Just when Li Yongji had the prisoners of the riot dealt with the riot in a quick way and was about to immediately lead his troops out of Memphis and go to New Orleans, Joseph. Johnston suddenly came to visit again.

His purpose this time was a bit strange, he didn't urge Li Yongji and them to leave Memphis quickly, but hoped that they could stay in Memphis for a while.

"It's strange," Li Yongji said in surprise after listening to his request, "Don't you want us to leave quickly, why do you want us to stay for a while now?" ”

"To be honest, I did want you to leave early, so that I can also receive Memphis as soon as possible." Joseph. Johnston seemed to sigh and said, "But now that things have changed, if you go too early and it doesn't work well for me, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep my promise." ”

"What the hell is going on?" Li Yongji asked, he knew that this Joseph was not a person who talked nonsense, he said this, so there must be a reason.

"I was removed." Joseph. Johnston sighed again, "The latest news I just got that President Davis has officially issued an order to remove me from the post of commander-in-chief of the Western Theater of Operations. Bel. Hood came in my place. Now this guy is on his way here, and if it's fast, it won't take more than a week to get to Memphis. ”

"You've been removed?" Li Yongji frowned, "Okay, why did you want to remove your position?" You didn't make a mistake! ”

Indeed, in the history of another time and space, it was also in July 1864. Happened by John. Bel. Hood replaces Joseph. Johnston's appointment as commander-in-chief of the Western Theater of Operations led to the complete defeat of the Western Theater of Operations.

But that was not the case then. At that time, Joseph was revoked. Johnston's position was made because of Joseph. Johnston had been at a disadvantage against Grant and Sherman's forces, and Davis was dissatisfied with his performance, so he was dismissed from his position and replaced with the less tactically savvy but more offensive John. Bel. Hood takes his place.

But on this plane, Grant and Sherman's forces were wiped out early. Within the scope of the entire Western Theater, there is no longer the shadow of the Federation Army, and the Alliance Army is in absolute superiority. Other words. Joseph. Although Johnston still doesn't have much credit, he is not too much of a fault, and it seems that something is wrong to remove him at this time.

"I didn't make a mistake. But I didn't have much to achieve. "Joseph. Johnston laughed self-deprecatingly. "I didn't tell you something, but long ago Davis asked me to organize all my troops, follow your original route of march, reach Smithland, and then attack the Union Army east along the Ohio River.

However, I have been going against the law because I don't think it's time to strike now. After all, the Union Army did not suffer much damage, especially Benjamin's James River Corps. The establishment is complete, the morale is high, and it occupies a geographical advantage, and the odds of victory are very high.

On the other hand, we are not very well equipped with personnel and weapons, and our training is insufficient, and it is already July, and the weather is hot, so taking the initiative to attack a strong fortress with heavy troops under such circumstances is simply looking for death.

So, I stayed on hold and told Davis that I would wait until September, when the weather was cooler...... Obviously, Davis couldn't wait and didn't listen to me. ”

"It's just that simple?" Li Yongji smiled lightly, "I'm afraid things are not so simple, do you dare to say that if you don't move, you don't have any selfish thoughts?" ”

"Yes, I admit it, I have my own selfishness, and I want to take the opportunity to develop my own power." Joseph. Johnston nodded, "But there's no denying that I'm doing it for everyone's good." Because at this time, with the strength of the Western Theater, it is indeed impossible to continue the offensive, and that can only be a loss of troops.

After all, our troops, unlike yours, don't have that much firepower, and we don't have a perfect logistical support system, because we don't have enough ships and warships to maintain surface superiority over the Ohio River.

We all know that at this time if we want to attack the Union Army to the east, we must completely master the Ohio River, and only by mastering this river can our troops be adequately supplied, otherwise, the small forces will not work, and the large forces will lose enough logistical supplies, which will be a disaster.

In fact, we seem to be strong at this time, but that is only through your residual power, once the Federation Army reacts, it will not be much, only the James River Army will be able to retake Smithland, and maybe even take Cairo and force Nashville!

Actually, I originally wanted to send troops to Smithland to defend, but when you retreated, you actually burned down all the fortresses you worked so hard to build, which made us lose a strong barrier, so I had to abandon Smithland, stick to Cairo and Nashville, lure the other side to attack, and lengthen the other side's supply line.

In short, I don't think there is anything wrong with my current approach, because the effect of defensive counterattack will be better than attacking, not to mention, now that both the north and the south are tired and are about to enter the stage of peace talks, what is the point of taking the initiative to attack at this time except to waste the lives of soldiers in vain? ”

"You're not wrong to think so, but have you ever considered Davis's idea?" Li Yongji smiled and said, "Although you and I both think that the North and the South can't fight anymore because of the lack of stamina, Davis may not think so, and Lincoln may not think so." Perhaps Davis thinks that the current situation is very good, as long as he increases his strength, he can completely defeat the Northern Army, and maybe he can truly unify the North and the South. ”

"Impossible." Joseph. Johnston shook his head, "Unless you help, we can't defeat the Yankees by relying on us alone, no, even with the British and the French." ”

"Are you so sure?" Li Yongji asked.

"Of course." Joseph. Johnston nodded, "The war has been fought until now. The situation is already clear, and the battle between us and the North is no longer going to work with one or two tactical victories. It can only be that both sides are desperate, desperate with all their strength, fighting with each other, so that the other party can't bear the pressure and surrenders.

However, the government of the North, under Lincoln's leadership, has become a rope, plus they have been in the population, taxes. In terms of total strength, we have surpassed us in all respects, but we have shrunk our defensive line and concentrated our troops. It has the advantage of an interior defense.

In this situation where the Northern Army is actively shrinking, their defense capability has been greatly enhanced, and if we want to defeat them, we must fight them city by city. But that's desperate for life. In this case, we can't afford to wear them down, and after a long time, maybe the strategic advantage we have gained so hard before will be lost.

Therefore, the best way now is to stand still, and then take the initiative to seek reconciliation with the north, and it is fortunate to be able to become independent first. If you are still greedy, you will not be enough. If you want to force an attack on the north in this situation, it is very likely that the opponent will fight back. If one is not good, it is possible to lose it all! ”

"Maybe you're overthinking." Li Yongji smiled, "Even if someone takes the initiative to attack the federal army instead of you, you may not be counterattacked." ”

"It's okay for someone else, but if Hood replaces me, I'm afraid the situation won't be good." Joseph. Johnston shook his head, "I know this person very well, he is a reckless man, he can't do anything but attack!"

He may be very brave, often take the lead, and can always inspire everyone's morale, but in this way, he is only worthy of being a division commander at most, and if there are more troops, with his command ability, he is not competent at all!

In other words, he is the best regiment commander and division commander, but he is not a good army commander, and if he reaches the position of corps commander or even theater commander, his brute behavior can only be a disaster!

I can't let him ruin the Western Theater of Operations, therefore, I need you to stay here, with your deterrence, the Tennessee Legion and the Vicksburg Legion will not move too soon, I can calmly arrange, with your help to completely control this place, completely empty him!

Only by making him truly a bare-bones commander and no longer able to command the people below is he responsible for everyone! ”

"Well, when you say that, I kind of understand." Li Yongji nodded, "You let us stay just to deter the people around you, so that you can successfully integrate your own Mississippi River Legion, right?" ”

"That's right." Joseph. Johnston said, "As you know, with the weapons and money you provide, I'm on a recruiting spree, and by now, the total strength of the Mississippi River Legion has exceeded 400,000.

However, this is just an imaginary number, these people have just been recruited, they have not undergone rigorous training, they have no combat effectiveness at all, they are simply a rabble!

Therefore, the current Mississippi River Legion is the most vulnerable, and it is also the most tempting, because this legion is large and well-armed, but its combat effectiveness is quite poor.

At this time, if that guy Hood wants to break up my legion under the pretext that my legion is too overstaffed, then I'm really going to have a headache. ”

"Didn't you say he was sent by the central government?" Li Yongji said, "In this Memphis, in addition to us, you are also a prince, even if your soldiers have not been trained, you are not afraid of an airborne light commander, right?" ”

"If it's just him, of course I'm not afraid." Joseph. Johnston shook his head, "But this Hood isn't an idiot either, and Davis is an old fox." ”

Speaking of which, Joseph. Johnston paused slightly, and then continued: "Actually, according to my information, after Hood came over, he would not come directly to Memphis, but would go to Vicksburg first to contact Pemberton.

You know, Pemberton has a 150,000-strong Vicksburg legion, this legion is well-trained and advanced, and it seems that a lot of equipment is given by you, right? ”

"Ahem, this, it seems to be like this." Li Yongji touched his nose, "But we were new to the city, and we didn't have any contact with you, so we naturally wanted to pull more allies." At that time, Pemberton was the most suitable ally, after all, if we want to continue the offensive, we must have a stable rear. ”

"I'm not blaming you." Joseph. Johnston smiled, "I know very well what you were doing, and if I were you, I would have done the same." I mean, although Pemberton's troops have not moved much recently, their strength cannot be ignored, and to put it bluntly, in the entire western theater, Pemberton's strength is the strongest except for you, and I am not his opponent at the moment.

Therefore, if Hood contacts Pemberton, then with the help of Pemberton's troops, and the central righteousness in hand, once he gives the order to let me pass, I will have to be obedient.

But if you stay here, then the situation will be different, and we can use the pretext of the prisoner rebellion to continue to drag on for a while, not too long, only two months, and I will be confident that the Mississippi River Legion will have a certain amount of combat power, and at that time, I will not have to fear that Pemberton fool. ”

"You mean, you want us to stay here for another two months to protect you?" Li Yongji frowned.

"Yes, two months, only two months." Joseph. Johnston said, "It's hot now, you can rest in Memphis for a while, I promise, during your stay, we won't bother you, we won't ask you to do more, and even the taxes of Memphis City during this time, we will pay you all according to the original plan, what do you think?" ”

"The problem is, I've already started the evacuation operation." Li Yongji frowned, "The civilians on my side have long been withdrawn, and even some of the troops have been withdrawn to New Orleans, and I only have half of the troops in Memphis, and the most important thing is that the group urgently needs us to go back, we still have a lot of tasks to do, and it is impossible for us to stay here for two months." ”

"That's right." Joseph. Johnston frowned, "Then you can use the investigation of the riot as an excuse to leave some people in Memphis, not more, just a regiment...... Rest assured, this is just a pretense, and there is no need for the people you left behind to really do anything, just to borrow your flag.

Then, you can still leave, but the troops who remain will stay in Memphis for two months until I am safe and then leave, do you think it will work? ”

"That's ......"

Seeing that Li Yongji began to frown again, Joseph. Johnston was afraid that he would refuse, so he hurriedly continued: "Commander Li, I am really in a difficult situation now, and there will be no one here who can offer the conditions I offered before.

Not to mention anything else, Pemberton and Hood will never agree to your previous conditions, they are both straight-tempered, loyal to the Union government, and will never agree to cede Texas land to you, let alone agree to help you attack Panama.

To put it bluntly, I am your best partner, and now I have a problem, and you can help me as long as you leave a regiment, which is a small matter for you, why not do it? ”

"Okay, I got it." Li Yongji finally nodded, "Since you have said so, then I will agree to your plan and leave a group here for the time being to help you watch the scene...... Is one regiment really enough? ”

"Enough is enough, enough is absolutely enough!"

"Then it's decided, I'll stay in a group for three months." Li Yongji nodded, then looked up into his eyes, "I have done my best to show my greatest sincerity, I hope you will not live up to our expectations, and you must cherish the friendship between us!" (To be continued......)