Chapter Eighteen: Ignition

  Early in the morning, Ji Youguo had just arrived at the study in Xiyuan Garden when the phone on the desk rang.

  "I am... okay, I know." Putting down the phone, Ji Youguo let out a sigh, then turned on the TV and switched to the news channel.

  Fierce battles between Indian and Pakistani special forces near the Kashmir ceasefire line are no longer news.

  Hundreds of journalists from major TV stations and news agencies around the world have been waiting at the press center of the Presidential Palace in Islamabad for the latest news since dawn. Prior to this, a TV station released a pictorial report that an Indian special forces team crossed the ceasefire line into Pakistan's actual control area and was met with fierce resistance from Pakistani special forces, resulting in 21 Indian special forces soldiers being killed in action and one missing.

  When Sheriff appeared on the screen, Ji Youguo pressed the switch on the intercom. "Little Wang, come in for a moment."

  Wang Yuanqing hastily walked into the study of the head of state. On the TV screen, Sheriff was condemning India's military provocative actions.

  "Arrange a sedan for me to go to the General Staff Department." Ji Youguo glanced at the TV screen, "Cancel all activities today and let Prime Minister Pang Xinglong handle state affairs on my behalf."

  "Go now?"

  "Right, I'll go right away."

  Wang Yuanqing did not hesitate and immediately went out to arrange relevant matters.

  When Ji Youguo left the study, Sheriff's "speech" had ended, and the scene returned to the news channel studio. Hei Shibai, a famous host with the nickname "Black Big Mouth", was discussing related topics with special guest, Rear Admiral of the Republic Navy, Professor Zhang Xingcheng of the National Defense University.

  On his way to the General Staff Headquarters, Ji Youguo received a phone call from Defense Minister Zhao Rundong and Foreign Minister Huang Guohua.

  "Later you go find Pong Xinglong Premier and tell him that for the time being, we won't make any statement. When necessary, I will contact him."

  "Do we need to greet the foreign minister?"

  Ji Youguo rubbed his chin. "You can tell Huang Guohui to arrange for a spokesperson to express high concern in an informal setting, just don't reveal our attitude."

  Wang Yuanqing immediately took note of these two points.

  "Also, you need to go to the Ministry of National Defense in person, otherwise Zhao Rundong will think that I have pushed the Ministry of National Defense aside."

  "What should I say to Minister Zhao Rundong?"

  "For the time being, don't tell him the truth, let him come to the General Staff Department this afternoon, I'll talk to him personally."

  Wang Yuanqing nodded and took note of it again.

  Upon arriving at the General Staff Headquarters, Ji Youguo and Wang Yuanqing immediately sensed a tense atmosphere.

  Peng Maobang personally went to the gate to welcome Ji Youguo, and Wang Yuanqing took the opportunity to bid farewell and leave.

  "How is Pakistan's preparation going?"

  "We have entered a state of highest alert. We have deployed three reconnaissance satellites, and the 'Vulture' has also been activated to closely monitor every move of the Indian military." Peng Maobang quickened his pace to keep up with Ji Youguo's stride. "The Indian government just released a message that they will hold a press conference at 10:30 New Delhi time, which is roughly two and a half hours from now."

  "It's time to strike." Ji Youguo smiled coldly and said, "Are our troops all in position?"

  "All in position, combat orders have been issued, and contact has been made with 'Swordfish'."

  "'Swordfish'?" Ji Youguo stopped in his tracks outside the combat center, looking over at Peng Maobang.

  Peng Maobang pushed the door open for the Premier and went in, only then did he say: "The 'Swordfish' arrived at the outer sea of the Dalambili submarine base yesterday afternoon and discovered India's 'Hunter' nuclear submarine. It is now tracking and monitoring it. After the war breaks out, the first mission of the 'Swordfish' will be to sink the 'Hunter'."

  "How confident is he?"

  "Easy as falling off a log."

  Ji Youguo slightly furrowed his brow, seemingly thinking that Peng Maobang was a bit too confident.

  The staff in the command center immediately stood at attention and saluted when they saw Ji Youguo and Peng Maobang.

  To avoid disturbing the staff's work, Peng Maobang took Ji Youguo to a nearby battlefield situation intelligence center. This was a small room of only about 100 square meters, with display screens covering all four walls, and five staff members who were proficient in intelligence and instrument operation were busy at work.

  "Don't be polite, you all continue." After finishing speaking, Peng Maobang called up Ji Youguo to walk towards the sofa in the corner.

  It seemed that he was not quite adapted to the dim environment in the room, and after a while, Ji Youguo finally saw the things around him clearly. "Old Peng, you go busy, don't need to take care of me."

  "This..."

  "If there's anything, I'll call you."

  Peng Maobang called over a duty soldier and then stood up to leave.

  At this time, he was indeed very busy and could not stay to accompany Ji Youguo.

  After Peng Maobang left, Ji Youguo lit a cigarette and fell into deep thought.

  Before this, both India and Pakistan lacked a direct reason to start a war, but now they are no longer lacking in this condition.

  After the outbreak of war, India will definitely take the initiative, can Pakistan withstand India's first round of attack?

  Rubbing his temples, Ji Youguo relaxed a bit.

  These days, he has been paying close attention to the situation in South Asia, and all state affairs have been handed over to Pang Xinglong. In order to better understand the direction of India-Pakistan war, he asked Peng Maobang to submit a special report on the forecast of the war situation.

  The report explicitly states that if India launches a surprise attack, Pakistan will find it difficult to resist.

  This conclusion is not a conjecture, but the result of deduction. In the hours following the outbreak of war, the main combat forces on both sides were air forces, namely air force aviation and missile troops. The scale of the Indian Air Force was five times that of Pakistan, and its combat effectiveness was three times that of Pakistan. If it were to be suddenly attacked, more than 60% of Pakistan's combat aircraft would be destroyed on the ground. Even if prepared, the Pakistani Air Force could only barely guarantee air superiority in strategic areas, and it would be difficult to contend with the Indian Air Force.

  In three days, the Pakistan Air Force will be wiped out.

  He flicked off the ash and took another strong drag, making the tobacco burn with a "sizzling" sound.

  From the deployment of the Indian Army, after seizing air superiority, the main direction of the army's attack was Lahore in Punjab Province, quickly inserting into the plain area between the Jhelum River and the Indus River, cutting off the land transportation between Pakistan's capital Islamabad and the vast southern region, preventing Pakistani troops from moving northward, isolating Islamabad, forcing Pakistan to withdraw troops from Kashmir to defend its capital. Then, the Indian Army concentrated its forces to attack the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir region, occupying the entire Kashmir, and encircling Islamabad from the flank. In the face of being surrounded by the capital, Pakistan would inevitably surrender.

  Within ten days, Pakistan will be defeated.

  Ji Youguo suddenly burst out laughing, thinking he had taken things too seriously.

  The course and change of the war cannot be predicted by anyone. In Peng Dehuai's report, the Chinese army was not taken into consideration. Of course, the key is still air superiority. If the Pakistani side can maintain air superiority, the Indian Army will find it difficult to make a difference on the ground battlefield.

  Ji Youguo had just thought of this when Peng Maobang hastily rushed over.

  "Anything new?" Ji Youguo pulled out a cigarette and handed it over.

  Peng Maobang nodded and took the cigarette, saying: "The air force base in northwest India has entered a state of combat readiness, and fighter jets are taking off one after another."

  "Has the message been conveyed to Pakistan?"

  "Contact has been made with Item Hua, Pakistan Air Force's air defense fighters will take off within five minutes. Our combat aircraft deployed on the western battlefield have also taken off, and the early warning aircraft is heading south, expected to arrive over the Pamir Plateau in fifteen minutes."

  Ji Youguo smiled faintly. "It seems that every move India makes is within our expectations."

  "The air force is only the second wave of assault, India will first use ballistic missiles to attack Pakistan's frontline air bases." Peng Maobang quickly lit a cigarette. "Pakistan's missile troops have also entered combat readiness and will immediately counterattack if they are hit by Indian missiles, striking India's military targets."

  "Can it achieve sudden results?"

  Peng Maobang shook his head and said, "The Pakistani military has already received the news, and defensive preparations are in place. Unless India receives tactical intelligence support from the United States, it will be difficult to determine how many short-range ballistic missiles Pakistan has. The first wave of missile strikes targeted military targets, and Indian Air Force combat aircraft have taken off, but only in the second wave of missile strikes can they deal with the Indian Air Force's combat aircraft."

  "It seems like you've thought of everything that can be thought of."

  Peng Maobang smiled faintly and said, "We considered these situations when formulating the plan. We also established a strategic communication channel with the Pakistani Joint Staff Headquarters, with Xiang Tonghui's trial troops responsible for intelligence liaison work, which can send intelligence to them at the fastest speed. As long as the Pakistani Joint Staff Headquarters is willing to listen to our opinions and suggestions and does not make low-level mistakes, the situation will change within four to five hours."

  "It's too early to rejoice, India has definitely got US intelligence support."

  Peng Maobang nodded, but he didn't tell Ji Youguo that this situation was also specified in the plan.

  At this time, You Hongjun arrived at the battlefield situation intelligence center and whispered a few words in Peng Maobang's ear.

  "Are you sure?" Peng Maobang suddenly stood up.

  Ji Youguo hesitated for a moment and also stood up.

  "Reconnaissance satellite just took a photo, the missile tail flame is very clear."

  Peng Maobang nodded and gestured for You Hongjun to put the image on the big screen.

  In Ji Youguo's eyes, there were only a few bright spots on the infrared photograph, and everything else was blurry.

  "The launch position of the missile matches the deployment location of Indian missile troops we previously determined, and the infrared radiation characteristics also match India's 'Prithvi' missile. The trajectory of the missile has been calculated, and it will hit five forward air bases in eastern Pakistan in 15 minutes."

  "How many missiles in total?"

  "Less than fifty, far fewer than we previously thought."

  Peng Maobang's expression immediately relaxed, as if he had taken a tranquilizer.

  You Hongjun hesitated for a moment and asked, "Do we need to contact 'Swordfish'?"

  "Signal 'Swordfish' to proceed with attack, war has broken out."

  After You Hongjun left, Peng Maobang finally let out a sigh of relief.

  Ji Youguo didn't feel nervous at all. In his opinion, everything was going as expected, and there was nothing to worry about.