frightfiction Chapter 916 Special Vehicles
Chapter 916 Special Vehicles
But Li Yunlong was completely different. According to Chu Yunfei's understanding, the biggest challenge Li Yunlong could think of was to get him drunk when they met for drinks.
In fact, Chu Yunfei really liked that atmosphere. There was no deceit or backstabbing. Everyone sat together drinking and chatting, discussing the current war situation, or sharing tactics. This was what soldiers should be doing.
What he hated most was attending the high-ranking officers' banquets held by the theater command. Those glittering, decadent places talked about how to make money and how to appreciate wine, but never about the war or how to fight the invaders. They were full of sycophants.
Chu Yunfei was like a white crow among a flock of black crows; no wonder he was in a bad mood.
However, the liquor that Li Yunlong prepared, called "sweet potato liquor," was indeed not good to drink; it would cause a terrible headache the next day.
He also brought a case of fine Fenjiu liquor with him, intending to have a good drink with Li Yunlong. He came with a specific purpose in mind, and also to assess the true combat effectiveness of the Independent Column.
At this point, Section Chief Ma continued:
"Commander Chu, it's still a few days' journey to our Independent Column. We've prepared transportation. Would you like to come along?"
"After all, riding a horse is too slow and very uncomfortable."
After he finished speaking, he glanced at the cavalry company behind Chu Yunfei and said nothing more.
Upon hearing this, the soldiers of the 358th Division's cavalry company were immediately filled with rage.
Once upon a time, their cavalry was a symbol of speed, the fastest mobile force in an army, but now they are criticized for being too slow on horseback.
Chu Yunfei didn't expect to encounter something new as soon as he entered the base, so he became interested in seeing just how big a surprise the other party had prepared for him.
When he followed Section Chief Ma to the main road, he found that five buses were already waiting in one place.
"Is this a bus? But we're still so far from the Independent Column, can this kind of bus get us there?"
Upon seeing this colossal machine, many cavalry soldiers were stunned, their mouths agape. It was something they had never seen before, brimming with mechanical allure.
Chu Yunfei's behavior was relatively normal. He had seen this kind of bus before, so it wasn't unusual. But that was in Taiyuan, the most developed place in the entire Shanxi Province, where there were only a little over a hundred buses at most.
They are currently in a nameless little place, so small that it can't even be found on a map, yet there are five of them, which is quite strange.
Section Chief Ma suppressed a laugh, mentally muttering a few words like "country bumpkin" before explaining:
"Commander Chu, the highway behind us is a main road in the base area. We have already built roads between the counties, so there will be no problem using buses."
"Moreover, there is a large amount of supplies on board, enough for us to reach our destination. As for your cavalry equipment, you can leave it nearby and take it with you when you leave."
That's a good idea, but Chu Yunfei would never choose that.
To be honest, this cavalry company has about 150 horses in total, which is a considerable asset for any army.
Chu Yunfei summoned the cavalry company commander and said in a serious tone:
"Company Commander Liao, you lead the cavalry company back the way you came, rendezvous with Chief of Staff Fang's main force, and then follow the main force."
"Yes, sir."
Although Company Commander Liao also wanted to ride in this iron machine to get somewhere, since he had never done it before, military orders were paramount, and he could only reluctantly leave with his men.
Next, Section Chief Ma led Chu Yunfei and the guards to the bus, where everyone carefully examined this novel creature.
To be honest, the paint job on this bus is quite unique; it's a light brown color, completely different from what Chu Yunfei saw in Taiyuan before.
"Section Chief Ma, your bus is quite special. Is there any explanation for that?"
"Commander Chu, this is the latest bus developed in our base area. Currently, it is only used for long-distance transportation between counties, and its speed can reach fifty kilometers per hour."
"Each bus can seat 30 people because the engine of this bus is very powerful. If you squeeze in, there is no problem with 50 people."
"As for why it's tan, it's mainly for air defense. If we spot Japanese planes, we can simply open the camouflage netting on the vehicle, and the enemy pilots will have a hard time spotting us from high altitudes, which will also ensure the safety of the passengers."
In fact, when Chu Yunfei first heard that this bus could carry fifty people at a time, his first thought was to quickly transport troops.
If, as Section Chief Ma described, this vehicle can reach speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour, then its tactical significance is immense.
Two vehicles can transport an infantry company, and with twenty vehicles, an infantry regiment can be transported thousands of miles away in a short time.
Moreover, judging from how easily Section Chief Ma was able to mobilize five buses, this type of vehicle is already in mass production in their base area and is not a rare thing.
As the old saying goes, "To see a leopard through a tube is to see only a part of it."
Putting aside everything else, this small incident alone demonstrates the strength of the Eighth Route Army's industrial capabilities.
At the same time, this type of bus has another great advantage: it can be used to carry passengers and make money in normal times, but in case of emergency, it can be immediately converted from civilian to military use, which is perfect.
The advantage of this is that it doesn't require military equipment funds and also makes it easier for ordinary people to travel.
Ironically, many senior generals in the Jin-Sui Army were still living in a dream world, believing that the Eighth Route Army's strength was nothing special.
When Chu Yunfei boarded the bus, he found it to be quite spacious. The seats were made of wood, with a cushion and a backrest, which seemed to be woven from some kind of fur. They were very comfortable to sit on.
He tried it out and found that the space was more comfortable than sitting in a military truck, and even better than a sedan. After all, it was more spacious and less oppressive, and there were plenty of windows to ensure good lighting.
As for horseback riding, there's no comparison at all; the two are completely different things.
Section Chief Ma continued to explain: "These cushions and backrests are made of rabbit fur, which is very comfortable and can relieve passenger fatigue."
As you probably know, these rabbit wool blanks are available every day in the base area. They are a valuable resource and should not be wasted. They can be used to make various fur products.
Chu Yunfei laughed after hearing this, as this was a common occurrence in their Jin-Sui Army territory.
After all, it's something free, with absolutely no cost, and the Chinese are best at utilizing everything that's available.