The bombing is going on non-stop. After the bombing on the night of the 17th, on the 19th and the 20th, bombers of five regiments were dispatched in succession to bomb Osaka and Chiba in a row. By the day of the 21st, the bombers of the two regiments that Liao Hanxiang had promised to reinforce them had also arrived at the Mushima airfield. The bombers were accompanied by Tan Renhao's intelligence staff officer, Colonel Guo Ziyu.

"This is what General Liao Hanxiang asked me to bring here."; Guo Ziyu is still like that, when Tan Renhao was not on Jeju Island, he was mainly in charge of the affairs of the Western Pacific Theater General Staff, and at that time, the Western Pacific Theater Staff had almost nothing to do except bomb Japan, because the work that was supposed to be done by the Western Pacific Theater Staff was done by the Navy General Staff.

This is a bombing report after the bomber unit on Jeju Island used incendiary bombs. While Tan Renhao and his men were non-stop bombing the most important industrial areas in mainland Japan, the three bomber regiments deployed on Jeju Island did not delay at all. The first batch of incendiary bombs was only received by the three regiments in early May, and then they carried out indiscriminate bombardment of more than a dozen cities in Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Kagoshima, Shikoku Island, and western Honshu. Because the incendiary bombs were mainly supplied to the Iwo Jima side, the three regiments also used heavy bombs to hit Japanese military targets and support the Imperial 6th Army on the Korean Peninsula after running out of incendiary bombs.

It can be said that the results of the Jeju bomber force are not at all below the Iwo Jido bomber force. Because of its proximity to the Japanese mainland, each bomber could carry 24 incendiary bombs at a time, instead of only half of them, so that one bomber could drop enough bombs to withstand two bombers on this side. And the shorter flight time, and when bombing targets at close distances such as Nagasaki under the cover of fighters, the bomber group flew almost twice a day, and the pilots were so excited that they forgot to rest. And the Japanese barely had the slightest respite.

Nagasaki, for example, was hit by three incendiary bombs on the city of Nagasaki, a naval base abandoned by Japan, where three regiments of bombers dropped at least 4,000 tons of incendiary bombs, and the entire city was burned to ashes. According to Japanese government documents obtained after the war, a total of 220,000 Nagasaki citizens died in the fires during the three bombings, more than 10,000 were severely burned (most of them did not survive for five years), and more than 90% of Nagasaki's buildings were reduced to ashes. All factories, military facilities were burned down, and the city turned into a complete dead city.

As with Nagasaki, the results of the other four important cities on the island of Kyushu were not much better. Kumamoto was bombed even more severely, because it was a city with a relatively high concentration of military industry, so it naturally became the target of care. Bombers came to Kumamoto four times, dropping 5,000 tons of incendiary bombs, and the city was completely destroyed.

"Does General Liao Hanxiang still ask you to bring any news?"

Tan Renhao was very satisfied with this result, and the only thing that made him feel a little dissatisfied was that the bomber unit on Jeju Island was close to the water. The use of precious incendiary bombs is simply not spared. Dealing with a city like Kumamoto, with a population of just over 300,000, using 5,000 tons of incendiary bombs is simply a waste, no wonder they have not been able to get enough ammunition supply on their side!

General Liao said. In the future, we will focus on ensuring the supply of your ammunition. ”

Guo Ziyu is not stupid, and he also knows where the contradiction between the two parties is. "The fourth batch of ammunition will arrive at the end of the month, and about 45,000 tons will be delivered. In addition, the Imperial 6th Army had reversed the situation on the Korean Peninsula and was launching an all-out attack on the Japanese army. In the next stage, the bomber force on Jeju Island will mainly deal with the Japanese troops on the Korean Peninsula, so they can no longer participate in the bombing of Japan. ”

"How long will the support for the 6th Army last?"

Tan Renhao frowned slightly, it seemed that the principal still had no way to refuse the request of the 6th Army, otherwise he would not have called on five regiments of heavy bombers to help the 6th Army. And this is probably the main reason why Liao Hanxiang sent the two newly established regiments here. It was always impossible to devote more than half of the bombers to assist the 6th Army's heavy bombers, whose main task was to strike at Japan's strategic facilities rather than to carry out tactical missions.

"About a month, maybe two months."

Guo Ziyu shrugged his shoulders: "Who knows if the 6th Army will succeed this time, they have been dragging on the Korean Peninsula for more than a year, and I heard that the Prime Minister is about to lose patience." This time, the 6th Army mobilized 500,000 troops, and also proposed to attack the Japanese mainland in one go. Regardless of the outcome, though. The 6th Army now has no way to retreat. There was still no progress on the battlefield in the northwest, and there were troubles in the operation to sweep the South Seas. Brigadier General Jiang Zhongmin was also recalled to the naval command, and I heard that it was an order given by the marshal himself. Now, if the 6th Army wants to save the defeat, the only hope is to first complete the combat operations on the Korean Peninsula, and then transfer troops to reinforce Nanyangxun, complete the sweeping operations in the Nanyang area, and then concentrate its forces on the northwest battlefield, strive to make a breakthrough before the end of the year, so as to reduce the pressure on the German Empire, so that the war situation can be regarded as a revitalization! ”

Tan Renhao glanced at Guo Ziyu in a little surprise, Guo Ziyu was only in charge of intelligence, not an operational staff officer, and he knew a little too much about the battle situation.

Guo Ziyu said with a smile: "I have a fellow who is also responsible for intelligence work in the staff of the 6th Army. The last time I went to the military intelligence bureau in the capital, I met him and chatted for a while, so I got to know a little about the 6th Army. ”

Tan Renhao nodded slightly. "If this is the case, then the 6th Army really has no way to retreat. Marshal Yan Dingyu is probably about to lose his breath. If the Sixth Army wants to change the situation on the northwest battlefield before the end of the year, it must complete combat operations on the Korean Peninsula by September, otherwise it will not be able to transfer its troops in time. This time, the 6th Army should be in earnest on the Korean Peninsula! ”

"If it weren't for this, the marshal would not have intervened directly, so let's divide five regiments of bombers to assist the 6th Army."

Tan Renhao also took this into account, and this must have been a decision made by the principal after discussing with Marshal Yan Dingyu. If the Sixth Army can complete its combat operations on the Korean Peninsula as soon as possible, it will also be of great benefit to the Navy, at least the Navy can justifiably undertake all combat missions against Japan, making it difficult for the Sixth Army to intervene. In addition, airfields on the Korean Peninsula could be used to carry out large-scale bombing of the hinterland of the Japanese mainland. Do so before the end of the year. It will be possible for the Navy to accomplish the tasks previously promised.

"In addition, General Liao Hanxiang also told us to hurry up and bomb."

Guo Ziyu took the cigarette handed by Tan Renhao, "He has already contacted General Yan Guozhong personally." The 6th Sentai sent engineers to the 25th at the latest, first repairing the Japanese airfield, and allowing our first escort fighters to be stationed on Hachijojima. By the beginning of June, the 6 squadron guaranteed the provision of two airfields for escort fighters. General Liao had already arranged for the escort fighter unit to be transferred on the 24th. This is about the same time as the fourth batch of ammunition arrived. ”

"That's for the best."

Tan Renhao laughed, "Okay." You just stay here for now, does General Wu Xianyu have any instructions? ”

Guo Ziyu shook his head. "I heard that General Wu Xianyu has submitted an application for transfer and is preparing to become a deputy under General Liao Hanxiang. I've also heard from others that there is no news from the Navy Command yet. Just ......"

Tan Renhao smiled bitterly, he immediately understood what he meant. If Wu Xianyu leaves the position of commander of the Western Pacific Theater, then he will be the most likely candidate to serve as the commander of the Western Pacific Theater. According to the new personnel system of the Navy, a rear admiral can serve as a theater commander (usually a vice admiral), although Tan Renhao may be promoted again, but this is by no means a good thing, because if he serves as a theater commander. Then Tan Renhao would have almost no chance to return to the fleet. He will no longer have to deal with the enemy's fleet. It's a cumbersome official document.

"Hey, these things are not something we can worry about!"

Guo Ziyu let out a long sigh. "I'll start work in the afternoon, now I'm going to familiarize myself with the situation."

"Okay, you wait and go to Hao Dongjue, he hasn't had anything to do in the past two days, let him take you to familiarize yourself with the environment here!"

After seeing Guo Ziyu walk out, Tan Renhao stood up. Everything else is going well, there is nothing to worry about, the only thing that makes him uneasy is Wu Xianyu's decision. The commander of the Western Pacific Theater is obviously a fictitious position, with almost no real power, and anyone in this position will feel uncomfortable. Tan Renhao already understood this when he came to the Western Pacific Theater General Staff. This is also the main reason why Wu Xianyu has become so negative. If Wu Xianyu really came to Liao Hanxiang's men, then the only one who could go up was Tan Renhao, unless Nie Renfeng used those idle generals.

The more he wanted to talk about it, the more irritable he felt, he didn't want to sit in the office for the rest of his life and watch others command the battle, he was only worthy of planning combat operations in the rear, and issuing official documents. This is probably his least favorite life. After staying in the room for a while, Ren Hao walked out, and then walked along the lawn next to the runway in the direction of the sea.

When Nie Renfeng asked him to serve as the chief of staff of the Western Pacific Theater, he had already hinted that after completing the bombing of Japan, he would still have a chance to return to the fleet, at least as a fleet commander (not the commander of the task force, but the commander of the theater fleet), so that he could return to the fleet and continue to command the fleet to fight. But now that Wu Xianyu is really gone, then he will also suffer!

"General, it seems to be a naval plane, not a transport plane on an aircraft carrier!"

Tan Renhao stopped and looked in the direction of Duchenne's finger. A small transport plane is facing the runway and preparing to land, this is indeed a small transport plane used on an aircraft carrier, which can only seat a few people. Under normal circumstances, each aircraft carrier has two such transport planes (which remain ashore during combat) and are mainly responsible for transporting senior officers and generals.

"Go and drive the jeep, maybe Lei Shaoqing is here!"

Tan Renhao had clearly seen that the logo on the plane was the mark of the Second Task Force, and only the ground aircraft carrier of the Second Task Force was in action nearby.

Sure enough, it was Lei Shaoqing who talked about Renhao, and he was a little surprised, Lei Shaoqing was commanding the second task force to support the 6th team to fight, and he had nothing to do when he came to Iwo Jima, what was he doing?

"Have you heard about General Wu Xianyu?"

Tan Renhao frowned, and the news spread really fast.

"I heard that General Wu Xianyu applied to be transferred to the Strategic Strike Force as Chief of Staff, and General Liao Hanxiang has agreed, so now I just wait for the principal to make a statement."

Lei Shaoqing glanced at Tan Renhao, and then laughed: "You must have heard the news, right?" There's nothing to worry about, there's no way the headmaster will let you go to the post of theater commander. ”

"Why?"

Tan Renhao glanced at Lei Shaoqing in surprise, could Lei Shaoqing be able to see through other people's minds?

"It's very simple, you don't have enough qualifications to be a theater commander, and everyone knows that the commander of the Western Pacific theater is an idle position, and you think the headmaster will let you leave the front line?"

Lei Shaoqing leaned on the jeep, "Think about it." In addition, I also heard a piece of news: Chief of Staff Gan Yongxing proposed that the personnel arrangements of the task force be raised by one level as a whole to enhance the status of the task force. If that's the case, then you could return to the fleet! ”

Tan Renhao was taken aback again, such an adjustment is by no means a trivial matter, and if the personnel arrangements of the task force are raised as a whole, then it means that the commander of the fleet will be a rear admiral, chief of staff, and brigadier general. This is naturally a good thing for Lei Shaoqing, he can be promoted again, and for Tan Renhao, if he wants to choose to stay in the fleet, then he must give up the promotion, which is equivalent to what he has done during this time, without any credit.

"Don't think too much, the principal has always valued you, and you will definitely make the right arrangements."

Lei Shaoqing sighed: "Okay, wait a minute, I'm going to take a plane back to the fleet." Our combat mission ended at the end of May, and the fleet will be returning in a few days, and I came to see if there was anything you wanted me to bring back? ”

"It's nothing, you can go back and have a good rest!"

Tan Renhao smiled and nodded, "Team 6's progress is fast?" ”

"Yes, the battle will be able to surround Mt. Hachijo by the end of May, and the battle will last until late June at most, and the materials for the construction of the airport have already been shipped, and construction will start soon."

Lei Shaoqing patted Tan Renhao's shoulder: "I will contact you if there is other news." I believe it won't be long before you will return to Zhoushan! ”

Tan Renhao smiled bitterly, and returning to Zhoushan was to return to the fleet, but he didn't have much hope.