I am helping

"To deal with the powerful firepower of the Eighth Route Army, we must have air superiority. Even if we don't have air superiority, we must have air power."

The speaker was Lieutenant General Yukio Kasahara, Chief of Staff of the Kwantung Army.

In just three years, the Kwantung Army had three chiefs of staff.

Among them, Miyano Michiichi was blown up by the Sharp Sword Brigade in Baoding, North China, and was killed in a homemade plane like Zhang Zuolin.

The next Chief of Staff of the Kwantung Army, Yoshimoto Sadaichi, was killed by the Eighth Route Army on his way to serve as commander of the Shanxi First Army.

His previous two chiefs of staff were killed in North China, so it is impossible for Kasahara Yukio to say that he was not afraid.

Yukio Kasahara warned himself that he would never set foot in North China until the Eighth Route Army was defeated.

"The Eighth Route Army's several air raids have destroyed most of our Kwantung Army's airports and arsenals. How can we still have air superiority?"

The speaker was Lieutenant General Satoshi Kinoshita, commander of the Kwantung Army Air Force.

Toshio Kinoshita was the commander of the 3rd Flight Group of the Japanese Army Air Force during the Yamashiro bombing.

and so.

Although Japanese spies and agents were sent to try to infiltrate the Eighth Route Army's aviation school to cause sabotage, they all failed.

"Hi."

In order to provide more ideal air support to ground troops, the airport should be as close to the battlefield as possible.

For example, during the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain, the Japanese Yuncheng Airport was only a few dozen kilometers away from Zhongtiao Mountain, and the Yangmingbao Airport was 50 kilometers away from Xinkou.

Kinoshita Toshi snorted coldly: "I don't even have pilots and planes. I, the aviation commander, am just a decoration."

Mijiro Umezu also knew that Kinoshita Toshi was an outsider, but the other party was appointed by the headquarters and he had no immunity.

"Your aviation unit is the only one having difficulties. Don't our infantry have any difficulties?"

The Japanese army did not know the exact location of the Eighth Route Army's aviation school or the size of the flight cadets.

When Yukio Kasahara said that the Kwantung Army should have air superiority, Toshio Kinoshita wanted to laugh.

The Eighth Route Army has powerful fighter planes, as well as light, medium and heavy bombers that can adapt to various air support types.

The Japanese naval and army aviation units deployed in central China were defeated by the Eighth Route Army's air force.

"I don't want slogans." Umezu Mijiro snorted coldly, "I just want results. If your aviation unit cannot fight during Operation Plan No. 1, then you can commit seppuku yourself."

"This is a matter for your aviation unit."

Seeing Kinoshita Toshi complaining, Umezu Mijiro was angry:

"Hi." Kinoshita Toshi suddenly lowered his head.

Faced with the attack of the Eighth Route Army's strategic bombers, apart from ordering several flying divisions to escape, Kinoshita Toshio did not come up with any countermeasures, allowing the Eighth Route Army's strategic bombers to wreak havoc on Japanese airports and arsenals in Manchuria.

"Your Excellency, General."

"Even if we can build airports, ammunition depots and oil depots, it will be difficult for our fighters and bombers to hide from the Eighth Route Army's radar..."

The old Japanese, Toshio Kinoshita, was promoted to the commander of the Kwantung Army Air Force, but his rank remained lieutenant general.

"Kinoshita-kun, you ask me, who should I ask?"

"Your Excellency the General, the Air Force is committed to completing the mission. I, Kinoshita Toshi, am definitely not a waste!"

During this period, the Eighth Route Army's reconnaissance aircraft and strategic bombers would go to Manchuria for reconnaissance almost every day.

Faced with the increasingly powerful air force of the Eighth Route Army, Operation Plan No. 1 would be disastrous for the Japanese army if there was no air support.

The remnants of the 3rd Group led by Toshiya Kinoshita were added to the Kwantung Army and renamed the 3rd Flying Division.

Meizu Mijiro also knew that the Eighth Route Army had set up an aviation school, and Li Yunlong was the honorary principal of the school, and he actively recruited young intellectuals.

Umezu Mijiro frowned and looked at Kinoshita Toshi: "Kinoshita-kun, air support is very important for the ground forces of the Locust Army. After the start of Operation Plan No. 1, your aviation force must have at least 200 fighters and 300 bombers take off to provide air support to the ground forces."

The Eighth Route Army pilots were highly skilled, their fighter planes had excellent performance, and they had advanced radars. If they had not given the order to flee quickly, several flying divisions of the Kwantung Army would have been defeated long ago. How could they still expect to have air superiority?
Do you think I don't want the Locust Army to have air superiority?

Kinoshita Toshi's expression was bitter:
"My aviation unit can currently provide this number of fighters, bombers, and pilots."

"The difficulty lies in how to build an airport, ammunition depot and oil depot under the powerful intelligence network of the Eighth Route Army."

But the Kwantung Army was helpless.

Currently, the Eighth Route Army has a complete air force system.

Based on intelligence.

Seeing that Kinoshita Toshi's attitude was not very good, Kasahara Yukio was not to be outdone:

Although there were still some pilots and planes in Manchuria, their number was small and they were all in a hidden state. They dared not show their heads easily for fear of being discovered by the Eighth Route Army's planes.

"If you, Kinoshita-kun, are not qualified for the position of commander of the Kwantung Army's Air Force, then resign from your post to the Prime Minister and Tian Huang, and send another capable officer to the Kwantung Army. We in the Kwantung Army do not accept trash!"

That's why Michijiro Umezu attached so much importance to air support. If there is air support, the chances of success of Operation No. 1 will be much greater.

"idiot!"

Almost all of the senior generals in the Japanese Army Aviation field were not from the aviation field. They were typical laymen leading professionals. Kinoshita Satoshi was one of them.

Being called a waste, Kinoshita Toshi looked unhappy and had to bite the bullet and accept the task:

"Where are the aviation units in Manchuria now?"

"Kasahara-kun, Ikeda-kun, from today on, your staff will begin formulating an attack plan."

After a brief pause, Umezu Mijiro looked at Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Kasahara Yukio and Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Ikeda Junhisa.

"Hi." Kasahara Yukio bowed his head, "I would like to ask the Admiral for your instructions on the offensive strategy for Operation No. 1 this time."

Like the Shinichi Regiment, the General Staff was responsible for formulating the battle plan, but the offensive ideas needed to be provided by Michijiro Umezu.

If the combat plan formulated by the General Staff fails, the General Staff cannot bear the responsibility.

"This time our Kwantung Army's attack is mainly divided into four routes!"

Umezu Mijiro stood up, walked to the wall, pointed at the map on the wall and said:
"The first route will depart from Chengde and attack Zhangjiakou. After taking Zhangjiakou, we will decide whether to attack towards Beiping or Datong based on the situation!"

"The second route will start from Shanhaiguan, attack Peking, Tianjin and Hebei Province, and destroy the Eighth Route Army in North China!"

"The third and fourth routes are by sea. The locust army will land in Huangxian, Longkou, and Qingdao in Shandong Province, capture Linyi and Jinan, and then attack northwards to pinch the Eighth Route Army in North China!"

As soon as Umezu Mijiro finished speaking, Deputy Chief of Staff Ikeda Junhisa said, "Your Excellency the General is wise. I admire you!"

"The last time Li Yunlong attacked North China, he also used a pincer attack, but Li Yunlong only had two pincers."

"But the commander's plan has four pincers, and this battle will surely be victorious!"

On both sides of the conference table, some commanders and division commanders also showed just the right amount of admiration on their faces.

However, there were two clear-headed Japanese officers whose faces were still tense, and they were obviously not optimistic about the Operation No. 1 plan.

Facing the admiring gazes of the Japanese officers, Umezu Mijiro did not show any smug look on his face.

He did not have much confidence in this battle because the Eighth Route Army was so well equipped.

The Eighth Route Army soldiers have a strong fighting spirit, not inferior to that of the Japanese soldiers, and their individual qualities are also strong.

Almost all the commanders of the Eighth Route Army survived fighting on the battlefield. From soldiers to grassroots officers to senior officers, all of them used their brains when fighting.

but!

As the commander of the Kwantung Army, even if he had no confidence in his heart, he had to appear confident and high-spirited in front of others, and he must never show any discouragement.

Otherwise, the morale of the entire attacking force will soon collapse.

Thinking of this, Umezu Mijiro pretended to be confident: "These are just the four pincers of our Kwantung Army. In Central China, there are also the Expeditionary Army, the 11th Army, the South China Front Army, and at least troops drawn from Southeast Asia and the mainland. They will attack North China from Central China and encircle and annihilate the Eighth Route Army together with our Kwantung Army."

After hearing this battle plan, the eyes of most Japanese officers suddenly became fanatical.

Although the Imperial Headquarters ordered the Kwantung Army and the Expeditionary Army to complete preparations within two months.

But two months is definitely not enough. The allocation of troops and combat supplies will take about three months to complete.

However, most of the combat supplies had to be mobilized from the mainland, and hundreds of thousands of troops had to be mobilized.

Although there were more than one million Japanese devils in China, most of them were distributed in the vast occupied areas.

Although the Japanese army judged that the National Army would not join the Eighth Route Army in attacking the Japanese army, once all the devils in these occupied areas were withdrawn, the National Army would definitely take advantage of the situation to recapture these areas.

The Kwantung Army had to leave behind hundreds of thousands of troops to guard against the Soviet Army in the Far East.

The Japanese Expeditionary Force and the South China Front Army also had to leave behind a considerable number of troops to guard against a counterattack by the Nationalist Army in the southwest region.

Amid the Japanese officers' slogans of "must win", Umezu Mijiro sat back in his seat with a confident and satisfied expression. "Shanhai Pass and Chengde are the only way for the infantry to enter the pass, and we must not lose them."

Mijiro Umezu glanced at the officers and spoke in a stern tone.

"Hi!"

The Japs suddenly lowered their heads.

……

While the Japs were formulating combat plans and mobilizing combat supplies.

The Eighth Route Army was also formulating combat plans and preparing combat supplies.

"Captain!"

The communications officer came in with a telegram in his hand and reported to Li Yunlong:
"Just now, the independent battalion leader Chu Yunfei sent a telegram to ask you to fight."

"Requesting a battle?" Li Yunlong was staring at the map. He looked up and asked, "What battle?"

"You'd better see for yourself."

The communications staff officer handed over the telegram with both hands, saluted, and turned to leave.

Li Yunlong took the telegram and started reading it.

In the puzzled eyes of Zhao Gang, Wang Dehou, Xing Zhiguo and others, Li Yunlong smiled slightly:
"Chu Yunfei is indeed a member of the fifth class of the Whampoa Military Academy. He guessed that our regiment would soon attack Shanhaiguan and Chengde, so he sent a telegram to request a fight, and even shouted the slogan 'Use me in the first battle, and I will win.'"

Now Chu Yunfei has a new independent battalion of more than 3 people, all equipped with American equipment.

Although Chu Yunfei's rank was downgraded to deputy commander of the New 1st Regiment, he lived the life of an army commander, and moreover, the life of an ace army commander with American weapons.

This also made Chu Yunfei extremely grateful that he accepted the olive branch thrown by Li Yunlong and joined the new regiment.

Otherwise, he would still be a small regiment commander of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, blowing the northwest wind somewhere in Luliang Mountains or northern Shaanxi.

Now that the New 1st Regiment's Independent Battalion is strong and powerful, Chu Yunfei naturally wants to show his skills and contribute his own strength to independence, democracy and freedom.

Since the National Army reduced its forces, the independent battalion has no chance to recruit veterans of the National Army.

"Taking the initiative to fight, that's good!"

Zhao Gang praised upon hearing this:

"Chu Yunfei has a high level of ideological awareness and is happy to hear about war. It seems that Chu Yunfei has bid farewell to the style of the National Army in both behavior and thought."

Li Yunlong put down the telegram and looked at Wang Dehou: "Chief of Staff, can we arrange for the independent brigade to go to the battlefield in this battle?"

"Captain, this is a bit difficult."

Wang Dehou said:

"At present, the troops attacking Chengde and Shanhaiguan have been determined, and the combat effectiveness of the independent brigade..."

The combat effectiveness of the independent battalion is definitely not as strong as that of the main heavy battalions of the New 1st Regiment.

"Show me your battle plan." Li Yunlong said.

The current combat plan is still in the formulation stage and combat tasks have not yet been issued to various troops, so there is no problem with changes.

Wang Dehou was mainly worried that the independent brigade’s current combat effectiveness was not strong enough and that it could not complete its combat mission.

"Yes!"

Wang Dehou took the combat plan formulated by the General Staff and handed it to Li Yunlong.

Li Yunlong opened the battle plan and started reading it. This battle plan was formulated based on his ideas.

According to Li Yunlong's instructions, in the direction of Shanhaiguan, the General Staff deployed four heavy armored battalions and six heavy artillery battalions on the front, with a total force of approximately 6.

Then, four heavy armored battalions were landed behind Shanhaiguan using transport ships, with one part attacking Huludao and the other cutting off the retreat of the Japanese 4th Army at Shanhaiguan.

In the Chengde direction, the General Staff deployed 6 heavy armored battalions, 4 parachute battalion and heavy artillery battalions to compress the Japanese troops of the First Army into the city of Chengde.

After Zhao Gang finished looking at the troop arrangements, he said, "Considering the equipment and combat effectiveness of the independent battalion, we can use the independent battalion to encircle the devils in Chengde."

"Although the First Army has four divisions, we have already wiped out more than 1 of them, and the total strength is still about 5."

"Plus, the Japanese are hiding in Chengde City. The independent battalion only needs to build a defensive position outside the city to prevent the Japanese from breaking through."

"With the strength of the independent brigade, we can fully achieve this strategic goal."

"Although the equipment of the independent battalion is not as good as that of the heavy armored battalions of our new regiment, compared with the equipment of the devils, the equipment level and firepower of the independent battalion are much stronger."

"If the tactics are deployed properly, the more than 3 people in the independent battalion can completely pin down the Japanese First Army."

Li Yunlong said: "What Lao Zhao said makes sense, but if you want to improve your combat effectiveness and accumulate combat experience, the best way is to actually fight."

"Considering that the independent brigade has no experience in large-scale combat operations."

"So, arrange the independent battalion to the front of the attack on Shanhaiguan as the main attack force. Put the six heavy artillery battalions under Chu Yunfei's command, and the remaining heavy armored battalions as the reserve."

"After the battle of Shanhaiguan is over, the battle in Chengde will almost be over."

"Before the Japanese start their Operation Plan No. 1, transfer the rested independent battalion to the outside of Chengde City to surround the Japanese in the First Army."

"Hehe, the First Japanese Army in Chengde, this is a big piece of fat meat, it depends on whether Chu Yunfei can eat it."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Wow, not only has the independent brigade’s combat mission been arranged this time, but the independent brigade’s next combat mission has also been arranged.

Wang Dehou made note of this and prepared to ask his staff to revise the battle plan later.

"That's right, Captain."

Wang Dehou seemed to have thought of something and asked:

"In this battle, the Japanese are very likely to land on the coast of Shandong Province. Which troops should we send to Shandong Province?"

Li Yunlong looked at the map of Shandong Province on the table.

"Where are the likely locations for the Japanese to land?" Li Yunlong asked.

Wang Dehou: "Yantai, Weihai, Qingdao and Rizhao are all places where the Japanese may land, but I think the Japanese are most likely to land in Longkou, Huanglong and Qingdao."

While speaking, Wang Dehou pointed to the locations of Longkou and Qingdao on the map.

"What's the reason?" Li Yunlong frowned.

On land, the Eighth Route Army could occupy Chengde and Shanhaiguan and seize the initiative on the battlefield.

However, when the Japanese invaders landed from the sea, the Eighth Route Army was in a passive position because there were many places for landing along the coast and they did not know where the Japanese invaders would land.

Wang Dehou said: "In early September 1914, the Japanese army landed at Huanglong Longkou; in January 9, the Japanese army landed at Laoshan, Qingdao. The Japanese have landed at both locations before, so they are relatively familiar to the Japanese. If I were the Japanese, I would land at both locations at the same time and attack Jinan in two directions."

Zhao Gang said: "These locations suitable for landing should have defensive positions. If we strengthen the defensive positions, can we stop the Japanese from landing?"

"It's very difficult!" Xing Zhiguo said, "Based on the experience of the Battle of Shanghai, the Japanese warships have very strong firepower. Even if we build a fortress on the beach, it will not be able to withstand the Japanese 300mm large-caliber artillery shells. It is said that the main gun of the Japanese Yamato battleship has a caliber of 460mm."

"Then let the Japanese land." Wang Dehou said fiercely, "Send planes to sink the Japanese warships and transport ships, and then drive the Japanese who landed into the sea to feed the sharks."

Xing Zhiguo said: "It would be better to send planes to bomb the enemy's transport ships and fleet when they land, and sink the enemy and their ships together."

"It's not impossible." Wang Dehou said, "This is also a solution."

Li Yunlong asked: "What if the Japanese land at night?"

Wang Dehou and Xing Zhiguo remained silent. The Japanese knew that the Eighth Route Army's fighter planes were very powerful and had guided bunker-buster bombs, so they would most likely land at night.

And the most important thing is that we don’t know where the Japanese will land.

Zhao Gang suddenly said: "There is another way."

Li Yunlong looked at Zhao Gang: "What's the solution?"

"Don't we have an aircraft carrier fleet led by the Yunlong?"

With a chuckle, Zhao Gang said, "Although our Eighth Route Army's aircraft carrier fleet has not yet fully formed its combat effectiveness, and it is not suitable to confront the Japanese Pacific Fleet head-on at this time, but dealing with the Japanese transport ships and frigates is still easy, right?"

Li Yunlong's eyes lit up slightly.

After the last ocean-going combat training and the training in the past few months, the combat effectiveness of the aircraft carrier fleet has been further improved.

……

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