Lieutenant General Asaburo Kobayashi, chief of staff of the Japanese dispatched troops, held a telegram in his hand and reported to the commander-in-chief of the invading Japanese troops, Shunroku Hata:
"Prime Minister Tojo just sent another telegram, urging us to immediately carry out air strikes on the Eighth Route Army airport in Shanxi to destroy its long-range bombing capability!"
Shunroku Hata frowned slightly.
Is it that easy to launch an air attack on the Eighth Route Army airport?
Without specific information on the Eighth Route Army Air Force, the location of the airport, etc., an air strike was launched brazenly, with the outcome unknown.
Shunroku Hata had served as the head of the Aviation Headquarters, so he naturally knew this truth, so he did not launch an air attack on the Eighth Route Army rashly.
Regarding the Eighth Route Army that defeated the North China Front, Shunroku Hata appeared very cautious.
Because the reconnaissance planes sent by the 11th Army and the Kwantung Army to conduct reconnaissance in Shanxi were all shot down.
Intelligence shows that the Eighth Route Army is equipped with radar and can detect Japanese aircraft from hundreds of kilometers away.
If you don't know the intelligence of the Eighth Route Army Air Force and launch an air strike, the Japanese aviation unit will inevitably suffer heavy losses.
but.
The base camp continuously sent telegrams to urge him, but Shunroku Hata could not withstand the pressure.
"Xiao Lin, how are the aviation units in Central China and the Kwantung Army preparing?"
Taking a deep breath, Shunroku Hata asked calmly.
"Central China has prepared 80 fighter jets and 60 bombers, including about 40 Zero fighter jets and 40 Nakajima fighter jets, deployed at Wuhan, Hefei and other airports."
Asaburo Kobayashi replied:
"You can take off at any time to fight in the Eighth Route Army area."
"However, our Nakajima fighter jets have a range of only more than 1,700 kilometers."
"Wuhan and Hefei are about 800 kilometers away from Taiyuan. Nakajima fighter jets cannot take off for combat unless they can refuel at Xinxiang Airport."
"Even the Zero fighter can only reach Taiyuan and return immediately after completing the bombing mission."
Xinxiang Airport has been visited several times by flight groups from the Eighth Route Army Headquarters. The runways and airport facilities have all been bombed and have not yet been repaired.
The Japanese aviation units that bombed mountain cities included both the navy and the army, so there were quite a few Zero fighters.
"Your Excellency, General, do you order the aviation force to bomb the Shanxi Eighth Route Airport?"
After a pause, Asaburo Kobayashi asked.
"Xiao Lin, do you know where the Eighth Route Army's airport is?"
Shunroku Hata did not answer immediately, but asked.
"It should be in Taiyuan." Kobayashi Asaburo pointed at the map and said, "Taiyuan's Wusu Airport is the largest airport in North China. The Eighth Route Army's bombers should be here."
"Yoshi!"
Shunroku Hata nodded: "I think so too."
"Your Excellency, General." Kobayashi Asaburo said again: "There are not many pilots in the Eighth Route Army right now. I think this is the best time for an air strike. Before the Eighth Route Army's air force becomes fully fledged, we can destroy their aircraft and pilots in one fell swoop."
"Xiao Lin, what you said makes sense."
"Order the aviation forces in central China to prepare and dispatch Zero fighters and bombers to destroy Taiyuan Wusu Airport in one fell swoop."
Shunroku Hata issued the order in a stern tone.
Because the Eighth Route Army bombers bombed Japan from a long distance last time.
Although there was no definite intelligence support, Prime Minister Hideji Tojo sent continuous telegrams to urge him. Shunroku Hata did not intend to wait any longer.
Call first and then talk.
Moreover, he did not launch a tentative attack like that, but deployed all his strength to destroy the Eighth Route Army's airport.
"Should we let the Kwantung Army aviation units attack together?"
Kobayashi Asaburo asked.
"No need, 100 planes are enough!"
Shunroku Hata looked thoughtful at first, then waved his hand and said.
It was revealed that senior agents of the Eighth Route Army were lurking in the North China Front Army Headquarters and the Kwantung Army Headquarters.
So far, senior agents of the Eighth Route Army have not been identified.
If he contacted the Kwantung Army Headquarters to attack together, Shunroku Hata was afraid that the information would be leaked, resulting in a failure of success and even heavy losses to the aviation unit.
This time, the aviation force is under my personal command, so the information will not be leaked, right?
There are currently 200 Japanese aircraft in central China, which is enough to deal with the Eighth Route Army.
"When is the attack time scheduled?"
Kobayashi Asaburo asked.
"tomorrow morning."
"The aviation unit set off early in the morning to cook breakfast for the Eighth Route Army aviation unit."
Shunroku Hata said.
Japanese aircraft have night bombing capabilities, but fighter jets do not have night combat capabilities.
In the last Battle of Shotai, all Japanese transport planes were shot down at night, which showed that the Eighth Route Army's aircraft had the capability to fight at night.
Unless there are troops on the ground firing flares to cooperate, bombing the Eighth Route Army airport at night is tantamount to death.
"Your Majesty, General, if we only bomb the Eighth Route Airport, 40 Zero fighter jets will be enough, right?"
Asaburo Kobayashi said.
"Not only the Eighth Route Army airport will be bombed, but the people of Taiyuan and the Eighth Route Army stationed in Taiyuan will also be bombed."
Hata Shun Liuyu waved his hand and said.
Asaburo Kobayashi stared at the map and guessed: "There are probably Eighth Route Army airports in northwestern Shanxi and southeastern Shanxi."
"No need to rush!"
Shunroku Hata also stared at the map and said:
"First destroy Taiyuan Airport, destroy the Eighth Route Army's heavy long-range bombers, build an airport in Xinxiang, then destroy the airports in southeastern Shanxi and northwestern Shanxi, and continue bombing the Eighth Route Army."
A whole set of plans took shape in Hata Shunroku's mind.
"Those who dare to bomb the mainland of the Japanese Empire will surely pay the heaviest price for the Eighth Route Army."
Shunroku Hata's tone was filled with murderous intent:
"Order the aviation warriors to prepare for attack."
"Hi."
Kobayashi Asaburo suddenly lowered his head.
…
Taiyuan.
New Regiment Headquarters.
"Deputy Commander Chu, there is a severe drought in Henan Province this year, and most people have no harvest. When you get there, you must collect more information about the people."
Li Yunlong told Chu Yunfei.
Although the disaster in Yu Province has just begun, Li Yunlong has already received relevant information.
Yu Province is a province with a large population. If there is a severe drought, coupled with the war years, the number of people who starve to death will be at least millions.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Li Yunlong is originally a farmer and cannot bear to see this happen.
Nowadays, the New Regiment and the Eighth Route Army are quite wealthy, and they will definitely take action if they can.
"Okay, I will focus on it."
Chu Yunfei nodded. He cared about the people, so he agreed immediately.
If Li Yunlong is willing to provide food for disaster relief, the new independent regiment can not only gain a foothold but also win the support of the people, and it will be easy to develop the army by then.
Zhao Gang also said: "Deputy Commander Chu, after you arrive in northern Henan, you must first establish a foothold. The situation there is very complicated. There are not only the Japanese army and the local Eighth Route Army troops, but also the national army guerrillas and bandits. It can be said that it is a mixed bag.
."
Although the idea is simple, it is not easy to implement it.
In private, Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei still treat each other as brothers.
Moreover, the relationship between the two brothers is getting better and better. In addition to cherishing each other, they now also have a revolutionary friendship.
Zhao Gang and Li Yunlong were the introducers to join the party, and Chu Yunfei was also preparing to join the party.
However, joining the party is not something Chu Yunfei can do immediately if he wants to. It requires a period of training, education and inspection.
Chu Yunfei was a decisive person. Since he led the 358th regiment to break away from the Jinsui Army, he naturally made plans to join the party.
In the past, Chu Yunfei had never thought about breaking away from the Three People's Principles and changing his beliefs.
But the plan could not keep up with the changes, and now he has changed his belief in communism.
However, after a few days, Chu Yunfei felt that communism was not bad and could replace the Three People's Principles to save China in the future.
At present, the independent brigade has been equipped with American equipment.
In addition to the American 155mm howitzer, American semi-automatic rifles, American M1917 heavy machine guns, American M2 heavy machine guns, American submachine guns, American mortars, and bazooka rocket launchers, 20mm machine guns, American 75mm mountain cannons, and German 105
Millimeter howitzers, everything that can be arranged has been arranged.
After the troops are familiar with the equipment and training is completed, Chu Yunfei is confident that he can lead an independent brigade to defeat an elite Japanese regiment.
After arriving in northern Henan, Chu Yunfei was ready to fight.
"The regimental commander, political commissar, and boss Chen just sent a telegram, and the Japanese dispatched army headquarters has issued a combat order."
"The Japanese aviation force will dispatch 100 aircraft to the airports in Wuhan and Hefei to attack Taiyuan."
At this moment, Wang Dehou, chief of staff of the new regiment, walked in quickly with a telegram in his hand and reported to Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang.
Chu Yunfei's expression changed, he looked at Li Yunlong and asked: "Captain, this Boss Chen should be the one who is assisting our new regiment, right?"
"That's right!" Li Yunlong nodded, "I'll introduce you to him if I have the chance."
Then, Li Yunlong looked at Wang Dehou and asked: "How many planes does the Japanese army have? Where are the airports in Wuhan and Hefei?"
"40 Zero fighters and 60 bombers, plus several reconnaissance aircraft."
Wang Dehou replied:
"Japanese aircraft are mainly deployed at Wuhan's Hankou and Qingshan airports, and Hefei's Sanli Street Airport."
The information given by Boss Chen was as detailed as ever.
"Will the Kwantung Army dispatch aviation units?" Zhao Gang asked.
Boss Chen mentioned last time that the Japanese aviation units in Central China and the Kwantung Army area will be dispatched to deal with the Eighth Route Army Air Force.
"Boss Chen did not mention whether the Kwantung Army's aviation unit was dispatched."
Wang Dehou shook his head and handed over the telegram in his hand.
After Li Yunlong read it, he handed it to Zhao Gang. After Zhao Gang read the telegram, Chu Yunfei also took it and read it.
"Since the Japanese Air Force is about to take action."
"Then let's strike first!"
Captain Li's eyes were calm, but his tone was murderous and decisive.
