By the time the time the time came early 1938, the arms expansion of various countries had reached its peak level. The slipways of shipyards in various countries are already filled with warships of all kinds, and the scale of construction is constantly being refreshed every fiscal year. The production lines of the arsenal are filled with all kinds of weapons and equipment, and tons and tons of various military supplies are sent to all parts of the world.

Stimulated by the doubling of military spending, the total strength of the Ming Army finally exceeded the terrifying number of six million in peacetime. This is in the absence of military mobilization.

The consequence of the frenzied expansion is the decline in the quality of the soldiers. Although the training department has continuously strengthened the quality training of new recruits, in fact, the overall combat effectiveness of the Ming army has declined to varying degrees.

For example, the total number of armored units after several splits has reached as many as 20 divisions, but the actual combat effectiveness is definitely not comparable to that of the former First Tank Division. Veterans of the Boer War are now largely non-commissioned officers, serving in various armored units. As for how these troops should be used, two opposing views have long been formed in the army.

Zhang Cheng, as the director of the armored corps and the commander of the army aviation, once again came to the office of Field Marshal Yang Zhuo to report to His Excellency the marshal on the progress of the paratrooper unit that had only been formally established the year before last, and at the same time to promote his own battle plan.

"Your Excellency, Marshal." Zhang Cheng saluted, handed the thick document in his hand to Marshal Yang Zhuo behind his desk, and introduced in a loud voice: "The four paratrooper divisions of the First Parachute Army have initially formed combat effectiveness, and I hope to deploy them on the Caspian front line to join the attack plan on the Baku oil fields." ”

The Ming Dynasty was divided into the Russian Empire in the northwest, along the Ural Mountains and the Caspian Sea. Both sides have millions of troops on the border, and both are trying to launch a preemptive attack on the other.

On the southern shore of the Caspian Sea, the Ming occupies the Iranian plateau. The two sides confronted each other near Rasht as the demarcation line. From here, along the western coast of the Caspian Sea, all the way north is Baku, the main oil-producing area of the Russian Empire. The first step in Zhang Cheng's battle plan was to capture this extremely important oil-producing area.

"You still insist on drilling the mountains of the Caucasus." After Marshal Yang Zhuo quickly skimmed through the documents in his hand, he sighed lightly and looked at Zhang Cheng, "It's difficult for this plan to be approved by the Supreme Command." ”

"Your Excellency." Zhang Cheng narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "I can't understand the general attack on Kazan formulated by the Supreme Command, and then go straight to Moscow. After that, the strange battle plan for the attack on St. Petersburg. The plan completely treated our opponents as medieval fools who used cold weapons. Kazan was built many years ago as a huge fortress, with complex terrain and a powerful garrison. The Russians have built the Volga defense line for many years, and it is definitely not something that can be easily broken through. And even if you can break through to Kazan and take Moscow, what's the point? Then going north to attack St. Petersburg is even more nonsense, and fighting a war is not a game of drawing a map! Russia's allies can support them in a steady stream of battles. And the huge interior of Russia will directly drag down our logistical supplies. The plan for a quick battle drawn up by the Supreme High Command could not have succeeded. ”

The Ming Dynasty built the long Trans-Siberian Railway for the Ural defense line many years ago. Subsequently, in order to connect the Western Regions of Central Asia, a railway line was built from the east to Central Asia. But how many troops can be supported by the transportation capacity of these railway lines? The battle plan proposed by the young staff officers of the Supreme High Command could only be to use the strategic supplies stored at the front line. That is, it can only succeed. Can't fail!

Zhang Cheng couldn't understand it at all, he obviously occupied the initiative, and it would be good to give full play to his advantages and advance little by little. The Ming Dynasty, who completely controls the entire Indian Ocean, can transport supplies to Iran by powerful sea, and it is better to attack from here than from the Ural defense line anyway.

"Sit." Marshal Yang Zhuo got up and left the desk, motioning for Zhang Cheng to sit down on the sofa: "You should understand that most people in the army are now full of confidence in their own strength. They believed that the concentration of armored forces to break through the Russian lines, followed by a large army to take the vast interior of the Russians, would quickly force the Russians out of the war. ”

"Hey!" Zhang Cheng rolled his eyes, took out a cigarette and lit it, and looked at Marshal Yang Zhuo, who was sitting on the sofa opposite him, "Once the Russians enter the war, they will never give up easily." Otherwise, there would be no need for them to join the EU. This war is destined to be a brutal and protracted war. How many troops do we need to throw into the vast interior of Russia? How to supply these armies? Don't say that those few railroad lines are enough for millions of troops. I advocate giving full play to our strengths and taking over the main oil-producing regions of the Russians. Break through the Caucasus Mountains and force the Ottomans, who are swaying from side to side, on our side. The subsequent threat to the interior of Europe through the Ottomans was the best option. ”

Zhang Cheng took a deep puff of his cigarette and continued, "Even if you can't break through Europe directly, as long as you can blow up Romania's oil fields, it will be enough to plunge the EU's crude oil supply into a crisis." It is impossible to sustain so much military consumption on German production alone. The Americans were going to cross the Atlantic with their oil, and the Ming Navy would make the losses of the Americans' cross-sea transportation unbearable. At the same time, if we force the Ottomans to side with us, we can greatly support the Suez Canal operation. This is the best option to end the war quickly. ”

"The strength of the army has increased substantially, and with it the spread of pride and quick victory." Marshal Yang Zhuo looked at Zhang Cheng with a calm expression, "Daming has fought a war with Russia for so many years, and it has never been defeated. Everyone looked down on the Russians, believing that they would soon be defeated by concentrating their forces. The idea is to crush the enemy through resource pressing. But this kind of thinking is now unacceptable in the army. After a pause, he waved his hand to interrupt what Zhang Cheng wanted to say. Then he said, "The main thing is that Shousuke-sama thinks the same way. ”

Zhang Cheng pursed his lips and fell silent.

At this moment in the Ming Dynasty, Shoufu Zhang Yue has expanded the power in his hands to the extreme level with the help of the economic depression and the New Deal. At least no one has the strength to resist him on the surface. Now that Zhang Yue has approved the battle plan, it is impossible for anyone to make any changes. Marshal Yang Zhuo is not good, and Zhang Cheng is even more not.

"Actually, I also think it's risky." After a moment of silence. Marshal Yang Zhuo spoke softly, "From Kazan to Moscow, and from Moscow to St. Petersburg." How can the two wings of the army be protected on a long front of thousands of kilometers? How can the long logistics line be supported? We are no longer fighting Russia alone. Their allies will definitely not sit idly by! ”

"There's no point in knowing it's dangerous, is it?" Zhang Cheng smiled bitterly. He even leaned back on the back of the sofa and shook his head helplessly.

"Shousuke-sama is getting old." Marshal Yang Zhuo's sudden change of tone made Zhang Cheng slightly stunned. Perhaps he could see something wrong. However, over the years, the successive victories of the Ming Dynasty made Shousuke-sama not want to have a long war. He wanted to end the war as soon as possible so that he could return his energy to dealing with the conglomerates. What Shousuke-sama is really worried about is that once he is gone, the family consortium will fight back wildly. Erase everything he's done. ”

"Then that's all there is to it?" Zhang Cheng pursed the corners of his mouth and spoke softly.

"Continue to expand the army." Marshal Yang Zhuo clasped his hands together, and a sharp color flashed in his eyes, "Double the size of the army by this time next year!" ”

"Hiss~~~" Zhang Cheng looked at Marshal Yang Zhuo in surprise, "Then it's time to mobilize for war." ”

"No, I don't." Marshal Yang Zhuo shook his head and said, "With the strength of the Ming Dynasty, it has not yet reached the point of war mobilization. I would propose the formation of an operational cluster on the Caspian coast to contain the southern front of the Russians. Would you like to go? ”

"What are the specific combat missions?" Zhang Cheng frowned and asked out loud.

"Any form of operational planning can be carried out on the shores of the Caspian Sea." Marshal Yang Zhuo smiled and said

When the Ming Dynasty once again increased the scale and speed of military expansion, everyone knew that peace was gone.

Da Ming, who has always advocated that problems that cannot be solved by the mouth be solved with fists, looks like he is ready to wave his fists at this moment. Countries that do not want to be beaten have begun corresponding confrontation plans. The arms race, which was already at its peak, has once again been pushed to a new peak.

According to the suggestion of Zhang Cheng, the director of the armored forces, Daming once again expanded his armored forces. Increased the number of armored divisions from twenty to thirty-five. Zhang Cheng knew it very well in his heart. Whether it is the vast interior of Russia or the deserts of North Africa, it will be the world of armored forces.

The arsenals of the Ming Dynasty have entered a state of wartime management. All production lines are working overtime to produce all kinds of materials. Zhang Cheng's various factories are no exception. The army's demand for all kinds of materials has never had a bottom line.

Zhang Cheng has already given authorization, and a number of arsenals are processing and producing various vehicles urgently needed by armored forces. The production of various vehicle models continues to reach new highs. In 1937 alone, before wartime production management began, more than 4,000 tanks of all types were produced. And the Airborne Forces, which were credited with the Army Airlines, also received their long-awaited general-purpose aircraft.

Officially named GD38, the universal transport aircraft, nicknamed Hercules, is a twin-engine piston military transport aircraft. The all-metal structure has a short, thick and streamlined fuselage, and the upper part of the nose is a two-person cockpit. There is a large hatch on the left side of the rear fuselage, and the wing is a cantilever lower single wing, and the leading edge of the inner wing on both sides is symmetrically equipped with twin engines. The tail consists of a cantilevered mid-flat tail and a single vertical tail, with retractable rear three-point landing gear.

The blueprint for this aircraft is the famous C47. Zhang Cheng's aircraft factory has been expanded several times and its output has skyrocketed. However, it still cannot meet the huge needs of the army. Zhang Cheng has already given a license to allow other aircraft factories to produce various types of aircraft under the overall arrangement of the military.

Zhang Cheng is not one of those conglomerates whose eyes are full of money. He knew it very well. Now is no longer the time to make money, and the most important thing is to expand the strength of the army as much as possible.

This transport aircraft is a universal model, which is mainly used to transport supplies and soldiers by air, but also to drop paratroopers. It can also be repurposed for other purposes. Not only the army, but also the navy was interested in this aircraft, and also placed a lot of orders for aircraft factories.

It's not just about supplying the army. Zhang Cheng established an air passenger transport company, and the use of such aircraft for air commercial transportation has attracted great attention from all parties. (To be continued.) If you like this work, you are welcome to come to the starting point (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation, monthly pass, and your support. That's what motivates me the most......)

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