Chapter 62: The Toughest Opponent
Looking at Stilwell, whose face became more and more red by his words, Yang Zhen sneered and continued: "Also, we are continuing to launch an offensive, with the Liaohe Plain to the east and the Mongolian Plateau to the west. Even to the south, beyond the Yanshan Mountains, is the North China Plain. β
"Fighting in such a plain area is faced with the Japanese army's defensive posture in great depth and far more mobile forces than we do. Without the support of tanks, there is no at least corresponding firepower and mobility, and there is no superiority in troops. If we continue to attack, won't we be holding eggs and hitting them stones? Are you really a Japanese soldier made of tofu dregs? β
"Okay, even if it's like you said, no matter how many casualties our troops have, they still have a little bit of combat effectiveness. But without cars and gasoline, what will we do to transport our war materiel? The front-line troops have no guns and ammunition, no food and clothing, do you want them to go hungry and gnaw at the positions of the Japanese with their teeth? β
"You're a major general now, and you're a senior commander. But do you know how many shells a day an infantry division consumes? Do you know how much combat material an infantry division needs every day in the context of modern warfare? How many transport trucks are needed to meet? β
"You know how to break through the opposition team-level defence. How many artillery pieces and how many shells do you need to budget to maintain the most basic fire support and ensure that the troops can make a breakthrough? You know what kind of formation an infantry regiment needs to deploy during the attack in order to save as many troops as possible. β
"Do you know how many troops, how much support and covering firepower are needed to attack a fortified area with a large depth of the size of the Japanese division and strong flank cover? You don't understand anything the fuck, why are you accusing us here? β
"Major General Stilwell, as a major general in the U.S. Army, I hope you will respect yourself and stop dishonoring the great, glorious U.S. Army. Don't speak, no one will treat you like a dumb person. But don't pretend to understand, and call for something here. You are not qualified to dictate our command until you have truly commanded your army to victory on the battlefield. β
Speaking of the back, Yang Zhen looked at this Major General Stilwell with a look of considerable pity. At this time, he looked at the major general's eyes, like a soft-hearted girl who saw a poor wandering dog on the side of the road. And this vision of his is even more hurtful than his words.
Compared with the previous words with guns and sticks, this time Yang Zhen didn't even give this guy any face. It's no wonder that Yang Zhen is annoyed, the question raised by this guy can be said to be even more idiot than an idiot. He has explained it clearly just now, but he is still here without a purpose, holding things that are not reasonable.
The most important thing is that he actually threatened Yang Zhen with the so-called American aid, which has not seen much shadow yet. This point just touched the most sensitive nerve in Yang Zhen's heart. If it was a little vague before, the words were not so straightforward, but this time Yang Zhen did not leave any affection for this old man at all.
In fact, Yang Zhen's words were a bit excessive. Major General Stilwell had no experience in front-line combat command, but he graduated from the West Point Military Academy and studied at the Fort Benning Infantry School and the Leavenworth Command and Staff College.
Although because he has never participated in front-line combat, he has less experience as a military commander in the army. Although he also served as a brigade commander and division commander, he did not have a long time. However, relying on the systematic training of academies and universities, he still knows very well the common sense and theoretical knowledge of the operational command of some large corps.
Drawing up a battle plan and mobilizing the necessary firepower and supplies according to the scale of the battle is the most basic necessity of being a military commander. Although in some countries because of the difference in military systems, these matters are under the responsibility of the chief of staff. But if the military commander doesn't know anything about this, I'm afraid that something is wrong with the country's military system.
Yang Zhen criticized him for not even understanding this, and it was somewhat too much. The lack of specific experience in operational command does not mean that he does not even have these basic elements as a senior commander. Although the US Army has some shortcomings in some aspects, it also engages in nepotism. But I won't do something that a major general officer doesn't even understand these things and makes people laugh off their big teeth.
What the U.S. Army is like, Yang Zhen knows better than anyone else. Whether the U.S. Army has combat effectiveness or not, whether it is a group of cowardly playboys, Yang Zhen knows very well. These words were just consciously made by him to anger people. According to his thoughts, it would be good to infuriate this guy with a cerebral hemorrhage.
After Yang Zhen's words fell, no matter how thick-skinned and well-cultivated this Major General Stilwell was, he couldn't accept Yang Zhen's accusations and evaluations. Not to mention this American major general, who is known for his vitriol, doesn't know how to write the word "self-cultivation" at all.
This angry face turned blue and white, white and red by Yang Zhen's words, and finally became a purple-skinned eggplant-colored American major general. Immediately slapped the table and stood up, stared at Yang Zhen with two eyes, and said angrily: "Yang, do you know what you are doing?" β
"You are insulting an American major general, an American general who has traveled thousands of miles from the United States to help you, and even more insulting the great US Army. I ask you to take those words back and apologize to me at the same time. Otherwise, I will report your bad attitude towards an American general to Washington and ask them to reconsider their aid plans for you. You have to think about the consequences of your attitude, and you have to be responsible for your attitude. β
Regarding the threat of this Major General Stilwell, Yang Zhen simply didn't even stand up, and continued to look at him with an idiot's eyes and said, "Major General Stilwell, you are sure that you are here to help us." But with your words and deeds and unrealistic demands, why do I always feel that you are wearing the same pants with the Japanese army? β
"If we had done what you had asked for and done to pick the bones in those eggs, we would have run out of them a long time ago. And these thoughts of yours will be even more worthy of the Kwantung Army, which has long hated me to the core. The Kwantung Army has long wished that we would use inferior equipment and engage them in a general decisive battle with the whole army as soon as possible. β
"As for insulting you is insulting the U.S. Army, Major General Stilwell, you take yourself too seriously. Major General Stilwell, you don't represent the U.S. Army. You can't replace anyone but yourself. Also, if all the generals of the US Army are as idiots as you, then I am really worried about the future of the US Army. β
"We Chinese have a saying called self-inflicted humiliation. You don't have any experience in commanding large corps, and that's not too much of a problem. But you have to learn with an open mind, and try your best to grasp the experience that friendly forces have exchanged for blood and life. And not here with your so-called bullshit ideas and naΓ―ve understanding of war, pointing fingers at someone else's command. β
Speaking of this, Yang Zhen looked at the old American man who was quite unkind to him again and again, his face was red and a little scary, and he said in a tone of pity: "With all due respect, if you Major General Stilwell still goes to the battlefield with these unrealistic ideas, I'm afraid that the number of troops will not be enough for you." β
"Major General Stilwell is my elder in terms of age. Here, as a junior, I advise you. You've spent so much time here recovering your pitiful dignity. It's better to learn how to command a synthetic force with the British generals around you. β
"I know you're ambitious, but I advise you. It doesn't matter if you have ambitions, but you at least have the ability to achieve them. It doesn't matter if you're not even able to do it yourself, you can learn. And not self-righteous, boasting here. β
"Otherwise, according to your command level that has not been on the battlefield for a day and will only copy military theories, you are destined not to go far in this war. As many troops as you are given, you will consume them in a short time. At your current level, to be honest, I don't want to be a chief of staff. β
"No matter how rich and rich the American military is, I am afraid that it will not tolerate you costing the lives of young Americans. For the sake of your lack of future in the army, sir, you should go and learn how to fight with your British colleagues. Of course, if you are willing to condescend to come to me and become an operational staff officer, I have no opinion. β
"I'll go and ask my subordinates to teach you a good lesson, and teach you how to fight. Instead of using your pitiful little bit like now, all of them learned military level from books. Blame others with ideas that make people laugh out of their big teeth. β
If it was before, it only completely angered the Major General Stilwell. Then Yang Zhen's words made the pretentious American major general almost vomit blood. Stay any longer, for fear that he will be accused of something more vitriol, and Major General Stilwell, who is angry with a cerebral hemorrhage. After being choked by Yang Zhen again, he was speechless, and after dropping an ancient Chinese saying "the erector is not enough and the plan is scheming", he simply brushed his sleeves away.
The two of them are arguing like this, and the negotiations tonight naturally can't go on. The Major General Stilwell brushed his sleeves away, and the British were embarrassed to continue talking. After all, at least on the surface, the two countries still have to remain the same.
Originally, he wanted to discuss a deeper issue with Yang Zhen, but General Waver, who was discussing, could only reluctantly resign when he saw this. However, before leaving, the general, who had watched the whole scene, glanced at Yang Zhen in a very interesting way, and then took his subordinates to say goodbye very politely.
Compared to the arrogance of other British generals, this Admiral Wavell was quite approachable. When other British generals faced the Anti-Japanese Alliance, their jaws were about to rise to the sky. But he introduced Yang Zhen to the battle situation and listened quite carefully. He also looked at the combat map very carefully.
In order to see the situation on the map clearly, the general and the major general Slim did not hesitate to condescend to the map to take a closer look. Compared with the indifference of other British generals, Yang Zhen paid more and more attention to this General Wavell and that Major General Slim, and became more and more vigilant.
This General Wavell, the more low-key he looked, the more Yang Zhen knew that he had to guard against him. How can the commander-in-chief in charge of a theater of operations, and almost always be the master who needs it most, be able to do it with military ability alone? No matter what country you are in, such a person must have a considerable strategic vision.
Yang Zhen was not too worried, what he was most worried about was that General Wavell understood London's intentions, united with the Americans, and used American aid as a bargaining chip to suppress and force himself to send troops to Southeast Asia. Yang Zhen had a hunch that in the next negotiations, the British general might become his most difficult opponent.