As the Japanese blockade intensified, the Nationalist Government, which was in urgent need of a large number of supplies, also hoped to open up more supply lines for supplies. When the shipping channel was completely blocked, the land transportation channel also became the lifeline of the Anti-Japanese War in the eyes of many people.

Those who know the history of the Anti-Japanese War know that the most well-known Yunnan-Burma Highway was born under these circumstances. But Hu Biao, who served in the southwest in his previous life, knew that in fact, before the opening of the Yunnan-Burma Highway, there was an important lifeline of the Anti-Japanese War.

This international transportation supply line is located in Gui Province and connects to the defense of Ann Hai. In fact, after the outbreak of the July 7 Incident, the Nationalist Government recognized the importance of this line of communication from Annan to the southwest.

In October 1938, after the fall of Wuhan and Guangzhou, the main international transportation arteries from Xiangjiang to Guangzhou and then to Wuhan through the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway were blocked, and the maritime transportation lines of the Republic of China government collapsed.

With the start of the all-out War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the transportation of various anti-war materials could only rely on land and international transportation. At that time, the Northwest International Transport Line from the Soviet Union to Xi'an via Xinjiang was very limited due to the 4,000-kilometer length of the route and the harsh environment.

When the Yunnan-Burma Highway was opened to traffic at the end of August 38, the road conditions were also very bad. Therefore, the Gui'an International Transportation Line, which connected Guangdong and Guizhou provinces and the port of Annam, became the most important channel for obtaining overseas supplies at that time.

The Southwest Transportation Department, known as the Southwest Transportation Company, which was responsible for the transportation of strategic materials, had the world's largest international transportation fleet at that time, and had set up branches in Hanoi and Haiphong ports. The director of the transport department is Lao Jiang's brother-in-law, which shows his importance.

Anhai Haiphong Port is the starting point of the Gui'an international traffic line, close to the dock with 10,000-ton giant ships, complete lifting equipment and warehouses, and a railway leading to Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, so it has become an important port for the import and export of materials for the Anti-Japanese War of the Republic of China.

The anti-Japanese war materials transported from abroad were unloaded at Haiphong Port and transported to Kunming in Yunnan Province by the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, and transported to Tongdeng by rail, and then transported to the front and rear of the Anti-Japanese War through the Gui'an International Transportation Line.

On the Gui'an international transportation line, Longzhou, which is located on the border of the two countries, is an important material and personnel transit station, with Zuojiang shipping by water, Longnan Highway by land, and a large number of strategic materials from Annan to all parts of the country through Longzhou and Nanning.

Walking on the streets of Longzhou, looking at the scene of people and cars, Hu Biao smiled and said: "Lao Qin, it's very unexpected, right?" ”

"Truly unexpected! I really didn't expect that there would be so many cars and supplies here. It's just that this place is still a long way from where we're going, right? What are we doing here? ”

"Familiarize yourself with the terrain and get the most out of it when something happens to you in the future! With the urine nature of the little devils, such an important material transit place, they will definitely continue to bomb it in the future, and even start a war to occupy it.

Lao Liu, your next task is very heavy, I hope you will set up the intelligence station in the fastest time. On the surface, I'll set up a trading house here to collect and analyze information, as well as procure the supplies we need.

From here to Shillong, a corresponding intelligence transmission network must be established. In the event of an emergency, we can also take timely measures. When I get to Xilong, Lao Qin will also train no less than two regiments of troops for me in the shortest possible time. ”

After a year in Shanghai, Hu Biao, who didn't even have time for the Lantern Festival, arrived at Haiphong City Port from Shanghai on a merchant ship that had just been purchased. Hu Biao came with him, in addition to the two task forces, there were also the backbone of the intelligence and business team.

According to the agreement reached between Hu Biao and the Gui family, Xilong County, which is nearly 500 kilometers away from Longzhou, will become the first place for Hu Biao to enter the southwest. Among Hu Biao's entourage, there is an incoming county official and security chief.

The county official is a backbone of the intelligence team, and the head of the security regiment is Qin Tianyou. In addition to the men and horses brought by Hu Biao, there will also be a group of people who will march by land, build multiple bases and transit stations along the way, and migrate more people and horses over.

Considering that Qin Tianyou and others didn't know much about the situation in the southwest, Hu Biao also decided to come over to guide them in person. When everything is on the right track, return by land, join up with the troops marching by land, and open up the corresponding land route.

In addition, the elder Ivan and a group of backbone members of the Renaissance Society also began to build an intelligence network in Haiphong City and the British colonies. Nominally, these stations exist and operate in the name of companies or transport fleets.

Listening to the task given by Hu Biao, although Qin Tianyou felt a lot of pressure, he said very seriously: "I will definitely work hard!" ”

"The geography of the southwest is much more complicated than that of the south. Luckily, you're all specially trained, and you're very skilled in jungle combat. This time, the recruitment of soldiers also focused on recruiting local young people to gain more support from the local people.

Another thing to keep in mind is not to clash with local ethnic minorities. If possible, more minority support is enlisted. In this place in the southwest, the power of minorities cannot be underestimated! ”

"Understood!"

Although there is no need to be threatened by the Japanese army in the southwest for the time being, Hu Biao also knows that the situation here is just as complicated. Poor mountains and bad waters come out of the people, this saying is really true in this era.

There are many cases of dividing the land for oneself, and there are many bandits like a cow's hair, and it takes great effort and patience to establish a stable power here. Fortunately, Hu Biao was also mentally prepared for these difficulties.

As far as the men and horses brought by Hu Biao's trip are concerned, they may not be able to resist the formed defenders. can encircle and suppress those bandits who occupy the mountains as kings, Hu Biao thinks it should not be difficult. Gain the hearts of the people by suppressing bandits, and then gain the support of the people by building factories.

For many ordinary people, only when they see the benefits will they sincerely support them. And at this moment, Hu Biao wants a gun and a gun, money and money, and wants to gain a firm foothold in a place like Xilong, Hu Biao thinks it should not be difficult.

Liu Shixing, who accompanied the intelligence group, stayed in Longzhou for nearly a week, and after getting in touch with the garrison and the chief political officer in charge of the place, Hu Biao quietly led people on the road, rode the purchased Dian horse, and began to march towards Xilong County.

Compared with the highway in Longzhou, which can be opened to cars, the road conditions in Xilong, where Hu Biao went on this trip, are also extremely bad. In fact, the road conditions in the southwestern provinces are much more backward than those in the interior.

The Dian horse was not purchased for transportation, but more for transporting supplies. As the horse that is most adapted to the climate and road conditions in the southwest, it has always been the main tool used by people of all ethnic groups in the southwest to transport materials. This point cannot be improved by Hu Biao in a short period of time.

In addition to buying a means of transportation, Hu Biao also spent a lot of money to hire a guide to lead the way. On the south-west side, there are many caravans who are engaged in guiding and transporting goods for people. These people can also be described as the head snakes of the southwest.

It's just that seeing that Hu Biao and his party are strong and strong, even if they are all dressed in the clothes of the people, the hired horse gang members also know that these people are not good people. As for why these people went to Shillong, the hired caravan was also curious.

Walking on the road to Xilong, Qin Tianyou also said helplessly: "Boss, the road conditions here are too bad, right?" ”

"It's normal! Except for some important highways, no one pays attention to the backwoods like Shillong. The road must also be done slowly. When we get a foothold in Shillong, we will find a way to recruit some people and repair this road. ”

Building roads is not an easy task in Hu Biao's view. Not to mention the manpower and material resources that need to be spent, such a long distance alone is not something that Hu Biao can afford. In a short period of time, Hu Biao is afraid that he will not do such a thing as road construction.

But without a road, the purchased materials could not reach Shillong. Regarding this point, Hu Biao still has other plans. This time to Xilong, Hu Biao planned to build a secret airport in Xilong and open up an air passage.

When he came from Shanghai, Hu Biao had already entrusted Bruker to purchase a batch of machinery and equipment from various countries. In addition to some mining equipment, similar to the equipment for manufacturing cement, Hu Biao also plans to build it on the side of Xilong.

In fact, inconvenient roads are not all bad. At least one point, when the Japanese army invades in the future, Hu Biao does not have to worry about the Japanese army driving straight into his own territory. As for air strikes, it should be easier to guard against.

The choice of Xilong, the junction of the three provinces, naturally also has Hu Biao's intentions. For such a piece of territory like chicken ribs, the Gui family does not attach much importance to it, and it is worth it to sell Hu Biao a favor.

What Hu Biao wants to do is to rely on the territory of Xilong to extend his tentacles to the territory of Yunnan Province. Even in the territory of Gui Province on the other side, Hu Biao also plans to develop some forces to hide and expand more armed forces.

If you want to complete this project, you must have a stable territory. Now that Shillong is not even under control, how can we think about expansion? Too greedy, sometimes it pulls eggs. Hu Biao still understands this truth!

"Boss, there's a situation ahead!"

Listening to the information sent back by the scouts, Hu Biao was also surprised: "What's the situation?" ”

"There were dozens of bandits, hiding in the hill ahead. Looks like they want to ambush us! ”

"Dozens of bandits? These bandits ate leopard gall and didn't see that we had hundreds of them? Pass on my order, the reconnaissance detachment will attack and be sure to exterminate all these bandits. Remember to keep alive and bring me the bandits' nest! ”

"Yes!"

Hu Biao, who was disguised as a horse gang, had long been prepared to deal with the threat of bandits. According to the guide, there are indeed many bandit-controlled territories along the way. Many times, they have to spend money to buy peace.

When they encounter some vicious bandits, they will rob money and kill people. Because of this, joining a caravan is also extremely risky. Fortunately, the power of the horse gangs in various places is not small, and the bandits do not dare to provoke them easily.

But this time, Hu Biao did not play the banner of those well-known horse gangs, which naturally attracted the attention of the bandits. But those bandits didn't know that this was exactly what Hu Biao wanted to see. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he planned to suppress bandits along the way.

Only by getting rid of these bandits will it be safer for him to entrust the horse gang to deliver supplies in the future. Correspondingly, the cost will be lower. If you want to accomplish this goal, there is no other way than iron-blooded suppression!