Lan Fang's firm attitude against Chiang Kai-shek, the leader of the Chongqing authorities, as the supreme commander of the Chinese theater was unexpectedly unexpected by Roosevelt, Churchill and others.

Roosevelt originally wanted the allies to openly praise Chiang Kai-shek as the supreme commander of the Chinese theater, and the United States secretly communicated with the People's Party through other channels, so that both sides could contribute to the war against Japan, so as to reduce the pressure on the United States, Britain, the Netherlands and other countries. He even persuaded Churchill to negotiate with the People's Party on the status of the People's Army's Shannan Control Area, India and Myanmar, which was based on this consideration.

However, except for close ties with Lan Fang, the People's Party has no official relationship with the United States, Britain and other countries, while Roosevelt's plan intentionally or unintentionally ignored this. Of course, this may also be that Roosevelt wanted to use this situation to seek greater interests in China for the United States.

If Roosevelt's idea can be realized, then the Chongqing authorities, which are weak and heavily dependent on US aid, will not only obey the US's assignment in the war against Japan, but will also be better controlled after the war; while the People's Party is working hard on Japan, it cannot enjoy the international status of one of the Allied forces, and may even be marginalized during the war and be liquidated by Britain, the Soviet Union and other allies after the war!

Moreover, there is no need to wait until after the war, Britain and the Soviet Union cause trouble for the People's Party. Once Chiang Kai-shek is really praised as the supreme commander of the Chinese theater, the Chongqing authorities, who hold the powerful legs of the country, will definitely pull the tiger's skin as a banner and launch a new political and public opinion offensive against the People's Party. Some people in China who are afraid of the great powers or do not know the finality may temporarily agree to Chiang Kai-shek for different reasons, increasing the difficulties for the People's Party to march into relevant areas in the future.

But now, Lan Fang, in the name of the Allied forces' consideration of the overall situation of Japan's war, openly put the issue of the People's Party in a clear way. In order to oppose the head of the Chongqing authorities as the supreme commander of the Chinese theater, she did not hesitate to threaten to withdraw from the Allied forces!

Such a thing happened just after the United Nations Declaration was signed, which was something Roosevelt, Churchill and others did not want to see. However, what Lan Fang said was indeed reasonable. Whether it was the battlefield of the War of Resistance in China, the Soviet battlefield, or the battlefield of Myanmar that was about to start, it was impossible to avoid the impact of the People's Party armed forces.

"The People's Party is just a national armed force in China! This is an internationally recognized basic fact!" Song Ziwen was angry and said in anti-voice, "As long as the allies such as the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union strongly support our central government, we can solve this problem!"

"How to solve it? If Japan is not fighting, will the Chongqing government fight a civil war again?" Jiang Guangnai said disdainfully. "It's not that we look down on Chongqing. I dare to say that if he, Mr. Jiang, really dares to provoke a civil war, it will be time for the People's Party to resolve the internal affairs of China! Don't forget that the People's Party is not **, let you do the Southern Anhui Incident!"

"Mr. Prime Minister, you said it right. We do need to face up to the armed forces of the People's Party. But it is undeniable that they are still a top armed force in China, and most of our allies have not established formal diplomatic relations with the People's Party. In this case, we cannot bypass the Chongqing side of the Chinese central government, which has formal diplomatic relations with us and is also the Chinese central government to develop official relations with the People's Party. This does not conform to the most basic international principles!" Roosevelt waved his hand to stop the dispute between Song Ziwen and Jiang Guangnai, and insisted, "The US government believes that it is appropriate for Chiang to be the supreme commander of the Chinese war zone as the supreme leader of the Chinese central government!"

"Mr. President, Lan Fang has no intention of interfering in the diplomatic relations between various countries and the Chongqing government. He does not oppose the establishment of the China War Zone. What we firmly oppose is that the head of the Chongqing authorities will serve as the Supreme Commander of the War Zone!" Chen Yansheng further said, "Let Chiang Kai-shek be the Supreme Commander of the China War Zone, and he cannot command the People's Party's armed forces, which will not help change the situation of combat against Japan on the Chinese battlefield. The Allied forces' appointment to Chiang will anger the People's Party and make it take actions that are not conducive to the Allied forces' war against Japan! Lan Fang, as a member of the Allied forces, is also in the Southeast Asian War Zone near the Chinese War Zone, and does not want to suffer unnecessary losses that this appointment may bring to the Southeast Asian War Zone and Lan Fang himself! If other allies insist on insisting on the appointment of the head of the Chongqing government, then we, Lan Fang, choose to withdraw!"

Lan Fang's Defense Minister Li Jishen also stood up and warned meaningfully: "I would like to remind you here, according to the situation we have, after the Japanese army reached an alliance agreement with Siam on the 21st, it is launching a large increase in troops to the Siam and Myanmar border! Once the Japanese army enters Myanmar and seizes the Yangon sea route and then heads north, not only will the situation in Myanmar deteriorate sharply, but the outcome of the British-Myanmar alliance is worrying, and the Yunnan-Burma channel on which the Allies rely on to transport materials to China will be cut off, and Chongqing is also unsustainable! Now, for the appointment of the Supreme Commander of the Chinese War Theater, it is probably difficult for the Allies to negotiate with the party at that time!"

When talking about the Japanese invasion of Myanmar, there was also material passage problem. Not only Churchill and Song Ziwen were worried, but even the Soviet Union's invasion of the United States, who attended the signing ceremony, was shocked, and remembered the problem that the Soviet Union was unable to sustain foreign aid due to poor material passage.

Once what Li Jishen said becomes a reality, before the British side lifts hostilities with the People's Party, the retreating British army will have no way out except retreating north to Yunnan, China. Chongqing will also lose its only foreign aid material channel after the People's Party cut off the material channel from Myitkyina to Yunnan. The US, Britain and other countries' action of allowing Chiang Kai-shek to serve as the supreme commander of the Chinese theater will be, except to give Chiang Kai-shek a short seller who angers the People's Party, and Chiang Kai-shek's appointment will also become a joke!

Although it was impossible to know the Japanese combat plan, the news of the large-scale mobilization of Japanese troops could not be concealed. As for the news that the two divisions of the 15th Army of the Japanese army advanced to the Siam and Myanmar border under the command of Yoshiro Iida, Roosevelt, Churchill and others also knew it.

"The British Kingdom's troops in Myanmar are not only more powerful than the two Japanese divisions, but also more powerful than their equipment! I believe Sir Waiwell will not disappoint us, and the Japanese will not succeed!" Churchill still wishfully affirmed the combat effectiveness of the British army and shouted confidently.

According to the scheduled plan, the British troops in Myanmar should reach more than 40,000 by the end of January, and there is even a Seventh Armored Brigade equipped with tanks and armored vehicles. In terms of overall strength and equipment, the British army will indeed surpass the 33rd and 55th divisions of the Japanese army.

However, in addition to the combat effectiveness of the British and Indian troops stationed in Myanmar, which was originally stationed in Myanmar, even the 17th British Division, which was transferred to Myanmar, also had great problems. The division was originally going to be transferred to the North African battlefield, but was only in a hurry to Myanmar by the British government on his way to North Africa when the Japanese army headed south and the situation in Southeast Asia was critical, and it would not be possible to arrive until the end of January. Such an army division equipped with combat equipment adapted to the desert was hurriedly transferred to the tropical rainforest. The performance of its combat effectiveness is really difficult to be optimistic!

"Minister Li just reminds everyone not to forget the threat of the Japanese army to Myanmar and the importance of retaining contact with the People's Party. It is not to doubt the combat effectiveness of the British army." Foreign Minister Chen Qiyou explained, "After the establishment of diplomatic relations between Britain and Lanzhou, our bilateral relations have been developing well. Even for our own interests, we hope that the British Allied forces can win the battle against Japan! I hope the Prime Minister can understand."

Churchill's attitude eased, nodded to Lan Fang and others and said no more.

Song Ziwen pressed the uneasiness in his heart and expressed his opinion in public: "According to the joint defense agreement reached by the Chinese government with the United Kingdom, when the British side needs it, the Chinese government will send elite troops to Myanmar to fight against the Japanese army together!"

Lan Fang refused to comment on Song Ziwen's statement because it had nothing to do with him. Churchill, as the relevant party, just nodded politely in response.

At that time, in order to protect the international lifeline of the Yunnan-Burma channel, Chiang Kai-shek proposed to send 80,000 troops to Myanmar to assist the British army in combat. However, the total number of British troops in Myanmar was only more than 40,000. More than twice the Chinese teams were poured into the country. Then, will the war in Myanmar be listened to Britain or Chongqing? Isn’t this a typical guest bullying? Even if the Japanese army is defeated, Myanmar is likely to break away from British control!

So far, Churchill has figured out the reason why Wavell refused to send troops to Myanmar in Chongqing on December 23, so he lacked favorability for him.

Before the facts appeared, Roosevelt could not believe that the British and Chinese government forces would not be able to defend Myanmar. But for the sake of safety, especially considering that the People's Party armed forces should be pushed to the opposite side of the Allied forces, and the unwillingness to withdraw Lan Fang for some reason after the United Nations Declaration was signed, he carefully said: "Prime Minister Chen and others are concerned about the need to fight against Japan and avoid unnecessary hostility between the Allied forces and the People's Party armed forces. I personally understand this. Since Lan Fang does not oppose the establishment of the Chinese theater, the crux of the problem is whether General Chiang serves as the Supreme Commander of the Chinese theater, then we can temporarily postpone the determination of the candidate for the Supreme Commander of the Chinese theater. First, the China, Thailand and Vietnam are determined as the Chinese theater. Moreover, in this theater, except for the United States and British representatives, the only Chinese teams will fight against Japan."

The nomination of Chiang Kai-shek as the Supreme Commander of the Chinese Theater to ease the current relationship between the allies and Lan Fang and leave room for future contact with the People's Party. The classification of China, Thailand and Vietnam into a Chinese theater where only the Chinese team fights against Japan actually ensures Chiang Kai-shek's leadership in the theater. Roosevelt's arrangement was considered to be a painstaking effort.

After exchanging opinions with Li Jishen, Chen Qiyou and Jiang Guangnai, Premier Lan Fang said: "We believe that the President's proposal is pragmatic and acceptable to us."

Although Song Ziwen was dissatisfied, considering that since Roosevelt spoke, it would be difficult to refuse on the spot just by starting from maintaining Sino-US relations. Moreover, Roosevelt's proposal did not harm the actual interests of Chongqing. It was just that the false reputation on Chiang Kai-shek would have to be delayed for a while. After thinking about it, he nodded and said: "We can accept the proposal of the President, but the materials and funds that the allies promised to provide to the Chinese theater must be guaranteed."

Roosevelt looked at Song Ziwen, nodded and said, "As long as the Yunnan-Burma Channel is guaranteed, there will be no shortage of supplies to the Chinese war zone!"

In this way, with Lan Fang's persistence and Roosevelt's adaptation, Chiang Kai-shek finally did not receive the title of Supreme Commander of the Chinese War Theater. After the news reached the country, Chiang Kai-shek angrily scolded Chen Jiongming, Li Jishen and others, accusing Lan Fang of "forgetting his ancestors and suppressing his homeland", completely forgot that the Nanjing government was arrogant and ignored Lan Fang's request to establish diplomatic relations. He has still labeled Chen Jiongming as a "prime minister's traitor"!

"Lan Fang's comrades gave us a big gift!" Zhou Mingyuan was happy as soon as he received the situation report from Lan Fang, "Now the Chinese war zone has become a war zone with no clear Supreme Commander! I guess Chiang Kai-shek will have the heart to kill people!"

"The suspension of the determination of the Supreme Commander of the Chinese theater has little impact on our international status. The only one who is affected is the Chongqing authorities!" Tang Ming, who has been overseas for many years and has a clear understanding of the international situation, also smiled, "And, in this way, not only our People's Party has avoided the embarrassment of lacking official recognition in the Chinese theater to a certain extent, but the United States, Britain and other allies have also left themselves a room for contact with us. This will have great benefits for our Party to break the blockade and expand the international community!"

"Now the Southern Army and the Japanese Navy fleet commanded by Soichi Teraunuchi have already made the United States, Britain and other countries worry, and the situation in Southeast Asia is also deteriorating sharply. The more than 300,000 Kwantung Army transferred from outside the pass to South China will all march into Southeast Asia. The United States, Britain, the Netherlands and other countries may know what it means to make things worse!" Zhao Zhenzhong smiled and said confidently, "At least in three or four months, when the Japanese army's heavy troops are fully launched in Southeast Asia, for their own interests, the United States, Britain and other countries may not care about their official relations with Chongqing, and they must come to our door to ask us to send troops to deal with the Japanese army!

Especially the British, when the British and Burmese army suffered great losses and most of Myanmar was occupied by Japan, Churchill had to grit his teeth and promise our territorial claims in order to find a way out for the remaining British and Burmese army! Not only should we recognize that the Shannan controlled area is owned by our party, but all the Chinese territory seized since the late Qing Dynasty must be returned! We will step up preparations for war now, wait and see if it changes, and force it to sign a city alliance at that time!"

Taking advantage of the current and future situation, we forced Britain to sign a city alliance, admit that the Shannan controlled area belongs to the People's Party, and return the Chinese territory that Britain has occupied since the end of the Qing Dynasty! Things that we never dared to imagine in the past are gradually becoming a reality under the planning of Zhao Zhenzhong, Zhou Mingyuan and others. This really made several executive members of the People's Party excited!

"Sir, we took advantage of the opportunity of the Japanese army to advance into Nanyang to force it to sign a city alliance. So will the Soviet Union handle the matter as required?" Tian Yunyi suppressed his excitement and suggested. "Although we are in Central Asia and Outer Mongolia have recovered a large area of ​​lost land, there are still more than 100 square kilometers of territory in the Far East that have not been recovered. Moreover, even if the lost land is recovered now, the Soviet Union must sign and confirm it!"

"We must take back what we lose!" Zhao Zhenzhong nodded heavily and said seriously, "Whether it is Central Asia, Outer Mongolia, Far East that the Soviet Union once occupied or controlled, or Shannan, southern Yunnan, Hong Kong and other places occupied by the British, or the Northeast, Taiwan and other territories occupied by Japan! As for the more territory our army now occupied in Central Asia, Shannan is regarded as a collection of interest! Of course, now it is only the interest from Britain and the Soviet Union. In the future, we will have to calculate the old accounts since the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 with Bengali and the Japanese!"

"We have to wait three or four months!" Tang Ming smacked his lips with regret and said half-jokingly, "It would be great if the British or Soviets could ask for a visit tomorrow! Is it better if the rabbits wait for the rabbits to come to the morning, right?"

"Just be content!" Tian Yunyi gave him a blank look and said with a smile, "We are waiting here for three or four months. The southeastern part of Nanyang, especially the area in Lanfang, has entered summer, but the storm is stormy, and the Soviet battlefield is ice and snow, and both sides are worthy of it!

Besides, winter is coming, will spring be far away? After three or four months, it will be the time when spring is in full bloom. Then we will attack the Japanese. Not only will the weather be suitable, but the logistics are also more guaranteed!"

"Huh? Yun Yi, it's not simple! Even foreign poems can be written on a few words!" Zhao Zhenzhong praised.

"It's just that I accidentally saw a few sentences when I was learning a foreign language!" Tian Yunyi explained, "Mr., Mingyuan, Tang Ming, and Yunshan have great questions. I have to pour more ink into my stomach, learn more useful, right?"

The People's Party made up its mind to spend this winter first, while the Japanese army's advancement to Southeast Asia was in full swing. On January 4, the commander of the 15th Japanese Army, Yoshiro Iida, commanded the 33rd and 55th divisions from Siam to attack Tuwa and Maulham in southern Myanmar respectively!

Yoshiro Iida hoped that the Japanese army could advance quickly so that they could occupy southern Myanmar when British reinforcements and the expeditionary forces sent by Chongqing authorities arrived. However, because the Siam-Myanmar border was complex, not only were the mountains steep, but there were exposed rock layers everywhere, and the trees and bamboo forests were densely covered with branches and leaves, so the visibility of the mountain roads in broad daylight was not high. This affected the speed of the Japanese army's advance. It was not until January 19 that the vanguard of the Japanese 55th Division occupied Tuwa, and the main force of the division did not occupy Maudan until the 31st. The 33rd Division occupied Ba'an on February 4.

It was not until this time that the British and Burmese army realized that the strength of the British and Burmese army alone was not enough to resist the Japanese advancement, so they hurriedly called the expeditionary army into Myanmar based on the agreement reached with Chongqing.

On February 5, the commander of the British and Burmese army, Hutton, personally went to Lashio to ask Chiang Kai-shek for the Chinese team to enter Myanmar to fight. However, Chiang Kai-shek did not notify the Chongqing authorities on the 16th, "According to the request of the British representatives... the situation in Yangon is urgent, please send the Fifth Army to Myanmar quickly... The Fifth Army is approximately used in the Yangon area of ​​Toungoo." On the same day, Dai Anlan led the 200th Division from Baoshan to Wancheng, ready to enter Myanmar.

However, the war between large corps is not something that can be called, which involves a series of issues such as the choice of marching routes, the formulation of combat plans, and logistics supply support. By the time the expeditionary force entered Myanmar, it was already late February.

The situation in Myanmar has taken a sharp turn, and the situation facing the Soviet Union is even more difficult!

Although the remnants of the Far Eastern Front, commanded by Apanashenko, retreated westward to Mogocha along the eastern section of the Siberian Railway and met with the remaining troops of the Foreign Baikal Military Region commanded by Kurochkin, the two units were in a difficult situation where there were Japanese troops in the east, People's Army in the west, and foreign aids were cut off.

The Soviet Union's Eastern Front was so unbearable, and the Western Front was not much better! On March 6, after three months of fierce street fighting, the German army finally achieved full control of the ruins of Moscow. Stalin led the Soviet Party, government and military leadership to retreat to Gubishev, 1,100 kilometers southeast of Moscow, and announced to the outside world that it would use this as the temporary capital of the Soviet Union and would fight against Germany and Japanese fascists to the end!

"This is the first time since our army sent troops to the Soviet Union and Mongolia last year, the Soviet Union has not ranked our party as invaders. Our army, Germany and Japan, are tied for the invaders in an external declaration. This shows that Moscow's attitude has begun to loosen!" After learning the relevant news, Zhao Zhenzhong keenly realized the meaning and judged, "According to the current view, in April, we can use the current situation to force Britain and the Soviet Union to sign an alliance under the city to completely resolve the territorial problem of the two countries occupying our country since the end of the Qing Dynasty!" (To be continued)


Chapter completed!