12dz Chapter 165: Investigation of Zhang Chi by the Bureau of Statistics
Chapter 165: Investigation of Zhang Chi by the Bureau of Statistics
On August 3, the office of the Investigation and Statistics Bureau was located at Garden Mansion, No. 19, Luojiawan, in the mountain city of the temporary capital.
As the number one figure in the supervisory agency, Major General Dai Chunfeng has a low military rank but great power. From generals to soldiers, no one in the national army is willing to mess with him except for a few great gods.
Ever since Zhang Chi suddenly led the defeated soldiers to form an independent regiment at the John's airport and clung to the support of General Stevenson of the White Eagle, the Investigation and Statistics Bureau noticed Zhang Chi.
However, after some investigation, they found that Zhang Chi had a clean background. Not only was his father a well-known wealthy businessman in Guangdong and Guangxi, but his grandfather was also a veteran from the Tongmenghui era.
Apart from his poor academic performance at the Fifth Branch of Huangpu Military Academy, there was nothing remarkable in Zhang Chi's record. Therefore, the Investigation and Statistics Bureau did not take it seriously at the time, and only thought that he did it to survive while trapped in the Bago rainforest.
However, when Zhang Chi led his troops to victory after victory, took root in the north of Pegu, and his power grew, Dai Chunfeng realized that he had underestimated the enemy.
However, even so, Dai Chunfeng could not have imagined that it only took Zhang Chi more than a year to transform himself from the leader of a small group of defeated soldiers into the liberator of Myitkyina City and the protector of the Pegu people.
At this moment, he was trying to make up for his loss and carefully check the information about Zhang Chi gathered by various secret sources.
"How much military aid did the White Eagles give Zhang Chi? After capturing Myitkyina, his nominally one division suffered only 2 casualties, annihilating an equal number of the Japanese main division at a near one-to-one ratio."
Dai Chunfeng knocked lightly on the table and turned to look at the person standing beside him:
“叔逸，我记得张弛的 212 师编制上只有1万多人吧？他能伤亡出2万多人，那部队实际总数至少过5、6万了吧？”
Obviously, Dai Chunfeng did not know that more than 2 of the 1 casualties were native guerrillas who died in the final street fighting. They were reported by Zhang Chi to Stevenson and he asked for an additional pension.
He thought that the more than 2 casualties were all regular troops under Zhang Chi. According to the calculation that the National Army troops would usually suffer casualties of about one-third of their troops after a bloody battle with the Japanese, Dai Chunfeng judged the total number of Zhang Chi's troops based on this.
Shen Shuyi, one of the Eight Great Vajras of the Military Control Commission, rolled his eyes and replied respectfully:
"That's right. According to our spies in the New 1st Army, Zhang Chi has sent more than ten batches of new recruits to the Ramgarh Training Base in Sindhu for training." Shen Shuyi paused. "It's estimated that he has at least three infantry divisions under his command, all equipped with full White Eagle weaponry. His strength should not be underestimated."
"It is estimated?" Dai Chunfeng's voice suddenly rose.
"What about all this estimated, firsthand, accurate intelligence? Why can't our moles get into his stretched-out 212th Division? Why is all the information we have about his troops just indirect?"
"I am incompetent and have disappointed Your Majesty..." Shen Shuyi wiped the cold sweat that suddenly broke out on his head and nodded repeatedly, not daring to make any rebuttal.
In fact, spies from the Investigation and Statistics Bureau had infiltrated Zhang Chi's troops, but because the base was isolated overseas, the spies had to use a contact person if they wanted to pass the information back.
However, even though there were only so many people crossing the border between Yunnan Province and Pegu, once a strange face appeared, it would easily attract the attention of the "blue hats" of the security department led by the synths on Zhang Chi's side.
Once the contact person is targeted, the spies will naturally have nowhere to hide.
As for the intelligence network that Dai Chunfeng personally established in Pegu before the war, it was uprooted after the Japanese invasion.
Therefore, Zhang Chi's troops became a de facto intelligence black hole for the Investigation and Statistics Bureau. They could only rely on some indirect intelligence from the New 1st Army and the Qianying Special Technical Cooperation Institute to judge the situation of Zhang Chi's troops, resulting in the intelligence they obtained being often greatly distorted.
After reprimanding Shen Shuyi, Dai Chunfeng rubbed his shoulders and sighed, "What a strong army! A 1:1 casualty ratio. Why are they so strong?"
Shen Shuyi knew that this was a test for him, and immediately replied:
"On the one hand, they are well-armed. According to intelligence, weather permitting, more than ten C-47 transport planes fly supplies, weapons, and ammunition to Zhang Chi's troops almost daily. Their mortars, submachine guns, machine guns, and cannons are all based on White Eagle standards, and their firepower far exceeds that of ordinary domestic troops."
"On the other hand, they have money. The White Eagles not only cover all of his troops' salaries and pensions, but according to our intelligence network in White Eagle, they likely also gave him a substantial loan. Not to mention that Zhang Chi has those wealthy Nanyang businessmen behind him, and each of them is incredibly wealthy."
"So the key point is the weapons and financial support of the White Eagle people..." Dai Chunfeng nodded. He still had to go to Zengjiayan in the evening. The principal would also ask these questions then, and he would be able to answer them more fluently.
Shen Shuyi took out his handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead again. In fact, he knew very well that what he said was just superficial. After all, after the White Eagle declared war on Fuso, the various assistance provided by the White Eagle to the White Party was no less than that provided by Zhang Chi. However, except for the new 1st Army stationed in Shendu and the newly formed expeditionary force in Yunnan Province, it was difficult to say that there was any improvement or change in other troops.
Dai Chunfeng thought about it for a while and suddenly realized that this topic could not be explored in depth, so he changed the question:
"In every battle, the casualties are very small. Zhang Chi is quite capable in commanding operations."
"This..." Shen Shuyi said subconsciously, "The previous battle reports were submitted by Zhang Chi himself. It's hard to say whether they are true."
Shen Shuyi judged others by his own standards and did not quite believe Zhang Chi's previous victories of defeating the larger force with a smaller one, thinking that they were all publicity for Stevenson.
After all, things like "Headquarters Battle Report" have been produced by the National Army, the Japanese, and even the White Eagle Army.
"Even if there is some water in it, it must not be a lot." Dai Chunfeng waved his hand. He still had some judgment ability.
On the one hand, the Japanese in Pegu were indeed retreating step by step, and the battle line would not lie.
On the other hand, the water in battle reports usually means over-reporting of casualties, while under-reporting is very rare.
A shrewd man like Dai Chunfeng knew very well that within the White Party, eating the empty salaries and sucking the blood of the soldiers had long been a common practice.
Except for some pure soldiers like Commander Wang of the 74th Army who ate less and used the extra money to support the soldiers, many generals in the National Army were more like businessmen than soldiers.
Those who take 20% or 30% of the salary without doing any work are considered to be restrained, and there are also quite a few who are bolder and take 40% or 50%.
However, the difference between the actual number of people and the number on the roster is too large. Once the superiors check, won’t the truth be exposed immediately?
Therefore, the casualty statistics after each battle became a good opportunity for officers at all levels to settle accounts.