The expeditionary force began to dominate Southeast Asia by recruiting defeated soldiers

Chapter 196: Meeting and Military Review (Part 2)

Zhang Chi met with Commander Wei, who led the expeditionary force, outside the north gate of Longling County.

Wei Junru had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Zhang Chi coming, Wei Junru looked a little tired, but there was still a smile on her face, and she walked forward slowly.

"General Zhang, I have heard of your great name for a long time, and today I finally get to meet you." Wei Junru's voice was low and powerful, and her eyes revealed the sharpness of someone who had experienced countless battles.

After some greetings, Zhang Chi directly put forward his conditions.

"Exchange medicines for the remaining old equipment and wounded soldiers from the Leiyun Aircraft Manufacturing Plant?" Wei Junru was stunned for a moment, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.

He was prepared to spend a lot of money. As long as Zhang Chi's price was lower than that of the logistics department, he would buy a batch of penicillin with his own money to save the expeditionary soldiers who were infected with suppurative diseases.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Chi seemed to know his predicament and proposed an exchange strategy that did not require any money.

Zhang Chi nodded. "That's right. After the Japanese raided the Leiyun Aircraft Manufacturing Plant, although a lot of machinery and equipment were burned, there should be quite a few pieces of metal left. Now that area is General Wei's defense zone, I'll buy those machines at a second-hand price and convert them into medicine for you."

"Also, many of your wounded soldiers are educated young men who have joined the army, right? If you can get them assigned to the 212th Division, I'll exchange medicine for you based on the number of soldiers."

In fact, Zhang Chi had no shortage of medicines. Considering that they were fighting the Japanese together, he would even give Wei Junru a batch of penicillin for free.

But as the old saying goes, a little kindness is repaid with a peck of grudge.

The previous air raids and weapons support were free of charge, and if the medicines are given for free, it would be bad if the other party thinks it is their due and starts to blame us.

In this case, why not exchange them for some much-needed second-hand machinery and equipment and educated young people?

Especially those young intellectuals who often took the lead in the expeditionary force, it didn't matter if they were disabled, Zhang Chi accepted everyone who came. After all, the basic education in Pegu was still waiting for them to contribute.

Wei Junru on the opposite side was also very surprised after hearing Zhang Chi's specific conditions.

Based on the information he had read on paper and the description of his adjutant Zhao Zizhuo, he had always thought that Zhang Chi was a young, talented, and tenacious handsome man.

I didn't expect that the other party would talk about the penicillin business when we met for the first time. It seems that he is no different from his colleagues in the White Party who are better at business than fighting?

Wei Junru turned and made eye contact with her adjutant, Zhao Zizhuo. Zhao Zizhuo leaned forward and whispered, "Your Excellency, agree to this. Penicillin has reached an unimaginably high price on the black market in Chuncheng. If we can get some more, we can use it to buy more weapons."

Wei Junru nodded imperceptibly, making up her mind. Then she stepped forward, took Zhang Chi's hand and said, "Brother, it's a deal!"

Zhang Chi also held Wei Junru's hands with both hands and shook them vigorously: "Okay, it's a deal!"

At this moment, the photographer standing nearby took the opportunity to raise his camera.

Click—the shutter sounded, freezing this historic scene in the lens:

The commanders of the two armies shook hands and met in the ruins, with the background being the ruins of Longling County ravaged by the war.

At that moment, everything in the camera seemed to be frozen, as if time had also frozen at this moment.

-----

A few days later, Longling County hosted a joint military parade after the victory.

After a period of cleaning and repair, the streets have been cleaned again. Although they are still in ruins, the atmosphere of victory permeates every corner.

The joint military parade officially began under the witness of the local county town and surrounding villages residents who had returned from fleeing, as well as domestic and foreign reporters.

As the military band played, teams of soldiers marched slowly from the north gate of the county town in neat steps, their steps firm and powerful, and their slogans loud.

The first to take to the streets were the soldiers of the People's Army. They were wearing standard White Eagle uniforms and their iconic camouflage waterproof cloaks, with Garand rifles and M1A1 carbines on their shoulders and their flags flying high above their heads.

They marched in unison, shouting the slogan "one, two, one", and their steps were like thunder, echoing throughout the county.

Amid the cheers of the surrounding people, every soldier's face looked resolute and excited as they passed through the city along the main road of the county that had just been cleared.

On the viewing stand, Zhang Chi looked at his soldiers and nodded with satisfaction.

In his view, soldiers should not only know life and death, but also honor and disgrace. He insisted on holding this military parade to cultivate a sense of honor in his troops.

Subsequently, the expeditionary force's infantry phalanxes followed one after another.

They were dressed in traditional National Army uniforms, carrying Garand rifles and Zhongzheng rifles on their shoulders. They were lined up in an orderly manner and the atmosphere was solemn and dignified.

(Only the New 1st and New 6th Armies stationed in Shendu changed into White Eagle uniforms and full sets of Eagle weapons. The rest of the Yunnan-Western Expeditionary Force still wore Nationalist uniforms with a small amount of Eagle weapons. As for the 90 divisions of equipment promised by the White Eagle at the Sextant Conference, it was scrapped after Henan, Hunan and Guangxi.)

The military band played melodious tunes that echoed over the streets.

Although these soldiers' weapons and equipment are slightly different from those of the People's Army, their steps are just as firm and powerful.

Thanks to the penicillin business, not only a large number of wounded soldiers in the expeditionary force were treated, but even the army commanders and division commanders who followed Wei Junru got a share of the profits.

Therefore, when the leaders of the People's Army and the Expeditionary Force gathered on the simple viewing platform, the atmosphere between the two sides was warm and friendly.

The climax of the military parade was the appearance of the heavy weapons formation.

When the M3 half-track vehicles pulling 105mm and 155mm howitzers slowly drove through the streets, almost everyone present couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

These huge artillery pieces moved through the streets like giant beasts. The people in the city were extremely excited and cheered one after another. Even the senior officers of the expeditionary force seemed particularly excited.

Even several army and division commanders of the National Army on the viewing platform came up to Zhang Chi.

There is no man who doesn't like big pipes.

Therefore, several Kuomintang generals wanted to find out if there was any way to purchase large-caliber howitzers.

"General Zhang, could you tell me where we can buy these large-caliber howitzers?" A Yunnan Army major general spoke first, his voice filled with a hint of tentativeness and expectation. "Or perhaps you'd be willing to part with them? Chairman Long can pay with gold."

Zhang Chi smiled, but a complicated look flashed across his eyes. In fact, he himself had been worried about the source of large-caliber artillery recently.

The White Eagles obviously discovered that Zhang Chi's growth was a bit too rapid, although according to Stevenson's plan, various light weapons, mortars, and light fighters were still available to Zhang Chi.

However, the United States became stingy when it came to the supply of heavy howitzers, bombers and other equipment. Even though Zhang Chi was waving money, the United States still resorted to tricks such as limiting sales and withholding sales in an attempt to restrict him.

Zhang Chi, who didn't know that Jason from the Intelligence Agency had misjudged the situation and was instigating arms dealers in Texas to dump arms to him, was even thinking of sending people to Europe to search for artillery factory equipment.

After the Allies captured the southern Apennine Peninsula, Italian industries such as Ansaldo and Fiat naturally fell into the hands of the Allies.

At this late stage of the Second Industrial Revolution, the White Eagles looked down upon these factories, but for impoverished Asia, these were treasures that were three times better than the Northeast Arsenal back then.

Even though Italy was at the bottom of the European powers, it could still produce its own battleships, aircraft, artillery, and tanks. Zhang Chi estimated that if he could move all the Italian factories under Allied control, his industrial strength would immediately become the hegemon of Asia. (Assuming the industrial population keeps pace)

"Hey, generals," Zhang Chi waved his hand slightly, his expression still calm, "There aren't many of these heavy artillery pieces, and I don't have many on hand. As for purchasing them, I'm afraid you'll have to wait a little longer."

After hearing this, several generals showed some disappointment, but one of the division commanders' eyes suddenly lit up and he turned to look at the M5A1 light tank formation that was passing by.

Those rows of small and flexible light tanks are equipped with high-penetration 37mm guns and highly passable track systems.

Zhang Chi looked at the eagerness in the eyes of several officers and couldn't help but smile:

"As for these light tanks, I have a way. As long as you provide the corresponding funds, we can provide tanks, spare parts, ammunition, and fuel. If you are interested, please feel free to ask."

Upon hearing this, the generals of the Central Army, Western Yunnan, and Guangxi Clique immediately gathered around.