SFS Chapter 289 I Want Independent Command
Chapter 289 I Want Independent Command
But isn't it a bit too much for you, the White Party, to take the aid from the United States with your left hand and then go directly to the United States to deposit money with your right hand?
Fortunately, the White House hadn't yet resorted to the shady tactics of using the President's aid to support his election opponent. (Truman: I have a stupid thing to say, but I don't know if I should say it or not.)
Otherwise, Zhang Chi estimated that Stevenson would not simply withdraw part of the military aid to the White Party and give it to the Security Army to crack down on certain people.
Instead, under the instruction of Commander Luo, they simply broke off relations and stopped providing assistance.
In addition, Stevenson had to compete with Marshal Mac for the fifth star, so Zhang Chi needed to continue launching cross-border attacks and gain more military merits in other areas occupied by the Japanese.
The perfect timing allowed the equipment of 10 divisions that were supposed to be sent to the Republic of China to be delivered directly to Zhang Chi.
However, Stevenson did not give up completely. At his repeated request, all the more than 10 expeditionary forces originally planned for the Battle of Pegu were transported to Changheng for offensive and defensive deployment.
In Stevenson's plan, it was certainly a brilliant move to attack Southeast Asia through the relaxed Anmin Army and cut off some of the devil's oil sources.
However, it was also a clever move to recover lost territory in the direction of the Republic of China, deploy heavy bombers, and directly bomb the Japanese industrial facilities on the mainland such as Shanghai, Xinjing, and Fengtian.
The combination of the two is even more wonderful.
However, the reality proved that the White Party was not strong enough, so Stevenson had to focus on the Anmin Army.
In the conference room, Zhang Chi solemnly signed his name on the aid document.
Unlike other excited generals, as the real head of the family, Zhang Chi is very clear that the future expansion of the Anmin Army will no longer rely on the assistance of the White Eagle.
Eugene Stoner and others at the Texas Armalite Firearms Design Company, which he secretly controlled, had successfully replicated the M14 automatic rifle and its matching 7.62x51mm bullet based on the sample gun he provided.
Now Armalite is using the M14 to compete for orders from the Pentagon, while developing the AR-10 automatic rifle at the request of Zhang Chi.
The latter, as the predecessor of the future AR-15 and M16, adopts the air-blowing principle and multi-cam rotary locking, making this gun more accurate than the AK-47.
当然，由于采用航空铝合金枪身，外加使用7.62x51弹的枪的后坐行程天然比AK-47的7.62x39弹要长，其射速和造价都将比AK-47更高。
But Zhang Chi is more focused on the future. After all, after the 5.56 bullet was finalized, the AR series has been improved all the way, and various classic firearms such as M4, HK416, SCAR, etc. were eventually derived based on AR.
As long as the AR-10 can be successfully developed, the Myitkyina No. 1 Arsenal, which is currently producing the Springfield M1903 in small batches and at a low speed, will switch to producing the AR-10 and quickly replace it.
Therefore, Zhang Chi really didn't think much of the 7 M1 Garands that Stevenson planned to provide as aid this time.
Of course, it is better to have something than nothing. Just as Li Yunlong said, a good plaster is one that can draw out pus.
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As the saying goes, one should be grateful for what one has received. Since Zhang Chi has expressed that he has accepted the aid, he naturally has to listen to Stevenson's subsequent offensive request.
"Respected General Stevenson, I am happy to lead the People's Army of the Republic of China to attack the Japanese forces entrenched in the Strait of Malacca and the oil fields of Borneo. But with all due respect, I am more familiar with the People's Army of the Republic of China than you are. I cannot agree with the battle plan drawn up by your staff."
After Zhang Chi finished saying this, he placed the top-secret battle plan on the conference table. This plan drawn up by White Eagle did not take into account the armored advantage of the Anmin Army at all. Instead, it treated the Anmin Army as an ordinary light infantry division and used it to fight the Japanese on the beach, which clearly raised the suspicion of using the Anmin Army as cannon fodder.
However, considering that the White Eagle soldiers had a difficult time fighting the Japanese in Guadalcanal, New Guinea and other places, Zhang Chi could also understand the other side.
He looked at the bewildered translator beside him and said casually, "Just translate as I say. Don't be afraid."
(In formal diplomatic settings, even if you can speak the other party's language, you should speak your native language. This is a principle of reciprocity. Of course, this doesn't matter in private communication.)
Before the translator could figure out how to say such a direct refusal, Stevenson, who had a basic understanding of Chinese, spoke.
Faced with Zhang Chi's somewhat blunt rejection, he did not get angry directly, but smiled and said in English:
“We have all witnessed General Zhang’s previous record against the Japanese pirates, but the next battle will be either an amphibious landing or a land expedition requiring naval support and logistics.
Even with the full cooperation of the United States Navy, are you confident that you can develop a comprehensive plan in this new world of warfare?"
"When I led a group of defeated soldiers to the mountains north of Pegu and faced an enemy force several times larger than ours, I did not lose confidence, and I certainly won't lose confidence now."
Zhang Chi smiled confidently and continued, "As long as you provide sufficient landing ships and escort fleets, I hope the People's Security Army can complete the subsequent land operations independently within its own framework without any constraints."
When Zhang Chi said this, he was not sure whether Stevenson could accept it.
After all, the People's Army's previous independent operations could be said to be restricted by geographical factors. Now that the People's Army has captured the entire Pegu, if Stevenson really strongly demands to exercise his command authority as the theater commander, he really has no reason to refuse politely.
"To be honest, my proud staff officers simply don't believe that a group of Chinese can independently carry out such a sophisticated amphibious operation." Stevenson said as he patted the battle plan drawn up by the White Eagle staff officers on the table.
At this time, the White Eagle officers under him all puffed out their chests proudly and looked at the Anmin Army generals opposite with contempt.
Faced with these proud white people, the generals of the People's Army were not intimidated at all. They stared back with wide eyes and glared back fiercely.
They even destroyed several divisions of the Japanese soldiers who beat up the "foreigners", and they had no fear at all when facing these so-called "foreigners".
"But I believe in you, General Zhang." Stevenson ignored his subordinates' arguments. He stared at Zhang Chi and said word by word, "You have created many miracles. I believe you can create a miracle this time too."
"I am willing to grant you the power to fight independently, but of course you must also produce sufficient results in the near future."
"As long as you provide a sufficient number of LCVPs (landing craft personnel, the one at the beginning of Saving Private Ryan) and LCTs (landing craft tanks), the People's Army will soon plant its flag all over Southeast Asia." Zhang Chi replied confidently.
"No problem. The United States's reputation as a democratic country's arsenal isn't given for nothing. We have as many small boats as you want." Stevenson agreed with a smile.
As long as Zhang Chi is willing to continue the attack and bring him results instead of defending his own piece of land in Pegu, he is willing to give all his support.
But what does Zhang Chi need LCTs for? Does the People's Army have so many tanks that need to be transported?
Stevenson, who was not clear about the true strength of the Anmin Army, ultimately did not care about this small detail, but asked another question:
"To be frank, since the main force of the navy is currently engaged in a decisive battle with the Japanese navy in the New Guinea area, the cover fleet that can be dispatched will be very limited. The landing force of the People's Army will likely encounter some minor, technical threats. Is this okay with you?"
"Of course." After saying that, Zhang Chi clicked the purchase button for the Level IV gold vehicle [CL-50 Helena Light Cruiser] on the White Eagle Navy technology tree in the system interface in his mind.