In the Somme region of northern France, on the 70-kilometer front from Lasigne to Ebitaene, more than 5,000 artillery pieces and mortars have been bombarded indiscriminately for six days and nights, and countless flesh and blood have been fused in the craters caused by the intensive critical fire of more than 5 million shells. The sky was overcast, the earth was in shambles, and the millions of officers and soldiers of the Entente were still waiting quietly in the dense trenches and shelters like rat holes, waiting for the moment of life and death to come.

With the arrival of nine divisions of the vanguard of the American Expeditionary Force in France, by the beginning of March 1916, the Entente** had assembled 185 divisions on the Western Front, of which 60 divisions could be used as reserves directly under the Combined Command, while the German army on the opposite side had only 102 divisions and could only retain a maximum of 15 divisions of the Command Reserve.

For reference, the total number of divisions on the part of the Entente during the same period was 445, including 365 divisions of the European Entente (France, Britain, Russia, Italy, Belgium, and Serbia) and 80 large divisions of the US army, with a total of 23 million troops. In comparison, the total number of divisions on the Allied side was 469, including 286 divisions of the Central European power bloc (Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, and Turkey) and 183 divisions of the East Asian Alliance bloc of Japan, Korea, Siam, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Burma, with a total number of more than 18 million troops.

At the Second Conference of the Allies, the Anglo-French proposal for a spring offensive in the Somme region of northern France was unanimously endorsed by the Allies, and the battle plan was finalized at the Third Conference of Chantilly.

The plan was to use a total of 64 divisions of the three French armies and two British armies to break through from a 70-kilometer front, of which the 39 divisions of the French army, which were the main assault force, would launch an attack from a frontal width of 45 kilometers with the support of nearly 3,000 artillery pieces, including 1,300 heavy artillery, more than 300 aircraft, and more than 500 tanks. The 25 divisions of the British army, which were used as an auxiliary force, could be supported by more than 2,000 artillery pieces, including 500 heavy guns, and 200 flying 50 tanks.

When the barrage began to ruthlessly ravage the German positions on this front in the early morning of February 22, a total of 14 divisions of the German 2nd Army were stationed here, and there were 5 reserve divisions directly under the Supreme Command behind the battle line, and these 19 divisions were equipped with about 1,500 artillery pieces and mortars of various types, including only 370 heavy artillery pieces, 150 aircraft, and almost no tanks.

General Belov's German 2nd Army had been stationed on this front since the end of the war in 1914, and had not been attacked by the Allies on a large scale, so it was able to calmly build a defensive system, and after more than a year of careful management, it completed a three-line defensive position with a total depth of seven or eight kilometers in accordance with the terrain conditions, equipped with dense trench lines, complete circular defensive support points, developed communication trenches and a network of shelter fortifications - including many reinforced concrete fortifications, The front of each position was covered by barbed wire, which was 30 to 40 metres wide in some sections.

The strength of the second position was no more than nine divisions, and the average defensive section of each division was as long as the third position, and the reserves of the group army were deployed in the center and rear of the battle line, ready to hold the first position from the depth with a powerful counter-shock and counter-assault.

Since the start of the Allied artillery bombardment, the German 2nd Army has been strengthened with three infantry divisions, thirty heavy artillery batteries, and a small number of aviation units north of the Somme, but this has not been enough to change the overall disparity in strength and armament.

The bombardment continued, and every minute dozens of tons of explosives and steel continued to wreak havoc on the land, the starry sky as dense as a summer night continued to shine and reflect the low-hanging clouds above millions of overlapping craters, and an invisible machine was only just activated, and millions of living beings were destined to be thrown into it to grind, and the flesh and bones of the earth were fertile, and the meaning of their sacrifice was perhaps only proof that it was all meaningless......

Berlin, headquarters of the German General Staff.

“…… The barbed wire barrier and most of the bunkers, trenches, as well as the communication trenches of the first position, were completely destroyed, and only a few particularly strong fortifications withstood the heavy shelling. The observation and communication systems of the group army were basically destroyed, about 50 percent of the artillery batteries were out of combat effectiveness, 80 percent of the front-line infantry companies could not be contacted, and the attached aviation units were suppressed by the enemy's absolute superiority and could hardly play a role...... Based on the above analysis, it is expected that the enemy will launch a general offensive within two days after tomorrow. ”

After listening to the introduction of General Fakingham, chief of staff of the German army, Nie Wenqing pondered for a while, and resolutely said: "Once the enemy army starts a general attack, please allow me to see it on the battlefield in person." ”

Fa Jinhan frowned, and shook his head again and again: "No, this is too dangerous, the enemy's artillery fire is so fierce, the passage into the battlefield may be blocked and bombarded at any time, even if the concrete fortifications that arrived at the third position safely, under the threat of the enemy's large-caliber shells, it cannot ensure the safety of your officer......"

Ignoring Fa Jinhan's dissuasion, Nie Wenqing smiled slightly, but went further: "To be precise, I want to overlook the battlefield from the air. ”

"What? Young man, don't joke with a German general. Fakingham's face was already gloomy.

Nie Wenqing was neither humble nor arrogant, and resolutely sat solemnly and said: "Not a joke, this is a formal request, my task is to be the eyes of Her Majesty the Empress of my empire, not only from the paper, but also from the real battlefield to see the situation on the Western Front clearly, in order to decide how much strength we should put into the operation of directly supporting your country." ”

Hearing that this was related to China's plan to aid Germany, Fa Jinhan quickly calmed down, twisted the short beard under his chin and pondered for a while, and changed his embarrassed expression: "The courage of your official to put his life and death beyond the limit for the sake of the king's life, this official deeply admires it, and I also want to provide convenience for your official." However, in order to ensure that your officers can successfully achieve their goals, the number of troops that need to be mobilized is still very considerable, and at present, the air supremacy on the battlefield is controlled by the enemy's absolute superiority, and the aviation regiments assigned to the group army have been defeated, and for the time being, it is not possible to use the aviation reserves, nor can it be dispatched from other battlefields, and there is no surplus force that can be used for your officers' actions, and I hope that your officers will understand......"

"I don't need a single soldier or plane in your country, as long as it is coordinated in advance, and we will not use our Chinese planes as enemy planes at that time." Nie Wenqing has a good mind.

Fa Jinhan narrowed his eyes in confusion: "You mean...... Do you want to use the carrier-based aircraft on your carrier carrier to carry out your mission? ”

"It is precisely for this reason that I have the authority of Her Majesty the Empress, and Your Excellency does not have to worry that I am acting beyond my authority."

Fa Jinhan crossed his hands and pondered for a long time, as if he could not find any reason to continue to object, and then pushed the boat down the river and said: "In this case, this official will try his best to arrange it for you, no matter what happens at that time, I hope it will not affect the intimate relationship between the two countries." ”

Nie Wenqing smiled calmly: "That's natural, Her Majesty the Empress of our country sent me here because he believed that I could successfully complete the task and that your country could give the best support to the best of his ability." Please rest assured that I will be responsible for all the consequences and will not cause any trouble to your country. ”

Nie Wenqing's words seemed to make Fa Jinhan feel that something was wrong, he tilted his head and thought about it, and said reluctantly and generously: "This officer remembers, he should be able to send a fighter squadron to you - the battle situation is changing rapidly, and good steel has to be used on the blade, so I really can't take out more, and I hope that Liaison Officer Nie will not dislike it." ”

One squadron will cut your flesh? Forget it, it's better to talk than nothing, be content.

Nie Wenqing pressed down the sarcasm in his heart, nodded and thanked: "Then Your Excellency Lao has to worry - it's not too early, I'll go and prepare, I hope it can be arranged before tomorrow night." ”

Fa Jinhan changed his face and was complacent: "Please rest assured, the efficiency of the German Emperor's ** organs is unparalleled......"

……

In the south-central part of the Asia Minor Peninsula, on the outskirts of the ancient city of Konya with a history of more than 5,000 years, in the Konya Basin, which is full of ancient monuments, and in the Konya Basin, which is full of villages and fields, on a large area of flat land that is obviously compacted by artificiality, there are several rows of large and small planes sprayed with the blue, red and yellow concentric circle logos of the Chinese Imperial Navy, surrounded by navy blue canvas tents and simple huts made of logs, piled up on a hill composed of oil drums and wooden boxes, and on the runway emptied in the center. As soon as the large four-engine transport planes took off and landed frequently, and as soon as each plane came to a stop in the standby area, workers wrapped in Turkish turbans swarmed up to transport more oil drums and wooden crates around the original "hill", which were piled higher and higher, and piled larger and larger......

In front of a tent with fresh soil on a certain stake, several young officers in army aviation uniforms had just put down the bulging military pockets on their backs, and the cigarette butts in their mouths flickered on and off, and green smoke curled up.

"Phew, it's a place where birds don't."

With an obscene face, while spitting out saliva and cigarette butts, he squinted half of his eyes and complained The guy is named Lin Ying, the captain of the army's 1st fighter squadron.

"This also calls birds not pooping? That Rabaul is a complete hell. ”

With an untimely grace, he gently plucked the cigarette butt and stepped on it under his feet, his handsome appearance was even more incompatible with this dusty foreign battlefield, and it was his old boss, Yang Zhiyong, who is now the captain of the 209th Fighter Squadron of the same wing, the youngest son of Yang Zhengjin, the current prime minister of the empire.

"Purgatory."

Lieutenant An Jingshi, deputy squadron leader of the 209th Squadron, briefly added that he had been a loyal follower of Yang Zhiyong since he left for Siberia.

"If you fly over the mountain in front of you, you can see the Mediterranean, right? I'd love to come and see it sooner......"

Such an innocent and silly little guy is named Yang Fei, the only survivor of the many rookies that the 209 Squadron has successively replenished on the Siberian battlefield, although his record has proved that his wings have developed strong enough, but the childish performance of loving sweets and daydreaming has not changed, and now as a member of the team, he has become Lin Ying's poor little follower.

Before the words fell, Lin Ying put her arms around Yang Fei's neck, squinted and smiled lewdly: "What's so beautiful about the Mediterranean?" Do you think there are really naked women all over the beach? I've read too many 'that' novels......"

Yang Fei's face flushed: "What kind of 'that' novel, I didn't have ......"

Lin Ying was even more energetic: "There are no three hundred taels of silver here, so you can honestly explain, but if you don't try it, the consequences will be more serious...... Well, how about it, the apprenticeship fee will be free, next time you will have a treat, let me teach you how to be a man......"

Yang Zhiyong turned around and sneered: "I think your consequences are more serious, Rabaul's black aunt orangutan, hasn't ruined your appetite yet?" ”

Lin Yingdeng's face darkened, and he raised his head and argued: "That's because there was no battle to fight at that time, and there was no reward if there was no result, and I don't ...... this time."

"Look, who's coming this way." Yang Fei coldly reminded everyone.

Lin Ying knocked over on the spot: "What, who, they are big shots." ”

Yang Fei rubbed his head with an innocent expression: "Big man...... How big can it be, bigger than Brother Yang? ”

Yang Zhiyong smiled but did not speak. V