12dz Chapter 215 The Cold Gun and Cold Cannon Movement Begins
Chapter 215 The Cold Gun and Cold Cannon Movement Begins
In early February, more than 1000 outstanding young men and women, including Xia Yingwei (see Chapter 200), a former employee of Nanhua Construction Group, embarked on a journey far away from their hometown to study abroad in Baiying.
At the same time, hundreds of young Chinese who had previously gone overseas to escape the war or were already studying abroad, at the call of their relatives, classmates, teachers and other close friends, came to Myitkyina through various channels, entered various industries and contributed their own strength.
In terms of military affairs, after learning that the Japanese were collecting food and seemed to be preparing for a major move, Zhang Chi immediately realized that the Battle of Imphal might be coming.
Of course, due to the existence of his butterfly, the storm it stirs up may also cause Mutaguchi Ren'ya to choose other directions of attack. Therefore, Zhang Chi decided to find something for the Japanese on the front line of confrontation to do, so that they don't have to think too much.
"Cold guns and cold cannons? What kind of fighting style is this?" Chief of Staff Tan Zhijie, who was called in, was confused when he heard what Zhang Chi said.
Zhang Chi smiled, pointed at the map, and began to analyze:
"The frontline positions have stabilized now, especially the salients around Gaolin and Wenduo. Our line of contact with the Japanese is very long, with positions, rivers, and mountains separating us from each other, right?"
Tan Zhijie nodded. "That's right, but Commander, didn't we agree to stockpile ammunition on the front lines and let the troops rest until March before launching a large-scale offensive?"
Zhang Chi smiled lightly, a sly look flashing in his eyes. "I thought that since the divisions have undergone a large-scale expansion, the new recruits have little combat experience. This month is a good opportunity for them to practice."
Next, Zhang Chi explained in detail the techniques of using cold guns and cold cannons.
"So we're going to launch high-density, low-intensity, small-scale sneak attacks and sniper warfare on the contact line?" When Tan Zhijie heard this, he suddenly realized that this seemed to be a good idea.
Zhang Chi looked out the window and said firmly, "That's right. We'll mainly rely on sniping and surprise artillery fire. Let each division and regiment take turns to attack the Japanese in squads and platoons. This won't affect the stockpiling of ammunition, and it will allow the new recruits to see some blood."
"Great." Tan Zhijie clapped his hands excitedly.
"The key is to harass the Japanese along the contact line for a month. When they become accustomed to this low-intensity combat and become complacent, we will suddenly launch a large-scale offensive, which will surely cause their entire line to collapse."
"That's right, killing two birds with one stone." In addition to attacking the Japanese's manpower and creating surprise for the next battle, Zhang Chi also plans to use this tactic to train a group of troops proficient in jungle warfare.
"We can select the better-performing parts of the Springfield M1903 model copied by the First Gun Factory and use them as sniper rifles. We can equip them with 4x scopes imported from White Eagle and distribute them to the snipers of each division, so that we can be ready for the 'cold gun'."
"And by the way, pull up our newly produced recoilless rifle. This gun has a caliber of 88mm and is very light, so it can be flexibly maneuvered in the jungle. It's perfect for testing the gun on the Japanese."
Zhang Chi was not going to stop there after defeating the Japanese in Pegu.
The remaining areas of Borneo, West Malaysia, Java and other Southeast Asian regions occupied by the Japanese were also covered with dense jungles, and his armored forces could only advance along the coastline and roads and railways.
In the dense inland forests, a professional jungle warfare unit composed of snipers, recoilless rifles, light infantry squads and other troops will become the key force for him to win the jungle warfare in the future.
He has to grasp both the mechanized troops responsible for large-scale frontal combat and the light infantry troops responsible for jungle and mountain combat, and he has to do both well.
"So, we'll establish a Special Operations Command. The three previously established experimental Special Operations Battalions 404, 405, and 406, plus the two paratrooper regiments that Instructor White Eagle is training for us, will all be placed under the command of the Special Operations Division."
"Once this Cold Gun and Cold Cannon campaign is over, select the best performing soldiers from each division to form three jungle commando teams, which will also be assigned to the Special Warfare Division."
Tan Zhijie looked at Zhang Chi in surprise as he suddenly made the decision.
He realized that the newly established Special Operations Command would bring together the elite of the entire army and become a new powerful department.
What he is wondering now is, who will Zhang Chi hand over such an important unit to?
Zhang Chi looked at Tan Zhijie and instantly understood what Tan Zhijie was thinking.
In his plan, the most important department, the Special Operations Command, must of course be controlled by absolutely loyal synths to check and balance other senior generals and prevent them from having second thoughts.
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The army's combat readiness must be closely monitored, and the implementation of the three-year plan must also be regularly checked to prevent Bai Hongsheng from going astray.
But the busy Zhang Chi still set aside a day to receive an important visitor.
The arrival of this guest was not just an ordinary meeting, but also a key turning point in the situation in Southeast Asia.
"I've long heard of Commander Zhang's great name, and seeing him today, I can see he's truly extraordinary."
An old man in a suit, leaning on a cane, with gray hair but still neatly combed, was the first to salute Zhang Chi.
Zhang Chi stood up and responded respectfully, "Mr. Chen, you are too polite. I should be the first to pay my respects."
Even though Zhang Chi commanded hundreds of thousands of troops and governed millions of Qian people, he was still respectful to the newcomers.
This is not because Zhang Chi is underestimating himself, but because the name of the visitor is too famous.
Although the Qian people in Southeast Asia were basically in a state of independence and lack of unity before World War II, Mr. Chen can still be regarded as the leader of the Nanyang Chinese, and his prestige is unmatched.
Even Zhang Zhichao, the head of the Zhang family who is known as the rubber king of Southeast Asia, still has to be polite when meeting Boss Chen.
In addition, he had been running around for the Nanyang Qian people and the domestic anti-Japanese war, and was even put on the Japanese wanted list. He was hunted by the Japanese and had to live in seclusion in Java.
Zhang Chi himself admires his firm belief and selfless spirit.
"Ah, Commander Zhang fully deserves this courtesy." Mr. Chen said this with great seriousness. "The large-scale anti-Japanese armed forces of the Qian people in Xingcheng and Luzon have been broken. The guerrillas in Malay and the Dutch East Indies are mostly composed of natives."
"Only Commander Zhang took up the banner of the Nanyang Qian people's armed resistance against the Japanese invaders. Not only did he annihilate the Japanese invaders in an organized manner many times, he also liberated hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of land and sheltered countless Nanyang Qian people. His merits and deeds are unscrupulous."
When others say some nice things, Zhang Chi just thinks they are flattery and forgets about it after listening to them.
But when Zhang Chi heard it with his own ears from a senior leader like Boss Chen, he felt extremely comfortable.
"Hahaha, Mr. Chen, you're so kind." Zhang Chi personally pulled Mr. Chen to sit down. "I wonder what important matter has brought you here to discuss this time, Mr. Chen?"
Mr. Chen nodded, his eyes suddenly becoming deeper and more serious.
He gently put down his cane and sat opposite Zhang Chi with a slightly serious expression, as if he wanted to see something in Zhang Chi's eyes.
"I see Commander Zhang has already established a Qian people regime in Pegu. I wonder what Commander Zhang thinks of Xingcheng and other major cities in Southeast Asia where the Qian people are the majority?"