanted me to ask, how did you formulate the entire strategic direction in the past four or three years? Can you change the original strategy?
The focus of some plans has been changed from the east to North China."
"The severe drought in 1942 left almost all the major base areas in North China injured. Although the situation in Henan has eased somewhat in the beginning of this spring, the drought in the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei region, Hebei-Shandong-Henan and Jinan districts is still not severe.
The situation is easing. Throughout Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei, Hebei-Shandong-Hebei and southern Hebei, there has been almost no snowfall since last winter."
"According to the usual practice after a severe drought, if there is no heavy snow, there will be a locust plague. Even if the weather is good this year, I am afraid that the famine will continue. What's more, the climate in North China this year may still be abnormal. And in the whole of 41
The vitality damaged by the great raids has not yet been restored.”
"The central government has considered that the entire North China is currently experiencing a serious food shortage. It is still unrealistic to rely entirely on supplies from the Northeast. How much food can your transport aircraft carry, no matter how large it is? Even from overall strategic considerations, the central government believes that the entire North China still needs a
Stable food supply base."
"Food is the first priority for the people, and troops cannot be gathered without food. There is no stable, reliable and guaranteed food supply base in the entire North China, and the response capabilities of various base areas to natural disasters and man-made disasters are very poor. We still have no way to deal with natural disasters, but we
Start by expanding the area of the base area to solve the problem of food supply in the mountainous areas of North China."
"Originally, the central government was planning to transfer you back to Yan'an, on the one hand to participate in the rectification movement that has already begun, and on the other hand, to discuss with you the entire strategic concept for four to three years. This is not aimed at the Northeast. The top military and political leaders in each major region must
Participate in this rectification movement to unify our thoughts and understandings. Now senior cadres from various regions have begun to return to Yan'an one after another."
"However, considering the overall situation of the military struggle you are currently facing, we have decided to only transfer some personnel of the Northeast Bureau back to Yan'an to participate in the rectification movement. As the second secretary of the Northeast Bureau and the commander of the Northeast Military Region, you cannot leave your post for the time being. In the Northeast Bureau,
After the personnel are transferred back to Yan'an to participate in the rectification movement, the work of the Northeast Bureau will be temporarily managed by you."
"After the top leaders of the New Fourth Army and the Shandong Military Region's party, government, and army have completed their participation in the rectification movement, they will come to the Northeast to visit and study. Therefore, the central government's idea is not to send you back for the time being. I am sent to the Northeast this time just to confront you.
We will discuss further strategic adjustments.”
"What the central government means is that since your next strategic target is not southern Manchuria, should you change it to focus on Hebei? The Jizhong Plain is the essence of Hebei Province and the main grain and cotton producing area in North China. If we can firmly
By controlling the Jizhong Plain, the ability of each base area to respond to natural disasters and provide material support will be greatly improved."
Although the boss in front of him always spoke in a consultative tone, Yang Zhen knew that the central government had already grasped its next strategic intention in detail, and the request to adjust strategic goals must have been carefully considered. Otherwise, the central government would not have made the request at this time.
, who made these suggestions.
After pondering for a moment, Yang Zhen asked someone to bring him a map of Hebei, as well as aerial photos of Japanese fortifications around Tianjin and Peiping. Looking at the Chief of Staff of the Military Commission in front of him, he said: "Boss, it is not right to shift the strategic target to Jizhong right now.
An easy thing."
"The benefits of capturing Jizhong are many. It is not just a matter of obtaining a stable base for replenishing food, soldiers, and supplies for various strategic bases in North China, especially the two major regions of Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei and Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan. It is also a simple matter.
This will completely connect the two strategic areas of Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei and Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan into one, greatly deepening the depth posture of our army in North China."
"But while there are great benefits in taking Jizhong, the difficulties are also correspondingly great. First, the Jizhong Plain is the site of the Four Battles, and the Baoda area has always been the essence of Hebei Province. The entire Jizhong Plain
The plain borders Pingjin to the north, Cangshi Road to the south, and is located between Pinghan and Jinpu railways. It has developed transportation and a crisscross water network."
"Once our army enters the Jizhong Plain, it will not only be a matter of competing with the Japanese army for the main grain-producing areas in North China, but also cutting off the Jinpu Railway, the main artery of the Japanese army on the entire Chinese battlefield. The Japanese army has poor strategic maneuverability, whether it is troop mobilization or
Material transportation mainly relies on railways."
"Cutting off the Jinpu Railway is equivalent to cutting off the two major strategic groups of the Japanese and Chinese Expeditionary Forces in the north and south. Unless the Japanese army wants to completely abandon the Chinese battlefield, this will be absolutely unacceptable to the Japanese army. Once the Jinpu Railway faces threats, the Japanese army will definitely
Mobilize the Japanese troops from the south to provide full support to ensure the smooth flow and safety of this artery."
"In addition to the ownership of the Japanese North China Front, and the Japanese troops who are currently seizing the time to replenish them, we can say that we are fighting the main force of the entire Japanese China Expeditionary Force. In the case of facing the Kwantung Army, this pressure will put on our army
It’s hard to say whether we can afford it or not.”
"Right now, there is a food shortage in Japan. The entire Chinese dispatched army must not only meet its own needs with war support, but also provide a large amount of food to the country every year. As the largest grain producing area in North China, and the granary of the entire North China
, the Jizhong Plain is also an area that the Japanese army must focus on."
"With the loss of Jilin, the Kwantung Army, which currently only controls southern Manchuria, has difficulty in providing food for the Japanese army in the Kwantung. The Japanese army in North China can only be self-sufficient. The Jizhong Plain is called the Ukraine of North China, so for our army and the Japanese army
It is equally important. If the Jizhong Plain is lost, the Japanese army in North China will be hungry. If our army wants to compete for Jizhong, the Japanese army will inevitably counterattack with all its strength."
"Although the main force of the Japanese army in the south is the 11th Army deployed in Wuhan, the entire Chongqing 6th, 9th, and 5th theaters around Wuhan, in addition to the rapid arrival of US aid, can replenish a large amount of heavy troops in a short period of time.
In addition to equipment, otherwise the ability to take the initiative to attack has basically been lost."
"Otherwise, the Japanese army would not be able to contain these three theaters, which account for half of Chongqing's elite forces, with the strength of the 11th Army, and always maintain the offensive. Even if the Japanese army switches from offense to defense, as long as it controls Wuhan, Yueyang
, Yichang’s three key points can still maintain military pressure on Chongqing. Especially Yichang, it is like a knife in the throat.”