However, it is almost impossible to build a temporary airport under the dual threats of Japanese infiltration into the Eighth Route Army's hinterland and "high fire".
Let alone completing the airport, I'm afraid the Japanese will notice it as soon as we start building the runway.
Wang Xuexin's headquarters was busy for a long time to solve this problem. Several staff officers, Chen Songyong and Zhang Zongping, even sent people to scout around to find out which places were suitable for building a temporary airport within a hundred kilometers of the steel plant. Moreover, this temporary airport required both open space and space.
And secretive.
However, the intelligence obtained from frontline reconnaissance disappointed the staff again and again.
Because openness and secrecy are inherently contradictory, especially when the Japs still have aerial reconnaissance. As long as there is an open space suitable for building an airport, it will not be long before the Japs reconnaissance planes discover it. There can be no such thing as secrecy.
Wang Xuexin knew this a long time ago, so he did not interfere with the staff. While the staff were busy, he just stared at the map silently.
After a while, he called his staff to his desk and asked, "Have you found a suitable location?"
Chen Songyong and Zhang Zongping looked at each other and then expressed an idea.
Chen Songyong pointed to a point on the map and said: "Captain, there is Feng'an Village at this location, with about a hundred households, 83 kilometers away from the steel plant. There is a grain drying field in this village, which is about 500 meters long and 500 meters wide.
You can build two runways!”
Wang Xuexin understood what Chen Songyong meant as soon as he heard this.
First of all, the take-off distance of the La5 is 370 meters, and the landing distance is 410 meters. The 500-meter sunbathing field is just enough for the La5 to take off and land.
Secondly, it was a grain drying ground, so the Eighth Route Army could use this as cover.
Sure enough, Chen Songyong continued: "Captain, the grain drying ground is hard and flat. Although there is ice and snow at this time, in order to prevent the ice and snow from melting and pouring into the village, the people will remove the ice and snow every year before spring, so..."
"So we can use this to confuse the Japanese?" Wang Xuexin asked.
Chen Songyong further explained: "We believe that shoveling snow may not arouse the suspicion of the Japanese. Shaiguchang is a ready-made temporary airport. Then we will secretly transport fuel and ammunition into Feng'an Village. Once the war comes, it can be used here immediately."
Transformed into a makeshift airport!”
Wang Xuexin was silent for a while. This is indeed a feasible plan. It can also be said to be a relatively secretive temporary airport.
However……
Wang Xuexin said: "First of all, there are more than 100 households in Feng'an Village, with at least five or six hundred people, right?"
"More than seven hundred people!" Zhang Zongping replied after reading the documents.
During this period, there were usually seven or eight people in a household...the poorer the family, the more children they had, because everyone hoped to have a few boys to work as laborers or to protect themselves in old age. This is the so-called raising children to protect against old age.
This is not like modern people, who basically don’t want to have more children after living a good life.
Wang Xuexin asked again: "There are more than 700 people. What if there are Japanese spies among them? Can our operations be concealed from these spies?"
Wang Xuexin hit the nail on the head.
At this time, not to mention the Japanese spy brigade and the mainland advance team, there are also people among the common people who are willing to become traitors for survival or profit.
Moreover, even if there were no traitors and even if the Japanese troops advancing to the mainland did not notice it, the people's large-scale shoveling of snow would not be able to escape the Japanese reconnaissance planes.
At that time, as long as the Japs aim their "high fire" at this place and prepare, or send a targeted mainland advance team to conduct reconnaissance, it will be difficult to hide the Eighth Route Army's actions from the Japs.
At this point, Chen Songyong had nothing to say, because what Wang Xuexin said was also what he was worried about.
The so-called "secret" should mean that no third person can know it, and Feng'an Village has a population of more than 700... trying to keep it secret is simply impossible.
Then Chen Songyong sighed and said: "Captain, this is the airport, which is a few hundred meters long and several hundred meters wide. If it is after the ice and snow melt, it will be okay, but now we have to shovel the snow to make preparations. If you want to hide it,
Through the eyes of a devil..."
Speaking of which, Chen Songyong said no more.
As a member of the Eighth Route Army, you should never say "can't do it" at any time.
Even if you can't do it, you should try your best to do it.
But this time, even though Chen Songyong racked his brains, he didn't know how to do it.
If he could risk his life, he would rather risk his own life.
Wang Xuexin raised his hand to signal Chen Songyong to stay calm and said: "It's an airport, and we can't attract the attention of the Japanese. We also need to have enough fuel and ammunition. Actually, it's not impossible..."
"What?" After hearing this, Chen Songyong and Zhang Zongping looked at Wang Xuexin in surprise.
Then Chen Songyong said with disbelief: "Captain, are you kidding us? How... is this possible!"
Wang Xuexin didn't speak, he just clicked on a location on the map with his finger.
When Chen Songyong and Zhang Zongping looked at the location, they couldn't help but exclaimed at the same time: "Steel factory?"
"Yes!" Wang Xuexin nodded: "It's the steel factory!"
Then, without waiting for them to speak, Wang Xuexin continued: "Do you remember that our army built an airport at the steel plant before?"
Zhang Zongping nodded heavily, he was responsible for mobilizing personnel and resources to build that airport.
but……
What does this have to do with the temporary airport?
Wang Xuexin continued to explain: "I think the Japs will definitely make use of the steel plant airport at this time, right? Although the Japs' zero combat range is sufficient for their combat needs, on the one hand, there is insufficient fuel and on the other hand, it is completely unnecessary.
With frequent back and forth, the Japanese can take off and land at the steel plant airport, refuel and continue their mission!"
Chen and Zhang nodded slightly.
This is no problem. The Japanese reconnaissance plane took off from the steel factory airport at this time. Of course, it can also become a temporary take-off and landing point for "zero war" during wartime.
This is not to say that "Zero War" has insufficient range, but that having a temporary airport on the front line can not only save time and fuel, but also increase the frequency of "Zero War" airborne operations.
Increasing the frequency of combat means combat effectiveness and results, and no one will have a grudge against these.
Wang Xuexin continued: "Therefore, the steel plant airport is definitely not the enemy's attention point, nor is it the object of the enemy's suspicion. At the same time, there is plenty of fuel and ammunition!"
When Chen and Zhang thought about it in detail, they felt that there was nothing wrong with it.
The Steel Factory Airport is now in the hands of the Japanese. Of course, the Japanese will not doubt their airport, and certainly will not regard their airport as a target.
In addition, in order to make this airport play a role in wartime, the Japanese even wanted to use it as a starting point for the Japanese to advance into an aviation base.
Therefore, they will definitely try their best to transport aviation fuel and ammunition here.
If we could suddenly take over this steel plant as our own during the war...then all the problems would be solved!