Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 295-294: Fighting and Negotiating Simultaneously, Intelligence Transfer, Nationalist Army Hawk III Warplanes Visit
On July 11, the Taishan escort team joined the battle and achieved gratifying results.

Three enemy aircraft were shot down, all of which were Type 3 fighters from the first wave of attacks. Under the suppression of technological and performance advantages, Fang Wen shot down one, Du Jiahuai shot down one, and Qi Baoqian, who intercepted enemy aircraft over Langfang, also shot down one enemy aircraft on his own.

This was valuable experience and technological advancement gained from actual combat against German aircraft during the Spanish Air War.

Subsequently, because the Taishan Air Force patrolled over Beiping in multiple waves, Japanese warplanes had to evade and return to base.

On this day, thanks to the continuous patrols of the Taishan Air Force, air superiority over Beiping was returned to their own hands.

With no enemy aircraft conducting reconnaissance or harassment, the fighters of the Taishan Air Force took over the enemy's role, diving and strafing the enemy below.

Because there were no anti-aircraft weapons, the Japanese small-caliber bullets posed little threat to aircraft, resulting in a day-long battle spent worrying about planes overhead.

This was still under the condition that Fang Wen held back and did not use homemade aerial bombs for bombing.

It was precisely because of this unexpected change that the 29th Army gained more confidence in its negotiations with the Japanese.

Song, the commander of the 29th Army and the highest-ranking official of the Hebei-Chahar Political Affairs Committee, negotiated with the commander of the Japanese North China Garrison Army for the highest regional position.

Jinan Airport, 7 p.m.

The airport was still quite lively.

Ground crew were busy inspecting and repairing the aircraft, and all the returning pilots were still excitedly discussing the day's battles.

Compared to the Spanish Civil War, fighting for their country brought them a greater sense of honor.

Fang Wen, however, did not participate in the conversation. As the leader of the entire system, he had more things to do.

At this time, he was in the temporary command room communicating with all parties by telegram, understanding the situation and issuing instructions.

Three telegraph machines were in use at the same time, and the telegraph operator was busy.

"Report to the General Manager: The Haihe River Waterway Management Office has sent a reply that a large-scale Japanese troop buildup has been discovered in the Tianjin direction, and they are moving towards Beiping. At the same time, a group of more than a dozen ronin were causing trouble outside the management office and attempting to break in. They have been driven away by our escort mercenaries."

Upon hearing the telegraph operator's report, Fang Wen frowned. The Haihe River shipping route had been terminated ahead of schedule, and the people who remained at the management office there should be returning by now.

He issued the order: "Send a telegram back and tell the Haihe River Management Office to come back."

They had already rehearsed this many times, and the requirement was that they must immediately carry out an evacuation operation upon receiving an order.

The telegraph operator then sent the instructions.

Another telegraph operator reported back.

"We received a call from Wuhan saying that other routes are operating normally, and Shanghai has not been affected either. The entire company is on high alert, and employees are remaining vigilant. If a crisis occurs, we will handle it according to the contingency plan."

Fang Wen was very satisfied with this; the situation was quite good. The whole company should be in this state, and even those who weren't combat personnel couldn't let their guard down.

He was more concerned about the telegrams from the secret intelligence station in Shanghai, which was a hub for intelligence from all sides and provided information on changes in the situation earlier than newspapers and magazines.

The third telegraph operator kept writing messages, and didn't even have time to translate them, because there was just too much content.

Fang Wen took the telegram and translated it himself.

Around 4 PM, intelligence obtained from British sources indicated that the Japanese General Staff ordered the Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army to dispatch the 1st and 11th Independent Mixed Brigades and a portion of the Air Group to North China; it also ordered the 20th Division of the Japanese Army stationed in Korea to be deployed to North China, all of which were incorporated into the North China Garrison Army.

At 6:20 p.m., the Japanese government issued a statement on dispatching troops to North China, while also declaring that it would "not abandon its desire for peaceful negotiations in order to prevent the situation from escalating further."

Such remarks are utterly shameless and are just another example of the old "fight while negotiating" tactic.

Fang Wen continued reading.

[Japan's newly appointed prime minister convened representatives from the House of Peers, the House of Representatives, the business community, and the press to explain the cabinet's decision to send troops to North China and to request support from all sectors.]

See? On the surface, they say they want peace, but on the other hand, they arrogantly clamor for domestic support to send troops to North China.

At this moment, a telegraph operator exclaimed, "General Manager, news from Tianjin indicates that both sides have signed a ceasefire agreement!"

Fang Wen was stunned, but then he understood. It was still the same old story of fighting and negotiating at the same time. Such an agreement was useless. It was just to give the Japanese army time to mobilize and assemble its forces, and to confuse the outside world.

But since the agreement had already been signed, he still wanted to see what was inside.

As subsequent telegrams arrived, Fang Wen saw the full text of the ceasefire agreement.

[The Marco Polo Bridge Incident On-Site Agreement]

[1. The 29th Army issues a statement apologizing to the Japanese army and disciplining those responsible, taking responsibility for preventing similar incidents from recurring; 2. Due to the close proximity of the Chinese army and the Japanese army in Fengtai, which could easily lead to incidents, the garrisons in Wanping County and Longwangmiao will be replaced by security teams to maintain order; 3. Given that this incident originated under the guidance of the Lan Yi Society, the Communist Party, and other anti-Japanese groups, measures will be taken to completely eliminate them.]

As expected, just as Fang Wen had thought, with the 29th Army's retreat, Beiping was truly undefended.

For the people in Beiping, it meant they could live a few more days of hardship.

But this time, they didn't get the result they wanted.

At 8 p.m., Fang Wen received a telegram from the Shanghai intelligence station.

To demonstrate its sincerity, the 29th Army returned 200 Japanese soldiers it had captured in the past few days.

The Japanese Army Ministry's press corps subsequently broadcast on Radio Tokyo, claiming that China lacked the sincerity to implement the agreement.

Two pieces of intelligence left Fang Wen speechless. For an army that has no regard for credibility, any negotiation is meaningless.

He glanced at his watch; it was time to call Yoshida.

Fang Wen contacted Yoshida, this secret pawn, separately, trying his best to keep his identity a secret.

Immediately afterward, the telegraph operators left, and Fang Wen sat down in front of a telegraph machine and switched to a secret frequency.

A telegram was sent on time, inquiring about any intelligence feedback.

Yoshida certainly has intelligence on the current situation.

The radio waves were transmitted back from the direction of Japan.

After translating the telegram, Fang Wen pondered its contents.

The Naval General Staff formulated a secret plan for operations against China, dividing the campaign into two phases.

[In the first phase, the Navy's 2nd Fleet cooperated with the Army in operations in North China; in the second phase, the Army dispatched three divisions to cooperate with the Navy's 3rd Fleet, first capturing Shanghai, and then using Shanghai as a base to conduct operations in Central and Southern China.]

This means that the plan for the Battle of Shanghai has been finalized.

Fang Wen felt that they should try to deliver this intelligence to the Nationalist government in the hope that it would put them on guard in advance.

Immediately, Fang Wen telegraphed the Shanghai secret intelligence station, issuing the order.

A secret hideout next to the Gongji Hospital in the French Concession of Shanghai.

Upon receiving the order, Chen Suoxin immediately organized the operation.

He wanted to meet with the head of the Fuxing Society's branch in Shanghai.

Despite the fact that the Fuxing Society was a semi-official organization, various factions in Shanghai still knew where it was.

However, people generally don't take the initiative to contact them, since the nature of this organization is special and getting too close would be counterproductive.

Chen Suoxin led his men there and lingered near the Shanghai station of the Fuxing Society's Special Service Department. Eventually, he sent a former member of the Axe Gang.

The former Axe Gang member walked down the street and entered the Shanghai station of the Fuxing Society's secret service.

The Fuxing Society agents immediately became alert to the stranger who had suddenly intruded and surrounded him. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"I've come to deliver some very important intelligence."

"What information?"

"Regarding the Japanese Navy's operational plans to be launched in the near future."

Upon hearing that this was such important intelligence, the agents were very surprised and immediately reported it to the station chief.

Then, the intelligence officers came out.

This also includes Yue Jinping.

But at this moment, she was unaware that this source of information was related to Fang Wen.

The head of the Shanghai station of the Fuxing Society's Special Service Department received the intelligence envoy privately and obtained the very important intelligence from him.

After seeing off the people from the Taishan secret intelligence station, the station chief looked at the intelligence report, unsure whether he should report it.

He summoned the heads of various groups at the Shanghai station of the Fuxing Society's Special Service Department to discuss the matter.

“Sir, according to regulations, we are not authorized to access such important intelligence,” Yue Jinping was the first to object.

The station chief nodded: "That would be true under normal circumstances, but this intelligence source isn't our own, so it's hard to determine its authenticity. What if I report it carelessly and get blamed by my superiors?"

His point was that this report had to cover the entire intelligence station, so everyone needed to know the contents of this intelligence report.

Afterwards, everyone read the intelligence report.

They were quite surprised by this and began to discuss it.

"The Japanese are trying to swallow an elephant whole. Besides fighting in North China, they also want to attack Shanghai—are they trying to do it on two fronts?"

"Impossible. North China has the 29th Army, which is capable of fighting tough battles. Once a full-scale war breaks out, we will not abandon them. The whole of North China is enough to give them a hard time. They still want to attack Shanghai."

"Yes, the Nationalist government is now in Nanjing, and this area is a strategic military location. Do they really intend to take Shanghai in one fell swoop and then attack Nanjing?"

"This is too audacious. I thought it was like the incident in 21."

After some discussion, most people agreed that this was nonsense.

However, a small number of people, with the mentality of "better safe than sorry," requested that the matter be reported to Nanjing for a warning.

Among them was Yue Jinping, who spoke up: "Station Chief, colleagues, the intelligence work we do is to collect important information for the higher-ups' reference. Whether it's true or false, it's not something we need to consider. I think this intelligence absolutely cannot be suppressed and not reported. If something really goes wrong, no one can afford to bear the responsibility."

These words moved everyone.

The station chief said helplessly, "What we're discussing here is no different in Nanjing. Even if this intelligence is reported, it still won't get enough attention. But we can do what we have to do, so let's report it."

This crucial intelligence was immediately sent to Nanjing.

What kind of effect it will have is currently unknown.

The night passed.

Fang Wen got up early and contacted the 29th Army headquarters via radio.

As supporting combat personnel, the Taishan Escort Team's operations must be carried out under the command of the 29th Army; otherwise, chaos would ensue.

As soon as the telegram was sent, the 29th Army replied.

The Kwantung Army is assembling 200 warplanes towards Tianjin, and Japanese troops are active in various parts of Beiping. You are outnumbered and outgunned; you cannot act rashly.

[The Nanjing authorities will take action and will contact you at that time. Please wait for their response.]

The 29th Army actually refused the request to assist in the operation.

However, judging from the other party's description, 200 enemy aircraft were indeed beyond the capabilities of the Taishan Air Force.

Didn't Nanjing establish nine air squadrons? If they're going to come to North China to participate in the war, how many planes will they send?

Fang Wen looked forward to this, knowing that his Taishan Air Force could not change the world on its own and would have to cooperate with the National Air Force.

This wait wasn't long before there was some activity.

The Nanjing government has finally taken action.

The Kuomintang troops stationed in Shaanxi, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, and Jiangsu issued a general mobilization order.

The aforementioned troops were ordered to assemble along the Longhai and Pinghan railway lines centered on Zhengzhou.

The commander-in-chief of the 3rd Route Army was ordered to defend the northern section of the Jinpu Railway.

The Pinghan, Longhai, and Jinpu Railway Bureaus were ordered to assemble military trains, and all steamship companies were instructed to send their ships back to the sea to designated locations for preparation.

He ordered 30 Central Army aircraft from Nanchang to immediately form a formation and fly north.

Just as the 29th Army had replied, this group of air force personnel subsequently sent someone to contact Fang Wen.

Outside Jinan Airport, two military officers arrived by car but were stopped at the gate.

Airport security firmly stated: "Sorry, flights are currently suspended, the airport is closed, and outsiders are not allowed to enter."

An officer produced identification: "We are officers from the Third National Army Group, Guard Brigade. This is our officer's ID. We are here to inform you that an Air Force fighter jet will be landing at your airfield this afternoon. Please make appropriate arrangements for the landing."

Upon hearing this, the security guard immediately reported it.

When this news reached Fang Wen's ears, he did not go to meet with the officer. The situation was urgent, and precautions had to be taken; he could not afford to take risks in everything.

After Wu Yingzong confirmed his officer status, Fang Wen arranged for the airport runway to be cleared to await the landing of Nationalist aircraft.

At 4 p.m., an aircraft flew in. Zhai Xiaojun and Rao Minghe, who were patrolling and on guard in the air, confirmed the identity of the friendly forces and sent a secret telegram with instructions.

The plane then landed on the runway at Jinan Airport.

Looking at the fighter jet, a name came to Fang Wen's mind.

The Hawk III fighter jet produced by Curtiss Aircraft Company.

Last year, on Chiang Kai-shek's 50th birthday, his subordinates organized a birthday celebration by donating 10 Hawk III fighter planes.

In Asia, apart from Thailand, only China possesses this type of fighter jet.

It is currently the best aircraft in the Chinese Air Force.

During his time in South Asia, Fang Wen had encountered Hawk II fighter jets and had some understanding of them.

It can be said that this fighter jet is about the same as the Type 95 fighter jet, with similar performance.

Therefore, if a fight were to break out, it would mainly come down to the skill and courage of both sides.

Shaking off his thoughts, Fang Wen walked over with a smile and made contact with the pilot who got off the plane.

Wu Yingzong gave a signal, and two strong mercenary bodyguards immediately joined him in protecting Fang Wen's identity, ready to intervene immediately should any danger arise.

(End of this chapter)