Chapter Twenty-Six Strasbourg

  Strasbourg (strasb) is located at the eastern end of French territory, facing Germany across the Rhine River. It is the capital of France's Grand Est region and Bas-Rhin department. In history, Germany and France have alternated in owning sovereignty over Strasbourg many times. This beautiful city, which now has many important institutions of the European Union, already belongs to Germany. After June 22, when France formally signed an armistice agreement, Germany occupied the northern and Atlantic coastal territories of France, accounting for about two-fifths of the original French territory. The Vichy France led by Pétain moved to central and southern France.

  Strasbourg is close to the Maginot Line and was a major collection point for supplies. After the German army occupied part of France, it used the existing French military base on the outskirts of Strasbourg as a transit collection point for captured materials. Now the place is filled with all sorts of equipment from British and French troops, including large-scale equipment abandoned by the Anglo-French coalition during the Dunkirk evacuation. On the open ground are various cars, armored vehicles, tanks, and artillery pieces, with a small number of French aircraft mixed in, while warehouses are full of guns and ammunition. As the collection work nears its end, the amount of military supplies arriving daily has gradually decreased. In recent days, Germany has begun to implement "Operation Sea Lion", with main air force units deployed to military airports in northern France, and ground troops have also begun to assemble.

  At an altitude of 20,000 meters, a small aircraft with a wingspan of less than 5 meters and a strange shape has circled the material base on the outskirts of Strasbourg several times. The high-magnification camera that can rotate below records all the observed information. This is the fourth time that the reconnaissance plane from the floating base has secretly visited France.

  In the fourth group of the staff room on the floating base, all the staff members are carefully distinguishing the ground facilities and defense situation in the aerial photographs. Identifying the vehicles and troop numbers that come and go. Yan Wu has been working continuously for three days, and now he is reporting to the chief of staff Hu Baixi and He Junci with bloodshot eyes on the formulated plan.

  "From Chongqing to Strasbourg, the hoverbase can travel at full speed in 26 hours. We can take advantage of the 6-hour time difference between the two places and use the cover of night to arrive over two nights. So the whole plan will take five days."

  "The personnel involved include the 11th Airborne Brigade stationed at the floating base, who will provide air cover; and the 1st Airborne Infantry Regiment, who will be responsible for ground security and transportation of supplies." Yan Wu explained the overall plan in detail to the two officers.

  "How is the emergency plan being considered?" Hu Baixi asked.

  "Our plan is to descend to an altitude of 3000 meters after dark and release the warning aircraft. After confirming the situation, the First Battalion of the Marine Corps will parachute into several key locations, including here, here, and here." Yan Wu pointed out the distinguishable traffic routes on the map one by one.

  "After the success, the floating base landed here, and the equipment was transported by the 2nd and 3rd battalions of the 1st Marine Regiment. The priority was to transport guns, cannons, and ammunition onto the floating base using transport vehicles, followed by other supplies. After the entire plan succeeded, the material base was set on fire, leaving behind clues from the French Resistance to mislead the enemy."

  "If we fail halfway, think of a way to withdraw the personnel. If it's really impossible to withdraw, unify the tone and surrender to the German army as French mercenaries." Yan Wu explained. "However, observing these days, the German troops are very lax in guarding this material gathering place on the Franco-German border, and the success rate of the entire plan is very high."

  "After the floating base leaves, what about the air defense of Chuannei? Is there a good solution?" He Juncai had to ask carefully since he was in charge of Chuannei's air defense matters.

  "Strengthen surveillance of the airport occupied by the Japanese army, leaving two reconnaissance planes to repeatedly patrol, and strengthen ground air defense sentries along the Chuanjiang River. Deploy the Soviet Volunteer Air Force to the Guangyangba Airport in Chongqing, with the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Air Forces sending out patrol fighter jets in batches every day. With all this plus the wireless telegraph equipment already equipped to each squadron, it should be possible to guarantee 5 days of air defense." This issue has also been considered by Yan Xiu, if going to Europe to loot results in Chongqing being bombed again, the Air Force's guilt will be great.

  "I think the plan is quite complete, Pengfei (He Junci took a pen name to adapt to this era's peer-to-peer naming convention), I think you and I should go report to Director Zhou together, what do you say?" This bold plan made Hu Baixi very satisfied. The report to Zhou Zhiyong was also successful, Zhou Zhiyong immediately called in the Commander-in-Chief of the Operations Command Center, Mao Bangchu, to assist with the implementation of this plan, while he himself went to report and ask for instructions from the Chairman.

  "Bai Fu (Zhou Zhi Rou's courtesy name), is this plan the one you mentioned earlier? The plan is well thought out and has strong feasibility. However, safety must be prioritized, especially with regards to the floating base, there can't be any mishaps. This plan can be used to train troops, and while gaining materials is secondary, it's crucial not to lose sight of the bigger picture due to minor setbacks!" Chiang Kai-shek was mainly worried about potential losses from his most important reliance in the future.

  "Yes, Chairman!"

  "By the way, does this plan have a name?"

  "Not yet named, let the chairman name it!" Zhou Zhiyou heard the lyrics and knew the elegant meaning. Chiang Kai-shek touched his own bald head, thought for a moment, and said: "Europe is also known as Europa, so let's call it Journey to Europa."

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  After the Chairman approved the Europa travel plan, the floating base began to streamline personnel and equipment. Shen Debiao sent someone to receive 10 simulators and 5 trainer planes, He Junci gave him a surprise, simply installing some new programs on the simulator can simulate the operation of the main fighter jets of the existing Chinese Air Force, which will greatly improve the training efficiency of the Central Aviation School moving to Kunming.

  While the Equipment Department's Huang Guangrui set up the Central Aerodynamics Institute on a floating base and some personnel relocated back to Chengdu, He Junci provided him with two computers, on which he installed CAD programs and wind tunnel simulators. Before leaving, He Junci set the boot password to Huang Guangrui's fingerprint and told him to strengthen confidentiality for the institute.

  The deputy commander of the 4th Flying Group, Zheng Shaoyu, led most of the group's members to set up a ground command post on Nanshan, responsible for air defense matters after the floating base left the Kawachi area.

  The Eleventh Squadron was also busy, with ground crew members inspecting and repairing aircraft, erasing the existing blue sky white day camouflage paint and repainting it with black protective color. The squadron leader Liu Zesheng took the pilots to strengthen their night flight training under the control of the floating air base radar and command. Relying on the advanced avionics system of the "Jian-1", the Eleventh Squadron had a greater advantage at night.

  Colonel Li Hanping, commander of the First Army Regiment, led the first battalion to the Floating Air Base for targeted training. The first thing Li Hanping did after arriving at the Floating Air Base was to report to the commander-in-chief of this Europa trip, his superior officer Mao Bangchu. In the air operations command room, he met He Junci, who was discussing something with Mao Bangchu.

  Li Hanping looked up and down at the mysterious chairman's right-hand man. Wearing glasses, slightly chubby, with confidence in his eyes. "Colonel He, there is some disturbance in the affairs of the Floating Airbase." The Floating Airbase was the main base of He Junci's Fourth Flying Squadron of the Air Force, hence this remark.

  "It's nothing, it's nothing. After the Air Force's attack on the city, we still have to rely heavily on Colonel Li." Later generations like He Junci will also master this skill of mutual flattery.

  "This time, apart from the first battalion being equipped with light weapons, other troops did not carry any weapons and lacked heavy firepower. If we encounter enemy entanglement, we really need to rely on Colonel He's help! Moreover, our training time is too tight this time, and we lack instructors for parachute training, so the risk of parachuting is still quite high, please take care of this point, Colonel He." In recent days, Li Hanping has been following the newly established airborne troops for training, and he is more aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the department.

  "It's none of your business!" He Juncai retorted.

  "It seems that you two have already discussed and decided, we might as well go through the entire plan again to see if there's anything missing." This was the first time the Chinese army had carried out a mission abroad, and it was in Europe, 7,000 kilometers away. Mao Bangchu was still worried about whether the plan could succeed. Several people called for Colonel Yan Wu, chief of staff, and went through the Europa travel plan from start to finish again.

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  Based on the information continuously sent back by the reconnaissance plane and He Juncai's understanding of history, the final time was set at August 11. In this way, the time for implementing the robbery plan in Strasbourg would be August 13, which is exactly the famous "Eagle Day". On that day, the German army dispatched 1,485 aircraft, launching a surprise attack on seven airports in southern England during the day and attacking British aircraft factories at night. The British army deployed 727 aircraft to fight back. In the fierce battle, it was difficult for both sides to notice a small situation that appeared at a certain material gathering point behind the front line under the cover of darkness.

  Before departure, the floating base landed again under the cover of night at Base One in Bishan. Here, not only did they unload the redundant equipment, supplies and personnel that had been streamlined earlier, but also received new replenishment, especially for the more than 3,000 soldiers of the First Regiment of the Air Force Marine Corps.

  Mao Bangchu also required that tonight's supply is a rehearsal for the Europa Travel Plan, and the Airborne Command loaded supplies according to the plan. First, 8 "Jian-1" fighter jets were released at an altitude of 3000 meters, patrolling in four directions. Second, the first battalion parachuted down from an altitude of 500 meters, simulating the occupation of strategic points. When the floating base landed on the ground, the second and third battalions transported supplies.

  The whole process went relatively smoothly, except for a few paratroopers who got stuck in the trees and took some effort to return to base. Thus, the Europa Journey plan was officially implemented under the command of Mao Bangchu.

  The floating base rose from the ground, retracted the plane, and after covering the top, it rose to an altitude of 20,000 meters and flew westward at its fastest speed under the cover of night.

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