Canteen System Assistance Notes

After squeezing through the guards in the corridor, Liu Helian felt a rush of heat and smoke as soon as the two opened the door of the conference room.

And a man's spirited words:

"Nonsense! How could the Japanese fight a war like this?"

"That's totally illogical."

"And with this illogical fighting style, they still won?!"

At the sound of the door opening, Chairman Mao, General Zhu, and the remaining three people in the conference room all turned their heads. Liu Helian looked closely and saw that it was Brother Biao, He Da Huzi, and Peng Shuai. A map of North China hung on one side of the conference room, and a dynamic video played on the projector. Color blocks representing different spheres of influence scrolled back and forth across the domestic map. The blue Japanese army, the red Chinese army, and the black preserved fruits intertwined and intertwined, advancing and retreating.

Brother Biao was standing in front of the whiteboard, holding a whiteboard pen and dragging a whiteboard eraser, with saliva flying everywhere.

"Comrades, Comrade Xiao Liu is here." As soon as he finished speaking, Minister Deng pushed Liu Helian inside and stepped out. "Comrade Xiao Liu, you must do your best!"

what?

The tense atmosphere at the scene left Liu Helian bewildered for a few seconds. What was he doing? Wasn't he analyzing Japanese intelligence?

"Oh, Comrade Xiao Liu," the Chairman said, "some of our generals are criticizing the Japanese on your side! The Japanese boast that they are invincible and that if a war breaks out, they will destroy us in a few months. But looking at the information you brought, these Japanese are really terrible at marching and fighting! They are like reckless people with a sledgehammer and a pickaxe, hammering here and there, clanging and banging, with no clear plan."

His humorous remarks with an accent eased the tense atmosphere. "So, our generals, we always feel that the Japanese are not so stupid. Look, Lin Wa is having a tantrum."

"Commissioner Liu, come and take a look."

As if he had found an outlet for his anger, Brother Biao shoved a whiteboard marker into Liu Helian's hand and said, "You don't lead troops, but I want to ask you, if you want to attack Jin Province, how would you do it?"

"Lin Wa, Xiao Liu isn't like you, with a multitude of ideas. Don't make it difficult for him." Seeing that Liu Helian was a little confused, General Zhu came to his rescue, "Why don't you just tell us where you plan to attack, and we'll take care of the rest."

"So, considering the terrain of Jin Province..."

Liu Helian finally understood the current situation. Historically, the Japanese army had engaged in numerous puzzling and mysterious strategic maneuvers during their attacks on Shanxi Province, and indeed throughout the "North and Central China Campaign." He briefly reviewed the known information in his mind and concluded, "I'll probably attack along the Zhengtai Railway. It's the most convenient route into Shanxi, and the railway will facilitate supply lines."

"After all, the Taihang Mountains run north-south. Trying to cross this natural barrier is very disadvantageous for the attacker."

As he spoke, Brother Biao drew a north-south broken line on the whiteboard, and then marked eight horizontal lines on it: "Jundu Xing, Puyin Xing, Feihu Xing, Jingxing, Fukou Xing, Baixing, Taihang Xing, and Chenguan Xing, these are the Eight Xings of Taihang! If you want to attack Shanxi Province, you must take these eight routes. Commissioner Liu, your idea is correct. It is to go south along the Pinghan Line, occupy Qingyuan and Shimen, take Yangquan, and then enter Shanxi along Jingxing! Then you can see how the Japanese over there fight?"

"I remember attacking Xinkou from the north to the south, and then capturing Niangzi Pass..."

Liu Helian glanced at the map on the wall. This attack route was full of mountains!

"That's right. The Japanese stormed the Great Wall, crossing mountains and ridges, storming Xinkou! They used a division and a brigade, nearly 20,000 people, to storm a heavily fortified city! And they only had a regiment of 2000 people heading to Niangzi Pass, a crucial place?"

"The Japanese are fighting this way." Brother Biao drew two crosses on the whiteboard. "If you give me four armies, I can even send four armies of pigs out and squeeze the Japanese to death in the ravine!"

"You're saying our allies are worse than pigs! Lin Wawa, don't be so arrogant. According to Xiao Liu's records, Wei Junru is still qualified. It's just that Niangzi Pass was taken down by a single Japanese regiment. It's really unacceptable."

He Da Huzi laughed, "Who knew that the Nationalist Army would only deploy 2000 bare rifles? Before the battle even started, the main position was occupied by the Japanese. If it were me, I would have to deploy an army here at least. Oh, yes, the Nationalist Army would have to deploy an army."

"That's why I'm so angry! The Japanese must have forgotten everything they learned at Tokyo Military Academy to come up with a plan like this—and what's even more infuriating is that they still won the whole battle?" Brother Biao raised his whiteboard marker and reached out to smash it, but ultimately held back. "Really... maybe if I threw a few bones and let a dog take charge, I could do better than this."

As soon as he finished speaking, he sat down on the chair, reached out and grabbed a handful of spicy green beans, started chewing, and stopped talking.

"This might also be related to the Nationalist Army's empty payroll," Liu Helian recalled. "I remember that in our history, the Central Army only issued 3000 rifles to a Nationalist Army division, and there was often a 30% shortage. The non-Central Army only had 2000 rifles, and the shortage was even more serious."

"So, Xiao Liu, look at this! The Japanese made countless mistakes, and ended up running into an even more rotten Chiang Kai-shek army. If they could hold Niangzi Pass, the Japanese wouldn't be able to enter Shanxi Province. Without them, they wouldn't be able to advance south along the Pinghan Line, and there wouldn't be any digging of the Yellow River embankment... They lost by letting the Japanese advance along the river, cutting off the north and south, and making us look like this!"

Peng Shuai, sitting on the other side, was also clearly furious. He slammed the table and said, "This is a war, a fight against aggression! What the hell is Chiang Kai-shek doing? It's just nonsense."

"My dear seniors, I have a different opinion."

Seeing that the old generals had finally calmed down, Liu Helian expressed his own views.

"I think it might be inappropriate to consider this issue purely from a military perspective."

He started working on his computer, opening a PDF file. "The year after next, in 39, Chiang Kai-shek will establish an anti-communist committee specifically to deal with us. At the Fifth Session of the Fifth Central Committee, the demand for the anti-Japanese situation wasn't to expel all the Japanese, but to 'return to the status quo before the July 77 Incident.'" A few years later, he told the British ambassador that if they didn't resist the Japanese and ceded land, the Japanese would directly attack the Soviet Union and eliminate communism. Even the British ambassador thought he'd been poisoned, rendering him insane.

"Fundamentally, I think Kaishen doesn't think the Japanese invasion is a big deal. In his eyes, perhaps the Japanese will eventually be driven away by their allies, and only we, the red-headed people, are his primary enemies."

Chapter 32: The Confrontation (I) The Eighth Route Army Representatives

Canteen System Assistance

By Forgotten Maple X

2191 words

2020-10-07 12: 00: 00

Moscow, USSR.

Political Commissar Wang Da has recovered. With adequate nutrition, his wounds have healed rapidly, and he is now just like a normal person, able to run, jump, and breathe, even negotiating. He has received intelligence that the KMT will soon send Yang Gengguang to the Soviet Union to discuss various matters related to obtaining Soviet aid.

As for the level of Yang Gengguang, we can get a glimpse of it from the fact that he tried to start a war between the Soviet Union and Japan to inflict mutual losses on both the Japanese and the red-headed people.

But no matter what, the other party is an official national representative recognized internationally. Even if he wants to drag the Soviet Union into the war and directly declare war on Japan, the People's Foreign Affairs Committee must receive him well.

Under any circumstances, we must be fully prepared. Political Commissar Wang Da began to study the key points of this negotiation.

"Our ultimate goal is to obtain Soviet military, industrial, and economic assistance, initially building our own basic industries and enabling us to generate revenue." He wrote on paper and pen, carefully reading each page several times before burning it in the stove. "Our lowest goal is to gain free passage through the northwest land route. This means we must have control over our own supplies—after all, this is the only stable channel for foreign aid for a long time to come."

There were several main routes for obtaining foreign aid in China: sea transport, the Northwest Passage, the Southwest Passage, and air transport. Political Commissar Wang Da reasoned that no matter how much the Eighth Route Army exploited Xiao Liu, they wouldn't have the money to maintain an American-style "Hump Route." Furthermore, sea transport would soon be cut off by the Japanese. As for the Southwest Passage, he felt the KMT wouldn't be able to defeat the southbound Japanese army early enough to maintain that winding road overseas.

"So, the core of the issue is actually the right of way of the Northwest Passage. Everything else can be used as bargaining chips."

"Political Commissar, the meeting is about to begin!"

There was a knock on the door. Political Commissar Wang packed up his things, walked out of the room, and went into the meeting room next door.

This was the conference room of the Central Committee's delegation to the Communist International. At this moment, nearly all the comrades stationed in the Soviet Union had arrived. Political Commissar Wang looked around and saw Ren Bulin, Elder Kang, and even Butler Chen. Meanwhile, on the other side of the conference table sat the legendary Red Army defender: Dong Shaozhong!

We are making new history.

Political Commissar Wang Da thought about it and turned his attention to the meeting agenda.

The Communist Party is known for its frequent meetings, and the delegation to the Communist International was no exception. The primary goal of these meetings was to determine key issues for the negotiations, which would be handled by Political Commissar Wang, the chosen negotiating representative. Ren Bulin was primarily responsible for equipment and technology, Elder Kang was responsible for selecting the list of Soviet cadres to aid China, and Steward Chen was primarily responsible for overseeing economic exchanges and transportation matters. As for Dong Shaozhong, he was primarily responsible for finalizing the types, names, and quantities of military aid.

"The Soviets are preparing to upgrade their equipment, and they expect to complete the replacement of the entire army in 1943." The meetings a few days ago had already discussed things like technical equipment and made a memorandum. Today's main agenda focused on military equipment.

Dong Shaozhong, who led troops in battle, had a better say on this matter: "So the Soviets were very open with their old equipment. 2 Mosin rifles, all sealed up in the warehouse, were taken out in the blink of an eye, with bayonets, cleaning rods, and slings all complete.

"The light machine gun we chose is the DP type, and the heavy machine gun is the Maxim type. Both types are relatively easy to produce, making it easier for us to imitate them. The Maxim is the Min-24 that uses Soviet ammunition, and the two have many common parts." General Dong showed the table in his hand, which contained a suggested compilation table he had compiled.

"I think we can completely replace our equipment with Soviet weapons later. The previous German, Japanese and other weapons can be transferred to the newly formed troops, which will also facilitate unified logistics."

"Let's start with the current four divisions. 4 new Soviet-style rifles, plus the collected old water-fired rifles, will correspond to a total force of approximately 2 people, which in turn corresponds to about eight brigades and sixteen regiments. Based on the method of placing light machine guns in platoons and heavy machine guns in companies, we will need to import approximately 1500 light machine guns, 300 heavy machine guns, and approximately 250 60mm small steel cannons - Oh, I heard that," he turned to Ren Bulin, "Representative Ren, can we produce this now?"

"I guess so. The equipment we purchased previously included specialized components, but for now, we still need to import steel pipes, sights, and artillery fuses."

"That's great too... They're on par with the Central Army." After a sigh, he concluded, "Besides, we have regimental artillery and infantry artillery. I visited a Soviet Army display a while ago and think the 1927 model artillery is more suitable for us. This 76mm cannon can fire about 15 miles away and shares the same gun carriage parts with the Soviet 37mm infantry gun. It weighs about 900 kilograms and can be towed by horses. We don't need too many of these, we'll probably put them at division headquarters. Four or six guns per division is about right."

"I have a suggestion on this point."

Political Commissar Wang Da had, in a sense, more information. "Regarding mountain artillery, Comrade Xiao Liu gave a report last time. He's already established contact with an American manufacturer and is able to acquire a type of American mountain artillery. This one weighs approximately 650 kilograms, is 75mm in caliber, and has a range of 9 kilometers. It can also be towed and disassembled into several parts for human transport. I think, if other factors are not significantly different, wouldn't the American mountain artillery be a better choice?"

"I've seen some information on this," Dong Shaozhong shook his head. "American artillery is good, but will the Americans sell it to us readily? Soviet artillery isn't as good, but at least we can see and touch it, and it won't hold us back."

"In this regard, Xiao Liu's data indicates that after this type of American artillery was produced, the Army didn't prioritize it, so it was only equipped with the Navy... the Marine Corps. As a result, orders were scarce, and the artillery factory wanted to promote it for export. If there were large purchases, they were willing to sell the technology and production license. When Comrade Xiao Liu first contacted them, they immediately agreed over the phone to ship us the stock directly. It was probably a sample from their factory."

Political Commissar Wang Da pondered for a moment and said, "I think it's better to do this. We should take two approaches. On the one hand, we will purchase the 1927-model artillery from the Soviet Union, but in slightly smaller quantities. On the other hand, we will see if Comrade Xiao Liu can actually buy the American artillery on time.

"If we can successfully purchase them, or even acquire the equipment and production technology, we might as well equip them with American mountain artillery. If not, we can equip them with Soviet mountain artillery. As for the extra, non-universal artillery, I think we have many troops that need artillery. The Krupp guns that Huang Nianzhuo has been thinking about only have four of them, and this is already the only barreled artillery unit in our entire army! There's no reason to be so picky!"

Chapter 33: The Confrontation (II) The Preserved God of War

Canteen System Assistance

By Forgotten Maple X

2396 words

2020-10-08 12: 00: 00

Just when the "strongest brains" of the Eighth Route Army were diligently studying every detail, the great strategist from Sean, the only 3.5 outstanding military strategist in the country, Chiang Kai-shek's think tank, the sword-giver of the Emperor, the mysterious and charming intelligent Oriental, the master of military studies Geng Guang - Yang Gengguang arrived!

Where did he end up? He ended up in the Soviet Union!

What are we doing in the Soviet Union? To negotiate! To get Soviet aid for our country!

So what was the first thing he did?

Perhaps it was because the Red Army's achievements during the Eastern Expedition exceeded expectations, or perhaps it was because of the newly opened Huinong base. In June, as the clouds of war grew thicker in Wanping City, he took Chiang Kai-shek's mysterious instructions and replaced Wang Lu, who had been invited by the Soviet Union, on board the Junkers' flight to the Soviet Union.

Chiang Kai-shek's instructions were simple: at this crucial moment, he needed to seek aid from the Soviet Union, ideally concluding a Sino-Soviet alliance to deter Japan from declaring all-out war. Secondly, he needed to secure all-around Soviet assistance, including loans, military aid, and economic assistance, to strengthen Chiang Kai-shek's central government. Finally, he needed to emphasize to the Soviet Union that the Western Powers represented by Chiang Kai-shek were the only option for resisting Japan. If he desired peace in the Far East, he had to feed him.

Chiang Kai-shek's foresight was quite accurate in this regard—the Soviet Union's primary concern domestically was not doctrine or ideology, but its own security in the Far East. While preparing to defend against major threats from Europe, the Soviet Union could not and did not have the resources to sustain a war on two fronts; therefore, it needed a force in the Far East to contain the Japanese.

As for this force flying the red flag, that would be the best of course; but if the red force is not good enough, then if you fly the "Blue Sky, White Sun and Red Earth", and it is internally corrupt, ruled by compradors and landlords, and even leans towards the United States, there is no problem, as long as you can ensure that the Japanese in the Far East do not attack the Soviet Union.

So not long after Yang Gengguang arrived in the Soviet Union, he was received by Stalin. In the reception room of the Kremlin in Moscow, this military god from the fruit industry met the Iron Man with a big beard and a big pipe.

However, the conversation between the two soon "collapsed".

If the conversation between the two were written into a script, it would probably go something like this.

Yang Gengguang: Chairman Stalin, we...

Stalin nodded: You can just call me Comrade Stalin, and I will call you Comrade Yang.

Yang Gengguang: Okay, Comrade Stalin, we ask for your assistance so that the country can be stabilized.

Stalin (leaning forward slightly, with a serious expression): You should remember that as long as you do not have a military industry, it will always be unstable... We can provide you with our instructors, which is cheaper than buying weapons from foreigners.

Yang Gengguang: That's right. We ask for your assistance.

Stalin (nods affirmatively): We are here to help you.

Yang Gengguang: Our entire country is counting on your assistance.

Stalin (twisting his mustache and adjusting his pipe): How is your aviation business? Do you manufacture airplanes?

Yang Gengguang: We cannot manufacture engines, but we can manufacture everything else.

Stalin (sighs): We will give you engines, as many as you want. We will build planes ourselves with wood, and you can also make them... Start your own aircraft manufacturing industry, and we will provide you with volunteer instructors... If China wants to stand up, it should develop its own air force and artillery.

Yang Gengguang: Please help us.

Stalin (teasing his pipe vigorously): Remember, relying solely on foreign aid is unreliable. We need to develop our own industry, and the Chinese can undoubtedly defeat the Japanese. ... During these three years, we will all support you. You will have your own pilots and your own artillery. Under such circumstances, no one can defeat China.

If you want to become an independent country, you should have airplanes, artillery and oil. When you defeat the Japanese, you will need to develop your own heavy industry... I think China should not ignore any assistance and can and should buy airplanes and machine guns from the United States and Germany.

Allies can be steadfast or unsteady. We also need to deal with unreliable allies, such as Britain. It would be wrong to rely solely on the Soviet Union for aid. China also needs assistance from unsteady allies...

Yang Gengguang: I will convey everything the great leader Stalin said to Chiang Kai-shek. Furthermore, if we are on the verge of extinction, we will place our hopes on the Soviet Union.

Stalin (serious, concentrated and sublime): No, such a great country cannot perish.

In itself, as a negotiating representative of any country, turning a conversation with leaders of other countries into such a state - even requiring the other party to give him some patriotic education - can be said to be seriously incompetent.

But as soon as he came out of the Kremlin, Yang Gengguang regained his energetic expression. This mysterious confidence that emanated from him even confused the Chinese ambassador to the Soviet Union, Jiang Tingfu, who was guarding the door.

As soon as he got into the car, Jiang Tingfu hurriedly shook his hand and asked, "Representative Yang, what did Chairman Stalin say about aiding our country?"

Yang Gengguang waved his hand, ostentatiously ignoring Stalin's promise to "help you build an air force and artillery within three years," and declared, "I thought Stalin, as the head of state, would have some profound ideas, but in the end, he was only ambiguous and indecisive!"

"Hmm? What did Stalin say?"

"The Soviet Union is so powerful, yet it's unwilling to help our country. Stalin couldn't even come up with a plan to enhance our country's ability to resist the Japanese invasion. He's a complete failure as a leader!"

"what?"

Jiang Tingfu was extremely surprised. As ambassador, he also received a copy of the negotiation plan. The Chiang Kai-shek government's request was primarily for Soviet aid, especially military supplies, to bolster domestic strength. Whether it was for the anti-Japanese war or the civil war, as long as the supplies arrived in China, it would be easy to negotiate. However, as a diplomat with a sense of the overall situation, Jiang Tingfu still tried his best to secure benefits for the preserved fruit.

"Did Stalin ever propose entering China to aid the war?"

When the issue of sending troops was mentioned, Yang Gengguang's eyebrows rose and his eyes widened, as if he had encountered an unforgivable criminal, and he was about to chop down the person with the sword of justice and morality, as if he was enforcing justice: "Go to China to help in the war? Humph!

"The leader of the great Soviet Union was so afraid of the enemy that he only dared to send volunteers to China, and did not dare to send a large army across the sea to attack Japan to avenge Siberia. What a coward!"

He didn't take Jiang Tingfu's face, which was full of shock, seriously at all. In the car, Yang Gengguang lowered his voice, as if he had already made up his mind and had eighteen tricks up his sleeve. He whispered:

"But this won't faze me! I have a plan that will allow the Soviet Union to enter China and help in the war soon!"

Ok?

Jiang Tingfu might have heard of Yang Gengguang. He was said to be a leading military scholar in China, highly favored by Chiang Kai-shek. His legacy included numerous legendary figures: he offered numerous strategies to defeat the enemy during the warlord conflict, was recognized by the Emperor and awarded a sword while studying in Japan, and once refuted the opposing defense minister during a European inspection tour. He was considered one of China's "three and a half" military strategists of the time. How could he have persuaded the Soviet Union to send troops directly?

Was it to meet with a special person? To explain to Stalin the necessity of the war of resistance? Or to ask other countries to intervene?

"Brother Tingfu, all you need to do is spread the news in the media tomorrow, saying that we have obtained Stalin's approval and that the Soviet Union will declare war on Japan soon." He raised his chin and slammed his left hand against his right palm, as if he didn't feel that what he said was absurd at all.

"The Japanese invaders will certainly not sit idly by and watch the Soviet Union attack. They will definitely strike first, and the Soviet Union will be forced to counterattack. In this way, the Soviet Union and Japan will really go to war, and Stalin's million-strong army will enter China to help our army sweep across the world and clear the country!"

"What???"