Comrade, your ingredients are too complicated.

On the evening of January 7, 1943, at Jurentang, the headquarters of the North China Area Army.

At the beginning of the year, the snow in the northern part of the city was exceptionally heavy. The lake near the Japanese command center was already frozen solid, and the ice layer gleamed a ghastly white under the moonlight, looking like it was covered with a layer of alabaster.

Gazing at the desolate snow scene outside the window, Okamura Neiji was momentarily lost in thought.

Lieutenant General Ooshido Miji cautiously called out "Your Excellency" three times, but was only met with silence.

"Your Excellency, General!"

After the fourth increase in volume, the old Japanese man finally snapped out of his daze and shuddered. He quickly picked up his teacup, took a sip to cover his embarrassment, and then asked in a deliberately calm tone:

"Go on, give a clear account of the recent battle losses and gains of the frontline troops."

People tend to pretend to be busy when they're in an awkward situation, and Okamura Neiji was no exception.

Seeing his commander's embarrassed appearance, the Japanese lieutenant general forcibly suppressed the urge to complain and continued his previous report.

"The enemy forces from the Shanxi province have been launching a fierce attack on the outer fortifications of the northern city for two consecutive days," said Okito Sanji, flipping through the battle report and pausing his finger on the loss statistics table. "Currently, we have lost about 40% of our strongholds."

At this point, he quickly turned the page, his voice rising a few decibels:
"However, the samurai did not sit idly by. Major General Yamada organized several company-level counter-attack waves and successfully destroyed a number of tanks and armored vehicles."

"only."

Ōkido Miji appeared somewhat hesitant, clearly considering the possibility of exaggerated gains at the front. However, this was something tacitly approved by headquarters, as the samurai, facing dire circumstances, needed hope.

After a brief hesitation, he simply handed the Army Aviation report to his superiors and continued reporting with a forced smile.

"The two Type 1 Fighting Falcons sent to confirm the results were both shot down by the enemy's 1st Air Division. The specific results have not yet been verified."

After he finished speaking, the lieutenant general chief of staff stood at attention and bowed his head, waiting for his general to continue.

Okamura: "I remember the previous reconnaissance report mentioned that the CG Department of Shanxi Province had at least 500 105mm and larger artillery pieces?"

Da Cheng: "Yes, the Eighth Route Army's artillery organization is very fixed, and the replenishment speed is also very fast, so there is almost never a shortage of personnel. As long as it is a main infantry division, it will be equipped with 36 105mm howitzers and 12 155mm howitzers."

"In addition, during this Hebei Province campaign, the enemy also deployed brand-new 240mm self-propelled artillery. These super-large caliber guns should be directly under the command of the army or the group army."

Upon hearing this, the entire command headquarters fell into a deathly silence, as everyone realized the seriousness of the situation.

Seeing his staff officers feigning death, Okamura Neiji was furious. He slammed his fist on the table, directly voicing what everyone present was thinking.

"What's the panic? It's just that the Eighth Route Army's industrial strength has reached a certain peak and they've started to ramp up production."

“Starting from the beginning of 1945, the enemy’s strength has increased dramatically every quarter. Isn’t this something we already figured out? What’s so surprising about it!”

"In my opinion, if it weren't for the problem of the quality of the soldiers and the burden of Free France, the CCP might have started mass-producing troops as early as the middle of last year."

As the saying goes, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated."

After suffering several defeats in major battles, the Japanese finally put aside their prejudices and began to study the clues that led to the Eighth Route Army's growing strength.

Although the specific reasons are still unknown, the Japanese have come up with a cyclical pattern that is almost like a rule of legend: the enemy upgrades its active equipment every three to six months.

Of course, understanding the patterns and getting close to the truth does not mean that there is a way to counter it.

Just like Okamura Yasuji now, he can only say some old-fashioned platitudes to appease his subordinates and forcibly boost the crumbling morale in the headquarters.

"Alright, gentlemen, why be so dejected? There are a total of 150 million Chinese civilians in the four districts of the North City. Add to that 500 European and American expatriates, and these are all bargaining chips in our hands."

"As for the Eighth Route Army's so-called psychological warfare?"

"How could such a thing possibly be of any use? After all, the hands of everyone here are already stained with the blood of the Republic of China. Since you are all candidates on the war criminal list, why not fight to the death and be loyal to the Japanese nation!"

For the vast majority of Japanese soldiers, even those who rose to the rank of field officer or even general were still not immune to the call to loyalty.

Under the highly persuasive incitement of Okamura Yasuji, the war machine of the North China Area Army Headquarters once again started running at full speed. The staff worked together to refine the existing defensive deployments.

After the city's defenses were fully in place, the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of intelligence and logistics, Seizo Arisue, stepped forward and pointed to the military map on the wall, expressing his conjecture.

"Reporting to the General, the enemy forces in Shanxi Province showed clear signs of regrouping after today's offensive. I judge that the enemy is waiting for the Chahar forces to complete their flanking maneuver, thus forming a four-sided encirclement of us."

"I suggest strengthening the rear defenses, which will buy the front more time."

Upon hearing this, Okamura Neiji stared at the sand table in silence for a long time, once again falling into thought.

In fact, his own deputy chief of staff's judgment was almost identical to what he had thought. This wasn't because the two of them had particularly keen battlefield intuition, but because the Eighth Route Army's intentions were too direct, almost as if they were written all over their faces.

That force that was charging and fighting fiercely on the border between Rehe and Chahar was clearly forcing them to retreat to Rehe.

Considering the secret agreement between himself and Yoshijiro Umezu, the old devil thought for a moment and then replied:
"Yes, what Mr. Yumo said is absolutely right."

"Although our available forces are somewhat limited at this stage, it is still necessary to send a brigade to strengthen the defense of the Rehe area. We have to show the General Headquarters the attitude of the Army Group."

"As for other matters, we can only trust the Kwantung Army. We are all in this together, and I'm sure our allies won't just stand by and watch the northern city be surrounded by the enemy."

No sooner had the old Japanese soldier finished speaking than a senior commander of the Army Aviation Corps chimed in:
"Commander, should we send one or two squadrons, or even a full squadron, north to provide support?"

"The enemy air force is active on the main battlefield, and our remaining aircraft are simply no match for them. Rather than letting the samurai waste their lives on an unequal battlefield, we should let them find another way to seek opportunities."

Upon hearing this, Okamura Neiji's already conflicted face immediately contorted into a deep frown, his wrinkles so deep they could almost trap a fly.

The Eighth Route Army's air force and their advanced fighter jets have now become a problem that the entire Axis powers are helpless against, and any general would have a headache if they encountered them.

Needless to say, the Asian theater, from the deep forests of Southeast Asia to the North China Plain, and from the Yellow Sea to the Japanese mainland, whether it's the JAAF or JNAF, running into the 1st Air Division is a disaster. Now it's even worse; their fighters can't even beat close air support aircraft, so what's the point of talking about air superiority?

The situation on the African battlefield was equally dire, with LW and RA faring no better.

If it weren't for their numerical advantage and large number of elite pilots, Germany and Italy might not have even been able to maintain air superiority over North Africa.

Just as Okamura Yasuji was deep in thought, hesitating whether to gamble his last air force, a communications staff officer suddenly rushed into the operations room and delivered some timely good news.

"Commander, urgent telegram from the Kwantung Army!"

"The new fighter jets that were recently transferred from the mainland have been deployed, and now there is a full combat force of an air division outside the Great Wall, ready to take off and provide support at any time."

"General Yoshijiro Umezu specifically instructed that as long as the northern city is firmly defended, the General Headquarters and they will never give up the North China Area Army."

Upon hearing this, the old Japanese soldier snatched the telegram away.

After only a few glances, he let out a loud laugh like Cao Cao, as if he could hear the roar of hundreds of new fighter jet engines.

"Good, good! I've finally got the Type 3 Fighting Flying Swallow and the Type 4 Fighting Gale. With these hundreds of strong reinforcements, why should I worry about air superiority?"

"Pass on my order: immediately send the 64th Flying Squadron north to join the 37th Independent Mixed Brigade in guarding the border between Rehe and Chahar."

"As for the main battlefield, we'll leave that to the Kwantung Army Air Force."

After being thoroughly defeated by the Eighth Route Army Air Force during the Republic of China era, the Japanese Army Aviation had no choice but to abandon its outdated air combat theories and instead began to study energy-based air combat tactics.

Although the Type 1 Fighting Falcon is agile, it has fatal flaws in high-speed dives and sustained firepower, making it increasingly inadequate in modern air combat systems.

It was precisely because of this urgent need for combat that the Type 3 Fighting Flying Swallow was developed.

Its dive and climb speeds are faster than those of traditional light fighters that emphasize maneuverability, and its dogfighting performance is even comparable to the Type 1 and Type 2 Zhong Kui.

As for the four types of Gale?

That was a secret weapon that balanced productivity and extreme data, a weapon poised for a decisive battle. How could it possibly be inferior to the equipment produced by the Eighth Route Army in 1942?

Anyone who has doubts has a problem with their thinking and needs spiritual guidance to correct it.

It was precisely because of these two new pieces of equipment that Okamura Neiji was able to confidently send his original team to Rehe.

"In short, the next battle plan is to rely on strong fortifications and the army air force to slow down the Eighth Route Army's advance. The northern city has two divisions of troops, plus tens of thousands of settlers and puppet troops, which can definitely hold out for more than half a year!"

"Tell General Umezu that our army fought bravely and repelled the Shuangchen Corps of Shanxi Province several times."

"However, the enemy's air force is too strong, and we cannot expand our gains at present. If we had the support of a flight division, we could definitely achieve our planned objectives."

Seeing their commander overwhelmed by the unexpected joy, Chief of Staff Ooshiro Michiharu and Deputy Chief of Staff Arisue Seizo both showed worried expressions.

The two exchanged a glance, and after a brief silence, the latter quietly moved to the front of the map and pointed with a pointer at the area in the south that had been repeatedly thickened with a pencil.

"General, we have just discussed the defense of the border area between Rehe and Chahar. What about the south? Now that the Eighth Route Army has a navy, they are very likely to land in the Bohai Bay."

To be fair, Seizo Yumo didn't mean to spoil the fun; he was just fulfilling his duty as an advisor.

But to everyone's surprise, Okamura Neiji exploded upon hearing the word "Navy," and the old Japanese soldier said impatiently:
"Baka! What do we do? What do we do? Those dilapidated ships of the Eighth Route Army that even the Italians wouldn't give a second glance, do they think they're qualified to attempt a landing behind our lines?"

"Besides, coastal defense and port defense are the responsibilities of the naval idiots."

"If they can't even defend the coastline supported by coastal artillery and air force, then they should just commit seppuku."

Having said all that, Seizo Arisue could only lower his head and stand at attention, obediently accepting his commander's reprimand.

For some reason, whenever his peripheral vision swept across the deep blue nearshore waters on the map, a chill would always run down the back of his neck. It was as if some unsettling variable was lurking beneath the seemingly calm waters.

······
The following morning, the Bohai Bay was shrouded in a thin fog. Meanwhile, twenty nautical miles southeast of Tangshan, a massive fleet was quietly deploying into battle formation.

"Reporting to the commander, all ships have arrived at their designated coordinates."

The communications officer's voice broke the silence in the command room, and Fleet Commander Li Yujie exchanged a relieved look with the legendary Captain Philip beside him.

"216 nautical miles, and it took us 14 hours. A large fleet raid is indeed a complex science."

"It seems I underestimated Chuichi Nagumo before. This old Japanese devil really does have some real skills."

The distance from Liugong Island anchorage to Caofeidian landing site is only 216 nautical miles. If it were just a destroyer formation, it could reach the destination in seven hours at a high speed of 30 knots.

However, this combat fleet included several auxiliary ships with insufficient power, forcing the entire fleet to reduce its speed to 15 knots and endure a long 14 hours at sea.

Upon hearing this, Philip nodded. His eyes were dark and puffy, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept all night.

"You can say that Chuichi Nagumo is not good at commanding aircraft carrier operations, but you should never underestimate his navigation skills. He deserves at least one-third of the credit for Japan's successful attack on Pearl Harbor."

"Alright, let's talk about this later, it's time to get down to business!"

"Now that we're up against the wind, let's launch the carrier-based aircraft as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Li Yujie decisively ordered the radio silence to be broken. His voice was full of energy, and the order quickly spread throughout the entire fleet like an electric current.

"Pass on my order! First wave of carrier-based fighters, full deck sortie!" (End of Chapter)