{}Chapter 400 Battle of Central China

The Fifth Corps suddenly approached Hefei, which shocked the Japanese Central China Expeditionary Army Command because considering the existence of the Yangtze River and its special geographical and military significance, Matsui Ishienen did not have many troops stationed here.

He even arrogantly believed that the mechanized troops of Hualian could not cross the Yangtze River without the help of large ships. So he put his main energy on attacking Changsha, so he was caught off guard by the sudden attack of the Fifth Legion.

Early the morning of the second day after the troops arrived at the city, Zhou Lixiao easily invaded Hefei. The 75mm smoothbore cannon of the Sun Bear tank collapsed the simple fortifications outside the city and directly attacked the inner city.

Because it was too fast, even the officials of the pseudo-government had not even had time to surrender, and were intercepted by the Rangers who followed him while leaving the city while they were out of trouble.

In Nanchang, Li Zongren's Third Legion was not willing to be lonely, and at the same time launched a fierce offensive against the Japanese army in Wuhan. And this time it was a main battle, which was different from the easy recovery of the Third Legion.

The Japanese army stationed in Wuhan area are the powerful troops of the hundreds of battles and the Central China dispatched troops of the Japanese army.

On July 12, after half a month of training and supplementary training, the Hualian Air Force first launched a fierce air strike on the Japanese gathering sites in Huangshi, Xianning and Huanggang.

More than 250 Chinese Air Force formations attacked Huanggang City Material Storage Office in turn.

Under the cover of fighter jets, the bomber, which was huge and slightly bulky, whistling down in black, and the bomb poured down like a mass of sheep dung eggs. The Japanese supplies storage area and barracks suddenly turned into a sea of ​​fire, and the sound of ammunition detonation was shocking.

The precious aviation gasoline turned into a blazing flame in a blink of an eye, and the Japanese army on the ground were rushing and rushing. The thick smoke gathered hundreds of people in the city into huge smoke columns, visible to ten miles.

The fighter planes at the Japanese field airport were not to be outdone. Under the cover of anti-aircraft guns, they staggered and flew into the sky like drunkards. The fighter planes of the Chinese army had already been waiting at a certain height. When they saw a Japanese plane taking off, they immediately chased and launched an attack.

The entire Wuhan area was covered with dark Japanese. The Chinese army fighter jets, which took the lead, bombarded the Chinese army fighter jets. The Japanese fighter jets that suffered losses were red-eyed. The single-machine fighter each fought on their own and rushed around, like a gambler who lost his eyes, regardless of life or death, and fought desperately.

Above the vast blue sky, hundreds of fighter jets were stirred together, and the sound of cannons was rumbling and thick smoke was rolling. From time to time, the falling fighter jets dragged the long smoke, making sharp and harsh sounds and landed on the ground and exploded.

After three consecutive days of strangling in the air, all fighters of the Second Flight Group of the Central China Expeditionary Force were put into air combat, and the two sides lost more than 70 fighters. However, the number of Chinese aircraft did not decrease at all, and new fighters were added. The Japanese army's fighter jets were getting fewer and fewer, and they gradually showed disadvantages in terms of quantity and performance.

The Central China Expeditionary Force Command received a military telegram from Lieutenant General Momoji Momoji, the commander of the 114th Division:

1. The enemy in Hefei gradually increased its troops and equipped with powerful tanks. Yesterday morning, the enemy attacked the local Imperial Army. The Imperial Army was wiped out and Hefei fell.

2. About thirty-five enemy planes attacked Ezhou, and their troops suffered considerable losses.

3. About 30 enemy planes attacked the vicinity of Huanggang, and 430 barrels of gasoline were blown up and burned.

Ask the commander of the military headquarters to allow the division to give the enemy a resolute counterattack.

...

The large-scale formation bombing of the Chinese military aircraft was beyond the expectations of the Central China Expeditionary Force Command, and also surprised the Tokyo General Staff Headquarters. Before this, the two sides had repeatedly small air combat since the end of May. Due to the good performance of Japanese fighters and the skilled and experienced pilots, they were not inferior to the Chinese army in air combat.

Therefore, since early June, the Hualian Air Force has rarely crossed the border and only single-air reconnaissance.

However, the formation bombardment of the Japanese assembly and logistics sites in formation shows that the Chinese air force in Nanchang has been greatly supplemented. Due to the air support, the Chinese ground troops have also taken action, deploying more artillery and armored troops in Jiujiang, further strengthening the defensive positions.

Based on these new situations, the Central China Expeditionary Force Command of Japan urgently summoned relevant personnel to fly to Wuhan immediately, held an emergency military meeting, negotiated countermeasures and the upcoming attack, and informed the domestic staff headquarters of the recent situation and requested approval of the counterattack plan.

A reconnaissance plane took off from Zhengzhou Airport in a hurry. Lieutenant General of Ogisu, Major General Shizuo Tanaka Shizuo, Lieutenant General Hyoyoshi and several other generals, including Lieutenant General Sato, with combat plans, sat on the plane with different moods. Due to the request of the Central China Dispatch Army Intelligence Department, Wuhan Special Operations Commander Hiroyo Nakasa Ikeda and military police captain Matsuda Nakasa were also ordered to go on the same plane.

Lieutenant General Ogisu and Lieutenant General Haemoto Haruki were impatient at this time. In the past few days, the two of them negotiated several ways to deal with the Hualian Air Force.

"Hundred Wujun, I didn't expect that in just over a dozen days, the Chinese army had taken away air supremacy. We lost the best fighter plane and did not bomb the heavy artillery position of the Chinese army on the Jiujiang High Platform while taking advantage of the victory of the air battle in mid-June. Now the advantages and disadvantages of the enemy and us suddenly changed, and it was quite difficult for us to bomb." Ribbing Ogisu said this, and he was very dissatisfied with the Second Flight Group.

If the artillery positions on the platform were destroyed by the victory at that time, it would definitely reduce a lot of pressure on future ground operations.

However, due to frequent launches and combat, the Second Flight Group was full of resentment and was unable to obtain any supplements. Therefore, although it dealt a heavy blow to the Hualian Air Force in the June battle, it also suffered a considerable loss.

The Chinese army was quickly supplemented, but the Japanese army could not get it, so they simply pissed off and refused to fight again under the name of repairing the plane and letting the pilot rest, which wasted more than ten days. When the large fleet of the Hualian Air Force took off, the Japanese army could no longer do whatever they wanted in the air.

Lieutenant General Baiwu Qingji was a mute call Huang Lian bitterly. The Second Flight Group lost one-third of the aircraft and some excellent pilots in the continuous combat. According to common sense, it should be rewarded and supplemented, and at least it is a necessary means to inspire the morale of the army.

Unfortunately, they didn't get it either. The new Chinese fighter jet appeared over Wuhan, rushing around and showing off their power. The officers and soldiers of the Second Flight Group were extremely depressed and their morale was depressed.

He was not angry. When he heard that Lieutenant General Ogisu had the intention of blaming the Second Flight Group, he became angry again and replied bluntly that the troops could not be replenished. Half of the planes were injured for maintenance with injuries. The pilots were exhausted. The war had not yet begun. Can I do without leaving some strength?"

Ogisu Ribud suddenly choked. He could not understand the difficulties of Hakuyoshi Hakuyoshi. If the Second Flying Team continues to maintain its combat state, it would be difficult for people to do so. Without any supplement, it would be difficult to fight until now, not to mention that the real battle has not begun.

He thought about it and said in a ease tone. At this meeting of the Military Affairs Department, we worked together to promote the success of the cross-border strike. It seems that this is the only feasible means."

"No, under the current disadvantage, only a sudden attack and destroying most of the Chinese army's planes at the airport is the most effective way." Lieutenant General Baiwu Qingyaki's thin long face revealed the gambler's desperate gamble.

In fact, he was also very clear in his heart that the Japanese military had a long-term weird habit and lacked the spirit of coordination and cooperation among various military branches. The Army and the Navy emphasized the importance of combat operations of their military branches, and in the guiding ideology of the battle, they often paid too much attention to local interests and honors.

The land and sea operations are completely divided into two different parts. This bad habit of lacking a holistic concept has always affected the close cooperation between the various branches of the army, making the tactical guiding ideology of the three armies and the navy and air forces still at the level of World War I.

In mainland China, due to the backward equipment of the Party and the lack of decent air force and armored soldiers, the Japanese commanders at all levels who participated in the war could not feel the threat from the air.

However, in just over half a month in Wuhan, during the battle with the Chinese army, the Japanese army once again tasted the power of the modern Chinese army. The belief that the warrior spirit of soldiers could defeat all enemies began to shake.

In particular, Lieutenant General Baiwu Haruki was indignant. There is no doubt that if he could replenish fighter jets and pilots for the Second Flight Group in time, in this war zone, he would not have watched the air supremacy be taken away by the Chinese army.

He had the ability to bomb the heavy artillery positions of the Chinese army in the Jiujiang High Platform, reducing a threat to the battle of the infantry troops. Unfortunately, everything was just imagination. He did not receive a single aircraft and one person. Faced with the increasingly powerful Hualian Air Force, he was so fierce that he was scratching his head...

Under the wings, on a plain gravel road, a slender steel team slowly squirmed, forming a dusty smoke dragon.

"Look, that's the tank division." Masao Murata looked down and shouted excitedly.

The pilot of the aircraft lowered the altitude according to the orders of Lieutenant General Baiwu Haruki and circled over the tank division's march.

More than 180 medium-sized and light tanks, dozens of armored vehicles and automobile troops were moving along the gravel road on the plains, towards the river network area of ​​Yangxin County.

The troops on the ground waved the sun flag into the air and paid tribute to the inspector.

"Ah, it's powerful enough to stop this torrent of steel," a combat staff member exclaimed.

"It's hard to say." Saito Nakasa snorted, saying, don't forget, our opponent is the Chinese army's mechanized corps, not the party unit."

"Yes, everyone should remember that we are also facing elite troops of the Hualian, and we should not take it lightly." Chief of Staff Tsukada Toku muttered dullly. His subordinates who did not want to despise the Chinese army too much, and they also left some room for the 13th Division and the 3rd Division. After all, the war is difficult to predict.

More than two hours later, the plane landed at Wuhan Airport.

Colonel Muto, the combat section chief of the Central China Expeditionary Army, led everyone to stand at the airport to welcome the generals who came from the front line to attend the meeting.

General Matsui Ishione and Lieutenant General Tsukada Oshi listened very seriously to the report of Lieutenant General Ogisu's Lieutenant, and then listened to Lieutenant General Hakuyoshi's complaints.

"That's it." At the warning of General Matsui Ishione, Chief of Staff Tsukada Ota opened the mouth. The military headquarters had already telegrammed the General Staff Headquarters, requesting a preemptive strike against the Chinese army at the field airport in Nanchang to consume the planes they transferred from Guangzhou and regain air supremacy."

"Taking military operations in the war zone should be tactical, why ask Tokyo for instructions?" Major General Tsukutaro Tsukadachi wanted to say below, interrupting him very impolitely.

"No, the Chinese Air Force has crossed the border and attacked Huangshi and Huanggang areas. Are we not able to retaliate?" Lieutenant General Ogisu asked urgently.

"May I ask the commander" Hyoyu Haruyoshi was even more polite. He told General Matsui Ishione that the Third Flight Group had not been supplemented for a long time. In the battle, the performance of the Chinese bombers and attack aircraft exceeded that of our army's land attack aircraft. Now there are only 1670 aircraft that the Third Flight Group can participate in the battle, and the Chinese army has at least 400. This is a huge difference in quantity and performance. Didn't the military headquarters explain to the country?"

The three chief officials on the front line asked in a ball-like manner as soon as they came up, which made the Chief of Staff Tsukada Toru very unhappy. Although he understood the difficulties of the front line commander, the headquarters also had a difficult time hiding it, and was also controlled by the General Staff Headquarters everywhere.

He looked at the commander and hinted at the head of the combat section. Colonel Muto Akira understood and said that the intentions of the military headquarters were basically the same as those of you. He also believed that it was entirely necessary to launch a preemptive strike against the enemy air force in Nanchang to recover the disadvantage in the number of aircrafts and ensure air supremacy in the Central China battle. However, the General Staff Headquarters was worried that it would anger the Hualian."

"Once the battle evolves into a war in the entire central China region, the empire's industrial facilities north of the Yangtze River will be greatly damaged, affecting the supply of materials on the front battlefield of Nomenkan. Everyone, the concerns of the General Staff are not groundless. According to the information from the intelligence department, the Hualian League promised that the party would restrain the Japanese army at appropriate times and reduce its pressure on the front battlefield of China."

"So the military headquarters is considering it?" Lieutenant General Ogisu's words immediately became alert. Has the trump card of the Central China dispatched military headquarters changed? It is very important for him, the front-line commander.

"Of course, I still firmly advocate cross-border strikes. Is it a concern, but the mission of the Central China Expeditionary Force? Isn't it just to make a difference in China?" Major Masahiko Ito couldn't wait to interrupt, fearing that the front-line generals misunderstand the intentions of the military headquarters and affect morale.

Major Masahiko Ito sighed relieved. He said to Tsukadada in a firm tone that the battle took place in Hefei was obvious. If we lose air superiority and cannot achieve the attack on the Chinese tank troops and artillery from the air, the outcome of the battle will be difficult to predict."

"Ogisu's general, the rapid-fire cannons in central China have been transferred to the Wuhan front line. More than 100 cannons, are you still worried?" asked a staff officer.

"That's just a passive defense. Don't forget the high-speed maneuverability of the tank troops. The division commander means that it is more effective to carry out vertical strikes against the Chinese tank troops from the air." Dojo Yusan replied to the staff officer. As the combat director of the 13th Division, he did not allow a senior staff officer to question the division commander so rudely.

General Matsui Ishione listened silently to the arguments of generals at all levels, but secretly made up his mind that regardless of the instructions of the General Staff, the Chinese army's airport must be bombed at the beginning of the war.

Even if the base camp is blamed in the future, it is not hesitant to blame, because it is more important to lead the Central China dispatched troops to create a miracle in China. After hearing that the Chinese Air Force had added new fighter jets, he also believed that the cross-border air strikes were necessary. As for how to evade the General Staff Headquarters, he also developed a tricky solution.

At this time, after hearing the argument of the lower-level officials, he felt that as the commander of the Central China Expeditionary Army, it would be impossible not to cheer up. He coughed heavily and said frankly that it is unlikely to replenish fighter jets from the country. Although the Army Provincial and the General Staff Headquarters both hope to fight a war with the Chinese army in Wuhan, they do not want to expand the war, so they cannot add a new air force. Then, the key issue is how to win this battle based on equipment."

"You all must also know that in the face of victory, mistakes are not important. For the benefit of the empire, our commander is determined to defeat the Chinese coalition forces first in Jiujiang. Now the Tank Division and the escort brigade of the 13th Division are moving towards Jiujiang, and the Cavalry Division is also operating with the Tank Division. The First Artillery Regiment and Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment are about to arrive in Wuhan. I order the Third Flight Group to prepare for cross-border bombing and immediately launch an attack once the fighter is mature."

When all the officials and officials heard the commander's words, they were all excited and the atmosphere in the venue became lively.

Colonel Muto, the intelligence department head of the Central China dispatched army, looked at the Chief of Staff Tsukada Oku as if solicited. After receiving acquiescence, he interrupted and said that the intelligence department of the Chinese army was stepping up the activities of the security forces in several provinces in North China. After repeated consideration, the military decided to let these Imperial Army soldiers participate in the war, otherwise this army would lose its meaning of existence."

"Of course, we must take some necessary measures. Wuhan's intelligence departments and military police must detect the intelligence stations of Hualian in central China in the shortest possible area, and seize the suspicious elements who have affair with Hualian hidden in the security forces."

"Is your information accurate? Will it cause a warning before the war?" Ogisu Ribuki asked in surprise.

"Oitaki, intelligence is of course reliable, but it is impossible to determine the specific target. However, prevention is necessary. The military headquarters has agreed to our suggestions that all the Imperial Army troops participating in the war will send our supervisors. After the meeting is dispersed, please ask Saito Nakasa and Matsuda Nakasa to the intelligence department and we will hold a separate meeting." Colonel Muto Akira said affirmatively.

The war in central China has broken out, and the Japanese invaders will also face a dilemma of fighting on both sides. This is the prelude to defeat and the beginning of the end of Japan's East Asian hegemony.

Chapter 400 Battle of Central China

Chapter 400 Battle of Central China

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