Chapter Twenty-Four Must Not Be Missed

  "Hawk One, Hawk One, watch your lower left. There are many people waving at us!"

  A naval aviation alert patrol of three aircraft in a V-formation, the second plane on the far left had just flown over Dajishan and not yet entered directly above Hong Kong Island when it glanced down and immediately discovered many people waving at the formation. The bright red five-star flags outside the cockpit plus the fact that the three planes were flying at an altitude of only about 1,000 meters made it possible for people to notice the planes overhead.

  "Attention, waggle your wings three times to show intention!" The leader issued the command to the other two fighter jets in the formation through radio.

  The roaring fighter jets soon shook their wings together in the sky, and many cheering people on the shore of Hong Kong Island saw such a salute even more vigorously. Some people had already taken off their hats and thrown them into the air, loud screams, waving their hands non-stop, radiant smiles. For the patrol formation that maintains an economic cruising speed of over 200 kilometers per hour, the enthusiastic crowd can only feel it for a short while.

  "Number one, this great British Empire, how come there are no fighter jets?" The number three fighter jet spoke for the first time, but what it said was a bit shocking. "I was still hoping they would intercept us, and we just strolled around Hong Kong Island so easily. Their navy is now attacking the British fleet, and we can only fly around here, which is not very meaningful."

  "Number Three, shut up! Keep the communication channel clean..."

  The leader of the fighter jet pilots was Su Sheng, who suggested to the squadron leader before departure that it would be better not to bring along Zhong Jiqiang, and instead form a dual-machine formation with Wu Jiawei. But no, they had to bring along a fighting king, thinking that after breaking into Hong Kong there would be an air battle waiting for them, but in the end, not even a few birds were seen.

  Three fighter jets took off from the Hainan Island naval base, flying southeast and then east after passing over Dajiang Mountain. They flew over the Hong Kong Governor's residence before turning around near Dapeng Bay and returning along their original route. The requirements were simple: they had to linger in Hong Kong airspace for a while, and the two flyovers of the Governor's residence should not be too far apart. After passing over Dajiang Mountain again, they flew directly to Macau, where they stayed for a while before heading out to the Wanshan Archipelago. At that point, they changed course to fly due east, patrolling and guarding most of the intersection area between the Pearl River and South China Sea. Finally, they landed at the unfinished base in Shanwei, which was only a temporary airfield, marking the completion of their patrol mission.

  "Number Three, if you want to fight, go to Swatow! I heard the army is pursuing Chen Jiongming's remnants there. With your four 20mm machine guns, that's enough!" said Su Sheng, commander of the patrol squadron flying over the Pearl River towards Macau, with a smile to Number Three Zhong Jisong.

  "If I had enough ammo, I wouldn't be going to Swatow and the army to grab a bowl of rice, I'd head straight to Singapore and blow up those damned British Far East Fleet's old nest. But I only have 650 rounds of 20mm cannon shells, not much use."

  "Just hover over their headquarters and they'll be in for a treat if they dare to open fire on you!"

  On this side, the three fighter jets performing combat readiness patrol are flying leisurely, while in another place, namely the Xisha Islands, the naval troops stationed here are really having a great time.

  The largest of the many islands in the South China Sea is Yongxing Island in the Xisha Islands, which is nearly 2 kilometers long from east to west and nearly 1.4 kilometers wide from north to south, with an area of more than 2 square kilometers. The terrain is very flat, with an average elevation of 5 meters above sea level, and a maximum elevation of only 8.5 meters above sea level. The island is densely covered with coconut trees and screw pines. Since 1923, the autonomous region has been gradually building up this place, from a single sentry post to today's airport, shopping mall, hospital, power plant, dock and so on, it looks like a small city, but it is militarized.

  Yongxing Island, as the largest of many islands in the South China Sea, together with Zhongsha Islands, forms the left and right guardians of the South China Sea navigation route, and its military significance is self-evident. In early 1925, the air force began to build a large-scale air base on the island, including underground oil depots, hangars, large warehouses, etc., as well as a dock that can accommodate a 5,000-ton ship. The most important thing is to build a runway for bombers to take off and land on the island, which must be at least 1,200 meters long.

  But the soil on Yongxing Island is coral sand and phosphatic limestone, and the hardness of the surface does not meet the construction requirements of the airport. Even if the planes at that time were not very heavy, fighter jets could take off and land on relatively well-vegetated land, but the soft soil was really not feasible. The Air Force's engineering construction troops could only transport large quantities of sand, stone, cement, and steel from the rear by ship to build docks and airport auxiliary facilities in a reinforced concrete manner. For runway construction, it was constructed according to the highest standard requirements, and cement and steel became the largest consumption.

  In October 1926, the air force base on the island was officially put into use. Even if the sea transportation supply is cut off, the base has large warehouses, oil depots, hangars and other reserve materials, plus a sound logistical maintenance guarantee mechanism, which can fully meet the combat requirements of more than 100 aircraft for more than a month. However, no one expected that this base would eventually be handed over to the navy, and the real owner became the naval aviation troops. This result did not make the air force dissatisfied, as the naval aviation had exchanged their second-line airbase in Nanning with the air force, and the air force did not "lose out".

  After Haihang acquired this base, in addition to quickly deploying warplanes, a guard fleet of one battalion of marines and three patrol boats became the mainstay of its defense forces. Two anti-aircraft artillery battalions served as air defense forces, while a radar battalion existed as an early warning force. In other words, the navy was treating Yongxing Island as an unsinkable aircraft carrier in the South China Sea, which is the core of the navy's control over the surrounding areas.

  "Call all the officers and men on leave to come and help unload the cargo!" Commander Wang Yanbin of the Xisha Islands naval base looked at the telegram in his hand, which was a fleet of cargo ships departing from Beihai Port to deliver supplies to Yongxing Island, with nearly 20,000 tons of supplies to be stored at the base.

  "Looking at the list of materials, this time it's really rich and varied! From aviation armor-piercing shells, high-explosive shells to aviation gasoline, lubricating oil, even spare engines, parts... are they planning to fill up our base's warehouse?

  The staff officer handed over the telegram after taking a look, patted Wang Yanbin on the shoulder and said: "I think this time the British Far East Fleet is coming with ill intentions, but we're not going to let them bully us. If it really comes down to it, I guarantee we'll wipe them all out."

  "The South China Sea lacks coral reefs; if they were willing to be artificial, we would also have to fulfill them."

  After finishing, Wang Yanbin led the way out of the command office. The office building of Yongxing Island Naval Base is not high, and the three-story small building can be walked around in no time. Going up and down stairs is even faster. By the time Wang Yanbin had organized the clerical personnel of the Command Department and set off for the port, the dock was already very lively. The loading and unloading equipment and transportation vehicles, as well as the soldiers acting as stevedores, were bustling with activity in order to unload the cargo from the cargo ship as soon as possible, because there were still several ships waiting.

  One is a fast ro-ro ship and the other is an oil tanker with a capacity of 5,000 tons. The transportation of fuel does not require many people, as there are professional oil pumps and pipelines to transport it. To load and unload fuel, all that needs to be done is to connect the oil pipes and the oil tanker, and electric oil pumps will pump the fuel from the tanker through the pipeline into underground storage tanks. The other ro-ro ship being loaded and unloaded quickly also has a very high efficiency.

  A roll-on/roll-off ship is a special water transport tool invented in the autonomous region, which combines containers with a trailer chassis to form a cargo unit. When loading and unloading goods, only a tractor or forklift needs to be driven into the cargo ship, and the cargo unit can be pulled out of the cabin. This type of ship is very common in the autonomous region and is widely used for exporting goods such as automobiles, so some people call it "open-top open-bottom" which can complete the loading and unloading of goods.

  Compared to container ships, roll-on/roll-off ships do not require cranes or other lifting devices and the cargo is loaded and unloaded horizontally instead of vertically. This simplifies the loading and unloading process and reduces the need for specialized dock facilities. The ship's bow is very large and flat, with a stern that is square-shaped, equipped with large doors or ramps. After docking, the ramp is lowered to allow vehicles carrying containers to drive on and off the ship, resulting in high loading and unloading efficiency, with an hourly throughput of over 1,000 tons.

  There are six ships transporting supplies to Yongxing Island Naval Base, including two oil tankers, three roll-on/roll-off ships and one bulk cargo ship. The logistics transportation of military supplies has been standardized for a long time, so many replenishments are stored and transported in the form of containers. The container loaded with ammunition is just slightly special, but it does not affect its transportation with other materials. However, the huge amount of supplies requires a large number of personnel even with high-level mechanical operations. Therefore, in such a large-scale material loading and unloading activities, except for combat personnel, all personnel on Yongxing Island Base, including cooks, doctors, etc., will be mobilized, so the island is also known as a "base where everyone has a driver's license".

  "Report to the commander, the staff department just received a telegram saying that the plane carrying the commander-in-chief is flying towards our base and we need to make preparations for the reception!" Wang Yanbin, who was busy directing the loading and unloading of supplies, hastily handed over the command to his chief of staff and rushed back to the headquarters.

  At 10:10, the naval aviation troops stationed on Yongxing Island quickly dispatched two fighter jets to take off. There is a straight-line distance of more than 360 kilometers from Yongxing Island to the Navy's important military port Sanya Port, and more than 880 kilometers to Liuzhou. Two F-01 "Flying Eagle" fighter jets with an auxiliary fuel tank have a combat radius that can cover Sanya, but obviously not Liuzhou. The transport plane made by Zhang Yu has a range of over 3,000 kilometers, which is enough to complete the flight mission from Liuzhou to the Xisha Islands naval base. The two fighter jets were just going to greet them.

  At around 11:20, Zhang Yu's special plane successfully landed at Yongxing Island Airport. The two escort fighters that took off from Sanya and the fighter jets sent by Yongxing Island to welcome them continued to circle in the nearby area after landing, waiting for the local authorities to take away the commander-in-chief before the fighter jets landed in pairs.

  "General, please be assured that the unloading and storage of materials is proceeding very quickly. By around 3 pm this afternoon, all the materials will have been unloaded and stored!" Zhang Yu's special plane did not bring a specialized vehicle, so he directly got into Base Commander Wang Yanbin's jeep and rushed to the base command center.

  "I saw it in the air just now. This batch of materials is Commander Chen Shaokuan's treasure, and we must cherish it whether in training or combat!"

  Zhang Yu did not intend to put any pressure on Wang Yanbin, and this time he just came over to make a gesture. Not long after the autonomous government's negotiating team sent a stern ultimatum to the British side, the air force planes were circling around Hong Kong Island, and the navy's main fleet also quickly left the port, with a very resolute attitude, the autonomous government had scared the British Empire, and they hurriedly clarified that the Far East Fleet was not coming to Hong Kong for garrison, but just a regular sea training exercise. The British side pleaded with the autonomous government to withdraw the ultimatum, and both sides returned to the negotiating table to continue discussions, the British side was willing to make a series of concessions...

  So Zhang Yu's trip can be said to be unnecessary. After the completion of Yongxing Island, Zhang Yu had not been there, but had been to Sanya, Zhanjiang, Beihai and other places, just not to Yongxing Island. The naval force is weak and relies on the aviation department to take on the heavy responsibility, so its air base is extremely important. Due to the significant differences between the autonomous government and the British side on the Hong Kong issue, war is likely to be unavoidable, so the navy and air force must respond accordingly.

  If the autonomous government really engages in armed conflict with the British side, then the navy and air force must be strengthened. The People's Armed Department has submitted a special report to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, stating that special funds are needed to strengthen the naval and air forces, so as to have the ability to respond to unpredictable battles. For this reason, Navy Commander Chen Shaokuan even put all his stored materials outside, with the purpose of crying poor. The Air Force is even more so, in order to show that they also have the ability to fight against the British, the naval aviation patrol planes had just been cruising around Hong Kong and Macau, they immediately dispatched a larger scale of fighter jets, twelve fighter jets performing combat readiness patrols at one time, which is indeed a bit rare.

  Regarding the issue of the autonomous government taking back Hong Kong, the public support in the autonomous region is quite high. The report from the People's Armed Department was just submitted, and Zhang Yu flew directly to Yongxing Island after completing his report, demonstrating the people's military's firm and fearless attitude. The General Affairs Office also submitted a report to the conference, endorsing the report of the Armed Department, which clearly presents an opportunity for the long-term development of the navy and air force.

  If the return of Hong Kong can really bring a large sum of special funds, it is estimated that the total amount of military expenditure in the following years will also increase, and the proportion of naval and air forces in the budget will also increase significantly. This way, it will be enough to satisfy the air force's desire for new fighter jets and the navy's longing for aircraft carriers. The army has performed well in several shocking military exercises, so it is estimated that they can also get a big share. Therefore, Zhang Yu had to take this trip, and the naval and air forces were grateful and respectful. From the moment Zhang Yu's special plane took off from Liuzhou, four fighter jets with very positive attitudes escorted it all the way, always flying alongside the special plane. This kind of treatment is not something that can be enjoyed at any time.

  "Our offshore fleet conducts a routine patrol of the South China Sea islands every half month, departing from Zhanjiang and heading east to the Dongsha Islands, then turning south through the Zhongsha Islands to the vicinity of the Nansha Islands, resting for a day on Zhongye Island before patrolling the Zengmu Ansha and returning west via international waters to the Xisha Islands, where we rest for another day before returning to Beihai Port in the North Bay."

  Against the map, Base Commander Wang Yanbin used a baton to explain to Zhang Yu the current geographical location of Yongxing Base, daily tasks and so on. The autonomous government attaches great importance to the control of islands in the South China Sea. Controlling these islands that originally belonged to China means that the surrounding waters are their economic exclusive zones. Coastal fishermen fish near the major island groups and reefs in the South China Sea, especially the fishing industry around Zhongsha Islands is quite prosperous. The navy's offshore patrol fleet encounters many fishermen on its monthly patrols. Fishermen working at sea can see government warships guarding them and protecting China's inherent economic interests at all times. This not only benefits the maintenance of island territorial unity but also exercises the quality of officers and soldiers during each patrol, enhances relations with fishermen, and silently declares that these places are part of the autonomous region and belong to China. In short, using warships to patrol one's own territory is more effective than burying a few sovereignty markers.

  "The Xisha Islands, Zhongsha Islands, Nansha Islands, and Zengmu Ansha, etc. in the South China Sea are currently under the jurisdiction of Sansha City, Hainan Province. The city's core area is located on this island, and there is also an office on Taiping Island in the Nansha Islands. A naval base is being built on the island. It is more than 700 kilometers from Yongxing Island, and except for taking a seaplane, you can only take a ferry to get there. The Dongji Reef, which is more than 400 kilometers south of here, will be easily controlled if a small airbase is built on this island and aircraft are deployed there. Dongji Reef itself also has the ability to build a small airport. If it can be developed, controlling Zengmu Ansha, which is 450 kilometers away, will be even easier..."

  "The political administration, military construction and so on of the South China Sea islands, I have read reports about these aspects. Yongxing Island in the Xisha Islands, Zhongye Island, Taiping Island, Dongmen Reef, Nanwei Island and others are all key points for naval construction. But we must not forget the military control over the Zhongsha Islands and Zengmu Ansha areas, like Zengmu Ansha, a super reef that has been submerged in water for years, we can set up monuments, build lighthouses and so on, in short, these islands are indispensable, although they may not be worth mentioning, but they are all very important, originally they belong to us Chinese people, so we must guard them well and make good use of them..."

  "In addition, the island's officers and soldiers are very hardworking. Except for the fixed rotation that must be adhered to, they cannot owe them things like family leave. Zhang Yu looked at the list of supplies transported today and smiled: "I didn't know the navy was so rich, storing so many good things here. I think even if the Far East Fleet comes, it won't be enough for you to eat yourself. However, this matter cannot be taken lightly, routine patrols, training, etc. must still be done well. What achievements have been made on the issue of maintaining sovereignty over the numerous islands in the South China Sea?"

  "We have relevant plans, and for the islands in the South China Sea that belong to our country's inherent territory and have verifiable data, we have completed the public demonstration of sovereignty ownership. Taking Huangyan Island in the Zhongsha Islands as an example, we built a lighthouse powered by a battery on the island, set up a sovereignty monument, and built an emergency rescue point. The lighthouse is lit from 6 pm to 7 am the next day every day through special means, which is a good helper for Chinese fishermen navigating at night near the islands, and it is also a symbol of demonstrating sovereignty..."

  "The Zhongsha Islands and most of the Nansha Islands in the plan have been completed, only the Zengmu Ansha area I mentioned earlier has not been completed..."

  "Not one island can be less!"

  Before departure, Zhang Yu was repeatedly reminded to urge the navy to do a good job. The South China Sea Islands are one of China's precious wealth, and like Hong Kong, they are an indispensable part that cannot be taken away. Although the People's Army cannot yet complete the full protection of maritime interests, from Bohai Bay to the South China Sea, there is still much that the navy cannot do. However, it has the ability to let the world know that not one inch of China's territory, ocean, and islands can be invaded, nor can any be lost.

  "Hey Chief Commander, about what's going on in Hong Kong Island, will it have any impact on our daily work?"

  "Are you afraid of a fight, you little rascal!" Zhang Yu looked at Wang Yanbin who had finished speaking and was doing the recording as requested by Zhang Yu. He nodded his head in approval of the excellent handwriting and said: "Honestly, if it really were the Navy and the British Far Eastern Fleet fighting each other, who do you think would win?"

  "This...". Wang Yanbin stopped his pen, looked up at Zhang Yu with a confused expression and said: "Our troops are always trained according to the requirements of war. I'm not saying that I don't have confidence in myself or our troops. What I'm worried about is that this battle can't be fought at all. You also said it earlier, the British aren't even willing to fight. Are we going to provoke them? If it really comes down to it, I can pilot a plane and drop bombs!"

  "Alright, you, remember what I said earlier and make sure to clarify China's sovereignty over even the smallest islands. Besides, the conditions proposed by our autonomous region are already quite good, the British have no reason to refuse." Zhang Yu naturally knew that the bottom line of the negotiations with the autonomous government was for the British to return Hong Kong, although there could be some flexibility in terms of timing. The autonomous government's bottom line was 1999, meaning that from the time Hong Kong fell into British hands in 1841, it would have to be returned by 1940. Bringing up this territorial dispute again after more than a hundred years would only cause trouble later on. However, he wouldn't say any of this to Wang Yanbin at this point, nor was there any need to do so.

  "Right, this island's basic conditions are pretty good, what else is lacking or insufficient?"

  "It's gone, but... the leisure and entertainment problem of this troop is still not solved. The soldiers' enthusiasm for learning is very strong. Why doesn't the commander send some university teachers to give us regular lectures? We also have a comprehensive library, which can be converted into a classroom without any problems. This not only solves the problem of the troops' spare time learning but also improves the cultural quality of the troops."

  Zhang Yu did not comment, the basic construction problem of this fleet is a matter for the navy itself, Zhang Yu will not speak out of turn, and will not interfere with things that are not his responsibility. The good opinion is that it should be supported, and Zhang Yu also believes that Commander Chen Shaokuan will agree with this opinion. Anyway, the good days of the three armies of sea, land and air are about to arrive.