Black Flag Army

Chapter 142: Attack Khabarovsk First

Cha Jingfeng, who had been silent the whole time, spoke up: "Excuse me, Director Tian! Who are the intelligence agents sent to places like Miaojie and Boli this time? Why didn't any of them infiltrate the enemy's top brass? Forcibly attacking the enemy's stronghold would result in too much loss."

Tian Mengxue said, "They are basically the elite students of the second class of the Intelligence Officer School, including the 'peerless twins' Hong Ye Zi and Bai Yu Lian. But this time Alexander has learned from the lessons of Chita Province and sent a group of inspectors to strictly order the commanders of each city not to contact the Chinese, especially Chinese women, otherwise they will be dismissed. Several of our intelligence officers have been arrested, and even Enqin's former military advisor Ping Fugui was arrested because he is Chinese."

Xian Yuji said: "These students seem to be far inferior to our first-year students. Why don't you choose first-year students?"

Tian Mengxue glared at her, as if reminding her that her question was a foolish one, and then said, "The first batch of students can only speak Japanese and Mongolian, not Russian, and the attrition rate is high. Among the outstanding students who are still alive, those who have achieved success have switched careers and become officials, so there are not many people available."

Among the outstanding students of the first class, the top four all died. Xian Yujie became the director of the Propaganda Department, Bian Zhimei became the deputy director of the Supervision Department, and Cha Jingfeng was still in the Intelligence Department, but became the chief of the Anti-Corruption Section, and only investigated his own people.

Cha Jingfeng said, "I suggest that Dong Xuechun go to Birobidzhan to give it a try. She knows Russian. Although the Russian army is on guard against the Chinese, she is Japanese and can infiltrate the enemy as a Japanese. If I am not mistaken, Di Juzi's first target should be Birobidzhan."

Tian Mengxue asked: "Is it too late to go now?"

Cha Jingfeng said: "If Di Juzi can give her ten days, she should be able to give it a try. After all, if she fails, there is no cost. If she succeeds, it can reduce many casualties."

Wu Chunfeng asked: "Hasn't she been exposed in Tianjin? There are also many Japanese military advisers in Outer Northeast China."

Cha Jingfeng said: "She can put on makeup and change her appearance."

Di Xiong said, "Since Cha Jingfeng said so, give her ten days. It would take ten days to prepare, march and mobilize the army. How are the enemy forces in Miaojie and Boli distributed?"

Tian Mengxue said: "Miaojie is the enemy's headquarters, with 40,000 elite troops and 10,000 miscellaneous troops from the remnants of Semenov and Ivanov. A total of 50,000 people, including a heavy artillery regiment and more than 80 aircraft. There are only 30,000 people in Birobidzhan, including 15,000 miscellaneous troops and 15,000 elite troops. There is a heavy artillery regiment but no air force. However, if a battle breaks out, aircraft from other places will definitely support them. The commander is called Periya, who used to be Kolchak's chief of staff. The other 40,000 troops are stationed in Vladivostok and Shuangchengzi."

Di Xiong stared at the map for a while and said, "Attack Boli City first, then attack Miaojie Market."

Xian Yuji gave Cha Jingfeng a thumbs up, meaning that her judgment was completely correct.

Wu Zhong said: "The advantage of taking Khabarovsk is that we can cut the enemy forces in Outer Northeast into two parts. The enemies on both sides can be defeated one by one, and the garrisons in Vladivostok and Shuangchengzi will have nowhere to escape. The disadvantage is that we may be attacked from both sides. If the enemy cooperates well, we will be attacked from both the north and the south."

Di Xiong said: "The first to attack will definitely be the air force. The enemy has more than 180 fighter planes, and once the attack starts, all of them will be deployed. Although we have nearly 300 planes, minus the transport planes and the fighter planes left behind, the maximum number that can be deployed is only 200 fighter planes. The air force has almost no advantage unless we find their airport and bomb some of their planes."

Di Xiong thought of the Soviet-German War in World War II. After the war broke out, the German army first bombed more than 1,500 Soviet aircraft at the airfield. Then the German bombers could bomb the Soviet ground forces at will. The Soviet armored, artillery, and infantry units suffered heavy losses, but there was not a single aircraft to fight back. The 29-year-old Soviet Air Force commander committed suicide in regret.

Tian Mengxue said: "The task of finding the airport can be handed over to the intelligence team that has entered Miaojie, Shuangchengzi and Vladivostok. There is no airport in Birobidzhan, so there is no need to check."

Di Xiong said to Yang Lushuang, "Write this down! After the meeting, inform Feng Ru that all production lines at the aircraft manufacturing plant will be put into operation starting tomorrow. The machines will run 24 hours a day. The workers will be divided into three shifts, and the workers will be replaced without changing the machines. All workers, except those who are seriously ill, will not be allowed to take leave! In addition, the Simon Cannon Foundry, Beihai Gun Factory, Weili Canning Factory, and Beihai Pharmaceutical Factory have issued the same order! For all workers who work overtime, their daily overtime pay will be tripled."

Xian Yuji rubbed her hands excitedly and asked, "Are we going to enter a wartime state now?"

Di Xiong said, "Yes! Once the war starts, the aircraft, artillery, weapons and ammunition will be consumed very quickly. The logistics must not fall behind. Food and medicine must be supplied to the front line in time. The war is not only fought on the front line, but also on the logistics supply. In this respect, we are better than the White Guards and the Bolshevik Army. Your Propaganda Department must make various propaganda materials, banners, slogans, and brochures and distribute them in time. The Supervision Department must also take action and mobilize all informants at the same time. No matter where they are, once they find anyone who is inciting dissatisfaction, inciting workers to strike, or deliberately sabotaging, they will be arrested and sent to prison immediately. Resisters can be shot on the spot."

Wu Zhong and Lan Jinping, as the general managers of the two major group companies, both expressed that they would urge the factory managers and workers below to carry out orders. Although Wu Zhong is about to resign as general manager, the handover procedures with Tuo Qingyun have not yet been completed. Now that we have entered a wartime state, it is estimated that the handover will only be possible after the war is over.

Di Xiong said: "If there are no other questions, let's adjourn now!"

Bai Xiuling, who had been silent the whole time, said, "I have a question!"

Di Xiong asked, "What's the problem?"

Bai Xiuling said: "I request to resign from the position of principal of Zhengqing School and recommend Lan Jinchun as the principal."

Di Xiong said: "Tell me your reasons!"

Bai Xiuling said, "My ability is far inferior to that of Lan Jinchun, but I am the principal. Lan Jinchun is full of talent and is famous all over the world, but he is the vice principal. This is inappropriate. When the school was first established, there were only dozens of students, and it was really hard to find anyone to be the principal. Di Juzi forced me to be the principal. Now the school has tens of thousands of students and has set up branches in other cities. I am getting more and more tired and am almost dying of exhaustion. I really can't do it anymore. Please let me go and allow me to resign. I would rather be Lan Jinchun's deputy!"

Di Xiong said: "This matter involves my wife, so I can't express my opinion. Old Wu, please give us your opinion!"

Wu Zhong said to Bai Xiuling: "President Bai, apart from feeling that the work is too tiring and that you are not capable enough, do you have any other reasons? You can speak out any grievances you have!"

Bai Xiuling said: "Lan Jinchun is so good at writing articles. Every time she publishes an article in the Justice Daily, it causes a sensation among the teachers and students in the whole school. Everyone admires her very much. I also want to write an article, but I can't write it!"

Di Xiong laughed and said, "You only attended a private school for one year when you were young, and Lan Jinchun is a college student. You two are not even at the same starting line, so why bother yourself?"

Bai Xiuling's eyes turned red, and she said, "But others would compare her with me, and often talked about me behind my back, saying that I am so incompetent, but I still occupy the position of principal and refuse to let go. It is clear that she is a woman who is greedy for power. If she had not been your... secretary before, she would have been fired long ago."

Di Xiong said angrily, "Who is talking nonsense behind this? The Supervisory Office must investigate and punish them severely! This is a serious smear against a Justice Party member. I know all the hard work you have put into Zhengqing School over the years."

The Director of the Supervision Department, Su Jinxu, immediately agreed. After the last Justice Party meeting, three Mohists were added. Chief of Staff Jiang Hongyu, Director of the Supervision Department, Su Jinxu, and Deputy Director Bian Zhimei were all appointed as Mohists. Originally, only Jiang Hongyu was to be added, but someone at the meeting asked, how can the Director and Deputy Director of the Supervision Department, the most important department of the Justice Party, not be Mohists? So three more people were added.

Di Xiong asked Lan Jinping: "What do you think about this matter?"

Lan Jinping said: "Lan Jinchun is my sister, I am also not in a position to speak, Old Wu, just make the decision!"

Wu Zhong said, "I agree that President Bai should resign from the position of principal and be replaced by Principal Lan, but President Bai cannot be the vice principal. President Bai has not made any mistakes, so how can he be demoted? The newly established Beihai Provincial Government is still an empty shell and is seriously short of people. If President Bai doesn't mind, how about letting you be the director of the Education Department?"

Bai Xiuling said, "Governor Wu, don't joke around. I can't even be a principal with my skills, so how can I be a department director? Wouldn't it be more tiring than being a principal?"

Wu Zhong said, "I used to be a restaurant owner. What level of ability do I have? Wasn't I forced to become the governor? Don't worry, the job of the director of education is much easier than that of a school principal. You just need to visit each school every month, and the specific matters will be handled by the people below you."

Bai Xiuling asked, "Is what Governor Wu said true? Is being a department director so happy? You can't lie to me."

Di Xiong smiled and said, "I can guarantee this. The director has it much easier than the principal. If Old Wu dares to lie to you, I will punish him!"

After the meeting, the three major departments of the Justice Party were all busy. The Intelligence Department once again selected a group of elite personnel to form an intelligence team, with Dong Xuechun as the team leader, and quickly flew to Khabarovsk. The Supervision Department convened a meeting of the supervisors and informants below to arrange supervision tasks. The Propaganda Department also convened people from various departments and propaganda teams to work overtime to prepare propaganda materials.

When Di Xiong returned home, he saw that his son had already fallen asleep. Lan Jinchun was writing an article in the study room with a big belly. Di Xiong walked behind her, stroked her neck and said, "It seems that another masterpiece is about to be produced. As a reader of "Born to be a Hero", I feel honored to be the first to see the article!"

Lan Jinchun waved his hand and hit him lightly, angrily saying: "Don't make fun of me! My level is far worse than yours. You just don't have time to write because you are too busy at work."

Di Xiong said: "I really didn't lie to you. The article you wrote was so damaging that it forced Bai Xiuling to resign."

On the morning of September 21, 1918, at the Outer Northeast Beysk defense headquarters, Chief of Staff Khryukin said to Commander Perya: "Commander! Can you send another telegram to Commander-in-Chief Alexander and ask him to send a batch of planes over? Why do the other three cities have planes, but only Beysk has no planes? Is it because the two commanders of Vladivostok and Shuangchengzi are his relatives? Isn't this too much?"

Periya was a middle-aged man in his forties with a big beard. He shook his head and said, "It's useless. He made it very clear when I sent a telegram last time. The air force is very fast. As long as the battle starts here, planes from the other three cities will be able to rush to help within half an hour. There is no need to build another airport in Khabarovsk. Building an airport costs a lot of money."

Chief of Staff Khryukin said anxiously, "Commander, you can't be fooled by him. If the Black Flag Army attacks us, how can the planes come over if it happens to be raining and snowing? We have already done a simulation last time. If we were the Black Flag Army, we would definitely attack Khabarovsk first. Only by doing so can we cut the White Guard Army into two parts and defeat them one by one."

Periya said: "Hhryukin, you are worrying too much. If it rains or snows, the Black Flag Army's planes won't be able to get here! We all use ground troops to fight, it's fair."

Khryukin asked, "What if there is no rain or snow in Boli, but there is rain or snow in Temple Street?"

Periya said: "It can't be such a coincidence, right?"

Khryukin said anxiously, "Sunrise in the east and rain in the west has happened several times this year. Although the probability is very low, you can't bet the lives of 30,000 soldiers that weird weather won't happen!"

Peria sighed and said, "What you said makes sense, but it is definitely impossible to ask Alexander for a plane. We have to think of another way. What do you have in mind?"

Khryukin was stunned. He couldn't think of a solution. At this time, Deputy Commander Gaida, who was pouring vodka from his mouth, stopped and said, "Another way is to buy anti-aircraft guns from the Americans or Japanese! The commander doesn't even have money to buy guns, right?"

Periya said, "We do have money. We cleaned up Chinese merchants in the first half of the year and made a lot of money. There is gold and silver worth one million rubles in the warehouse. But now we are contacting American and Japanese merchants and waiting for them to use transport ships to transport the cannons. Is it too late?"

Khryukin said, "It's still in time. Didn't the Black Flag Army rest for half a year? Another ten days or half a month will be enough time."

At this time, the guard knocked on the door. After getting permission, he came in and reported: "Commander! There is a Japanese lady outside who claims to be from Japan Sanjin Trading Company. She has a batch of anti-aircraft guns to sell. If the commander wants to buy them, we can sell them to you at the lowest price!"

The three people in the office were overjoyed when they heard this. Periya said, "This is really timely help! Please come in!"

Li Jinxi, who was waiting outside the courtyard gate to be summoned, said to Dong Xuechun: "Team Leader Dong! I thought you were going to use a honey trap, but it turns out you were using a fake anti-aircraft gun to lure him out and kill him!"

Dong Xuechun stepped on Li Jinxi's foot, causing him to gasp in pain. She said coldly, "What do you mean? Don't you think I can do anything else except the honey trap? Do you really want me to sleep with the Russians?"