You are ordered to support the War of Resistance against Japan; China enters Level 1 combat readines

The aircraft carrier Kaga suddenly made a sharp turn, its massive hull tilting at almost a 30-degree angle, and then sped off towards Qingcheng Port.

The two light cruisers, Tenryu and Tatsuta, dared not slack off and quickly followed behind, running faster than rabbits.

Thick black smoke billowed from the smokestacks of the three warships as they raced across the sea at maximum speed.

On the warship, all the Japanese soldiers were so frightened that they dared not even breathe.

Their faces were deathly pale, and they kept looking back, their eyes filled with fear.

They were terrified that those silver grim reapers would suddenly appear from the horizon and blast them to pieces.

Time passed by, second by second.

ten minutes.

twenty minutes.

half an hour.

The sky remained empty; no planes were chasing after them.

The Japanese soldiers on board the Kaga finally breathed a sigh of relief after sailing more than 100 nautical miles and confirming that they were out of danger.

Many people slumped on the deck, their bodies soaked in cold sweat.

They looked at each other and saw in each other's eyes the relief of surviving a disaster, as well as deep fear.

Those ten minutes of aerial combat had completely shattered all their pride and confidence.

They finally understood why the army had been defeated so badly.

It's not that the army is too useless.

Rather, it was their opponents who were simply too powerful.

. . .

Beiping, the headquarters of the North China Army.

The heavy curtains completely blocked out the afternoon sunlight, and the room was filled with smoke, making the air so stuffy that it was hard to breathe.

Gangcun stood with his hands behind his back in front of a huge military map, repeatedly stroking the location of Jiaodong City with his fingers.

He had been waiting here ever since the Third Fleet set sail.

"Commander! Urgent! Urgent! Qingcheng!"

A staff officer stumbled in, his face pale, the telegram in his hand trembling slightly.

Okamura whirled around: "Speak!"

The staff officer shook his head, his voice trembling with tears: "The Kaga carrier-based aircraft formation was intercepted by the Eighth Route Army Air Force at 10:30 this morning off the coast of Jiaodong Port. After a fierce battle lasting nine minutes, all seventy-two carrier-based aircraft were shot down, and none of our aircraft returned to port."

"The Kaga and two light cruisers have returned to Aoshiro Port. Commander-in-Chief Teruhisa Komatsu was so anxious that he vomited blood and fainted on the spot."

The entire conference room fell into a deathly silence.

All the army generals were stunned, their faces showing strange expressions.

Vomiting blood... falling into a coma...

What a familiar scene!

Immediately afterwards, bursts of laughter erupted.

"Hahaha! That's hilarious! Seventy-two planes! Gone in nine minutes!"

"This is the naval air force they've been boasting about? I doubt it's even as good as the army's air force!"

"Didn't Komatsu Teruhisa say he could take Jiaodong City in half a day? Well, in less than half a day, his own planes were gone!"

"They call our army useless, but I think their navy is the real useless one! They can't even beat a bunch of peasants!"

The army generals took turns making sarcastic remarks.

The resentment that had been building up for more than half a year finally erupted at this moment.

Previously, the navy looked down on the army, mocking them for being defeated and suffering heavy losses by the Eighth Route Army.

Now look what's happened. The Navy has also failed, and failed even more miserably and disgracefully than the Army.

Okamura stood still, his face expressionless.

But secretly, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Great.

The navy also lost.

And they lost so badly.

This shows that it was not that Okamura was incompetent in command, nor that the army soldiers were not brave enough.

Rather, it was the Eighth Route Army's weapons that were so advanced, beyond anyone's comprehension.

In this way, he also had an explanation to give back to headquarters.

It's not that I'm incapable, it's that the enemy is too powerful.

If even the once invincible navy has come to such a state, what about the army?

Gangcun bent down to pick up the telegram from the ground, folded it carefully, and put it in his pocket.

He raised his head, his cold gaze sweeping over everyone, and the laughter in the conference room instantly stopped.

"Have you laughed enough?"

Gangcun said calmly, "The navy's defeat is not a good thing for us. The threat to Jiaodong City is now greater than before."

Although he said that, it wasn't hard to detect a hint of schadenfreude in his tone.

After a pause, Okamura continued, "Immediately send a telegram to headquarters reporting on the Third Fleet's battle situation."

"At the same time, in the name of the North China Army Headquarters, an order was issued to remove Komatsu Teruhisa from his post as commander of the Third China Expeditionary Fleet, and I myself will take full charge of all affairs of the Third China Expeditionary Fleet."

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then they understood.

Wow, that's brilliant!

That move was absolutely brilliant!

Taking advantage of the navy's crushing defeat and Komatsu Teruhisa's loss of power, he seized the opportunity to take command of the Third China Expeditionary Fleet.

In this way, the entire army and navy forces in North China were now in the hands of Okamura alone.

"The commander is wise!" everyone echoed.

"besides."

Gangcun walked to the map, pointed to the location of Jiaodong City, and said in a deep voice: "Order all observation posts on the front line to monitor the construction of the shipyard in Jiaodong City 24 hours a day."

"Remember, don't act rashly. Wait until their shipyard is almost finished, and all their manpower and resources are invested, then we'll launch a fatal attack!"

Having suffered several major losses, Okamura has now become unusually cautious.

He never dared to underestimate the Eighth Route Army again.

Since we can't win in the air or at sea, we can only use the most rudimentary method: exhausting their manpower and resources.

Once they've nearly finished building the dock, they'll concentrate all their forces and completely destroy it.

If once doesn't work, try twice. If twice doesn't work, try three times.

One day, we'll be able to bring them down.

……

Meanwhile, at Qingcheng Port, at the naval hospital.

Komatsu Teruhisa lay on the hospital bed, his face as pale as paper. He had just woken up and was still very weak, lacking even the strength to speak.

Several military doctors surrounded the bed, carefully taking his blood pressure.

"Commander, how are you feeling now?" a military doctor asked respectfully.

Komatsu Teruhisa opened his mouth, about to speak, when the door to the ward was suddenly pushed open.

"Commander, urgent telegram from headquarters!"

Komatsu Teruhisa's heart skipped a beat; he had a bad feeling.

Sure enough, the staff officer read aloud:

"Commander Teruhisa Komatsu of the Third China Expeditionary Fleet was found to have mismanaged the fleet, underestimated the enemy, and acted rashly, resulting in the annihilation of all 72 carrier-based aircraft and causing irreparable damage to the Imperial Navy."

"After deliberation at the General Headquarters, it has been decided that Teruhisa Komatsu is relieved of his post as Commander of the Third Expeditionary Fleet to China and is immediately recalled to the General Headquarters. The Third Expeditionary Fleet will be temporarily assumed by General Okamura, Commander of the North China Army. This order is hereby issued."

After the telegram was read, the ward fell into a deathly silence.

Teruhisa Komatsu stared blankly at the ceiling, his eyes wide open, as if he couldn't believe his ears.

Dismissed!

Return to base!

Finished!

His military career...

It's all over!

He came from a prestigious naval family and was expected to achieve great things from a young age.

He climbed step by step to the position of lieutenant general and became the commander of the Third Fleet sent to China, thinking that he could make great achievements and bring glory to his ancestors.

I never expected it would end up like this.

"puff--"

Another mouthful of blood spurted from Komatsu Teruhisa's mouth, splattering onto the pristine white sheets.

His vision went black, and he fainted again.

"Help! Someone come quick!"

"His Excellency the Commander has fainted again!"