Chapter 454: Condition

Nanyuan Airport.

China's first airport. It was built in 1904, right?

That's right. Back when the Qing dynasty was still in power. Back when Peking was still called Jingshi. Back when Empress Dowager Cixi was still alive...

The first plane in China landed at Nanyuan Airport.

It's a long time ago.

After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, the Japanese army stormed Nanyuan Airport.

The most intense anti-Japanese battle in the Pingjin area broke out at Nanyuan Airport. Senior generals such as Tong Lingge and Zhao Dengyu were tragically killed.

Most of the thousands of student soldiers stationed at Nanyuan Airport were also casualties.

After Nanyuan Airport, there were no more fierce battles. The Pingjin area thus fell.

Unexpectedly, there were still pilots at Nanyuan Airport.

'Are there any planes?'

'I don't think so. I'm not sure.'

'Oh...'

Zhang Yong nodded thoughtfully.

The planes were unimportant. Really. Because even if there were any, they would be very outdated models.

The planes stationed at Jinling Daxiaochang Airport were also very outdated Hawker 2s. They didn't even have Hawker 3s.

And the Hawker 3 was itself relatively outdated.

The manufacturer, Curtiss, was already a bit behind the times.

Until he saw it in person, Zhang Yong could not imagine how outdated the Hawk 2 was. It was still a biplane. It had two wings. The Hawk 3 was the same. It was very outdated.

It was completely incomparable to the famous P-38 Lightning and P-40 Tomahawk fighters of later generations.

It was even more worlds apart from the P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang. It didn't feel like it was from the same world.

It's also incomparable to the German Bf 109.

If even the Nationalist Air Force is like this, what kind of aircraft can there be in North China?

No wonder the Air Supply Department only needs people.

They don't even look at such outdated aircraft.

After breakfast, I called Zhang Yong. But he refused. Only the deputy chief of staff answered the phone.

Zhang Yong: ...

It's over.

What's going on. Is he deliberately not answering?

'Commander Zhang is in a difficult situation,' Mei Lu expressed her understanding, "he is restricted in every way.'

'Sigh..." Zhang Yong could only let out a long sigh.

The situation was too complicated.

He couldn't handle it.

Really.

He had only wanted to manage his own plot of land, but he never expected so much to happen.

The original plan was to catch Yang Junjian and go back. The director had only given ten days. How many ten days have passed now? It's been more than a month. If it continues, it will be two months.

Since two months have passed, will three months be far away? Maybe they will have to spend the New Year in Tianjin.

It doesn't matter. He is all alone anyway.

He hangs up the phone and prepares to go to his room.

Mei Lulu blushes and pinches his waist, 'Not today...'

'Why?'

'You can't waste yourself like this...'

'I...'

'Take at least two days off...'

'No...'

Suddenly, she saw someone approaching.

It was the hotel waiter. He said he had a phone call from Zhang Yong.

'For me?'

'Yes. He said his surname is also Zhang. He's looking for you.'

'Thanks!'

Zhang Yong handed the other person a large sum of money.

Surname Zhang?

Who is it?

She was in Tianjin, and she didn't seem to know any friends with the surname Zhang.

She picked up the phone in confusion.

He picked up the receiver and realised that it was actually the voice of Commander Zhang.

'Shaolong, it's me.'

'Ah, hello, hello, Commander Zhang...'

'I can't take this call at the division headquarters. I'm out and about right now, so what's up?'

'Commander Zhang, I'm sorry to bother you, but I'd like to ask you something...'

'Go ahead. I'll tell you everything I know.'

'Are there still pilots at Nanyuan Airport in Beiping?'

'What do you want to know that for?'

'I want to find out about the situation.'

'There are more than 100.'

'More than 100? That many?'

Zhang Yong was surprised.

He had thought there would only be a few. He had never imagined there would be more than 100.

Amazing, there are more than 100 pilots at Nanyuan Airport? Where did they come from? Were they trained? What are their standards?

It's incredible.

They are all treasures!

You must know that pilots are very rare these days.

Especially in China. Not to mention that there are very few people who can fly a plane, let alone those who have seen one.

'There were many of them. But their composition was quite complicated.'

'How do you mean?'

'Some of them were exiles from the Northeast Army. Some of them were from our previous preparations. And some of them were from the aviation school students that Jinling recruited in Beiping later.'

'Are there any planes left at Nanyuan Airport?'

'They are all broken. They can't fly. They can only be placed on the ground as a show.'

'What are the pilots doing there?'

'Where else would they go?'

'Go...'

Zhang Yong almost blurted out, go to Nanjing!

Nanjing and Hangzhou both had aviation schools. Both had air force bases. They would gradually replenish their aircraft there.

As long as there were pilots, there would be more aircraft.

It seemed that was the case...

'Don't try to take them south.'

'Why?'

'The authorities won't allow them to go south.'

'Why?'

'No explanation. They just won't let them leave. There is a regiment stationed at Nanyuan Airport, which is specifically responsible for guarding the airport. Previously, there were constant Japanese spies, and now Nanyuan Airport has been placed under martial law. No one is allowed to go near. And no one inside is allowed to leave.'

'Is it that serious?'

Zhang Yong frowned. He vaguely understood the meaning of the telegram.

It turns out that it is impossible to take those pilots away through formal channels. Commander Song will not agree.

The so-called top brass was mainly Song Zheyuan, commander of the 29th Army.

He had been an anti-Japanese hero at Xifengkou. But then things got a little complicated. At the moment, he was indecisive and hesitant.

He didn't trust Chiang Kai-shek because he had been deceived by him before.

Even after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident broke out, he still harboured hopes for a peace treaty with the Japanese invaders. He didn't do enough to prepare for war. History books concluded that he was largely responsible for the fall of the Beijing-Tianjin area.

Without the permission of this Song military commander, it is impossible to take those pilots away.

Unless there is some way...

'General Zhang, are you interested in British equipment?'

'What equipment?'

'Mainly the British 77 rifle and the Bren light machine gun.'

'How many?'

'A battalion!'

'Where? What are the conditions?'

'Taku, British Wharf, Warehouse 17.'

'What's in it for me?'

'The British want to lend me their weapons to give to you.'

'Why?'

'Because the British and the Japanese also have conflicts. They want to use us to put pressure on Japan.'

'When will you go get them?'

'Right now.'

'Good. I'll arrange it.'

Zhang's division commander was also unceremonious. Who would refuse weapons and ammunition?

His troops were poorly equipped. They were also seriously short of ammunition. Faced with so many Japanese invaders, they were actually under a lot of pressure.

It must be noted that his division only had about 7,000 men. He had to face two full Japanese army brigades. That's 7,000 men. In addition, the Japanese had military police. There were also a large number of armed expatriates.

In the Bohai Bay outside Taku, there were also Japanese naval warships cruising. Reinforcements could come at any time.

The crucial thing is that the two Japanese infantry regiments both have a large artillery force. There are 75mm mountain guns. There are 90mm mortars. And there are 105mm heavy cannon.

However, the 34th Division under his command does not even have a single mountain gun. There are only a dozen 60mm mortars.

If the two sides really fight, how can they withstand the Japanese onslaught?

"I'll wait for you by the roadside!'

'Okay!'

The two immediately set off.

Soon, they arrived at the Taku Forts dock. They opened the warehouse.

Sure enough, there were 500 British rifles and 500,000 rounds of ammunition inside. There were also about 30 Bren light machine guns.

The weapons were not many. But the 500,000 rounds of ammunition were very satisfying.

In particular, half of the 500,000 rounds of ammunition were 7.92 mm Mauser rifle ammunition. This just met the needs of the 34th Division.

'Captain Zhang, what are your conditions? Speak up!'

'My conditions are very harsh. I'm afraid that you won't be able to fulfil them.'

'Tell me.'

'I hope that two years from now, you will be stationed at Nanyuan Airport.'

'What?'

There was a moment of confusion.

Stationed at Nanyuan Airport?

What kind of condition is that?

'General Zhang, according to the projections of the Jinling Military Council, in two years at the most, the Japanese will invade China in full force. At that time, the Japanese will massively reinforce their troops in Pingjin. They will find an excuse to start a full-scale war. Nanyuan Airport is a strategic location that the Japanese will fight for. The Japanese will need to occupy this airport and station their planes.'

'And then?'

'There is no then. The Japanese will attack like crazy and must take Nanyuan Airport.'

'Is that all you're telling me?'

'Yes. My condition is that Commander Zhang do his best to defend Nanyuan Airport.'

'I can't make decisions about military movements.'

'No matter who defends Nanyuan Airport, I hope Commander Zhang will remind him that Nanyuan Airport will face a fierce battle. The Japanese are determined to win.'

'Okay. I understand.'

'I will continue to cooperate with the British and try to get more weapons and ammunition for Commander Zhang.'

'To be honest, I'm curious as to why you're doing this.'

'Why does Commander Zhang ask?'

'I'm just curious.'

'Does Commander Zhang need a reason to kill the Japanese invaders? Does he need a reason to defend the country and resist foreign aggression?'

'You... I was wrong! I'm sorry.'

Zhang Kexia's face was solemn.

He didn't expect Zhang Yong to say that. He thought this guy was a bit of a slacker!

According to his investigation, this Zhang Yong's reputation doesn't seem to be very good...

However...

Does one need a reason to defend one's country and resist foreign aggression?

'Sigh...'

He let out a silent sigh.

He was actually very worried about the current situation.

Both the external environment and the internal situation of the 29th Army were very complicated.

The enemy was eyeing him hungrily, but internally...

'General Zhang, do you know Tong Linge and Zhao Dengyu?'

'Yes!'

'They should be very determined in the fight against the Japanese, right?'

'Yes. Zhao Dengyu was even demoted before. It was because of a clash with the Japanese invaders. Why are you talking about this?'

'When the war breaks out, these two will be on the front line. They may even die.'

'What's so strange about that? Who isn't at risk of dying?'

'Er...'

Zhang Yong was at a loss for words.

True. With the full-scale outbreak of the war, who wasn't at risk of dying?

Even the President, in the mountain city, almost got blown up.

Who wasn't in danger?

So the conversation ended. They went their separate ways.

Zhang Yong returned to Junsheng Coal Trading Company. After a short break, he thought of something.

Was the woman he had seen before, the one using the alias Wang Manyuan, still around? She and Wang Zhulin seemed to have a close relationship.

Did the girl in the underground prison cell in Baolin Temple end up in her hands? Was she an accomplice of Wang Zhulin?

Okay, if we can't catch Wang Zhulin, let's catch this woman first!

I sensed that this woman was no ordinary person. We've got her. Maybe we can get a lot of information out of her.

Let's move.

Suddenly, the map prompts that there is a red dot entering from the edge.

Almost without thinking, Zhang Yong immediately senses that the person coming is not good. At the same time, he is aware of the danger.

The map shows that this red dot is not taking the main road.

To be precise, it is not taking the road at all. Instead, it is sneaking in quietly from where there is no road.

This is amazing.

It must be coming for me.

Could it be the Miyamoto family's assassin?

Okay, stand guard.

Wave your hand outside. Chen Wen immediately came in.

Chen Wen is a veteran soldier from the Northeast Army who looks very honest and simple, but likes to shoot people in the head.

'Captain...'

'There is a Japanese invader infiltrating towards us.'

'Where is he?'

'Northwest. Ten o'clock position. Gather five men. I'll take you to get him.'

'Yes!'

Chen Wen immediately went out to call the men.

Soon, the other five veterans of the Northeastern Army gathered together.

They were all crack shots.

They used Type 44 rifles.

Set off.