Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 146, Section 145: Summary Meeting of the Taishan Volunteer Army Operation, Intelligence Analysis

South of the Luan River was the defensive line of the 57th Army of the National Revolutionary Army.

This unit was the Northeast Army's troops within the Great Wall, some of which were reorganized and merged into one army.

After withdrawing from Northeast China, the morale of this army was extremely low. For these Northeast Army soldiers, without territory, they had no foundation and were like children without milk wherever they went.

But they still dared to fight the Japanese.

Therefore, he was entrusted with the important task of building fortifications south of the Luan River to block the southward advance of the Japanese 8th Division.

Behind them lies Tianjin; their responsibility is immense.

May 10th, around 5 AM.

Flames erupted on the north bank of the Luan River.

The flames grew fiercer and fiercer, turning half the sky red. The 57th Army, unaware of the situation, realized something was wrong and immediately sent a reconnaissance team across the river to investigate.

The reconnaissance team didn't return until dawn.

They reported to the army commander and four division commanders at headquarters:
"Our unit swam across the river last night and followed the firelight to investigate. We found three Japanese military camps, with the middle camp engulfed in flames. The fire was extremely large and had been burning for a long time. No matter how the Japanese tried to put it out, it was to no avail."

"Just how big is the fire?" the commander of the 108th Division asked curiously.

"Based on our previous reconnaissance, that camp is occupied by the Hiraga Brigade of the 6th Division, with approximately 3000 men," the reconnaissance team leader replied.

A camp for 3000 people is not small.

Those present were all military commanders who frequently set up camps in the field, so they naturally knew how large it was.

The permanent camp, which can accommodate 3000 people, requires dormitories, restaurants, shooting ranges, training grounds, etc. In addition, factors such as safety distances, green areas, and buffer zones are needed, which would require a land area of ​​about 30 acres.

For a temporary camp, there needs to be at least enough space for 3000 people to live. The buildings should not be too close together to prevent fires. There should also be open areas for assembly, as well as places to store military equipment and vehicles.

Therefore, a land area of ​​10 mu (approximately 1.65 acres) is also necessary.

Ten acres is more than 6000 square meters, such a large area, and it was all burned.

How big of a fire would it take to do that?!
Who started the fire?

"What was it cooked with?"

The four division commanders couldn't help but ask.

Commander He stood up and went to the sand table to look at it.

"If the middle camp catches fire, the Japanese army will be disorganized and fall into chaos. If we don't send troops now, when will we?"

The others nodded in agreement, but showed no intention of setting off immediately.

"Commander, our orders are to hold the south bank of the Luan River to the death and prevent the Japanese from crossing."

"If we go and fight the Japanese, it will be considered disobeying military orders. What if our superiors blame us?"

"We are no longer the Northeast Army. Our designation has been abolished, and we have been renamed the 57th National Army. We are now under the orders of the National Government. If we dare to disobey orders, although we will not be dismissed from our posts, we will certainly be punished."

"Let's send a telegram back to the Beiping Military Branch and ask for their opinion."

The Beiping Military Sub-Committee, also known as the Beiping Branch of the Military Commission of the National Government, was the decision-making and command center for the Great Wall Resistance.

Commander He agreed with this opinion and immediately ordered the telegraph operator to send a message.

After the telegram was sent, the Beiping Military Branch replied.

North of the Luan River, there are no more of our troops. According to your report, it is impossible for them to appear.

Where did the incendiary materials come from? Who were the people responsible? How did they avoid the Japanese army burning down the entire military camp?

This is highly likely a trap to lure troops; we must not act rashly.

With this telegram, the 57th Army had no choice but to remain inactive.

The fire burned until it was finally extinguished in the afternoon.

Subsequently, another reconnaissance team swam across the river to gather intelligence on the enemy, but brought back a major development.

The Japanese suddenly disappeared.

Apart from the central military camp where the smoke still lingered, the barracks on both sides were empty, and the Hiraga Brigade of the 6th Division was nowhere to be found.

5 month 10 day.

f.220 is put into storage.

All participants returned home.

Even though Shunzi went home and got a good night's sleep, Pan Jiafeng will take her back to Xiangxi Airport tomorrow.

Fang Wen also had a good sleep, sleeping from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

After he got up, Kuang Mingzhu brought him some sweet soup: "Sir, have some white fungus and lotus seed soup."

Taking the sweet soup, Fang Wen finished it in a few bites: "Any news from the north?"

"Not yet. If there's any news, it will be sent from the city," Kuang Mingzhu replied.

Yes, as a high-quality intelligence buyer, Fang Wen was well-regarded in Shanghai's intelligence broker circles and even received a package deal. Whenever intelligence arrived, he could get a catalog and decide which one to buy.

There's no news right now, and there really isn't any.

After all, the intelligence in the war zone was all purchased by these people from both the Nationalist government and the Japanese army.

Fang Wen got up and stretched. "I'm hungry. Let's go out to eat and take a walk."

"Please wait for me, sir."

Kuang Mingzhu went to the inner room to get dressed.

Whether in modern times or the future, the ironclad rule that women must dress up before going out will never change.

Twenty minutes later, Kuang Mingzhu, dressed in a cheongsam and carrying a small handbag, took Fang Wen's arm and walked out of the house.

The two strolled along the streets outside the airport.

This street became bustling because of the airport, and it has grown from just one small bar to a variety of businesses.

These new shops were all bought by Taishan Airlines and then rented at low prices to the families of its employees to ensure security and prevent Japanese people from infiltrating them.

It was precisely because of this arrangement that the Japanese were unable to successfully plant spies on several occasions.

Fang Wen and Kuang Mingzhu walked down the street, and people greeted them from time to time.

"Good morning, General Manager." "Good morning, General Manager's wife."

They stopped at a popular stir-fry restaurant.

Fang Wen said, "Let's eat here."

"Okay, I'll go order a few dishes." Kuang Mingzhu went straight to the kitchen to order. She cooks all the meals at home every day, so she knows exactly what dishes are good at this restaurant.

After ordering, Kuang Mingzhu returned and they continued chatting.

"Sir, how big of a fire did you set off on this trip to the north?"

Outsiders wouldn't understand what these words meant, but the couple knew.

Fang Wen thought for a moment and replied, "It was bigger than this place, and almost all of it was burned down."

"So big?!" Kuang Mingzhu exclaimed in surprise. "Won't that burn a lot of ants to death?"

“Yes, that’s why I’m really curious about the situation,” Fang Wen replied.

By this time, the dish was cooked.

The restaurant owner personally brought the dishes over.

"General Manager, please try my cooking: braised yellow croaker with pickled mustard greens, stir-fried beef with vermicelli, and shredded radish with scallion oil."

(Home-style dishes in a newspaper from the Republic of China era) Fang Wen picked up a piece of shredded radish with scallion oil with his chopsticks. "It tastes good. If I don't want to open a stir-fry restaurant in the future, I'll come to Taishan Airlines. It just so happens that airport canteens in various places need chefs."

The stir-fry shop owner was overjoyed: "General Manager, you have to keep your word! I run this stir-fry shop to make a living, but working for Taishan Airlines is like getting a secure job. As long as you give me your approval, I'll report to the company tomorrow."

“Yes, I keep my word. Go see Fang Shouxin tomorrow and ask him to make the arrangements for you,” Fang Wen nodded in reply.

"Thank you, General Manager." The shop owner returned to the kitchen with a happy heart.

Kuang Mingzhu said helplessly, "Sir, with an extra chef at the company, dinners at home have become less varied."

"It's alright, we can try a few more places. Or should I ask someone at Wuhan Airport to find a spicy food chef?" Fang Wen said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Kuang Mingzhu immediately fell silent.

Last time I went to Xiangxi Airport, I had a meal of stir-fried cured pork with chili peppers. For a Cantonese person like me, it was really unpleasant. Those who know, know.

After finishing their meal, the couple took a walk on the street to digest their food.

At this moment, Manager Liu strode over.

"General Manager, I went to the city today and brought back the items."

Everything mentioned today was related to the north. Fang Wen immediately understood that Manager Liu and the others couldn't sit still either, so they went directly to the city to bring back the intelligence.

He took the bag and said, "Go tell the others to have a meeting tonight."

The first operational summary meeting of the Taishan Volunteer Army's anti-Japanese campaign was held.

Apart from Sun Debiao from the north, Huo Duanyang and William from the southwest, everyone else participated.

The meeting was held in Fang Wen's living room. Everyone sat in a circle, with teacups on the table next to them.

Kuang Mingzhu, who had sent Chuncao and Qiuju out to play, personally brewed tea for everyone.

Fang Wen used scissors to cut open the seal on the package and took out the documents inside.

He read it aloud.

"According to internal sources within the Japanese military, the Hiraga Brigade of the 6th Division of the Japanese Army was bombed by an unidentified force at its camp five kilometers north of the Luan River. The attackers used a new type of weapon that could cause a sustained burning effect. The type of bomber is unknown, but it is suspected to be a heavy bomber. Furthermore, they carried out highly sophisticated bombing tactics, causing huge losses."

"The Japanese military suspected that this was a premeditated military bombing operation with inside collaborators. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to carry out such a precise and large-scale bombing operation in the dead of night."

"The Japanese military suspected that it was the work of new Soviet bombers that took off from military airfields in Siberia. There was also cooperation from the Nationalist army. In addition, there were also insiders within the Japanese military."

Upon hearing Fang Wen's words, everyone burst into laughter.

Shunzi stood up triumphantly and gestured, "These Japanese can't even tell east from west. We come from Siberia."

His words and actions made the atmosphere even more lively.

Shao Sichen asked, "How much damage did our operation inflict on the Japanese army?"

This is something everyone wants to know.

Last night's fire was so massive that everyone doubted that anyone in the military camp could have escaped.

Fang Wen took out the second intelligence report.

"This is an intelligence source from the Japanese Army Headquarters. According to a report from the Kwantung Army, the Hiraga Brigade of the 6th Division suffered heavy losses."

"The brigade commander was hit by a bomb immediately after the air raid."

"Subsequently, all members of the brigade command were killed in the airstrike."

"This air raid resulted in 1600 casualties in the 3000-strong camp, and more than 700 casualties among the soldiers fighting the fire on the perimeter."

"Due to heavy losses and the death of all brigade commanders, the Hiraga Brigade of the 6th Division fell into chaos and ultimately chose to move towards the division headquarters to await the arrival of a new commander."

This intelligence represents the significant achievement of Fang Wen and his team's air raid operation.

Not only did it cause heavy casualties to the Japanese army, but it also wiped out their command post.

Without the support of a command system, the Hiraga Brigade of the 6th Division was a sitting duck with no chance of fighting back.

Pan Jiafeng asked, puzzled, "Why don't our troops cross the river to attack the Hiraga Brigade?"

“Yes, it was such a big fire, even a blind person could see it,” Shunzi agreed.

Fang Wen was also puzzled. Why would they let such a good opportunity slip by?

If the entire Hiraga Brigade of the 6th Division could be annihilated while it was in disarray, such a victory would be a huge boost to the Great Wall Resistance.

Despite his thoughts, Fang Wen didn't want this to affect the morale of the Taishan Volunteer Army.

He said, “The battlefield situation changes rapidly, and we can’t possibly consider everything. What we need to do is bomb, bomb, bomb, and blast the Japanese out of China. Now, there are two important points to make. First, everyone must be careful to keep the bombing a secret. Second, the Japanese will definitely investigate after this bombing. Don’t let your guard down just because their intelligence points to the Soviets as the culprit; they might be trying to lull us into a false sense of security. Therefore, the procurement of napalm supplies must be dispersed and cannot be purchased from Shanghai alone. Does anyone have any good suggestions regarding the second point?”

The atmosphere immediately became serious.

Fang Shouxin, who had spent some time at Xiangxi Airport, was quite familiar with the situation.

He spoke first.

“Currently, we have no shortage of building materials. If needed, we can obtain them by water transport and horse-drawn carts. The main problem is the bomb factory. The tin ore needed for the bombs can be purchased from Gejiu, Yunnan. They transport it by water, eventually via the Yangtze and Pearl Rivers to the southeastern provinces. We can arrange for it to be transported from there and receive the goods en route. The most troublesome issues are chemical raw materials and gasoline.”

Of these two items, the former is highly specialized and not something you can easily buy.

The latter is expensive and not produced domestically; if it weren't for airlines, this thing would be unaffordable.

If these two problems are solved, it will be very difficult for the Japanese to trace the source of the bomb.

Fang Wen looked at everyone, hoping someone could offer some good suggestions.

Kuang Mingzhu said, "Currently, most of the gasoline in China is imported from abroad. But it's not that we don't have it domestically; there's a Yanchang oilfield in Shaanxi."

"Does Shaanxi have oil?" Fang Wen asked in surprise.

The others were also hearing about it for the first time.

Kuang Mingzhu explained, "I heard it from my brother. He happened to pass through Shaanxi and that's how he found out. I specifically asked someone to check the situation there. They once rented the area to ExxonMobil for exploration, and the results showed that the surface sandstone was so thick that it was not suitable for deposits to accumulate."

Didn't ExxonMobil's exploration indicate that reserves were insufficient?

Everyone was somewhat disappointed. What they needed now was usable oil, not an oil field with uncertain reserves.

Unexpectedly, Kuang Mingzhu continued, "But I sent people to investigate, and they found that the annual oil production is 100 to 200 tons, which is enough for local use after refining."

Kuang Mingzhu's approach is feasible, considering that the Japanese would blockade the oil production by the navy, making land-based oil production safer.

But Fang Wen is from the future, so he sees things more clearly.

China's domestic oil industry was very weak and only began to develop vigorously after liberation.

The current amount of oil is simply not enough. Spending effort to acquire 100 or 200 tons of crude oil is meaningless to Fang Wen.

Not to mention that in the future, the Central Plains will likely be occupied by the Japanese army.

He thought of Iran's last Persian dynasty: the Pahlavi dynasty, which is now the world's second-largest oil producer, through which abundant gasoline resources can be obtained.

The Pahlavi dynasty had Indiana; we could ask them to help us purchase oil.

There were also British-controlled areas in India, from which various chemicals could be purchased.

There were also ports in the Indochina Peninsula of South Asia, where oil transported from the Pahlavi dynasty could be unloaded and then shipped to China.

By doing this, Xiangxi Airport will have an additional function: connecting South Asia.

At that time, large transport aircraft will be able to transport gasoline and chemical raw materials from South Asia directly to Xiangxi Airport.

I don't have time to go there right now, but the Kwong family has connections in South Asia.

He spoke with Kwong Ming-chu.

"Mingzhu, does your family still have businesses overseas? My idea is to use your family's overseas connections to open up a procurement channel for supplies, going directly from South Asia to Xiangxi Airport."

Kuang Mingzhu replied: "Originally, my father wanted to take a break and sell the family's overseas businesses to relatives and friends. But he became interested in the quinine you mentioned last time, so he found a few old friends to partner with and prepare to stockpile it. That's why all his partners and managers in South Asia have started doing this."

(End of this chapter)