Chapter Thirty-Four: The Pain of Parting

  Tan Xiao and his entourage arrived in Lingling, already midnight. He knew that Rong Hui had been delayed just to see him off, and he was very moved. However, Rong Hui's trip this time is of great importance. In addition to the establishment of "Dongfang Eye Glasses Snake", receiving products from six Indian ordnance factories, they also need to apply for a large number of patents and determine new weapon production processes, etc., with a huge workload. To finalize the preparations, he went straight to Lingling Ordnance Factory overnight to check on the progress of the new weapons.

  In the research and development workshop of the Lingling Ordnance Factory, Tan Xiao saw his dream come true - a new type of submachine gun: after German engineers developed the MP-38, Chinese engineers who had been preparing for some time also developed their own versions of the PPSh and Sten guns. The PPSh was now called the "Bao Sha Shi" (Raiding Style), while the Sten was called the "Xiang Sha Shi" (Fighting Style). There was also a third type that combined elements of all three: its exterior and contents were more similar to the "Bao Sha Shi", with many parts made of wood rather than steel, as China had an abundance of wood; however, its barrel and heat dissipation sleeve used the structure of the "Xiang Sha Shi", in order to install a silencer, while the stock used a folding design. This submachine gun, called the "Bao Sha Jing Ying" (Raiding Elite), was specifically designed for special forces units.

  Tan Xiao also prepared a batch of weapon design drawings, but they did not have perfect parameters and sample guns. They included the later "Type 56" semi-automatic rifle, but with a caliber of 6.5mm - mainly to match Tan Xiao's rifle assembly plan. Anyway, Tan Xiao didn't care about the "Hague Convention", special bullets were used as usual, and lethality was not a problem.

  Also, Tan Xiao had always planned to reform the Czech-style plan. Although the reform plan was out, this reform was also a waste of resources. The original Czech-style used clips, and ammunition replenishment was more convenient for non-main force troops. So after Tan Xiao had the support of six factories in India, he abandoned the reform of the Czech style and directly adopted the "Type 56" light machine gun of later generations, only changing it to a design with interchangeable barrels. As for not adopting more advanced models, Tan Xiao was mainly worried about the material problems of this era, especially when these weapons were introduced domestically, how they would be unpredictable. So Tan Xiao didn't dare to "design" some more advanced weapons.

  As for other advanced products such as the RPG anti-tank rocket series, plastic explosives and the armor-piercing shells derived from it, they were classified as top-secret and required to be developed but not mass-produced, instead being kept as technical reserves. After all, these weapons are not difficult to develop in this era, and once industrialized enemy countries like Japan master them, there will be endless troubles.

  The next morning, Tan Xiao, who had been busy all night, finished sorting out all the materials and went back to the office building to wait for Rong Hui.

  However, Tan Xiao and others came with Wu Sheng. Wu Sheng's first sentence was: "Little Jiujiu is leaving, you see her off..."

  Wu Dezhong is leaving for Nanjing, she has been admitted by the Central Army University.

  She stood alone on the small wharf, a military wharf with no other ships berthed except for the steamer she was about to board. Her attendants and bodyguards had all gone aboard already, or were they too overcome by this parting to look on?

  The newly sprouted willow was repeatedly teased by the river wind on the water's surface, drawing and chasing, provoking a group of small fish to curiously pursue. She looked at the water's surface and from time to time glanced at the path leading to the distance, he hasn't come, will he come?

  "I know that in your heart, there's only her, but my fate is already sealed, I can only be yours. I know, I'm just a simple country girl with no experience, I don't understand as much as she does, and I couldn't chat with foreigners... Maybe I should just do my part, stay at home every day, cook for you, and wait for you... and her to come back. Maybe I should give birth to a child, and then let him replace you in keeping me company every day... But I really envy the way you two have so much to talk about when you eat together, I don't understand what you're saying, but I really want to chat with you both. I get it now, you need someone who understands you, so I'll try my best to be that person. I'll read books, attend military school, and one day I'll wear the same uniform as her... will you like talking to me then?... Now, every day Father and Uncle talk about you, you're a great general now, all you care about is your army, your leader... and her. You don't tease me or bully me anymore... but I liked being bullied by you..."

  A person's wild thoughts, a person's self-pity, Wu Dezhong saw the number of times he went back and forth on the road increasing.

  The old bully who used to tease her, the naughty boy who had grown up, was now a man who made decisions for all of China. She said that if he succeeded in what he wanted to do, the Chinese people would no longer be bullied by foreigners, so he was a hero. He was not only her husband, but also the hero of all Chinese people - she knew what it meant to be a hero. The naughty boy who had pushed her into the pond from behind had become Grandpa Yue, and he no longer teased her; every day, he was busy talking to foreigners, then he wanted to protect all Chinese people... On the days when she was left alone in the house and couldn't go out, she saw him concentrating on reading files, rushing out of the door, working day and night. Unconsciously, she felt a hollow feeling in her heart when she couldn't see him. That was love, romance, she was sure - she had finally experienced the feeling that people talked about.

  Why is it that when you love someone, they always end up loving someone else? Everything about her was strange and yet somehow true.

  He came, Tan Xiao finally appeared. The guards all kept a distance, only he walked over alone.

  Tan Xiaoyan saw his fiancée from afar, and he understood why she wanted to attend school and military academy. Because he wore a uniform, so did she. For this reason, for the first time in her life, she made up her mind about something and persisted. She convinced his father and He Shaotang, who became her recommender to enter the military academy. He felt that he was really moved by her silent persistence, but would he love her?

  From afar, Wu De saw Tan Xiao and couldn't help but smile. The morning dew painted a rosy hue on her cheeks. Ah, she stood so sweetly amidst the sunrise, radiating purity, and quietly nestled among the spring grass, spreading fragrance. The gentle breeze blowing through her cloak added an air of freshness to her - Tan Xiao found himself having a hint of infatuation for her, he wanted to take her into his arms.

  But he restrained himself, they stared at each other for a long time, then she lowered her head, shyly avoiding his gaze...

  "Let me see you in uniform one day earlier..." These were his last words to her.

  Isn't this exactly what she wanted to do? She suddenly felt that he had understood her, and everything she did had paid off. With a sense of satisfaction and joy, she boarded the ship that was about to set sail...

  Her boat had sailed far into the sunrise, and his line of sight was already blurred by the rising sun on the eastern river surface, but he hadn't turned back yet, still standing there, because he knew she must not have gone into the cabin, she must still be waving her handkerchief...

  At the moment of parting with Wu Dezhong, Tan Xiao suddenly felt a hint of sadness, and even thought of retaining him...

  To the north of Xiaoshui, Wu Deqiang left. In the evening, to the south of Xiaoshui, she also had to leave. Suddenly, Tan Xiao felt a pang of sadness, he was in pain...

  Since Tan Xiao rushed to Guiyang, Dai Gao Le has been urging Rong Hui to go south.

  But she just wanted to wait for him, even if it was just a glimpse of each other and exchange a few words of small talk. She didn't want to walk alone, hoping his gaze would follow her from behind.

  This big boy still doesn't know how many things he has to worry about. Since learning that Tan Xiao violently beat Kong Xiangxi and Song Ziwen, Rong Hui's heart skipped a beat. She thought he did wrong, but she couldn't tell him he was wrong. He is her man, he can only be right; since she chose him, then she could only try to help him get through one hurdle after another. Obviously, Kong and Song will hate Tan Xiao to the bone from now on, even to the point of not giving up until death! So now it's no longer important to talk about what was done correctly or not, apologize? Yield? That would only lead to a faster demise! Taking advantage of the current glory of Tan Xiao's successful negotiations with Germany, they must seize the time, before Chiang Kai-shek's financial dependence on Kong and Song becomes strong again, before that 100 million marks is spent, they must make their man stronger, strong enough for his opponents not to dare look him straight in the eye!

  This time, she not only wants to build a strong external support base for him in India, but also to urge that matter - the early realization of the Qinzhou Bay plan. Only then will he truly have his own territory; only then can his military talents be fully displayed; and only then can he resist the attacks of political enemies.

  From a distance, she watched him approach - they were originally together to see off Wu Dezhu at the dock, it was her who said that perhaps Little Nine just wanted to see him, so she stayed behind on the road about a mile away.

  "According to the national government's current financial income, it is around 15 million per month, half of which has to be used to repay the Boxer Indemnity... Do you think one hundred million marks can make the national government live comfortably for how long?" Rong Hui asked. She didn't want to talk about such serious topics at this moment of reluctant farewell, but she still wanted to remind him through this method: Chiang Kai-shek would eventually return to the day when he had to compromise with Kong Xiangxi and Song Ziwen for money.

  "Hmm, thanks to Germany's military aid, we can save over a million in military expenses every month, which can make up for other expenditures. Besides... Tan Xiao was never good at managing finances anyway, he wouldn't know how to calculate it."

  "You're just not good at math... But don't worry, from now on your wallet will be in my hands..." The slyness in her dimples was almost overflowing...

  "I'm saying, if you were in charge now, this 100 million marks could last for five years... But if someone else is extravagant, then it's hard to say." Rong Hui continued: "Although you're not good at managing finances, you're great at making money... However, there are many people who spend money, especially some people who just lost a large sum..."

  Tan Xiao suddenly understood what Rong Hui wanted to say, and this was indeed a hidden worry: if the 100 million marks he had brought back from Germany were embezzled by Kong Xiangxi and others through various means, then the relatively affluent financial environment he had built for the National Government would deteriorate instantly, with very serious consequences. Apart from having a lethal impact on the financial expenditure of the war of resistance, Chiang Kai-shek's reliance on their Jiangsu-Zhejiang financial clique would also increase, which would clearly be unfavorable to him. He also understood that his relationship with Kong and Song was now irreconcilable!

  As soon as he saw him, he frowned and knew that he had understood: "In the past two days, I have been discussing with the Germans about the huge kickbacks received by some people in the former National Government. Remind them to pay attention not to let Germany's aid fall into the hands of those who are taking advantage of making a fortune rather than truly strengthening the military, and destroy your plan to force Japan under the Pacific. The Germans also think that there should be a supervisory mechanism, so I suggest that both sides establish a specialized agency responsible for the allocation of these or military aid materials, and they agree."

  "But isn't this putting a tight lid on ourselves?" Tan Xiao was actually worried that the Germans would have control over the allocation of those supplies, and if things changed, it would be more troublesome.

  "The Germans all know who they are defending against, so the specially established institution between the two parties is actually defending against him. Those people from the German delegation are all important figures and won't stay for long. So, the personnel on the German side of this institution are Falkenhausen and Guderian, who wants to stay in China to study tank tactics. As for the Chinese side...” Rong Hui suddenly wrapped her arms around Tan Xiao's neck: "I don't want you to exhaust yourself... The Germans will suggest He Yingqin and Yang Yongtai!"

  He Yingqin is the Minister of Military and Political Affairs, Yang Yongtai is Chiang Kai-shek's first advisor, they are very compatible, and they both have a reputation for being clean. Kong Xiangxi wants to move his mind here, go and fight with them! As for Tan Xiaotang's own troops' equipment, he has two German fans speaking out, what's the fear of not getting one's share? Moreover, there are Britain and France behind him! Rong Hui is going to shift the blame to Jiangdong.

  "Besides, from the cooperation plan between China and France, I thought of another idea, which is to fear... " Rong Hui smiled: "Fear that you will say I am a traitor!"

  "What? Betray the country? We can't even sell out now, haha" Tan Xiao also burst out laughing. He didn't believe Rong Hui would betray the country, because he loved his country so much.

  "If England and France were to get a port that would exempt them from taxation... what would other countries think? For instance, the United States..." Rong Hui continued: "According to your military analysis, all the coastal areas will be occupied by Japan, why don't we just sell a few more ports?"

  Tan Xiao's mind suddenly flashed like a bolt of lightning!...

  To ensure Rong Hui's safety and sufficient manpower for future work, Tan Xiao arranged a group of assistants and bodyguards to accompany Rong Hui to India. This included Tang Fan leading a team of thirty advisors, Li Huan leading a squad of special forces, as well as two newly joined martial arts experts from the Wild One Regiment, Huang Xiaoxia and Lin Yintang. With this lineup plus Rong Hui's own black bodyguards, they would be able to sweep aside any opposing forces in India. Moreover, they also had Xie Te and those greedy British troops stationed in India on their side.

  Huang Xiao and Lin Yintang were both famous Guangdong martial arts masters in Southeast Asia, with their disciples and allies spread throughout the region. They were very helpful to the development of "Eastern Eyeglasses Snake" in Vietnam. Once they understood what Tan Xiao had been doing and why, the two patriotic hot-blooded men immediately asked to join Ye Yi's team! As for Yang Chengfu and Lin Yaoguang, it was the same, except that the latter had to return to Guangzhou to resign from his position in the Guangdong Army; while Yang Chengfu had already started serving as a hand-to-hand combat instructor in Ye Yi's team - his skills with the white wax stick would be wasted if they weren't incorporated into the bayonet!

  "Go, let's take a look at my plane!" Perhaps not wanting to part like this, perhaps wanting to leave some memories before parting, Tan Xiao suggested going to see the DH-10 brought by Xie Te. Now, Lingling already has two airfields, one of which was built by the National Army in the past, and the other is a newly built military airport for the First Division.

  The military airport of Yeouido was very simple, and the ground crew who were not very familiar with it were still using a simple hand-cranked pump to refuel the plane. The runway was good, or rather, the airport was basically just an incredibly wide runway, even if the technology wasn't great, you couldn't fly out of it. The one taking them on a tour was the aircraft maintenance man "Old Toby" from the British military stationed in India.

  Now, the Wild One squadron already has its own air force, with an astonishing number of 213 aircraft, thanks to Old Toby's meticulous care. If not for dismantling some planes into spare parts, there would be even more. Although this old plane can't compare to the speed of modern cars, it's a great trainer plane. In the absence of enemy planes, it can also conduct artillery training and serve as a reconnaissance and harassment tool against infantry. The Wild One squadron currently has 60 trainee pilots, but only Old Toby is available as an instructor, and he's also responsible for training ground crew personnel. However, Old Toby's work enthusiasm is very high, and he doesn't have any complaints. If it were just for the generous pay, it would be hard to achieve such results. He must be a veteran who loves flying and planes. Tan Xiao quickly made this judgment.

  "General, you're going to see a fantastic fighter!" Old Toby said proudly: "Right, let me introduce myself to this beautiful lady, Anthony Topkins! Everyone calls me Old Toby, what they called me twenty years ago when I was young..." Old Toby was a World War I veteran who loved flying. Later the Royal Air Force eliminated all disabled pilots, so he came to India - here they needed someone to manage those inventory planes, not air force, but can fly, and he came.

  A chatterbox, but also an excellent pilot! This was Tan Xiao's evaluation of this friendly British crippled pilot. Perhaps, after he sold all his planes to Lingling, this guy would take root here, and he would be a good instructor. Tan Xiao thought to himself: Let him bring in a few more experienced teammates, even if they are cripples.

  "Old Toby, I don't think anyone loves blue skies more than you, can you tell me the reason?" Tan Xiao asked.

  "My old buddies, most of them have gone to heaven..." Old Toby was a bit sad: "For our fight for justice... the blue sky is closer to heaven..." The melancholy atmosphere grew thicker.

  A guy with a lot of human touch and a sense of justice... If his disciples were to fight the Japanese devils in the sky one day, the old man would definitely fly up! Tan Xiao suddenly had an idea: "I say, Old Toby, I know those old buddies of yours in heaven are all blessing you and your brothers who are still alive, they can see you flying!"

  "Of course, every time I fly, I feel like they're right next to me, haha..." Old Toby's face lit up again - this was a veteran who had become optimistic and carefree after experiencing countless separations and goodbyes.

  "How long has it been since you've seen those old comrades of yours who survived that great war? Three years? Has it?... I think I can understand your feelings, I'm a veteran myself! Why don't you invite them over for a visit? I say come to China, come to Lingling! Don't worry about the expenses, I'll take care of them!... And another thing, Old Toby, I respect you!" Tan Xiao finished his carefully planned speech in one breath.

  "Really!?! I'm so grateful to you, General! That droopy-eared Henry, I heard he's in debt up to his eyeballs... and Devil Rubin, that drunkard, oh, how I miss them! We haven't seen each other for eleven whole years!..."

  Old Toby poured out his gratitude to Tang Xiao: "Right, General, some of those guys didn't do well, you know. The Royal Air Force doesn't want cripples. General, do you know what a cripple is? Like if your little finger got shot off and there's a peanut-sized piece missing, those Royal Air Force guys would think you're useless! Those pigs! They don't understand what the sky means to pilots... General, my point is I want to bring in those old buddies who didn't do well... no, to help the General train pilots. Can I? I guarantee they're just as good as me!"

  That's what Tan Xiao needs, and Lao Tuo brings it up himself.

  "Want to go for a spin around the sky? Old Toby!" Rong Hui asked.

  "Of course, it would be an honor to serve you..." Old Toby made a beckoning gesture.

  "My intention is... I'll take the lead, and compete with you in the sky along with the general!" Hui Rong can actually fly a plane! From her tone, she's quite skilled too!

  When they had finished soaring freely in the blue sky, to be precise, Rong Hui had finished soaring, Tan Xiao's head was spinning and he cursed this broken wooden plane - he had only taken civil aviation and straight nine in his previous life. Now, he almost wanted to give up the idea of learning to fly a plane before Rong Hui returned. In the sky, Rong Hui had done several beautiful flips... now that they were back on the ground, Tan Xiao was about to throw up, his whole body soft and seemingly only able to stand steadily by holding onto Rong Hui. The guards saw their commander's cowardly appearance and tactfully snickered as they slipped away.

  Now they were pressed together like a stolen moment at a celebratory feast.

  Soon, she felt that warmth flowing from his cheek to hers. She knew why... If it weren't for the whirlwind in the sky, he wouldn't have dared to shed tears. Because he was a superior officer, a military god who made all Germans surrender! He was an iron warrior! ...But at the same time, he was just a big boy.

  She flies so high, perhaps also because of her fondness for that sunset that is about to fall.

  The slanting sun painted two hearts that didn't want to part into one, stretching very, very long...

  I'm so grateful to all book friends... With a burst of five votes, oh my, I'm not a professional writer, the limit is 6,000 words per day... To thank you for your support, today I'll post two more chapters with the remaining draft... Sorry about that, tomorrow even if there are more votes, I won't be able to keep up... May I humbly suggest: please pace yourselves with the vote requests, two votes per day is enough, thank you everyone!