Comrade, Your Ingredients Are Too Complicated

On August 17, 1942, on the day when A Chou and Benzi were having a passionate fight on Guadalcanal and the surrounding waters, Gaoping Heguang.

"Lao Hu, is there any news from the advisory group? When will the allies start to leave? Seeing that more than half a year has passed, it is really scary!"

"Hey, if we had known about the expansion of the army, we should have slowed down for a while. With our current financial resources, the Viet Minh cannot afford to support the daily consumption of three divisions. If we take too big a step, it will be easy to lose our temper."

"If it doesn't work, you can ask Ernest again. The French must have surplus food. We are all comrades in the same camp now, and the other side will not just watch something happen to us."

In the simple thatched house, the future red Napoleon holds the account summary sent by the logistics department, and his face becomes more sad every time he turns the page.

Since the Japanese army officially invaded the Indochina Peninsula, the Japanese have not hesitated to implement the exploitative policy of economic control and compulsory grain sales throughout the territory, leaving local people with almost no surplus grain in their hands.

Rice, in particular, has become extremely scarce at this stage.

Beyond that, Vichyfacial chickens don’t behave very well. In order to expel the Japanese as soon as possible and regain control of the colony, they levied grain and secretly carried out trouble.

This resulted in the Viet Minh raising insufficient food to supply the troops, even if the three main divisions of the 304th, 308th, and 312th were Chen Dalei versions.

If the advisory group doesn't come within a month, they might really be disbanded.

Seeing Brother Wen sighing, Lao Hu also had a headache for a moment. No matter how deep his begging skills are, he cannot ask for long-term supplies of tens of thousands of people at once.

Moreover, if the problem of blind optimism and brutal expansion of military cadres is not solved, no amount of food will be enough for the people below.

"Hey, keep holding on. I heard that Brigadier Li of the 1st Marine Brigade just recaptured Qiongya a few days ago. It is estimated that it will take some time to stabilize the situation and establish the rear area."

"We have survived these years of hard times, and there is no reason to collapse in the darkness before dawn."

"Tell comrades, when the Eighth Route Army comes, there will be peace in Indo-China. When the Eighth Route Army comes, there will be blue sky."

Hearing this, Brother Wen nodded subconsciously.

Although he has been complaining just now, the credit of his allies has always been the best in Asia, and they will never give out bad checks like a bald man.

After understanding the idea, Hu and Wu quickly adjusted their mentality and prepared to continue discussing the army building plan in the second half of the year.

Just when the two of them picked up paper and pen, the sound of footsteps on the dirt road suddenly came from outside the house. At the same time, a burst of authentic old Parisian French sounded heartily.

"Hu, good news!"

"I just received a telegram from West Africa. Our reliable ally officially set off from Qiongya Sanya Bay Military Airport half an hour ago!"

"According to intelligence, the first batch of advisers is led by Colonel Cheng, the former commander of the 772nd Regiment. If all goes well, they will arrive in Gaoping around 12 noon today."

As soon as these words came out, Lao Hu and Brother Wen instantly became energetic, and even the fatigue and depression on their faces were swept away.

The savior has finally arrived!

However, even though he was happy, the former did not forget to summon the communications troops as soon as possible and repeatedly reminded them of the reception standards that were only determined last month.

"Tell all middle and high-level cadres that I know they are intellectuals, and I also know that they usually look down on grassroots fighters with mud-legged backgrounds."

"But in front of the advisory board of allies, everyone must put away their inexplicable sense of superiority!"

"Can opportunism and hedonism help us drive away the invaders? Can we turn over and become the masters? Petty bourgeoisie life or class revolution, from today on we can only choose one!"

At this time, the Viet Minh was essentially just a national independence and liberation movement organization trying to save the nation, and its personnel composition could be described as diverse.

If everything develops according to a normal timeline, it is very likely that these people who are fighting together and living under the same roof will face each other on the battlefield in the future.

Obviously, Lao Hu has realized the seriousness of the matter, which is the main reason why he repeatedly warned his colleagues.

After the signal troops left the big tent, French Army Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Lemonnier, who came to deliver the news, showed an interesting expression.

Although the Free French and the Viet Minh had secretly formed an alliance a year ago, he had always looked down upon this group of unorganized and undisciplined stragglers.

However, the above-mentioned stereotypes showed signs of loosening after today's meeting. After all, the other party's determination to strive for reform really has a sense of immediacy like a regular army.

"Hu, it's time for me to leave. The Japanese are keeping a close eye on me and I can't leave the camp for a long time."

"You should be careful when it comes to hosting allies. They have traveled thousands of miles to support Indochina, but we must not let Commander Cheng and Captain Ding and his party suffer any injustice."

"By the way, these are reporters from Algeria's France-Africa Press Agency. They will record all important moments of the tripartite meeting and collect enough material for future counter-offensive propaganda."

The current French Indo-China is really a mess in a sense.

Under the seemingly brotherly calm, the troops secretly defecting to the Free French were accumulating strength and waiting for a counterattack. The army and navy belonging to Vichy were on the fence, swaying left and right in the wind.

As for the Japanese?

The bookkeepers really don’t know anything. To be precise, they don’t care about management at all. After all, the local Europeans can't even beat Siam. They are just a bunch of chickens and dogs. Even if they are disobedient, they can suppress them with their hands.

If it weren't for the fact that the overall front was too long and the army did not have enough power to replace Vichy's rule, the Japanese would not even let the French stay in Indochina.

After hearing the names of the two enemies, Vichy and Japan, the expressions of Lao Hu and Brother Wen changed again and again. The two looked at each other first, and then saw off the guests in person.

"Ernest, don't worry, our Viet Minh will definitely do a good job in reception."

"If there is anything urgent or pre-war deployment that requires your cooperation, then we will keep in touch through secret channels. Be careful on the road and be sure to pay attention to safety."

"Okay, take care!"

······

Three hours later, Gaoping airspace.

In the Air Overlord transport plane numbered 020, Cheng Shifa and Ding Wei were sitting side by side in the middle of the cabin. Looking at his pale-faced old comrade, Lao Ding jokingly said:

"I said Cheng Xiazi, we have been training for several months, but you are still afraid of heights. In this regard, you are really not as good as Chief of Staff Liu. He is airsick and can still skydive."

"You have to adjust before landing. We are all people who have been rolled out of swords and guns. Don't lose your status and stay alert!" Although Lao Maozi and A Chou opened the use of the entire Iranian route to Free France, In order not to be controlled by others, the comrades finally had to go to Indochina to open up a new route.

There is no other way. How can the Toulon fleet cross the Strait of Malacca without capturing the Japanese in Southeast Asia?

We cannot let all surface ships go all the way west, take Gibraltar, pass through the dark trench of the Atlantic, and then cross the Pacific through the Panama Canal.

In this way, we can indeed reach the North Sea Fleet's anchorage, but we will need to pass through the combat areas of Spaghetti, Desan and Benzi on the way, and we have to sail across the ocean under the noses of A Chou and Dai Ying.

Let’s not mention how much fuel this journey will consume. Just the sight of the major warring countries watching eagerly along the way is enough to infiltrate people.

Therefore, the Southeast Asia-West Africa route is bound to be won by the Border Region and Free France.

Hearing the ridicule from his old comrade, Cheng Shifa calmly tightened the seat belt on his chest. After taking a few deep breaths, he forced himself to cheer up and said:

"Don't worry, I now not only represent our Eighth Route Army, but also represent the 40 million Chinese people."

"By the way, let's try to keep a cool face when we land. I heard Director Huang say that there are many French reporters here in Indochina, and it seems to be called Havas News Agency."

Havas News Agency was the first news agency in the world and the most influential news agency throughout the 19th century.

After the German occupation of Paris, the media organization was forced to split into two parts. The former was taken over by the Germans and became Mustache's propaganda machine.

Although the latter lived abroad, he always fought on the front line against fascism. The so-called Algerian French-African Press Agency is one of their vests.

Of course, maybe "Havas News Agency" sounds a little unfamiliar to you. But the name of the organization after its reorganization can definitely be described as a household name.

That’s right! It is the master of dark filters, the PLA’s “Queen Photographer”: Agence France-Presse!

While Cheng and Ding were chatting, the entire Air Overlord transport aircraft formation, escorted by the First Air Division, had arrived at the large field airport in the south of Gaoping.

The airport was sited and designed by the French, and the Viet Minh contributed personnel and efforts to build it according to the plans.

At this point in August 1942, only two local forces working together could secretly build such a large military airport under the noses of the Japanese.

"Bang."

Accompanied by the friction sound of the landing gear contacting the earthen runway, Transport Plane No. 020 landed first and began to taxi.

After returning to the surface, Cheng Xiazi's rapid breathing slowed down significantly, and his face was visibly rosy. He arranged his new military uniform in a disguised manner, but his slightly trembling hands still revealed the nervousness in his heart.

In comparison, Ding Wei's performance was much better.

Seemingly sensing the pressure on his old comrade, he silently helped the blind man adjust the angle of his helmet, and then patted the other man's shoulder hard twice.

"Let's go, don't keep the Viet Minh comrades waiting. You are the highest-ranking member of our first advisory group, so show off your battlefield-killing momentum!"

"good!"

When the Sky Overlord transport plane stopped firmly at the hangar door, the two of them walked towards the hatch at the tail of the plane one after the other.

The moment the door was opened, the senior Viet Minh leaders who came to greet them were stunned for a moment, and then everyone began to applaud under the leadership of Lao Hu and Brother Wen. Some people even sang the French version of the Internationale.

Seeing this, Cheng Shifa felt a rush of blood surge into his heart. At this time, he was as dazzling as the red sun rising in the east.

"Thank you for your hard work, comrades!"

"In the next war, our Eighth Route Army will lead everyone to victory!"

After he finished speaking, the applause and cheers at the scene reached a higher level, and even the sound of the piston engine at the rear was vaguely suppressed.

Just when Cheng Xiazi and Ding Wei were about to officially set foot on the land of Indochina, a dozen reporters carrying various shooting machines suddenly rushed out from the welcoming crowd.

The expressions of these people were extremely exaggerated, as if they had seen something incredible.

"Wow! I can't believe my eyes!"

"The latest Adrian helmet! What is this! Is it the legendary Mas-44 semi-automatic rifle? Who is the French? This is Paris in 1940!"

With such an exaggerated performance, it is not surprising that the reporters of the Algerian French-African News Agency have not seen the world, mainly because they have not seen their own full military uniforms for a long time.

In the local Vichy, due to the nature of its own puppet state, the army was forced to wear German clothes. Anyone who looked at it would think it was nondescript.

Africa's freedom is not much better. Since material supplies are limited by Dai Ying and A Chou, they can only wear what they have. At most, they can rely on the Lorraine Cross flag to identify the troops.

Look at the advisory group in front of you again.

These all-brown m1938 field uniforms, m1917 natural leather boots and m1936 Adrian helmets, the French orthodoxy was indeed in the Republic of China.

"Click, click."

After sighing with emotion, reporters frantically snapped photos and videos from various angles.

It is worth mentioning that there was a middle-aged man at the editor-in-chief level who just lay down on the ground and kept taking pictures of Cheng and Ding as they looked at them.

This kind of composition that violates visual habits makes the two group leaders in the photo even more impactful, making people unable to help but feel a sense of oppression like a mountain. Just looking at it will make you feel fearful.

It can only be said that he is worthy of being the predecessor of AFP. His artistic talent is beyond the reach of ordinary people.

If a DJ version of "VOHUVOHU" is provided to the scene, it would be the 1942 version of Dawn of the Empire.

Looking at the frenzied French reporters in front of him, Cheng Shifa carefully moved his stiff face. Then, he tilted his head slightly toward his old comrade, imitating Huang He's tone and said:

"This exaggerated photography technique is probably a skill developed by the Germans who kneeled on the ground to take pictures. As long as they surrendered a few days later, they would not be able to capture such an outrageous feeling."

"Fortunately, I kept a cold face just now, otherwise my secret would have been revealed." (End of Chapter)