Chapter 508 AFP: Dawn of the Empire

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 I 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 eggs."

"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, 304, 308, and 312, were all 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 messengers left the 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 Colonel Cheng and Captain Ding and his entourage be wronged."

"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 affiliated with Vichy were on the fence, swaying left and right in the wind.

As for the Japanese?

The guys really don't know anything, or to be more precise, they don't care about management at all. After all, the local Europeans can't even beat Siam, their little brother. They are just a bunch of chickens and dogs. Even if they have rebellious intentions, they can be suppressed.

If it weren't for the fact that the overall battle line was too long and the army didn't have enough power to replace Vichy's rule, the devils wouldn't even let the French stay in Indochina.

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

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

"If there is anything important, or if the pre-war deployment 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 Sky Overlord transport plane No. 020, Cheng Shifa and Ding Wei sat side by side in the middle of the cabin. Looking at his pale-faced old comrade, Old Ding joked amiably:

"Blind Cheng, we have been training for several months, why are you still afraid of heights? In this regard, you are really not as good as Chief of Staff Liu, who can parachute even if he is airsick."

"You must adjust before landing. We are all people who have rolled out of swords and guns. Don't lose face. Be energetic!"

Although Lao Maozi and Ah Chou opened the right to use the entire Iranian route to Free France, in order not to be controlled by others, the comrades finally had to come to the Indochina Peninsula to open up a new route.

There is no way. If the devils in Southeast Asia are not taken down, how can the Toulon Fleet cross the Strait of Malacca?

It is impossible to let all surface ships go west, go through Gibraltar, pass through the dark trench of the Atlantic Ocean, and then cross the Pacific Ocean through the Panama Canal.

This can indeed reach the anchorage of the North Sea Fleet, but it needs to pass through the combat zones of Italian, German and Japanese on the way, and it must go to the ocean under the eyes of Ah Chou and Dai Ying.

Let's not talk about how much fuel this journey will consume. The main participating countries that are eyeing the route are enough to intimidate people.

Therefore, the border area and Free France must win the Southeast Asia-West Africa route.

Hearing the ridicule of his old comrade, Cheng Shifa calmly tightened the seat belt on his chest. After 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 400 million Chinese people."

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

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

After the German occupation of Paris, this media organization was forced to split into two parts. The former was taken over by the German army and became a propaganda machine for the mustache.

Although the latter was exiled overseas, it has always been fighting on the front line of anti-fascism. The so-called Algerian Franco-African News Agency is one of their vests.

Of course, maybe "Havas News Agency" sounds a little unfamiliar to everyone. But the name of the reorganized agency can definitely be described as a household name.

That's right! It is the master of dark filters, the "official photographer" of the PLA: AFP!

Just as Cheng and Ding were chatting, the entire fleet of air overlord transport planes, escorted by the First Air Division, had arrived at a large field airport in the south of Cao Bang.

The airport was selected and designed by the French, and the Viet Minh contributed manpower and effort to build it according to the drawings.

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

"Bang."

Accompanied by the friction sound of the landing gear and the earth runway, the No. 020 transport plane landed first and began to taxi.

After returning to the surface, Cheng Xiazi's rapid breathing slowed down significantly, and his face was visibly ruddy. He tried to cover up his new uniform, but his slightly trembling hands still revealed his nervousness.

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

As if he could see the pressure on his old comrade, he silently helped Cheng Xiazi adjust the angle of his helmet, and then patted him twice on the shoulder.

"Let's go, don't let the Viet Minh comrades wait anxiously. You are the highest-ranking person in our first batch of advisory groups, show your battlefield killing momentum!"

"Okay!"

After the Air Overlord transport plane landed steadily at the door of the hangar, the two walked to the hatch at the tail of the plane one after another.

The moment the door was opened, the Viet Minh senior officials who came to greet them were stunned at first, and then everyone began to applaud under the leadership of Lao Hu and Wen Ge, and some people even sang the French version of the Internationale.

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

"Comrades, thank you for your hard work!"

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

After that, the applause and cheers at the scene went up a level, and even the sound of the piston engine at the back was faintly suppressed.

Just when Cheng Xiazi and Ding Wei were about to officially set foot on the land of Indochina Peninsula, a dozen reporters carrying various cameras 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-40 semi-automatic rifle? Who is the French? This is simply Paris in 1940!"

Such an exaggerated performance, it is no wonder that the reporters of the Algerian Franco-African News Agency have never seen the world, mainly because they have not seen their own full set of military uniforms for too long.

In Vichy, due to its puppet state nature, the army was forced to wear German clothes, which would make anyone feel that it was out of place.

Freedom in Africa is not much better. Since the supply of materials is limited by Dai Ying and Ah Chou, they can only wear what they have, and at most they can use the Lorraine Cross flag to distinguish the affiliation of the troops.

Look at the advisory group in front of you.

These all-brown m11917 natural leather short boots and m1936 Adrian helmets, the French orthodoxy is indeed in the Republic of China.

"Click, click."

After sighing, the reporters frantically captured photos and videos from various angles.

It is worth mentioning that a middle-aged editor-in-chief even lay on the ground, taking pictures non-stop in the face of Cheng and Ding's glances.

This composition that violates visual habits makes the two leaders in the photo more impactful, and people can't help but feel a sense of oppression like a mountain pressing down on their heads, and they will be afraid just by looking at it.

It can only be said that it is worthy of being the predecessor of AFP, and this artistic talent is simply unmatched by ordinary people.

If the scene is accompanied by a DJ version of "VO HU VO HU", it will definitely be the Dawn of the Empire in 1942.

Looking at the French reporters who were in a frenzy in front of him, Cheng Shifa carefully moved his stiff face. Then, he tilted his head slightly towards his old comrade-in-arms, and complained in the tone of Huang He:

"This exaggerated photography technique is probably a skill that was practiced by kneeling on the ground to take pictures of the Germans. If they surrendered a few days later, they would not be able to take such an outrageous feeling."

"Fortunately, I kept a cold face just now, otherwise I would really be exposed." (End of this chapter)