Chapter 789
Chu Yunfei's Little Counter-Espionage Scheme Leads to Fatty Qiu's Mistaken Exe
If the verbal sparring on the first day was a test of each other's bottom lines by politicians from various countries...
Today, the tension at the conference table has concretely shifted to the specific military operational landscape.
Zhan Shuai sat upright on the right side of the conference table, subtly glancing at the British delegation across the long table.
After yesterday's fierce clashes, the British generals, having lost face, apparently held emergency consultations overnight.
At this moment, those thin, pale British faces once again displayed the composure and confidence of old-fashioned imperialism.
Churchill sat in one of the main seats, a thick Havana cigar in his mouth emitting thick smoke.
His obese body sank deep into the leather chair, his slightly raised chin exuding an undisguised arrogance, as if he had already prepared a superb weapon that could silence everyone.
The hands of the wall clock are pointing to ten o'clock.
Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Commander of the Allied Southeast Asia Command, rose gracefully amidst solemn gazes.
He possessed an exceptionally striking appearance, exuding remarkable confidence, and strode confidently to the giant strategic nautical chart of Asia and the Pacific at the front of the conference room, his gleaming military boots gleaming.
"Gentlemen."
Lord Mountbatten’s voice was loud and magnetic, with a standard West End London aristocratic accent: “After a night of deliberation by the General Staff of the British Empire and the Southeast Asia Command, we have drafted a grand amphibious operation plan that is enough to turn the tide of the entire Far East war.”
He took a slender brass baton from his adjutant, swung it sharply, creating a gust of wind.
"Snapped!"
The tip of the brass baton struck heavily on the scattered archipelago on the map—Indonesia.
"These two special military operations are codenamed 'Musketeers' and 'Thor's Hammer'."
The air in the conference room seemed to be sucked out in that instant.
All the American generals and Chinese representatives couldn't help but focus their attention on that long, narrow tropical island.
With a slight droop of his eyelids, Zhan Shuai immediately and astutely grasped the core intention of the British.
These cunning Anglo-Saxons wanted to take advantage of the Pacific counter-offensive to directly seize control of the oil-rich Dutch East Indies.
Mountbatten slid the baton in his hand southward along the Andaman Sea.
"Operation Musketeers, targeting Palembang on the island of Sumatra!"
Mountbatten's eyes gleamed with fanaticism: "There lies the largest oil refinery in all of Southeast Asia. Once the British Royal Army reclaims this land, the blood of the Japanese war machine will be completely drained."
Then, the baton was moved horizontally and pointed to the island of Java.
"Operation 'Thor's Hammer' was aimed at capturing key ports such as Batavia."
He turned around and surveyed the entire room with a highly provocative gaze: "This will be a fatal blow that will fundamentally tear apart the Japanese army's absolute defense perimeter."
U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Marshall frowned slightly, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.
"Your Excellency."
Marshall's voice was deep and stern: "Such an amphibious landing across the sea requires an extremely large troop deployment. How much mobile force does the British Empire have available in Southeast Asia?"
This is precisely the issue that Americans care about most.
They didn't want to hear the British make empty promises only to have American soldiers end up filling the gaps.
Mountbatten seemed to have been prepared, a proud smile curving his lips.
"Please rest assured, our U.S. allies."
He raised his head confidently: "For these two decisive battles, the British Empire has already completed the full formation and assembly of the Fourteenth Army on Indian soil."
"This massive field army, commanded by General William Slim, comprised eight fully equipped infantry divisions!"
"Total troop strength exceeds 150,000!"
Upon hearing this, Zhan Shuai tapped his knuckles very lightly on the armrest of his chair.
The British Empire has always been a master at being generous with other people's money.
Before he arrived in Cairo, he had already thoroughly investigated this so-called "imperial elite" through key intelligence shared by American allies.
Of these eight divisions, two were British divisions that were just there to make up the numbers.
The remaining six divisions were all British Indian auxiliary troops temporarily recruited in India and commanded by British officers.
Expecting a group of Indian soldiers with no will to fight to a bloody battle against the Japanese army, which had gone mad, in the rainforest to seize the island?
How could we possibly win?
Mountbatten, however, continued to speak eloquently on stage, painting a picture of his unrealistic and grandiose vision.
"According to our schedule."
"Next March, these 150,000 troops will begin boarding ships from Ceylon and Chittagong, India."
"In early April, under the cover of the spring monsoon, we will make a forced landing on the beaches of Sumatra and Java."
At this point, Mountbatten suddenly changed the subject, his tone becoming somewhat diplomatic and pleading.
He looked at Admiral King, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Navy Fleet, and Marshall across from him.
"Of course, given the immense pressure of the Atlantic theater of war."
Mountbatten said in a matter-of-fact tone, "These two great operations would not have been possible without the selfless protection of the United States of America in terms of naval and air power."
"We need the U.S. Pacific Fleet to provide carrier battle groups for air superiority, and we also need the Fourteenth Air Force to provide long-range bombing support from the mainland."
See the picture poorly.
Looking at Mountbatten's hypocritical face, the warlord immediately saw through the core logic of Britain's elaborate scheme.
Using Indian lives, and with the help of American warships and Chinese fighter jets, they attempted to reclaim the British Empire's colonial hegemony in Southeast Asia.
Not only that.
This was even a desperate attempt to undermine the expeditionary force, as if the British were to make good progress, then Australia and the United States would have another force to rely on.
as predicted.
Chang Ruiyuan, who had been sitting in the main seat observing coldly, could no longer contain his anger.
Chang Ruiyuan's thin body leaned slightly forward in the large chair, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's.
"boom!"
His silver-inlaid cane slammed heavily onto the thick Persian carpet.
The muffled thud abruptly interrupted Mountbatten's impassioned speech.
Chang Ruiyuan did not look at Mountbatten, but instead cast a very imposing gaze directly at the British Prime Minister diagonally opposite him.
"Your Excellency Churchill."
Chang Ruiyuan's voice, conveyed through the translator, carried an undeniable forcefulness to everyone's ears.
"Since the British Empire wants to launch such a massive transoceanic amphibious assault in Indonesia."
"Then why don't we see the Royal Navy's Eastern Fleet in the plans?"
Chang Ruiyuan spoke faster and faster, pressing on relentlessly: "If your country truly wants to recover the lost territories in the Far East, I strongly suggest that you immediately transfer the main force of the British Empire's navy to the Southeast Asian theater to personally assume the heavy responsibility of providing air and sea cover!"
Churchill's fingers, which were holding a cigar, suddenly stiffened.
A fleeting look of annoyance, as if a sore spot had been hit, flashed across that fleshy face.
Sending the Royal Navy to Southeast Asia?
What a joke!
That was the last trump card the British Empire used to pressure the Soviet Union and the United States at the European negotiating table.
Churchill stubbed out his cigar in the crystal ashtray.
He suddenly sat up straight, waving his short, thick arms, and loudly retorted in an extremely exaggerated tone.
"Your Excellency Chairman, your suggestion is simply an unrealistic fantasy!"
Churchill met Chang Ruiyuan's gaze without backing down: "Haven't you read the war reports from Europe?"
"Although Italy has nominally surrendered to the Allies."
His spittle almost landed on the table: "But that shameful Mussolini has been rescued by the Germans and has established a puppet regime in northern Italy!"
"The Italian peninsula is now engulfed in an extremely bloody civil war!"
Churchill slammed his knuckles on the table: "The German U-boats are still patrolling the Mediterranean and the Atlantic."
"Every battleship and every cruiser of the British Empire was firmly pinned to the European defenses."
"We absolutely cannot, and will never allow, to deploy any of our main warships to East Asia at this critical juncture!"
Chang Ruiyuan's face instantly turned ashen.
This is clearly a sophistry and a blatant attempt to evade responsibility.
The Italian Navy had already surrendered entirely, and the Mediterranean Sea had long since become an inland lake for the Allies. What powerful force was left that could threaten the Royal Navy? However...
Churchill gave China no chance to continue its provocations.
He quickly turned his head and gave Mountbatten on the stage an extremely admiring look.
"Lord Mountbatten's plan is perfect!"
Churchill raised his voice and said in an almost definitive tone, "This is the strategic direction that the British Empire should take."
Zhan Shuai leaned back in his chair, his deep gaze sweeping across the vast tropical island on the map.
Churchill's strong support for the "Musketeers" and "Thor's Hammer" is why.
The fundamental reason is that this route of attack perfectly bypassed the tropical jungles of Myanmar, which were firmly held in place by the Chinese Expeditionary Force.
This not only avoided any direct contact with the rising National Revolutionary Army.
This would allow the British Empire to maintain or even re-establish its inviolable colonial influence in Southeast Asia without the need for an expeditionary force.
He tilted his head slightly and quickly exchanged a meaningful glance with Shang Zhen beside him.
Shang Zhen frowned deeply and muttered in a very low voice, "Using Indian soldiers who have never seen blood to attack a fortress that the Japanese have been building for two years, are these British out of their minds?"
Zhan Shuai's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
He knew all too well how insane those Japanese garrison troops, brainwashed by the Bushido spirit, were in the jungle.
On a tropical island lacking adequate heavy firepower and with extremely vulnerable logistics.
Those six hastily assembled British Indian auxiliary divisions encountered Japanese veterans who were ready to launch a "suicide attack" at any moment.
This will undoubtedly be a massive meat grinder that leaves the British Empire bleeding profusely.
If the commander were to go along with it now, he could applaud and agree.
With Churchill's naturally suspicious and shrewd political sense, he would have surely noticed the shady dealings and might even have reassessed the risks.
We must get these arrogant Englishmen to resolutely jump into this death trap.
The only solution is to do the opposite.
We must demonstrate to them the extreme "panic" and "rejection" of the Republic of China era.
"Your Excellency."
Thinking of this, Zhan Shuai suddenly stood up from his chair, his face ashen, his eyes filled with undisguised opposition and doubt.
"As a senior commander in the Far East theater, I must issue the strongest warning against this extremely reckless and blindly optimistic military adventure!"
This statement came out.
The entire conference room erupted in commotion, and even the American representatives turned around in surprise.
Mountbatten's hand, holding the baton, froze in mid-air, and his face instantly turned cold.
"Are you questioning the professionalism of the British General Staff?" Mountbatten asked rudely.
Zhan Shuai showed no intention of backing down. He strode to the map and snatched the command baton.
"This is not a question, but a responsible reminder between allies!"
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he struck the baton heavily on the locations of Sumatra and Java, producing a crisp sound.
"The terrain there is a despairing mix of primeval rainforest, swamps, and scorching miasma!"
"The Japanese 16th and 25th Armies stationed there were veterans who had experienced the entire Nanyang Campaign!"
He turned around and stared at Churchill and Brooke with a look of deep sorrow.
"And what about your Fourteenth Army?"
"As far as I know, they are just six newly formed Indian divisions that lack combat experience and are even shortlisted for junior officers!"
"Dumping them on that exposed beachhead, without the direct cover of British naval gunfire, was hardly a strategic counter-offensive."
Zhan Shuai's voice boomed in the conference hall: "This is simply a premeditated massacre!"
"The Chinese Expeditionary Force absolutely does not want to see another military disaster like the fall of Singapore occur on the Far East battlefield, one that could shatter the morale of the Allied forces!"
"We absolutely cannot afford such a devastating defeat!"
This pointed, even extremely sarcastic, "well-intentioned reminder" left the British delegation with a chameleon-like expression.
Lord Allen Brooke was trembling with rage, his eyes fixed on the War Marshal.
however.
Churchill's eyes, which were usually sunken in fat, began to dart around wildly at that moment.
This seasoned political scoundrel sensed another "flavor" in the general's anger, which seemed to stem from military concerns.
Churchill's gaze swept back and forth between Zhan Shuai and Chang Ruiyuan.
He believed he had seen through their true intentions.
'They're scared!'
A surge of intense pride and pleasure welled up within Churchill.
'They were afraid that the British Fourteenth Army would actually seize Indonesia's oil and rubber.'
They feared we would abandon them and rebuild the empire's prestige and order alone in Southeast Asia.
'That's why this young warlord is so hysterically spreading alarmist rumors, attempting to stop our military operations so that their expeditionary force can continue to dominate the Far East!'
"Having suffered repeated blows from the combined American and Australian forces and the expeditionary force, how much strength could the Japanese army in Southeast Asia possibly retain?"
Churchill understood this, and instead of getting angry, he let out a low, triumphant laugh.
"Ha ha ha ha."
Churchill, leaning on his cane, stood up with extreme arrogance.
His massive body was like an unshakeable mountain of flesh, looking down at the war commander.
"Your Mightiness."
Churchill took off his cigar and said in an extremely hypocritical gentlemanly tone, "I am truly 'deeply moved' by your concern for the lives of British soldiers."
He seemed to deliberately emphasize the last few words.
"However, while the British Empire was fighting in the tropical jungles, your country's army was probably still using spears and broadswords."
Churchill surveyed the room, his face radiating the arrogance and confidence unique to the British Empire.
"Your concerns about our strength are completely unnecessary."
"perhaps."
Churchill stared intently into the General's eyes, a mocking sneer playing on his lips: "What you're really worried about is that the British Empire is about to re-establish our indisputable dominance on this traditional territory that belongs to us, isn't it?"
The warlord's "dark thoughts" were exposed in public.
His face instantly turned extremely ugly.
Shang Zhen stood to the side, his brows furrowed and his expression extremely grave.
Seeing the Chinese representative's embarrassed reaction.
Churchill and the British generals exchanged smiles, and the last trace of doubt in their hearts about the war situation completely vanished.
The strong opposition from the Chinese people is the best proof of this plan.
"I think this plan no longer needs to be discussed!"
Churchill waved his hand and turned to look at Roosevelt, his tone resolute as iron.
“I guarantee in the name of the Prime Minister of the British Empire that ‘Musketeers’ and ‘Thor’s Hammer’ will be carried out as scheduled.”
"The 14th Army will completely destroy the Japanese garrison in Indonesia. We will fulfill our obligations as allies and contribute our share to the anti-fascist war."
Faced with such a resolute attitude from the British.
Roosevelt gave a deep look at the silent Chang Ruiyuan and the ashen-faced Zhan Shuai, and finally nodded slightly, indicating his acquiescence.
And the moment the War General slowly sat down.
In his seemingly raging black eyes, a chilling mockery and sarcasm flashed by like a shooting star.
Great Britain, that greedy fat pig, finally couldn't wait any longer and stretched its neck towards the guillotine known as the "Indonesian meat grinder." (End of Chapter)