"As of now."

December 1st.

Headquarters.

Conference room.

A military conference is taking place.

A headquarters staff officer is speaking:

"Excluding combat losses, losses, damage, etc., including the independent regiment, our army has a total of 300 120-mm heavy mortars."

"Three hundred."

When he heard this number, the boss only felt a sense of physical and mental comfort.

The 120 mortar shell weighed sixteen kilograms, but thanks to the low bore pressure of the mortar shell and the high quality of the loaded explosives, its power far exceeded that of the devil's 105 howitzer.

Comparable to foreign 120-mm howitzers of the same caliber.

The maximum firing range of 7,700 meters, although there is still some distance from the heavy artillery, the heavy artillery needs not only power, but also range, but this range is not much different and can be used.

Moreover, with a weight of more than 200 kilograms, individual soldiers can maneuver over short distances, and mules and horses can maneuver in mountainous areas, which is very suitable for regional operations in base areas and can make up for the lack of firing range.

In terms of accuracy, it is not inferior to the old howitzers.

It's all heavy artillery.

Three hundred heavy guns.

This is the Dinghaishen Needle.

It is to drive away the devils and sweep away, defend the base area, protect the people in the base area, and maintain the development of the base area.

"A total reserve of 120 mortar shells, 270,000 rounds."

The staff officer continued to report.

Although 100,000 additional shells can be obtained every month, and more than 20,000 shells per month for the Independent Regiment, the consumption of shells in the Battle of the Hundred Regiments is very high, even counting the 100,000 new shells that arrived in November.

Only 270,000 rounds of artillery shells have been left so far.

"Two hundred and seventy thousand rounds."

"Okay."

However, this number is not a lot, even very much, and the boss is very satisfied.

An average of 700 rounds per gun.

A little less.

Each gun has less than ten bases.

But it's enough.

"There are more than 500 82 mortars and more than 70 60 mortars."

The staff officer continued:

"82 mortar shells reserve 100,000 rounds, 60 mortar shells reserve 200,000 rounds."

"Less."

For the number of 82 and 60 mortars, the boss was somewhat dissatisfied.

82, 60 mortars, every month the independent regiment can set aside more than 300 guns, the former 100 guns, the latter 200 guns. By the beginning of December, the total number had actually exceeded 3,000.

But unlike the 120 mortar, which requires the lowest artillery at the regiment level, 82 and 60 belong to the battalion and company level artillery, and in the battle with the devil, the losses are large.

The consumption of shells is also high.

"There are more than 2,000 Czech-style rifles in the whole army, 200,000 rifles, of which 170,000 are old-fashioned rifles."

Staff officers continued to report on weapons data.

"Too little!"

The boss frowned suddenly.

If the number of 82 and 60 guns can only be said to be usable, then machine guns and rifles are seriously insufficient, especially rifles.

At present, the total strength of the four base areas of Taiyue, Taihang, Wutai Mountain, and southern Hebei is as high as 400,000, and this does not include the militia units.

But the independent regiment could only come out with 5,000 rifles and submachine guns and 600 Czechs every month. Rifles, machine guns, and submachine guns suffered large combat losses, which led to the fact that the number could not be raised at all.

Only a small amount of the main force can be equipped.

"The whole army is equipped with more than 10,000 radio stations."

The staff officer continued to report:

"It includes 100 large-scale long-range radio stations, 700 medium-range short-wave radio stations, 5,000 walkie-talkies of regimental and battalion companies, and more than 4,000 walkie-talkies for shifts."

"Okay."

Hearing this, the boss breathed a sigh of relief.

two-stage radio,

The former has a communication of 1,000 kilometers, mainly between divisions and base areas.

Unlike the small radio stations used by spy personnel to transmit confidential and brief information, the communication between base areas and between divisions is strong and there is a lot of information, so it is necessary to use special high-power radios.

In particular, after the recent long-range transport aircraft in the Taiyue base area.

The latter stabilized communications for a hundred kilometers and was mainly used for liaison between the division headquarters and the brigades and regiments.

Two-level walkie-talkie system.

Knapsack, with a distance of about 40 to 10 kilometers, is used for communication between regiments, battalions and companies.

Handheld, with a call distance of about five to one kilometer, it is used for communication between shifts.

The two-level radio station and two-stage walkie-talkie system have perfectly created the communication system of today's troops.

With three hundred heavy guns, as well as more than a thousand 82 and 60 mortars, plenty of shells, the defense was completely adequate. But the offense is seriously insufficient.

"There are also more than 700 12.7-mm heavy machine guns and 50 75-mm anti-tank guns."

"Three hundred and fifty-seven, oversized heavy-duty trucks, 50,000 military horses, 50,000 mules."

The staff officer continued to report.

However, the thoughts of the boss, the deputy general staff and others have begun to drift to the industrial zone of the southern Hebei base area under construction, as well as the Taihang and Taiyue base industrial zones.

According to Li Yunlong's words,

In the future, the purpose of the independent regiment will gradually reduce the number of ordinary weapons and equipment, and instead increase the number of more advanced weapons and equipment.

Like what

Fighter plane.

Tank.

Long-range barreled artillery.

For this, it is necessary to free up the number, and even the number of 60, 82 and 120 mortars will be reduced.

Therefore, if the Eighth Route Army wants to improve the current lack of basic equipment, it still needs to be self-sufficient.

And the hope lies in the next industrial zone.

After the devil destroys, the reimbursement is made.

After that, the independent regiment transferred troops, reduced its establishment, and made every effort to strive for the number of ultra-advanced equipment. The large army, on the other hand, is to go all out to develop industry and build and manufacture a set of light weapons on its own.

···

Meanwhile.

Northern Review.

Inside the headquarters of the North China Front.

"The 27th Division, the 28th Division, and the 33rd Division have been assembled."

Chief of Staff Koo Takamatsu is reporting to Okamura Ninji on preparations for a large-scale sweep:

"Still."

"The 3rd and 7th Aviation Brigades are being assembled."

"The fifth, and sixth heavy artillery brigades are also still being assembled."

"The assembly is expected to be completed by mid-December."

"But the baggage and ammunition needed will take another month and a half to meet the minimum needs."

Although the devil is going all out, after all, the foundation is there, and the total industrial output value is only about 6 billion per year, which has increased a little recently, but it is not much, five or six billion.

The cumulative development of industrial capacity is not so fast.

So it takes a long time to stock up on ammunition and supplies.

"Got it."

Gangmura nodded.

In other words, it will take another two months to launch a sweep of the Tubalu base area.

"General."

At this point, Takamatsu continued to ask:

"Our target this time is the base area in southern Hebei?"

"Or, Taihang Base Area?"

"Or, Taiyue Base Area?"

“···”

Gangcun Ningci suddenly fell silent.

This question really asked him,

Although more than 100,000 locust troops have been assembled and there are two heavy artillery brigades, the strength of the Eighth Route Army today is also extraordinary.

Dispersing the offense, unrealistic.

But there are three core bases on Tubalu.

Taiyue,

Taihang,

Southern Hebei.

Taiyue is the outflow of materials, where the mysterious independent regiment is located, and more than 300,000 tons of grain, tens of millions of silver dollars, a large amount of advanced medicines, and the weapons and equipment of a brigade are outflowed every month.

Southern Hebei is the most prosperous base area of Tuba Road, with a large number of factories and equipment, and a population of more than 10 million.

As for Taihang, although the population is not as good as that of the southern Hebei region, and the industry is not as good, the main force of the Eighth Route Army here is the largest, the most elite regiments, and the most militia troops, and it is also where the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army is located.

Rationally, Gangcun wanted to attack the Taiyue base most of the most.

Without a doubt, this is the most important base of the Tsuhachi Road.

But here's the thing.

At present, the Zhengtai line and the surrounding roads have been cut off by the Taihang base area, although the locust army has been restored to traffic, but if you want to attack the Taiyue base area, you must supply through the Zhengtai line.

And the main force of the Tuba Road in the Taihang area can cut off the logistics supply route of the locust army at any time.

As a result, the attacking forces were deprived of logistical supplies.

Moreover, the Taiyue base area is also the base area where the independent regiment is located, and there is also the 386th Brigade here, which is so strong that it once repelled the frontal attack of the 27th Regiment of the Empire, annihilated the Bantian Wing, and captured the Wing Flag.

Under the circumstance that the logistical supply line is threatened, attacking such a powerful Tubalu base area, I am afraid...

As for attacking the Taihang base area.

The terrain here is too dangerous, and the Tsuhachi Road has been in operation here for several years, and the locals are fanatical about the Tsuhachi Road, which is not inferior to the elite of the Imperial Bushido.

I'm afraid it's hard to please.

Moreover, there are also no strategic goals worth destroying here.

The so-called industrial zone in the plan is nothing more than a large area of flat land that has been reclaimed.

As for the southern Hebei region.

There are the most industrial facilities in Tuba Road, and the machinery and equipment purchased by Tuba Road recently are concentrated here, which is the best place to attack.

It's just...

Okamura Ninji always felt strange.

The base area in southern Hebei is like a target that Tubalu deliberately released for the locust army to attack.

So, it's been very tangled.

"Just, the southern Hebei base area."

In the end, Gangmura Ningji made a decision.

The base area in southern Hebei is a plain terrain.

A large mobile corps suitable for locust army operations.

And the Tuba Road does not have long-range body-barreled suppression artillery, only some mortars, which are not suitable for play in the plains.

In this way, he was able to take the southern Hebei base area at a relatively small cost, and then, along the highway built by Tuba Road, attacked the Taihang base area, and finally arrived at the Taiyue base area.

And completely occupied.

Destroy the source of the weapons of the Dirt Eight Road.

In this way, we can wait for the reinforcements of the two divisions of the Southern Army and the reinforcements of the two divisions and regiments of the mainland, and the troops will be more abundant.

···

Separate regiments.

"Actually the application was successful?"

Zhao Gang looked at the material form for December and couldn't help but jump out of the corner of his eyes.

So far, the regiment has been able to obtain 150,000 tons of imported fine grain and 50 tons of bulk sorghum every month.

Although grain production in the base areas has also increased significantly recently, the problem is that the large number of victims who have poured into the base areas has increased dramatically, and the consumption of the base areas themselves has also increased.

Food is a bit beyond our means.

According to Zhang Wanhe's news, last month, the grain warehouse decreased by 20,000 tons.

For this reason, in addition to requesting radar and radio stations for the material application in December, Li Yunlong also applied for an increase of 500,000 tons of grain per month on the grounds that the victims of the disaster were used.

Although in the end, it was not all approved.

However, the monthly grain quota has also increased to 600,000 tons.

The 600,000 tons here are all fine grains.

In fact, taking into account the demand for breeding and the needs of the disaster victims, the grain received by the independent regiment every month was 500,000 tons of fine grain and 1 million tons of sorghum.

In addition to satisfying the huge needs of the troops, the agriculture, animal husbandry, and transportation industries in the base areas, as well as the disaster victims, it can also store 100,000 tons of fine grain every month.

"Hey, hey, hey..."

Li Yunlong smiled, his tone smug.

"How much reinforced concrete?"

Zhao Gang asked.

Although the weapons, ammunition and food supported by Boss Lu are very well packaged, they are very suitable for long-term preservation.

But taking into account the destruction of the devils, as well as the conditions of preservation, the main warehouses in the base area were built of reinforced concrete.

At present, the base area naturally does not have the capacity to produce reinforced concrete.

Therefore, it can only be provided by Boss Lu.

"20,000 tons of steel bar, 300,000 tons of cement."

Li Yunlong smiled, and his tone became more and more proud.

"20,000 tons of steel bar, 300,000 tons of cement."

Zhao Gang's eyes widened.

This amount, combined with sand and gravel, can not only meet the consumption of important buildings such as grain and ammunition warehouses in the base area, but also take out a large part of it to build reinforced concrete bridges. defense facilities too.

With reinforced concrete bunkers, it is not so easy for devils to attack.

The devil's Type 92 infantry gun can't even scratch the skin of the reinforced concrete bunker.

"Haha..."

Zhao Gang suddenly laughed heartily.

With reinforced concrete, the defense of the base area has been raised to a higher level.

It can also be used to build airports.

"That's right."

Li Yunlong continued:

"This month, we can get 100 million silver dollars, and five tons of gold."

Killed the devil and became the new chief of staff of the North China Front, and obtained another 30 million silver dollars per month, as well as five tons of gold per month.

"Good!"

Zhao Gang continued to applaud.

In today's international market, it seems that the gap is not good.

The price of silver, even though the US government is still buying it on a large scale, has begun to fall slowly.

"I don't know if the Americans will continue to buy silver."

Zhao Gang was a little curious.

···

Meanwhile.

United States.

"What's going on?"

The Minister of Finance looked at the price of the domestic silver dollar in his hand and felt that things were still very wrong.

He threw $300 million down.

Why hasn't the price of silver dollars risen significantly in the domestic market?

"Minister, do you want to continue the acquisition?"

The secretary asked.

The plan is to buy $500 million in silver, and there are currently $200 million in funding.

But here's the thing.

Congress approved the $500 million target to control the rise in the price of silver on the international market to 72 cents an ounce.

But now, the price of silver in the domestic market has fallen instead of rising, from 70 cents to 68 cents.

As for the international market, it is even more crotch-pulling, only sixty-five cents per ounce.

Once the last 200 million is smashed and the goal is still not completed, then the minister will be in great trouble, and he may be blamed for resigning.

And if you stop now, although you will be questioned, the position of the minister can at least be kept.

"Acquisition."

Gritting his teeth, the Minister of Finance decided to stud. (End of chapter)