Chapter Thirty Construction

  Taking care of both public and private matters, I spent a few days in Shanghai with Yunyan, visiting my second sister and second brother. After Zhang Xueliang and Huang Yong'an had settled their affairs, we returned to Nanjing.

  Another meeting! However, it was a small meeting at the official residence, because Old Chiang still held grudges against He Yingqin and others, so there wasn't even an opening "lullaby".

  "Mr. Chairman! This is a draft plan for the reorganization of the Northeastern Army that Han Ying and I have discussed."

  Northeast Army Reorganization Plan

  The 51st Army and the 91st Division have a total of 15 regiments, which are planned to be reorganized into 1 division with 2 brigades and 4 regiments and 2 divisions with 3 regiments each.

  The 53rd Army has a total of 12 regiments and is planned to be reorganized into 3 divisions with 3 regiments each.

  The 57th Army has a total of 12 regiments and is planned to be reorganized into 3 divisions with 3 regiments each.

  The 67th Army has a total of 11 regiments and is planned to be reorganized into 3 divisions with 3 regiments each.

  The 105th Division and Headquarters Guard totaled about 10 regiments, with the remaining front-line troops to be reorganized into three divisions of three regiments each.

  The cavalry army has a total of 11 regiments, and it is planned to be reorganized into 3 three-regiment cavalry divisions.

  Directly under the 6th and 8th Artillery Brigades, the independent artillery regiment 17 and other support units were reorganized into five field artillery battalions and incorporated into five armies as army-affiliated artillery battalions, with the rest being reassigned to the Military Affairs Department.

  Each division adopted the 1925 infantry division organization of the army.

  Old Chiang only took a rough look and said, "Hmm, Zian's talk is okay, let's execute according to this draft! You guys discuss the details; what's the next agenda?"

  "Your subordinate and the General Staff Headquarters have revised the 'Defense Project of the Jinghu Area' proposed by Mr. Bai Li and Mr. Zi An, and decided to focus on building the Xicheng Line. The specific plan is to use reinforced concrete machine gun forts and war defense forts as the backbone, with new-style field fortifications as the main body, and add pre-war mine-laying preparations. This is a detailed construction distribution and progress chart, which will be completed by the end of June according to the new plan. Please instruct, Chairman."

  Heavy machine gun fort, regular octagonal shape, shooting hole adopts outer eight-character shape, shooting angle is generally 90 degrees, front wall thickness 100 cm, fort top and side wall thickness 75 cm, rear wall thickness 50 cm; lateral octagonal shape, shooting hole adopts inner eight-character shape, shooting angle is generally 70 degrees, wall thickness is the same as the former.

  War defensive gun emplacement, the strike angle is generally 70 degrees, the top cover and front wall thickness are 100 cm, the side wall thickness is 75 cm, and the rear wall thickness is 50 cm; with an observation room, the observation port is generally at a 60-degree angle, in an octagonal shape.

  Hidden compartment, located underground, can accommodate half a row of people resting, generally used as a command post.

  Ammunition depot, located underground.

  All of the above buildings have only one entrance, and the door is made of steel plate. The characteristics of the bunker are small in size, easy to hide, simple in construction and convenient to build, with quantity over quality.

  The main body of the field fortifications is a 4-meter-deep and 6-meter-wide large trench, as well as a 3-meter-high embankment formed by excavating soil to fill in the surrounding area. Various shelters are also built at the rear of the field position. Currently, except for roads and areas near residential points where construction has not yet started, all other locations have begun construction.

  "From Jiangyin to Taihu, a total of about 80 miles, except for the Jiangyin fortress, there are already and will be 723 reinforced concrete forts, generally built in groups of three, with one in front and two behind. According to the revised opinions, the last batch of more than 50 reinforced concrete forts is being constructed. Some large trenches that are far from roads and residential areas have started to be dug."

  Chiang Kai-shek also took a glance and then asked me: "Does Tzu-an have any other suggestions?"

  "Mr. Chairman, given the limited national strength, the Xi-Cheng line has already done its best to this extent. I have no further opinions on the engineering work. However, based on my prediction of the war situation, after the enemy occupies the Shanghai area, they will inevitably choose to attack Nanjing. I suggest that we abandon the follow-up construction plans for the Zhejiang-Jiangsu line and the Suzhou-Jiangsu line, and focus all our efforts on strengthening the Xi-Cheng line. After all, one solid defensive line in the main direction of combat is more effective than two weak ones; as for those two lines, we can rely on the existing small number of fortifications to form a defensive system with field fortifications, which can also play a significant role."

  "Uh-huh."

  "Moreover, having only engineering works without a garrison force is unable to exert defensive strength. In times of war, emergency troop deployments may be difficult to fully utilize, and deploying large armies now would also be inappropriate. Therefore, I believe that we should select one battalion from each garrison in Jiangnan, totaling over ten battalions, to advance and station ahead of time, equipped with light and heavy machine guns, light and heavy howitzers, and anti-tank guns. These troops will serve as fixed garrison forces and will no longer be redeployed. In times of war, they will be assigned to each division as combat units directly defending the concrete fortifications. In peacetime, they can also assist engineering troops in maintaining and reinforcing the fortifications."

  "Hmm, what's your opinion on forming an alliance?"

  Lin Bosen said: "We obey orders. Equivalent to three engineering brigades working together, in half a year we can complete at least 300 strongpoints and peripheral facilities; but the existing fortifications have basically taken shape, adding more would be difficult to choose terrain?"

  "Alright, let's reinforce the Xicheng line with all our might and strive to complete another 300 reinforced concrete strongpoints in the first half of this year. Can they be constructed on the second line?"

  "Director, may I ask where the troops are drawn from? And what about weapons?"

  "According to what Zǐ ān said, except for the 87th and 88th Divisions and the Sū Hù Dúlì Brigade which remained stationary on the first line, troops were drawn from various divisions stationed near Jīng Hù Háng, including the Instructional Corps; weapons were provided by the Jīn Líng Factory."

  "What about other weapons? Just war and defense cannons?"

  "Central Plains, isn't each division replacing their dual-use cannons? The removed anti-tank guns are just what we need."

  "Can the Chairman of the Committee go back on his promise last year to distribute the decommissioned war cannons to which ones..."

  "Hmm, won't it do for them?"

  Several people saw Old Jiang and were about to bite their ears off, I almost burst out laughing.

  Perhaps seeing my expression in the corner of his eye, Old Jiang asked: "Does Zi'an have any good ideas?"

  "Why don't we just use the heavy assault guns produced in our factory instead?! As for anti-tank vehicles, we can issue more heavy hand grenades to each division."

  "Does Xiangshan Factory still have spare capacity?"

  "It has been produced at full capacity, but some products are not wanted by the military and political departments, haha."

  "This is He Jingzhi!" Old Jiang immediately understood. "Alright, instruct them to follow this and it's settled! Are there any other topics?"

  "General Falkenhausen wanted to go to North China for inspection of defenses and needed an escort, but several people he chose were all vetoed by the general."

  "This old man! Who does he think is going? Is it Zian?"

  Why is it me again? Depressing! Hmph! This time I'll bring Yunyan along and go together! You're going to be furious!

  Datong Airport

  "General Falkenhausen, we meet again!" I cursed inwardly as I smiled to greet this old German.

  "Song, hello! Is this Mrs. Song? Nice to meet you." Falkenhausen, who was usually stiff, always appeared relaxed in front of me, "Oh! I think I should have met Mrs. Song at the Jiang's residence, right?"

  "Yes, General Falkenhausen, good day!" Yun Yan, dressed in a very ill-fitting hunting suit, gave a very proper bow.

  "Are you two preparing for an outing?"

  "This damned Faulkhausen! "Alright, I've heard that Shanxi is a beautiful place and Director Yan is very hospitable, I'll accompany my wife on a sightseeing trip."

  "Hahaha! Mind if I join you?"

  "Of course I don't mind, but whether Director Yan will entertain this uninvited guest is hard to say! Please!"

  "Please!"

  We arrived safely in Taiyuan after experiencing another baptism by rain.

  We several people obviously can't bear Yan Xishan's enthusiastic hospitality, after a big meal and drink, we finally got rid of Old Yan under the pretext of inspecting the Taiyuan Arsenal.

  Taiyuan Arsenal, products range from canned goods to mountain guns and other industrial products in Shanxi Province. In terms of weapons, the monthly production includes 1,500 rifles, 200 submachine guns, 200 light machine guns, 30 heavy machine guns, and various artillery pieces.

  Looking at the bustling production, Falkenhausen sighed: "Everywhere is busy producing military supplies, just like in 1914, Song, you say it's true, right?"

  "For us it may be 1914; for you perhaps only 1913 or even 1912."

  "How can you be sure?"

  "Are you German troops armed enough to defeat the Allied forces? The Führer won't overplay his hand."

  "Hehe, what about you? Will Chairman Mao call out your name?"

  "We're ready and waiting for Rì himself to make the first move."

  "Does he know how to play cards himself?"

  "In today's Japan, anyone who understands how to play the game is either dead or pretending to be stupid; because in today's Japan, especially in the Japanese army, only fools can survive and advance."

  Falkenhausen laughed and began to tease: "You were actually defeated by a group of fools? Ha ha!"

  "Does the general not know that there is an old Chinese saying: 'Killing a teacher with chaotic sticks'? This is also a very effective way of fighting! I believe you will taste it in Russia in the future!"

  "Ha! Falkenhausen's smile faltered. 'Song, I hear your recent predictions have been quite accurate, haven't they?'"

  "It's okay! Someone has already called me 'Big Immortal'! Haha!"

  "Do you think Germany will go to war with Russia?"

  "Of course, what the leader says will be done."

  "Russia? I heard your relationship with Russia is warming up?"

  "Yes, if Sino-German relations cool down a bit, Sino-Russian relations will warm up accordingly."

  Falkenhausen sighed, "I have already written to the Führer about your views on the Tripartite Pact last time, but the Führer still believes that allying with Japan can tie down Russia, Britain, France and the US in the Far East; you are about to be abandoned by the Führer."

  "Thanks to the general's candor, we had anticipated this."

  "But the head of state has promised and we have signed an agreement that all trade will be fulfilled until..."

  It's still the same as history! I also sighed: "You will be called over by the Japanese in the future and lose the war!"

  "Let's go! Let's go back and listen to Director Yan and his subordinates preparing for the Shanxi defense war!"