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Further south, the surviving pair of BMP-IIs rushed down the road as they advanced north, cutting across the trees and vegetation with their auto-cannons while the Paras ran alongside to keep up…

The PLA defenses between Dotanang and Barshong had been broken, and what had emerged was a bitter running firefight between the last surviving forces of the Chinese Highland Brigade and the 11TH Indian Para-SF Battalion for control of northern Bhutan.

The honor-guard snapped to attention as Chen stepped out of the cabin doors of the Tu-154 and walked down the staircase to the concrete tarmac. Feng followed behind along with several other officers. It was bitterly cold and it had rained that morning, leaving the tarmac wet and covered with puddles of water.

A convoy of three black staff cars had come over to the tarmac to pick the officers and take them to the Junwei-Kongjun, the PLAAF central headquarters.

Chen saw that Wencang was there to meet them on the tarmac near the parked cards. He shook hands with Chen and returned the salute from Feng before waving them to the cars. Chen and Wencang got into the middle car while Feng walked back to the third one. As the small convoy of cars drove off the tarmac, Chen turned to his old comrade:

“So? What really happened to Jinping?”

Wencang shook his head and looked at the rainwater dripping down the outer side of the window glass as he spoke.

“What do you think? Between Jinping and Zhigao, we have lost control of the skies over most of south-western China and Tibet. You didn’t really expect the CMC to look the other way on something like this, did you? There were going to be consequences. Jinping and Zhigao were the first to go. There are others who will go soon enough.”

“And am I next to be put up against the wall?” Chen asked dispassionately. “Is that why they pulled me from my command in the middle of a war?”

Wencang turned to face Chen directly now.

“Let me just put it this way. If that was to be your fate, I wouldn’t have been at the airport to greet you. It took a lot of convincing on my part to convince Peng and Liu that you were not to blame for what has happened in the air war. And Feng’s operational successes against Indian airbases and other targets spoke for itself,” Wencang concluded.

“Despite his propensity to throw our pilot’s lives and precious airframes at the Indians to achieve those goals?” Chen asked neutrally.

“You know very well what I think about Feng’s tactics. But they do get results and meets expectations. And instead of scrutinizing him, maybe it’s time you and I looked at ourselves and our own ability to do what it takes. Maybe Feng is not the problem,” Wencang noted coldly. Chen was visibly irate at the insinuations his comrade was making.

“If Feng represents the future of this nation’s air-force, then there is indeed no place in it for both of us!” Chen threw back.

“You do know he looks up to you, right? He always has,” Wencang said with a raised eyebrow. He wondered exactly what all had gone on in the unified MRAF headquarters between these two men for the last week.

“He does and I know it,” Chen sighed. “It’s just that I underestimated his ruthlessness under desperate and stressful situations. He is a dedicated, intelligent and ruthless field commander. And an operational and planning genius. We need him regardless.”

“Exactly,” Wencang concluded. “That is the bottom line on that. In any case, I need you both here in Beijing for the time being. We have a crisis on our hands. I need to know from you exactly what our aerial war-fighting potential is against the Indians. Can we take back control or not?”

“We can,” Chen said.

“But?” Wencang led him on.

“But not without massive reinforcements. We have lost upwards of four Fighter Divisions in combat and I have only received a Division and a half as replacements so far. I need more! A lot more. Empty out the northern areas and send those units to me and I can win. The Indians cannot be strong everywhere and they have taken casualties as well. If we keep pushing them they will break!” Chen replied.

Wencang shook his head in dismissal.

“The party will not agree to this. We cannot vacate forces on the eastern coastline against the nationalists nor can we afford to be seen weak. They will not bend on this. What other options do we have?”

“You have to be joking! What threat do the Japanese present? Same for the Americans! Neither of them will support the Indians in this war by spilling their own blood! As for the Nationalists, we have enough missiles to sink their cursed island into the sea if they attempt anything! If we don’t move now, the air-war against the Indians will be lost completely!” Chen said and then checked his voice.

Wencang may be his colleague from the past, but he did outrank him. The latter now leaned back into his seat.