Chapter 774
The Chinese Air Force Aims at Tokyo: Stilwell's Bold Gamble and Chang Ruiyuan'
……
After Stilwell left, the door to the operations room had just closed.
"call--"
Qian Bojun, who had been standing in the corner with a tense face as a background figure, let out a long breath.
He walked a few steps to the table, grabbed Chu Yunfei's teacup, and without caring that it was leftover tea, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. Then he slumped into the chair without any regard for his image.
"Sir, this foreigner is really hard to please."
Qian Bojun wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said with a wry smile, "I was so sweaty from acting that scene just now."
"If I accidentally burst out laughing, or if I lose my temper, our 'self-inflicted injury' scheme will be exposed."
"Brother Bojun, your acting skills almost fooled me."
Fang Ligong pushed up his glasses and looked at Chu Yunfei: "Sir, this American is also full of bad intentions."
"They're fighting amongst themselves, using us as pawns to undermine Chennault."
"The Japanese are now prepared to bomb Tokyo. I think they want to use our pilots' lives to gain their title of 'strategist'."
"Chennault had previously proposed bombing the Wuchang area to test the power of a new type of incendiary bomb, but this was sternly rejected by the General Staff and he himself was also criticized in the United States."
"I suspect this might be Stilwell's idea. That old man's obsession with power is no less than that of our Chairman."
Chu Yunfei walked to the window and watched Stilwell's convoy drive away, his eyes as cold as ice.
"We and he are just using each other."
"He wants to use us to attack his political enemies, and we also want to use him to acquire equipment."
"Yes, I guess you could call it a win-win situation."
Chu Yunfei turned around and looked at Qian Bojun: "Bojun, you saw the look in Stilwell's eyes before he left."
“Since he thinks you are a ‘troublemaker’ who has been wronged and has grievances against me, he will definitely try to win you over.”
"There will definitely be a lot of private contact."
"When the time comes, whatever he promises you, even if it's mountains of gold and silver, you should accept it all!"
Qian Bojun was taken aback for a moment, then grinned, a sly glint in his eyes: "Don't worry, Your Excellency, why wouldn't you eat meat that's been delivered right to your mouth?"
"I'll play the role of this 'resentful woman' perfectly. Whether it's a truck or shells, I'll definitely ask for an exorbitant amount and won't hold back!"
"Ah."
"However, Your Excellency, there are indeed many complaints from below. As your brother, I understand your good intentions in doing this, but what about the people below?"
Chu Yunfei sighed: "So we must appease them and have them talked to. Although we can't reveal all our plans, we must maintain basic discipline and tell them that all of this is for the purpose of ending the war as soon as possible."
"This will put your mid-level officers to the test. You and Brother Wu Guan must keep a close eye on things and make sure nothing goes wrong."
"Yes, Your Excellency, please rest assured."
Chu Yunfei nodded, then looked at Fang Ligong: "Brother Ligong, you need to keep a close eye on the writing side."
“Arrange for several substantial articles to be published in the North China Daily and Ta Kung Pao.”
"The emphasis is on praising General Stilwell's 'vision' and 'excellent command,' attributing the entire idea of bombing Tokyo to his strategic foresight."
"Since he likes names, then let's give him a name."
"We need to elevate him to a high position, making him indispensable to our support, so that even if it's just for the sake of face, he won't try to pull any tricks in the subsequent distribution of supplies."
Fang Ligong understood immediately and closed his notebook: "Your Excellency is brilliant; this is called 'killing with praise'."
“As long as we put him on the hot seat, in order to maintain his image as a ‘Far East strategist,’ he will have to endorse us, even if Chennault objects.”
"Yes, and we also need to leverage their investment to continue developing our forward bases. The increased investment in Qiongzhou Island is also a compromise within the US. If the Americans want to take over a strategic core like Rabaul, they will naturally have to pay a considerable price. Our Qiongzhou Island, on the other hand, is a better starting point for their attack."
"Beyond Qiongzhou Island lies X Island. The limited Japanese air force is primarily focused on maintaining maritime security in the surrounding area. If a successful island-seizing and landing operation could be carried out..."
Chu Yunfei was naturally tempted, but he was also well aware that with the current strength of the National Revolutionary Army and the overall national power, even if they were to recover X Island, they wouldn't have the energy to clear out, rebuild, or reform it.
"Let's wait a bit. The bandit suppression and resettlement work in western Henan is nearing completion. Commander Zhao called earlier, estimating that the most difficult-to-manage western Henan region could be brought under control within six months, making the subsequent work much easier."
"There are still too many unresolved problems in the Central Plains."
……
Half an hour later.
First War Zone Command.
The study was dimly lit, and the scent of sandalwood couldn't mask the musty smell. Chang Ruiyuan, draped in a black cloak, sat in a grand chair with his eyes slightly closed, as if in deep meditation.
Zhu Peiji, the chief of staff, stood by the desk with his back bent and his voice low as he recounted the message that had just come from the operations room, word for word.
"Bomb Tokyo."
Chang Ruiyuan slowly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in his cloudy pupils.
His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, making a "tap, tap" sound that was particularly clear in the quiet room.
"Stilwell, that American, is quite shrewd."
Zhu Peiji asked cautiously, "Chairman, this matter is too risky."
"Our B-25s were obtained from the Americans, and every one that crashes is one less we have."
"Moreover, the journey is long, requiring us to fly over enemy-occupied territory and the sea. If the operation fails, not only will the losses be heavy, but it will also affect the offensive in South China."
"The previous paper bomb offensive has been publicized by the world media several times. The Americans know that we are the first strategic air force to bomb Tokyo and the first to bomb the Japanese mainland."
"Moreover, General Chennault had already sent several telegrams complaining about the fuel shortage."
"If we send more planes to bomb Japan, air support in South China will be cut off."
Chang Ruiyuan didn't say anything, but stood up, leaned on his cane, and walked to the huge map on the wall.
His gaze crossed the Yangtze River and the sea, landing on that small island nation.
“Peki, what you said is not wrong, but it is not macro enough.”
Chang Ruiyuan's voice was deep, yet it conveyed an undeniable decisiveness.
"Even if we push back a few dozen kilometers less in South China, as long as our main force is still intact, we can fight back at any time in the future."
"but."
Chang Ruiyuan turned around abruptly, slamming his cane heavily on the floor: "If our planes could drop bombs right on top of the Japanese locusts!"
"what is that?"
"That's revenge!"
"That was the first time since the First Sino-Japanese War that we Chinese had truly brought the flames of war to the Japanese mainland!"
"If this news gets out, how much will it boost the morale of the people across the country?"
"Those puppet troops and traitors who are still watching must be terrified!"
More importantly
Chang Ruiyuan narrowed his eyes, his gaze gleaming with the shrewdness and calculation of a politician: "This will enhance our country's international image."
"We have the capability to retaliate, and the capability to strike at the heart of the enemy's stronghold!"
"This is the strongest bargaining chip at the international negotiating table!"
"As for the risks..."
Chang Ruiyuan's voice was quite cold: "If the bombers are gone, the Americans will definitely continue to provide them; if the pilots are killed, they can be trained again."
"But such political capital cannot be acquired overnight."
"Since Yunfei has already agreed, then I will send a telegram to the Air Force in my name."
Chang Ruiyuan waved his sleeve and said decisively, "Except for the Fourteenth Air Force (which is directly commanded by the Americans and not under Chang Ruiyuan's direct command), all other departments are required to fully support Stilwell's plan!"
"Order the Air Force to select its most elite crews and best aircraft to cooperate with the North China forces in carrying out this mission!"
"After all, we also need to prepare to attend the trilateral summit organized by the Americans."
"Chairman, President Roosevelt proposed holding the trilateral summit in Alaska, but I believe that if the meeting were held there, it would require passing through Soviet Siberia. It would be very inappropriate to arrive on Soviet soil without meeting His Excellency Stalin."
Chang Ruiyuan nodded decisively: "That's right, so we should suggest changing the location. As for the Sino-US summit, didn't Roosevelt want us to go there?"
"Yes, there has been no reply yet. What do you think, Chairman?"
"Given the current situation, it seems difficult for me to make the trip, unless I am certain that this trip will resolve the Pacific War."
To put it bluntly...
Chang Ruiyuan dared not cross Soviet territory, nor did he dare leave the country to cross the Pacific Ocean to meet Washington's "King" amidst the current domestic turmoil.
He needed further assurances from Washington, but what those assurances were, only Chang Ruiyuan himself probably knew. (End of Chapter)