Shanxi, Taiyuan, and the northern airports were already full of people standing at the humble airfields, and the welcoming procession carried a long banner that read, "Warmly welcome the 19th Route Army of the Southwest Resistance." The leader was dressed in military uniform, surrounded by guards, and his face was light and light, and he couldn't see the depth, and he looked like he had been in a superior position for a long time.

Yan Xishan, director of the Shanxi Pacification Office, is also the king of Shanxi who is familiar to the Chinese people. He was a graduate of the sixth phase of the Army Non-commissioned Officer School, a member of the Qing Dynasty Army Infantry Section, a member of the League, and organized and led the Taiyuan Xinhai Uprising. can be regarded as an old man of the Kuomintang.

"It's coming, it's coming!"

From time to time, there was a roar in the southern sky, and then I saw a large plane that had never been seen in Shanxi flying from the sky. At the humble North Airfield, there was not even a navigation building, and the plane circled for a while, and only after seeing the ground personnel give a signal that they could land, did they aim at the runway and land in one breath. Under the pilotship of a skilled pilot, the landing process of the huge plane is much stronger than that of the Shanxi pilot's longitudinal double-winged wooden plane.

"Director, this southwest plane is really big enough." An attendant next to Yan Xishan said in a low voice, "When I was abroad two years ago, I only saw such large planes occasionally, and they were all advanced transport planes of some military. ”

Yan Xishan nodded, he was still quite satisfied with this attendant who had just returned from studying in the West, because he was different from those old men, he had a relatively new vision and a better understanding of new things in the world, "The military strength of the southwest is too strong, and it is a good thing for the country and the people to be able to unite to resist the north this time, as long as they don't mess around, we will follow the orders of the central government and try our best to cooperate." ”

After the plane landed, it attracted a lot of applause from the welcoming crowd, and the huge plane, compared to the few old planes parked on the airport lawn, looked much more powerful. Many of Shanxi's planes were still two-winged wooden planes, and they were too risky for training, and they did not dare to fly too far if they could fly, but today, the welcoming crowd organized by the Shanxi Pacification Office saw with their own eyes the large planes flying thousands of miles from the southwest.

This rather clumsy aircraft was named "zh-31" and the interior was named "moving mountains". This is the first specially designed transport plane in the southwest, and unlike the previous transport planes that used the H-1 or H-2 modifications, this new type of transport plane is specially designed for tactical transport purposes in the military field. The specially reinforced bilge design, the quadruple "Kunlun" engine with increased horsepower, and the bloated cabin make people look at it and even wonder if it can fly.

The ZH-31 military transport aircraft was launched in 1926 as a transport plane development program, and during the Sino-Burmese War of that year, the transportation in the southwest was overstretched, and almost all bombers were mobilized to temporarily act as transport forces, and the launch of the campaign was delayed by half a month. At that time, the development plan for a special-purpose tactical military transport aircraft was included in the key military research projects.

This new transport aircraft, which took five years to develop, has a maximum flight speed of 390 km / h, a cruising speed of 280 km / h, a maximum range of 2800 km, and a practical ceiling of 7500 meters. The standard crew is four people, the carrying capacity is 45 people, the four-link engine ensures the load-bearing capacity, and the airframe design of the new structure and new materials applies ensures the load-bearing capacity, making it reach 4.2 tons, which is much stronger than the load capacity of the H-2 bomber, which is just enough to transport a standard company that only carries basic combat weapons.

This kind of aircraft is relatively advanced, and it is not far behind Western countries. For example, the United States finalized and produced a C-47 transport plane with a twin-engine engine during the same period, because of the structural design of the aircraft, the use of materials, and the cost problems, the technical indicators in other aspects are good, but the load and crew are not as good as the Z-31 transport plane, and the carrying capacity is less than 30 people. In addition to the new alloy steel as the main structure, some new aluminum alloys are also used, which reduces the weight of the aircraft while ensuring the load and safety and stability of the aircraft.

In a year and a half, the actual number of its production reached 50 aircraft. In 1931, the production line had just been installed, the production speed of this aircraft was extremely slow, even if the aircraft was manufactured on the assembly line, the manufacturing speed of the aircraft was also very slow, and only two could be completed in a month, and later because of the outbreak of the 917 incident in the Northeast, the demand for this transport aircraft was more prominent, and the Southwest People's Army had an unprecedented demand for medium and long-distance force projection. If it weren't for the higher upfront cost, the army would have hunted more.

After the plane came to a stop, the rear hatch was opened, and a group of Southwest Army soldiers dressed in new camouflage of the 31 year, led by a major officer, only armed with pistols, ran in a line to the front of the welcoming crowd.

"Director, if this Southwest Army is just its appearance and momentum, I am afraid that it will not even be able to compare with the French Army, which is known as the world's first in France. Perhaps only the new German Army I saw in Germany could compare. Moreover, these soldiers do not appear to be combatants. "It is also the first time that the attendant has seen the southwestern soldiers in the formation, which is different from the photo, and the visual impact is greater.

"The Southwest Army has a momentum, and Shanxi cannot be defeated."

After a long time, Yan Xishan said such a sentence, to the point where he saw the subtleties, and he had seen a lot of things from this small army. It seems that all this time, the newspaper reports are not inaccurate, and there is indeed a very strong military force in the southwest.

"Take a break, stand upright!"

After the major finished the formation, he ran in front of Yan Xishan and the others, and said in a loud voice, "The 203rd ground service unit of the Southwest People's Army Air Force is ordered to arrive at the North Airfield. ”

"Welcome, welcome, the southwest's determination to resist is a blessing for China. Yan Xishan, a contemptible person, welcomed the arrival of the Southwest Army on behalf of the Shanxi fathers and villagers. ”

Yan Xishan knew that this place was too far from the southwest, and Zhang Shusheng wanted to send his troops to the north, so he had to turn around from somewhere. After the call from Nanjing, he learned that the other side would transport a group of vanguard troops to the north by plane, and then the large army would enter Shanxi through Shaanxi on the Sichuan-Shaanxi Highway, which had just been opened at the beginning of the year, and board the Zhengtai train line in Taiyuan to enter Hebei.

The subsequent handover ceremony was relatively simple, the North Airport was not a great place for Yan Xishan at all, and under the attention of the whole country, it was a good favor to lend the airport to the Southwest Army. After all, once the army invaded Pingjin and invaded Hebei, his Shanxi would also be in danger. He is also preparing for the resistance, but his preparation is more limited to the defense of Shanxi, and the Gongwei Pingjin area is not daring to think about it for the time being. As for the North Airfield, he only sent a battalion of "defense troops" to take care of it, and as long as the troops in the southwest did not attack Shanxi, they could fly as their planes pleased.

After arriving at the airport, the ground and engineer personnel of the southwestern air force quickly began their work, first unloading several key equipment carried by the plane, because there was no heavy handling machinery, they could only carry the heavy communications and command equipment on their shoulders and move it to the only two-story old building at the airport. Some airport-specific equipment, such as meteorological equipment, indicator lights, and signal lights, have also been installed.

Next, when the second Z-31 transport plane landed, a very important batch of quick-setting cement was unloaded. The old runway, which has fallen into disrepair for a long time, has become uneven in many places and needs to be repaired urgently. Although this advanced ZH-31 transport aircraft claims to be able to land on the lawn, it is in the case of infrequent landings. Repairing the runway, urgently laying the apron, etc., are all urgent matters.

On the morning of the third day, after more than a dozen planes took off and landed, the North Airfield finally had the conditions for a large group to take off and land.

Chengdu, Shuangliu military airport.

"Comrades, as the first batch of the Southwest People's Army to go north, you are shouldering a huge historical mission. The situation of joint resistance will begin from the moment you set foot on the battlefield.

At this time, at the moment of the great enemy, political, regional, and ethnic differences must all be put aside, and it is the most important thing at present to unanimously resist and stop the momentum of aggression of the people. Take the whole nation as the country, and protect everyone's country with everyone's strength.

The 5,000-year-old heritage of China cannot be destroyed in our generation. In ancient times, there was General Qi Jiguang, who killed the Japanese, and today there will also be iron-blooded soldiers in the southwest who killed the Japanese. The survival of the nation and the security of the race need to be defended with the steel guns in your hands.

I'm looking forward to the battle ahead. I hope that you will defend your homeland and the country and expel the Kou for the purpose, defend the land and the people, and defend the country. ”

On the airport square, Zhang Shusheng stood on the school review platform in military uniform, and said these short words impassionedly, he knew that for these soldiers who were about to board the plane and rush to the north, there was no need to say much, they were already murderous.

Chen Jun and other military and political chiefs of the Third Division were all present, and the first to go to the north was the Dai Anlan Regiment, and the Third Regiment, which had not yet been fully formed, had nearly 4,000 people. Every soldier clutched the Chinese-style semi-automatic rifle or even the 26-year-old submachine gun in his hand. There aren't many people to carry, and the tactical pack contains enough magazines for a fight.

In addition, everyone carries a battlefield first-aid kit unique to the southwest, which seems to be inconspicuous and has a miraculous effect on stopping bleeding and inhibiting the deterioration of wounds, and is regarded as a life-saving thing by every soldier.

"The Flag Presentation Ceremony Begins!!"

With the order of the military commander issued, Dai Anlan, the commander of the third regiment, quickly ran to the colonel's stage and saluted Zhang Shusheng. "Report to the commander-in-chief, Dai Anlan, the commander of the third regiment of the third division of the main force, reports to you!"

For this Dai Anlan, Zhang Shusheng's impression is still good, whether it is his original performance in history or today's performance, he can be called a model for the southwest soldiers, he took a flag from the hands of the military commander and handed it to Dai Anlan with both hands, "It is said that the flag awarding ceremony should be held after the victory in the battle, but I am full of confidence in you, and this time I will definitely perform to the satisfaction of 40,000 people." This is an iron-blooded banner, and the three regiments are the vanguard, so let it fly on the Pingjin front. ”

"Yes!" Dai Anlan excitedly took the flag and shook it away towards the soldiers of the third regiment below, only to see the bright red flag with the words 'Iron and Blood Regiment' written on it.

"The flag is in the people, and the battlefield is fought to the death!"

The soldiers of the three regiments below were also excited, and shouted in unison: "The flag is in the people, and the battlefield is fighting to the death!" ”

After the ceremony, Chen Jun walked to the front of the troops and shouted: "All of them, take a break, stand upright." The 3rd Regiment of the 3rd Division, start boarding!! ”

The huge Chengdu Shuangliu military airport began to be built after the recovery of Chengdu, at that time, considering that the recovery of Shaanxi or the northwest need to be here as a key airport, so the equipment is perfect, the airport construction level is absolutely the first class in China, and Kunming Airport, Guangzhou Bao'an Airport, Guangxi Fangchenggang Frontier Airport and so on is a level.

Three ZH-31 transport planes had already been parked on the runway, and the rear cabin door was wide open, just waiting for the iron-blooded men to board the plane. The soldiers of the 3rd Regiment quickly divided into companies, with the three companies being the first to board the plane, and the rest of the companies running to the transport plane parked on the tarmac and rushing to board the plane.

"Tower, number 01 requests to take off."

"Agree to take off!"

After getting the take-off order, the first plane on the runway began to slide, the engine gradually started, the propeller rotated, and then the speed became faster and faster, and then the engine sounded louder and louder, the pilot pulled the longitudinal rod, and the plane taxied for a distance of several hundred meters, slightly raised its head to leave the ground, and quickly rushed into the air.

Dai Anlan was the first to board the plane, looking at the sky outside the porthole and the vast land below, he couldn't help but feel a feeling of the great rivers and mountains of the motherland. For this expedition to Pingjin, he has made all the psychological preparations.

After less than three hours, the plane quickly arrived over Taiyuan and landed at the North Airport.

On May 3, after consolidating the situation in Tianjin, the army quickly launched a fierce attack in the direction of Langfang, which was defended by the 19th Division of Chen Cheng's 18th Route Army. Compared with the 18th Division, although this 19th Division was not the first few elite divisions of the Central Committee, it was definitely not comparable to the previous Kuomintang army.

The troops were all equipped with the Lee Enfeld-style rifles authorized by the British, the new grenades produced by the Nanjing Arsenal, and the level of mortars and heavy machine guns also reached the level of the standing divisions of the Japanese army. Even on the artillery that once suffered the most to the Chinese, Chiang Kai-shek equipped these dozen main central elite divisions with all new 105mm artillery. Unfortunately, the barrel factory for this kind of artillery is still under construction, and the steel factory for artillery is also under construction in the Hefei area, and the 18th and 19th divisions use the goods stockpiled by the British, but compared with the army, at least they are between the best.

Generally speaking, the 19th Division stationed in Langfang is definitely not the former soft-footed shrimp Kuomintang troops, and the battalion and regiment-level commanders are all modern military talents who graduated from the Whampoa Military Academy or the Baoding Military Academy, because of the potential internal reasons, Chiang Kai-shek is very concerned about the training of these elite divisions, and the French army instructors, standardized equipment, and standardized training in the troops have given these Chiang Kai-shek's ace troops the level of barely fighting in the southwest. It can be regarded as Chiang Kai-shek's biggest reliance under the clouds of civil war in these years.

On 4 May, the 18th Division launched an all-out attack on the 18th Division in Langfang, and the 18th Division, under the command of division commander Cai Tingguang, broke out into a fierce battle with the 16th Division of the Yue Army, which launched the attack, despite the temporary lack of air support.

On the evening of 6 May, Chen Jun and Dai Anlan arrived at Nanyuan Airport in Beiping by special plane with Gao Feng, chief of staff of the Third Division (a graduate of the Huaxia Military Academy and successively deputy commander of the Second Regiment of the Second Brigade of the Former People's Regiment and deputy commander of the Eighth Division of the Garrison Division), and were greeted by Chen Cheng.

"Welcome, welcome. Division Commander Chen, Chief of Staff Gao, Regiment Commander Dai, for a few, the resignation is a long-admired daimyo, your army can lead the troops to the north to help, Gao Yi is comparable to the ancients. ”

At Nanyuan Airport, senior officers of the 18th Route Army led by Chen Cheng arrived to greet 'Dai Anlan, the commander of the Third Regiment of the 19th Route Army'.

"Commander Chen is polite, he is just a pawn in the army, how can he bother Commander Chen. Now that the situation of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression is urgent, let's go to the combat meeting first. For the tense situation of the war, Chen Cheng also came to the airport to greet him, Chen Jun not only did not feel honored, but felt a little uncomfortable. He also knew that Chen Cheng was not to blame for this, because this kind of thing was the style of the Kuomintang army.

"Well, of course, of course. Your army will arrive soon, and some things should be settled first. ”

That night, the joint operational meeting of the 18th Route Army and the 19th Route Army was held in Beiping, as if the cannon sound in Langfang was close at hand, and the occasional falling air bombs made Chen Jun, Gao Feng, Dai Anlan and others feel the atmosphere before the war.

There has been a huge panic in the whole of Peiping, and even if the soldiers of the Security Command maintain order, there is also a point of even greater panic.

The air raids of the Yue army also gradually crossed Langfang and attacked the ancient city of Beiping.

Chen Cheng walked in front of the huge combat map, and introduced to Chen Jun and Dai Anlan, who had just arrived, with a solemn expression: "The current situation is very grim, facing the standing 16th Division of the Japanese army, although the 19th Division has fought hard, it has already shown its defeat. The number of the 14th Division of the Chinese Army has also appeared on the line of fire, and it is expected that they will be put into this second division to participate in the battle of Langfang in a short time.

The whereabouts of their third division are unknown. According to the prediction, it is very likely that the 19th Division will be encircled and annihilated, so even if your 19th Route Army can't catch up, we will support Langfang tomorrow. ”

"Three divisions, the 19th Division is in big trouble."

Chen Jun frowned tightly, if the 19th Division was eaten by the Yue army first, Beiping was likely to be eaten by the Yue army.

As for the 19th Division of the Kuomintang, he was still very clear, saying that it could not fight a war, and that it was not objective to be cowardly with the enemy before the war, and the most objective problem should be that the offensive momentum of the divisions and regiments of the Chinese army was too fierce.

"One day, it only takes one day, and my third regiment will be able to join the battle the morning after tomorrow." Dai Anlan stood up suddenly, and said angrily: "The army is too rampant, this time we must beat them with a fierce stick." ”

(To be continued)