A Journey Through the Flames of War in the Republican Era

After much thought, Song Hongfei came up with an idea.

That evening, as soon as the Chinese delegation returned, they saw Song Hongfei deep in thought, facing the documents and a world map in his hands.

Yu Dawei couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, "Hongfei, what are you thinking about?"

Holding a military procurement list, Song Hongfei pretended to be ignorant and humbly sought guidance, saying, "I've been organizing materials these past few days, and I'm having trouble understanding some of the issues. I would appreciate any guidance from my superiors."

"Oh? What question stumped you?"

Several members of the inspection team also gathered around.

Song Hongfei shared his doubts and thoughts with the members of the inspection team. The high-ranking figures listened attentively, and they were naturally aware of the various reasons behind it.

Yu Dawei thought for a moment and said, "The issue of weapon selection was also discussed at the weapons standardization conference. Firstly, there is the military cooperation with Germany, and the German side suggested that we should mainly use German-style weapons. Most importantly, German arms accept barter, and although other countries may have more suitable options, they all require cash payment."

"Secondly, the country's foreign exchange reserves are precious, and there are many places where money is needed. We need to plan our industry and also import goods, so we are stretched thin everywhere. The top leadership considered that heavy equipment will inevitably be used for a long time, so that new models will not become obsolete quickly. In short, it's a complicated situation."

Song Hongfei nodded thoughtfully.

Having a thorough understanding of history, Song Hongfei naturally knew the various reasons behind this, such as the German advisors' preference for recommending their own products, and the fact that some arms exporters gave high kickbacks to the top officials of the Chinese government, while those who refused to give kickbacks naturally received fewer recommendations, and so on.

However, what he actually wanted to point out was the issue of the Japanese army blockading overseas import and transportation lines after the start of the war. But he couldn't say it directly. Could he really say, "In a few years, when Japan goes to war with the United States and Britain, the Japanese navy will blockade all coastal ports, and foreign military purchases will be impossible to come in"?

Even if others don't question you to your face, they'll secretly think you're just a young, arrogant, boastful braggart who's overstepping your bounds! How do you know? Can you predict the future?

Song Hongfei looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Yu Dawei seemed to remember something and said, "You just mentioned the supply of spare parts and ammunition after the war starts, and the issue of Japan blocking our foreign aid import lines. The higher-ups have also considered this, but given the unpredictable development of the situation and the country's difficult internal and external situation, we can only address the immediate urgent needs first. European and American countries have also guaranteed that they will provide sufficient follow-up supplies. However, being prepared for a rainy day is indeed a major issue that must be taken seriously!"

Acting Minister of Transportation Yu Feipeng, who was standing next to him, was most concerned about this issue. He said, "Our navy is weak. After the war starts, it will not be difficult for the Japanese army to blockade our coastline with its powerful navy. However, Hong Kong, Macau, and Haiphong in Vietnam are ports occupied by Western countries. Will the Japanese army not care about the conflict with the Western powers?"

This question is on everyone's mind, and it is also a kind of concept that permeates the upper echelons of the Chinese government. They are too superstitious about the Western powers and believe that they will uphold justice, but they do not know that everything is based on interests and that reality is king.

Xu Tingyao was quite interested and said, "Hongfei, it seems you've studied this carefully. Why don't you explain your considerations in detail?"

Song Hongfei, naturally, didn't stand on ceremony and began gesturing on a world map: "Gentlemen, I am only considering this issue from a military perspective, from the perspective of national defense, and from the perspective of a comprehensive war strategy. Once a war breaks out, the Japanese army will stop at nothing to blockade, besiege, and strangle our country. The Japanese navy is powerful and occupies the eastern sea barrier of our country—the beautiful island of Taiwan. Its navy can freely patrol our coastline and blockade the entire north and south coasts."

"Japan's ambitions are long-standing, and its aggressive nature is deeply ingrained. As a small, resource-poor country, it naturally cannot sustain the enormous costs of war on its own soil. Once war breaks out, if it puts pressure on countries that sell arms, our country's import sources will be greatly reduced. There are no permanent friends, only permanent interests!"

"If the war escalates and breaks out into a large-scale world war like World War I, the Japanese will have no scruples when it comes to life and death. According to their expansionist ambitions, they will either head north to the Soviet Union or south to Southeast Asia to occupy these resource-producing areas, which will inevitably lead to direct conflict with the colonies of the United States, Britain, France, and the Netherlands in Southeast Asia. In that case, all of our country's international maritime transport routes will cease to exist, and even if we can buy weapons, we won't be able to transport them in!"

"Our industrial plans will take time to be completed and put into production. The idea of ​​'buying is worse than making' won't work. The Japanese won't sit idly by and wait. They won't wait until we're fully prepared before they take action! If you're not prepared, the enemy will come. If you're prepared, the enemy won't dare to come. I'm afraid that when we're completely unprepared, the enemy will already be fully prepared!"

Song Hongfei's expression turned solemn, and he emphasized, "I'm afraid that in the end, we'll still have to rely on ourselves!"

The generals remained silent, their hearts heavy with sorrow. The nation had long been impoverished and weak, constantly dependent on others. How could they not know about the Tanaka Memorial, the Ishihara Plan, and the ambitions of the Eastern Kingdom? These critical issues had been weighing heavily on the hearts of the Chinese people for a long time! Song Hongfei's words truly expressed their anxieties.

The astonishment in everyone's hearts was immense. This Song Hongfei, not yet 25 years old and seemingly still quite immature, actually possessed such a mature and profound strategic vision and depth of thought? For a moment, everyone's feelings were complex. Some secretly thought to themselves that they had never thought so deeply before, and that in terms of the depth and breadth of his thinking, he was far superior to them.

What they could not have imagined was that, just over two years later, the Japanese army successively occupied Guangzhou, Shantou, Jiangmen, Hainan Island, and other places in South China, completely cutting off my country's coastal transportation lines. The course of the war was strikingly similar to what Song Hongfei had predicted! They were even more shocked when they recalled Song Hongfei's words.

Yu Dawei patted Song Hongfei on the shoulder and said, "Good lad, you have foresight! Your talent and vision are truly astonishing. You've thought things through very deeply!"

Xu Tingyao suddenly laughed and said, "These don't seem like sudden inspirations from you. You must have thought about them for a long time, right? You, Song Hongfei, are good at psychological warfare! You clearly wanted to say it, but you deliberately found an opportunity to make me speak first."

Yu Dawei smiled knowingly, looked at Song Hongfei, and said, "But you're overthinking it. You can speak your mind freely in the future."

Song Hongfei thought to himself, "I can still tell if it's just polite talk. If I take these words seriously, I'll really be a fool."

Song Hongfei grinned: "I have thought about this a bit over the years. After all, I've been standing too low, and I hope you all will forgive my shortcomings."

He calmly added, "A few years ago at West Point, I came into contact with some intelligence data about the United States and Japan, and I specifically studied the analysis and judgment of the United States."

The generals were taken aback; none of them knew whether he was telling the truth or not.

Song Hongfei sighed again, "I have to say, the intelligence work of the great powers is truly all-pervasive. The intelligence they obtain is detailed and accurate, and a large part of it is aimed at our China!"

The generals recalled how Song Hongfei and his two companions, who were studying at West Point, had sent intelligence from the United States, as well as their research on the September 18 Incident and the tactics and methods of the Japanese army, back to China through secret channels.

The generals sighed inwardly, their hearts filled with mixed emotions, and they began to discuss it together.

At this moment, Kong Yongzhi, the head of the inspection team, also strolled over.

Kong Yongzhi had a round face, round eyes, a round nose, and a round head. He looked round and slightly short and chubby, but he was kind and had a friendly smile, so he was not disliked.

But if you think he's just smooth and worldly-wise, you're sorely mistaken. If you pay a little attention, you'll find that behind his round glasses, his eyes occasionally flash with a wise light, enough to make people not dare to underestimate him.

Kong Yongzhi, having learned the reason for the heated discussion among the group, did not express any opinion, but sighed softly, "The country has long been poor and weak, hampered at every turn, making progress extremely difficult."

This also fully demonstrates his worldly wisdom and tact, as he never easily expresses his own opinions or attitudes.

Yu Dawei said, "Even a hero can be brought down by a penny! To be honest, some of the equipment displayed by various countries this time is really tempting, but unfortunately the prices are really not cheap."

Upon hearing this, Xu Tingyao laughed and said, "You, the director of the Ordnance Department, aren't you planning to go on a buying spree?"

Yu Dawei glanced at him and replied, "You, the Director of Armored Forces, aren't you also thinking about German tanks and armored vehicles all the time?"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Kong Yongzhi smiled and said, “I don’t know much about military affairs, but I can do my part in economic matters. The Chinese government and the military commission have authorized this inspection team to not limit themselves to the previously decided list of weapons if they encounter any particularly suitable ones. They can discuss and cooperate to act as appropriate.”

Everyone was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately began to discuss and work together.

Yu Dawei took out a pen and added the weapons he had already selected to the list.

很快，清单上多了荷兰哈以哈75mm步兵炮、奥地利百禄47mm战防炮、法国施耐德75mm轻便山炮、81mm/60mm迫击炮、“豪须”装甲车等一批武器补充了上去。

Song Hongfei was overjoyed. Although the budget was limited and the quantity he could buy was not large, it was still much more than in the past!

He roughly estimated that at least several more artillery regiments with 36 guns each could be produced. This was extremely important for the Chinese army, which was short of artillery and ammunition. More importantly, these were weapons suitable for China's national conditions.

Song Hongfei said excitedly, "I can trade my theoretical research results, inventions and design patents, some design theories, methods and techniques with them. Those quantitative calculations and design theories of weapon barrel mechanics are applicable to both gun barrels and cannon barrels. I'm not afraid they won't be interested! Let's start by asking for 200 million semi-automatic rifle barrels and 20 machine gun barrels!"

"My God!" The members of the inspection team couldn't help but gasp.

"If they ask for an exorbitant price, we'll negotiate it down to the spot," Song Hongfei said with a sly smile.

Everyone was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.

Yu Feipeng laughed and said, "The cat is teaching the tiger a lesson. This skill of climbing trees shouldn't be easily revealed."

Song Hongfei said, "Commander Yu, please rest assured, we will certainly not give them the core classified results! What they can get is all that is inferior to what we have. We have better ones, and even if we gave them to them, they wouldn't be able to learn them themselves!"

Yu Dawei was overjoyed and said, "Let me give you a little inside information. This semi-automatic rifle is not our most advanced weapon. Our truly advanced weapons have not yet been brought out!"

Everyone was invigorated and their hearts were filled with excitement upon hearing this.