Bright Sword: The Flowers of War

Chapter 273 Half-Sold, Half-Giveaway

The noise in the banquet hall gradually subsided, and the generals, still intoxicated and shaken, took their leave in twos and threes. As they departed, their gazes toward Su Yaoyang were filled with complex emotions.

Li Zongren didn't say much, but after the crowd dispersed, he gave Su Yaoyang and Bai Chongxi, who had remained silent, a look.

The three men, without tacit agreement, were led by an adjutant through a corridor with heavy curtains to a secluded office on the second floor of Wangjiang Tower.

The door was gently closed, shutting out all outside sounds.

The office was simply furnished, with a large nanmu wood desk taking up most of the space, piled with documents and maps.

A huge map of the Central China Theater also hangs on the wall, covered with dense arrows and symbols marked in red and blue pencils.

Li Zongren did not sit in the main seat, but walked to the reception area to the side, personally picked up the purple clay teapot on the table, and filled the celadon teacup in front of Su Yaoyang with steaming hot Biluochun tea.

As the tea leaves unfurl in the boiling water, a delicate fragrance instantly fills the air.

This action already shows his attitude at this moment.

Bai Chongxi sat down on a single sofa to the side, crossed his legs, and stared at Su Yaoyang with sharp eyes like an eagle, scrutinizing him without saying a word, as if trying to see through him from the inside out.

Only when the steam from the teacup enveloped Su Yaoyang's face did Li Zongren slowly sit down, leaning slightly forward, his weathered eyes fixed intently on him, his voice low and powerful:
"Tell me... are those judgments you just made, and that data that's considered Japan's most confidential, true?"

Su Yaoyang picked up the warm teacup, gently blew on the floating tea leaves, took a slow sip, and then put the teacup down. He met Li Zongren's burning gaze, and a helpless smile appeared on his lips.

"Commander Li."

He shrugged. "You don't think I was just joking around with you guys because I had nothing better to do than say those things in front of so many people. Of course it was true."

The last syllable of his voice carried a hint of youthful ease, yet it made both Li Zongren and Bai Chongxi's hearts tighten simultaneously.

"You..." Li Zongren was about to ask further, but Su Yaoyang waved his hand, cutting him off before he could finish.

“I know you want to ask me where this data came from.”

Su Yaoyang's eyes deepened. "I can't tell you that. You just need to know that it's all true, and that's enough."

Silence fell over the office. Li Zongren looked at the stubborn young man before him, his chest heaving before finally letting out a bitter laugh. He turned to Bai Chongxi beside him and said, "Jiansheng, look... look... this kid doesn't hold a high position, but his temper is getting worse and worse."

Su Yaoyang touched his nose and smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "The reason I said that just now was to intimidate those pessimistic surrenderers about the war and to give everyone some confidence."

After all, confidence is more important than gold.

He abruptly changed the subject, his expression turning serious again, and dropped an even more startling prediction.

"Moreover, I estimate that the Japanese and Americans will inevitably clash within a year or two."

"what?!"

This time, even Bai Chongxi, who had been keeping a low profile, couldn't help but lean forward, his eyes flashing with a terrifying light.

If Japan and the United States went to war, it would be a major event that could significantly impact the global landscape.

Ignoring their shock, Su Yaoyang continued his analysis: "Duke De, Duke Jian, as you both know, Japan is a resource-poor island nation. The vast majority of the strategic materials it needs for war, such as oil, scrap steel, and rubber, are imported from the United States."

Starting this year, the United States has consciously reduced, and even banned, exports of these strategic materials to Japan. This is like a noose tightening around the neck of the Japanese.

He stretched out a finger and pointed it in the air, as if he were depicting a vision of the future.

What will a wild beast do when cornered? It will fight to the death!
As Japan became increasingly bogged down in the war in China and its lifeline was cut off by the United States, its only way out was to turn south and seize the oil- and rubber-rich colonies in Southeast Asia.

To do this, Japan would first need to eliminate the US Pacific Fleet, the biggest threat standing in its way. Therefore, I assert that a Japanese attack on the United States is only a matter of time.

After he finished speaking, only the three people's varying breathing sounds remained in the large office.

Li Zongren and Bai Chongxi, the two top minds in the Chinese military, were completely stunned into silence by the international strategic landscape described by Su Yaoyang.

Their minds raced, comparing Su Yaoyang's words with the international intelligence they possessed. The more they thought about it, the more alarmed they became, and the more they felt... that this could very well become a reality!

The way they looked at Su Yaoyang was no longer one of fear and suspicion, but rather the look of someone looking at a monster.

After a long while, Bai Chongxi looked at Li Zongren in amazement: "Delin... if Mingxi came up with those words himself, then this kid is a monster. He will definitely be a regional commander in the future, or at the very least, he can become a hero like Mr. Baili."

"No, no... please don't flatter me to death. I don't think I'm that kind of outstanding person at all." Su Yaoyang quickly waved his hands. It's important for a person to know their own limitations. He knew very well what kind of person he was. The reason he was able to get to where he was today was not only because of the help of the material converter, but also because he stood on the shoulders of giants and could view the entire World War II war from a god's-eye view.

But to say that he could become a visionary military strategist like Jiang Baili or a commander leading hundreds of thousands or even millions of troops is a stretch; he couldn't do it even if he worked himself to death.

There's a joke from later generations that goes like this:

If you can't even properly command your own four teammates in a game like Honor of Kings, then don't dream of commanding thousands of troops.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Su Yaoyang put down his teacup, the celadon and nanmu table making a crisp sound, pulling the two of them back to reality.

Suddenly, Su Yaoyang changed the subject, his tone becoming relaxed, as if he were discussing an ordinary business deal.

"Commander Li, Commander Bai, the battles of Suizao and Yichang are over, and the Shanxi militia should prepare to return to Shanxi."

Li and Bai nodded in agreement; this was only natural.

Su Yaoyang shrugged, giving a "I'm in a difficult position" look: "But as you know, although we have dozens of transport planes, our transport capacity is ultimately limited. We can't possibly bring back all the bulky stuff, since transporting it back and forth is very troublesome."

He paused, then, in an almost casual tone, made a suggestion that instantly raised the temperature in the entire office.

"So I left behind all the more than 1,000 military trucks, more than 100 heavy artillery pieces, more than 10,000 shells, and tens of thousands of rifles, machine guns and other equipment that I brought with me this time."

Consider it aid to friendly forces; we'll sell them to the Fifth War Zone at a secondhand price. I wonder if the two officers would be interested in purchasing them?

The voice just fell.

"Hiss..."

Two incredibly clear, sharp gasps echoed through the office, as if they could suck the air out of the room!
The sound was sharp and rapid, like two venomous snakes whose tails had been stepped on.

The next second, Bai Chongxi, known for his composure and calmness, suddenly jumped up from the sofa!
The sofa beneath him groaned under the strain, and he was like a wind-up cheetah, his eyes flashing with a terrifying light as he stared intently at Su Yaoyang's face, his gaze so sharp it seemed to pierce through to the heart!

"Mingxi!"

He didn't even care about official titles, directly calling out Su Yaoyang's courtesy name, his voice hoarse and trembling with extreme excitement, "Is this... really true?"

Although Li Zongren did not stand up, his knuckles were white from gripping the desk too tightly, his entire upper body was trembling slightly, his face was flushed, and his lips were quivering, but he could not utter a single word.

Seeing their thunderous reactions, Su Yaoyang leisurely leaned back on the sofa, shrugged, revealed a set of white teeth, and smiled like an innocent and harmless boy next door.

"of course."

He said casually, "You two are my officiant and witnesses, after all. As a junior, would I lie to you about something like this?"

"Good good..."

it's confirmed!
At that moment, Li Zongren and Bai Chongxi shouted out almost simultaneously! Their voices had completely changed, no longer the composure of generals, but like those of two lottery winners who had suddenly won the lottery.

They were so excited that they trembled all over and their faces were flushed; they had completely lost the composure of high-ranking officials!
The two of them knew exactly what was going on!
What type of transport aircraft has limited carrying capacity?

That's utter nonsense!

This is clearly Su Yaoyang making excuses to support their Fifth War Zone; he's practically forcing a huge pie into their mouths!

Thousands of trucks... hundreds of heavy artillery pieces... tens of thousands of machine guns and rifles—the number of light weapons alone is enough to build a new army group, not to mention hundreds of heavy artillery pieces.

That wasn't just ordinary, worn-out equipment; it was the equipment belonging to Su Yaoyang's Shanxi militia.

It was a divine weapon that even the most elite Japanese divisions marveled at and trembled in fear of.

It is a deluxe gift package that can completely transform the Fifth War Zone and boost its combat power by several levels!
Such a wonderful thing, let alone happening, they wouldn't even dare to dream of something so exaggerated!
"As for money... that's actually the smallest problem."

They'd pawn their pants if they had to buy all these weapons and equipment.

Moreover, if they don't buy it, there are quite a few wealthy hidden among the hundreds of thousands of troops in the Fifth War Zone. Once they find out about this, I guarantee that within a few hours, all that equipment will be looted.

Let alone half price, even if they were sold at a higher price, these people wouldn't even bat an eye.

If this drags on any longer, Chongqing might actually intervene; only a fool would hesitate.

(End of this chapter)