Chapter 100: Soft Persuasion And Hard Pressure
Hearing Li Zongren’s question, Su Yaoyang replied without hesitation: “In my view, the Xuzhou Campaign currently seems to be fought very fiercely, but the final outcome will surely end with the loss of Xuzhou and our side’s retreat.”
If it were anyone else, they would have started cursing upon hearing Su Yaoyang say that. Damn it, you’re shaking the army’s morale.
But Li Zongren’s composure was evidently very good. He calmly asked: “Why do you think that?”
“This junior says so naturally for a reason.” Su Yaoyang explained: “In this junior’s humble opinion, although China and Japan have already entered full-scale war, our army still hasn’t prepared for total war.
Take our army’s generals as an example. Some army and division-level generals neglect their duties and collapse before battle. Second, the command structure is overlapping and cumbersome, delaying opportunities.
Currently, our country has five command levels above army and division: army, army group, army corps, corps, and theater. Orders must be passed down layer by layer.
To say something offensive, our army group and army corps levels are completely superfluous. Many army groups and army corps actually command only one army. For example, the 28th Army Group has only the 68th Army, and the 26th Army Corps has only the 10th Army. The overlapping command structure seriously delays opportunities.
The third reason is ‘tactics are rigid, failing to effectively utilize terrain.
Our China’s terrain is complex, and many battles with the Japanese army are fought in mountainous areas. But the National Army hasn’t made good use of this, instead blindly engaging the Japanese invaders in positional battles on plains. The tactics are extremely rigid.
The reason I just said Xuzhou is bound to fall has another important cause: Xuzhou is located on plains, unfavorable for defense, but very advantageous for the Japanese army to play to the strengths of their mechanized troops.
Don’t think that since our total troop strength exceeds the Japanese army’s, but in terms of soldier quality and weapon equipment, we are far too inferior, so Xuzhou ultimately cannot be held.”
Su Yaoyang shook his head while speaking, his eyes full of emotion.
“Nonsense!”
Li Zongren suddenly slapped the table and angrily rebuked: “Is this something you can say? Cowardly before battle. If not for considering your young age and ignorance, I would charge you with disrupting army morale!”
The big shot’s outburst was no small matter. Su Yaoyang was startled. Bro was just telling the truth, how is that disrupting army morale?
This charge is no small thing; in the worst case, he could be shot.
This old man doesn’t play fair.
“I…”
He had just wanted to explain when he saw Li Zongren glare at him again. “What… you’re feeling wronged now.
It’s just that only you and I are here. If outsiders heard it, you’d be in for it.
You’re at least someone who’s read books. Do I need to teach you that words can be fearsome?
Since ancient times, how many people have been ruined by that mouth of theirs? You should take it as a warning too.”
Scolded by Li Zongren like this, Su Yaoyang lowered his head and said softly: “The commander is right in his reprimand. I will certainly take it as a warning.”
Seeing Su Yaoyang with his head drooping, Li Zongren couldn’t help but smile: “Alright, lift your head up.
If someone saw it, they’d think this old man is mistreating a war hero.”
“Hehe… how could that be… You’re the acknowledged kind elder.” Su Yaoyang quickly smiled obsequiously and picked up the teapot to pour him a cup of tea.
Actually, his aggrieved look just now was mostly feigned. After all, as the saying goes, the child who cries gets the milk.
As for holding a grudge, no way. Not to mention anything else, this big shot in front of him, even after passing away many years later, people almost always give a thumbs up when mentioning him, praising him as a kind elder. He naturally doesn’t believe such a person would deliberately target him.
“You!”
Seeing Su Yaoyang’s eager manner, Li Zongren chuckled and looked at him with the expression of viewing one’s own nephew or junior.
He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and asked again: “By the way, you’re not married yet, right?”
“Yes.” Su Yaoyang nodded: “But I already have girls I fancy. I plan to marry them after this battle.”
“Mm… that’s fine… At that time, I… huh… wait…”
Li Zongren responded casually, but immediately came to his senses. It seemed this kid just said ‘them’… not ‘her’.
“If this old man’s ears aren’t failing, you just said ‘them’? How many do you plan to marry?”
“I… two…” Su Yaoyang somewhat embarrassedly held up two fingers.
Afraid of being scolded again, he quickly explained: “They’re both good girls. One is the maid who’s grown up with me since childhood, the other is a girl I met in Nanjing, now working as a doctor in the security regiment.
I know the country now advocates one husband one wife, but I can’t bear to give up either of them, so I figure I’ll just marry them both to avoid regret later.
Anyway, I don’t plan to pursue an official career.”
“You… you…”
Li Zongren pointed vaguely, both exasperated and amused for a moment. “What should I say about you? Simply audacious and reckless!”
Seeing Li Zongren looking exasperated, Su Yaoyang suddenly had an idea. Didn’t he promise Song Mei that after this battle he’d propose to her through this man? Isn’t this a ready-made matchmaker?
A Guangxi clique big shot, the future acting president of the Republic personally proposing— that’s bragging rights for a lifetime.
“Commander… why don’t you do a good deed to the end? After this battle, propose for this junior. What do you think?”
“Hey… you kid…”
Li Zongren was amused by the anger. This kid is like taffy, really knows how to push his luck, even setting his sights on me.
“No way, absolutely not!” He shook his head like a rattle drum. What would that look like? If he really did it, what face would he have left?
Just as he planned to chase this cheeky kid out, Su Yaoyang’s voice rang out again: “Virtuous Duke… as long as you agree to propose for this kid, he’s willing to give you another twelve U.S.-made M2A1 105mm towed howitzers, plus three basic loads of shells per gun. How about it?”
At this moment, Li Zongren’s gaze toward Su Yaoyang changed again. This kid is simply too cunning, using this to win him over. What cadre could withstand such a test?
He calculated in his mind: twenty-four howitzers, enough to form a heavy artillery regiment, plus three basic loads of shells— if used sparingly, it could last until the end of the Xuzhou Campaign.
What? Not enough gunners?
Don’t joke, who is he? Finding a few gunners is a piece of cake.
“Alright then…”
Li Zongren took a deep breath and slowly nodded.
“This old man will go all out. Let them laugh if they must. After this battle, this old man will propose for you.”
“Thank you, Virtuous Duke!” Hearing Li Zongren agree, Su Yaoyang was overjoyed. These guns were sent at a great bargain.
