thefictionvixens Chapter 206 I Want the Airport
Chapter 206 I Want the Airport
Soon, the food was served. Yan Shuo picked up his chopsticks and ate quickly. After eating the soup and broth, his previous fatigue dissipated, his stomach was full, and he felt much more energetic.
While he went to the restroom, he washed his face, tidied himself up, changed into clean clothes, and shed the dishevelment of the night, regaining his usual calm and composed demeanor.
After leaving the breakfast shop, Yan Shuo got into the car and said to Xiaomi, "Go to Kunshan Road and find Wang Li."
"Understood!" Xiaomi replied, steadily starting the car and driving towards Kunshan Road.
Before long, the car arrived at Kunshan Road, and Yan Shuo headed straight for Wang's Tea Shop by the roadside.
This is Wang Li's secret stronghold. On ordinary days, it looks like an ordinary tea shop, but in reality, it is an important place for transmitting intelligence and exchanging supplies.
He pushed open the door of the tea shop. There weren't many customers yet. Chen Yu, the shop assistant at the counter, was cleaning. When he saw Yan Shuo come in, his eyes lit up, and he quickly put down the broom and greeted him warmly: "Brother Jie? Why are you here so early?"
Yan Shuo nodded slightly, his tone tinged with mystery: "Hmm, there's something good here. Quickly call Brother Li to take a look and ask him if he wants it."
"Something good?" Chen Yu's eyes lit up even more, and he quickly asked, "What good stuff is it that made Brother Jie come all this way so early? I'll go get Brother Li for you right away, please have a seat!"
"Mm," Yan Shuo responded, and casually found a table by the window to sit down.
Not long after, Huang Xiaoju came over with a steaming bowl of oil tea, a gentle smile on her face. She placed the oil tea in front of Yan Shuo and said, "Brother Jie, the shop hasn't boiled any hot water yet. Please have some oil tea to warm yourself up. It's freshly brewed, not strong, but very fragrant."
Yan Shuo looked down at the oil tea in his bowl. The aroma wafted towards him, and he couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Wow, I knew I shouldn't have eaten breakfast outside! Xiao Ju, your cooking is so delicious, it's perfect with rice, my mouth is watering!"
Huang Xiaoju blushed slightly at the compliment, and waved her hand with a smile: "Hey, Brother Jie, you flatter me too much. If you like it, drink more!"
"I'll have one more bowl at most. I already ate my fill outside," Yan Shuo shrugged helplessly, his tone tinged with regret. "Sigh, if I'd known there was such fragrant oil tea here, I would have eaten less. It's such a waste!"
"What's the loss?" Huang Xiaoju said with a smile. "After you finish talking with Brother Li, don't leave. Stay at the shop for dinner, and I'll cook you some of my signature dishes. I guarantee you'll have your fill!"
Yan Shuo picked up the oil tea, took a sip, smacked his lips, and his tone softened considerably: "Well, we'll see how things go. If time allows, we'll stay for dinner."
"You must eat!" A warm voice came from the inner room. Wang Li lifted the curtain and came out with a hearty smile. He waved to Yan Shuo repeatedly, "Xiao Jie, come, come, let's talk inside. There are too many people watching outside; it's not convenient to discuss serious matters!"
"Alright!" Yan Shuo replied with a smile, picked up the bowl of oil tea, stood up, and followed Wang Li into the inner room. Huang Xiaoju quickly stepped forward, gently pulled the curtain closed, and stood guard at the door to prevent anyone from barging in.
The inner room is simply furnished with an eight-immortal table and a few chairs, and the soundproofing is excellent.
After they were both seated, Yan Shuo drank a few more sips of oil tea, smacked his lips, put down his bowl, and his expression gradually became serious. He asked bluntly, "Brother Li, is there an airport in Yan'an? You mean one of those secret airports controlled by our own people?"
Upon hearing the words "Yan'an" and "secret airport," Wang Li's smile vanished instantly. His eyes narrowed sharply, and his tone, tinged with displeasure and wariness, became serious as he said, "Xiao Jie, you've crossed the line! The situation in Yan'an is not something we can casually inquire about, much less something I can discuss with you!"
Yan Shuo had anticipated his reaction, and his face showed no panic. He simply spoke slowly, his tone calm yet carrying a powerful impact: "I know I've crossed the line, but I'm asking you, have I? If I have, I'll send you some things over, like an airplane!"
"An airplane?" Wang Li sat bolt upright, his eyes wide with shock, his voice filled with disbelief. "What did you say? An airplane? What airplane?"
Yan Shuo nodded calmly, his tone resolute: "Yes, it's airplanes. The Japanese have heavy bombers, light bombers, fighter planes, and reconnaissance planes. As long as you have a usable airfield, I can find a way to transport the planes there and hand them over to you."
The shock on Wang Li's face gradually faded, replaced by deep helplessness. He sighed and said with a wry smile, "Hey, Xiao Jie, you really overestimate us! Let's not even talk about whether there's a secret airport in Yan'an. Even if there is, even if you actually transported the plane there, we wouldn't be able to manage it!"
He paused, his voice filled with bitterness, and continued, "Without fuel and bombs, even if the planes could fly, they could only stay airborne for a few days before they all had to break down. We've drilled several oil wells over there before, but they were all empty; we didn't find a single drop of oil! Now, even the fuel for lighting is something our people have to work tirelessly to get, and the amount is pitifully small—not nearly enough to power the planes!"
As soon as Wang Li finished speaking, Yan Shuo smiled, his tone firm and composed. He didn't directly point it out, but he had his own plans in mind: It was early 1940, and he knew very well that the CCP only firmly held the core area of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region centered on Yan'an. As for the outer areas such as Yulin and Guyuan, they were either the territory of the Kuomintang or controlled by local warlords, and could not be considered completely under their control.
But there was no need to say it outright, lest it give others grounds for criticism and be inconsistent with his identity as a member of the Military Intelligence Bureau.
He simply said, dispelling Wang Li's concerns: "Brother Li, you're being too polite. You have plenty of places that you can control. Picking any flat open space and building a 300-meter runway airport is really not a big deal."
Yan Shuo paused, then changed the subject, no longer mentioning the area under the Communist Party's control.
He was a member of the Military Intelligence Bureau, and there was no need to explain the distribution of the Communist Party's influence to Wang Li. No matter how good their relationship was, his identity and stance were clear, so it was enough for him to understand in his heart and only need to be mentioned verbally.
He got straight to the point, outlining his entire plan: "Arrange an airport for me with a 300-meter runway, new or old, or even a newly built one. I'll ship some equipment over: drilling equipment, skilled workers, machine tools and machine tool technicians, as well as prospecting and smelting personnel. Don't worry, these people will only teach you the techniques. Once you've learned, either I'll bring them back, or I'll personally pick them up. They won't delay your work or interfere in your internal affairs."
Upon hearing this, Wang Li's eyes flickered, and the helplessness on his face gradually faded, replaced by a hint of interest.