Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

A week later.

A transport plane bearing the markings of the Royal Air Force landed at Chongqing's Coral Dam Airport.

This is the first foreign guest received by Coral Dam Airport this year after the end of the flood season.

General Wavell, with a full head of silver hair and a serious expression.

He disembarked from the plane with a highly capable diplomatic team.

He was entrusted with a heavy responsibility by the British Empire to conduct a difficult negotiation with the Supreme Leader concerning the future of Southeast Asia.

However, what awaited them was not the grand scene they had imagined.

Only a few staff members from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs came to pick them up at the airport.

“General Wavell, welcome to the mountain city,” the deputy minister said politely. “I’m very sorry, but our chairman just departed for Yangon yesterday to attend the medal awarding ceremony that will be held today.”

"what?"

Wavell was stunned.

He could hardly believe his ears.

A visit to Yangon? An award ceremony?
They gave us advance notice and clearly explained the details of the negotiations.

At this critical moment concerning the fate of Pearl City and the entire Southeast Asia, the supreme leader happened to be "just so" away from home?

The attitude was quite obvious, which made Wavell quite uncomfortable.

He sensed Chang Ruiyuan's contempt, even disdain.

Wavell even had the urge to turn around and leave on his private jet.

But considering the importance of Pearl City.

Wavell decided to hold back for now, so he pressed on, "When will the Chairman be back?"

The official gave an apologetic smile: "That's hard to say."

Looking at the other person's "sincere" expression, Wavell felt a chill run down his spine.

He understood immediately.

This is no coincidence.

This is a carefully orchestrated act of "avoiding confrontation" by the Chinese.

They had no intention of negotiating with the British at all.

Or rather, they believe that Britain is no longer qualified to sit at an equal negotiating table with them.

Chang Ruiyuan's move was truly brilliant.

He skillfully kicked the ball back.

You want to talk to me?
can.

Come with me to Yangon, let's go to the headquarters of our expeditionary force to talk.

Let's first look at our hundreds of thousands of troops, ready for battle and at the height of their power.

Think again, how many chips do you have left to be worthy of negotiating with me?

Standing in the damp air of the mountain town, Wavell felt a wave of helplessness and humiliation that made him both laugh and cry.

His trip.

They came with the "gifts" of the empire, intending to bargain with the Chinese.

Unexpectedly, they couldn't even get a meeting with the Chairman.

This trip to the mountain city seemed destined from the very beginning to be an awkward one, a "warm face offered to a cold backside" experience.
-
Washington, White House, Oval Office.

The morning sunlight streamed through the huge bulletproof glass window and onto the desk.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

He was sitting in a wheelchair, quietly looking at a top-secret telegram that had just been sent by the Pentagon.

The telegram was short, but contained a great deal of information.

The sender was General Joseph Stilwell, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. China-Burma-India Theater and Chief of Staff of the Far East Theater.

"Tea Ichisuke died in Siam, and his body has been captured by the Second Army Group of the Chinese Expeditionary Force."

"The organized resistance of the Japanese army throughout Southeast Asia has essentially come to an end."

"They now have de facto control over the entire territory of Myanmar and Siam, and have captured the city of Mingzhu."

Roosevelt stared silently at the telegram, his eyes, which always gleamed with wisdom and cunning, now revealing a complex and unfathomable emotion.

The joy of victory is undeniable.

The defeat of the Japanese army in Southeast Asia signified a decisive and strategic turning point for the Allied forces throughout the Asian theater.

This will undoubtedly accelerate the course of the war and reduce the number of American soldiers killed.

But beneath this joy, a deeper worry, like an undercurrent hidden beneath the surface of water, quietly welled up in his heart.

He pressed the intercom button on the table.

"Please have General Marshall, the Army Chief of Staff, come to my office."

Soon, General George Cartwright Marshall, dressed in military uniform and with a serious expression, pushed open the door and entered.

"Mr President."

"George, take a look at this." Roosevelt handed him Stilwell's telegram.

Marshall took the telegram and quickly glanced through it.

As a pure professional soldier, his reaction was much more direct than Roosevelt's.

His face revealed undisguised shock and admiration.

"Incredible!" he exclaimed sincerely. "I must admit that we all severely underestimated the fighting power of the Chinese army. In such a short time and at such a low cost, they annihilated the main force of an entire Japanese army group. Such an achievement would be considered brilliant even on the European battlefield!"

“Yes, brilliant.” Roosevelt nodded, but then changed the subject, “But George, don’t you see something unsettling in this brilliant battle report?”

Marshall paused, not quite understanding what the president meant.

Roosevelt turned his wheelchair and came to the huge world map.

His finger traced across the map, from Chongqing, China, through Myanmar, through Siam, and finally stopped at Pearl City.

It was a magnificent route, representing victory and conquest.

“George,” Roosevelt’s voice became deep and magnetic, “what was our initial purpose in supporting China’s resistance against Japan?”

Marshall answered without hesitation: "By utilizing China's vast territory and enormous human resources, we can tie down the main force of the Japanese army, thereby relieving pressure on our counter-offensive in the Pacific theater and creating time."

“That’s right.” Roosevelt nodded approvingly. “In our vision, China should be a resilient ‘quagmire’ that can wear down the enemy, but is also weak itself. We hope it can restrain the beast that is Japan, but we don’t want this beast to be killed by its own tamed ‘hounds’.”

His analogy made Marshall instantly understand, and a cold sweat broke out on his back.

"Mr. President, what do you mean?"

“I am worried,” Roosevelt said, his gaze becoming more profound. “It is because this sleeping dragon of the East seems to have awakened too quickly and too powerfully.”

"look."

He pointed to the map and said, "In less than a year, first in North China, he defeated Okamura Yasuji and forced him to flee in disarray; now in Southeast Asia, he has driven Teraichi Hisashi to suicide."

"His army, equipped with our weapons and using more advanced tactics, displayed a fighting power more than three times stronger than we had anticipated."

"They have not only recovered lost territory, but have even begun to expand outwards and establish their own sphere of influence, just like Japan did in the past."

There was a hint of barely perceptible worry in Roosevelt's voice.

"Is a unified, powerful China, with a strong sense of national pride and expansionist ambitions, really what the United States wants to see in postwar Asia?"

"Could it be that after driving away the hungry wolf that is Japan, it will turn into an even more formidable tiger?"

Marshall fell silent.

As a soldier, he admires the courage and wisdom shown by Chinese soldiers on the battlefield.

But as an American strategist, he had to admit that the president's concerns were not unfounded.

"Then, Mr. President, what should we do?"

He asked, "Will aid to them be cut?"

"Do not."

Roosevelt shook his head: "Now is not the time. The war is not over yet, and we still need them to continue to deplete Japan's manpower."

Moreover, a strong China was essential for counterbalancing Soviet infiltration in the Far East after the war.

He pondered for a moment, then his signature charming smile returned: "We can't suppress them, but we can win them over and influence them."

“George, I need you to do two things.”

"First, in the name of the U.S. military, award Chu Yunfei, Liao Yaoxiang, and other Chinese generals who performed outstandingly in this campaign with medals representing the highest honors of our U.S. military personnel. For example, the Distinguished Service Cross, or even the Medal of Honor."

Marshall was somewhat surprised: "Mr. President, the Congressional Medal of Honor, that's ours!"

“I know,” Roosevelt interrupted him, “but honor is the cheapest and most effective investment.”

We need to make them feel that the United States is their most sincere and reliable friend.

We must use honor and friendship to firmly bind them, especially future leaders like Chu Yunfei, to us.

"second."

Roosevelt's smile became even more meaningful: "Immediately arrange for Stilwell to propose to Chu Yunfei the establishment of the Allied Southeast Asia Joint Command in Pearl City."

Furthermore, we must actively promote the inclusion of more American military advisors in the command structures of the Chinese military at all levels.

"We must use our military thinking and our values ​​to 'help' them and 'shape' them, so that they can't do without us in their future development and even become a part of us."

"Third, we can provide them with finished products, and even some basic industrial equipment, but we must also control the mid-to-high-end technologies and cutting-edge industrial equipment. They can become a part of our Allied strategic supply system, but they must never bear important responsibilities." General Marshall nodded in deep agreement.

Suppression is a poor strategy; praising someone to death and assimilating them are the true, open strategies.

Roosevelt wanted to tame a potential tiger into an obedient watchdog serving American interests.

“I understand, Mr. President,” Marshall said with genuine satisfaction. “I will take care of it immediately.”

After Marshall left, Roosevelt once again turned his gaze to the map.

That blue arrow stretches from Chongqing to Mingzhu City.

In his eyes, it was no longer just a sign of victory, but more like the beginning of a grander and more complex game of chess.

He gently turned his wheelchair, a confident smile playing on his lips.

"Chu Yunfei".

He murmured the name.

"You are an excellent competitor, and also a worthwhile investment partner."

"Let me see just how far you, this young tiger from the East, can go."

at the same time.

Yangon.

Expeditionary Force Field Hospital.

White sheets, white walls, white gauze, and the hurried yet gentle white figures of the nurses constitute the main color scheme here.

However, amidst this white expanse, the occasional specks of crimson seeping from under the gauze silently testify to the cruelty of war.

Today, this hospital welcomes its most distinguished guest.

Chang Ruiyuan, Chairman of the Military Commission of the National Government and Supreme Leader of the Republic of China.

Surrounded by Du Yuming, Zhang Zhizhong, and a group of high-ranking generals, he personally arrived here.

He had only one purpose for this trip.

Liao Yaoxiang, commander of the newly formed 22nd Division, who is still battling for his life in the intensive care unit for his outstanding contribution in the Battle of Pyinmana, was personally awarded a medal.

In the hospital corridor, all the doctors, nurses, and wounded soldiers who could still walk spontaneously stood on both sides.

They watched silently as the leader who determined the fate of the nation was chosen, their eyes filled with awe and excitement.

Chang Ruiyuan had a lean face, wore a crisp military uniform, and walked with a steady gait.

He ignored the greetings from the crowd, simply nodded slightly, and walked straight to Liao Yaoxiang's ward.

The ward was so quiet that the only sound was the rhythmic, soft ticking of the medical equipment.

Liao Yaoxiang lay in the hospital bed, still in a coma.

His head and chest were wrapped in thick gauze, and his face was completely bloodless. The only way to tell that Liao Yaoxiang was still alive was by the slight rise and fall of his chest.

Chang Ruiyuan stood in front of the hospital bed, gazing at his beloved general for a long time.

in his mind.

It brings to mind Liao Yaoxiang's spirited appearance at the Whampoa Military Academy, and his passionate report to me after the victory at Kunlun Pass.

Now, this once-powerful general lies here silently, like a withered tree branch.

Chang Ruiyuan's eyes were slightly moist.

He slowly took a velvet box from the attendant's hands.

Inside the box, a Blue Sky White Sun Medal lay quietly.

This is the highest honor for a soldier, second only to the Order of National Glory.

He had originally planned to personally pin the medal on Liao Yaoxiang's chest.

However, just as he was about to step forward...

His gaze inadvertently fell on the small bedside table next to the hospital bed.

Chang Ruiyuan's movements froze instantly.

There were no medicines or water glasses on that simple bedside table.

Instead, another medal was solemnly displayed.

That was a Medal of Honor.

The ribbon of the medal was somewhat worn, but the main body was spotless, reflecting a dazzling light in the sunlight streaming in from the window.

Chang Ruiyuan recognized the medal.

This medal should have been worn on someone else's chest.

Chu Yunfei.

Clearly, this was before his arrival.

Chu Yunfei had unknowingly given his most cherished National Glory Medal, representing the highest honor for soldiers of the Party and the State, to this comrade whose life hung by a thread.

In the ward.

Everyone held their breath.

They all saw the Order of Glory.

They all understood the meaning behind it.

Chu Yunfei, in this silent way, declared to everyone his highest recognition of Liao Yaoxiang's achievements.

This goes beyond ordinary recognition.

This is the highest form of respect, a mutual appreciation between heroes.

Before this Medal of Glory, which represents "first merit" and "loyalty and bravery".

Any other reward seemed rather lackluster.

Chang Ruiyuan remained silent.

He held the Order of the Blue Sky and White Sun in his hands, standing there motionless for a long time.

His heart was filled with mixed feelings.

There was emotion for Liao Yaoxiang's self-sacrifice, admiration for Chu Yunfei's noble character, and a complex feeling of being "snatched away" as the supreme leader.

But in the end, all the emotions turned into a long sigh.

he knows.

Chu Yunfei's move, seemingly a simple display of camaraderie, was in fact a brilliant political maneuver.

He propelled Liao Yaoxiang and the entire Fifth Army to the pinnacle of honor.

We also use this method.

This resolved all the suspicion and estrangement that might have arisen from the fact that the leader's achievements were too great.

This is an open conspiracy, an open conspiracy that is neither irresistible nor worthy of criticism.

After a long while, Chang Ruiyuan slowly turned around.

Instead of taking back the Order of the Blue Sky and White Sun, he handed it to Huang Baitao, the commander-in-chief of the Second Army Group, who was standing to the side and had also performed outstandingly in the Battle of Pyinmana.

“Radiant”.

Chang Ruiyuan's voice was deep and powerful: "Jianchu's achievements are already evidenced by the National Glory Medal, so there is no need to add anything else."

"I have decided to award this Order of the Blue Sky and White Sun to you."

"Your contributions in leading your troops in the bloody battle at Pyinmana were equally indispensable."

"The battle to capture Siam also brought quite a surprise to the Allied forces."

"I hope that you can lead the Second Army Group of the Expeditionary Force to continue to create glories."

Huang Baitao was stunned. He never expected that this honor would fall on his head in this way.

He subconsciously looked at Chu Yunfei.

He then looked at Liao Yaoxiang on the hospital bed.

Finally, he straightened his chest and gave the Chairman a standard military salute.

"Thank you, Chairman! I will certainly live up to your trust!"

Chang Ruiyuan personally pinned the medal to Huang Baitao's chest.

Then, he turned his gaze to Liao Yaoshe on the hospital bed again.

"Pass on my orders."

Chang Ruiyuan's voice carried an undeniable authority: "At all costs, use the best doctors and the best medicines to ensure Jianchu recovers as soon as possible. I will be waiting for him in Shancheng to be awarded his medal again in front of everyone."

"In addition, the newly formed 22nd Division of the Army was awarded the designation 'Tiger Warrior' and presented with a Flying Tiger Flag."

"Yes!"

All the generals present responded in unison.

Chang Ruiyuan took one last look at the Medal of National Glory lying quietly on the bedside table.

Then, without saying a word, he turned and left the ward.

He did not visit the other wounded, nor did he make any further statements.

Every inch of our land is bought with blood, every handful of soil holds a soul.

This silent award ceremony, more so than any grand and inspiring commendation, better conveyed the tragedy of this war and the true weight of the word "soldier." (End of Chapter)