readytorunbook Chapter 188: Everything for Victory (300 Gifts Plus)
Chapter 188: Everything for Victory (300 Gifts Plus)
With the rapid advance of the new 38th Division, Xinpingyang soon fell into the hands of the Allies.
The Japanese 33rd Division suffered heavy casualties under the fierce offensive and could only retreat southward while struggling to resist, trying to meet up with the 2nd Guards Division stationed in Homalin and barely maintain its position.
The day was November 15th, and the sun shone through the post-war smoke onto the ruins of Xinpingyang.
Stevenson led his command headquarters into the Pacific. As the commander of the Southeast Asia Theater, this was the first time Stevenson set foot on Pegu, the land he had lost, after the great retreat in 42.
Standing on the balcony of a building temporarily requisitioned as a headquarters, Stevenson looked down at the war-torn town not far away.
A complex expression appeared on his face, a mixture of the joy of victory and a hint of heavy nostalgia.
He originally wanted to take a "I'm back" photo for publicity, but a telegram from Zhang Chi changed his mind.
Stevenson opened the telegram, read it carefully, and a thoughtful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
He put down the telegram, walked to the map, tapped the table with his fingertips, and muttered:
"Dear Zhang is right."
The adjutant looked puzzled:
"General, what did Zhang Chi say in the letter?"
Stevenson turned around, his tone hinting at humor:
"He reminded me that frequent media appearances aren't necessarily a good thing. People might cheer if they see me once, but they might get tired of it if they see me ten times."
The adjutant seemed puzzled, but Stevenson was already lost in his own thoughts. He continued:
"Besides, the Cairo Conference will be held on the 22nd. That's where the Supreme Commander will be making a big splash. If I use the New Pacific War to promote it now, it will easily overshadow the main event."
"Instead, I'll wait until after the meeting, when President Trump announces a full-scale counterattack in Asia. Then I can capitalize on the victory to make headlines, both to publicize the victory and to help his reelection campaign. Zhang reminded me that timing is more important than appearance."
The adjutant nodded as if he understood something.
Standing in front of the map, Stevenson pointed to the line marked "Sintu-Qianguo Highway".
“So this path will be my next focus.”
This road from Sindhu to Qian State was an aid road re-planned by Stevenson for Qian State after the Burma Road was cut off. It starts from Ledo in Sindhu in the west, passes through Myitkyina in Pegu, and ends in Baoshan, Yunnan Province in the east.
Now, as the war progresses, as long as the New 1st Army meets up with Zhang Chi in Menggong in Pegu, and Zhang Chi's troops meet up with Wei Junru's expeditionary force in Yunnan Province, all the lands that the highway passes through will be under the control of the Allied forces.
At that time, we only need to build a small section of new road to connect Myitkyina with the old site of the Burma Road, and then connect Mong Kung with Xinpingyang. This road will be able to continuously deliver weapons and ammunition to the Qian Kingdom.
And this is exactly Stevenson's ultimate plan - to arm a million-strong Qian army and launch a major counterattack against the devils.
"Instead, after Mr. President announces a full-scale counterattack in Asia at the conference, I'll directly hit the headlines with the victory of completely opening up the Sindhu-Qianguo Highway. This will not only promote myself, but also use the victory to build momentum for Mr. President's next election. This is great!"
The adjutant's eyes moved along the map, and suddenly he understood:
"Completely open up the road?"
Stevenson nodded, his eyes firm.
"Yes. I need to open this road quickly after the Cairo Conference. This is not only a military necessity, but also a political victory."
He paused and continued his analysis:
"George gave me some information: the Great Commander will make some promises to the leader of the Qian Nation at the meeting."
"To ensure we can deliver on these promises and to secure his full support, I must demonstrate our ability to accomplish this with victory. Opening this highway will be the best way to demonstrate our resolve to our allies and the leverage I need to win the President's support."
Under Zhang Chi's constant persuasion and guidance, Stevenson increasingly realized the power of public opinion. He discovered that the media, this invisible sword, could precisely strike at the weak spots of his enemies while also boosting the confidence of his allies. And he was learning how to wield it expertly.
Stevenson looked out the window, his tone full of pride:
"Besides, the media needs stories. When the time is right, the victory of this road will belong not only to me, but also to the future of the Great Commander and the United States of White Eagle."
The adjutant looked at Stevenson with longing:
"Sir, why don't we get the media to call this highway the Stevenson Highway? That way, when people see it, they'll think of you."
"You think so too?" Stevenson raised an eyebrow. "That's what Zhang suggested to me, too."
At this moment, his thoughts had already crossed the battlefield and flew to the higher power game.
He not only has to win this battle, but also win the trust of the people at home, the trust of Qian's allies, and his own future.
-----
"Tell me again, what did General Wei ask of me?"
Stevenson almost doubted his own ears, staring at the staff officer in front of him in disbelief. The joy of having just captured the New Pacific was like a heat wave, instantly cooled by these words.
The staff officer swallowed and repeated carefully:
"General Wei stated that the campaign in western Yunnan is progressing slowly and supply is extremely difficult. Therefore, he requested the theater command to allocate one thousand mountain mules from Afghanistan to transport military supplies."
"Snapped!"
Stevenson suddenly slammed the table and stood up, frightening the staff officer so much that he almost fell to the ground. He grabbed the telegram handed to him by the staff officer and scanned the contents of the telegram with a sharp gaze.
As his gaze moved down line by line, his originally angry expression gradually turned heavy.
The telegram was concise and to the point, but it revealed a sense of despair and powerlessness.
General Wei stated the expeditionary force's predicament with indisputable facts:
After years of war, not only were Yunnan's horses in short supply, but even the donkeys and mules in the region had been depleted. Without these animals, the expeditionary force relied entirely on the shoulder and hand-carrying of supplies by the militia. Transporting ammunition and rations from Baoshan, hundreds of miles away, or even further afield, Chuncheng, consumed countless manpower.
General Wei wrote frankly that to ensure the army's food and ammunition, many forcibly conscripted civilians died of hunger and exhaustion along the rugged mountain roads of western Yunnan. These unmarked mountain graves became a footnote to the expeditionary force's predicament.
"Mule... Ridiculous, it's actually a mule."
Stevenson slumped back in his chair and rubbed his temples.
Due to the existence of Songshan, all roads leading to Tengchong and Longling were covered by the Japanese artillery fire, so logistics could only take a detour up the mountain, which made mules more useful than jeeps and trucks.
Stevenson patted his cheeks to cheer himself up.
He suppressed the urge to curse and signed a document, spending real money to purchase mountain mules, and then airlifting them directly to Spring City in a C-47.
Although it was a bit ridiculous to airlift the mules using a transport plane, Stevenson endured it for the sake of victory.
After signing the documents, Stevenson stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the busy camp.
He called his adjutant and said in a deep voice:
"Inform dear Zhang that I personally request him to expedite his eastward advance and strive to reunite with General Wei before New Year's Day."
The adjutant was taken aback and couldn't help but remind:
"General, just south of Myitkyina along the railway is the prosperous Mandalay..."
Stevenson knew very well that if Zhang Chi's personal interests were put first, he should send troops to attack the wealthy central city of Mandalay as soon as possible, instead of wasting the main forces of the army and air force in the mountainous areas on the border.
However, considering the overall situation of the anti-Japanese war, the Allied Forces' current primary goal is to open up the Sindhu-Qianguo Highway and strengthen the White Party's army through military aid as soon as possible.
Therefore, Stevenson had no choice but to shamelessly ask Zhang Chi for help in his personal capacity.
-----
In fact, as a time traveler, Zhang Chi was well aware of the importance of opening up the Stevenson Road, so he sent two-thirds of his main force from Bhamo to the east or south.
On the contrary, he only sent one-third of his main force to the wealthy Mandalay.
On November 22, Bai Minghui's Eastern Route Army successively defeated seven Japanese defense lines and strongholds, and was less than 20 kilometers away from Longling in a straight line.
On the same day, the leaders of Qian, White Eagle and John began a meeting at the mouth of the Nile River in North Afrika to discuss the post-war future of Asia.