[centre][img=http://gammacloud.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/mao-writing.jpg][/centre] [b]March 1st, 1950 Zhongnanhai, Beijing, People's Republic of China[/b] The sun was setting after a long day, beckoning many of China's people to return home to a relaxing night - but for some, work wasn't finished. The Chairman inhaled a deep breath of smoke as he leaned over a map of the old Qing Dynasty, observing the lands once formerly ruled by the Chinese empire. Flicking away the burning remains of his cigarette, he picked a delicate brush and with a dip in red paint, began to surround the isle of Taiwan with a slender circle. It was there where his most wretched enemy lay, cowering behind a corrupt and bloated military whose commanders lorded over the greatest trauma faced by the Chinese people: namely the Warlord Era. Ever spiteful of the popularity enjoyed by the communists - popularity earned by taking efforts to better the livelihood of the Chinese people, rather than offering an empty personality cult revolving around a shrivelled Chiang - the Kuomintang had stubbornly clung to power upon their little island. There, their brutality had been unleashed upon the local people, and the Chairman had felt nothing but remorse for those innocent Chinese so brutally slaughtered by Chiang Kai-shek's mercenaries during the 2/28 Incident. The Chairman knew something had to be done, of course, to not only truly reunite all people of China but to bring this rampaging war criminal to justice. The lives lost in decades of tragedies since 1927 would finally be avenged, and the Chinese people would finally be at peace after so long. But to facilitate this, the Chiang Kai-shek regime had to be crushed. Their past peace offerings had either been traitorous attempts to either sell the country out, or pleas for mercy after the tides had been returned. How could any true Chinese accept such offers with a despicable man? No, there could be no dealings with a man like Chiang Kai-shek. The Chinese people would never accept this. The people of Europe had once tried to negotiate with fascist warmongers, and look what Munich resulted in. It was obvious to the Chairman that he could not allow such a farce to continue. Coughing as he reached to pull over his typewriter, he began to prepare a memorandum for the People's Liberation Army. Preparation had begun ever since the August of last year, but efforts had to be doubled - no, tripled - tenfold even! [i]"To Comrades Zhu De and Peng Dehuai, 1. In order to bring a true finalisation to the War of Liberation and to bring Chiang Kai-shek to justice, thereby uniting all Chinese people and ridding the world of yet another fascist warmonger; I herewith order further regiments to to march swiftly to Fujian Province to bolster the strength of the PLA-TIF, in preparation for a glorious victory for all people on both sides of the straits. 2. While stationed in Fujian Province, the PLA-TIF must ensure they respect and care for all Fujianese people - strictly observing military and political discipline. This is a most important political basis for ensuring the fulfilment of your military task. 3. You must fully ensure that all members of the PLA-TIF are fit for warfare and have the highest morale and spirits. As long as you comrades are firm, brave and prepared at all times, final victory will be ours. Mao Zedong Chairman of the Chinese People's Revolutionary Military Commission"[/i] How glorious final victory shall be, thought a smiling Mao as he sent the message off to his faithful commanders. China had achieved so much during the revolution, yet still had struggles to overcome. The Chairman was well aware that socialist revolutions required the people's fullest devotion and strength. Naturally, this meant that burgeoning communists around the globe would also have their own immense challenges to face. The movement of socialism was a movement of brothers, and it was only natural for the Chairman to convey his greatest sympathy and compassion towards the ongoing struggles. In recent days, news had reached Beijing of resounding victories from one of the newest revolutions. With this in mind, the Chairman decided it was now time to pick up his pen and personally address the youngest revolutionary state; the Republic of Cuba. [i]"Fidel Castro Prime Minister of Cuba Comrade in arms! Allow me to introduce myself. I am Mao Zedong, Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. It is from afar in Beijing that I witness your endeavour in leading the Cuban people to a brighter future - one without the reactionaries exploiting the people of a beautiful island. Yours is the most recent uprising against the tides of imperialism, and it shows that the socialist flame is one burning across the entire world. Each day our press here in the People's Republic publishes reports and articles about your valiant struggle, and the Chinese people are in awe at your revolutionary successes. As you may know, the Chinese Red Army itself carried on a ceaseless and hard struggle for decades on end. We fought through hunger and cold, with insufficient arms, ammunition, and medicine, but at last we won our victories. We know that you and your army are also passing through great hardships such as we also have passed through, but with your unyielding belief in revolutionary ideals I am certain that your people shall be victorious. In light of your heroic revolution, I would like to express on behalf of the Central People's Government and the people of the People's Republic of China our sincere congratulations and well-wishes to the Cuban people's achievement. With brotherly regards, Mao Zedong"[/i] --- [centre][img=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Roundel_of_the_Peoples_Liberation_Army_Air_Force.svg/800px-Roundel_of_the_Peoples_Liberation_Army_Air_Force.svg.png][/centre] [b]March 7th, 1950 Kaifeng, Henan Province, People's Republic of China[/b] General Liu Yalou stood with his arms folded, taking a long look around his office. After having finished rearranging the last of its décor in preparation for his incoming visitor, it was almost spotless. What was of mild annoyance was the peculiar request to remove an elaborate painting of a river. Despite his great love for the brushwork - courtesy of a Manchu market - he had followed his orders and reluctantly removed the illustration. He sighed slightly at the unnaturally bare walls behind his desk. Nevertheless there was nothing that could be done about it, considering his commander's potamophobia. Instead he preoccupied himself as he waited, giving a shine to a series of medals adorning his chest - from a variety earned during campaigns against the Japanese puppets in Manchuria and the rounding up of the remainder of the reactionary Kuomintang, to one signifying his overall command of the People's Liberation Army Air Force. The door opened at that very second. Offering a respectful salute, Liu greeted his prestigious guest. "Comrade! I'm glad you could make it so soon. Please, have a seat. How was the journey?" "Lengthy, but well enough," answered a tired Lin Biao, returning the greeting before accepting his subordinate's kind offer. The young marshal glanced around the neat workplace before him, eyes wincing - but he said no more of his mild headache. Liu dimmed the lights in an attempt to comfort Lin. "Perhaps you really should accept Peng's advice to see Shanghai's most prestigious hospitals." Taking relief in the darkened room, Lin offered a set of files over to his associate. "Marshal Peng..." he muttered. "He's busy in the west, having finished the cleanup of bandits in Xinjiang. He'll be overseeing dialogue with the Tibetans too, any day now." The air general nodded, scanning through the notes. A select few were embellished with a bold print proclaiming [b]'STATE SECRET'[/b], and it was these were Liu's attention fell. "Nonetheless, Marshal Peng is taking quite the keen interest in your project. How goes the development?" Peering over a black-and-white photograph of gifted Soviet MiG-15s, Liu grinned."Progress is swift and astounding by all counts. It was only after eleven days of intensive training that comrade Cui Hanqing earned the noble title of China's first paratrooper, and that was before the end of February! Think of how much progress has been made since." A smile grew upon Lin's face. "Excellent work! When do you think they will be ready to begin operations?" Liu frowned ever so slightly. He wasn't entirely sure when he should give the final order. It was no simple question. Certainly, they were operational and could commence an aerial invasion at his command; but would it be wise to approve an invasion of Chiang's hideout only three weeks after the Air Corps' formation? No, perhaps that would be too soon, and what a laughing stock he would become should he preside over any possible failure. But perhaps an early assault was the key - his soldiers were freshly aware of their own skills, and the Kuomintang army was known to be a demoralised ragtag force despised by the local Taiwanese. Just as the Chairman prescribed, they could surely count upon the forces of the masses to overthrow the reactionaries. "They would indeed be able to lead an airborne invasion in... Well - not to rush things - but perhaps during this very month," replied the air general. Marshal Lin glanced up at Liu, grinning widely. "You never cease to amaze me." --- [centre][img=http://i.imgur.com/dXK7GPW.png][/centre] [b]March 14th, 1950 Fujian Province, People's Republic of China[/b] The mountains of Fujian were renowned for their poetic beauty around the entirety of China. As one of the many spots of Marco Polo's visits, the starting point of the famed Zheng He's vast voyages, and a intellectual and cultural hotspot, Fujian was a province where where poets, priests and scholars alike gathered. In recent years it had attracted military attention, from the occupying armies of the Japanese imperialists to the fleeing cowards of the Kuomintang running dogs. More recently, however, had it became a sight for the People's Liberation Army to gather. Trucks adorning the PLA emblem were not uncommon and the citizenry had grown accustomed to the sight of soldiers amongst them. Some had even signed up, further swelling the already immense revolutionary army. But that was not required, as direct orders from Beijing itself had decreed the stationing of even more soldiers to the coastal province. Convoy after convoy of the PLA arrived into the province in their greatest numbers yet over the past two weeks, with the trucks bristling full of weaponry. Whether it was abandoned equipment courtesy of the former Imperial Japanese Army or the fascist ideologues in the the National Revolutionary Army, or whether it was Soviet arms so generously donated by Comrade Stalin, or even domestic copies of the Tommy Gun - a plethora of modern weaponry was to be found here. The numbers and location of the forces there were to remain a state secret, but their presence could be felt throughout the province.