Hearing Hutton's question, Stilwell felt that there was an opportunity to find a way to convince Commander Hutton.

He received a telegram from Pansen yesterday with a plan that seemed impossible, which, he admitted, if successful, could change the tide of the Indo-Burmese war. Coupled with the current status and position of Pan Sen, since this plan has been proposed, he will carry it out no matter what.

Therefore, he said: "I'm sorry, General Hutton, I only know that General Pan Sen was born in the Navy, and currently has the rank of Rear Admiral and Rear Admiral, and this time he has come to the Far East to serve as a military observer in the Senate of Congress, and his position and position are extremely important, and his opinion will affect the United States!" ”

Hearing this, Hutton was a little surprised, this observer is of such a high level? I couldn't help but ask: "So, this observer can even order you, the commander of the Indo-Burma theater?" ”

"If General Panson wants to, he can!" Stilwell said ambiguously, afraid that Hutton would not pay enough attention, so he added: "According to the practice of our military, General Panson should have other missions...... and the rest is up to the other party to guess.

"That's what happened!" Hutton's brow furrowed, and he valued this General Panson several times more. In this way, although he is the commander of the Anglo-Burmese army, he really thinks that his status in the Allied forces is not necessarily comparable to that of this observer!

In this respect, he felt that the decision he made after he was reinstated as commander was extremely correct, if it were not for that, let this US congressional observer only see the retreat (escape) of the British army, presumably directly affecting the US military's view of the British army, then in the future cooperation, it will be difficult for the British army to get a say! Therefore, their British and Burmese troops must pay attention to the opinion of this general Panson and not let him be disappointed by the behavior of the British army!

After thinking about it, Hutton said with some hesitation: "Your Excellency Chief of Staff, should I send a telegram to Sir Wavell now, explain the current situation on the battlefield in Burma, and allow the British and Burmese troops to provide equipment and supply support to the Chinese Expeditionary Force?" ”

“NO！” Stilwell thought for a moment and said, "I don't think that will change anything, Sir Wavell is the quintessential conservative, he will not look down on the strength and potential of emerging countries!" He even has a condescending attitude towards us and the United States, so how can he look at China differently, which is still lagging behind! Your telegram will not only not solve the problem, on the contrary, it is likely that he will give you a clear order not to support the Chinese Expeditionary Force, and the situation will be even more troublesome! ”

Hutton thought about it, and it was really like this, the one-eyed knight who lost his left eye in the First World War was notoriously stubborn in his approach to international affairs, and there was a saying in the army that it would be easier to find a way to remove the one-eyed knight from power than to change his opinion!

"The Chinese have an old saying: If you are outside, you will not be subject to the king's order!" It took a lot of effort, but Stilwell, as a China expert, finally explained this sentence.

After Hutton finally understood this sentence, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that it made sense!

In the time that followed, Hutton and Stilwell discussed for half the night, agreed on a "magical" countermeasure, formulated a corresponding action plan, and immediately began to implement it.

——

On the morning of March 24, Li Junhao, commander of the 1st Division of the Anglo-Burmese Army, and Dai Anlan, commander of the 200th Division of the 5th Army of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, received an encrypted telegram separately, but none of them disclosed anything afterwards.

Not to mention the situation of others, Li Junhao read and read the telegram he received, and found it very interesting.

The telegram was sent by Lieutenant General Joseph Warren Stilwell, the Allied Commander of the U.S. Army in the Indo-Burma Theater, "Telegram to General Panson, I hope to remain silent about the future movements of the British army!" In addition, he helped the 1st Division of the Anglo-Burmese Army and the 200th Division of the Chinese Expeditionary Force stationed in Tonggu to complete the handover of military supplies. Remember: secrecy! ”

General Slim of the British Army received a telegram from Commander Hutton: "Negotiate with the Chinese Expeditionary Force in a friendly manner, seek an opportunity to withdraw from Tonggu and retreat to Ringanqiang, the price is negotiable, up to the maximum is to give up all the stockpiles of military supplies and 'partial' heavy equipment in Tongchengcheng, with the focus on ensuring the viability of the British army." If necessary, the help of American observers can be enlisted. ”

Dai Anlan received a telegram from Lieutenant General Du Yuming, acting commander of the First Route Army of the Chinese Expeditionary Force: "It can be agreed that the 1st Division of the Anglo-Burmese Army, which is assisting in the defense of Tonggu, will abandon its position and withdraw, on the condition that all the British army's stockpiles of military supplies and 'partial' armored forces in Tonggu City be retained." In addition, if necessary, the help of US military observers can be enlisted. ”

Slim and Dai Anlan, the two front-line commanders of the British and Chinese armies, looked at the telegram in their hands many times, and were very surprised and difficult to make up their minds, and some couldn't believe it, and wanted to ask each other, but they didn't know how to speak.

Before dark, the two of them thought of the American observer. So as if pinching the meal, the two generals drove to Li Junhao's station.

Regarding the arrival of the two "evil guests", Li Junhao's "malicious" conjecture: they were checking their own observer team food! But no matter what, it still has to be warmly entertained.

The ingredients in Lee's personal space are arguably the most abundant in Myanmar at the moment, because in addition to the ones he brought from the United States, most of the warehouses and freight yards in Yangon have been looted.

Under the already very good skills of the members of the service team, steamed grouper, fried pipa shrimp, potato stewed mutton, stewed beef brisket with tomatoes, stir-fried vegetarian three fresh (celery, fungus, eggs), seaweed egg drop soup and other delicacies were served on the table one by one, and even French Mouton red wine, Chinese Jiannanchun liquor, American New Jersey beer, Coca-Cola drinks, etc. were all put on the table!

With his character, he naturally will not treat his subordinates badly, all the meals are sufficient, his own people and guests eat the same, and he will never favor one over the other.

Seeing Dai Anlan and Slim's surprised looks, Li Junhao smiled and said: "These are all brought when they came out of Yangon, and after today, I don't want to eat anymore!"

"Steamed grouper is a Cantonese dish, take care of a few of our classmates;

"Fried pipa shrimp is an Anhui dish, I hope General Dai can like it;

"Lamb stew with potatoes is an English dish specially prepared for General Slim;

"Stewed beef brisket with tomatoes and stir-fried vegetarian san xian are home-cooked dishes in both north and south of China, and seaweed and egg drop soup is a traditional after-dinner soup.

"These drinks and drinks, you can choose your own, we don't advise alcohol, what you like to eat, what you like to drink!"

(End of chapter)