Spy Shadow: Command & Conquer

Chapter 2011, A Foreign Land

Hengyang.

The 74th Army of the National Revolutionary Army was stationed there.

The sun is rising.

A troop review on the battlefield.

"report!"

"Seventh Company, Third Battalion, 185th Regiment, reporting for duty!"

"report!"

"First Company, First Battalion, 258th Regiment, reporting for duty!"

"Report……"

On the podium, Wang Yaowu's expression was serious.

He is now facing a difficult decision: which unit to send on the plane.

For Zhang Yong, it was a matter of choosing which army to join.

For Wang Yaowu, it was a matter of choosing which company, or even which platoon.

His three divisions—the 51st Division (Yu Chengwan), the 57th Division (Liao Lingqi), and the 58th Division (Shi Zhongcheng)—were all actively competing for the position.

Obviously, it's impossible to directly allocate troops to this area.

It can only be split into links.

Each division drew personnel at the company level.

As for those below the company level, whether there are mixed formations or not, that's up to them to decide.

"report!"

"Fifth Company, Second Battalion, Artillery Regiment, reporting for duty!"

"report!"

"Third Company, First Battalion, Engineer Regiment, reporting for duty!"

"Report……"

In fact, the 74th Army did not have many heavy weapons.

Compared to the Fifth Army, the biggest deficiency of the 74th Army was that it did not have tanks.

Compared to the 18th Army, the biggest weakness of the 74th Army was its lack of heavy artillery. It only possessed 75mm mountain guns.

You read that right. The famous 74th Army of later generations had no heavy artillery and no tanks.

Only 75mm mountain guns. Quite strange.

Clearly, at this moment, the 74th Army is not yet considered the top seed.

In the bald man's camp, his ranking is estimated to be behind the First Army and the 54th Army.

After all, Wang Yaowu wasn't exactly a close confidant of the bald man.

You're good at fighting.

But it's not my type.

Therefore, the 74th Army is now like an old ox, working tirelessly.

They fought honestly, moving from place to place. But their weaponry and equipment remained mediocre.

However, because it only had mountain guns and no heavy artillery or tanks, the 74th Army always had good mobility.

Yes, there are cars. They were directly allocated by Zhang Yong. There are a total of three hundred cars.

This greatly increased the mobility of the 74th Army, especially the long-range deployment capability of light infantry.

Among all the army-level units in the National Revolutionary Army, the 74th Army probably fought the most battles and in the most places. It was truly used like an iron ox.

Zhang Yong's first thought was the 74th Army, because he felt it was relatively well-rounded. It could fight and it could withstand attacks.

"Reporting to the commander, the troops have assembled."

"it is good."

Wang Yaowu stood up.

The vast training ground was packed with people.

Although there were only five thousand people, a quick scan revealed a dense, dark mass of heads.

Actually, it's not just five thousand people. There's a slight over-quota. About five thousand five hundred people. That's five hundred over.

This is skirting the line. Let's see how Zhang Yong reacts before taking further action.

If they firmly say no, then we'll lay off another 500 people.

If they say yes, then everything's fine. Everyone's happy.

"Bros……"

"Today, I have gathered you all together..."

"Special mission..."

Wang Yaowu addressed all the officers and soldiers in a loud voice.

As per Zhang Yong's instructions, all officers and soldiers changed into new uniforms. All equipment was made to be as new as possible.

They were very generous, providing each soldier with three sets of uniforms for rotation.

Wang Yaowu now knows that the destination is India.

It was extremely hot there. Hotter than China. Military uniforms would easily become soaked with sweat.

There are also changes of underwear, which are as complete as possible.

Although other units accompanied them, the main force was still the 74th Army.

Other units typically had only 500 or 1,000 men. But the 74th Army had 5,000 men.

The speech is over.

Check the equipment and supplies again.

set off.

Board the vehicle.

There are trains from Hengyang to Changsha.

They will take a car to Changsha and then board a plane.

"Take care of yourself!"

Wang Yaowu bid farewell to his three division commanders.

As the army commander, he personally led the team, so it was impossible for the three division commanders to go with him.

The following are all regimental-level units. There are no division-level or brigade-level units.

"Line up!"

"boarding!"

"bang bang..."

……

Xi'an.

Tongguan.

The same scene is playing out.

There are just a slightly smaller number of people. Their equipment is better.

This is the First Army from the Tenth War Zone.

The selected troops also traveled by train from Tongguan to the airport, and then boarded a plane.

Hu Zongnan, of course, came to see him off in person.

"bang bang..."

……

The other selected units also mobilized and set off.

This includes the 7th Army, which is located far away in the Fifth War Zone. They need to march rapidly to Nanyang Airport, and then take off from there.

The Fourth Army from the Fourth War Zone also had to take a train from Lingnan to Changsha, and then board a plane.

The commanders of each war zone personally saw them off.

……

"Nani?"

What is the Nationalist army trying to do?

Are they planning a counterattack?

The Japanese invaders could not possibly have been unaware of such a large-scale military operation.

For a time, the Japanese high command was filled with suspicion and paranoia.

Intelligence suggests they're actually heading to India. A spy leaked this information early on.

However, the Japanese high command was skeptical.

Going to India? Such a big fuss?
idiot!

Untrustworthy.

It could be a feint.

It is highly likely that the Nationalist army is releasing smoke bombs.

This must be taken seriously.

Don't be careless.

As a result, the Japanese General Headquarters and the Expeditionary Army Headquarters issued urgent reminders, ordering all Japanese troops to be on high alert.

At the same time, orders were given to expedite the deployment of new recruits, cannon fodder, from Taiwan and the peninsula to China for replenishment.

This included reinforcements for the North China Area Army.

Taking advantage of his proximity, Okamura Yasuji successfully obtained 100,000 new recruits.

The old Japanese devils then secretly began planning their sweep...

The Japanese Expeditionary Army Headquarters also began organizing an offensive against the Third War Zone in order to reduce the pressure on Nanchang from the National Revolutionary Army...

……

Of course, Zhang Yong was unaware of all of the above.

He's not a god. He can't be omniscient. He's currently flying silently to Kunming.

Chennault sought him out to discuss flight routes.

The Flying Tigers will also be involved in this matter. Moreover, they will have a very important role.

why?
Because the Flying Tigers could easily communicate with the British.

After all, both sides were speaking English. Going back to the Mayflower Movement, Great Britain was the ancestor of the United States.

To ensure smooth communication and avoid unnecessary trouble, Zhang Yong also hoped that the Flying Tigers could participate. In any case, there were no combat missions at the moment.

When the Japanese invaders entered French Indochina, the reactions of various countries were different; it was best to let the bullets fly for a while.

Let's wait until the situation becomes clearer before making any plans.

landing.

Exit the cabin.

“Commissioner.” Chennault strode up to greet him.

"Captain Chen." Zhang Yong looked a little tired.

I've been really busy lately.

The main problem is that there are just too many requests for instructions from various parties. They keep coming in.

Arranging for tens of thousands of people to be airlifted to foreign countries at once was something no one else in the Nationalist government had experience with.

Zhang Yong didn't actually have any.

But we generally know what's going on.

Much of the technical information available to later generations is common knowledge.

The final instructions were largely correct. There were definitely no basic errors.

We'll leave tomorrow morning.

"it is good."

Zhang Yong nodded.

Chennault's Flying Tigers were sent to scout ahead.

They will first arrive in Kolkata and then establish air contact. They will also communicate with the airport there.

After all, there are so many DC-3 transport planes taking off and landing. It's estimated that the local military airfield will need to be opened. The British military has an airfield in Calcutta.

"This is the funding for you."

"Thank you!"

If you want the Flying Tigers to work, you have to pay them.

I may be familiar with it, but I won't do it without money.

"report!"

An officer arrived.

It was Long Yun who invited Zhang Yong to Wuhua Mountain.

Lu Han has already taken up his post in the Sixth War Zone and left Yunnan Province.

Therefore, Long Yun personally took charge of many things in Yunnan Province. For example, this long-distance trip abroad.

boarding.

Heading to Wuhua Mountain.

"Commander Long."

"Shaolong".

"please."

The two sat down separately.

There were no other outsiders.

Just the two of them.

"Shaolong, what exactly are you going over there for?"

"Commander Long, it seems the British want to intimidate the German-Italian-Japanese alliance and boost their own confidence." "Why must we go?"

"I guess they're trying to intimidate the Japanese. The British are no longer safe in the Far East."

"Do the Japanese really dare to covet the interests of Britain and the United States?"

"You really dare to do it."

Zhang Yong gave an affirmative answer.

The other party's problem is also the problem of many people.

The old thinking was that with Britain and the United States being so powerful, how could the Japanese possibly provoke them? Now, those worries are probably unnecessary.

However, the harsh reality is that the Japanese invaders were truly daring. And they got off to a very good start.

In 1942, the Japanese invaders were at the height of their power.

The Japanese flag covers almost half of the Pacific Ocean. It is awe-inspiring.

silence.

a long time.

"What do you need me to do?"

"Commander Long, once the British are defeated, Kunming will become the rear base."

"Will the British be defeated?"

"My judgment is that they will. And they will be defeated miserably. The Japanese invaders are very likely to advance deep into Burma, and even fight all the way to the Indian border."

"This……"

Long Yun fell silent again.

He needs time to think. This news is too unbelievable.

How could the Japanese, with their tiny territory, inflict such heavy losses on the British? How could they fight all the way to the Indian border?
Incredible.

Unbelievable.

If someone else said that, he would kick them out immediately.

madman.

Neuropathy.

how is this possible.

Are the British really that weak?
That was the so-called British Empire!

However, since Zhang Yong had brought it up, he had to consider it carefully.

Because Zhang Yong's predictions, or rather, his divinations, have never been wrong.

"what can I do?"

"Dedicate significant resources to building up the rear. At the same time, remain vigilant towards a certain individual."

How to build it?

"Reclaim wasteland and increase the population."

Zhang Yong didn't actually have any good advice. He could only offer general suggestions.

In short, Kunming and Yunnan Province will become increasingly important in the future, and will become a military hub.

The protracted fighting in western Yunnan will turn Kunming into a large military camp.

"It's difficult!"

Long Yun sighed helplessly.

Yunnan Province is still far behind the Central Plains.

Because of the numerous mountains blocking the way, it was difficult to communicate and interact with the Central Plains.

Even a telephone line between Chongqing and the mainland couldn't be laid. The difficulty was too great, and the cost too high.

"And western Yunnan..."

Zhang Yong rambled on and on.

Long Yun carefully recorded everything. Then he studied it thoroughly.

Finally, the topic returned to the troops deployed abroad.

"I have arranged for a train to transport some grain here, and I need someone to help process it into dry rations."

"This is no problem."

"Fried noodles. Do you know how to make it?"

What kind of fried noodles?

"It's not fried noodles. It's fried flour. With salt..."

Zhang Yong gave a simple explanation.

Of course, it was the same fried noodles that the Chinese People's Volunteer Army later had.

It's the only option in extreme circumstances. It doesn't taste good. It's hard to swallow. But it can save your life.

We don't know what the conditions will be like abroad this time. Therefore, it is essential for each soldier to carry a few kilograms of fried noodles as a backup.

Even without food supplies, they can last for more than five days.

Of course, I hope I'll never need to use it.

……

night.

Kunming Railway Station.

A train coming from the southeast slowly pulled into the station.

This is a train from the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway. Eighteen carriages. Overloaded. The trains are full of grain.

Bags of rice...

Bags of flour...

There's also salt, sugar...

"Woooo..."

The train emitted a long whistle.

Then it slowly came to a stop. Finally, it released the air. Like a weary old ox.

Indeed, it was far too overloaded.

Various sacks were piled up more than ten times. The railway tracks were almost bent under the weight.

Zhang Yong didn't know the exact number of tons.

Anyway, that's enough!
"quick!"

"quick!"

The organized laborers unloaded the supplies.

Then it was transferred to a truck. And then it continued to be transported away.

many people.

Very busy.

A scene of bustling activity.

……

The next morning.

Zhang Yong sent Chennault and three DC-3 transport planes away.

The plane carried the ground communications personnel who had gone ahead earlier. There were about seventy of them.

The flight distance is approximately 1500 kilometers.

After contacting the British side, the landing location was confirmed to be a British military airfield.

The air traffic control map shows that this airport is near Kolkata, about five kilometers from the city center. That's relatively close.

However, no fighter jets were displayed. This means that the airport is actually useless.

Not a single biplane was used. They must have been redeployed to the homeland for air defense.

Now, the Germans are beginning a massive bombing campaign against the British Isles, and the British need a large amount of air defense.

After a five-hour flight, the plane landed safely.

Okay, it's all over now.

What remained was the detailed communication between Chennault and the British.

Attention shifted to Changsha Airport.

The first batch of troops from the 74th Army will take off from Changsha Airport and then land at Kunming Airport.

The first to take off were fifteen DC-4 transport planes, carrying more than 300 people.

Among them was Army Commander Wang Yaowu.

The other units were mainly the military headquarters guard company, numbering approximately two hundred.

Under Zhang Yong's remote command, the plane landed smoothly at Kunming Airport. It was already evening.

Exit the cabin.

"Commissioner".

"Commander Wang."

Zhang Yong and Wang Yaowu shook hands.

Actually, it's been a while since I last met Wang Yaowu.

Most of the time, Old Wang was at the forefront of the battle, fighting against the Japanese invaders.

However, Old Wang was never considered a confidant by Baldy, even though he was a graduate of the third class of the Whampoa Military Academy. Therefore, he was used, but not given important responsibilities.

rest.

eat.

go to bed.

The barracks were all arranged by the Yunnan Army.

The provisions are also prepared. There's fried noodles, flatbread, and ham.

Yes, the Yunnan army was very generous; they even brought out Xuanwei ham. They loaded the whole thing onto the plane. It will be ready to eat when we get there.

If the food in India doesn't suit our tastes, we'll eat our own.

There were also many dried bamboo shoots.

These are all local specialties of Yunnan Province.

Ham stewed with bamboo shoots, served with rice, is absolutely a delicious treat!
Therefore, Zhang Yong felt that the curry there wasn't so terrible after all. We Chinese have our own delicious food.

If conditions permit, I will even have my meals airlifted.

Of course, you have to pay.

I happened to have some silver dollars. I bought all the Xuanwei hams at the market price.

There's also local rice noodles and other things, I'll buy them all!

Buy everything available on the market. Then prepare to airfreight it.

Having money means you can be so willful.

"Commissioner, it seems we're in for a treat."

"Yes."

Zhang Yong nodded. He was in a good mood.

The next morning, Zhang Yong personally led this batch of transport planes into flight.

Flying over western Yunnan...

Below are layers upon layers of mountains.

But there are many blue dots.

That was the 68th Army under Li Tianxia's command, and it was the unit that Zhang Yong was in charge of supervising.

They have already begun operations in the Longling and Tengchong areas.

For the time being, they probably don't quite understand why they should do this.

The Japanese invaders will arrive in two more years.

There are also many white spots.

They are all responsible for road repairs.

They were responsible for building the Burma Road. But that's not what it was called.

Zhang Yong's pretext was to establish connections between western Yunnan and Kunming, facilitating the troop movements of the 68th Army.

Therefore, the progress of the highway project is so-so. The execution is also quite poor.

What's missing are a few yellow dots.

Several yellow markers must be assigned to oversee the project...

After a five-hour flight, we finally arrived in the airspace near Kolkata.

We did not encounter any fighter jets.

The British seem to be fast asleep.

Kolkata has no fighter jets. Nor does it have any anti-aircraft weapons.

There wasn't even a single 20mm machine gun. It was completely exposed, like a chicken coop with no cover. This shows that the British had absolute confidence in their rear.

After all, the main force of the British Far East Army was in Singapore and the surrounding area of Malaysia.

They made contact with the radio that Chennault had brought with him earlier.

"You may land."

After receiving a positive response, the landing was successful.

Come to a complete stop.

Exit the cabin.

Landing.

I immediately smelled curry.

Ok……

This is truly a foreign land.

[To be continued]

(End of this chapter)