Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 151, 150: The Damned Tanggu Truce, the Rebirth of Taishan Airlines

After leaving the arts and literature salon, Fang Wen strode towards his office.

Recently, he has felt much more irritable, something that would never have happened before.

In the past, he would look down on everything from the perspective of someone from the future and then make arrangements based on his own 'foresight'.

Now, he has integrated into life during the Republic of China era.

That's why I'm so angry.

To alleviate his inner turmoil, Fang Wen felt that work was the best thing to do.

Only work can keep one motivated, while other forms of entertainment, indulgence, and catharsis will only lead to a descent into hedonism.

Outside the office.

Kuang Mingzhu looked at her husband with concern, then turned and went back into the house. After a while, she brought out a cup of hot tea.

"Sir, I often hear people say that there are a hundred different kinds of people. When I was a child, my teacher wrote an article about this. I've copied it down. Can you tell me how it is?"

After Kuang Mingzhu finished speaking, she put down the cup, and there was a piece of paper under the tray.

He then left the general manager's office, closing the door behind him.

Fang Wen pulled out the paper.

People are all different, just as a hundred flowers bloom in competition, each displaying its own beauty. The people in the world are all different, just as there are many stars, each with its own brilliance.

Observing their nature, some are as fierce as iron, some as gentle as water; some are unrestrained and bold, some are reserved and demure. Their interests also differ, some are keen on fame and fortune, some are fascinated by nature; some are engrossed in poetry and prose, some devote themselves to practical affairs.

Furthermore, observing their behavior reveals that some are consistent in word and deed, while others are hypocritical; some are courageous and forge ahead, while others hesitate and look back. All these variations arise from the differences among people, resulting in a myriad of expressions.

Everyone is born into this world with their own destiny and fate. Some are born into wealthy and powerful families and enjoy all the riches and honors; others are born into poverty and endure hardship. But regardless of social status or wealth, everyone has their own unique life trajectory and unique life experiences.

Therefore it is said: People are diverse, like a hundred flowers, each displaying its own unique charm. Only by viewing them with an inclusive heart can we see their unique beauty and appreciate the myriad aspects of life.

Fang Wen was stunned.

This article was written by Kuang Mingzhu's private tutor. While it may not be considered a masterpiece, it perfectly captures the point that people are all different.

The last paragraph is addressed to the students, urging them to have a tolerant heart.

And this moment seems to be written for Fang Wen as well.

He felt ashamed, realizing that people are all different and no one is perfect.

What gives me the right to categorize those people in arts and culture salons?

Perhaps in the future struggles against the Japanese, there will be true heroes among these people.

The depression in his heart vanished instantly, and Fang Wen felt a sense of relief.

After recovering his mental state, Fang Wen once again became determined and devoted himself to his work.

Taishan Airlines' proposed air distribution plan was welcomed by various tobacco companies.

In total:
British American Tobacco (London), Brands: Hademen, Sanpaotai, Daqianmen
Nanyang Tobacco Company (Hong Kong), Brands: Double Happiness, Seven Stars

Wheles Company (London), Brand: Old Knife (a pirate holding a knife, also known as the Pirate Brand).
Asia Tobacco (Yunnan), Brand: Da Zhong Jiu
Yongtaihe Tobacco (Wuhan), Brands: Fairy (Women's Cigarettes), Daying (Exclusive Distribution)

Although none of the five tobacco companies are headquartered in Shanghai, they gathered in Shanghai for a five-day negotiation over Taishan Airlines' air distribution plan.

The five tobacco companies, which together account for 9% of the total sales of the China Tobacco brand, all agreed with the project after listening to Manager Liu and Fang Shouxin's presentation. Their keen business sense led them to realize that this would be a major opportunity to expand their sales share, and they engaged in heated discussions in order to obtain as much distribution share as possible.

Ultimately, the five companies agreed to allocate distribution shares according to their existing market share, with a renegotiation every two years.

After this commercial agreement was drafted, Taishan Airlines' commercial transportation routes were officially launched.

How does it work?
Fang Wen had already made a plan.

The air distribution plan requires a centralized aviation logistics park to store large quantities of aviation supplies and distribute them in all directions.

Fuyang is a very nice place.

It is located between the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, connecting the southeast, northwest and southwest.

There is an existing airport, and the surrounding land has already been purchased by Taishan Airlines.

Perfect for warehousing.

Before the airport warehouse is completed, houses in Fuyang city can be rented as temporary warehouses.

Therefore, after signing cooperation agreements with five companies, Taishan Airlines immediately began operations.

The Taishan No. 1, with a carrying capacity of 8 tons, transported large quantities of tobacco from Wuhan (Yongtaihe), Kunming (Asia), Shanghai (British American Tobacco, Wheels), and Fuzhou (Nanyang Tobacco) to the central distribution center of Fuyang.

Because the airport warehouse was not yet completed, a large quantity of tobacco was temporarily stored in hundreds of houses in Fuyang city.

To this end, a large number of local people from Fuyang were recruited for jobs such as warehouse management, transportation, security, accounting, and cashier.

While these tobaccos were being collected in Fuyang, the commercial telegraph group of Taishan Airlines was also established.

These business telegram team members traveled to five major cities served by Taishan Airlines: Jinan, Wuhan, Shanghai, Fuzhou, and Nanchang.

They will serve as a channel for Taishan Airlines to promptly transmit business information, and in conjunction with the aircraft, will enable the airline to achieve the fastest domestic business response.

Accompanying them was Taishan Airlines' commercial distribution team.

The commercial distribution team has been building supply channels in five cities and the surrounding areas.

They promised local merchants that they would visit them once a month to finalize a procurement plan. Once the supply plan was finalized, Taishan Airlines' sales staff would deliver the agreed-upon cigarettes to their door.

At the same time, because there are no intermediate links, such as distributors, agents, water and land transportation, and various labor costs.

Taishan Airlines' supply price is much lower than the supply price they previously obtained.

In conclusion, Taishan Airlines has a clear advantage in tobacco distribution.

We can deliver on time, provide door-to-door service, have ample stock, a wide variety of products, and offer competitive prices.

It immediately attracted a large number of grassroots retail vendors.

They all signed supply agreements; it remains to be seen whether Taishan Airlines can deliver.

Of course, after the supply agreement was signed, Taishan Airport in various locations added a delivery truck, which travels between the city and the airport every day, delivering various brands of tobacco with extremely high profits to retailers.

These retailers all operate on a cash-on-delivery basis, with large sums of money being transported back to Shanghai by plane.

Meanwhile, the situation in the north was getting worse.

Taishan Airlines Shanghai Headquarters.

Fang Wenhai did not start dealing with company affairs, but instead looked at the intelligence sent in the morning.

Although the 6th Division suffered heavy losses due to the bombing by mysterious bombers, the Japanese 14th Mixed Brigade subsequently successfully linked up with the 6th Division and, with the cooperation of the 8th Division outside the Great Wall, jointly captured Nantianmen.

In this battle, the Japanese air force launched a full-scale bombardment, repeatedly bombing the Great Wall defenses and local garrisons, and also used artillery to bombard areas behind the Great Wall.

The Nationalist Army suffered heavy losses, and the 83rd Division, which was defending the Great Wall, retreated south to its positions near Xinkailing, south of Nantianmen. From then on, the section of the Great Wall defending Beiping was occupied by the Japanese army.

Fang Wen reviewed the estimated battle losses for both sides.

The Japanese suffered fewer than 300 casualties, while the National Revolutionary Army suffered nearly 1,000 casualties.

He wasn't angry and continued reviewing the intelligence; one has to learn to adapt to these kinds of situations.

The 17th Army suffered heavy losses at Gubeikou and was transferred from Gubeikou to Miyun for rest and reorganization. The 26th Army moved into reserve positions at Jiusongshan.

Taking advantage of the retreat of the Central Army, the Japanese army advanced from Pinggu towards Beiping.

After reviewing the intelligence, Fang Wen pondered the situation of the war in the north.

Judging from the current situation, we have reached the stage of warfare on plains terrain.

The 57th Army, a hastily assembled and miscellaneous army, was no longer effective.

They could only rely on the 17th and 26th Armies to resist.

十七军是今年1月才成立的，正经中央军，下辖第2、第5师和骑兵第1旅、炮兵第4团。

Because of their strong combat capabilities, they were assigned to defend the most dangerous Gubeikou Pass.

However, it has already suffered heavy losses in Gubeikou and is unable to continue.

Only the 26th Army was truly capable of fighting.

However, the 26th Army was only slightly better than the 57th Army.

This unit was only formed in April of this year.

That's right, it's a new number that was only established last month.

The 26th Army was formed by combining the 15th Mixed Brigade of the former Northeast Army and part of the former 5th Army of the National Army.

This force's attempt to stop the Japanese army's advance on Beiping was truly futile.

Thinking about this, Fang Wen probably understood the Nationalist government's intentions.

It's nothing more than ceding territory to make peace; they have no intention of continuing the fight.

With this concern in mind, Fang Wen kept abreast of the situation in the north while working.

Although there was a time lag, we learned a lot about the situation in the north through our intelligence network in Shanghai.

On the 16th, Wang Ganchen's regiment of Song Zheyuan's "Great Wall Broadsword Team," which had retreated from Xifengkou to Zunhua, encountered the Japanese army. Although the entire regiment fought back with all its might, Wang was seriously wounded, and more than half of the officers and soldiers were killed or wounded. In the evening, Song's troops retreated westward and joined up with friendly forces.

The 57th Army withdrew to the area around Nanxugezhuang in Fengrun County and Nanlutai in Ninghe County.

[Xiong Bin, Chief of the General Staff of the Nationalist Government, met three times with Japanese Military Attaché Nagatsu Sabishige to discuss the withdrawal of Chinese troops. They agreed to withdraw to the Lutai and Baodi area and requested that the Japanese not pursue them.]

On the 18th, the Japanese General Staff issued the "Guidelines for the Armistice in North China" to the Kwantung Army, instructing the Kwantung Army to act as the party responsible for signing the armistice agreement, with Nagatsu Sabishige under the command of the Kwantung Army in charge of negotiating the armistice.

The Kwantung Army ordered its frontline troops to pursue the enemy within the areas of Miyun, Pinggu, and Jixian. Simultaneously, it notified the Nationalist Army to retreat west of the Shunyi, Baodi, and Lutai line.

[Immediately afterwards, the various Nationalist armies moved westward, followed by the Japanese army, and occupied the positions.]

[The Beiping Military Sub-Committee announced: All troops defending the Great Wall passes have withdrawn.]

On the 20th, 11 Japanese aircraft conducted a demonstration over Beiping (Beijing).

The Japanese 6th Division occupied Sanhe and Pinggu.

On the 21st, a ceasefire agreement failed, and there was nowhere left to defend outside Beiping.

The Beiping Military Command convened a meeting of its generals, but after several hours of discussion, no conclusion was reached. However, they decided to resist the Japanese offensive along the Baihe River line.

At that time, the defending troops retreated, and the defeated soldiers poured into Beiping, forcibly occupying civilian houses. That night, rumors spread that there was a riot in Beiping, and citizens rushed out of the city to escape.

On the 22nd, a Japanese military spokesperson stated, "Based on our established policy, if the Chinese army ceases its provocative actions, the Japanese army will resolutely cease its advance into Beijing and Tianjin." Newspaper analysis suggests that, given the repeated statements from the Kwantung Army, there is an intention to quickly withdraw Japanese troops to the Great Wall.

[Further intelligence indicates that Wang Jingwei telegraphed Huang Fu, stating that in negotiations with the Japanese army, "apart from signing a treaty recognizing Manchukuo and ceding four provinces, all other conditions are acceptable."]

At this time, the Japanese army had occupied 22 counties, including Qinhuangdao, Beidaihe, Funing, Qian'an, Lulong, Changli, Miyun, Zunhua, Lixian, Yutian, Fengrun, and Tangshan, forming an encirclement of Beiping.

On the 23rd, the Japanese army, using the pretext of a stabbing of a guard at the Japanese embassy, ​​invoked the Boxer Protocol and transferred 500 troops from Tianjin to Beiping to "protect their nationals." The Beiping Military Sub-Committee even provided them with vehicles to enter the city.

On May 25, the Japanese military ordered all troops that had invaded the interior of China to cease combat operations.

The Japanese General Staff released its report on the operations within the Great Wall, stating that 1163 Japanese soldiers were killed and 2838 wounded. Of these, 3100 were killed or wounded by incendiary bombs dropped by unidentified night-time bombers.

A ceasefire was reached between the Nationalist government and the Japanese side from May 26 to 30.

During this period, on the 27th, Chiang Kai-shek telegraphed the authorities in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian, ordering them to relocate the troops that had marched north to fight the Japanese to Jiangxi for "suppressing the Communists."

On the 28th, Chiang Kai-shek and Wang Jingwei issued a nationwide telegram: "To save the country, we must first suppress the Communists."

[Only Feng Yuxiang announced his disagreement with the ceasefire. Sun Dianying wanted to respond, but was assigned by the Beiping Military Sub-Commission to garrison Huairou and ordered the 25th Division to follow and monitor him.]

[On the 31st, just one day later, the armistice agreement was signed.]

It was called the Tanggu Agreement.

According to this agreement.

The Nationalist government effectively recognized the legitimacy of Japan's occupation of the three northeastern provinces and Rehe, as well as the legitimacy of the Japanese army's occupation of the area north of the Great Wall and Shanhaiguan.

More than 20 counties in northern and eastern Chahar and eastern Hebei, south of the Great Wall, were designated as undefended zones.

The entire North China region was indefensible, and Beijing and Tianjin were within easy reach.

Sometimes, anger and resentment solve nothing.

Only by standing up and facing it bravely can we overcome this challenge.

Fang Wen is an example of this.

Under his leadership, Taishan Airlines has been revitalized.

Octover 6st

Taishan Airlines Headquarters.

The newly established air distribution department has made this place even more lively.

The air distribution department transports cash collected from the five major distribution regions back to headquarters by plane every day, and counts, verifies, and puts it into the warehouse on the same day.

So, every afternoon, the sound of coins clinking together can always be heard here.

That was the sound of Accountant Liu and his group of accountants pouring out bags of silver dollars.

There's so much money that counting it every day takes up a lot of time.

This not only caused a lot of trouble for Taishan Airlines' accountants, but also had another important impact.

Because the air-based distribution was exclusive, Fang Wen offered an exceptionally long payment period of three months.

In other words, goods shipped from tobacco companies in various regions did not require immediate payment; instead, payment was made three months later using Taishan Airlines' credit guarantee.

The original idea was to prevent Taishan Airlines from experiencing cash flow problems as a result.

However, nowadays, with a large amount of tobacco being sold every day and tobacco being continuously transported to Fuyang, a large amount of cash is accumulating every day.

This accumulation will continue to increase.

Later, the amount of cash increased so much that the company's warehouse dared not store so much money.

We must find a solution as soon as possible; having too much money is also a burden. Fang Wen, who is fully committed to his work, is thinking about how to resolve this issue.

(End of this chapter)