Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 223 Soviet Special Envoy
"Can't we go around it?"

"If it's a mountain road, and it's a necessary route, there's basically no possibility of taking a detour."

"The prerequisite is that the superiors have issued a retreat order, and I have to continue retreating!"

"Now that we have the intelligence, why can't we strike first?"

"A preemptive strike? We're surrounded by wolves in front and tigers behind. If we can't defeat the Japanese army quickly once a battle breaks out, the pursuers will catch up. We'll be attacked from both sides, and that would be disastrous!"

"."

The students below were having a heated discussion, and even Chen Jicheng and his friends were thinking about it.

According to military academy education, soldiers are duty-bound to obey orders. Since the superior has issued a retreat order, they should resolutely carry it out.

However, the reality is that rigidly following orders will only cause the troops to suffer greater casualties, and there is no guarantee that it will be effective.

If it is not done.
Isn't this just going against the teaching syllabus?
Left and right brain fighting each other?
"Sir, what should we do?"

"I understand! We can follow the Eighth Route Army's example, go deep into the mountains, and wage guerrilla warfare against the Japanese devils!"

"Stop talking nonsense. You're going to wage guerrilla warfare and then just pack up and leave? Who's going to defend that position?"

"I think we should still disobey orders. All the soldiers are dead. What's the point of retreating?"

"but."

"There are no buts. Everything is for the sake of the war of resistance. We must consider the overall situation. To continue to carry out orders under these circumstances is undoubtedly playing with the lives of soldiers. You are using dozens or even hundreds of lives to defend your personal honor!"

Gradually, the students' discussion came to an end.

Wang Feng also got a general idea of ​​what was going on.

The vast majority of students believed that they should make their own independent judgments based on the situation on the ground, since the command post was located in the rear and had a strong lag in receiving information from the front.

Frontline officers who only give rigid commands will only make the situation worse.

Chen Jicheng's expression was not good.

But I can't quite put my finger on what the problem is.

Wang Feng's expression also looked somewhat strange.

Because I was unaware of the arrangements for this lecture beforehand, I did not prepare at all, and all my remarks were improvised.

The original intention was to make these students understand the drawbacks of dogmatic tactics.

Unexpectedly, it produced some unforeseen results.

If some of these officers were to become division commanders or brigade commanders in the future, it would be much more difficult for Chiang Kai-shek to attempt to manipulate events beyond his rank.

"A chance encounter can lead to unexpected success."

Wang Feng smiled bitterly to himself, but then again, if he could really stop Chiang Kai-shek's micromanagement, the contribution to the war effort would be far greater than giving a lecture on theoretical knowledge.

Wang Feng dismissed the thought in his mind and cleared his throat: "I won't go on about this question. I'm sure you all already have the answer in your hearts!"

"Does anyone have any further questions?"

The students below the stage looked at each other, and a few scattered individuals shouted "Report!"

The questions raised were relatively simple.

After answering all the questions, Wang Feng saw that it was almost time, so he handed the podium to another instructor and quickly left the auditorium.

outside.

Chen Jicheng was still pondering the question he had just asked.

He seemed to have discovered some clues.

To be precise, they had already guessed that Wang Feng was making veiled criticisms, ostensibly about tactical command, but actually satirizing the Chairman for overstepping his authority to interfere in command.

Chen Jicheng knew this characteristic of Chiang Kai-shek all too well.

He was considered one of the loyalists in the Central Army.

In 1936, he was transferred to serve as the director of the Henan-Hubei-Shaanxi Border Pacification Headquarters. During the Xi'an Incident, he participated in the "Pajama Mountain Climbing Competition" with Chiang Kai-shek. They were chased to Mount Li by Zhang Xueliang's Northeast Army, so they had suffered together.

Upon seeing Wang Feng emerge, he immediately stepped forward: "Commander Wang!"

What you just taught your students

Wang Feng glanced sideways and interrupted him without hesitation: "What's wrong, Commander Chen? Is there something wrong with what I said?"

Chen Jicheng was speechless.

There was no one in the entire army who did not resent Chiang Kai-shek's "micromanagement"; this was a consensus that almost everyone shared without needing to say it. If there was anything wrong with it, there really wasn't.

But teaching these things to students at the Central Military Academy
Wang Feng smiled and said, "This lesson is over. I wonder what the next steps are, Commander Chen?"

Chen Jicheng: "I apologize, Commander Wang, I have some official business to attend to. I must excuse myself for now. We can have a proper chat another day."

Wang Feng glanced down at the time—15:23.

It's still early.

Unfortunately, we didn't run into any Soviet instructors on this trip.

We need to find a way to establish contact with the Soviet ambassador.

It's best to have a legitimate reason.

The mountain city is full of spies from all sides. He is currently in the eye of the storm, and he doesn't know how many eyes are watching him from the shadows.

Wang Feng pretended to be in a difficult position: "Commander Chen, I am new here and do not know where to start the teaching work. I would like to trouble you to arrange specific tasks."

There's not much going on lately, so I'll spend a couple of days at the military academy. There are so many Soviet instructors here, and they use a lot of Soviet-style teaching equipment. As long as I pay a little attention, I'm sure I'll have some interaction with the Soviets.

Chen Jicheng thought for a moment and said, "Commander Wang, there really is something that needs your attention!"

Wang Feng: "Speak freely!"

Chen Jicheng: "Actually, this is what I need to do now. Last month, the Soviet Union provided a batch of weapons, 3,000 Mosin-Nagant rifles and 200,000 bullets, specifically for military academies. However, due to various reasons, the weapons have not yet arrived. I have arranged a time to meet with the Soviet ambassador, Oleksandr, this evening."

Wang Feng was quite excited upon hearing this. It was like a godsend; he had just been worrying about this matter, and now a solution had been found immediately.

"Commander Chen, since this is my duty, I will go and meet with the Soviet ambassador!"

Chen Jicheng frowned.

The matter of teaching materials should indeed be handled by the dean of academic affairs, but the problem is that this meeting was with the Soviet ambassador. A dean of academic affairs at a military academy probably doesn't carry much weight in the eyes of the arrogant Slavs.

It seems unlikely that this matter can be resolved through negotiation.

On previous occasions, he had met with the Soviet ambassador in his capacity as Deputy Minister of Military Training.

Just as he was about to politely decline, he thought about Wang Fengxian's current status as a renowned anti-Japanese general recognized by both officials and civilians, and perhaps it would be more appropriate for him to discuss the matter.

Chen Jicheng: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Commander Wang!"

Seeing that he had achieved his goal, Wang Feng smiled slightly: "No need to be polite!"

------------

After leaving the military academy, Wang Feng immediately got into the jeep, while Zhang Hu sat in the passenger seat and took out a file folder from the armrest.

"Sir, everything is inside!"

Wang Feng took the document and carefully opened it, then meticulously read through the stack of documents inside.

These materials were collected by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and they mainly consist of Japan's recent "small actions" on the northeastern border.

I remember that after the Battle of Xuzhou, Japan and the Soviet Union had a military conflict on the Sino-Korean border, namely the "Zhanggufeng Incident".

The scale of the conflict involving both sides is not small.

Japan deployed its troops stationed in Korea and the Kwantung Army, totaling more than 7000 men, and also mobilized 37 artillery pieces.

The Soviet side went even further, amassing over 1.5 troops, 237 artillery pieces, and 285 tanks in the combat zone. An additional 250 aircraft supported Soviet forces.

Faced with such a disparity in troop strength, the final outcome was predictable: the incident ended in a crushing defeat for Japan.

The information here is written around this incident.

Since the Ministry of the Interior took on the functions of an intelligence agency, it has been secretly expanding its sphere of influence, but even so, it cannot reach the northeastern border. A considerable portion of these materials are fabricated based on historical memory.

It cannot be called fabrication.

Since it's based on historical events, it's fair to say that it's largely fictional.

But whether it's true or not doesn't matter, as long as it can attract the attention of the Soviet Union.

Zhang Hu: "Sir, shall we set off now?"

Wang Feng snapped out of his daze and nodded: "Let's set off now and get to the Soviet embassy as quickly as possible!"

Zhang Hu nodded: "Okay!"

------------

Two hours later.

The convoy appeared in front of the Soviet embassy.

Wang Feng got out of the car and stretched his body. The bumpy ride had made him feel like his lumbar spine was about to break.

To be precise, the Central Military Academy is not located in the mountain city, but in a more distant county town. I remember it took me almost three hours to get there.

On the return trip, thanks to his constant urging, the convoy sped up and took only two hours.

Speed ​​is a good thing.

My body just can't take it anymore.

Wang Feng looked up at the building in front of him. It truly lived up to its reputation as the Soviet Embassy, ​​with its distinctive Eastern European architectural style. He wondered if it was newly built or a requisitioned old building.

After the guard finished reporting, he quickly walked down the steps and saluted Wang Feng.
"Sir, we can enter now."

Wang Feng responded and quickly walked up the steps.

The building faces the street and doesn't have a separate courtyard. After climbing the steps and pushing open the door, you can enter the embassy. "Hello!"

The Soviet guards on either side of the gate saluted, pushed the gate open, and spoke broken Chinese.

Wang Feng nodded slightly in acknowledgment and quickly entered the building.

The buildings inside are full of Soviet style, with beige as the main color of the walls, occasionally decorated with dark red and gold tones, and some Western oil paintings hanging on the walls.

Of course, the most eye-catching item is a portrait of Lenin.

While he was still looking, a group of Soviets dressed in button-down dresses walked over.

"Hello, are you Wang Feng?"

Wang Feng snapped out of his daze and immediately switched his attention to an overhead view. From the information displayed above, he learned that the person walking towards him was the Soviet ambassador to China, Oleksandr.

The man had a thick beard and looked somewhat like Stalin.

That's what Wang Feng thought anyway.

After all, he has a bit of face blindness when it comes to foreigners, and sometimes he can only identify them by certain facial features.

"Hello!"

Oreski walked up to Wang Feng, politely extended his hand, and greeted him with a smile.

Wang Feng stepped forward and shook hands: "Hello!"

Oreski: "Deputy Minister Chen has already told me that you will be here to discuss weapons cooperation. Let's go, this is not the place to talk, we need to find a quiet room."

Wang Feng nodded:

"it is good!"

The two walked side by side, with the others following behind, clearly separated and not disturbing each other, nor did anyone greet the others.

As he walked, Oreschi said with a smile, "I've seen a report about you in the Times of London. To be honest, you are indeed a respectable general. Many young men in our embassy guard admire you."

Wang Feng raised an eyebrow:
"The Times?"

Oreschi: "That's right!"

Wang Feng: "I was just fighting for my country. The decisive factor in the battles I participated in was not me, but my soldiers and the working people behind the army. Without them, even the most brilliant tactics could not be executed."

Oreschi smiled and said, "A humble general deserves even more respect!"

Wang Feng chuckled awkwardly. During his trip to the mountain city, he had been constantly flattered and had become somewhat immune to it. But hearing a foreign ambassador praise him was a first for him.

He just mentioned The Times.

Could it be that my reputation has already spread to the West?

I really don't know how future generations will judge me.
This was the first time Wang Feng had considered this question since he had been transported here.

Before long, the group arrived at the door of a council hall.

Oreski turned around and said a few words to his entourage in Russian. The men nodded and immediately stopped in their tracks.

Wang Feng understood and said to Zhang Hu and the others, "You wait for me here."

Zhang Hu: “Yes!”

Then, Oleski looked at Wang Feng and made a "please" gesture:

"Please come in!"

Wang Feng politely replied, "Please!"

The two then walked side by side toward the council chamber.

This was not a formal diplomatic note; there were no reporters present, and some unnecessary formalities were omitted. The two men sat on the sofa and got straight to business.

Oreski began, "There's been a problem with the weapons we promised you. Japan is frequently creating trouble on the northeastern border, and the transport has encountered significant issues. It's estimated that it will be delayed for several months."

Wang Feng frowned.

Several months.
At this rate, by the time the weapons arrive, won't the thirteenth cohort of students have already graduated?

This is not the most important thing.

It would be too costly for the Soviets to set up a separate transport train for a few thousand Mosin-Nagant rifles and 200,000 rounds of ammunition. Therefore, some of these aid supplies must have been allocated to the front-line troops.

If this is delayed, the subsequent battle for Wuhan will be much more difficult.

At this time, Sino-Soviet relations were in a "honeymoon period," and the Soviet Union provided substantial aid to China. Wang Feng doesn't remember the specific details clearly, but he recalls that the Soviet Union provided the Nationalist government with equipment for at least a dozen divisions at prices far below market value.

Wang Feng: "Is there any solution?"

Oreski shrugged: "I'm just a diplomat. How to handle the northeastern border issue is up to the generals in the Far East."

Wang Feng frowned.

He didn't know if this was just an excuse or if he really had no other choice.

Forget it, let Chiang Kai-shek worry about the weapons issue. Let's get down to business first.

Wang Feng took out a notebook and handed it to Oleschi.

“This is…” Oreschi asked, puzzled.

Wang Feng: "You should know that my defense zone is mainly in Shanxi. I've heard some news from the north that the Japanese have noticed your fortification construction in the Zhanggufeng area. The Japanese Emperor has issued an order allowing the troops stationed in Korea to launch an attack on you."

"This contains detailed evidence and information."

As he spoke, a barely perceptible smile appeared on Wang Feng's lips.

Actually, this incident is quite ridiculous. The Japanese army is a truly amazing organization. Historically, in order to avoid the situation from escalating and triggering a real war between Japan and the Soviet Union, the Japanese emperor did not allow his troops to attack the Soviet army.

But the people below simply wouldn't listen.

They continued to act arbitrarily, launching an armed attack while the Soviet Red Army was constructing fortifications.

Oreschi frowned, half believing it.

Wang Feng smiled and said, "Mr. Oleski, the detailed information is all here. If you don't believe it, you can send it back to your country and verify it yourself."

Stalin knew all too well the stubbornness of the Soviets. Even on the eve of the Soviet-German War, when there was irrefutable evidence, Stalin still did not believe that Germany would launch a war against the Soviet Union.

Now, even if someone eloquently claims to believe something, the Soviet Union is unlikely to easily believe it. However, having some solid evidence makes a significant difference.

Ultimately, the "Zhanggufeng Incident" was provoked by the Soviet Union first. If they had heard rumors that Japan might launch an attack, they would not have remained indifferent; at the very least, they would have conducted a small-scale investigation.

Any investigation will inevitably leave a trace.

Japan will inevitably become aware of this.

If things escalate back and forth, the conflict between the two sides could very well escalate rapidly.

Oleski was skeptical, but put away his notebook: "Thank you for reminding me. I will report this matter to the relevant domestic authorities."

Wang Feng: "No need to be so polite. Your country has provided so much weaponry, it's only right that we offer some small assistance!"

"If you have time in the future, I would like to invite you to Changzhi. Perhaps you will make some interesting discoveries."

Oreschi became interested: "Speaking of which, I do have something to tell you."

Wang Feng: "I would like to hear the details!"

Oreski: "In view of your and your troops' outstanding performance on the battlefield, our Ministry of Defense has decided to send a military observation group. I originally wanted to find an opportunity to discuss this matter with you in detail, but I didn't expect to meet you today."

Wang Feng was overjoyed.

On the way here, he thought about it and realized that it was almost impossible for the Soviet Union to set up an embassy in Changzhi, both legally and morally. Even if Oreski had the intention, it would be of no use. Such a major decision had to be approved by Stalin.

The difficulty skyrocketed.

However, military observation groups are similar in nature to embassies.

Although he had no diplomatic power in name, Wang Feng was confident that as long as he could open a channel, he could keep it open and expand it further.

Wang Feng smiled and said, "You are warmly welcome!"

------------

After finalizing the details with Oleksandr, Wang Feng hurriedly left the Soviet embassy.

Zhang Hu: "Sir, where do we go next?"

Wang Feng looked up at the sky; it was pitch black, and it was already evening.

"Let's go back to the guesthouse first!"

He had originally planned to strike while the iron was hot and go to the US Embassy to discuss diplomatic matters, but he couldn't think of a suitable reason. Just now, while chatting with Oleski, he learned that the US military attaché to China, Stilwell, was in Wuhan for an inspection, and that the diplomatic ambassador was also in Wuhan recently.

We can only wait until later.

Zhang Hu replied, "Yes!"

The convoy slowly started moving, and Wang Feng, sitting in the jeep, looked out the window.

The streets were bustling with people, and the shouts of vendors filled the air. Most of the products sold on the stalls were handmade, with very few industrial products in sight.

The economy of Chongqing is relatively backward, and its industrialization started very late. Coupled with the political characteristics of the comprador bourgeoisie, the Nationalist government has invested here for several years, but so far there has been no significant result.

But the population is indeed large.

Judging from the pedestrian traffic on the streets, the actual population is at least twice that of Changzhi, and perhaps three times in a while.

It truly lives up to its reputation as the capital city.

After the coastal areas fell, the Japanese army turned its attention to Central China, and a large number of people moved to the southwestern border. Wang Feng was envious of such a huge labor force.

If half of Changzhi's population could be allocated to it, the military and civilian industries would likely experience a rocket-like surge.

After all, what he needs most right now is industrial workers.

(End of this chapter)