Chapter 618: Gift of American Arms

Lin Yi stood upright, neither humble nor arrogant, and answered calmly: "Principal, General Jiang is in Nanyang, caught in a chaotic situation, and has no choice."

The Nanyang situation is intricate and complex; the Japanese Army has not been eliminated, great powers are circling, and if every matter must be reported to Chongqing and everything is controlled by others, there is no way to stabilize the war situation or safeguard the territory.

Today Nanko's ability to hold half of Nanyang's lands is already the best result in this dire circumstance.

Principal furrowed his brow slightly and asked in a low voice, "So now does he intend to become fully independent, no longer recognize the National Government, no longer be under central command?"

"It's not that he doesn't recognize Huaxia, only that he no longer belongs to the National Government's hierarchy." Lin Yi's tone remained steady, precisely drawing the line.

"General Jiang has always kept Huaxia in his heart, never having any separatist or rebellious intent toward Huaxia; it's just that Nanko has now become an independent regime, with its military, political, diplomatic, and territorial systems self‑contained. Continuing to bear the name of the National Government's Expeditionary Force would only make the National Government continually bear diplomatic pressure from the great powers, hampering the domestic war situation."

Principal nodded; indeed it was so. As for the Expeditionary Force st Division, he had only signed off on a few reinforcements.

As for weapons and equipment, he had never approved any.

But he learned from Du Yuming that the Expeditionary Force st Division's weapons and equipment were the best, entirely German-made.

Of course, the intelligence from Dai Li's Military Command reported that within the st Division there was a German doctor, Lei Ao.

All these weapons and equipment reached the st Division through Lei Ao.

"To reduce the National Government's load and to free both sides, General Jiang decided to voluntarily withdraw from the Expeditionary Force's structure, completely cutting the subordinate relationship."

Principal fell silent upon hearing this, having already anticipated the outcome, yet could not help feeling a sigh of regret.

He knew that Jiang Anguo's step here meant the dragon returning to the sea, no longer subject to control.

Yet in the present situation, he was utterly powerless to stop it.

As the atmosphere stalled, Lin Yi proactively put forward a heavyweight card.

He spoke slowly: "Principal, General Jiang fully understands the domestic anti‑Japanese war is arduous, equipment scarce, artillery weak; this departure from the organization is by no means a bare‑handed split."

"Nanko is willing to gratuitously transfer and provide the National Government with the full equipment of four complete American-style infantry divisions, as a repayment to the nation and to aid the domestic anti‑war effort."

Upon hearing this, the Principal's pupils narrowed slightly, and his previously solemn expression instantly softened.

He had long overseen military equipment development and knew very well the value of American-style fully equipped division gear, especially heavy‑firepower configurations, which are extremely scarce strategic resources at home.

Although Stilwell had promised to form a new Expeditionary Force in India, there has been no further word; as for weapons and equipment, only a portion has arrived.

In Yangon, at the National Government's office, the weapons and equipment received were only a small fraction.

Moreover, heavy weapons were not many.

"Really!"

Seeing this, Lin Yi continued to detail the armament configuration, each sentence precisely exposing the National Government's weak points: "These four infantry divisions are organized entirely according to the United States Pacific Army's top‑tier standards, their firepower far exceeds that of all current National Government units."

"Each infantry division is standardly equipped with a directly attached artillery regiment, fielding thirty‑six 105 mm M2 howitzers, twelve 155 mm M1 heavy howitzers, a full complement of near and far firepower, suitable for assault, field battles, and suppression alike."

"In addition, each infantry regiment subordinate to the division adds a dedicated artillery company, each company equipped with five 105 mm short‑barrel howitzers, suitable for mountain and urban close‑combat support."

"Summing it up," Lin Yi said confidently, "each infantry division Nanko assists is fully equipped with sixty‑six assorted howitzers; the heavy‑firepower density far surpasses the current standard configuration of the American‑aid Expeditionary Force."

"The American side's current aid to the National Government's Expeditionary Force tops out at 75 mm M1 mountain guns; their caliber, range, power, and coverage are nowhere near comparable to the 105 mm and 155 mm heavy howitzers."

The Principal was deeply shaken inside.

Having overseen military affairs for many years, he knew best the significance of heavy firepower on the battlefield.

After years of domestic anti‑Japanese war, the repeated heavy casualties and weak assaults are fundamentally due to scarce heavy artillery and insufficient firepower.

Facing the Japanese Army's fortified positions, the Nationalist Army could only charge with flesh and blood, suffering countless casualties without achieving breakthroughs.

"The equipment Nanko offers is genuine top‑tier American heavy firepower, the core armaments he has long sought but repeatedly requested from the United States without ever receiving."

"Even just the heavy‑artillery configuration of four divisions is enough to completely rewrite the domestic battlefield firepower landscape, giving National Government forces the capability to directly clash with the Japanese main force and assault fortifications. The cost‑performance of this deal is so high that he could not possibly refuse."

As the Principal's thoughts softened and he weighed internally, Lin Yi again raised the stakes, astonishingly saying, "Principal, in addition, General Jiang has another request. We hope the National Government will approve the full integration of the 200th Division into Nanko's structure."

The Principal's heart tightened, instantly realizing, thinking to himself: indeed, it's not that simple.

The 200th Division is far from an ordinary unit; it is a direct elite of the National Government, the nation's first mechanized division, with formidable combat power and strict discipline.

Division commander Dai Anlan is also the Principal's most valued and prized disciple, loyal, brave, adept in warfare, and deeply trusted and favored by him.

Incorporating the 200th Division into Nanko is tantamount to cutting away the sharpest blade from his hand, causing repeated pangs of heartache and reluctance.

Seeing the Principal's hesitant, conflicted expression, Lin Yi seized the moment to raise the stakes again, presenting the final card to completely allay the Principal's concerns: "Principal, to demonstrate sincerity, Nanko is adding extra aid."

"We will gratuitously donate to the National Government thirty‑six of the United States' most advanced Sherman main battle tanks, complete with brand‑new equipment and full ammunition allotment."

"At the same time, Nanko will dispatch professional armored instructors and technical sergeants to the interior for a year, free of charge, to systematically train tank soldiers, armored maintenance personnel, and armored tactical commanders for the National Government, helping it build its first mature modern armored force."

Hu Xianqun's tank regiment is also a hodgepodge, with every kind of tank.

If Jiang Anguo hadn't later reequipped the tank regiment, it would have been a paper unit!

"The Sherman tank is currently the United States Army's most advanced main battle equipment; its firepower, defense, and mobility comprehensively crush Japanese tanks, making it a genuine land‑war ace."

For the National Government, which severely lacks armored strength, this batch of tanks is like divine troops from heaven, fully compensating the domestic land‑assault shortfall.

It's not that Jiang Anguo is stingy; it's simply that there aren't that many tank commanders.

You can't let a group that can't command tanks attack a slope with a sixty‑degree grade.

With the heavyweight cards stacked and delivered, the Principal's final lingering doubt vanished completely.

He repeatedly weighed the pros and cons: enduring the painful sacrifice of an elite direct division, in exchange for four top‑tier American heavy‑firepower infantry divisions, thirty‑six advanced Sherman tanks, and a full suite of technical training, this deal is absolutely advantageous, even a windfall.

Compared with the American side's stingy aid conditions, the sincerity and benefits Nanko offers have already far exceeded expectations.