Nanyang 1931: From piglets to giants

Chapter 184 Three Strategies for Anti-Japanese War
"Mr. Zheng, this... Singapore's defense is not urgent. Don't worry, Singapore is a world-class defense fortress.
One of the four great fortresses, along with Malta, Gibraltar, and Pearl Harbor, it will never be breached, so please rest assured."

As he spoke, Bonnar continued to show him how powerful Singapore, a maritime fortress, was, as if he was reciting statistics.

Zheng Yi listened to him patiently. In fact, he didn't understand the overly professional questions at all.

Therefore, after he finished speaking, Zheng Yi simply asked, "Since London has made such a big move, I guess they must be prepared to fight the Japanese army?"

"of course."

"So, may I ask, when will the Singapore Fortress be completely completed? If I remember correctly, this fortress has been under construction for about... twenty years?"

On the side, the British soldiers were quite embarrassed.

"The Singapore Fortress has been built to over 90% completion. Although it is not yet completely finished, even at a 90% completion rate, it is far beyond the reach of the Japanese navy."

On the side, Phelps laughed heartily, not knowing whether he was trying to ease the situation or secretly mocking Zheng Yi, saying:
"Let alone the Japanese Navy, to be honest, even if I were to command the invincible British Navy, I wouldn't know how to break through a world-class fortress like Singapore.
Mr. Zheng, under the protection of us British, Nanyang is clearly impregnable and completely invincible."

As he said this, he started laughing again, thinking that it was funny.

Zheng Yi only asked one final question: "Then may I ask, can the cannons on the Singapore fort be turned and their muzzles turned inward?"

Hearing this, everyone was stunned.

Then he looked at Bonnar.

"Well...well...Since Singapore isn't finished yet, the gun muzzle can't turn inwards for the time being."

Zheng Yi sighed as if he had known this before and said, "Generals, could you please improve this a little bit?

If London doesn't have the money, I can pay for it. In addition, I suggest that we use our Penang construction team to do the work, okay?"

"I'll pay for it, I'll provide the men, I just have one request, you guys cooperate with me a little, let my guys work overtime overnight, and quickly get the guns back."

To be honest, sometimes Zheng Yi felt outraged by the low administrative efficiency of the British Empire.

It’s just a Singapore fort, not a very big project. How the hell has it been under construction from 1921 to now, and it’s not been completed after nearly twenty years?

In recent years, after Zheng Yi came to Nanyang, he actually came to Singapore several times every year for various reasons.

As a result, at least in the past three or four years, he did not see Singapore have even one more coastal defense gun.

On the contrary, tennis courts, polo fields, cricket fields and racecourses are spread all over Singapore. The number of them is increasing, and there are no less than 2,000 of them now.

God knows what a military fortress located in the military center of the Far East needs more than 2,000 tennis courts for.

So when the British said that they made almost no money in their colonies around the world, and were all losing money, and even needed London to provide financial support to the major colonies, Zheng Yi actually believed it.

If we have to compensate for colonial plunder, then this is all the compensation.

He really didn't expect the British to repair the artillery themselves.

Let the British continue to build the tennis courts, and it’s fine if they build the artillery batteries themselves.

After all, Singapore’s security is Penang’s security.

Originally, Zheng Yi had little confidence in whether these British troops could defend Singapore. From the beginning, he planned to go on his own and fight Japan for a year while waiting for the US counterattack in the Pacific battlefield.

But now it seems that these British people seem to be more powerful than in history?
Maybe we can really hold it?

He really didn't know much about military affairs, but when he thought about it, would it be really that difficult to just add a turning function to a cannon?
If it really doesn't work, take out one-third of the cannons and turn around, which should be enough to deal with the Japanese army.

Zheng Yi also knew that there was no unconquerable fortress in this world, at least there was no such thing as an absolutely impregnable fortress simply relying on geographical advantages.

However, as long as they can show a little bit of courage, even if it means delaying the Japanese army for a while longer, it will always be good.

After all, the Japanese army could only maintain absolute control of the Pacific for a total of one year. The longer Singapore held out, the shorter the time Penang would have to fight on its own and the smaller the losses would be.

But Zheng Yi's words made the British troops feel a little embarrassed.

Zheng Yi has good intentions, but Singapore is the headquarters of the British Army in the Far East after all. If he really leaves it to Zheng Yi to repair it, will he still have any face left?

Besides, if the fortress that the British had spent twenty years to build was completed in just a few months by Zheng Yi, how would they explain it?
Zheng Yi was really a little bit carried away for a moment, otherwise he shouldn't have said that. After he finished speaking, he came to his senses, smiled bitterly, and sighed.

The British soldiers all looked at each other in bewilderment. Finally, Bond took the initiative and laughed heartily, saying, "Mr. Zheng, you still don't know something. You're not familiar enough with the terrain of the Malay Peninsula."

"The terrain on the Malay Peninsula is mostly hilly and virgin forests, with few roads and heavy rain all year round. When it rains, the roads become so muddy that it's impossible to walk on them.

According to the assessment of our British military experts, the terrain of the Malay Peninsula is not suitable for tank and armored vehicle operations. I see, Mr. Zheng, you haven't developed armored forces either?"

"Yes, the entire Malay Peninsula's pristine jungle stretches for thousands of miles. I've never heard of the Japanese army having the tradition and ability of jungle warfare."

"Even for the British Army, it was difficult to fight in the jungle."

Zheng Yi was very calm and said: "I sincerely suggest you don't underestimate Japan.
If we don't put a little effort into the artillery, making it capable of reverse firing and defending against land attacks, perhaps this so-called world-class fortress will ultimately prove to be a joke."

"If you are unwilling to accept my help in building your offensive, then I hope that you can be a little more serious."

As he spoke, Zheng Yi sighed deeply, but there was nothing more he could say.

He came today ostensibly to be a guest and watch the ceremony.

He had just had an argument with Phelps, and the situation had already gotten ugly. If he continued arguing, he would have offended the entire British Army in Singapore.

And in the final analysis, the fact that the cannons could not adjust their angles was essentially due to corruption among the British troops in the Far East. God knows how many people from top to bottom were involved.

If this matter gets out of hand, it would not be good if he becomes unwelcome to the British army in Singapore. After all, he came here to ask for help today and needs help from these British troops.

After that, Zheng Yi took out a map he had prepared long ago from his pocket and said:
"I assume you can gain an advantage over Japan in a naval battle. If Japan cannot gain control of the sea, then the main threat we face will come from land." "If the Japanese army wants to attack the Malay Peninsula and Singapore, Pattani and Songkhla are almost their best landing sites."

"General Tao and General Wu recently gave me three suggestions. For land defense purposes, there are three strategies: top, middle, and bottom."

"The worst option is what we Chinese are doing now, which is to garrison Pattani and Songkhla to prevent the Japanese from landing. The Siamese army plus our Chinese army together have a combined strength of about a division, which is barely enough."

"The advantage is that we have relatively few troops deployed for defense, the Malays in Pattani are quite supportive of us, and transportation and supplies are relatively convenient. So far, we can still hold on."

"However, if the Japanese army deploys its navy and really seizes control of the sea, our army's strategic room for maneuver will be too small.
Moreover, there is no defensive depth at all, and it is too close to Malaya. Once it is lost, the Japanese army can immediately break into Malaya."

"So we actually agree that this is actually the worst option."

"The middle strategy is to head north and deploy the defense line in the Wanlun area. This way, at least the strategic depth will be much deeper than that of Pattani.

The entire defense line is more three-dimensional. Even if the Japanese deploy battleships at sea, our army will have room to maneuver."

"But if we defend like this, we need more troops, which we can't provide.
Furthermore, it is further away from Malaya, and the supplies that the Wanlun area can provide us are limited, so they need to be transported from Malaya."

"So, if I want to station troops in Wanlun, I need at least two divisions of troops, and a navy that can guarantee logistical supplies.
We Chinese and the Malays in Pattani can provide almost a division. We need you British to provide us with at least one division and help us transport supplies."

"Finally, the best strategy is for us to lead our army to attack the Chunpeng area north of the Kra Isthmus."

"Once we capture Chunpeng, it will be equivalent to capturing the entire Kra Isthmus. Our strategic buffer will be greatly increased. Even if the Japanese army can gain an advantage in a naval battle, landing will be extremely difficult."

"More importantly, after Chunpeng is taken, Malaya and Burma can become one and look after each other, whether it's the British troops you left behind in Burma and India or our Rangoon Regiment."

"The China-Myanmar Railway is now open to traffic. If the two places support each other, the speed will be very fast. The Japanese navy at least no longer has the ability to make the final decision."

"Basically, if we can hold Chunpeng, it will be almost impossible for the Japanese to attack Malaya by land."

"If we only use the navy, we want to attack the Singapore fortress from the sea, and we have to face the powerful British navy at the same time. It should be said that there is almost no chance of success."

“In other words, as long as we can capture and hold the Chunpeng area, we will be invincible.
No matter how powerful the Japanese army is, it will inevitably stop outside Malaya, and it can even promote economic development through the exchange of resources between Malaya and Burma."

"Of course, in this case, we would need more troops to be deployed. At least, at least, we would need four divisions, preferably more than six divisions.

Furthermore, Thailand will likely react strongly to this, and supply will take a long time. If we want to occupy it for a long time, we may even need to build a railway."

Zheng Yi said solemnly, "I sincerely suggest that we take the best approach."

Everyone: "…………"

My goodness, he asked for four divisions at the very beginning, and that was at least, but he made these British troops helpless.

Where can I get these four divisions for you?

But Phelps frowned and said, "Four divisions? Haha, if our British Empire really sent four divisions to defend Chunpeng, the Japanese would not be able to get in.

But I'm afraid that within a few years, the entire Malaya, and even the entire Far East, will join the SAARC and become Mr. Zheng's possession."

In fact, the British army can mobilize four divisions of troops.

In the historical Battle of Singapore, the British army had a strength of nearly 80,000 troops, which was actually about three or four divisions.

If they could really defeat Chunpeng, Zheng Yi felt that no matter what, he would grit his teeth and send two divisions to attack, because in this way the defensive pressure on the Myanmar side could be greatly reduced, and even the troops in Alor Setar could be withdrawn on a large scale.

After all, as long as the Japanese army cannot capture Singapore, there is no need for them to stockpile troops in the rear.

In this case, the British army only needs to send out two or three divisions.

In the history of this time and space, Britain obviously attached more importance to the South Seas, and of course, there was also an army following this invincible fleet.

However, the navy and the army are not located in Singapore alone. This fleet is responsible for protecting the entire Far East.
Even Australia, New Zealand, North Borneo, Ceylon, and even the Dutch East Indies were protected by this fleet.

Its fundamental purpose was to consolidate the British Empire's rule over its colonies in the Far East.

If the British army really accompanied Zheng Yi with two or three divisions, or even more troops, to be deployed in Chunpeng and the entire Crates Strait, other areas would be without the "protection" of the colonial army.
With Zheng Yi's ability, in three to five years, even New Zealand will join the SAARC.

Zheng Yi actually didn't expect them to choose the best strategy. After all, the best strategy is to choose the middle strategy. In fact, Zheng Yi was thinking of the middle strategy.

After the Second World War, when he had grown stronger, he wanted to set up some garrisons in the Chunpeng area.

A railway was built here to connect with Myanmar, which made it a complete and relatively independent geographical unit of the core area of ​​Nanyang.

The actual situation was similar to what Zheng Yi had expected. The British generals looked at each other for a moment. They had not expected that Zheng Yi was so well prepared. They all looked at each other in bewilderment.

Bonar: "Mr. Zheng, there's no need for that."

Zheng Yi sighed when he heard this: "If you agree, I can consider partially resuming civilian industrial production in Penang and Alor Setar.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am an outsider now, paying money and sending troops to protect your British Malaya, Singapore, and even the entire Far East."

When they heard him say this, all the generals immediately showed an expression of obvious relief.

Needless to say, Henry and his gang could not control Zheng Yi, but they definitely controlled these British generals.

"Mr. Zheng, I generally agree with your plan. It's the best plan, but the troops required are too many. Four divisions are indeed too difficult to mobilize, and it's really unnecessary."

"But I think the middle strategy should be possible. We can at least send a division to join your troops in Pattani, and our navy will be responsible for transporting supplies."

"Of course, the specific details still need to be discussed and studied with London, but it shouldn't be a big problem."

(End of this chapter)