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

Shanghai Hongqiao Airport.

The hangars and runways that once belonged to the Great Xia Air Force now fly the Hinomaru flag.

A group of Japanese pilots in brown flight suits were conducting final checks on a row of Type 93 twin-engine light bombers.

They belonged to the Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAS), although they were also under the command of the Army General Staff.

But compared to their friendly forces who walked on two legs on the ground, these pilots were all very arrogant.

Major Hidetsugu Nakajima, commander of the 13th Squadron of the 3rd Air Wing, squinted at the direction of Zhabei with a blade of grass in his mouth.

"Those infantry idiots have completely disgraced the Imperial Army." He sneered at Captain Noguchi beside him. "Tens of thousands of troops, and they can't even take down the enemy? We have to trouble our air squadron to clean up the mess ourselves."

Captain Ichiro Noguchi, the commander of the 2nd Squadron, nodded in agreement as he gestured to his men to check the 60-kilogram aerial bombs mounted on the aircraft:

"I heard the casualties were heavy; they even used tanks, but they still couldn't take it down. The Chinese commander on the other side is quite interesting."

"Interesting?" Major Nakajima sneered. "In the face of absolute air superiority, any resistance on the ground is futile."

Today, let those Chinese rats hiding in concrete boxes witness what true divine punishment is.

He turned to the assembled pilots, raising his voice:

"Gentlemen, those lowly infantrymen have shed too much blood before the enemy-occupied buildings, yet have made no progress."

Now is the time for us to demonstrate the power of the Imperial Vultures.

The 2nd Squadron entered at low altitude, dropped bombs horizontally, and suppressed the Chinese air defense weapons.

The 3rd Squadron then dove down to drop its bombs, aiming for precision.

Remember, under no circumstances should you drop the bomb in the adjacent International Settlement!

"Hai!" the pilots responded in unison, their eyes filled with eager excitement.

Because the Japanese naval air force did not communicate with these army counterparts at all.

Therefore, they all thought that the positions of the First Honor Brigade were no different from those of other Great Xia armies.

Equally weak, with only a few old anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns, which were practically useless.

In their eyes, this was hardly a battle, but an easy demolition task.

The engine roared, and the propeller whipped up a whirlwind.

Nine Type 9 twin-bombers took off, formed a formation in the air, and headed towards Zhabei.

Next, 12 Type 95 fighters taxied and took off. These biplane fighters were also carrying bombs and were ready to carry out dive bombing missions.

The Japanese pilots were all in a relaxed mood.

Some people even idly wondered if they could make it back in time for the cafeteria's extra lunch after dropping the bomb.

In their view, this was a sure thing.

However, they did not know that many of the meals prepared by the mess hall of the Japanese 13th Air Squadron that noon were destined to be eaten by no one.

-----

Fengmao Department Store, rooftop platform.

Even though the Japanese army did not launch an attack this morning, this place has remained on high alert.

The muzzles of various anti-aircraft guns were pointed diagonally towards the sky, and the gunners sat behind the gun shields, ready for battle.

Lin Feng was currently in the command center inside the building.

Zhao Yushu was right next to him, holding a phone.

"Brigadier, the observation post on the roof reports that an enemy aircraft group has been spotted in the direction of Hongqiao. The number exceeds twenty, and the aircraft are identified as 10 twin-engine and 10 single-engine aircraft, which are flying towards us."

The altitude is approximately 1,500 meters, and it is still decreasing.

"5,200 meters away!"

"four thousand!"

"Three thousand!"

In the air defense observation post, the observer holding the rangefinder spoke with increasing tension.

-----

Captain Noguchi, the team leader, could clearly see the gray, bullet-riddled roof of Fengmao Department Store through the windshield.

He could even see what appeared to be some sandbag fortifications on the roof, but that was all.

There was no barrage of anti-aircraft artillery fire as expected, nor was there a dense barrage of machine gun tracer rounds.

"As expected, the Chinese don't have any decent air defenses." A contemptuous smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

He was the first to lower the nose of the aircraft, and the Type 93 twin-light aircraft emitted a sharp whistle as it began to descend again.

Upon seeing the lead aircraft's actions, the pilots of the other aircraft naturally followed suit.

This is the moment!

In an instant, the once quiet rooftop platform, as well as the rooftops of several surrounding buildings, erupted with earth-shattering roars.

"Thump thump thump thump thump—!"

The single-barreled and quadruple-mounted 20mm anti-aircraft guns began to spew deadly flames at extremely high rates of fire. Shells exploded in the air, creating dense clouds of black smoke that instantly wove a huge, ever-expanding web of death over the warehouse.

Especially those FLAK 38 quadruple anti-aircraft guns, every time they fired, they unleashed a square barrage that covered a huge area.

"Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The muffled yet powerful bursts of M2HB heavy machine guns joined the chorus, as large-caliber 12.7mm tracer rounds drew bright red lines, piercing the diving aircraft from all angles!

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The rhythmic firing sound of the 37mm anti-aircraft gun is like the beat of a drum. Compared to the 20mm anti-aircraft gun, they have a longer range, more explosive charge in their high-explosive shells, and more fragmentation.

Barrage of comments for protection?

No, this is a funeral for the barrage of comments.

"What?!" Inside the cockpit, Captain Noguchi's smile froze instantly, then was replaced by boundless horror.

His vision was instantly filled with countless plumes of black smoke from the explosions and crisscrossing tracer bullet trails.

That firepower density, that reaction speed, that range and accuracy...

There is at least one highly equipped, professional air defense force at the level of an anti-aircraft artillery regiment!

The air defense capabilities of Jinling, the capital of the Great Xia Dynasty, are probably not that great.

No, I'm afraid even Nanjing can't compare!

At least 20 anti-aircraft guns were firing at his troops.

There were also a number of large-caliber machine guns.

Captain Noguchi felt a chill run down his spine.

Is this not my last mission?

(The hierarchy of the Japanese Army Air Force is: Air Army - Flight Division (Group) - Flight Regiment - Flight Squadron - Flight Company.)

每个中队9-12架飞机，一个战队30-40架飞机，一个飞行团包含2-4个飞行战队。飞行师团/飞行集团则包含若干飞行团。航空军则是战役集团单位。）