You were tasked with guarding the Sihang Warehouse, and you brought out a Tiger tank?

Thinking of this, Lin Feng calmly shook his head, reason prevailing over impulse.

Eleven tanks can only provide a localized tactical advantage in a large-scale battle involving hundreds of thousands of people.

The Japanese had airplanes and naval guns; it was unrealistic to expect to drive them back into the sea with just a few dozen tanks in Shanghai.

"Therefore, good steel should be used where it's needed most, not wasted on tanks."

The existing 38(t) tanks, paired with armored vehicles, are sufficient for fighting the Japanese's lightly armored tanks or anti-infantry operations.

The immediate priority is to upgrade more direct and indirect firepower, as well as elite infantry, to cope with the heavy attrition of the upcoming positional warfare.

Let's take a look at the spoils from last night's operation.

Inside the system space, the large machine that was smuggled back from the Japanese positions last night lay quietly.

Of the 75mm field guns, 13 are in good condition.

The 75mm field gun of the Meiji 38th year had a range of over 8 kilometers.

In the original timeline, the Japanese built more than 3000 guns before their surrender, making them their main artillery force.

Even the Chinese People's Volunteer Army used this thing in the early stages of the Korean Peninsula war.

The remaining bomb-damaged parts, pieced together, could probably be reconstructed into three or four doors.

However, Lin Feng estimated that ordinary engineers couldn't handle the disassembly and repair of artillery. He would need to exchange for a few basic engineer squads later and then upgrade them to repair engineer squads, since they were professionals at repairing tanks and artillery.

While you're at it, give all the tanks, including that Tiger, a maintenance check.

"even……"

A bold idea popped into Lin Feng's mind; it was the way a transmigrator's thoughts were expanding.

Could we even do some battlefield modifications?

We can utilize the chassis of captured Japanese tanks with damaged turrets, mount these 75mm field guns on them, and convert them into self-propelled artillery.

Self-propelled artillery is a hit-and-run weapon, making it much more survivable than towed artillery.

Its mobility is also a notch higher.

Let's take another look at those big guys in the system space.

Five Type 5 105mm howitzers, all in good condition.

With a range of over 10 kilometers, it is not too heavy, weighing only about 1.7 tons, which is considered light among artillery pieces of the same caliber.

Even so, if you want to pull it around, you'd probably need eight or even ten ordinary mules or horses from the system to pull it.

For mobility, a truck is needed.

There were plenty of shells, but the Japanese artillerymen were wiped out before they could even fire a few, and Lin Feng got all the benefits.

He roughly estimated that the captured shells alone were enough for him to fight several high-intensity artillery battles, and he wouldn't need to spend money in the system to exchange ammunition for these Japanese artillery pieces in the short term.

Next, let's look at the range.

The 75mm field gun has a range of 8 kilometers, and the 105mm howitzer has a range of 10 kilometers.

This range far exceeds the range of the Croatian mountain guns (4.3 km) and 120mm mortars (6 km) he currently possesses.

"It's time to form a dedicated long-range field artillery battalion."

"If those Japanese devils dare to bombard me again, I'll just blast them back!"

"It is impolite not to reciprocate!"

-----

In the morning, the ruins of the North Station were unusually quiet for a while.

Apart from the occasional stray shell from the naval guns that would fall and explode, the Japanese ground troops seemed to have all died out, not even firing a single shot.

The Japanese navy's carrier-based aircraft were quite active, with more than a dozen annoying Type 95 carrier-based planes flying low overhead, dropping metal grenades and strafing at low altitude.

By deploying troops in advance and launching a surprise attack, Lin Feng's unit shot down five Japanese warplanes at the cost of destroying one 20mm anti-aircraft gun and one heavy machine gun.

"Strange, have the Japanese changed their ways today? The sun's practically high in the sky, why haven't they launched their attack yet?"

Lin Feng was unaware that the 68th Regiment opposite him was holding a funeral.

Regimental Commander Takamori committed seppuku, and the new commander is still on his way. This decimated regiment is now like a headless fly, only able to huddle in the mud and silently lick its wounds.

"Dashan, don't just sit around doing nothing."

Lin Feng left the Zeiss artillery scope in the command post and turned to look at Zhao Dashan:

"The Japanese devils have probably been hurt badly. Take advantage of this time and have the brothers quickly reinforce the fortifications. Use all those collapsed floors and broken walls to build barricades and bunkers."

"Tell the engineering company to lay more mines and sabotage those dilapidated tenement buildings. Once the Japanese break in, we'll use a controlled explosion to send them to their deaths."

"Yes." Zhao Dashan accepted the order and left, leading his men to begin bustling about in the ruins.

Lin Feng wasn't idle either.

I've earned quite a few merit points; time to spend them.

"I'm going back to the rear."

Lin Feng temporarily handed over command to the battalion commander and, with his guards, quietly sneaked back to Qingshan Girls' Middle School, located behind the North Station.

This place has been requisitioned as a temporary logistics base and rest point for the security brigade.

"Assemble! First Battalion, Second Battalion, assemble!"

At the sound of the duty officer's whistle, the soldiers of the two battalions quickly lined up on the parade ground.

Lin Feng stood in front of everyone and glanced around.

Although they had rested overnight, the men's faces still bore the marks of gunpowder, but they were in good spirits.

In yesterday's daytime defensive battle, the Second Battalion lost nearly 200 men, and many more were seriously wounded.

During the night's battle, one armored vehicle broke down, two tanks were damaged by Japanese landmines, and one armored vehicle was destroyed. The casualties of the first battalion were not significant.

Therefore, the ranks in front of us are noticeably sparser in the Second Battalion, with many squads having only 7 or 8 soldiers left.

"System, redeem 30 basic National Army infantry squads."

Soon, 360 new troops appeared on the parade ground. Lin Feng instructed the two battalion commanders to split them up and fill the gaps in each unit.

Next up is the main event.

Lin Feng turned his gaze toward the First Battalion.

Currently, all infantry squads in the 1st Battalion have been upgraded to "elite Nationalist Army infantry squads," meaning each squad has two Czech-made rifles and all personnel are Type 45 rifles.

This firepower was top-of-the-line in the Nationalist army, but in Lin Feng's eyes, it was still lacking.

In particular, the lack of submachine guns and semi-automatic infantry for close-quarters combat puts them at a disadvantage in urban warfare and offensive battles.

With a thought, a light blue system panel appeared before his eyes.

Should elite ROC Army infantry squads be upgraded?

[Upgraded to - Elite Han-equipped Infantry Platoon (12 men)]

[Merit Points Required: 32 points/class]

[Organization: 1 squad leader, 1 deputy squad leader, 2 general-purpose machine gun crew members, 8 riflemen]

【装备：STG44突击步枪×2（每人配弹300发）、G43半自动步枪×2（每人配弹240发）、MG42通用机枪×1（配弹1200发）、P08手枪×2（每人配弹40发）、毛瑟98k步枪×6（每人配弹160发）、手榴弹、烟雾弹等】

[Training Level: Elite]

Upgrading from a basic Hans infantry squad requires 7 more merit points than upgrading from an elite Nationalist Army infantry squad.

However, with each upgrade, the replaced equipment will be returned to the system space.

Therefore, upgrading from the [Basic National Army Infantry Squad] to the [Elite National Army Infantry Squad] and then to the [Elite Hans Equipment Infantry Squad] requires a total of 40 merit points.

However, it will also replace 10 Hanyang rifles, 8 Zhongzheng rifles, and 3 Czech light machine guns.

Alternatively, if you take the other route, upgrading from the [Basic National Army Infantry Squad] to the [Basic Hans Equipment Infantry Squad] and then to the [Elite Hans Equipment Infantry Squad] will also cost a total of 40 merit points.

但会额外替换下来汉阳造步枪×10、98k步枪×2、MP40冲锋鎗×2、P08手枪×2、MG34通用机枪×1。

"These two upgrade paths don't seem to have any fundamental difference; both are profitable."

Lin Feng scratched his head.

"Forget it, let's upgrade first. Firepower is justice."