Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Mountain city, Huangshan official residence.

An urgent telegram from the Allied Southeast Asia Joint Command was placed on Chang Ruiyuan's desk by Zhu Peiji.

The telegram came from the General Headquarters of the Expeditionary Force in Yangon.

Its wording was so strong that it was almost equivalent to a harsh reprimand.

The words are filled with undisguised questioning and anger.

The American general is demanding, in an almost accusatory tone, that the mountain city authorities immediately provide a "reasonable explanation" for the border conflict.

The chief attendant, Zhu Peiji, stood to the side, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Chang Ruiyuan slowly placed the thin telegram on the table. His face, which was always filled with worry, showed little emotion.

Stilwell's outburst was exactly what he expected.

However, the second intelligence report that followed brought a subtle, deep smile to the corners of his mouth.

Du Yuming reported that while Stilwell was demanding an explanation from the mountain city, he also sent a more strongly worded telegram to the British front-line commander-in-chief, Alexander, with the same thunderous anger.

He angrily denounced Alexander for completely disregarding the overall situation of the Allied joint operations and for arbitrarily conducting close reconnaissance and provocation against the Chinese army without any prior consultation, which ultimately led to irreparable and serious consequences!
Treat equally.

These four words flashed through Chang Ruiyuan's mind.

He instantly saw through the true anxiety hidden beneath Stilwell's rage.

This was a conflict between the Nationalist army and the British army.

On the surface, it appears to be an internal conflict between two allies.

But in reality, the biggest losers were not the British, who suffered heavy casualties, nor the Republic of China, which turned against the British.

It was Stilwell himself!

As the nominal Chief of the Allied General Staff, his most important responsibility was to coordinate all parties and conduct joint operations.

Now, before he, the "Chief of the General Staff," could even open his mouth, his head had already been beaten to a pulp!
This is more than just a slap in the face to Alexander.

He even slapped Stilwell hard across the face!
If this matter cannot be resolved quickly...

Washington will certainly have serious doubts about his ability to coordinate all parties!
Chang Ruiyuan leaned back in his chair, his fingers interlaced and placed in front of his abdomen.

His thoughts had already drifted from the border conflict itself to the broader international political landscape.

He was well aware that the current Nationalist government was already deeply intertwined with the Americans.

Whether it's the massive economic aid or the continuous flow of military supplies, China has become the United States' most important and indispensable ally on the Asian continent.

And what about the British?
A barely perceptible hint of contempt flashed in Chang Ruiyuan's eyes.

For the United States, which aspires to establish a new postwar order, the "sun never sets" was already a waning swan. Americans even welcomed the emergence of China as a new power, constantly challenging and even dismantling Britain's decaying colonial system.

After all, a powerful, long-established industrial empire is always a potential competitor.

An agricultural country that is just beginning to develop into an industrialized nation and will need to rely on US support for decades to come is the most ideal and obedient partner.

The two sides are simply not on the same level in terms of strength and international influence.

Having figured this out, Chang Ruiyuan felt completely at ease.

Stilwell's anger was no longer a source of pressure, but rather a bargaining chip that could be used.

He picked up the phone and connected to the military command.

"Draft a reply telegram immediately and send it to General Stilwell."

His voice was steady and powerful, filled with the composure and "grievance" of a national leader.

"Our attitude is very simple."

"First, we deeply regret the occurrence of this border conflict. However, we must emphasize that this incident was entirely caused by the repeated and unreasonable provocations by the British and Indian sides."

"Secondly, when our Dingnan Army soldiers are forced to fight back when our territory and dignity are seriously violated, this is the duty of any sovereign nation's army and is beyond reproach."

"third."

Chang Ruiyuan's lips curled into a smile: "However, we always consider the overall situation of the Allied joint operations. We are willing to accept the fair mediation of the United States and reserve the right to further pursue the responsibility of the British side."

North China, Joint Command Post.

When Chang Ruiyuan's short telegram containing only "Understood" was placed in front of Chu Yunfei, he glanced at it calmly and then casually put it aside.

Expected.

This is typical of Chiang Kai-shek's style.

They neither express their opinions nor take responsibility, passing the buck to those below them.

"Chief Advisor," Zhao Pengcheng said from the side, "Is the Chairman telling us to handle this ourselves?"

"He's not telling us to figure it out ourselves."

Chu Yunfei's lips curled into a cold smile: "He wants me to play the bad cop for him. The current Shancheng cannot bear the consequences of escalating tensions, and is also worried about further offending the Americans."

"However, Commander Qiu handled things too carelessly this time. He could have waited for the Americans to react before taking action. That way, at least the Americans wouldn't be able to find fault with us."

“Once Stilwell makes his stance clear, Alexander will likely back down. Qiu Qingquan’s decision was not wrong either. The British Indian Army’s combat strength does not pose any threat to our side.”

"Don't forget, when he was just a division commander, he dared to confront even the elite brigades under the command of the Japanese regular divisions."

"Not to mention that he is now the commander of the First Army Corps of the Dingnan Army, and will nominally command four divisions and two corps of combat troops. It is understandable that he looks down on these Indians whose combat strength is not even third-rate."

He picked up his pen, spread out a new telegram sheet, and wrote with flowing strokes.

“Send it directly to General Stilwell in my name.”

This is in stark contrast to Chang Ruiyuan's "official reply" which was full of political rhetoric.

Chu Yunfei's telegram was more like a proclamation of accusation, filled with undisguised anger and toughness!

"Your Excellency Chief of Staff Stilwell."

"We are deeply shocked and outraged by the armed conflict on the India-Myanmar border!"

"According to reports from our frontline soldiers, this incident was caused by the British and Indian sides repeatedly provoking trouble and even openly insulting our sentries!"

"Such actions have seriously crossed the line that should exist between allies!"

"It is understandable and justified for our Dingnan Army soldiers to be forced to fight back in order to defend their right to the road and the dignity of soldiers! If we are indifferent to the invasion of our territory and the humiliation of our comrades, what kind of soldiers are we!"

"On the other hand, the British side's actions not only show contempt for Chinese soldiers, but also constitute a blatant violation of the alliance concluded by the three parties to jointly fight against fascism! They are destroying the alliance between nations with their own hands!"

At this point, Chu Yunfei's writing style shifted, becoming even sharper and directly addressing the core of the problem!

"General, I must remind you! Our expeditionary force is a special unit jointly built and commanded by China and the United States!"
Their future mission is to fight and shed blood alongside your country's Marine Corps and Army on the islands of the Pacific!

"But now, we soldiers who are about to dedicate ourselves to the common cause of the Allies are not even receiving the most basic respect in the rear!"

"This approach by the British makes our soldiers feel absolutely no respect from their so-called 'allies'!"

"If this matter is not severely punished, we will not be able to explain it to our hundreds of thousands of soldiers who are about to embark on a long expedition!"

"There is also no guarantee that they will still have the most basic trust in the British side in future joint operations!"

The telegram was written with great passion and conviction!

Watching from the side, Zhao Pengcheng felt a surge of heat rush to his head!
This is the attitude they should have!

Be neither humble nor arrogant, be reasonable and well-founded, and not yield an inch of ground!

"Send it out."

Chu Yunfei put down his pen and handed the still-wet telegram to Zhao Pengcheng.

……

Mountain City, Allied Southeast Asia Joint Command.

Stilwell's office was quickly turning into a real powder keg.

Chang Ruiyuan's "Tai Chi Chuan" and Chu Yunfei's "Ultimatum" were like two fists, one soft and one hard, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.

At that very moment, a telegram from British Commander-in-Chief Alexander was like a spoonful of boiling oil poured directly into this powder keg!

"General, a reply from Sir Alexander."

Brigadier General Bradley, the adjutant, placed a translated telegram in front of Stilwell.

His face wore a strange expression, a mixture of amusement and exasperation. Stilwell grabbed the telegram, glanced at it, and nearly snapped his cigar in half in anger!

Alexander's telegram was equally serious, even arrogant.

Not a single word in the entire document mentions how they provoked the other party.

Instead, they talked at length about the "dignity of the British Empire" and the "inviolable honor of the Imperial soldiers"!
He strongly condemned the Chinese army's "barbaric" and "unequal" artillery counterattack.

They also demanded that Stilwell order the Chinese to immediately cease fire, apologize, and severely punish the perpetrators!
Stilwell slammed the thin sheet of electronic paper heavily onto the table.

"Dignity? Honor?"

Pointing to the telegram, he turned to Bradley and asked incredulously, "Bradley, tell me, where does this British people's sense of honor come from?"

Stilwell paced back and forth in his office like a caged beast, his words dripping with scathing sarcasm: "Was it when you abandoned hundreds of thousands of Frenchmen at Dunkirk and fled back to the British Isles?"

"Was it during the North African campaign, when Rommel was thrashing them so badly that we Americans had to clean up their messes every time?"

He stopped and stared intently at Bradley, his voice filled with disdain: "Or perhaps, it was on this Yunnan-Burma battlefield, when the Chinese Expeditionary Force, which had been painstakingly trained, was used as cannon fodder, causing them heavy casualties?"

Bradley shrugged, a helpless, wry smile on his face. As a professional soldier, he was equally disapproving of the British performance.

Trusting such comrades always comes at a price.

Stilwell plopped back into his chair, feeling utterly exhausted.

On one side is Qiu Qingquan, a rebellious and incredibly powerful Chinese madman who needs to be appeased.

On the other side are arrogant, self-important, and poorly trained British gentlemen who always love to put on airs.

The countries they represent play different roles in the future strategy of the United States.

Stilwell had to handle this matter with extreme caution.

As Chu Yunfei said, the interests of the expeditionary force were closely tied to those of the United States.

In contrast, from a current strategic perspective, Britain and India are essentially just a sideline. Even if there is a need for a counter-offensive from the Middle East, that would be later and has little to do with Stilwell.

From a fundamental interest perspective, Stilwell would inevitably take sides.

As for the British wanting to reclaim Burma, the southwestern gateway, that's completely impossible. The mountain city government never even discussed this matter with the British.

Their attitude was quite clear: if you want it, do it yourself.

The mountain city government stated that it would fight to the end.

Even under the constraints of allies in the anti-fascist camp.

Even if Qiu Qingquan did something outrageous, the most he could get is dismissal from his post.

Stilwell was not qualified to deal with Chinese soldiers, and it would be quite difficult to expect Chang Ruiyuan to deal with his own favorite protégé who was not a communist sympathizer.

To deal with Chang Ruiyuan, Stilwell could only try to influence the United States’ established national policy toward the Republic of China by creating public opinion.

In other words, unless Chang Ruiyuan loses his mind, he won't do this.

First, Chang Ruiyuan was basically close to a dictatorial regime during this period. If he didn't care about domestic public opinion, how could he expect foreign public opinion to make him compromise?
This is naturally impossible.

As Zhang Fakui said in his memoirs, soldiers who become provincial governors often become dictators. The reason I was unwilling to become a provincial governor was because I knew I would definitely become a dictator.

This wasn't just about himself, but also about Chang Ruiyuan. It was because Zhang Fakui knew Chang Ruiyuan too well and knew that Chang Ruiyuan wouldn't treat him well that he didn't go to Taiwan.

anyway.

Stilwell is weighing changes to his approach.

It hasn't even been approved by Washington yet.

Adjutant Bradley placed a new telegram on the table, his voice weary: "General, a telegram has also arrived from London, inquiring about the progress of the situation."

Stilwell didn't look at the telegram. He suddenly stood up and shoved the extinguished cigar into the ashtray as if he were crushing a disgusting bug.

"enough!"

He let out a low growl, and his eyes, which were always burning with anger, now flashed with an almost icy gaze.

"They all want to turn this place into a damn circus?"

"Do they all want to see me as the clown who cleans up their messes?"

Stilwell walked to the huge war zone map, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the small, red-tinged area on the India-Burma border and the vast Pacific Ocean.

“Bradley, now it’s my turn to set the rules.”

His voice was no longer a simple roar, but carried an unquestionable tone.

He turned around and gave his adjutant a series of lightning-fast orders!
"First! In my dual capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the China-Burma-India Theater and Chief of Staff of the Far East Theater, I hereby issue a ceasefire order immediately to the First Army Corps of the Chinese Dingnan Army and the Eastern Front Command of the British Indian Army!"

Bradley quickly picked up a pen and began scribbling rapidly in his notebook.

"Both sides are ordered to disengage within one hour of receiving this order and withdraw ten kilometers from each other! The intermediate zone shall be designated as a 'demilitarized buffer zone'!"

"At the same time, immediately dispatch a full-strength U.S. infantry regiment from the rear to the area on a forced march!"

"I want our Stars and Stripes to be planted between these two clueless allies!"

"Yes, General!"

"At the end of the order, attach this threatening clause and remind them in the most conspicuous and repeated way."

"If either side dares to disobey orders and continue the firefight."

The U.S. military will immediately cease transporting all weapons, equipment, and logistical supplies to its designated theater of operations!

And it urged Washington to reassess its allied cooperation framework with that party!

Bradley's hand, which was recording, paused slightly.

He knew that this was the real trump card!

This move was deadly to both the Dingnan Army, which was equipped with a large amount of American weapons and relied on American-supplied ammunition, and the British Indian Army, whose logistics supply lines were almost entirely dependent on the United States.

"second!"

Without pausing, Stilwell continued to order: "Immediately draft a formal notification and send it to all Allied Command headquarters!"

He walked to the table, picked up Chu Yunfei's telegram, and pointed heavily at it with his finger: "Quote these few words of Chu Yunfei verbatim!"

'British troops have repeatedly provoked and openly insulted Chinese soldiers'

"I want the whole world to know who started this conflict!"

"The report emphasized Alexander's egregious act of 'acting without authorization and seriously undermining Allied strategic coordination'! And on my behalf, I formally request that London be held accountable!"

A storm raged within Bradley's heart.

This is an open attempt to shift blame to the UK, and unequivocally satisfies China's "dignity demands"!
“Third!” Stilwell’s gaze deepened: “Establish a ‘Joint Investigation Team on the India-Burma Border.’ In my name, I formally invite General Wei Lihuang, Commander-in-Chief of the First War Zone, to join as the Chinese representative.”

"And promised China that the investigation team's final conclusions would directly affect the US's allocation of supplies to British and Indian troops in the next phase! Furthermore, China has the right to propose revisions to all rules governing the demilitarized buffer zone!"

Bradley understood completely.

The general is using the Chinese sword to severely suppress the arrogance of the British!
It may even involve simply suppressing conflicts with force without resolving them.

When the conflict erupts again in the future, it will inevitably be more serious than this time.

By then, the anti-fascist war must have already been won.

The war between Britain and the Republic of China had no direct connection to Stilwell, and he was even happy to see it happen.

"at last."

Stilwell lowered his voice, his eyes gleaming with the cunning glint unique to politicians: "In my personal capacity, send a top-secret telegram to Chang Ruiyuan in Shancheng."

"Tell him that as long as the Chinese side can cooperate with my mediation in this incident."

"First, I will use my authority to prioritize replenishing all combat losses suffered by Qiu Qingquan's troops in this conflict, ensuring that all supplies are in place within a week!"

"Secondly, I will personally oversee the transfer of that B-25 bomber squadron that they have been longing for!"

"third."

A meaningful smile appeared on Stilwell's lips: "Tell him that I will fully support the Republic of China in having a greater say in the issue of postwar Burma sovereignty!"

"General, should we consult with Washington about such a promise?"

Stilwell gave Bradley a meaningful look and emphasized, "This is just a personal promise of mine, just like the promise this Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Theater made to me..." (End of Chapter)