Rise from the sword

Chapter 613
"what happened?"

In the headquarters of the dispatched army, Hata Toshiroku couldn't help but get a chill down his spine as he looked at the loss report compiled overnight.

In just one day, the Eighth Air Force, which was formed by the local flying force and the Southeast Asian flying force, was preparing to seize the air supremacy in the Changheng area. Before it had time to assemble, it suddenly encountered a devastating blow.

More than 300 aircraft were all destroyed, and more than 300 pilots and more than 1000 ground crew were also attacked.

All that remained of the Eighth Air Force was the command ranks.

You know, in order to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, the Eighth Air Force dispersed the deployment in units of flight squadrons, and the high-level divisions exercised direct command over each flight squadron. Still suffered a complete blow to destruction.

Pilots, flight crews, and ground crews are less than a flying brigade left.

Such a precise and efficient strike must be launched with precise and complete intelligence support.

"Let Lieutenant General Ping Bubo come over."

Hata Junliu had someone call the commander of the Eighth Air Force, Lieutenant General Ping Bubo.

According to the confidentiality measures established at the beginning of the assembly, only the three senior Air Force officers, including Commander Ping Bubo, knew the Eighth Air Force's personnel and aircraft stations, and the rest could only know part of it.

"Commander."

Ping Bubo also knew the reason why Hata Junroku called him here, and he had already received the loss report, so he went straight to the topic:

"At the moment, I don't know how the enemy obtained the specific location information of our Eighth Air Force, but this time the Air Force was attacked and suffered heavy losses. The root cause is not the leak of information."

Although all the troops under his command were wiped out, Ping Bubo still used the description of heavy losses to forcibly save his respect.

"Why?"

Hata Junroku looked at Pingbu Bo with sharp eyes.

"The attack on the Eighth Air Force was very large."

Ping Bubo met Ping Bubo's eyes:

"According to reports from various places, the eight-way attack method includes precision air bombing and ground guerrilla attack."

"Preliminary estimates indicate that Eight Routes dispatched more than [-] aircraft."

"Three hundred planes!"

Hata Junliu was startled.

The time was short, and the loss report sent to Junliu Hata was just a simplified version, and the detailed statistical data would take at least a week to arrive, so he was horrified for a long time by the fact that this number was true.

The Eighth Air Force has more than 300 aircraft.

"At least [-], the actual number cannot be counted for the time being."

Ping Bubo took up the conversation, and emphasized the tone:
"Moreover, at least [-] guerrillas of various sizes participated in the attacks. These attacks caused the destruction of a large number of locust army warehouses, military camps, airports, and railway stations."

"Although there is no need for troops, the losses caused far exceed those of the Hundred Regiments War."

"Even with preliminary estimates, the loss of the Imperial Locust Army may not be less than one division, and a large number of weapons and equipment have been destroyed."

"Obviously, although this attack was mainly aimed at the Eighth Air Force, the attack launched by the other party was comprehensive and extensively aimed at all facilities of the Locust Army."

"Even if there is no intelligence leak, the Air Force will inevitably suffer heavy losses in the face of an attack of this scale."

"The fundamental reason is that the enemy's guerrillas have penetrated too deeply into the area occupied by the locust army. The guerrillas are very strong. Many guerrillas are equipped with 120 heavy mortars, recoilless guns, and even rocket launchers."

"The weapons and equipment are better than those of the Imperial Class A Division."

Hearing this, Hata Shunroku suddenly fell silent.

This point, in fact, he is also clear.

The Eighth Route has carried out large-scale economic penetration into the areas occupied by the locust army. The food coupons that are currently widely circulated are the most favorable evidence. The imperial caravans and even the locust army generally use food coupons.

There is no other way.

Fuel, food, medicine, cotton, sugar, these materials can only be purchased in large quantities with food stamps.

The locust army only occupied this land.

In fact, the economic operation rules here are still in the hands of the other party, and the locust army has to act according to the other party's face. Who made the empire need food, fuel and other supplies, but the locust army can't beat them? !

Under such a situation, it is normal for a large number of guerrillas to exist widely in the countryside.

But this situation is unsolvable.

It can't even fight head-on, let alone wipe out the guerrillas. Even though the Eighth Route Army was still a haha ​​back then, the North China Front Army repeatedly organized large-scale raids, but the guerrillas were not wiped out, let alone now.

The locust army went to the countryside to sweep?

Who knows who will destroy whom!
"Calculate the news loss report and report it to the base camp later."

Hata Shunroku sighed.

The Eighth Air Force was completely annihilated, the Guangdong-Han Railway was bombed, Changchang fell, and Hengyang's defeat was set.The situation in North China was eroded, and Baoding fell.Although Chengde did not lose its territory, it also suffered major losses.

The commander of his dispatch army is probably at an end.

······
at the same time.

North China.

Although Li Yunlong mobilized a part of the elite to go south to attack Chechang, the attack on the middle road was still carried out according to the original plan, and a large number of armored troops rushed to Baoding mightily, driving Yamamoto away again.

Yamamoto had to retreat more than 100 kilometers again and stationed in a small county near Bohai Bay.

Of course, Yamamoto ran away, and Gangcun was not much better.

Although the main force of the North China Front Army is stationed in Henan Province, the troops suffered heavy losses in the Henan-Central Battle before, and their combat effectiveness has declined severely. Recently, there has been basically no replenishment. Facing the pressure of the independent regiment, they can only run away, and the main force retreats all the way To the east of Qinan (Ji).

I have to say that Gangcun and Yamamoto are very lucky.

Because it has been able to provide a large amount of resources to the country, and Tojo and others have already made a decision to abandon North China, the base camp did not impose more restrictions on the two, so that the two can retreat calmly and the loss of troops is relatively small.

In addition, the newly formed 125th Division lived up to expectations and won another battle.

This time, under the personal command of the commander of the division, Tian Zhongqin, he once again found the "weakness" of the Eighth Route Independent Regiment, and after luring the enemy to go deep, he took advantage of the terrain and once again "wiped out" a multi-armored battalion of the enemy. Dozens of tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery were also destroyed, and many 'parts', fuel, and ammunition were seized from the destroyed vehicles.

This second victory really saved Gangcun and Yamamoto a lot of face.

"Tanaka-kun is really powerful."

After finishing their run, Yamamoto and Gangcun met in a small county town in Bohai Bay.

"Yes, this person's ability to observe the battlefield is superb."

Even the aloof Yamamoto had to admit that this time the commander of the [-]st and [-]th Division, Tsutomu Tanaka, did a great job.

The armored force formed by using the captured tanks and artillery once again defeated the attacking independent regiment armored force, destroying more than 60 tanks, more than 70 armored vehicles, and destroying more than 50 artillery pieces, and seized a large amount of supplies.

He was ashamed.

Although not as shocking as the first time, this record is still surprising, but it can also be accepted in the heart.

After all, the first victory in 'Dingzhou' was too incredible.

Therefore, during the meeting between Yamamoto and Gangcun, the two decided to strongly recommend it after discussion.

"The country is preparing to form an armored force. I suggest that I can recommend Mr. Tanaka."

Gangcun said:

"This victory proves that this man is experienced in the use of armored forces."

"Correct."

Yamamoto nodded in agreement.

Both of them had a high influence in the country at this time, especially for the locust and the important domestic ministers. Prime Minister Tojo also praised them many times.

Then, the two changed the subject.

"Chengde lost a lot?"

Yamamoto asked.

Although he has been promoted to the top of the sky in the end, he is a lieutenant general, and he is expected to be a general in the future, but there is still a big gap between him and Gangcun. He can't clear up a lot of news, but Gangcun can know it.

"Correct."

Gangcun sighed:

"This time, Hattori suffered a big loss."

"The independent regiment suddenly dispatched more than 500 tanks and three divisions. Under the cover of nearly a thousand artillery pieces, they launched a large-scale attack, broke into the Chengde position for more than 50 kilometers, and divided and wiped out the entire division."

"If the opponent hadn't taken the initiative to retreat, I'm afraid Chengde would still have lost."

With that said, Okamura handed Yamamoto a battle report.

"This is training for large-scale combat."

Looking at Chengde's latest battle report, the corner of Yamamoto's mouth twitched.

Opposite Chengde, the independent regiment stationed in Jiaoxian County dispatched more than 500 tanks and three divisions to attack [-] kilometers, break through multiple layers of defense, divide and encircle and annihilate one division before retreating.

Obviously, this is another training session organized by the Independent Regiment.

It's just that the scale is five times larger than before, and it is a training for large-scale tank combat.

As for the annihilation of a division, it was just a matter of convenience.

"Humph."

Gangcun also snorted coldly:
"Who made Hideki Tojo refuse to retreat!"

Being in a high position, he understands why Hideki Tojo refuses to retreat, because once he retreats, he will lose the trust of the locust, lose the power in his hand, and need to resign.

······
"Concentrate your forces."

Tokyo, the Prime Minister's Office, Hideki Tojo patted the table with a hysterical expression:

"There are 40 locust troops in the Changheng area. All of them are gathered together. Before the arrival of the armored troops of the Eighth Route Independent Regiment, they will build defensive positions and take advantage of the terrain to fight the enemy decisively."

"Even without the Air Force, the Locust Army can defeat the Eighth Route Army."

The North China region retreated steadily. Although the 15th Division, which was expanded from the original No.125 Brigade, won partial victories, repeatedly attacked the Eight Routes, and even wiped out the overall failure.

In the Chengde area, the Eighth Route Army launched continuous attacks. The locust army, not to mention counterattacks, is already very difficult to hold their positions. In just one month, the Chengde garrison led by Kotaro Hattori has more than three and a half full divisions. , More than two full brigades were lost every day.

Even though most of the losses were recruits, it still frightened the upper echelons of the empire, including the locust.

Counting the battles in the Changheng region and the North China region, in the past month or so, the number of Yusui troops of the Imperial Japanese Empire has far exceeded that of the Yusui first army in the Taiyuan battle.

According to this rate of consumption, after another year of fighting, the empire will have no soldiers.

Now that there is a turbulent wave of cabinet overthrow in the country, Tian Locust has summoned him many times to express his dissatisfaction. The important domestic ministers resisted him openly and secretly. For this reason, he had to step down as the chief of the general staff.

If he doesn't win again, he must resign and lose the power of prime minister.

"prime minister."

Beside him, Tojo's most loyal henchman, Shigetaro Inada cautiously reminded:
"The troops in the Changheng area lack anti-armor weapons, and the chances of winning are relatively small."

"Moreover, the Guangdong-Han Railway was also bombed, and it was difficult to transport the supplies to Heng Shanyong in time."

"Can't even overcome this difficulty?"

With a big wave of his hand, Tojo began to encourage the spirit:

"Order the transport troops to turn the impossible into possible, send the new anti-tank guns and ammunition to the No.11 army, and strengthen the air defense and anti-armor forces of the Imperial Army in the Changheng area."

With the withdrawal of the Americans, especially the withdrawal of a large number of navies to Europe, and the transportation of a large amount of Southeast Asian resources to the country, the domestic situation of the devils has been eased, and industrial capabilities have also been strengthened.

During this period of time, the Devils, who had been devastated by the tanks of the Independent Regiment, finally began to expand the new 75mm anti-tank guns, with a monthly output of more than one hundred.

(End of this chapter)