Shadow Spy

Chapter 437 I have the conditions to be transferred

Knox was not interested in individual light weapons and had not stepped forward just now. Seeing his old friend asking for help, Knox could only take the initiative and said: "General Panson, I know that when you first took office in Shanghai, you received the initial army His position and rank were all in the Navy. Later, he personally organized the 327th Marine Corps Far East Regiment and served as its commander concurrently. He also commanded the Fourth Marine and Land Regiment for two years...

"Even now, you have the rank of Major General of the Marine Corps. Speaking of which, you have a very deep connection with the Marine Corps! Therefore, you are also responsible for the Marine Corps."

This made Li Junhao speechless. Of course what the other party said was right. He was indeed inseparable from Hailu, so he could only say: "Mr. Minister, I admit that you are right, but now I I already have a lot of responsibilities, not counting other part-time ones. The work of the Director of National Intelligence and the Commander of the Allied Forces India-Burma Theater that require my energy are very heavy. I really don’t have the energy to take care of the land and sea affairs. So, I will work with Mr. Roosevelt should communicate more and strive for better living conditions for sea and land..."

"General Panson, this is not enough!" Holcomb said, "The development of the Marine Corps requires more efforts, and the combat tasks this unit has to perform are becoming increasingly heavy, and it is in urgent need of a strong Leaders can obtain better resource support from Congress, the President, the government, etc... I have thought about it, among the current military generals, only you can do it!"

"Oh? Minister, Commander, do you think too highly of me?" Li Junhao said helplessly.

Knox said: "No, you do have this ability! In other words, you are most likely to be able to do this."

"I would like to ask you to resign as commander of the Allied Forces India-Burma Theater..." At this time, Holcomb said directly, "I will propose to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Navy Department that you serve as the first deputy commander of the Marine Corps! "

Li Junhao scratched his head. This position was a bit tempting, but it didn't mean much to him. He didn't know how much he would have to worry about going to this "poor yamen"! Moreover, it is not good to be the boss in the Indo-Burmese War Zone, especially now that the third Burma Battle has been won. Regardless of the next counterattack on the Malay Peninsula or the attack on French China, it is an opportunity to make meritorious deeds again. Why should I? give up?

Knox added: "General Panson, you are now a rear admiral. If you agree to serve as the first deputy commander of the navy and land, I promise you that you will be promoted to vice admiral before the end of the year."

Li Junhao glanced at him. He was promoted to Vice Admiral before the end of the year. This condition was good, but it was not good enough to make him tempted.

Seeing that he still didn't express his position, Holcomb gritted his teeth and added more emphasis: "Panson, as long as you come to the sea and land, after you are promoted to vice general at the end of the year, I will immediately resign to make way for you and let you take over the position of commander of the Marine Corps." !”

Huh? This condition... Li Junhao admitted that he was tempted!

Knox glanced at Holcomb with some surprise and found that his old friend's hair was all gray. Thinking about it, he was only five years younger than himself at 64 years old, but he looked like he was older than him. I am still a lot older, and this is all due to my fatigue from being the commander of the sea and land forces! Thinking of this, naturally I will not persuade him anymore.

Seeing the old general's eager eyes, Li Junhao finally said: "Minister, Commander, I have two conditions: first, I want to be promoted to Marine Corps Lieutenant General, not Navy Lieutenant General; second, after I become Commander of the Navy and Land Forces, , will ask to become a full member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Secretary Knox must help."

Knox and Holcomb were stunned and looked at each other, both surprised and surprised!

Holcomb said: "Lieutenant General of the Marine Corps, this has never happened before..." Knox, however, had higher political wisdom than his old friend. He reached out and slapped the table and said, "What a great idea! Ogg, you are great! If both of your requests can be fulfilled, the status of the Marine Corps will be greatly improved...wait a minute, you don't want to..."

"Yes!" Li Junhao said, "When I become the commander of the navy and the army, I will do my best to promote this force to be completely independent from the navy and become the third largest service, and it must be ahead of the air force!"

Knox was stunned for a moment, then realized and said: "I understand! Ogg, you are indeed suitable to be a commander on land and sea!"

Holcomb still didn't understand. He didn't understand the two requirements put forward by General Panson and becoming an independent service before the Air Force!

Knox explained to him: "If General Panson is promoted to Lieutenant General of the Marine Corps, it will be a big move to break through the tradition of the US military; becoming a formal member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will show that the sea and land already have the same capabilities as the army and navy. Qualifications; according to the development of modern military, it is inevitable for the Air Force to become an independent service. If the Navy and Army become independent before the Air Force, it will force Congress to give equal treatment to the Navy and Army..."

After hearing this, Holcomb slapped his forehead and said, "General Panson, is this the method you just thought of? It's really awesome!"

"It's not what I just thought of!" Li Junhao said, "The day before yesterday at the Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting, after General Leahy proposed the president's hope to me, I have been thinking about it...on the one hand, how to reject it if I can't think about it; On the other hand, I’m thinking, if I go, what will I do for Hailu and myself?”

Holcomb smiled and said: "In any case, just based on your requirements and your vision for the future sea and land, it proves that you are more suitable to be this commander than I am."

Knox nodded, but said nothing in agreement, so as not to offend his old friend.
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After seeing off the two guests, Li Junhao stayed at the shooting range for a while before getting up and returning to the study.

After reviewing the conversation with the two of them just now, I made sure that I expressed my requirements clearly, and decided in my heart: If these two conditions can really be met, I will really go to sea and land!

So, he called the White House and informed General Ayers and Leahy of his decision, as well as the two requests he made!

Ayers appreciated his decision and promised to push the matter forward with all his strength and fight for the best conditions for him...

Leahy also quickly understood the purpose of the conditions, and promised that as long as he and Secretary Knox worked together, the Navy would definitely support him; in addition, he would persuade Marshall and Arnold to agree to these two conditions. Then submit it to President Roosevelt for approval in the name of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...

Next, things developed faster than Li Junhao expected! At the same time, it is beyond most people’s expectations.

(End of this chapter)