Chapter 295: 294 Fighting While Negotiating, Intelligence Handover, National Army Fighter Jet Huo Ke San Visits
On July 11, the Taishan Escort Team joined the battle, achieving delightful results.
They shot down 3 enemy aircraft, all Type 95 fighter jets from the first batch of intruders. Under the suppression of technological and performance advantages, Fang Wen shot down one, Du Jiahua shot down one, and Qi Baoqian, who intercepted enemy aircraft over Langfang, also shot down one enemy aircraft single-handedly.
This was the valuable experience and technological improvement gained from actual air combat confrontations with German fighter jets in the Spanish Civil War.
Afterward, because the Taishan Aviation Team conducted multiple cruises over Beiping, the Japanese Army fighter jets had no choice but to evade and return to base.
That day, under the continuous cruising of the Taishan Aviation Team, air superiority over Beiping returned to their own hands.
Without enemy aircraft reconnaissance and harassment, the Taishan Aviation Team’s fighter jets replaced the enemy’s duties, diving and strafing the enemies below.
Because there were no anti-aircraft weapons, the Japanese Army’s small-caliber bullets posed little threat to the airplanes, resulting in the entire day’s combat being overshadowed by constant worry about the aircraft overhead.
This was still the case where Fang Wen held back and did not deploy homemade aerial bombs for bombing.
It was precisely this unexpected change that gave the 29th Army more confidence in negotiations with the Japanese side.
The Commander of the 29th Army, also the highest officer of the Jicha Political Council Song, conducted negotiations with the commander of the Japanese North China Garrison Army at the level of the region’s highest positions.
Jinan Airport, 7 p.m. after nightfall.
The airport was still very lively inside.
Ground crew were busy inspecting the airplanes, and all pilots who had returned to base did not rest; they were still excitedly discussing the day’s warfare.
Compared to the Spanish Civil War, fighting for the country gave them a greater sense of honor.
Fang Wen, however, did not join 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 via telegrams with various parties, understanding the situation and issuing orders.
3 telegraph machines were in simultaneous use, with telegraph operators busy at work.
“Report to the general manager, reply from the Haihe River water route management office: large-scale Japanese Army assembly discovered in the Tianjin direction, moving toward Beiping. At the same time, a group of about a dozen ronin caused trouble outside the management office, attempting to break in. They have been driven away by our escort team’s mercenaries.”
Listening to the telegraph operator’s report, Fang Wen frowned; the Haihe River flight path had already been terminated early, and the people stationed at the management office should have returned.
He issued an order: “Reply, have the Haihe River management office people come back.”
This matter had been drilled multiple times before, with the requirement that upon receiving an order, they must immediately carry out the evacuation operation.
Immediately, the telegraph operator sent the order.
Another telegraph operator reported back.
“Reply from Wuhan: other flight paths are normal, and Shanghai is unaffected. The entire company is in wartime alert status, with employees maintaining vigilance. Once a crisis arises, they will handle it according to the plan.”
Fang Wen was very satisfied with this; the situation was still good, and the entire company should be in this state—even non-combat personnel could not slack off.
He was more concerned about the telegram from the Shanghai Secret Intelligence Station, which was the hub for intelligence from all channels, providing earlier awareness of changes in the situation than newspapers and magazines.
The third telegraph operator kept writing the telegram message, not even having time to translate, as the content was too voluminous.
Fang Wen took the telegram paper and translated it himself.
【Around 4 p.m., from a United Kingdom channel intelligence source, the Japanese General Staff Office ordered the Kwantung Army commander to dispatch the Independent Mixed 1st and 11th Brigades and part of an aviation group to North China; ordered the Japanese Army’s 20th Division stationed in Korea to head to North China, all incorporated into the North China Garrison Army.】
【At 6:20 p.m., the Japanese government issued a 《statement on dispatching troops to North China》, and at the same time announced “in order to prevent the situation from expanding further, without abandoning the desire for peace negotiations”】
Such rhetoric was utterly shameless, the same old tactic of fighting while negotiating.
Fang Wen continued reading.
【The newly appointed Japanese prime minister convened representatives from the House of Peers, House of Representatives, financial circles, and press, introducing the cabinet’s decision to send troops to North China and requesting support from all sectors.】
See, on the surface saying they want peace, while on the other side arrogantly demanding domestic support for sending troops to North China.
At this moment, a telegraph operator exclaimed: “General manager, news from Tianjin: both sides have already signed a ceasefire agreement!”
Fang Wen was stunned but then understood—it was still the tactic of fighting while negotiating; such an agreement was utterly useless, merely buying time for the Japanese Army to mobilize and assemble forces, and to deceive the outside world.
But since the agreement had already been signed, he still wanted to see what was in it.
As subsequent telegrams arrived, Fang Wen saw the full text of the ceasefire agreement.
【《Lugou Bridge Incident On-Site Agreement》】
【1. The 29th Army declares an apology to the Japanese Army and will discipline those responsible, taking responsibility to prevent similar incidents in the future; 2. Chinese Army and Japanese Army in Fengtai are too close, easily causing incidents, therefore, the garrison in Wanping County town and Dragon King Temple will be replaced by the security team to maintain public order; 3. Given that this incident was instigated by the Blue Clothes Society, Communist Party, and other anti-Japanese groups, measures will be taken henceforth to thoroughly eliminate them.】
As expected, it was just as Fang Wen thought; with this retreat by the 29th Army, Beiping would truly be defenseless.
For the people in Beiping City, wasn’t it just a few more days of barely scraping by?
But this time, it did not bring the result they wanted.
At 8 p.m. late at night, Fang Wen received a telegram from the Shanghai intelligence station.
【The 29th Army, to show sincerity, returned 200 Japanese soldiers captured in the past few days.】
【The Japanese Ministry of the Army’s press section subsequently broadcast on the Tokyo radio station, claiming that the Chinese side has no sincerity in implementing the agreement.】
These two pieces of intelligence left Fang Wen speechless; for an army completely devoid of credibility, any negotiations were meaningless.
He checked his wristwatch; it was time to contact Yoshida via telegram.
For this secret chess piece Yoshida, Fang Wen contacted him separately to ensure his identity was not leaked as much as possible.
Immediately, the telegraph operators left, and Fang Wen sat in front of a telegraph machine, tuning to the secret frequency.
He sent the telegram on time, inquiring if there was any intelligence feedback.
Given the current situation, Yoshida certainly had intelligence.
Radio waves transmitted back from the Japan direction.
After translating the telegram message, Fang Wen pondered the content deeply.
【The Navy Military Order Department formulated a secret plan for operations against China, dividing the operations against China into two phases.】
【First phase: Navy 2nd Fleet cooperates with Army North China operations; second phase: Army dispatches 3 divisions to coordinate with Navy 3rd Fleet, first seizing Shanghai, then using Shanghai as a base for operations in Central China and South China.】
This meant that the action for the Battle of Songhu had already been decided.
Regarding this, Fang Wen felt he should try to deliver this intelligence to the National Government, in hopes they would prepare in advance.
Immediately, Fang Wen sent a telegram notifying the Shanghai Secret Intelligence Station and issued the order.
Shanghai, secret stronghold next to Gongji Hospital in the French Concession.
Upon receiving the order, Chen Suoxin immediately organized the action.
He wanted to meet the person in charge of the Revival Society branch in Shanghai.
For the Revival Society, this semi-overt and semi-covert organization, all factions in Shanghai knew its location.
But generally, no one would proactively contact it, as the organization’s nature was special, and getting too close would be disadvantageous.
Chen Suoxin brought people over, lingered near the Revival Society Special Agent Division Shanghai Station location, and finally sent a former Axe Gang member inside.
This former Axe Gang member walked across the street and entered the Revival Society Special Agent Division Shanghai Station.
For this sudden intruder, the Revival Society special agents immediately became alert and surrounded him.
“Who are you, what do you want?”
“I’m here to deliver a very important piece of intelligence.”
“What intelligence?”
“Regarding the Imperial Japanese Navy’s operational plan to be launched soon.”
Hearing it was such critical intelligence information, the special agents were very surprised and immediately reported to the station chief.
Subsequently, people from the intelligence office all came out.
This included Yue Jinping.
But at this moment, she did not know that this intelligence source was related to Fang Wen.
The station chief of the Revival Society Special Agent Division Shanghai Station received this intelligence deliverer alone and obtained that very important intelligence from him.
After sending away the person from the Taishan Secret Intelligence Station, the station chief looked at this intelligence, unsure whether to report it upward.
He convened the group leaders of the Revival Society Special Agent Division Shanghai Station to discuss it.
“Officer, according to the rules, for such important intelligence, we have no authority to handle it.” Yue Jinping was the first to raise an objection.
The station chief nodded: “Normally, that is indeed the case, but now this intelligence source is not our own, and its authenticity is hard to determine. If I report it casually and the higher-ups blame us, what then?”
His meaning was that this report would be the affair of the entire intelligence station, so everyone needed to know the content of this intelligence.
Subsequently, everyone read that intelligence.
They were all shocked and began discussions.
“The Japanese are trying to swallow an elephant. Besides starting war in North China, they also want to attack Shanghai—this is fighting on two fronts?”
“Impossible, North China has the 29th Army, which can fight hard battles. Once full-scale war breaks out, we won’t abandon it; North China alone is enough to give them trouble, and they still want to attack Shanghai.”
“Yeah, now the National Government is in Nanjing, and this area is a military stronghold; do they really plan to take Shanghai in one go and then attack Nanjing?”
“That’s too bold. Do they think it’s like that time in Republic of China Year 21?”
After a discussion, most considered it groundless talk.
Yet a small portion held the mindset of better to believe it exists than not, demanding it be reported to Nanjing as a reminder.
This included Yue Jinping, who spoke out: “Station chief, colleagues, our intelligence work is to collect important information for reference by the superiors, regardless of whether it’s true or false—that’s not for us to consider. I think this intelligence absolutely cannot be suppressed and not reported; if it turns out true, no one can afford the responsibility.”
These words moved everyone.
The station chief said helplessly: “What we’re discussing here will be the same in Nanjing; even if this intelligence is reported, it still won’t receive sufficient attention, but man proposes, heaven disposes—what should be done must be done, so report it.”
Immediately, this major intelligence was sent to Nanjing.
What effect it would bring, no one knew for the time being.
One night passed.
Fang Wen got up early and contacted the 29th Army command headquarters via radio station.
As combat support personnel, the Taishan Escort Team’s actions must be under the 29th Army’s command, otherwise it would be chaos.
As the telegram was sent, the 29th Army replied.
【The Kwantung Army is assembling 200 fighter jets toward Tianjin, Japanese Army activities are occurring everywhere around Beiping, your position is weak in numbers, do not act rashly again.】
【Nanjing will take action and will proactively contact you then; please await contact.】
The 29th Army actually refused the request for combat support.
But from the described situation, 200 enemy aircraft were indeed beyond what the Taishan Aviation Team could handle.
Didn’t Nanjing establish nine major aviation teams? If they came to North China for combat this time, how many airplanes would they dispatch?
Fang Wen looked forward to it; he understood that his Taishan Aviation Team ultimately could not change heaven and earth single-handedly and still needed to coordinate combat with the National Air Force.
This wait was not long before there was movement.
The Nanjing Government finally acted.
Kuomintang troops stationed in Shaanxi, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, and Jiangsu issued a general mobilization order.
Ordering the above troops to assemble toward the Longhai and Pinghan railway lines centered on Zhengzhou.
Ordering the 3rd Route Army total commander to defend the northern section of the Tianjin-Pudong railway.
Ordering the Pinghan, Longhai, and Tianjin-Pudong railway bureaus to assemble military trains, and each steamship company to return ships to designated locations for readiness.
Ordering 30 Central Army airplanes in Nanchang to immediately form up and fly north.
This batch of air force, just as the 29th Army replied, subsequently sent people to contact Fang Wen.
Outside Jinan Airport, two officers drove up but were stopped outside.
The airport security was firm: “Sorry, flights are now suspended, the airport is in closed status, outsiders may not enter.”
One officer showed identification: “We are officers of the National 3rd Army Group, Guard Brigade; this is the officer ID. We’re here to notify you that an air force fighter jet will land at your airport this afternoon; please arrange landing matters properly.”
Hearing this, the security guard hurriedly reported.
The matter reached Fang Wen’s ears, but he did not go to meet the officers; with the current urgent situation, precautions must be taken and risks could not be taken lightly.
After Wu Yingzong verified the officers’ identities, Fang Wen arranged for the airport runway to be cleared, awaiting the National Army airplane landing.
At 4 p.m., an airplane flew in from the air; Zhai Xiaojun and Rao Minghe, cruising alert in the air, confirmed friendly forces identity and sent an encrypted telegram order.
Subsequently, this airplane landed on the Jinan Airport runway.
Looking at this fighter jet, a name came to Fang Wen’s mind.
Hawk III fighter jet produced by Curtiss company.
This was from last year, during Chiang Kai-shek’s 50th birthday, when his subordinates organized an airplane offering activity, raising funds to donate 10 Hawk III fighter jets.
This type of fighter jet, in Asia, besides Thailand’s order, was only in China.
It was currently the best model in the Chinese Air Force.
During his time in South Asia, Fang Wen had once engaged with Hawk II fighter jets and had some understanding of this type.
It could be said that this fighter jet was on par with the Type 95 fighter jet, roughly equal in performance.
Therefore, if it came to actual combat, it would mainly come down to both sides’ technology and courage.
Dispelling his thoughts, Fang Wen walked over with a full smile to make contact with the pilot who got off the airplane.
Wu Yingzong gave a look, and two strong mercenary bodyguards immediately guarded Fang Wen closely; if a crisis arose, they would immediately intervene.
