"I also understand the Persian side, but now we don't have the extra strength to deal with the German army there." General Wavell's voice was filled with a hint of exhaustion and helplessness. He frowned slightly, his eyes showing deep worry. This battle-hardened general is well aware of the seriousness of the situation in Persia. However, the current predicament makes him feel powerless. He sighed slowly and continued: "Today, we are facing tremendous pressure on all battlefields, and our troops and resources are very tight. Every line of defense is struggling to support, and every decision affects countless people. The lives of soldiers and the direction of war.” "The problem in Persia is indeed difficult, but we really can't spare more power to deal with the German army over there." Admiral Wavell's words echoed in the air, and a heavy atmosphere enveloped the entire room. On the other end of the phone, Stilwell naturally knew the other party's helplessness. He held the receiver tightly and frowned, as if he could feel Admiral Wavell's fatigue and pressure through the phone line. He knew very well that just dealing with the Japanese army's ghostly and difficult tactics would be enough to give Wavell a headache. The Japanese army seemed to be fighting a cunning snake in the dark, making the British army unable to guard against it.

And now, Persia is like a suddenly smoking bomb, setting off a new crisis on the map of war. This complicated situation is indeed very disturbing. However, Stilwell knew that distress alone would not help, just like when you are stuck in a quagmire, struggling is the only way out. They must solve this problem, otherwise the balance of the war will be completely unbalanced. Every second of delay could allow the German army to gain a foothold in Persia, thereby spreading the war to the entire Middle East. Once the rich oil resources there fall into the hands of the German army, it will be like injecting the most powerful fuel into the German war machine, with disastrous consequences. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. "Admiral Wavell, I won't say any more. You must also know that now we must find a way to mobilize reinforcements to the Middle East." Stilwell's voice was calm and firm, and every word was laced with tolerance. The power of doubt. He knew that time was tight and the situation was critical, and there was no room for hesitation or delay. In this cruel chess game of war, every move is a matter of life and death, and sending reinforcements to the Middle East at this moment is a crucial step. Hearing this, Admiral Wavell sighed, and the sigh was full of helplessness and bitterness. He silently weighed the pros and cons in his mind, fully aware of the difficulty of this decision. Then, he asked with a trace of expectation and confusion: "General Stilwell, I wonder what you can do?" There was a glimmer of hope in his eyes, as if he was looking for a glimmer of light in the darkness. He knew that General Stilwell had always been resourceful and might have a solution to this seemingly desperate situation. At this moment, the pressure of the entire situation is on the shoulders of the two of them, so they must come up with a solution. "I need a large number of transport ships and fighter planes." Stilwell immediately stated his purpose without hesitation, with a decisive and resolute tone. He knows that at this critical moment, clearly stating the needs is the key to solving the problem. His eyes flashed with urgency, as if time became faster under his gaze. "I have dispatched an army to the Middle East, but there is a lack of transport ships to transport those soldiers, and there is also a very shortage of fighter planes." Stilwell further explained, his words revealing anxiety about the current predicament. The strength of an army is a powerful fighting force, but without enough transport ships and fighter planes, they are like warriors trapped on an isolated island, unable to play their due role.

Stilwell pursed his lips tightly, and the worry in his heart enveloped him like a dark cloud. He knew that the shortage of transport ships and fighter planes was not only a material problem, but also a key factor related to the entire Middle East war situation. Without them, those brave soldiers would not be able to reach the battlefield in time, unable to stop the German attack, and unable to protect the vital oil fields. He looked forward to Admiral Wavell's positive response and joint efforts to find a solution to this difficult problem. Upon hearing Stilwell's request for a transport ship, Admiral Wavell's face instantly darkened, and naturally he didn't look good. He frowned slightly, with mixed emotions in his eyes. For him, the transport ship was indispensable for being able to survive this difficult battle until now. These transport ships are like boats of life, constantly transporting vital supplies for his troops. Every arrival of a transport ship means that the soldiers have enough ammunition, food and medicine to continue to hold their positions and fight tenaciously against the Japanese army. But now, Stilwell actually asked for the deployment of these transport ships, which undoubtedly made him feel extremely reluctant. Those transport ships carry his hopes and the survival guarantee of the soldiers. Once they are mobilized, his troops may face a shortage of supplies. Not to mention, we have to mobilize fighter planes. The importance of fighter planes on the battlefield is self-evident. They are the key to air supremacy and an important force in attacking enemy forces. Admiral Wavell knew the value of fighter planes. Each fighter plane was like a fierce falcon, guarding the sky. The deployment of fighter planes means that his air power will be weakened, which will undoubtedly make the already difficult battle situation worse. He fell into deep thought, weighing the pros and cons, and thinking about how to find a balance between satisfying Stilwell's requirements and the needs of protecting his own troops. After all, Stilwell's face still needs to be given. If he really offends the other party, I am afraid that the next share of supplies will be reduced. After thinking for a while, Admiral Wavell said solemnly: "General Stilwell, I can mobilize ten transport ships and twenty fighter planes." There was a hint of helplessness and determination in his tone. This is already the greatest sincerity he can show. In the current difficult situation, no more is really enough. He knows that every transport ship and every fighter plane is a valuable resource for the theater he is responsible for, and allocating these is already taking a risk to balance the needs of all parties. However, who knows, Stilwell was not satisfied. His brows were furrowed, a look of disappointment on his face. "What can ten transport ships do? How many people can be transported at one time? Just transport people? No more weapons and equipment? There are still twenty fighter planes, which is too few." Stilwell's words were full of eagerness and enthusiasm. dissatisfied. He is well aware of the urgency and importance of the Middle East battlefield, and these resources are far from enough to meet the needs. He quickly calculated in his mind how much difficulty it would bring to the battle plan if there were only so many transport ships and fighter planes. The limited number of transport ships means that the troops and materials transported each time are extremely limited, making it impossible to quickly establish a strong combat force. Twenty fighter planes looked so small on the vast battlefield in the Middle East that it was difficult to fight against the powerful German air power. He eagerly hoped that Admiral Wavell could find ways to provide more resources to ensure the smooth implementation of the combat plan.

"General Stilwell, this is the most sincerity I can show. You know that the war in Tianzhu is not going well." General Wavell emphasized his difficulties again. He shook his head slowly, his face full of helplessness. . His eyes revealed concern about the current situation. The war in Tianzhu was stalemate, and every resource seemed precious. He has made the difficult choice to squeeze out these transport ships and fighter jets, almost risking weakening his own theater of power to support the Middle East. "Not enough, far from enough. This is really too little. Compared with the Japanese army, the German army is our most serious concern." Stilwell retorted directly without giving up. His eyes were firm and sharp, and his tone was full of urgency. In his opinion, the threat from the German army was even greater, and their combat effectiveness and strategic intentions had a crucial impact on the direction of the entire anti-fascist war. The situation in the Middle East is related to the control of oil resources and the security of strategic passages. Sufficient strength must be available to deal with the German attack. He could not accept such limited resources, because this might lead to passivity in the confrontation with the German army, and even affect the pattern of the entire war. Upon hearing this, Admiral Wavell fell silent again. He stood there quietly, his brows furrowed and his eyes showing complicated emotions. He knew that Stilwell's words made sense to a certain extent. The Germans were indeed a serious concern, but he also had his own difficulties. He also knew that the resources he gave were indeed too few, but he had to consider Tianzhu. Tianzhu was vital to the British Empire and must not be allowed to fall into the hands of the Japanese army. Not only is it rich in resources, it is also an important strategic fulcrum of the British Empire in Asia and the lifeblood of the empire. He repeatedly weighed the pros and cons in his mind, thinking about how to ensure the safety of Tianzhu while meeting the needs of the battlefield in the Middle East. Time passed by, and the atmosphere became more solemn. Finally, Admiral Wavell thought for a long time and emphasized again: "At most double." Although his voice was not loud, it revealed firm determination. He has made the greatest concession, hoping that Stilwell can understand his difficulties and work together to deal with this difficult war. Hearing this, Stilwell also knew the other party's determination. He frowned slightly, a trace of helplessness flashed in his eyes. After thinking about it, I stopped forcing it. He understood that Admiral Wavell had tried his best, and under the current situation, he could not place his hopes entirely on others. After hanging up the phone, Stilwell couldn't help but sigh. His heart was heavy and worry hung over him like a dark cloud. Not to mention transport ships, they are limited in number but they can transport some troops and supplies. But what can we do with that few fighter planes? In his opinion, the forty fighters doubled from twenty to twenty were really a drop in the bucket. It's not enough for German fighter planes to fill their teeth. On the battlefield in the Middle East, the German air power was so powerful that fighter planes simply could not compete with it and had difficulty gaining air supremacy, let alone providing effective support to ground forces. "General Stilwell, why don't you ask Cun Yunsheng? He must have a better idea?" the adjutant reminded.

The adjutant's voice broke Stilwell's meditation. He raised his head slightly, a trace of thought flashed in his eyes. The name Cun Yunsheng made his heart move. Maybe this person really had a better way to solve the current predicament. But he was not sure. After all, the situation was so complicated and no one could guarantee that a perfect solution would be found. However, in these difficult times, any glimmer of hope is worth a try. "Contact him immediately." Stilwell ordered immediately without hesitation. There was eagerness and expectation in his tone, as if he was grasping at a life-saving straw. "Yes." The adjutant acted quickly and began to contact Cun Yunsheng. Time passed minute by minute in nervous waiting. Not long after, the call was connected, and Cun Yunsheng's steady and powerful voice came from the other end of the phone. "General Stilwell, are you looking for me?" "Yes, Cun, I need your help with something." With that, Stilwell revealed his troubles. He elaborated on the shortage of transport ships and fighter aircraft and the current difficulties it faces. His words were filled with concern for the situation and a desire for a solution. Hearing this, Cun Yunsheng was not surprised. On the contrary, he deliberately asked Sun Liren to do this. The corners of his mouth raised slightly, revealing an imperceptible smile. He had already planned in his mind that this seemingly unsolvable problem might become an important turning point in his plan. He listened to Stilwell's story quietly, thinking quickly about countermeasures in his mind. "General Stilwell, why don't you seek help from the Soviet army?" Cun Yunsheng suddenly asked. "Soviet Army?" Stilwell was stunned. It was obvious that he did not expect that Cun Yunsheng would come up with such a bad idea. Yes! To him, this was a bad idea. "Yes, the Soviet army has great war potential. They have a large number of troops. I believe that if they are willing to take action, I believe they can easily solve this dilemma." Cun Yunsheng said calmly. His tone revealed a rational analysis and clear judgment of the situation. In his view, the Soviet Union's huge military power was indeed an important resource that could be relied upon. The Soviet Union showed tenacious combat effectiveness and strong war mobilization capabilities during the war. Its army was large in number, well-equipped, and rich in combat experience. If the Soviet Union could devote part of its power to the battlefield in the Middle East, it would undoubtedly put tremendous pressure on the German army and might even reverse the situation of the war quickly. However, who knew that Stilwell's face on the other end of the phone didn't look very good. His brows were furrowed, and his eyes showed complicated emotions. Stilwell understood the complexities and potential risks of cooperation with the Soviet Union. Although the two sides are allies, there are many contradictions and competitions between the two sides in terms of ideology and geopolitics. Cooperation with the Soviet Union may have adverse effects on the reconstruction of the international order after the war.

In addition, although the Soviet Union's strategic focus during the war was on the European battlefield, it paid considerable attention to the Middle East. Once the Soviet army really takes action, I'm afraid it will cause a lot of trouble. (End of chapter)