Jinling.

General Headquarters of the Japanese Army.

"Your Excellency, General."

Lieutenant General Kobayashi Asaburo, chief of staff of the Japanese Dispatch Army, held a telegram in his hand and reported to Shunroku Hatata, commander-in-chief of the Japanese army invading China:

"Prime Minister Tojo has just sent another telegram, urging us to immediately launch an air raid on the airfield of the Eighth Route Army in Shanxi to destroy its long-range bombing capability!"

Shunroku Hata's brows furrowed slightly.

Was it so easy to attack the airfield of the Eighth Route Army?

Without specific information such as the air force of the Eighth Route Army and the location of the airport, it brazenly launched an air attack, and the outcome was unknown.

Shunroku Hata, who served as the head of the aviation headquarters, naturally knew this truth, so he did not rashly launch an air attack on the Eighth Route Army.

For the Eighth Route Army, which defeated the North China Front, Shunroku Hata was very cautious.

Because the reconnaissance planes sent by the 11th Army and the Kwantung Army to Shanxi for reconnaissance were all shot down.

According to intelligence, the Eighth Route Army was equipped with radar and was able to spot Japanese planes from a distance of several hundred kilometers.

If they did not know the intelligence of the Eighth Route Army Air Force, they would go to the air raid, and the Japanese air force would inevitably suffer heavy losses.

But.

The base camp continued to send telegrams urging him, and Shunroku Hata couldn't withstand the pressure.

"Kobayashi-kun, how are the aviation units of the Central China region and the Kwantung Army ready?"

Taking a deep breath, Shunroku Hata asked in a calm tone.

"Central China has prepared 80 fighters and 60 bombers, including about 40 Zero fighters and 40 Nakajima fighters, which are deployed at Wuhan, Hefei and other airports."

Asaburo Kobayashi replied:

"It can take off at any time to fight in the area of the Eighth Route Army."

"However, our Nakajima fighter has a range of just over 1,700 kilometers."

"Wuhan and Hefei are about 800 kilometers away from Taiyuan, and Nakajima fighters cannot take off to fight unless they can refuel halfway through Xinxiang Airport."

"Even if it is a Zero fighter, it can only reach Taiyuan and return immediately after completing the bombing mission."

Xinxiang Airport has been patronized several times by the flight regiment of the Eighth Route Army Headquarters, and the runway and airport facilities have all been bombed, and it has not yet been repaired.

The Japanese bombed the mountain castle with air units, navy and army, so there were quite a few Zero fighters.

"Your Excellency General, did you order the aviation unit to bomb the Shanxi Eighth Route Airport?"

After a pause, Kobayashi Asaburo asked.

"Kobayashi-kun, do you know where the airfield of the Eighth Route Army is?"

Shunroku Hata didn't answer right away, but asked.

"It should be in Taiyuan." Kobayashi Asaburo pointed to the map and said, "Wusu Airport in Taiyuan is the largest airport in North China, and the bombers of the Eighth Route Army should be here." ”

"Yo Xi!"

Shunroku Hata nodded: "I think so too." ”

"Your Excellency, General." Kobayashi Asaburo said again: "There are not many pilots of the Eighth Route Army at the moment, and I think this is the best time for air strikes, to destroy their planes and pilots in one fell swoop before the Eighth Route Army Air Force is fledgling." ”

"Kobayashi-kun has a point."

"Order the aviation units in Central China to prepare and dispatch Zero fighters and bombers to destroy Taiyuan Wusu Airport in one fell swoop."

Shunroku Hata's tone was fierce, and he gave the order.

Since the last time the bombers of the Eighth Route Army bombed Japan from a long distance.

Although there was no definite intelligence to back it up, Prime Minister Hideji Tojo sent telegrams urging Shunroku Hata not to wait any longer.

Let's fight first.

Moreover, he was not the kind of tentative attack, but as soon as he came up, he dispatched all his forces to destroy the airfield of the Eighth Route Army.

"Do you want the aviation units of the Kwantung Army to attack together?"

Asaburo Kobayashi asked.

"No, 100 planes are enough!"

Shunroku Hata first thought for a moment, then waved his hand and said.

The North China Front Command and the Kwantung Army Command have both revealed that there are high-ranking agents of the Eighth Route Army lurking.

So far, the senior agents of the Eighth Route Army have not been uncovered.

If the Kwantung Army Headquarters was contacted to attack together, Shunroku Hata was afraid that the information would be leaked, which would lead to a lack of success, and even heavy losses to the aviation unit.

This time, the aviation unit is under my personal command, so there will be no leakage of information, right?

At present, there are still 200 Japanese planes in central China, which is enough to deal with the Eighth Route Army.

"When is the attack timed?"

Asaburo Kobayashi asked.

"Tomorrow morning."

"The aviation unit set off in the early morning to make breakfast for the aviation unit of the Eighth Route Army."

Shunroku Hata said.

Japanese planes had night bombing capabilities, but fighters did not have night combat capabilities.

In the last Zhengtai Campaign, all Japanese transport planes were shot down at night, showing that the planes of the Eighth Route Army had the ability to fight at night.

Unless there are troops on the ground to launch flares to cooperate, bombing the airfield of the Eighth Route Army at night is tantamount to sending them to death.

"Your Excellency General, if it's just to bomb the Eighth Route Airport, 40 Zero fighters are enough, right?"

Asaburo Kobayashi said.

"Not only the bombing of the Eighth Route Army airport, but also the people of Taiyuan and the Eighth Route Army stationed in Taiyuan should also bomb together."

Hata Junliu waved his hand and said.

Kobayashi Asaburo stared at the map and guessed: "In the northwest and southeast of Jin, there are probably airfields of the Eighth Route Army. ”

"Don't worry!"

Shunroku Hata also stared at the map and said:

"First destroy the Taiyuan airfield, destroy the heavy long-range bombers of the Eighth Route Army, establish an airfield in Xinxiang, and then destroy the airfields in the southeast and northwest of Shanxi, and continue to bomb the Eighth Route Army."

A whole set of plans took shape in Shunroku Hatata's mind.

"Those who dare to bomb the mainland of the Japanese Empire, the Eighth Route Army will definitely pay the heaviest price."

Shunroku Hata's tone was murderous:

"Order the aviation warriors to prepare for the attack."

"Hey."

Kobayashi Asaburo bowed his head suddenly.

……

Taiyuan.

The new regimental headquarters.

"Deputy Head Chu, there is a big drought in Henan Province this year, and most of the people have no harvest, after you get there, you must collect and pay more attention to the situation of the people."

Li Yunlong instructed Chu Yunfei.

Although the disaster in Yu Province has just begun, Li Yunlong has already received relevant information.

Henan Province is a province with a large population, and if there is a major drought, coupled with the war years, the number of people who die of starvation can be counted at least one million.

Li Yunlong was originally a farmer, and he couldn't bear to see such a situation happen.

Now that the new regiment and the Eighth Route Army are quite wealthy, they will definitely take action if they can save them.

"Okay, I'll focus on it."

Chu Yunfei nodded, he was already concerned about the people, so he immediately agreed.

If Li Yunlong is willing to come up with food for disaster relief, the new independent brigade will be able to gain a foothold and win the support of the common people, and it will be very easy to develop the troops at that time.

Zhao Gang also said: "Deputy Head Chu, after you arrive in northern Henan, first gain a firm foothold, the situation over there is very complicated. There were not only local units of the Japanese army and the Eighth Route Army, but also guerrillas and bandits of the national army, which could be said to be mixed. ”

Although the idea is simple, it is not easy to put it into practice.

In private, Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei are still commensurate with each other.

And the relationship between the two brothers is getting better and better, in addition to sympathizing with each other, there is now more revolutionary friendship.

Zhao Gang and Li Yunlong were the introducers of joining the party, and Chu Yunfei was also preparing to join the party.

However, joining the party is not something that Chu Yunfei can join immediately if he wants to join, and it needs to go through a period of training, education and investigation.

Chu Yunfei is a decisive person, since he led the 358th Regiment to break away from the Jin Sui Army, he is naturally ready to join the party.

In the past, Chu Yunfei never thought of breaking away from the Three People's Principles and changing his beliefs.

But the plan could not keep up with the change, and now it has changed to communism.

However, after a few days, Chu Yunfei felt that communism was not bad, and he could replace the Three People's Principles to save China in the future.

At present, the independent brigade is equipped with American-style equipment.

In addition to the American 155mm howitzer, the American semi-automatic rifle, the American M1917 heavy machine gun, the American M2 heavy machine gun, the American submachine gun, the American mortar, as well as the Bazooka bazooka, the 20mm machine gun, the American 75mm mountain gun, and the German 105mm howitzer, all that can be arranged have been arranged.

After the troops were familiar with the equipment and training, Chu Yunfei was confident that he would be able to lead an independent brigade and defeat an elite wing of the Japanese army.

After arriving in northern Henan, Chu Yunfei was ready to do a big job.

"Regiment commander, political commissar, Boss Chen just sent a telegram that the headquarters of the Japanese army dispatch army has issued a combat order."

"The Japanese air force is stationed at the airfields in Wuhan and Hefei, and 100 planes will be dispatched to attack Taiyuan."

At this moment, Wang Dehou, chief of staff of the new regiment, held a telegram in his hand, walked in quickly, and reported to Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang.

Chu Yunfei's expression moved, he looked at Li Yunlong and asked, "Regiment leader, this Boss Chen should be the one who helped our new group, right?" ”

"That's right!" Li Yunlong nodded, "I have the opportunity to introduce you to you." ”

Afterwards, Li Yunlong looked at Wang Dehou and asked, "How many planes does the Japanese army have?" Where are the airports located in Wuhan and Hefei? ”

"40 Zero fighters and 60 bombers, plus a couple of reconnaissance aircraft."

Wang Dehou replied:

"The Japanese planes were mainly deployed at the two airports of Wuhan, Hankou and Qingshan, and the Sanlijie Airport in Hefei."

The information given by Boss Chen is as detailed as ever.

"Did the Kwantung Army send aviation units?" Zhao Gang asked.

Last time, Boss Chen mentioned that the air force units of the Japanese army in Central China and the Kwantung Army region will be dispatched to deal with the air force units of the Eighth Route Army.

"Boss Chen did not mention whether the aviation units of the Kwantung Army were 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 again, and after Zhao Gang finished reading the telegram, Chu Yunfei also took the telegram and read it.

"Now that the devil aviation unit is going to do it."

"Then let's strike first!"

Grand Master Li's eyes were calm, but his tone was resolute. (End of chapter)