Republic of China: Ace Pilot

The car drove into the Governor's Palace, a French-style manor.

The governor's residence and office were in a four-story building.

The group walked through the garden and climbed the steps.

French guards in front of the building blocked their way.

After Edmonton explained the situation, the guards allowed them to pass, and Fang Wen and his party entered the Governor's Mansion building under Edmonton's leadership.

(Governor-General's Office of Hanoi)
Inside the office, Jean Decourt sat behind a large, French-style carved desk, playing with the coats of arms on it.

It was a symbol of the French colonial empire, but now it felt like a red-hot iron, weighing heavily on his mind.

After the secretary came in and explained the situation, he roused himself and asked the secretary to bring the people in.

As Fang Wen and his entourage entered, the governor forced a smile and stood up.

Edmonton introduced him, saying, "This is Mr. Fang Wen."

Fang Wen shook hands with the governor and said in French with a smile, "I have long admired Governor De Gu's name. It is an honor to finally meet him today."

The governor smiled and said, "The Chinese are always so good at communicating with language. But I'm more interested in your troops. Edmonton told me you once defeated the Japanese?"

In response, Fang Wen replied without hesitation: "Yes, in local wars, I fought against the Japanese army many times and won almost every time."

This is exactly what the governor wants to hear.

He then asked, "So how do you plan to win here?"

Fang Wen replied seriously: "Edmonton and I have discussed that any military operation requires targeted deployment based on an understanding of the enemy in order to have a chance of winning. I am here today for two reasons. First, to finalize the details of the supply transportation. My people need to participate in the entire process of counting, loading and escorting the supplies to ensure that each batch of supplies meets the agreed standards. Second, to understand the specific deployment of the Japanese army. Without intelligence support, I cannot make military arrangements haphazardly."

Upon hearing this, Degu's smile faded slightly. He gestured to his adjutant behind him, who immediately laid a yellowed map on the table.

Several points along the northern border of Vietnam are marked on the map in red, the ink still looking fresh.

“A portion of the Japanese 5th Division has already entered the Dong Dang area north of Lang Son. In addition, there are Japanese special operations units operating in the Lao Cai direction, seemingly probing our defenses.”

"Is that all?" Fang Wen frowned as he looked at the map. The map only marked the approximate location of the Japanese army, with virtually no other information.

Degu's face instantly turned awkward. He sighed and slumped back into his chair: "The situation is very bad. Since the local government surrendered, our intelligence system has been almost paralyzed. We can only rely on visual reconnaissance from the border outposts and messages sent back by a few merchants who have escaped."

He then added, "We have increased the number of border patrol teams, and we will report any unusual movements by the Japanese army immediately. As for supplies, the Governor-General's Office has ordered that high-quality rice and high-purity tin and tungsten ore be allocated as a priority. Your supervisory team can go to the warehouse to check at any time."

Clearly, the governor realized that his war preparations were so poor that he simply changed the subject to the reward.

Fang Wen turned around to signal.

Li Youning and the translator stepped forward and said, "Governor, we need a detailed list of supplies, including the place of origin, quantity, purity standards, and a scheduling plan for transport vehicles and personnel. In addition, the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway needs to be put into full operation as soon as possible to ensure smooth transportation of supplies."

He didn't speak French, so his colleagues translated it into French for him.

Degu immediately nodded: "I will have the logistics department compile a list as soon as possible. As for the track maintenance, the engineering corps will be arranged to start work this afternoon. My secretary will take you to follow up on these matters."

Immediately afterwards, the governor's secretary took Li Youning and the translator aside to discuss the matter.

Meanwhile, the governor looked earnestly at Fang Wen, "Mr. Fang, the Japanese army could launch an attack at any time. Lang Son is the northern gateway. Once it falls, Hanoi will be in imminent danger. Can your troops be deployed to Lang Son as soon as possible?"

Fang Wen did not agree immediately, but looked at the map and pondered.

This Lang Son is not Liangshan. It is a place name in northern Vietnam, about the size of a province, bordering Chongzuo and Fangchenggang in Guangxi.

Since the French were unaware of the Japanese army's movements, they asked the French what they knew.

He asked, "How are the defenses in Lang Son? How many French troops are deployed there?"

"The fortifications were built during World War I. Some of the bunkers have been in disrepair for many years. They house about 3000 people, equipped with rifles and a small number of mortars, but no anti-tank weapons."

"what?!"

Fang Wen was very surprised. Was this the equipment of the French army?
It feels like their equipment is similar to that of the Guangxi Army.

Fang Wen responded firmly: "Sending my troops directly to Lang Son would be tantamount to sending them to fill the gaps in the Japanese artillery fire. The Japanese armored forces and air support are the biggest threats. We cannot defend our borders with just old fortifications and flesh and blood. Therefore, we will absolutely not hold our ground. My plan is to first send special forces to infiltrate the border to scout the Japanese troop deployment, the location of their armored forces, and the location of their ammunition depots, and then decide how to fight. But I have one prerequisite: your troops on the border must be given a new commander."

At this point, Fang Wen looked at Edmonton and asked the governor, "I think he can do it. This battle can only be fought if we have a cooperating allied force."

After some hesitation, the governor agreed to Fang Wen's request: "Alright, Edmonton, go to the northeastern border and take over command."

Edmonton rose and saluted: "Yes, Governor."

The meeting with the governor has concluded.

Edmonton received his commission, and at the same time, the Governor's Office sent a telegram to the border troops.

He was originally planning to leave immediately for the front-line command post in Lang Son.

However, Hanoi is 150 kilometers away from Lang Son, and it would take a whole day to get there by car, which would be too much of a waste of time.

Fang Wen decided to take him there, and after dropping him off, he would go to Yangjiang.

He then led Edmonton to the temporary aircraft parking area by the river.

He, Edmonton, and his bodyguard Gong Xiuneng boarded the plane.

The engine started, the plane turned, and accelerated to take off over the river.

After takeoff, Fang Wen spoke with Edmonton while piloting the plane: "When you get to the front command post, be careful of the Japanese army's flanking maneuver."

"A flanking maneuver?" Edmonton frowned. "Don't the Japanese prefer frontal assaults? Why would they use this tactic?"

"My experience on the Chinese battlefield tells me that the Japanese army is extremely cunning and highly skilled in flanking maneuvers," Fang Wen specifically warned. "Your approach of using defensive strategies from World War I and fighting positional warfare is outdated. The Germans used mobile warfare to quickly bypass your lines. This won't happen only once, and I don't think you want to suffer an inexplicable defeat like you did on the mainland."

Edmonton quickly asked, "Then what should I do?"

Fang Wen replied, “Before my troops arrive, your army must remain on high alert and you must also deploy a flexible and adaptable force so that you can respond promptly should any problems arise on the border. In addition, here are three Taishan walkie-talkies. You can take them and use them to communicate within a 5-kilometer range. I can also use the walkie-talkies to establish air-to-ground communication with you.”

"A walkie-talkie?" Edmonton asked blankly.

Gong Xiuneng brought over three walkie-talkies, intending to teach Edmonton how to use them.

Twenty minutes later, just as Edmonton figured out how to use the walkie-talkie, the plane had already arrived over Lang Son.

The military camp outside the city had a large parade ground, which was perfect for landing.

Immediately afterwards, Fang Wen piloted the plane and landed it on the hard ground of the playground.

The plane lurched and taxied for a distance before coming to a stop.

The cabin door then opened, and Edmonton disembarked from the plane.

The officers from the local French military command, as well as the transferred commander, came over. They met with Fang Wen and reached an initial acquaintance.

At this point, Edmonton himself had not yet taken control of the situation, so Fang Wen did not linger and immediately took off from the playground.

As soon as the plane took off, Fang Wen activated his special abilities and radar detection device.

Radar feedback indicates that an aircraft has been detected in the southeast direction.

That was over the Beibu Gulf, and it was probably a reconnaissance plane from the Japanese naval fleet, or possibly a Japanese warplane that took off from Haikou.

However, no aircraft feedback was detected from other directions.

Immediately, Fang Wen changed course, crossed the border, and flew towards the Chongzuo area.

The plane then flew eastward, from the Guangxi-controlled area to Yangjiang.

An hour and a half later, the plane arrived over Yangjiang.

It's been a while since I've been to Yangjiang.

Fang Wen was very interested in the current situation of the Independent Regiment.

Instead of landing directly, he used his supernatural abilities to observe the situation below.

The old regimental headquarters in the southwest of Yangjiang County has been abandoned.

The Independent Regiment has now been redeployed in the Yangjiang area.

All the gunboats and aircraft of the 2nd Air Battalion returned from Zhaoqing and were stationed in the sea west of Yangjiang City.

The bay there is deep and narrow with a shallow draft, making it unsuitable for large warships. Instead, it has become the best base for seaplanes.

Meanwhile, a captured Japanese gunboat was moored at the base's port.

As for the ground troops, they were stationed in three locations: east, west, and north of Yangjiang City, which were respectively mixed infantry and tank companies reorganized by Fang Wen.

The regimental headquarters was located in the base in the north of the city.

After reviewing the situation below, Fang Wen flew directly to the 2nd Aviation Battalion base at the edge of the ocean.

He picked up the microphone, contacted the ground, and then landed at the seaplane base.

When the plane landed, Gong Xiuneng opened the cabin door and tied the cable to the stone piles on the dock.

Fang Wen got off the plane.

Pan Jiafeng and other officers from the Second Aviation Battalion, who were waiting on the dock, came to greet them.

Fang Wen smiled as he looked at the flight officers.

"How have you been lately?" he asked.

"Commander, you've finally arrived. Since you left, Yangjiang has been peaceful, and the Japanese haven't come to cause any trouble," Pan Jiafeng replied.

Fang Wen laughed and said, "Aren't you bored because there's no war going on?"

"Yes, Commander. Did you come here with any good news?"

"Of course. I'll take you to fight the Japanese."

Fang Wen's words excited the officers of the Second Aviation Battalion.

The group then left the dock and headed to the headquarters of the 2nd Aviation Battalion.

In the battalion headquarters meeting room, Fang Wen convened a meeting to explain the situation.

"This time, we are here to deploy 10 gunboats to participate in military operations in French Indochina. This operation is being carried out by the French army, and our objective is to cooperate with the French army in attacking the Japanese troops gathered on the border and preventing the Japanese army from invading Indochina."

After listening to Fang Wen's explanation, Pan Jiafeng and the officers were surprised.

Pan Jiafeng, representing everyone, asked, "Why did you go abroad to fight a war?!"

In response, Fang Wen explained: "Recently, a major change occurred in Europe. Germany defeated France, and the entire European continent, except for Britain which is still resisting, is basically under the control of the Axis powers led by Germany. Seeing this situation, Japan wanted to reap the benefits. They have now begun to divert troops to attack the Southeast Asian region and seize the colonial resources of European countries in the region. French Indochina is their first target. Of course, our troops are not sent for free; the French have used a great deal of resources to hire us to fight."

"I see," the flight officers understood.

It's not a big deal to pay huge sums of money to help the French fight, as long as they're fighting the Japanese.

Immediately, these flight officers actively applied to participate in combat operations.

After some discussion, Fang Wen selected the participants.

There were a total of 10 gunboats, with 40 pilots and crew members.

The team was led by Pan Jiafeng, the battalion commander of the 2nd Aviation Battalion of the Independent Regiment.

November 3st

Around 10 p.m., a deep engine roar pierced the night sky as 11 seaplanes appeared over the Red River.

On the river below, the French soldiers lit torches as a guide.

Under Fang Wen's command, the planes landed one by one.

Afterwards, Fang Wen asked Pan Jiafeng and the others to temporarily set up camp on the shore, while he went to check on the nearby New First Regiment camp.

Zhang Yunfei, the commander of the new regiment, was already waiting at the camp gate. Upon seeing Fang Wen arrive, he immediately stepped forward and saluted: "Report, the entire new regiment is settled and the equipment has been inventoried!"

Fang Wen nodded. "Well done. It's still 150 kilometers from the border, so we need to take a vehicle. The French army is sending 30 military trucks to transport us. We estimate we can set off the day after tomorrow."

"You're not leaving until the day after tomorrow?" Zhang Yunfei was stunned. "Didn't we come here to fight? If we drag this out, what if the Japanese troops on the border make a move?"

Fang Wen said helplessly, "The French are inefficient. It's already the fastest they can set off the day after tomorrow. But don't worry too much. I did some reconnaissance when I flew over the border. The Japanese forces currently gathering at the border are not many. The French can still hold their ground."

Hearing Fang Wen say this, Zhang Yunfei was finally relieved.

There are no problems with the new regiment, but the 10 gunboats of the 2nd Aviation Battalion of the Independent Regiment also need to be arranged. Otherwise, what will happen to the fuel, ammunition and other supplies needed for the subsequent deployment of gunboats to cooperate with ground troops?

Therefore, on the morning of September 4, Fang Wen went to the Governor's Mansion again to meet with the Governor and request arrangements for the follow-up matters.

With the full support of the governor.

The French found a cargo dock on the Red River and moved all the nearby moored ships to facilitate aircraft takeoffs and landings.

Subsequently, planes from the northern Myanmar base arrived and unloaded the supplies.

The day passed in a flurry of activity, and by September 5th, the convoy was ready. Soldiers from the New First Regiment and the Special Operations Battalion loaded the supplies onto the trucks, and then everyone waited for their vehicles to depart for the Lang Son border. (End of Chapter)