Chapter 3

Upon hearing the Chairman's inquiry, Zhou Guohui quickly responded: "While we are fully preparing for domestic warfare, we must weaken the enemy's strength in various aspects such as economy, technology, intelligence, talent, and morale. By the time we complete our preparations, if we can cause the war capabilities of the United States and Japan, at the very least their confidence in warfare, to waver, making them realize that intervening in our civil war would be a grave mistake, we can ensure that the duration of the war is kept within a bearable range"

"Alright, General Zhou, your suggestion is excellent, and we will consider it carefully. However, we hope you can provide us with a detailed plan. When will it be ready?" He Yongxing seems to have accepted Zhou Guohui's plan, but he still needs to consult the seven-member standing committee, so a detailed plan is required.

Alright, I will give you one week, and General Yan will be responsible for the assistance! Lao Zhao was very pleased with Zhou Guohui's performance, feeling that he had not misjudged him. After Yan Liang accepted the appointment with a nod, Lao Zhao continued, "Now let's talk about the issue of military reform. No matter how we fight, we need to be well-prepared. We train soldiers for a thousand days to use them for a moment; I do not want to see that the ones on the battlefield are 'turtle grandsons'!"

Old Zhao's arrangements, of course, met with no objections; even if there were any, no one dared to voice them. Zhou Guohui also witnessed Old Zhao's methods, which effectively placed a gentle hood over those officers with guilty consciences. According to Old Zhao's arrangements, it appeared that each military region had representatives participating in the committee, all of whom had a voice. However, out of the fifteen members, eight were from the General Staff, meaning that even in a vote, the local military region representatives could not achieve a majority. In other words, Old Zhao could strengthen the authority of this committee to control personnel arrangements in the local military regions, ultimately allowing the Central Military Commission to exert control over them, thereby seizing many powers that should have belonged to the local military regions. This undoubtedly dealt a significant blow to the 'local emperors' of those regions, and it is likely that at this moment, some individuals would find themselves unable to cry even if they wanted to.

Seeing that the Chairman was very interested in his opinions, Zhou Guohui was naturally very pleased and immediately patted his chest to make a guarantee, saying: "Give me one week, and I also need General Yan's assistance"

"Sister, I have been honestly listening to Old Zhao's report, isn't that fine?" Zhou Guohui, regaining his composure, was not to be underestimated. He then smiled and said, "We don't need to rush to prepare the plan, do we? I am quite tired today; how about we start tomorrow?"

China has not faced significant threats, and thus the "unrestricted warfare" tailored for a country like China has no stage to be enacted.

Zhou Guohui's greatest concern at present is not about his promise to formulate a complete strategic plan and book outline within a week, as that is his strong suit. Moreover, he has already conducted extensive research on the relevant topics beforehand. Now, he only needs to piece together some previously scattered details, and a week’s time will certainly be sufficient, even quite relaxed.

At this point, Zhou Guohui had lost the mood to continue listening; the subsequent matters were no longer important. It was merely about giving some benefits to the officers of those regional military districts, having slapped others, it was necessary to offer some consolation, otherwise, even an old military figure like Zhao would certainly find it difficult to gain favor.

When Zhao Baoqiang brought this issue to the table, no one was not tense, especially those who had something to hide

Military reform is a matter that directly relates to the interests of the entire army; however, the effects have not been officially disclosed, yet those below are well aware. A captain instructor from the 54th Army, a renowned elite unit in China, wrote an article after retiring and published it online, which immediately sparked intense reactions from the public concerned about military developments nationwide. That captain subsequently mysteriously disappeared, and his whereabouts remain unknown to this day.

What happened? Has the meeting ended? Zhou Guohui was very surprised; he had been too careless and had not even noticed that the meeting was over. At the same time, he saw Dong Zhenhua standing awkwardly beside him, indicating that he had not had the chance to remind him, allowing Yan Liang to "sneak attack" him.

Here, I would like to announce some personnel arrangements and changes! Lao Zhao glanced at the Chairman, and it seemed that this was also the Chairman's intention. Without the Chairman's support, it would be difficult for Lao Zhao to accomplish this task solely on his own. After receiving the Chairman's consent, Lao Zhao continued: "First, the General Staff will establish a Reform Deepening Committee, which will be fully responsible for matters related to military reform, from personnel arrangements to the formulation of specific reform plans. I will serve as the first chairman of the committee. The composition of the committee will consist of seven officers at the rank of major general or above from the General Staff, as well as seven officers at the rank of major general or above recommended by seven regional military districts. Lao Zhao continued: "First, the General Staff will establish a Reform Deepening Committee, which will be fully responsible for matters related to military reform, from personnel arrangements to the formulation of specific reform plans. I will serve as the first chairman of the committee. The composition of the committee will consist of seven officers at the rank of major general or above from the General Staff, as well as seven officers at the rank of major general or above recommended by seven regional military districts. In this way, I can directly understand the reform progress of each major military district and also implement military democratization. Does anyone have any opinions?"

Upon seeing the two leaders walk out side by side, Dong Zhenhua immediately tidied up the meeting notes and followed them at a distance of three meters. This was a standard distance, allowing him neither to overhear their conversation nor to be too far to receive orders at any moment. At that moment, Dong Zhenhua felt a bit anxious for not having reported the situation in a timely manner, but he soon calmed down upon recalling that Zhou Guohui was not the type of person to be overly calculating.

Now, when the topic of war is brought to the table, Zhou Guohui's first thought is "unrestricted warfare." After Wang Yilin handed him the "Qingtian" plan, Zhou Guohui spent several days carefully preparing a strategic plan centered on "unrestricted warfare," which is more comprehensive and covers a broader time frame. It will not only be employed after the war begins but will also utilize various means to weaken the opponent's strength before the outbreak of war.

Seeing Yan Liang was not about Huang Longfei, Zhou Guohui breathed a sigh of relief. Ever since he had introduced her to Huang Longfei, this iron lady seemed to have developed some feelings, speaking quite favorably of him on several occasions in front of Zhou Guohui. Zhou Guohui absolutely did not want to play the role of a matchmaker. Setting aside the question of compatibility, if any emotional issues arose between the two after he facilitated their relationship, the responsibility would be significant.

You are quite something now, daring to daydream during such an important meeting. If this gets out, it would be quite a big deal! Yan Liang has a good relationship with Zhou Guohui, and only she would joke like this with him. She then said, "Let's go together and discuss a few matters along the way"

Zhou Guohui sat in his chair, his expression one of indifference. He was aware of the internal matters within the military. Due to his relationship with Wang Yilin, he understood the intricate power dynamics and the severity of the hidden issues better than other generals. Now, seeing Old Zhao take the initiative to confront this malignant tumor, he felt both pleased and worried. If Old Zhao's efforts to resolve this issue led to chaos in military and political affairs, then any future plans for unification would be out of the question. However, if the problem remained unresolved, the troops sent to the front lines would likely become cannon fodder. Caught in this dilemma, he could only choose the lesser of two evils. Zhou Guohui could only wish Old Zhao success in this painful surgical 'operation' and was determined that, when necessary, he would use all his strength to assist Old Zhao in completing the reform plan. For now, he did not wish to wade into this murky and turbulent current filled with whirlpools.

What he is most concerned about now is the extent of the destructive impact brought about by the "comprehensive military reform" that Lao Zhao has thrown out as a "heavy bomb". This is an unavoidable situation; if the old and outdated elements are not eliminated, it will be impossible to establish a new system. Even if it is dangerous, it must be done without fail

However, this is not easy to accomplish. If it is detected, our international influence will be adversely affected, and at that point, it may result in a loss that outweighs the gains. He Yongxing is a professional diplomat, and his first thought is the diplomatic impact.

Regarding the methods by which a country can overcome an enemy that is stronger than itself, after the conclusion of the Gulf War in the early 1990s, many Chinese military experts put forward various opinions. Among them, the most creative and well-known is "Unrestricted Warfare".

Zhou Guohui was still lost in thought when someone suddenly patted him on the shoulder, jolting him awake. It was only then that he noticed people in the conference room were leaving in small groups. Turning around, he happened to see Yan Liang smiling and staring at him

The concept of "unrestricted warfare" has not been given the opportunity for verification, as there is a prerequisite: the disparity in strength between the two warring parties must not be too great. If one side collapses at the first touch, there is simply no time for a counterattack. After the Gulf War, America's adversaries have primarily been small nations. Yugoslavia fell apart with a single strike, and Afghanistan was rendered almost valueless for bombing, as it was nearly dismantled by the anti-government forces armed with American weapons. Iraq, following the Gulf War, was even more embarrassing, as tens of thousands of lightly equipped American troops advanced rapidly and disarmed within just over ten days. After the Gulf War, America's adversaries have primarily been small nations. Yugoslavia fell apart with a single strike, and Afghanistan was rendered almost valueless for bombing, as it was nearly dismantled by the anti-government forces armed with American weapons. Iraq, following the Gulf War, was even more embarrassing, as tens of thousands of lightly equipped American troops advanced rapidly and disarmed within just over ten days.

Since there are no questions from anyone, let us proceed to the next topic! ... ..." Old Zhao began the next topic with satisfaction.

Ah! I thought you were going to say something, you startled me!" Zhou Guohui patted his chest and followed along, while also saying, "Actually, Old Zhao's reform plan is quite good, it's just..."

First, the political balance will be disrupted, but there is not much to worry about. The Chairman has already sided with Old Zhao, and as long as I speak up, Premier Wang Yilin will definitely support Old Zhao as well. With the backing of these two most powerful individuals, the resistance faced by Old Zhao will be significantly reduced. Upon reflecting on this, Zhou Guohui clearly sensed that something seemed amiss, but he could not pinpoint it at the moment. After pondering for a while without any results, Zhou Guohui also gave up his efforts. As long as the Chairman and the Premier express their positions, there should not be much issue with the Central Standing Committee of seven. At that time, this top-down reform should become much easier. Upon reflecting on this, Zhou Guohui clearly sensed that something seemed amiss, but he could not pinpoint it at the moment. After pondering for a while without any results, Zhou Guohui also gave up his efforts. As long as the Chairman and the Premier express their positions, there should not be much issue with the Central Standing Committee of seven. At that time, this top-down reform should become much easier.

What Zhou Guohui is most concerned about is the impact of various issues exposed during military reform on public sentiment and morale, and what consequences this may bring. Corruption in the officialdom can still be understood by the people, but if the military also becomes corrupt, how will the world perceive this if it is all revealed? Will they still have confidence in the country, the government, and the party? This trouble, if the government handles it well, may not have any negative effects and might even bring certain benefits; however, if it is not handled properly, there will be no time for regret when the consequences arise. Corruption in the officialdom can still be understood by the people, but if the military also becomes corrupt, how will the world perceive this if it is all revealed? Will they still have confidence in the country, the government, and the party? This trouble, if the government handles it well, may not have any negative effects and might even bring certain benefits; however, if it is not handled properly, there will be no time for regret when the consequences arise.

"Whoever wants to talk about that plan of yours, I would like to discuss something else!" Yan Liang said, already pulling Zhou Guohui up and walking towards the conference room door, while continuing, "What are your thoughts on the military reform proposed by Old Zhao?"

At this point, everyone's expression turned serious, and it was evident that some were merely putting on an act. Lao Zhao's statement directly touched upon the core issues of the military. Military reform has been a topic of discussion since the end of the Sino-Vietnamese War in the late 1980s. Within just over a hundred days, the United States inflicted a crushing defeat on the regional power Iraq, achieving its first large-scale regional victory after the Vietnam War. Following the successful conclusion of the Gulf War, this served as a resounding wake-up call to the senior Chinese military officials, making those generals who were still dreaming of people's wars, human wave tactics, and mechanized warfare finally understand what modern warfare truly entails. Since then, the reform of the Chinese military has reached a climax and has been continuously promoted, striving for improvement. However, what about the results? No one dares to ask, nor does anyone dare to bring it up, because the political interests and relationships involved are too numerous and complex, and no one wants to provoke this potentially self-destructive tumor.

There should be a way to resolve this. We do not need to employ any special methods to deal with the United States and Japan. We simply need to make some adjustments economically while increasing our external outreach and striving to gain support from other countries. In due time, even if there are adverse effects, we can compensate for them. Moreover, we have our own secret forces, so there is no need to worry about these issues. The most important thing is to act, or not to act. If we choose to act, we must be determined and not give up halfway!" Zhou Guohui's words were only half spoken; to act, we must be determined and not give up halfway!" Zhou Guohui's words were only half spoken, and there is much that remains unsaid. It is not that he does not want to speak, but rather that there are too many people here, and many matters involving confidentiality cannot be disclosed. For instance, those secret forces absolutely cannot be revealed.

Another serious issue is the impact on the military. The schedule for war has now been proposed, and according to the "Qing Tian" plan, two years is already the longest timeframe. After two years, war will become unavoidable. Can Old Zhao complete military reform within two years? Can he dismantle the old system and establish a more comprehensive military structure within that time? Due to many uncertain factors, even Zhou Guohui feels a lack of confidence. Can he dismantle the old system and establish a more comprehensive military structure within two years? Due to many uncertain factors, even Zhou Guohui feels a lack of confidence. If Old Zhao succeeds, then everything will be fine, but if he fails, Zhou Guohui is very clear about how severe the consequences will be. It is likely that all the preparations made beforehand will lose all significance due to the failure of military reform.

We have proposed military reforms and have been working on them for many years, and the results should be evident to everyone. It is now time to deepen the reform efforts! Zhao Baoqiang's tone carried no hint of pride. In the past, this issue involved too many vested interests, and it could even lead to political turmoil, which is why he was reluctant to speak about it. However, the current situation has compelled him to address it; if this problem is not properly resolved now, there may not be another opportunity in the future. In the past, this issue involved too many vested interests, and it could even lead to political turmoil, which is why he was reluctant to speak about it. However, the current situation has compelled him to address it; if this problem is not properly resolved now, there may not be another opportunity in the future.

The core idea of "unrestricted warfare" is to utilize all available forces to weaken the enemy's war capabilities. It blurs the boundaries of war's geography and the personnel involved in combat. Any method that can weaken the enemy's war strength is permissible; war is no longer confined to the battlefield, nor is it limited to soldiers. Once war breaks out, one's own territory, the enemy's territory, and even neutral countries become battlegrounds. Enemy soldiers are to be targeted and eliminated, and the enemy's civilians will also suffer the ravages of war. The means of warfare are no longer limited to the delivery of ammunition and firepower, nor solely to the slaughter of soldiers on the front lines. The means of warfare can include disrupting the enemy's financial markets, undermining the morale of the enemy's populace, and disturbing the enemy's communication systems, among others