September 30, Nanchang, Chairman Chiang Kai-shek's office.
Chiang Kai-shek held a glass of water and sat upright on the sofa, listening very attentively to the report of Lieutenant General Xu Tingyao, the director of education of Jiaoming School. His calm eyes were full of concern at this moment.
Song Ziwen beside Chiang Kai-shek no longer had the relaxed and indifferent tone of the past. After all, what Xu Tingyao said involved the purchase of tens of millions of yuan in equipment, which was the National Government's largest special military expenditure in the past four years. If there are any omissions,
It is very likely that central ministries that are tightening their belts and struggling to survive will attack in groups.
For nearly half an hour, Xu Tingyao has been standing and reporting. Xu Tingyao, who has been appointed as the commander of the Army Armored Forces, knows that this opportunity today is hard-won. After returning from an inspection trip to Europe and the United States last year, the book "On Mechanized Arms" written by Xu Tingyao had an impact on
Therefore, Chiang Kai-shek and the top generals of the Japanese army clearly saw how big the gap was between their own army and the great powers. They knew that it was urgent to establish a mechanized force, so on the day when the Jiaotong School officially opened last year
, formulated the first formal plan to develop China's mechanized forces.
However, the difficult financial situation has seriously hindered the implementation of the plan. The Jiaotong School Mechanized Regiment, which has been assembled from here and there, has only three companies so far, of which the first and second companies are equipped with Song Ziwen's tax collectors.
Twenty-eight old-fashioned British Vickers MK light tanks allocated by the police group, and more than ten light tanks produced by the French Renault Company in the 1920s that Zhang Xueliang gave to Chiang Kai-shek two years ago, are equipped with the third company.
After more than a year of hard work, more than half of the tanks are now unusable.
For two years, the anxious Xu Tingyao ran up and down and kept appealing. Finally, when the financial pressure on the central government eased, he finally received a reply from Chairman Chiang Kai-shek to spend money to order new tanks. At this moment, how could he not work a hundred times harder to achieve the goal?
Looking to achieve your dream ideal?
At the end of Xu Tingyao's words, he paused, moistened his dry throat, and said cautiously:
"...The plan is currently progressing smoothly. Tank suppliers from the six countries of Britain, the United States, Germany, France, Italy and Poland have arrived at the Fangshan training ground in Nanjing with prototype vehicles to compete with each other for this procurement of our army.
"Now we are just waiting for a word from the committee. The special team of the Military Commission and the chief officers of various ministries in Beijing will go to the training ground to observe various tanks for live demonstrations, compare up to seven models, and finally select the one that suits our military's situation and is suitable for us.
The models used by the military will be submitted to the Central Financial and Economic Commission for review and approval. My subordinates are willing to ask the commissioner to move to Nanjing despite his busy schedule. This is also the unanimous request of colleagues from all departments of the Military Commission."
Chiang Kai-shek finally leaned back on the sofa, waved his hand kindly, motioning for Xu Tingyao to sit down, then turned to Song Ziwen and asked in a low voice: "Ziwen, what do you mean?"
Song Ziwen nodded solemnly: "It is necessary for the commissioner to go there in person. This matter has not yet been unanimously recognized by the central government, and there are huge differences of opinion. In addition, the Army's work on reorganizing the speeches has suddenly accelerated, and the military expenditures have already been expended.
It greatly exceeds this year's budget. Although our country's financial situation has improved slightly after the legal currency reform, it is still not enough to make up for the government's huge fiscal deficit.
"Commissioner, the central government's finances are already unable to make ends meet. This time the pressure has increased again. Without the commissioner's personal visit, I am afraid that there will be many constraints within the central government, and the opportunity that Brother Yuexiang finally fought for will be wasted again."
Chiang Kai-shek nodded without directly expressing his position. He pondered for a moment and turned to Xu Tingyao, who was full of worry:
"Yuexiang, I heard that your army-building plan has been strongly supported by An Yi. When the Jiaotong School was established, didn't he donate two wheeled armored vehicles produced in southern Sichuan to you? Last month's confrontation exercise in northern Henan
At the end, you and An Yi had another private chat, right? Could it be that you failed to gain the support of this old subordinate? "
"No, no! General An is very supportive of his subordinates' work. On the day the exercise ended, his subordinates asked him for generous help. He readily agreed and offered to use the twelve Renault 33/35 tanks he purchased from the French.
Ten of them were given to his subordinates to form a tank company, leaving only two as research samples, General An..."
"Ah... this guy is pretty good! He sent ten tanks at once. It seems that he still respects you as an old officer." Song Ziwen was surprised by An Yi's generosity and couldn't help but admire him.
Xu Tingyao smiled and said: "General An is the best general in our army. He has the party and the country in mind, takes the overall situation into consideration, and never cares about personal gains and losses. His high moral integrity is admirable!"
Chiang Kai-shek looked at Song Ziwen with a smile, saw Song Ziwen nodded knowingly, turned to Xu Tingyao again, and said softly:
"Yuexiang, everyone in the military knows that An Yi and his subordinates have been continuously exploring the formation and training of mechanized troops for more than two years. The armored surprise troops in this confrontation exercise are the ones they have been conducting for two years.
The concentrated display of the results of your efforts is very obvious, refreshing and full of expectations. Have you privately proposed to An Yi to ask him to help you form an armored force?"
Xu Tingyao nodded: "I mentioned it, but General An was very cautious. He said that there is a big difference between armored vehicles and tanks. He said that he could support the construction of armored forces, but he had no ability to build ten latest models of tanks.
I gave the Renault tank to my subordinates, and they are so grateful that they dare not expect anything else."
Song Ziwen laughed, then shook his head frequently: "Brother Yuexiang is so honest. The principal arranged for you to talk to An Yi that day. The underlying intention was to let you complain to An Yi and extort a sum of money from him, so that you don't have to watch.
The central government and others have lost their composure. It’s a good thing for you that ten tanks sent you away. Alas…Brother Yuexiang, you are too honest!”
"this……"
Xu Tingyao suddenly understood and his face turned red.
Chiang Kai-shek waved his hand and said with a smile: "The past is in the past, and there is no chance of redemption. I suggest that you send a telegram to An Yi immediately and ask him to participate in the on-site observation on October 2."
Xu Tingyao said with some embarrassment: "My subordinates have also thought about the appointment, but the situation in North China is getting worse and worse, and there are dangers everywhere. General An is sitting in North China and has many things to do. I wonder if he can spare the time. Even if he can spare the time, my subordinates
You cannot call General An to request for your status, you need to be summoned by the Military Commission and the commission!"
Chiang Kai-shek nodded with satisfaction: "Well, it is related to the safety of North China, and An Yi cannot do without it. However, the formation of armored tank troops is extremely special and very important to the party and the country. Let me send him a telegram. In fact, in mechanization
In terms of army construction, An Yi's troops are far ahead of our Central Army. However, his troops are rigorous and pragmatic, take appropriate confidentiality measures, and never publicize it to the outside world. The outside world cannot know the specific situation.
"Here, I can tell you a secret. Starting from the beginning of this year, the 26th Xia Jian Army stationed in southern Yunnan completed six months of intensive training in basic military skills and began the second phase of intense training. The content is not only
It includes the training and confrontation of armored units and tank units, and also involves the army's first pontoon bridge unit, unknown to outsiders, participating in collaborative exercises.
"I have made a private estimate. The training and internal confrontation scale of An Yi's ministries is probably not under the Northern Henan confrontation exercise on the 17th. It's just that his army has done a good job of keeping secrets, and southern Yunnan is a relatively remote border area.
In this area, only a few people in the army know about it.
"Yuexiang, if you have time in the future, you should communicate more with An Yi. It would be better if you can obtain his permission to go to southern Yunnan for on-site observation and inspection. I believe An Yi will not refuse you, an old officer. You and Ci
Xiu, Mo San, and Ming San are old Huangpu instructors that An Yi respects very much. They should make good use of their good relationship with each other and it would be a pity to leave them alone."
Song Ziwen also advised: "Yes! Brother Yuexiang, the establishment of the capital's air defense force is the result of An Yi's strong support. Not only did a regiment of elite air defense forces and two logistics battalions come, but also Qu Mu, who had returned from studying in Germany,
Chen was transferred as the deputy commander of the air defense force. Tu Zhirong, the meritorious general who studied air defense in Germany, also served as the chief of staff of the army's air defense command as the commander of the Capital Air Defense Command. In just over two months, our air defense force has gone from
Starting from nothing and growing rapidly, this experience is worth learning from.
"When An Yi arrives in Nanjing, you can go to him directly to ask for people and equipment. I dare not say anything else. There is still hope of getting an armored battalion's equipment back from him."
"This...General An has already spent everything he has for national defense construction. If I ask for it again shamelessly, is it appropriate?"
After all, Xu Tingyao is Xu Tingyao, kind-hearted, kind and upright.
Song Ziwen pointed at Xu Tingyao and laughed: "Brother Yuexiang, don't worry about this. Even Finance Minister Kong is ready to borrow 50 million from An Yi to tide over the difficulties. What's the point of asking him to ask for millions of equipment?
It's better to start faster. After more than a year of development, the tax police group that I reorganized will be expanded. However, the equipment requirements are not as high as Brother Yuexiang's mechanized force. If Brother Yuexiang is a step slower, I will do my duty and go to the police first.
An Yi spoke."
Xu Tingyao smiled awkwardly and immediately made up his mind to seize this rare opportunity, put down his old face and speak to An Yi, otherwise he would have to wait until the year of the monkey to form the mechanized force he had in mind.
Chiang Kai-shek had a clear view of Xu Tingyao's reaction, thought about it, and asked with concern:
"Yuexiang, isn't Du Yuming the captain of your place? There are also those students from the first and second phases of Huangpu. They are all under your command. When you go back, call them together and ask them to meet An Yi.
With Du Yuming helping out, you don’t have to be too embarrassed. An Yi is still very nostalgic, and he never has the heart to refuse requests from senior brothers and elders, so you must seize the opportunity!"
"Understood!"
Xu Tingyao was very happy. This move recommended by Chiang Kai-shek not only saved Xu Tingyao from the embarrassment of asking for An Yi, but also allowed his subordinates Du Yuming and others to show their faces. It was equivalent to Chiang Kai-shek's recognition and praise of his employees.
Chiang Kai-shek stood up: "Okay, let's talk about it today. After handling the matter in Nanchang, I will rush to Nanjing the day after tomorrow. Then I will take a look at the tanks and armored vehicles in Europe and the United States with you, and finalize the equipment procurement as soon as possible.
Come down, time waits for you!"
“Thank you for the commission!”
Xu Tingyao stood up at attention to express his thanks, and mustered up the courage to make another request: "Commissioner, I heard that the four people sent by General An to study at the German Armored Forces School have just returned to Shanghai. Among them, Colonel Li Yuewu, who was praised by the German consultants, was originally*
Deputy of the Cavalry Regiment of the **Division. For more than three years, he has achieved outstanding results among the armored force trainees from various countries in the German ***** School. He ranked among the best in almost every assessment. Moreover, according to the reports of the trainees sent by the Military Commission to the German Armored Forces School for further training, Li Yuewu was both civil and military.
People who have studied abroad are proficient in Japanese, Russian and German. Such talents are rare! Can the commissioner talk to General An Yi and let Li Yuewu pass to his subordinates?"
Chiang Kai-shek was stunned: "If you didn't tell me, I would have forgotten about it... Well, I mentioned it in the telegram to An Yi and asked An Yi to call the four people from Li Yuewu to go to the Fangshan training ground to observe and meet.
After that, you and I can talk to An Yi. But if he doesn’t agree, there’s nothing I can do!”
Xu Tingyao was overjoyed, saluted, walked out of the study excitedly, walked a few steps and turned back again. When Song Ziwen followed, he immediately smiled and asked in a low voice as he walked:
"Brother Ziwen and General An have an extraordinary relationship. Please tell me how to get generous support from Brother An..."