SFS Chapter 288 Stevenson is coming
Chapter 288 Stevenson is coming
44年6月16日，一架从春城方向飞来的DC-3（C-47的民版）型运输机在密支那机场降落。
The metal skin of the plane reflected the sticky sunlight unique to the Bago rainforest, and the propeller, which was spinning slower and slower, broke up the cloud shadows in the puddles on the runway.
When the hatch opened, the rhinestone trim on Stevenson's star happened to catch a ray of light breaking through the clouds.
The four silver stars on the epaulettes cast diamond-shaped spots of light on the general's camel-hair coat. The white hair of the highest commander of the theater was thinner than when he took office three months ago.
Just as the orderly was about to help him, the old general's military boots had already stepped heavily on the third step of the gangway - this deliberate pause caused the adjutant Colonel Adams, who was holding a briefcase behind him, to almost bump into his back.
On the ground, the black helmets of the Intelligence Department's internal security forces appeared and disappeared in the gap of the airport tower.
The staff adjutant's knuckles turned white as he clasped the crocodile leather clasp.
The unassuming suitcase certainly didn't contain any of Stevenson's looted gold and silver treasures. Instead, it contained several stacks of confidential documents encrypted in Army code:
A battle plan to assist the People's Army of An to form 10 Eagle-equipped Light Infantry Divisions and to attack Siam, the three Indochina countries, the Spice Islands (Borneo, Sumatra, Sulawesi, etc.).
Currently, the Japanese-owned oil refining companies (the name of Japanese enterprises) are mainly concentrated in four areas - the mainland, the pseudo-Anzhou Kingdom, the occupied Shanghai area, and islands such as Borneo.
The Japanese's precarious oil supply depends entirely on gasoline, diesel, heavy oil and other fuels smelted by smelting plants in these areas.
With the smooth progress of Operation Overlord, the White Eagle Army in Europe began to advance rapidly. Stevenson and General MacArthur in Asia naturally became fully prepared to perform well.
Unfortunately, both of them have recently suffered Waterloo:
The Battle of Central Henan certainly exposed the absurdity of the White Party, but it also brought shame to the theater commander Stevenson.
On the other hand, Nimitz led the White Eagle Navy to beat the Japanese Navy in New Guinea, but these victories were won by the Navy and the Marine Corps.
The Battle of Saipan, launched by the 2nd and 27th Infantry Divisions of the White Eagle Army under the command of Marshal MacArthur, encountered fierce resistance from more than 3 Japanese soldiers led by Saito Yoshitsugu just as it began.
Compared with its counterparts in Europe, the White Eagle Army in the Pacific did not make good progress.
This gave Stevenson a new opportunity - to command the An Min Army to launch the South Seas Campaign, directly attack the Strait of Malacca and the Borneo oil fields, approach the absolute national defense circle of the Japanese from the flank, and make the final decision before Marshal MacArthur.
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In the huge conference room, many officers from both sides gathered together in neatly dressed uniforms.
Since Zhang Chi had already established the prestige of the Anmin Army through reliable combat results, the White Eagle military had to acknowledge the Anmin Army's status as an ally, even though theoretically the Anmin Army was still under the command of Stevenson, the theater commander.
Therefore, in the conference room, Zhang Chi and Stevenson sat together at the head of the huge conference table, while other officers of all ranks from both sides sat in order on both sides of the conference table according to their ranks.
"7 M1 Garands, 2 M1 Carbines, 5 Thompsons, 3000 BAR machine guns, 1000 M1919 heavy machine guns, 500 60mm mortars, 300 81mm mortars, 2000 bazookas, 200 57mm anti-tank guns, 3 jeeps and trucks, and 120 105mm howitzers."
Zhang Chi read out the document as if he was naming a dish.
Every time he read out a number on the aid document, the eyes of the many security army officers present lit up.
Although the People's Army of An has already organized more than 10 infantry divisions, except for the earliest few infantry divisions which were heavy infantry divisions built completely according to European standards, the later infantry divisions are only equipped with rifles and a small amount of supporting firepower such as domestically produced 60 mortars, recoilless rifles, RPGs, etc.
Now that White Eagle is suddenly going to support 10 more divisions with equipment, how can the commanders of these divisions with lower numbers not be excited?
However, Zhang Chi, who appeared to be smiling, felt increasingly cold inside. From this aid, he had seen the White Eagles' vigilance.
Not to mention the heavy equipment necessary for modern (modern World War II) warfare such as airplanes, tanks, and warships, the White Eagles did not even provide a 155mm caliber artillery piece.
As for the 105mm howitzers, each division was only equipped with one artillery battalion of 12 guns.
The 200 57mm anti-tank guns were about to be eliminated. The penetration depth of 122mm at the maximum distance meant that they could only hit medium tanks such as the early-cast Sherman, Panzer IV, and Cromwell.
Facing heavy tanks such as the Churchill, Tiger, and KV-1, this anti-tank gun is a perfect stepping stone.
This is obviously to prevent the excessive expansion of the military power of the People's Security Army...
Zhang Chi smiled calmly, looked at Stevenson beside him, and asked, "Equipment for 10 divisions! Such a generous gift! I'd like to thank General Stevenson and President Luo for their generosity."
"But I heard that the Japanese are preparing to attack the Changheng area. Shouldn't these weapons be sent to the Republic of China first?"
"About this question..." Stevenson suddenly shrugged childishly, then winked and signaled to Zhang Chi that he understood everything.
Zhang Chi also made an expression that said "I understand everything" at the right time.
The White Party took the White Eagle's military aid and sold it on the black market. Then they moved it to the White Eagle country bit by bit like ants moving.
As a soldier, Stevenson, who was responsible for coordinating the distribution of Eagle aid, might not know about these small treasuries within the White Eagle banks, but how could Commander Luo in the Oval Office not know about them?
It’s just that Commander Luo still needs the White Party to hold back the Japanese invaders in the Republic of China, so he didn’t make it clear.
But this does not mean that the White Eagle senior officials, including Chief of Staff Marshall, have no opinion on the various outrageous behaviors of the White Party and the four major families.
Stevenson couldn't help but think of the strange scene he saw at the Chuncheng black market last week - the M2 flamethrower that was supposed to be assigned to the National Army was now wrapped in a piece of Suzhou silk and placed on the ground for sale.
When he angrily demanded that such a black market be shut down immediately, local officials actually told him that this was the Kong family's property and that they had no right to interfere unless there was an order from the mountain city.
Who knows how many Eagle Aid weapons fell into the hands of the Japanese?
White Eagle is not opposed to doing business during war.
For example, Zhang Chi provided the White Eagle with napalm bombs and various logistical supplies including rubber raincoats, natural latex condoms, canned fruits, and sterile gauze. The Pentagon was very willing to give Zhang Chi a contract worth tens of millions of dollars, and have Zhang Chi provide them to the White Eagle army in Asia.
In such contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars, some gray "lubrication" costs were generated, which the entire United States was willing to accept.