Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Bradley put down his pen.

Looking at Stilwell, who seemed to have transformed in an instant from a hot-tempered military general into a shrewd and cunning politician.

His eyes were filled with unprecedented awe.

"General."

Bradley said sincerely, "This is more than just a military order."

"of course not."

Stilwell picked up another cigar, lit it slowly, took a deep drag, and exhaled the smoke as if it were releasing all his anger: "This is politics, Bradley. It's pure, cold-blooded hard power politics. Fortunately, our country has absolute power. Go do it."

Bradley straightened up: "Yes, General!"
-
British India, New Delhi, Supreme Allied Command for Southeast Asia.

The atmosphere was a hundred times more oppressive than the dry air on the Imphal front.

The supreme commander, Field Marshal Archibald Wavell, was listening quietly to Alexander's roar, which was filled with gasps and curses, coming through the telephone receiver.

"...A disgrace! This is an utter disgrace! Field Marshal Wavell! The Americans, how dare they side with a bunch of yellow-skinned monkeys! How dare they order the British army to retreat! That damned, arrogant American Stilwell, who does he think he is? The Emperor of the Far East?!"

Wavell listened patiently to all of Alexander's impotent rage until Alexander's voice became hoarse with agitation. Then, slowly, in a tone devoid of any emotion, he spoke: "Harold, are you done venting?"

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

“If you’ve vented your anger,” Wavell’s voice was as cold as a scalpel, “then please, immediately and unconditionally, carry out General Stilwell’s orders.”

"what!"

Alexander exclaimed incredulously, "Marshal! You want me to submit to those Chinese and that American?!"

“This is not surrender, Harold.” Wavell’s tone remained eerily calm. “This is an order. An order that you obtained through your foolish, self-righteous ‘strategic probing.’”

He didn't give Alexander any further chance to argue and hung up the phone immediately.

Wavell leaned back in his chair, exhausted.

He looked at the strongly worded telegram from Stilwell on the table, and a deep sense of helplessness and bitterness flashed in his eyes.

He was well aware of Alexander's little scheme.
Isn't it just a matter of trying to squeeze the Chinese for weakness, testing their bottom line, so that the empire can gain some political capital for its return to Myanmar?

But he was terribly wrong!

His mistake was mistaking a group of fierce commanders who had just defeated the Japanese Class A divisions in a bloody battle for easy targets.

Who is Qiu Qingquan?

In the eyes of the British, he was a ruthless man who rose to fame during the Battle of Kunlun Pass!

He was one of the few armored force commanders in the Republic of China, a fierce general, a direct descendant of the Central Army, and a top student who graduated from the German Army Officer Academy!

Wavell picked up another battle damage report that had just been compiled.

The numbers on the screen looked like steel needles, pricking his eyes painfully.

In just six hours of conflict, British and Indian troops suffered nearly 3,000 casualties!
According to preliminary estimates from the battle reports, the Chinese army on the other side suffered only about five or six hundred casualties!

The vast majority of these were victories.

It was only after Alexander, enraged, ordered several Spitfire fighters of the Royal Air Force to scramble and straf the enemy that this was achieved!

PS: The Flamethrower should theoretically have been first deployed to three squadrons in Australia, and it was not used until March of the following year. The novel is slightly different.

In the ground battle, they were almost completely overwhelmed and slaughtered by the enemy!

What frightened him even more.

According to intelligence, the forces that clashed with them were only a corps under the Chinese Expeditionary Force - Dingnan Army!
Its main body is even a newly reorganized training unit!

Although equipped with all-American weaponry, their combat power is ridiculously strong.

Even troops like this.

They managed to defeat their elite British Indian Army troops, which they were so proud of, to this extent!
In Wavell's mind.

This inevitably brought to mind their previous crushing defeat on the Burmese battlefield, a defeat that was a disgrace to the empire.

The facts are already laid bare before us in a bloody manner.

The Chinese, as allies, held the Burma Road so firmly that they did not allow British and Indian troops to set foot in Burma.

It's not for any other reason than that they, deep down, don't believe in the fighting capabilities of the British army in the slightest!

They are afraid!

I'm afraid these pig-like teammates will drag them down again!
With this in mind, Wavell no longer had the slightest thought of returning to Burma.

He picked up a pen and began to draft a top-secret telegram to London himself.

He had to explain to the Prime Minister and the War Cabinet everything that had happened here, Alexander's foolish mistakes, and the almost overbearing attitude of the United States.

……

10 Downing Street, London.

This is an emergency wartime cabinet meeting.

Prime Minister Winston Churchill, with his signature cigar in his mouth, had a face so somber it seemed to drip water.

Two telegrams were placed in front of him.

One document was a “statement” sent by Wavell from New Delhi.

The other document was sent by Stilwell in the name of the Allied Supreme Command.

This is a "notice" that is almost an ultimatum.

"Gentlemen."

Churchill slowly exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, his eyes, which always shone with wisdom and determination, now filled with deep weariness: "Our 'friends' in the Far East have presented us with an enormous problem."

Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden adjusted his glasses and said in his characteristic, slightly aristocratic tone, "Mr. Prime Minister, the American attitude is very clear."

They completely sided with the Chinese on this matter.

Chief of Staff Stilwell's report was less a report and more a final verdict.

"judgment?"

Lord James Gregory, the Secretary of State for War, let out a disgruntled snort: "A bunch of nouveau riche dare to judge a general of the British Empire?"

"Alexander's actions may have been somewhat reckless, but his motivation was to safeguard the Empire's interests in the Far East!"

"Profit? Sir!"

Aiden retorted without hesitation: "Our greatest interest in the Far East right now is to defeat the Japanese as soon as possible with the help of the Americans and the Chinese army!"
Instead of risking war with our two most important allies over that pitiful, outdated colonial dignity!

Sir Gregor's face turned a deep shade of liver: "You mean we have to apologize to the yellow-skinned monkeys?"

"It's not an apology, it's a compromise."

Aiden’s tone was calm and cruel: “We have no other choice. Although the situation in the Mediterranean has eased slightly, which allows us to deploy some forces into the South Pacific, our supply lines are in the hands of the Americans.”

Whether this war can continue depends on how much the Americans invest in Europe.

Our future in Southeast Asia also rests on the bayonets of the Chinese.

"Unfortunately, gentlemen, given the current situation, we can only continue to divert our already stretched air force to support Australia, rather than deploying them to the conflict with the Chinese."

A suffocating silence fell over the meeting room.

"Gentlemen, we are facing a tiger that has awakened. They have the world's top commanders and the most heroic soldiers. To oppose them will be a mistake we will regret for the rest of our lives!"

Every one of you here is a top political elite of the British Empire.

They knew better than anyone that what Aiden was saying was a bloody reality.

From the British perspective.

Even though the Republic of China had many problems, such as inefficient and corrupt government, poor industrial capacity, and difficulty in achieving self-sufficiency in agriculture.

However, the martial spirit inherent in the Chinese people has been largely ignited by this great war of resistance against Japan.

Churchill slammed the cigar into the ashtray, his agitation undiminished. He gestured to his confidential secretary to connect to an encrypted transatlantic phone call to the White House.

Listening to the familiar transatlantic radio waves through the receiver, Churchill gathered his thoughts, and when Roosevelt's slightly weary voice came through, he tried to sound like a complaining old friend.

"Regarding the situation on the Myanmar border, I feel I must express my concerns. Your General Stilwell, in his handling of the matter, has, frankly, been far too brutal."

We acknowledge that General Alexander's actions were questionable, but as allies, we did not feel the respect we deserved.

On the other end of the phone, Roosevelt's voice was not as gentle as he had expected, but rather carried a businesslike stiffness: "Winston, I'm very sorry, but we all have complete faith in Joe Stilwell's abilities. As you know, it has been proven that, under his coordination, the Chinese Expeditionary Force achieved victory after victory."

We are preparing for a larger-scale counter-offensive in the Pacific, and everything is on track.

Roosevelt's tone seemed to harden further: "We do not want our British allies to make any irrational decisions at such a critical time. You should restrain your men and prioritize the war at hand."

"I understand the US's attitude, and I will make a decision as soon as possible."

"Goodbye."

The call was hung up.

Churchill held the cold receiver for a long time without putting it down.

He sensed something completely different from Roosevelt’s unquestionable, even somewhat impatient, attitude.

This attitude was far more humble than Churchill's approach during the Dunkirk evacuation, when he begged the Americans for destroyers and aircraft carriers.

A terrible thought clearly surfaced in his mind.

The Americans seem to have made up their minds!

Their so-called "Asia first, Europe later" is not just political rhetoric!

The continuous and systematic aid supplies are being systematically imported into China.

This is enough to prove that their commitment to the Asian battlefield far exceeded their own expectations!
Churchill's gaze seemed to pierce through the thick fog of Downing Street, revealing the post-war world that was about to unfold.

With the Americans joining the war, the situation became quite clear.

The postwar Soviet Union will undoubtedly become a land behemoth.

The United States, with its formidable industrial strength and navy, will become the absolute ruler of the oceans.

As for the British Empire?
Its positioning is extremely awkward.

Once they lose the support of their colonial systems in India and Burma, their once-proud Royal Navy and Royal Air Force will inevitably fall to second-rate status in the world!

The glory of the British Empire will be extinguished completely!

This idea was hard for him to accept, yet he had no choice but to accept it.

He dedicated almost everything to Britain—his sweat, tears, blood, and even his life.

Even in the darkest moments before the successful Dunkirk evacuation, this stubborn British man refused to compromise with his opponents and enemies.

He even believed that if British history was to be ended by Hitler, it would be a history of resistance to the very end and never surrender.

But right now, it seems he has no other choice.

Churchill slowly put down the phone.

All the anger, resentment, and humiliation.

At this moment, everything has turned into a cold exchange of interests.

Knowing that Britain's fall from grace was inevitable, Churchill still wanted to salvage some semblance of dignity.

After a moment's thought, Churchill slammed the cigar into the ashtray: "Recall Alexander."

He slowly squeezed out these words through clenched teeth: "Send him back to London to report for duty, and reassign all the frontline commanders."

"Furthermore," he said, looking at the Chancellor of the Exchequer, "to show our sincerity and apology in cooperating with the Republic of China, we will immediately draft a new aid package for China, with a total value of fifty million pounds."

Seeing the astonished expressions on everyone's faces, he added one last sentence: "We want to try to use this money to regain our power in Myanmar."

When the top-secret telegram, sent from London and translated through layers of New Delhi and Chongqing, was finally placed in front of Chang Ruiyuan, the entire Military Commission meeting room erupted in commotion!
"What? The British have compromised?!"

Xu Yongchang, the Minister of the General Staff, was the first to cry out in shock.

He could hardly believe his eyes and read the thin telegram three times.

Minister of Military Affairs Chen Cixiu's voice also carried a hint of barely suppressed shock: "Not only have they compromised, they're also going to provide us with 50 million pounds in aid!"

Fifty million pounds!
This number, like a thunderclap, exploded in everyone's minds!

Those present were all top officials of the Nationalist government, and they all clearly remembered that just a few days ago, they were still racking their brains over how to quell the border conflict that could spiral out of control at any moment.

Chang Ruiyuan himself even drafted that vague instruction of "endurance and calmness".

But now, the front lines have won a diplomatic miracle they never dared to dream of with a tough, almost unilateral military victory!
As for the additional condition of 50 million pounds, everyone subconsciously ignored it. After all, in many people's minds, Burma was the British sphere of influence, not the Chinese sphere of influence.

A complex flush rose on Chang Ruiyuan's face.

There were surprises and unexpected events, but more than anything, it was the satisfaction and approval of a supreme leader seeing a piece on the chessboard make a brilliant move.

Unlike the others, he did not lose his composure. Instead, he slowly stood up and gently weighed the telegram in his hand, as if assessing its significance.

"Yunfei's actions are commendable in their courage!"

His very first words defined the nature of the incident.

This is not "reckless decision-making," but rather "courage and insight."

"Only by using swift and decisive measures can one truly demonstrate the compassion of a Bodhisattva."

If we keep giving in to the British, they will only become more emboldened.

Although Yu'an acted rashly in this border conflict, his decisive actions secured a major diplomatic victory for the Party and the nation!

These words sent a chill down the spines of everyone present. Chang Ruiyuan was openly endorsing Chu Yunfei's actions!
"Peggy! Immediately! Send this report of victory, along with the British offer of assistance, to Yunfei via telegram!"

"In the telegram, please add this sentence for me: 'Expanding the country's territory, defeating powerful neighbors, meritorious service to the Party and the nation, deserves commendation!'"

"Yes!"

That evening, in North China, at the joint command post.

The night in early winter was bitterly cold.

The coal stove in the office was burning brightly, making the room warm and cozy.

Chu Yunfei and Lin Wei were having their final discussions on the next phase of the troop training plan.

Zhao Pengcheng strode in and handed Chu Yun-fei a newly translated telegram.

"Chief Advisor, urgent telegram from Yamashiro."

Chu Yunfei took the telegram, glanced at it, and then handed it to Lin Wei beside him.

After reading it, Lin Wei's usually calm face showed an expression of disbelief and surprise.

"Fifty million pounds in aid, and they're even bringing back that brainless Alexander? Are the British really giving in?"

He pondered for a moment and speculated, "It seems that the pressure they are under on the European battlefield is far greater than we imagined. Otherwise, given their consistent style, they would never have made such a large concession."

However, Chu Yunfei slowly shook his head. He walked to the map and his gaze fell on the vast area on the map that represented Myanmar.

"Chief of Staff Lin, you're underestimating them."

His voice was calm and deep, a stark contrast to the excited atmosphere in the mountain city.

"The British never do business at a loss. This fifty million pounds is neither compensation nor charity."

“That’s right.” Chu Yunfei tapped a point on the map heavily with his finger: “What they really care about is not the casualties of those few thousand Indian soldiers, nor is it any border conflict.”

What they truly care about is this place—the Ren'anqiang Oilfield.

"Although it's just about continuing the mining rights, it's an attempt to get us to make concessions and compromises on matters of principle."

Chu Yunfei turned around and looked at Lin Wei: "Churchill was actually testing us, wanting to know if we could return to Burma after the war and continue to maintain their basic rights of colonial rule!"

"That old fox seems to still be dreaming of the British Empire!"

"So, what do you mean, Chief Consultant?"

“We definitely need the money. Fifty million pounds is enough to solve a lot of problems.”

A confident smile curved Chu Yunfei's lips: "But we must set the rules."

He returned to his desk, picked up his pen, and began to draft a reply telegram himself: "We can conditionally allow the British to participate in the post-war economic reconstruction of Burma."

"The output and profits of the Yenangyaung oil field can be negotiated and distributed with them." He then changed his tone, becoming extremely firm: "In exchange, the British must transfer their advanced oil refining technology to us free of charge!"

"And they must send their top geological experts to assist us in a comprehensive exploration of other potential mineral deposits and oil resources throughout Myanmar!"

"What we need is not a one-time blood transfusion."

Chu Yunfei put down his pen and handed the telegram to Lin Wei: "It's about creating an industrial landscape that truly belongs to us, one that allows us to generate our own revenue." (End of Chapter)