Republic of China: Ace Pilot

In the course of war, a single mistake can escalate and eventually create a breach in the battle.

Countless wars have proven this point.

This time, the Eighth Route Army relied on its newly formed air force to deliver a swift blow to the Japanese army and gained air superiority.

With the assistance of air strikes from gunboats and fighter jets, the ensuing battle was swift and decisive.

The soldiers shouted in unison, picked up their rifles, charged out of their positions, and launched a fierce attack on the Japanese temporary defensive line.

The Japanese army lost air cover, and their morale plummeted. Under the dual blows of air raids and ground attacks, their defenses collapsed instantly.

They retreated along the railway line.

At this moment, Fang Wen's radio device emitted a call request prompt.

It's another communication frequency, from the ground.

He switched frequencies and connected the call.

"This is the forward command post. You fought a brilliant battle in the sky. I have a request that requires your cooperation."

Fang Wen picked up the microphone: "What request?"

"Could you conduct a preliminary reconnaissance of the Japanese troops and then inform me of the situation?"

"OK."

Fang Wen hung up the call and switched back to the air-to-air communication frequency.

"Attention all aircraft, with aircraft number one as the primary aircraft, return to base now. I am about to carry out a temporary battlefield reconnaissance mission."

Qi Baoqian's voice came from Unit 1: "Sir, the fuel is more than half used up. Please be careful."

"I know."

Immediately afterwards, the 13 fighter jets turned in the air and flew towards Yan'an Airport.

Fang Wenze flew towards the direction in which the Japanese army was retreating.

At the same time, activate mechanical sensing for better reconnaissance.

From the perspective of mechanical perception, the Japanese troops below are moving eastward.

From this direction, it's heading towards Shimen.

Shimen was the future Shijiazhuang, and it was an important military hub for the Japanese North China Area Army in the central Hebei region.

Fang Wen knew from previous intelligence that the 110th Division and the Independent Mixed Brigade 8 were stationed there.

Based on this, it appears that this Japanese force was dispatched from Shimen.

Now that they have been repelled, they will retreat back to the stone gate for defense.

Fang Wen's investigation did not end there.

He flew north along the railway line and soon saw military trains heading north from Baoding Railway Station.

The air force train headed north, clearly indicating that troops were being transferred to provide support.

At this point, Fang Wen turned the plane around and returned to base.

As he flew over Niangziguan, he switched frequencies to make calls.

The call connected immediately. "How's the reconnaissance going?"

"I discovered that the Japanese troops that fought earlier are retreating towards Shimen. In addition, I also flew to Baoding for reconnaissance. There are no signs of troops being deployed there yet, but there are military trains heading towards Beiping, which should be to mobilize troops."

"Okay. This information is very important, thank you."

After the call ended, Fang Wen piloted the plane back to base.

An hour later, Fang Wen piloted aircraft number 14 to land at Yan'an Airport, with only one-fifth of the fuel remaining in the aircraft's fuel tank.

After he disembarked, the flight crew's pilots were all waiting for him.

Qi Baoqian said, "Sir, since you participate in our air force's combat flights, you should also attend our post-war debriefing meeting."

Fang Wen smiled and said, "Sure, but is there anything to eat? I'm hungry."

The pilots laughed, and Qi Baoqian said, "Yes."

The group entered the row of bungalows on the right side of the airport, where ground staff came over with a basket of steaming hot pancakes.

"This is a local pancake, it's very delicious," Qi Baoqian introduced.

Fang Wen picked up a pancake and took a bite.

It's filled with pickled vegetables and dried tofu, and it's very delicious and appetizing.

While everyone was eating pancakes, Qi Baoqian presided over the summary meeting.

"First, take stock of the battle damage and report the results of the battle."

The pilots reported in turn: "Aircraft No. 1 is intact and all personnel are safe!" "Aircraft No. 8 has been hit by two bullets in its wing, and all personnel are safe!" "Aircraft No. 14 is normal!"...

Of the 14 fighter planes, only 2 were slightly damaged, and there were no casualties. A total of 9 Japanese fighter planes were shot down and 4 were damaged.

Then comes the statistical consumption.

This air battle consumed 12000 rounds of 7.92mm machine gun ammunition, 400 rounds of cannon ammunition, and 20 air-to-ground rockets.

More than 8000 liters of fuel were consumed.

Fang Wen asked, "How many more battles can your air force sustain this kind of combat with its current resources?"

Qi Baoqian thought for a moment: "Three games at most."

Fang Wen's thoughts were racing.

Modern warfare is all about resources. The Japanese were planning to expand into Southeast Asia at this critical juncture because they wanted oil and mineral resources. After all, by this point in the war, Japan didn't have much oil and steel left on its own soil.

His purchase of all shares in the British Burma Oil Company was also to ensure he had enough oil to refine into aviation gasoline to sustain the air force's combat operations.

He shook off his thoughts and continued listening and summarizing.

The pilots spoke freely, recounting the situations they encountered during combat.

8 month 22 day.

The fighting spread to Shinaoshan, the western section of the Zhengtai Railway.

This is the highest point in the southwest of Yangquan, controlling the main highway from Yangquan to Taiyuan.

More than 2000 Japanese reinforcements, mobilized from Taiyuan, are attempting to reach Yangquan Railway Station via Shinaoshan.

The 385th Brigade of the 129th Division was ordered to seize Shinaoshan and build defensive fortifications to block the Japanese army.

At 6:00 a.m., the Japanese launched their first assault. Under the cover of artillery fire, the infantry launched a fierce attack on the mountaintop. The soldiers of the 129th Division fought tenaciously from their trenches, with machine guns and grenades weaving a web of fire, repelling the Japanese attacks time and time again.

The battle continued into the afternoon, with the Japanese offensive becoming increasingly fierce. The 129th Division suffered increasing casualties, and its positions were breached by the Japanese at one point.

The commander hurriedly requested air support via walkie-talkie.

After receiving the sortie order, Fang Wen volunteered for the Yan'an Air Force.

"I'll drive the Taishan No. 1 again for this mission."

“Okay, provide four fighter jets for escort,” Qi Baoqian said.

"That's too many, two will suffice," Fang Wen replied. With his special abilities, he could evade Japanese warplanes in advance. He didn't really care about aircraft escort while piloting the Taishan No. 2, as fuel was scarce and he wanted to conserve as much as possible.

"Alright, Shao Deqing and Zhai Xiaojun, you two will escort them," Qi Baoqian instructed.

Immediately, the crew boarded their aircraft. Taishan-1 took off first, followed by the fighter jets piloted by Shao Deqing and Zhai Xiaojun, which flew alongside and escorted it.

Fifty minutes later, the plane arrived over the target area.

Fang Wen used his supernatural abilities to observe the situation below. The Eighth Route Army troops below were using the high ground to fire at the Japanese troops.

Unable to advance further, the Japanese troops had no choice but to launch an attack from this location.

Under the cover of artillery fire, the Japanese soldiers charged up the mountain.

(Eighth Route Army machine gun position during the Battle of Shinaoshan)
Faced with fierce artillery fire, the Eighth Route Army's positions were set up in a mountain corner, making them less likely to be hit by artillery fire. The soldiers were not afraid of death and fired their rifles and machine guns downwards.

Where were the Japanese artillery positions?

Fang Wen shifted his gaze and quickly found it.

Located 2000 meters below Shinaoshan, there are 6 mortars and 1 mountain gun.

This distance is beyond the reach of rifles and machine guns, but within the range of artillery.

Once this artillery position is destroyed, the Japanese army will lose its main weapon.

Immediately, Fang Wen used his special ability to calculate the bombing decision and then gave the order.

"Prepare for 6 bombs, 3 detonations and 3 ignitions."

The bombardiers immediately began preparations, and the loaders also started operations, moving three high-explosive aerial bombs and three incendiary aerial bombs into the bomb bay.

One minute later, Fang Wen gave the order to drop the bomb.

Six aerial bombs fell from the sky.

Like six scythes of death, they precisely struck the Japanese artillery positions 2000 meters below Shinaoshan.

The first to land were three high-explosive aerial bombs. "Boom—boom—boom!" Three consecutive loud explosions echoed through the valley, and smoke and dust instantly rose into the air, forming three huge black smoke columns.

The Japanese mortar positions were hit first, and two mortars were blown to pieces, their barrels twisted into bizarre shapes. The surrounding artillerymen had no time to dodge and were thrown several meters by the shockwave, their screams echoing amidst the explosions.

Immediately afterwards, three incendiary bombs landed, and the viscous incendiary agent instantly splashed out, continuing to burn no matter what it adhered to.

Large swaths of flame covered the artillery positions, and red tongues of fire licked the cannons and ammunition boxes.

The mountain guns that were not destroyed by the high-explosive shells were engulfed in flames. The gun barrels were quickly heated to a bright red, and the ammunition boxes exploded in succession after being heated. The "crackling" sounds continued, and the firelight illuminated half of the sky.

On the hilltop of Shinaoshan, the soldiers of the 385th Brigade of the 129th Division, who were putting up a tenacious resistance in the trenches, suddenly felt the Japanese artillery fire stop abruptly. They then saw thick smoke and fire rising from the foot of the mountain, which greatly boosted their morale.

"Our air support has arrived! Comrades, charge!" The commander seized the opportunity, shouted into the walkie-talkie, drew his pistol, and leaped out of the trench.

The soldiers, who had been relying on fortifications for defense, picked up their rifles and set up machine guns, launching a counterattack against the chaotic Japanese troops below the mountain. The bugle call for the charge echoed loudly through the valleys of Shinao Mountain.

The huge explosion and flames behind them threw the Japanese troops into chaos instantly.

The Japanese infantry, who were originally advancing up the mountain, lost their fire support and, faced with the fierce charge and firing of the Eighth Route Army from their high ground, abandoned their attack and retreated.

The Japanese commander, enraged, brandished his sword and roared, urging his soldiers to charge again, but he couldn't control the rout. The once-fierce attack formation instantly turned into a disorganized mess.

In the air, Fang Wen piloted the Taishan-1, circling overhead and carefully observing the ground situation using his special ability. He was both confirming whether the Japanese artillery positions had been completely destroyed and looking for an opportunity for the next round of bombing.

After confirming that the artillery positions had been destroyed, he selected the second bombing target.

That was the convoy behind the troops.

If the Japanese convoy was destroyed, they would lose their mobility and would be without supplies.

Immediately, Fang Wen adjusted the course and issued the order: "Prepare 5 high-explosive shells, five-stage deployment."

The bombardiers and loaders were to prepare immediately.

Two minutes later, Fang Wen gave the order: "Drop the bombs."

The bombardier, lying on the ground, reflexively pulled the bomb-launching lever.

This time it's a special five-stage dropping mode, with bombs rolling out of the bomb bay one by one, falling in sequence.

An aerial bomb landed on a Japanese convoy on the highway, causing five bursts of fire.

Twenty military vehicles, which were deployed to speed up the march, were mostly destroyed in the explosion.

Fang Wen picked up the microphone and switched to the ground frequency: "This bombing is complete, and we will be returning to base soon."

With Niangziguan under the control of the Eighth Route Army, the Japanese garrison in Shanxi Province fell into chaos.

Because transportation was cut off, these Japanese soldiers were unable to make contact with the Japanese army in North China, leaving them unsure of what to do.

The Japanese troops near Taiyuan were in relatively good condition, as the largest number of Japanese troops were stationed there. However, the Japanese troops stationed in northern Shanxi chose to retreat and defend.

By August 23, the 120th Division had cleared most of the remaining enemy forces along the Tongpu Railway, but two remaining Japanese strongholds were still putting up a stubborn resistance. The Japanese troops in the strongholds used reinforced bunkers to block the railway route with machine guns, hindering the troops from further sabotage.

The officers and soldiers of the 120th Division launched several assaults, but all failed due to the overwhelming firepower of the Japanese army.

The commander immediately contacted the Yan'an Air Force to request targeted bombing.

Half an hour later, Taishan-1 arrived over the northern section of the Tongpu River.

Fang Wen activated his supernatural ability and clearly saw the situation of the Japanese army.

The two strongholds were built on adjacent high ground, forming a defensive triangle with overlapping firepower.

Furthermore, the stronghold was fortified with bunkers, making it even easier to defend and harder to attack.

Even though the Eighth Route Army has now been equipped with a batch of individual rocket launchers, the ground below is open, and the soldiers simply cannot carry the rocket launchers and aim and fire them in the open.

There were no cannons capable of destroying strongholds.

After completing the observation, Fang Wen issued the order to prepare for bombing. "Two high-explosive bombs, dropped three seconds apart."

Fang Wen accurately predicted the timing of the bombing, and the bombardiers operated according to his orders.

A bomb hit the pillbox precisely, causing it to collapse.

Another bomb landed on the bunker, blowing open the thick concrete roof and instantly engulfing the Japanese soldiers inside in smoke and dust.

Then the plane flew to the other side and dropped two more bombs.

These two shots weren't as accurate as before, but they still caused significant damage to the Japanese soldiers inside the stronghold.

Immediately, the Eighth Route Army soldiers launched an attack, quickly rushing up the two high grounds where the stronghold was located and annihilating the Japanese and puppet troops there.

At this point, the Tongpu Railway was completely under the control of the 120th Division. The soldiers once again threw themselves into the work of sabotaging the railway, prying up and breaking the remaining rails, and using explosives to destroy the remaining bridge foundations.

On August 24, the Japanese army intensified its counterattack.

The Japanese troops in Shijiazhuang and Taiyuan mobilized a total of four independent mixed brigades, which advanced along the Zhengtai Railway in four routes, attempting to regain control of Niangziguan Pass and open up transportation links between the North China Plain and Shanxi.

The Japanese forces attacking Yangquan numbered over 3000, equipped with armored vehicles and heavy artillery.

The 129th Division was caught in a pincer movement: it had to block Japanese reinforcements on one side and guard against a counterattack from the remaining Japanese troops at Yangquan Station on the other.

Yan'an Airport.

Fang Wen and all the pilots attended an emergency meeting.

Flight captain Qi Baoqian explained the situation with a serious expression.

"The situation is urgent. Our air force has received the latest operational orders. The air force will be divided into three groups and will launch simultaneous attacks tomorrow. The first group will bombard the transportation route from Taiyuan to Yangquan to support the Shinaoshan position and prevent the Japanese from breaking through there. The second group will bombard the remaining Japanese strongholds at Yangquan Station to relieve pressure on the 129th Division. The third group will bombard the Japanese forces attacking Niangziguan from the Shimen direction."

After hearing his explanation, the pilots' expressions turned serious.

To ensure fuel supplies, no large-scale operations were carried out in the past two days, precisely because of this situation.

They can be divided into three teams, and no matter which team they are in, the pressure will be immense.

In response, Fang Wen stated: "I will fly the route that poses the greatest threat and use the Taishan-1 bomber to bomb it, which will be more effective than yours."

Qi Baoqian agreed, "Then you will fly the first route, and I will arrange for four fighter jets to escort you."

Fang Wen shook his head: "We don't need four planes. The chances of that route being attacked by Japanese aircraft are very small. Let's not waste our air power."

Immediately, the three routes were decided: Fang Wen would pilot the Taishan-1, escorted by two fighter jets; the remaining 14 fighter jets would be divided into two groups of seven each, to carry out the other two operations. (End of Chapter)