Spy Shadow: Command & Conquer

Chapter 1987, Military Coup? Again?
chongqing.

The Supreme Command of the National Revolutionary Army.

General Wenbai had just arrived at work when he noticed something was off.

Why is the atmosphere so lively?

It's like we've won a battle?

Where can one find anything joyful?

After he got off work, he no longer concerned himself with military affairs.

Anyway, there are always people on duty at the headquarters. There's no need for him to be in such a hurry.

Even if the sky were to fall, we would still consult the Chairman.

He saw his secretary.

"Reporting to the minister, the Japanese invaders have withdrawn from Yueyang."

His secretary rushed up to report, her face beaming with excitement.

General Wen Bai was stunned. He found it somewhat unbelievable.

Japanese invaders? Voluntary withdrawal?

Abandon Yueyang?

How can it be?

That's a strategic location!

It could sever the waterway connection between Chongqing and Changsha.

Between Changsha and Chongqing, water transportation is the most convenient. Land transportation is extremely difficult.

After Yueyang was occupied by the Japanese invaders, personnel and supplies had to pass through Changde to reach Changsha. This was time-consuming, laborious, and fraught with difficulties.

"When did this happen?"

"It was last night."

Why did the Japanese invaders retreat?

"The Commissioner has returned to Changsha and ordered an advance towards Yueyang."

"Zhang Yong?"

General Wenbai nodded thoughtfully.

No wonder.

It turns out that Zhang Yong has returned to Changsha.

Then he deployed his troops and prepared to launch a full-scale attack on Yueyang. That was his mission upon returning.

Unexpectedly, the Japanese invaders actually escaped.

eccentric……

Were the Japanese invaders so afraid of Zhang Yong?

Zhang Yong had just given the order to attack and the troops had just begun to move when the Japanese troops fled.
no……

How worried are you about being wiped out?

Which Japanese unit was stationed in Yueyang? Oh. The 3rd Division.

This 3rd Division was one of the oldest divisions of the Japanese invaders. It could be said to be one of the most familiar opponents to the National Revolutionary Army.

From the Battle of Shanghai onwards, this 3rd Division had been fighting against the Nationalist Army without ever leaving.

Other divisions were transferred around, but the Third Division remained unchanged.

It can be said that more than half of the National Revolutionary Army units had fought against the Japanese Third Division.

This Third Division was not only strong, but also very cunning. Even Zhang Yong could not seriously damage it.

I didn't expect it to run so fast this time.

Sure enough, only Zhang Yong could cure it.

It can cure all kinds of dissatisfaction.

"Minister, do you think the Japanese invaders are afraid?"

"Yes."

"The Commissioner is truly remarkable! His reputation precedes him; the Japanese invaders are terrified even before he has made a move."

"Yes."

General Wenbai nodded.

The Third Division was both their strength and their weakness.

If a less important division had been stationed in Yueyang, the Japanese invaders might have dared to put up a fight.

That Sonobe Ichiro is also quite skilled.

He was the one who planned the last attacks on Xiangyang, Jingmen, Yichang and other places.

It accurately struck at the Fifth War Zone's weak point, leading to Zhang Zizhong's martyrdom.

Fortunately, it was Zhang Yong again who came to the rescue.

Now, facing Zhang Yong, Sonobe and Ichiro dare not take any risks.

It's estimated that even the Japanese headquarters wouldn't dare.

If the 3rd Division were to be severely damaged or even annihilated, the consequences would be disastrous.

These standing divisions were the core of the Japanese army. Their loss was not to be tolerated.

Previously, in Taierzhuang, the Japanese Fifth and Tenth Divisions were severely damaged, and they are still greatly weakened to this day.

If a unit has been severely damaged or annihilated, even if it is newly formed, its combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced.

Comparatively speaking, the losses of those divisions numbered 20 or 30 were also minimal.

"Minister, there's more good news."

"Oh?"

"The Japanese troops who attacked Xinyang have all retreated."

"Good thing."

General Wenbai already understood.

The Japanese were consolidating their forces to prepare for unforeseen circumstances.

They are probably only concerned with holding Hankou. Everything else is secondary.

It's the same strategy as Okamura Yasuji before.

I do not seek merit.

I only hope to avoid making mistakes.

We can lose other places, but we cannot lose Wuhan.

By utilizing the fortified positions surrounding Wuhan, they gradually depleted the Nationalist army's strength, making it unsustainable for them.

If the Nationalist army does not attack Wuhan, then the two sides will continue to be locked in a stalemate.

We've gone back to the way things were before.

really……

The man at the foot of Pagoda Mountain was absolutely right.

This is truly a protracted war!
For some time to come, neither you nor I can do anything to you.

The sporadic battles have little impact on the overall situation.

The Japanese invaders had no chance of capturing Changsha or Chongqing. The Nationalist army also had no chance of recapturing Wuhan.

Thus, the two sides stood in a stalemate near Yueyang.

Until one side undergoes a significant change, causing an imbalance in the power between the two sides.

Perhaps five years...

Perhaps ten years...

"Has the Commissioner reported to the General Headquarters about the next steps?"

"No."

"it is good."

General Wenbai sat down.

That's all right then. Another day going by as usual.

In reality, the General Staff Headquarters was just a rubber stamp.

Either the Chairman will make the decision.

Either the decision is made below.

The operational plans formulated by the General Staff were rarely executed effectively.

Most of the time, his job is to give awards.

Therefore, his job is very easy.

Now that Zhang Yong is back, things are much easier.

You could even say they have nothing to worry about.

You can have a cup of tea, a few newspapers, and that's how you spend the day.

what?
Very busy?

What are you busy with?
What do you need to do?
The front lines aren't fighting, so they don't need you.

You don't know the real situation on the front lines.

However, no sooner had the secretary left than Chuikov arrived in a hurry. He went directly to see General Wenbai.

"Mr. Chuikov, what's the matter?"

"I'm going to Changsha."

"Now?"

"Correct."

“Mr. Chuikov, I need to report to our Chairman.”

“I know where he is. He’s near the airport. I’ll go to the airport and find him directly.”

"Mr. Chuikov, can you tell me why you're in such a hurry?"

"I'm going to find Zhang Yong."

"Looking for him?"

"Yes. I want to talk to him in person."

"What to talk about?"

"How to eliminate the enemy."

"Uh……"

General Wenbai hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

I thought to myself, you probably can't learn the Commissioner's fighting style.

Not only can't you learn it, but I doubt anyone else can either. No one can learn it. The Commissioner is one of a kind.

Otherwise, why would Chairman Chiang Kai-shek go to Baishiyi Airport? It's just moral blackmail!
He moved Zhang Yong with his hard work.

As expected, Zhang Yong ultimately succumbed to persuasion but not force and returned.

However, after Zhang Yong returned, he did not go to Baishiyi Airport immediately. Instead, he landed in Changsha.

Then they immediately mobilized troops and prepared to attack Yueyang.

The Chairman was at Baishiyi Airport. Clearly, he had waited in vain.

Thankfully, nothing happened.

Just come back.

So the Chairman also returned to his official residence in Huangshan.

What does it mean?
This shows that the commissioner is still somewhat bothered by it.

I'm back. But I don't want to see you. I obey orders, not commands.

You asked me to come back and recapture Yueyang. I have recaptured it.

What's next? Unknown.

After thinking for a moment, General Wenbai said slowly, "Mr. Chuikov, Commissioner Zhang may have some misunderstandings about you."

"What misunderstanding?" Chuikov's eyes widened immediately. "How could there be a misunderstanding between us? We didn't argue or have any disagreements!"

"Commissioner Zhang does not approve of a counterattack on Wuhan." General Wen Bai's tone gradually became serious.

You'll forget about it as soon as you get back, won't you?

Who first proposed the plan to counterattack Wuhan?

It's all you Soviets, and that American guy, whispering behind my back.

They thought that if you provided the weapons and the United States provided the money, the deal would be done.

To everyone's surprise, it backfired. They even lost Yueyang and Nanchang. The situation became extremely passive for a time.

During the Japanese invaders' continuous counterattacks, the National Revolutionary Army suffered more than 100,000 casualties.

This is a classic case of trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead.

It makes me feel irritable just thinking about it.

"The plan itself was not flawed. It was your failure to execute it properly."

Chuikov got anxious.

He felt he hadn't done anything wrong. He even thought he was excellent.

Just like his invasion of Finland. Every step of the plan was correct.

It's all because the troops below didn't execute the orders properly.

It wasn't his fault.

It was the fault of the troops below.

Failed to arrive at the designated location as required...

The designated enemy was not eliminated within the allotted time...

The Nationalist army was even worse in this regard.

Full of loopholes.

Even switching defenses can lead to fatal mistakes.

Chuikov was also very dissatisfied with the level of combat capability of his army.

"Mr. Chuikov..."

General Wenbai struggled to suppress his anger, lest it erupt.

After all, the other party was the head of the Soviet military delegation, representing the Soviet government.

Currently, the Nationalist government still needs military assistance from the other side.

"You guys are all so bad!"

Unexpectedly, Chuikov became even more enthusiastic.

He had been holding in a lot of anger lately and wanted to vent it.

He had a complete understanding of the Nationalist army's combat command.

They're all a bunch of idiots.

Including that Chairman.

There wasn't a single outstanding senior general.

They were all idiots. They were beaten so badly by the Japanese invaders that they couldn't fight back at all. They couldn't even put up a single defense.

They fail to distinguish between merits and demerits.

The system of rewards and punishments is unclear.

Yueyang was lost. Who lost it? Why wasn't the perpetrator executed?

Nanchang was lost. Who lost it? Why wasn't someone executed?

None of the commanders-in-chief, army commanders, or division commanders received any serious punishment.

At most, he'll just be dismissed from his post.

How could it be so sloppy?

Military discipline is not a game.

He must be shot.

Must be severely punished.

"Why was it that Zhang Yong was able to win when he commanded the same troops?"

"Why would they be defeated if someone else were in their position?"

"Isn't it because you guys are too bad?"

Chuikov shouted loudly.

He felt he had been wronged recently.

They're pushing all the blame onto me. They all say it's my responsibility.

joke……

These idiots!

I want to fight back!

"That's right! It was I who suggested launching a counterattack on Wuhan!"

"But my original suggestion was for Zhang Yong to command! But you insisted on replacing him with Chen Cheng!"

"Tell me, why were you changing commanders at the last minute!"

Why Chen Cheng?

"Chen Cheng has absolutely no understanding of combat command!"

"Even your Chairman doesn't understand!"

"Did you collude with the Americans?"

"asshole!"

Chuikov burst out in one breath.

In the end, he even started swearing.

That was a complete release of pent-up emotions.

Everyone around was stunned.

It's all over... Chuikov and General Wenbai are at odds.

wrong……

He wasn't targeting General Wen Bai.

He was targeting everyone in the Nationalist army, including Chiang Kai-shek.

Listen.

What did he just say?
They actually said that Chiang Kai-shek doesn't understand combat command.

Just like Chen Cheng.

"you……"

General Wenbai was also stunned.

He hadn't expected the other person to be so emotional.

No.

Did you suggest that Zhang Yong take command?

Then everyone else was replaced by Chen Cheng? And that led to the crushing defeat?

fainted.

It's all so confusing.

Someone above said it was Chuikov's suggestion.

Now Chuikov says it was someone else's suggestion and had nothing to do with him.

Well, the truth remains unknown.

"Mr. Chuikov, please calm down. I apologize to you first."

"Humph!"

Chuikov was clearly still very dissatisfied.

He turned and left dejectedly.

He is going to Changsha.

Go find Zhang Yong.

He wanted to work with Zhang Yong to develop a battle plan.

This was not his idea.

It was a secret instruction from the Kremlin.

He was instructed to contact Zhang Yong directly.

No middlemen.

General Wenbai: ...

frown.

There's something wrong with Chuikov's behavior.

He went to find Zhang Yong; who knows what kind of trouble he'll cause this time.

Zhang Yong's emotions haven't completely calmed down yet.

If we knew the truth...

The consequences could be disastrous.

The situation, which had just calmed down, is about to erupt into another storm.

"Somebody come!"

"To!"

"Immediately take over Huangshan's official residence."

"Yes."

……

Changsha.

Ninth War Zone Command.

Zhang Yong got up lazily, feeling refreshed.

The weather was kind; it actually rained last night. The usual sweltering heat was gone. I slept very well.

He also has an office at the Ninth War Zone Command.

It's the one that Liu Zhi used to be.

That office is too big and too luxurious; Xue Yue doesn't want it.

Xue Yue's own office was small because he spent most of his time in the operations room.

So they temporarily changed the sign outside to "Commissioner's Office".

Zhang Yong thought this was a good idea. It would prevent waste.

You can play golf by yourself.

what?
People gossiping?

Does he care about other people?

The bald man said he was waiting for him at Chongqing Airport, but he didn't go.

You continue to wait.

I am back.

But I don't want to see you yet.

Humph.

"Ring ring ring..."

"Ring ring ring..."

Suddenly the phone rang. I immediately picked up the receiver.

It turned out that the other person's voice was unfamiliar.

"Your Excellency, something has happened. Yang Sen is planning a rebellion..."

"Who?"

"Yang Sen. Commander of the 27th Army Group."

"he?"

Zhang Yong frowned.

Yang Sen rebelled?

funny……

I must not be fully awake yet.

Everyone else had the guts to rebel, but Yang Sen was the only one who didn't.

yawn.

I feel like I can sleep a little longer.

The office door was suddenly pushed open. A staff officer strode in.

"Reporting to the Commissioner, there is an emergency."

"what's up?"

"The 27th Army Group stationed in Pingjiang claimed it would stage a mutiny and refused to accept the transfer order..."

"A military coup?"

Zhang Yong tilted his head and thought for a moment.

It seems like I haven't heard those two words in a long time.

Zhang Yong himself didn't even know where the one who staged the mutiny last time was being held.

Yang Sen...

Does this person want to die?
wrong.

How could Yang Sen possibly stage a military coup?

Even if you gave him ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare. Unless there's some kind of conspiracy.

Calm.

The sky cannot fall.

If it's a military remonstrance, then so be it.

He pulled up a small stool and watched the excitement.

It's quite amusing when people stage military coups every few days.

Who was the one who staged the military coup?

It must be a bald man! He keeps giving advice, one after another…

Waved his hand.

"Okay. You can leave now!"

"Yes."

The staff officer withdrew.

Zhang Yong picked up the microphone, only to find that the call had already ended.

Hmm, it's no big deal.

Yang Sen's army group was essentially just an empty shell.

The only one with any real strength was the 20th Army. But that 20th Army could only muster a maximum of 5,000 men.

In other words, Yang Sen had about five thousand men with combat capabilities under his command.

With such a small force, why bother with a military remonstrance?

A whole regiment of military police could handle it.

Moreover, this is in the Ninth War Zone. The Ninth War Zone is a gathering place for elite troops.

Put down the microphone.

sit down.

Close your eyes and rest your mind.

He kept yawning.

The radar map indicates that Xue Yue has arrived.

Also arriving was his old partner, Chief of Staff Wu Yizhi.

Well, I can't keep dozing off.

stand up.

"Commander-in-Chief."

"Commissioner Zhang, I apologize for disturbing you."

"I already know about Yang Sen's matter."

"Ugh……"

Xue Yue suddenly looked dejected.

Wu Yizhi also kept his head down.

Zhang Yong: ? ? ?
strangeness.

what happened?

They look like two children confessing their sins.

You are a theater commander, a theater chief of staff...

"Chief of Staff Wu, please speak."

"We were asked to do this by someone else..."

"and then?"

"Prepare to disarm Yang Sen's troops."

"why?"

"Someone needs the designation of the 27th Army Group."

"Isn't there a more tactful way? Does it have to be this extreme? Does the other person have no brains?"

Zhang Yong frowned.

He was not surprised at all by this.

Fighting for unit designations has always been a specialty of the Whampoa Military Academy's elite.

To be precise, it refers to the bald man's original skills.

They eliminated the ragtag army and replaced it with the direct descendants of the Whampoa Military Academy. A substitution.

This is a long time.

The core members of the Whampoa Military Academy naturally became increasingly powerful.

Conversely, those local factions will become increasingly weak.

Using this strategy, Bald Head has completely wiped out the Hunan Army, Anhui Army, Zhili Army, Shandong Army, and so on.

If we don't count Zhang Yong's troops, the Northeast Army (Fengtian clique) has already been almost completely annexed.

Oh, and there's also a Shaanxi army unit. Its remnants are with the Fourth Army Group.

Strictly speaking, Zhang Yong was also a beneficiary of the existing system. Specifically, he was part of the 26th Army Group.

The 26th Army Group was originally a truly ragtag force, commanded by Xu Yuanquan. Its current whereabouts are unknown. The current commander-in-chief of the army group is Wu Keren.

but!

However, there is a "but".

These kinds of things usually have a reason behind them.

Even if the other party is unwilling, they cannot violently resist.

What made Yang Sen so angry?

It should be noted that Yang Sen is very tactful and rarely goes to extremes.

If you've driven him to extremes, it means the other party's methods were truly clumsy, or perhaps they've gone too far in bullying him.

Xue Yue remained silent.

Wu Yizhi also remained silent.

"No money? No other benefits?"

"No……"

"No. Who did this work? It's so sloppy."

"The Fifth Army..."

"Du Yuming?"

"Yes."

Wu Yizhi replied helplessly.

Neither he nor Xue Yue had expected this.

Because Du Yuming was in charge of the specific operations. The Fifth Army was dispatched.

then……

Then something bad happened.

It's causing quite a stir right now.

"and many more!"

Zhang Yong suddenly realized something.

Does "making a big fuss" mean that the outside world knows about it?
In other words, Yang Sen had planned this in advance. He had already spread the news beforehand?

Sure enough, they brought up the so-called military coup. It's all nonsense.

It's just a gimmick.

However, it certainly attracts attention.

The phrase "military remonstrance" will undoubtedly become the focus of attention very quickly.

Just like in later generations, this era also had an attention economy.

They had to come up with something new to get the outside world's attention. Then came a barrage of reports.

Clearly, Yang Sen succeeded.

This old fox.

Du Yuming is still reckless! He's too naive.

Every time I do this kind of dirty work, I use too much violence but not enough skill, which makes me a target of criticism.

"Now even foreigners know about it."

"Oh."

Zhang Yong sat down.

Okay, it's alright now.

It was really just a farce.

If things escalate, Yang Sen will be safe.

The bigger the commotion, the more people who know about it, the more hesitant the bald man becomes.

The Guangxi, Shanxi, and Yunnan factions will all offer their support.

If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.

If we don't support Yang Sen now, we'll be next.

and so……

"Chief of Staff Wu!"

"To!"

"In my personal capacity, I sent a telegram to the General Headquarters recommending that Du Yuming be removed from his post as commander of the Fifth Army."

"what?"

[To be continued]

(End of this chapter)