When the people of Suide City began to carry out air defense evacuation, some cities controlled by the rest of the Eighth Route Army also sounded the air defense siren. Countless troops took to the streets and began to help evacuate people to the nearest bomb shelter.

Similar situations also occurred in Yan'an and Xi'an, which were key cities protected by the Eighth Route Army. In some cities equipped with anti-aircraft weapons, all air defense units are also in a state of readiness for battle.

With the increase in the number of victories of the Eighth Route Army on the battlefield, most of the captured air defense weapons were invested in the air defense of key cities. Even Xi'an, which had no air defense forces before, is now equipped with two air defense battalions.

Although the weapons of air defense are not the same model, as far as the Eighth Route Army is concerned, as long as it is a weapon capable of air defense, after the troops on the front line are captured, they will be transported to the rear for unified use, so as to increase the city's air defense self-defense capability.

He Zhengdao, who also heard the sound of air defense sirens resounding throughout the city and issued an air defense evacuation order, quickly came to the air defense regiment station in the west of the city and looked at the positions outside the city that were erecting anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns.

He Zhengdao, who was staying in an air defense headquarters, looked at the busy air defense position, and asked at the right time: "Hang up the phone to the political commissar and ask how the evacuation situation in the city is?" Be sure to speed up the evacuation of the masses! ”

'Yes! ’

The staff officer of the command room, who shook the phone, quickly answered the phone of the political commissar in charge of the air defense evacuation in the city. It didn't take long for the phone to be connected, and He Zhengdao, who took the phone, also said directly: "Political commissar, how is the situation in the city?" ”

'It's almost evacuated!' The school and the city's factories were all sheltered in the nearest anti-aircraft underground fortifications. The people of the city also took refuge in the nearest air defense underground fortifications in an orderly manner. At present, the garrison is patrolling and inspecting the whole city. ’

As the supreme military and political head of the independent column, the two had a division of labor before. In the event of a large-scale air raid, He Zhengdao was responsible for annihilating the invading enemy planes, while Xiao Jinguang was responsible for evacuating the people with the border district government.

'Good! The city is up to you! Once the military plane of the little devil appeared, let all the officers and soldiers of the garrison brigade also enter the bomb shelter. The news from the front air defense post that the little devil is menacing this time! ’

'Okay, you can leave the affairs of the city to me.' When the next battle comes, you should also pay more attention to safety. ’

After the two chatted briefly, He Zhengdao called the arsenal again and told them to pay attention to air defense alert. This time, the little devil's plane should not be going to the arsenal, but it also needs to be careful.

In fact, at the time when the cities of Suiyuan began to prepare for air defense. The artillery units and armored units placed in the Ordos area have also been put into concealment to prevent the little devil planes from bombing them.

As the fist unit of the independent column, when building the barracks of these two troops, He Zhengdao considered the requirements of air defense. Once there is a large number of imp military planes, heavy artillery and tank armored vehicles will be pulled into the bomb shelter.

In this case, even if the little devils bomb the barracks, they can only blow up some houses at most, and there is no way to destroy the equipment and materials that were pulled into the bomb shelter. And these units, too, were armed with some anti-aircraft machine guns.

For reconnaissance aircraft that appear over them from time to time, these units have a certain defensive capability. When He Zhengdao entered the air defense command and war room, he began to check the air defense readiness of various localities by telephone or telegram.

With this bombing formation composed of nearly 100 planes, after dropping a few bombs in Guisui City, it continued to fly in the direction of Yulin. The third division, which was guarding Suiyuan, soon sent a report to the headquarters that it was bombed by little devils.

He Zhengdao, who was holding the telegram, said with a look in his eyes: "It seems that this time the little devil is really ruthless!" Molotov cocktails were used! ”

According to the telegram sent by the Third Division, although the Japanese bombing of Guisui City this time did not put many bombs, the power was not small. Some of the wooden buildings in Guisui were burned down in the bombing.

As a result, what He Zhengdao didn't expect was that the little devil plane flying from the northeast this time also bombed when it arrived in Shenmu. Judging from this bombing situation, it seems that they are preparing to bomb the entire territory of Yulin at one time.

In the face of the bombardment of the little devils, He Zhengdao also really felt a little helpless. In the absence of an air force, it is indeed a headache to effectively defend against the bombing of Japanese fighters.

Fortunately, most of the telegrams sent from the cities were seriously damaged houses, and the casualties were relatively small. But even so, after the bombing is over, I am afraid that the independent column and troops from all over the country will be busy.

Vice Chairman Zhou, who was also staying in the Suide air-raid shelter, looked at the telegrams that kept forwarding, and said with a headache: "It seems that the little devils are here to retaliate this time, and they actually bombed all the way from Suiyuan." How many houses will be burned down! ”

Although many places in northern Shaanxi will live in caves. However, most of the houses in some cities are mainly wooden houses. In the face of the aviation incendiary bombs carried by the little devils, these houses have little ability to resist at all.

He Yingqin, who accompanied him to avoid air defense, also said helplessly: "The air force of the little devil is really arrogant!" Alas, if we had a powerful air force, the little devils would not dare to be so arrogant! ”

'Didn't the government receive a batch of planes aided by the USSR some time ago? You have an air force, and you can more or less engage in air combat with the planes of the little devils. On our side, now in the face of the air raid of the little devils, we can only defend passively! ’

With the full-scale outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, the Central Army Air Force, which originally had the strongest air force in the Republic of China, also suffered serious losses after several air battles. After receiving supplies and planes from the Soviet Union to aid China, they also recovered a certain degree of air defense and counterattack capability.

As for this batch of planes to aid China, in fact, the Eighth Route Army also requested from the Soviet side, hoping that a batch of planes to aid China could be assigned to the Eighth Route Army. As a result, the Soviet side finally did not agree to the application of the Eighth Route Army.

Although the Soviet side emphasized that the Nationalist Government was the only legitimate government representing China, it was not easy for them to hand over their aid to China to the Eighth Route Army. There are still a lot of complaints from the Eighth Route Army about such statements.

Hearing Zhou Enlai mention this matter, He Yingqin also smiled and said: "There are a lot of planes received from the Soviet Union, but at present, we have too few pilots who can fight, and if we want them to take to the air to fight the little devils, I'm afraid it will take a while!" ”

As the Minister of Military Affairs, He Yingqin naturally knew that the Eighth Route Army had proposed to the Soviet Union that it needed to allocate a batch of fighters to aid China. It's a pity that the Soviet side does not seem to agree, and prefers to hand over these planes to the Central Army.

After all, in the eyes of many people, the Eighth Route Army, not to mention the Air Force, even if there are not many pilots. At present, the Eighth Route Army is still negotiating with the Soviet Union to purchase aero engines and a number of machinery and equipment.

At least in He Zhengdao's view, the performance of the planes that the Soviet Union aided Huaxia was insufficient compared with the planes of the little devils. Most of these Soviet-style planes with not very superior performance also arrived in China in the form of loans.

And He Zhengdao felt that if he could import aircraft engines from the Soviet side, he might be able to set up an aircraft factory in advance. It's just that the amount of money needed is indeed a bit enough for the current Eighth Route Army.

Even though the Eighth Route Army has received a lot of aid now, the military industry itself is a money-burning industry. Therefore, regarding the purchase of aero engines and a number of machinery and equipment, the Eighth Route Army is still in contact with the Soviet side.

Just when the bomber formation sent by the Kwantung Army bombed all the way from Suiyuan to Yulin City. Looking at the Japanese planes that appeared over the city, He Zhengdao also felt that this time he must teach these little devils a hard lesson.

'Pick me up the Air Force Brigade!' ’

Thinking of the Air Force Brigade currently in the Eighth Route Army, which is also in a state of strict secrecy, He Zhengdao feels that this time, the Air Force should be dispatched again. Even if the brigade does not have many aircraft, it is also suitable for chasing and destroying the remnants of the enemy.

'Zheng Shaoyu, your air force is ready for battle. After the air defense battle starts, if the fighters of the little devils are almost destroyed by us. I'll leave the rest to your Air Force Brigade, and I'll let them have no return. ’

'Yes, rest assured, commander, that our aviation group is combat-ready. ’

'Okay! But there's one thing, you kid listen to me. You weren't allowed to take to the skies, and you warned our pilots that I'd rather lose the plane than see anything happen to you. As long as people live, I will match you with the plane.

The central government was already negotiating with the Soviet Union about the purchase of aircraft engines and production machinery. Once this is settled, it will be possible for us to produce our own aircraft. Tell our pilots to jump off the plane as soon as things don't go right, understand? ’

Listening to what He Zhengdao told on the phone, Zheng Shaoyu, as the captain of the Air Force, said helplessly: "Commander, I also want to take to the air to fight!" ”

"Don't bargain with me, according to what you say, Lao Tzu also wants to go to the front, so every time I fight, do I have to rush to the front line?" If you dare to disobey orders, you know the consequences! ’

After hanging up the phone, looking at the pilots who surrounded him, Zheng Shaoyu said helplessly: "Okay! Now we don't need to ask for battle, the commander's order has arrived, let us be ready to take to the air at any time.

Let our air crews begin to replenish the planes with fuel and ammunition, and once the order is given, you must take to the air in the shortest possible time to pursue the imp planes that have invaded our base. This combat mission was carried out by the 2nd Squadron. ’

As soon as the words fell, the pilots of the 2nd Squadron immediately cheered. And the pilot of the first squadron immediately shouted: "Captain, why let them go?" Our first squadron has participated in the defense of Yan'an! We have experience! ”

'Stop arguing! I still want to fight! Okay, if you want to fight, there will be opportunities in the future. It was decided that the second squadron would prepare! The commander said that you should be careful of your own safety at all times, and he said that people are more important than airplanes, remember, right? ’

'Yes! ’

Looking at the pilots who were excited to prepare for the launch of the battle, the pilots of the other flight bases were very envious. After all, for Air Force pilots, it is their mission and responsibility to fight the little devils in the air! (To be continued.) )