Chapter 1085 Flying to the Northwest

At the same time, just as the new recruits in Xishui District were feeling unprecedented excitement about the newly arrived 2nd Army of Zhongzhou Theater, on the other side of the night market - Longbao Air Force Base.

In the early morning, the mist had not yet completely dissipated. The airport was brightly lit all night long. Huge searchlight poles pierced the pre-dawn darkness, and the runway was filled with the unique pungent smell of aviation fuel.

In the specially designated giant assembly area, a black mass of people was moving silently and quickly.

All officers and soldiers of the advance combined battalion, which is about to head to the northwest, are wearing uniform starry sky camouflage combat uniforms and brand-new Type 21 light assault equipment. In addition to personal weapons, each person also carries a modular combat bag weighing more than 35 kilograms.

The officers and soldiers were divided into dozens of columns in platoons under the command of the guides and ran towards the huge fleet of aircraft that stretched as far as the eye could see on the apron in the distance.

At this moment, a total of forty-eight Y-20B "Kunpeng" strategic transport aircraft, like forty-eight dormant steel behemoths, were arranged in a spectacular formation in the morning light.

Their dark grey paint almost blends in with the grey sky, and their massive bodies and towering vertical tails form a suffocating forest of steel.

Ground crews drove refueling trucks, power supply trucks, and inspection platform trucks busily between the aircraft groups, like worker ants serving a giant.

After arriving at the designated area, the soldiers of the combined battalion did not board the plane immediately. Instead, under the command of the company commanders, they conducted the final equipment inspection and personal equipment fixation in squads.

The company commander's low roar echoed between the different columns: "Check weapon safety! Secure equipment buckles! Gas masks in place! Night vision goggles battery level!"

"Everyone, aboard!!" After confirming that everything was correct, the battalion commander with the rank of lieutenant colonel gave the order to board the plane.

The next second, teams of soldiers lined up in neat long queues, holding weapons and carrying backpacks, and trotted in a tense and orderly manner through the huge springboard door at the tail of the Y-20B and into the belly of the aircraft.

Each Y-20B needs to carry at least a fully equipped platoon and its accompanying heavy equipment.

Inside the cabin, the air transport guide loudly directed the soldiers to get into the preset folding seats and assisted them in securing the team's heavy weapons, such as anti-tank rocket launchers, general-purpose machine guns, and mortar bases.

"Quick! Quick! Quick! Take your seats according to the plan! Fasten your seat belts!" The guide's shouts echoed in the huge cabin.

At the same time, in the fighter standby area a little further away, twelve J-16 heavy fighter jets fully loaded with live ammunition were also ready.

The silver-gray body reflects a cold light under the lights, and the PL-15 and PL-10 mounted under the wings silently declare its powerful escort and deterrence capabilities.

Ground crew members wearing vests of different colors are conducting the final aircraft inspection and removing the safety pins of external weapons.

...

On the other side of the boarding area, Lieutenant General Wang Tiefeng, commander of the theater army, dressed in a neat general's uniform and looking solemn, came to see Li Kun and Yu Zhengguo off in person, surrounded by a group of senior staff officers and guards.

After hearing the news, Li Kun and Yu Zhengguo, followed by several capable staff officers and security personnel, walked quickly to Wang Tiefeng and saluted!

"Commander!" Li Kun's voice was even louder than usual. "The advance combined battalion and headquarters are in formation, ready to board the plane!"

Wang Tiefeng returned the military salute solemnly, his eyes swept over the two generals who were ready to go, and his voice was steady and powerful:

"I'm here to see you off, Commander-in-Chief. The battle situation in the northwest is now entrusted to you two. Remember, you not only represent the war zone, but are also an extension of its will!"

After he finished speaking, his tone suddenly softened, and his dignified gaze revealed the concern of an elder, as if he was advising his nephew who was about to go on a long journey:

"Currently, due to limited transportation capacity, we can only equip you with a light combined arms battalion. Once you arrive in the northwest, you must maintain a low profile in the early stages and avoid any rash or risky actions!"

Noticing Li Kun's wandering eyes, Wang Tiefeng immediately called him out and scolded him: "Li Kun, what are you looking at Zheng Guo for? I'm talking about you! Don't think I don't know what you're thinking!"

Then he added sternly, "The real work can only begin after the Yelan Railway is fully connected. Only then will we be able to deploy sufficient troops and combat supplies. Once the combat brigades have completed their deployment in the northwest and have a solid military support, it will be time for you to show your strength!"

"Before that, your primary task is to serve as a symbol and voice for the war zone. Stability is paramount!"

"Commander, we..." Li Kun was about to speak.

"Shut up and listen to me!" Wang Tiefeng stopped him with a look.

After taking a deep breath, Wang Tiefeng lowered his voice, his tone becoming more complex and moving:

"This is not only my opinion, but also the clear instruction of the leader!"

"The commander specifically instructed: 'Time is on our side. We still have a long way to go. I hope that when we complete our mission and share the glory, no one will be left behind.'"

"Please understand the weight of these words."

Before he finished speaking, Li Kun and Yu Zhengguo's eyes suddenly turned red. The leader's words clearly meant that their safety was more important than the war situation in the northwest!

Which soldier or subordinate can bear such heavy trust and care?

"Please rest assured, Chief and Commander! I promise to fulfill my mission!" Yu Zhengguo's voice was trembling, but still sonorous and powerful, and his resounding tone seemed to smash a hole in the ground.

Finally, Wang Tiefeng shook hands vigorously with the two men and solemnly instructed them, "Aboard. The entire airspace has been cleared for you. I wish you a successful start!"

After the farewell ceremony, Li Kun and Yu Zhengguo turned and left. Led by the guiding officer, they walked quickly towards the Y-20B aircraft in the middle of the fleet, which was painted with special command markings, and boarded the special command cabin located behind the nose of the aircraft through the gangway.

Inside the cockpit (Kunpeng 1001, command aircraft):

The Air Force Colonel Captain was conducting the final coordinated check: "All aircraft report their readiness."

Calm replies came one after another over the radio:

"Kunpeng 1002, ready."

"Kunpeng 1003, ready."

...

"Kunpeng 1048, ready."

"Thunder 1-1 to 1-12, ready to take off and escort at any time."

Tower: "Longbao Tower to Kunpeng Formation, the airspace has been cleared, weather conditions are good, and we can launch in sequence according to the planned plan."

Captain (1001): "Longbao Tower, Kunpeng formation received, start the pushback start procedure."

As soon as the words fell, the tremendous roar instantly escalated into a deafening roar! The 192 turbofan engines of the 48 Y-20Bs started up one after another, and the huge sound waves even made the glass on the distant airport buildings tremble slightly.

The ground crew retreated and made hand signals.

Like an elephant walking, the huge fleet began to taxi in an orderly manner towards multiple parallel runways in a strict sequence under the command of ground controllers. The scene was extremely spectacular.

Tower: "Kunpeng 1001, cleared to enter the main runway turn. Wind direction, hole eight, three meters per second. Corrected sea pressure, hole one, one. Bon voyage."

Captain: "Enter the runway hole and turn. Kunpeng 1001 understands. Thank you, Tower. We are departing."

As the lead aircraft, Kunpeng 1001 was the first to taxi and accelerate. As it took off and climbed, the subsequent transport aircraft roared and took off one after another at very short intervals.

The entire takeoff process lasted nearly twenty minutes, and the huge fleet completed its initial formation in the air.

The escort formation of twelve J-16 fighter jets took off earlier, formed a warning formation in the air, and then dispersed into different directions and altitudes of the huge transport aircraft group to carry out the escort mission.

The lead J-16 pilot said: "Kunpeng 1001, the Thunder escort formation is in place. All aircraft have entered their designated escort positions and will provide full escort."

Y-20B captain: "Thunderbolt Formation, read it. Thank you for your escort. Maintain heading 28, altitude 10,000, flying according to the planned route. Maintain radio silence level 2."

Lead pilot: "Lei Ting understands. Heading for 28 holes, altitude 10,000. Maintain radio silence level 2."

Finally, a huge mixed formation consisting of as many as sixty aircraft blocked part of the light of the rising sun and flew towards the northwest with unparalleled momentum, with the roar of the engines echoing in the sky for a long time.

On the ground tower, Commander Wang Tiefeng and all the ground crew stood at attention and saluted the departing aircraft for a long time.

At this point, the strategic chess game in the northwest has entered a new stage with the deployment of this powerful air transport force.