Spy Shadow: Command & Conquer

Chapter 2009, The Assembly of All Nations

In ancient times, it was very difficult to travel far from home.

Even in the era of airplanes and ships, going abroad was still a luxury.

Either they have power and influence.

They will either become extremely wealthy and powerful.

Or it could be a government-funded, publicly-sponsored program.

It would be even more difficult during wartime.

If you're not careful, you might leave perfectly fine, only to find yourself unable to return.

Now, the First Lady of the Chinese government is facing such a situation.

Previously, we would return from San Francisco by boat, disembarking at Wusongkou. The journey across the Pacific Ocean took about a month.

Now that the Japanese invaders have occupied the coastal areas of China, it is no longer possible to return by ship from the Pacific Ocean.

Even if they land in the Philippines, they cannot take a plane back.

The only option is to first take a boat to India, and then fly directly from India to Kunming.

Many ships travel to and from India along the Atlantic coast.

That's how those American Marines came to Chongqing.

Zhang Yong had inquired and learned that the US Marine Corps flew from Calcutta to Kunming.

Kolkata is located in eastern India.

The distance from Kolkata to Kunming is approximately 1500 kilometers.

For the DC-3 transport aircraft, it's quite easy. The flight path is also relatively safe.

"Did the lady land in Calcutta?"

"Yes."

"Why did you go to Delhi again?"

"The British warmly invited her to visit Derry."

"Then……"

"We always invited her to visit us there."

"so……"

Zhang Yong understood.

The term "detention" is a bit of an exaggeration.

To be precise, the British were using delaying tactics to stall her.

I'll invite you to be my guest, treat you to delicious food and drinks every day, let you travel around every day, and enjoy a variety of Indian song and dance performances.

Things are probably not that simple...

"report!"

An advisor from the attendant's office arrived.

He asked Zhang Yong to return to his official residence in Huangshan, indicating that he had important matters to discuss.

"what's up?"

"Commissioner, British Special Envoy Attlee has arrived."

"Attlee?"

Zhang Yong seemed to be deep in thought. Was it that Attlee?

The one who just defeated the Germans and replaced Churchill as Prime Minister.

That seems pretty impressive.

They actually managed to oust the arrogant Churchill from power.

The internal struggles within the British are actually quite complex, involving many factors.

You felt you had led the British to victory over the Germans—a great achievement. However, the British, dissatisfied with your aggressive tactics and heavy losses, began to dislike you.

"I understand. Go ahead!"

"Yes!"

The staff officer turned and left.

Zhang Yong immediately activated the 5C communication center.

First, call the valet's office. Ask what's going on before making a decision.

Be careful in everything you do.

We absolutely cannot afford to capsize in a ditch.

Director Lin answered the phone again.

"Shaolong, the Chairman is waiting for you to come back."

"I just received orders. Return immediately. What is Attlee doing here?"

"The main purpose was to invite the National Government to participate in the All Nations Assembly."

"What 'All Nations Assembly'?"

"I don't quite understand either. There are several possible interpretations."

"What does it mainly involve?"

"It's like the British gathered all the good stuff from their colonies and held a grand exhibition. Something like that."

"The World's Fair?"

"Not entirely. The British also invited us to send troops."

"Send troops?"

"Yes. Attlee particularly emphasized that he hoped the National Army could send organized units to participate in the morning assembly."

"what……"

Zhang Yong was indeed somewhat confused.

They actually want the Nationalist Army to participate? And they even require it to be a fully-fledged unit?
Is this an expo? Or an exchange meeting?

Or is it a joint military exercise?

To demonstrate British strength to the world?

eccentric……

“Attlee said that Americans will also participate.”

How many troops did they send?

"I don't know the exact number. It seems to be over a thousand people. They're all Marines."

"Oh. I'll be right back."

"it is good."

Zhang Yong ended the call.

I can't believe something like this actually happened. I've never seen anything like it in my life.

The British actually invited the Chinese government to send troops to (Old) Delhi.

interesting.

He gradually became interested.

If it's possible to bring an army along, then it's absolutely safe.

With just one battalion of soldiers at his disposal, he could wreak havoc on all sides. At the very least, he could return safely.

What exactly do the British want to do?
It seems to be fighting the Germans. London has been bombed.

However, the Germans have not yet landed. Therefore, the British mainland is safe. Temporarily safe.

Against this backdrop, the British held a grand gathering in India.

The goal may be very simple: to gather all the forces together.

He concentrated the colonial troops to boost morale.

In fact, by next year, British troops will once again be at war with German troops on land.

The location seems to be in Greece?
In addition to British troops, troops from Australia and New Zealand also participated in the battle...

The final result, of course, was a crushing defeat at the hands of the Germans.

"Somebody come!"

"To!"

"Go to the official residence in Huangshan."

"Yes."

Zhang Yong set off quickly.

He hurriedly traveled from Baishiyi Airport to Huangshan Official Residence.

Because I was busy, I noticed a few scattered red dots and half-red circles on the road, but I couldn't be bothered to pay attention to them.

Let them frolic for a while, and I'll tidy them up when I have time.

Back at the official residence in Huangshan. We went straight in.

We arrived at Yunxiu Tower.

Sure enough, both the bald man and Attlee were there.

Also present were Chen Cheng, He Yingqin, Gu Weijun, and a translator.

Wow, there are quite a lot of people.

It seems that Attlee was received with a rather high level of protocol.

This suggests that Attlee likely meant no harm. The proposal is beneficial to China.

Whether there are benefits or not, a bald man can still tell.

"Shaolong".

"Chairman."

"Sit next to me."

"Yes."

Zhang Yong sat down.

Attlee's gaze immediately locked onto him.

"Mr. Commissioner."

"Hello, Mr. Attlee."

“Commissioner, I would be very happy to go to Delhi with you.”

"I?"

"Your chairman has designated you to attend."

"Uh……"

Zhang Yong thought to himself, "I've been conscripted again."

But he was still very willing to take on this task. He didn't care about not getting paid.

After all, I also have a part-time job as a special commissioner for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I get paid 720 yuan a month. Diplomacy is part of my job.

Take this opportunity to travel to India. There are benefits, especially in eastern India.

Let's go check out that Ramgarh base.

And Kolkata.

This port will become an important supply port for the Allied forces.

Military supplies from all over the world, especially from the United States, will be unloaded here in large quantities.

Due to the needs of the war, Calcutta will, to some extent, surpass Mumbai to the west to become India's busiest port.

"Shaolong, you make the arrangements! State your requirements now."

"Yes, Chairman!"

Zhang Yong happily agreed.

Require?

Not yet.

I don't have it, and neither does the bald guy.

If we need to use transport planes or something, we'll definitely have to arrange it ourselves.

We have our own DC-3 transport aircraft.

Fuel, yes.

Pilots, yes.

Then it'll be fine.

"Mr. Attlee, what are the requirements for sending troops?"

"We hope to fully demonstrate the military strength of your Chinese government."

Are there any restrictions on the number of participants?

"No."

"Really do not have?"

"In your Chinese parlance, the more the better."

"understood."

Zhang Yong nodded thoughtfully.

I thought to myself, if the more the better, I'll just send an army over there.

Tens of thousands of people suddenly showing up, that'll scare you to death! Ha!

Of course, it's just wishful thinking.

A DC-3 transport plane can only carry twenty-five soldiers, along with their light weapons.

All artillery pieces are prohibited. They cannot be transported.

It can only carry a limited number of mortars.

Of course, this is under normal circumstances.

If it's a special case, then...

"Mr. Attlee, are there troops from other countries?"

"Of course. Most regions within the Commonwealth system will send troops to participate."

"For example..."

"Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and so on."

"understood."

Zhang Yong thought to himself, "The British Empire is truly powerful."

The mainland is only so big, but it has so many colonies. That's truly impressive.

India, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and a few other places alone provided the British with unlimited resources. And then there were the Middle East and Arab countries, among others.

Once all the colonies are combined, you can have anything you want.

Oil? Plenty.

Rubber? Plenty.

Gold? Plenty.

Grain? Cotton? Iron ore? Timber?

Absolutely nothing is lacking.

No wonder the British needed so many cargo ships.

The resources of all the colonies needed to be centralized. This required relying on massive shipping.

Without a doubt, the Commonwealth troops attending this assembly all arrived by ship.

Disembark in Mumbai or Kolkata, then take a train to Delhi.

Convenient and quick. There's not much hassle on the road.

The only exception is the Chinese government.

It had no access to the sea. French Indochina was also occupied by the Japanese invaders.

The only way is to fly from Kunming to Kolkata, and then take a train.

Huh?
This is a good idea.

Flying directly to Kolkata can save a lot of travel time.

The main benefit is that it can increase the number of flights of the DC-3 transport aircraft, allowing it to carry more personnel.

"Shaolong, I'm leaving this matter to you."

"Chairman, I need to mobilize the 74th Army."

"You're planning to draw men from the 74th Army?"

"Yes. The Fifth Army and the Eighteenth Army are currently engaged in combat and cannot be transferred. Only the 74th Army meets the requirements."

Why choose the 74th Army?

"In terms of military discipline and appearance, the German-equipped divisions of the past were still more outstanding."

How many people are you planning to transfer?

"About a reinforced regiment. About three thousand men."

"can."

"Thank you!"

That's how it was decided after discussion.

The bigwigs left one after another.

The rest are all details, all Zhang Yong's business.

The adjutant's office, along with the Ninth War Zone, was responsible for coordination. This primarily involved drawing troops from the 74th Army.

As for air transport, it was naturally the responsibility of the Nationalist government's Air Force.

As for the Nationalist Air Force, Zhang Yong himself could command it at will. There was no need for coordination.

"Shaolong, stay for dinner."

"it is good."

Zhang Yong agreed.

A superficial intimacy is still necessary.

So I politely ate lunch and then left Yunxiu Tower.

"Director Lin."

"Shaolong, you speak."

"Can you get through to the 74th Army by phone?"

"can."

"I want to speak with Wang Yaowu on the phone."

"it is good."

Director Lin made the arrangements immediately.

The 74th Army has no combat missions at the moment. It has been resting and reorganizing in Hengyang.

Soon, the call was connected.

The person who answered the phone was Army Commander Wang Yaowu.

"Commissioner, are you ordering my unit to go to Nanchang as reinforcements?"

"No."

"That……"

Wang Yaowu was somewhat disappointed.

He thought the 74th Army could go to Nanchang.

At present, the Fifth Army and the Eighteenth Army are fighting a great battle in Nanchang, and the newspapers are full of related reports.

After all, they were the top main force of the National Revolutionary Army, so the battle was very attractive.

The related reports are also firsthand.

It's fair to say that these two military units are already quite well-known.

Wang Yaowu felt that he might be falling behind.

"Commander Wang, we have a special mission that requires you to select three thousand men from the entire army to form an reinforced regiment..."

"You can think of it as a very important review..."

"There may be many foreign guests..."

"We may have to compete against foreign militaries..."

Zhang Yong began to explain in detail.

Although Attlee didn't say it explicitly, Zhang Yong guessed it.

Armies from various countries and regions arrived in Delhi one after another. Mutual training and exchange were absolutely essential.

You must be mentally prepared.

Whether it's individual combat or team combat, it's possible.

Of course, it was an exercise, not actual combat.

"Commissioner, are the troops going to a very far place?"

"It's a secret. I won't tell you for now."

"clear."

"Select as many educated soldiers as possible."

"clear."

"besides……"

Zhang Yong made further demands.

Every officer and soldier was required to appear to be relatively robust.

You can be a little shorter, but you must be strong. Those who are skinny shouldn't participate.

After all, it's going to go global.

They may also need to present their image under the spotlight.

"The uniform must be new."

"The shoes must be new."

"Other equipment should also be kept as intact as possible."

"If you encounter any difficulties, you can tell me."

Zhang Yong spoke methodically.

Over there, Wang Yaowu instructed his staff to take careful notes.

I have a vague feeling that this might be a very important appearance. It shouldn't be underestimated.

and many more……

Zhang Yong suddenly realized something was amiss.

Is the requirement for the National Army to participate this time related to the Lend-Lease Act?

The Lend-Lease Act, after all, wasn't something that happened overnight. It was a difficult process, developed step by step, and continuously supplemented and improved.

Even now, the United States Congress remains firmly opposed to the formal participation of the military in combat.

Therefore, Roosevelt was unable to mobilize the Army and Navy.

The only ones capable of action are the Marines. And even then, it's just a part of them.

If too much is used, it could lead to impeachment by Congress.

"Commissioner, are the artillery troops going too?"

"Let's assign a company of artillery."

"cannon……"

"I'll figure something out once we get there."

"clear."

Wang Yaowu thought the Commissioner was really amazing.

They actually managed to get weapons and equipment from India. That's impressive.

Could it be that the Sicilians could directly send weapons and equipment to India?

If that's the case, then it saves a lot of trouble.

As long as heavy weapons are not carried, personnel and light weapons are relatively simple.

"Commissioner, how much time do we have to prepare?"

"Ten days."

"clear."

Wang Yaowu was relieved.

Ten days is actually plenty of time.

The necessary troops and supplies can be prepared.

New military uniforms...

New shoes...

"Commissioner, who will lead the team?"

"do you want to go?"

"think."

Wang Yaowu answered without hesitation.

Of course I want to go!
He hasn't gone outside yet.

There were many foreign-educated people in the National Revolutionary Army. Wang Yaowu, on the other hand, was a country bumpkin.

"Then you will lead the team yourself."

"clear."

Zhang Yong hung up the phone.

Arresting Old Wang himself would save a lot of trouble.

Old Wang's ability to lead troops is beyond doubt. He's also pragmatic and has a clear head.

All that's left is to arrange the plane.

An advance team was also arranged.

We must first send someone to Calcutta to communicate with the British.

This is what's commonly known as a ground liaison group. They need to carry radios and communication equipment.

"Somebody come!"

"To!"

"Answer the call from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs!"

"Yes!"

Zhang Yong found Gu Weijun.

Let him communicate with the British side regarding the specific details of the contact.

Flights require prior registration.

Otherwise, it's easy for the other party to misunderstand, and then danger may occur.

Fortunately, there is no immediate threat of war in India, so the atmosphere is not tense.

"Somebody come!"

"To!"

"Take over to the headquarters!"

"Yes!"

Go directly to General Wenbai.

To get straight to the point, we need dry rations.

Since it's transported by air, it might not be used to when it arrives in a foreign country.

Everyone should carry some dry food with them, enough for at least three days, in case of emergencies.

Very busy...

It's very complicated...

But it's okay.

There are enough people to share the workload.

The preparation of the transport plane was naturally entrusted to Zhou Zhirou.

Since the 74th Army was stationed in Hengyang, which is closest to Changsha Airport, they must have boarded the plane at Changsha Airport.

then……

All DC-3 transport aircraft were concentrated at Changsha Airport.

Then, we also need to notify Kunming.

One is to notify Kunming Airport to prepare for landing and refueling.

One was to notify the Yunnan army and make prior arrangements to avoid any misunderstandings.

So busy...

So busy...

Even a job that only requires talking can be incredibly complex and multifaceted.

When working for the Nationalist Army, you can't just give orders and then leave it at that. Otherwise, something bad is bound to happen. Their execution is terrible.

After giving instructions, you must repeatedly check to ensure that everything is in place.

"system!"

"Arrange for two formations of DC-3 transport aircraft to arrive."

We also need to expand transportation capacity.

At least thirty DC-3 transport aircraft are needed to carry out the transport mission.

Assuming each aircraft carries 25 people, it can transport approximately 750 people per day. In five days, it can transport 3,000 people.

"Shaolong".

Director Lin arrived suddenly.

Zhang Yong nodded, indicating that he should speak frankly.

"Shaolong, the Chairman wants to increase the number of troops to more than five thousand."

"Five thousand?"

"Yes. The Chairman feels that three thousand is too few. It cannot fully unleash the power of our army."

"Ok."

Zhang Yong thought about it and agreed.

Five thousand it is. Many hands make light work. More people, more things go smoothly.

Therefore, preparations were made according to the number of five thousand people.

then……

So busy...

So busy...

"Commissioner!"

Until a sweet, delicate voice came.

[To be continued]

(End of this chapter)