Chapter 786
Chapter 786
Mountain City, the office building of the Military Commission of the National Government.
The fog outside the window had not yet dissipated, and the rows of Sichuan soldiers wearing dark green raincoats and holding American submachine guns looked like green iron fences, heavily enveloping this core of power.
He Jingzhi, former Minister of Military Affairs and Commander-in-Chief of the Army, walked hurriedly, his leather shoes making rapid and dull sounds on the terrazzo floor of the corridor.
He ignored the salutes from his staff along the way and went straight to knock on the door of Chen Cixiu's office in the Ministry of Military Affairs.
“Ci Xiu”.
He Jingzhi slammed the door shut behind him, his face pale. He pointed out the window and whispered, "Did you see that? The commotion last night..."
Chen Cixiu was sitting behind his desk, holding a cup of hot tea, looking at the briefing on the Sicilian campaign that had just been delivered to him.
Seeing He Jingzhi enter, he put down his teacup and gave a bitter smile.
"Lord Jing, please sit down."
Chen Cixiu pointed to the sofa, "With such a commotion, how could we not know?"
"Wang Mingzhang's 22nd Army Group took over the air defense and garrison duties of the entire mountain city overnight."
"Even the original garrison command has been sidelined."
He Jingzhi sat down, still somewhat shaken: "This was too sudden!"
"The Chairman didn't give us a heads-up beforehand."
"After all, Chongqing is the secondary capital."
"Let a Sichuan army that had just been transferred back from outside, and even had some 'ragtag' members, take over."
"Too what?"
Chen Cixiu glanced at He Jingzhi and said meaningfully, "Too much trust? Or too much risk?"
"Lord Jing, haven't you figured it out yet?"
Chen Cixiu stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the Sichuan Army soldiers standing solemnly downstairs through the glass: "This unit, although it carries the sign of the 22nd Army Group, is dressed in the skin of the National Army."
"But deep down, they carry the spirit of North China, and in their hands are products made in Taiyuan and American goods."
"This already reflects the shared will of the Chairman and that 'war commander'."
The term "war commander" was mentioned.
He Jingzhi's eye twitched slightly.
The grand ceremony in Kaifeng a few days ago, with its spectacular scenes, still makes him feel somewhat dizzy.
“There are rumors circulating outside that there are actually two chairmen in this world today.”
"One is the chairman of the National People's Congress from Chongqing, and the other is the 'junior chairman' from the north."
"Sh-!"
Chen Cixiu's expression changed, and he quickly made a shushing gesture: "Respectfully yours, sir."
"If those words came from your mouth but entered my ears, then so be it."
He walked back to the sofa and sat down, lowering his voice to say, "No matter what's being said outside, the facts are undeniable."
"By the way, Cixiu."
He Jingzhi changed the subject, pointing to the documents on Chen Cixiu's desk: "What's your opinion on the war in Europe?"
"Italy is finished."
Chen Cixiu picked up the briefing, his tone tinged with emotion: "A month ago, the Allied forces landed in Sicily. Although Alexander the Great, that Englishman, was not a very good commander, he couldn't withstand the sheer volume of supplies the Americans had piled up."
"With Mussolini's downfall, the Badoglio government is in secret contact with the Allies, and surrender is only a matter of time."
At this point, Chen Cixiu shook his head, a hint of mockery on his face: "It's laughable, really."
"Italy, that's one of the great powers!"
Their industrial base is many times stronger than ours, and their navy and air force look quite impressive.
"The results of it?"
"They were chased by the British in North Africa, and collapsed as soon as the US and British forces attacked them on their home soil."
"It's like a beggar holding a golden bowl; it looks glamorous, but it'll break if you touch it."
"On the other hand, look at us."
He Jingzhi picked up the conversation, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes: "Although we are poor and our equipment is inferior, we have fought the Japanese to the death in Shanghai, Xuzhou and Wuhan for so many years!"
"Now they've even launched a counterattack, and they've driven the Japanese to their graves!"
"Compared to this, these Italians aren't even worthy of carrying our shoes!"
“Yes,” Chen Cixiu agreed wholeheartedly. “This is the spirit of the people, this is the soul of the army.”
"Of course, it also owes much to the industrial miracle achieved in Shanxi." "However..."
Chen Cixiu changed the subject, his brows furrowing slightly: "The Chairman and the War Marshal chose a rather risky route to Cairo this time."
"Stop in Toungoo, transfer in India, and then fly to Egypt."
"Our relationship with the British is very tense right now."
He Jingzhi snorted coldly: "The British?"
"Those are a bunch of ungrateful wretches."
“We helped them hold off the Japanese in Burma, but instead of being grateful, they were wary of us at every turn, fearing that we would stay in Burma and affect their colonial rule in India. Fortunately, our attitude was firm enough.”
Chen Cixiu nodded in agreement: "However, Churchill will definitely try to trip us up at the meeting this time."
"Trying to trip me up?"
Chen Cixiu pulled out a top-secret staff assignment from his drawer.
This assignment is about a troop deployment exercise in the China-India-Burma theater.
He pointed to several points on the map, his tone turning unusually cold and stern: "Respect the Duke."
"Take a look at this."
"Our main force of the expeditionary force, namely the Annamite Army, is currently conducting joint exercises with the First Army Group in Toungoo."
"hope Lian is a formidable fighter."
"In addition, there are our troops that have been equipped with a full set of American weapons, some even better than the American military equipment."
Chen Cixiu pointed his finger heavily at the Indian border: "With the fighting strength of the British Indian Army, which is even inferior to that of the Italians."
"If the British really dare to seize the President's plane, or stab him in the back."
"According to the General Staff's deductions..."
Chen Cixiu held up one finger: "One week!"
"In just one week, the Annamese army under Song Xilian and Wu Ziqiang will be able to break through the British Indian army's defenses head-on!"
"If the chief advisor were to personally command, we could be at the gates of New Delhi in as little as three months!"
"At that time, we will take India, the so-called crown of the British Empire, and kick it around like a football!"
"This Cairo conference is not only about negotiations, but also about establishing our authority!"
"We have made all preparations, whether it is a diplomatic conflict with the Soviets or the British, or even whether it will affect the subsequent cooperation of the Allies. I believe the Chairman has also made corresponding contingency plans."
……
Nanjing, the headquarters of the China Expeditionary Army.
Unlike the high spirits of those in the mountain city.
At this moment, the city of Jinling was shrouded in a deathly silence.
Although news of the disastrous defeat in the Central Japan and the fire in Tokyo was strictly suppressed, the atmosphere of despair still spread like a virus among the high command of the Japanese army.
Okamura Neiji sat alone in his office.
The lights were not on.
Only the pale moonlight from outside the window shone in, illuminating his aged and gloomy face.
In front of him was an exquisite Go set.
On the board, the black pieces have formed an encirclement, and the white group has been captured, with only a few eyes left to struggle for survival.
"The outcome is already decided."
Okamura Neiji picked up a white stone, his fingers hovering in the air for a long time before finally falling limply off the board.
"Boom."
A soft sound, as if he were bowing to fate.
The door was gently pushed open.
That mysterious envoy.
Chen Zhigan, who is half Chinese, slipped in like a ghost.
They moved silently, more like highly trained spies than diplomats.
Chen Zhiqian walked up behind Okamura Yasuji and bowed slightly: "General."
(End of this chapter)