Chapter 19: Water-rafting stone (2)

Yoshisuke Isotani was also a famous Chinese general among the Japanese generals. He had contacted Sun Yat-sen in Shanghai in 1908 under the orders of the Japanese military headquarters. After being sent to China again in 1917, Isotani worked under Sun Yat-sen and thus formed deep relationships with Liao Zhongkai, Wang Jingwei, Xu Chongzhi, Wang Kemin and other Sun Party officials at that time.

Before the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, Aosuke Isotani was sent to China twice. Once he participated in the Jinan tragedy as the deputy of the 6th Division, and once he contacted the Nanjing authorities as the deputy of the military officer stationed in China. Due to years of activities in China, Aotani and the fanatics in the military who clamored for "destroying China in three months" had obvious differences in their understanding of China.

Isoka believes that although China currently has several different forces, these forces have a consensus on the issue of China's unification. Once Japan launches a full-scale invasion of China, the forces will inevitably jointly deal with Japan, which will accelerate China's unification process in disguise. In particular, the Northwest forces led by the People's Party are growing and growing at an astonishing speed. Not only is the Nanjing authorities helpless, but even the Soviets and British people have suffered great losses in the hands of the Northwest. It is really not underestimated. In order to avoid falling into the quagmire of China, Isoka opposes further expansion of the war against China. Even the Manchu and Mongolian region that is now occupied should seek a peaceful solution as soon as possible, so that the Nanjing authorities can recognize the current situation of Manchu and Mongolian.

However, Isotani's view made him look quite alternative among Japanese generals. Even Ishihara Kanir, who also opposed the full invasion of China, did not fully agree with Isotani's view.

Although Ishihara also opposed the full invasion of China before completing its strategic preparations against the Soviet Union, he believed that the Nanjing authorities only unify China on the surface, and China is actually still in a state of division. The Northeast and Rehe occupied by the Japanese army are Manchuria and Mongolian territories, not natural Chinese territory. In order to engage in a protracted war with the United States and the Soviet Union in the future, Japan will inevitably stabilize Manchuria and North China. As for the People's Party that is rising in northwest China, although Ishihara also admitted that it was a threat, he believed that the northwest was inland and that without sufficient naval power, it would not be able to shake Japan's status.

As the situation developed after the July 7 Incident, Ishihara, who was still rational, was forced to resign, and Japan also opened the curtain of a full-scale invasion of China. As a soldier, Risuke Isotani could only suppress his personal opinions and obey the orders of the military headquarters.

In fact, although the Battle of Songhu and the Battle of Taiyuan made the Japanese army's crazy saying "destroying China in three months" a joke, within less than half a year, the Japanese army occupied the Chinese capital, as well as large tracts of territory in North China and Central China, and this record also inspired Isogai. He also hoped that the 10th Division could perform well in Shandong and even other directions.

However, the emergence of the escort army, especially the escort army's operation to annihilate the 118th Brigade and the reality that the Northwest Air Force transferred to Yimeng, made Isogu's once fanatical mind start to cool down. Isogu was weighing rapidly that if there was no support from the North China Aviation Corps, or even the 10th Division suffered severe air strikes from the enemy, how long would he last in Jinan? The originally formulated encirclement guards to pacify Shandong in one fell swoop, and then go south to Jianghuai to realize the combat plan? How much would the 10th Division and other Japanese troops pay?

Isotani Ryosuke was worried in Jinan. After receiving the news that the Northwest Air Force had transferred to Yimeng in the North China Front Army, Soichi Teraunuchi jumped up and shouted in a furious manner that Tokugawa would come to see me."

Before meeting in the temple, Tokugawa Yotoshima was frightened because Shijiazhuang Airport was destroyed by the People's Army Air Force. According to surviving personnel, the Northwest Air Force dispatched more than 100 fighter jets. The more than 40 fighter jets parked at Shijiazhuang Airport were unprepared and were blown into pieces before they could take off. Other facilities on the airport were basically destroyed.

Since the fighter jets in the northwest can fly from Baode to Shijiazhuang to fight, what about Yanggao Airport? Baoding Airport? Or even the airports in Peking and Tianjin? Are they also within the attack range of the Northwest Air Force? Tokugawa Yotoshi's thoughts are getting more and more frightened, and he can't help but sweat.

"Tokugawa, haven't you guaranteed that the combat radius of the northwest fighter jets will not exceed 500 kilometers?" After seeing Tokugawa, the temple roared, "They are all relocated to Yimeng. With the number of fighter jets being consumed with the Chinese People's Army, and now they can have more than 100 aircraft relocated to the northwest?"

Shijiazhuang Airport was destroyed, and the Northwest fighter plane turned to Yimeng again. The blow to Tokugawa caused too much. He stood there with a pale face, letting cold sweat slide down his forehead, allowing the temple to vent his anger.

"I want to see how far can the northwest plane fly? How safe is it in Beijing and Tianjin?" Temple said with a vicious look at Tokugawa and shouted.

"Commander, I still think that the combat radius of the northwest aircraft is about 500 kilometers." Tokugawa insisted on the original statement and explained in the words he had thought on the way he came, "The straight line distance from Baode to Yimeng is less than 1,000 kilometers, and it is possible for them to make a transition. As for Peking and Tianjin, although it is also within the combat radius of the Northwest Air Force, it is located on the edge. If the Northwest Air Force dares to come, as long as my air force fights with it and consumes its fuel, they will not be able to return to Baode. This is also the reason why the enemy has always dared to attack Peking and Tianjin."

Because he had to consider the flight back and forth, and the air stagnation against the enemy, the combat radius of the fighter planes was often less than half of its maximum range. Although the temple was from an army, he still understood this simple truth. He stared at the map hanging on the wall of the headquarters for a while, and secretly drew the distance between Baode and Yimeng, as well as Baode to Peiping and Tianjin. He believed most of the time, but he looked at Tokugawa with his eyes squintedly. He asked, "Is it OK?"

"From the current situation, there can only be an explanation." Tokugawa had already convinced the war and said certainly, "Otherwise, the Northwest, which is already in a state of hostility with our army, will never miss the opportunity to attack Peiping and Tianjin. In the previous Shanxi battle, the Northwest Air Force did not provide air protection to the Chinese army on the front line of Taiyuan and Niangziguan. In addition to different factions, it was mainly because they were worried that the fighter jets would be shot down and the secret of their fighter jet performance was leaked. The Northwest Air Force did not attack Peiping, and Tianjin also had this reason."

During negotiations with Yan Xishan and **, Northwest had clearly refused to provide air protection for the relevant troops. This news has also been obtained through intelligence agencies.

"I think now, how many aircraft can our Front Army Air Corps have to fight? How many can it be used in the Shandong direction?" Temple said in a bad tone. "How many aircraft do our Front Army need to deploy against the more than 100 enemy aircraft transferred to Yimeng?"

From the 24 aircraft that were first shot down in Datong, during which time, including the price paid for testing the Northwest, and the losses in Yanmen Pass, Shanyin, Xinkou and other places, the entire North China Aviation Corps has been killed by the Northwest Air Force. If we add the 40 aircraft that had just been destroyed by Shijiazhuang Airport, the entire North China Aviation Corps has been wiped out by the Northwest Air Force. However, the remaining aircraft of the North China Front Army are less than 110. These more than 100 aircraft are stationed at several airports such as Beiping, Tianjin, Baoding, and Yanggao. Considering that we must also prevent sneak attacks from Northwest fighter jets, no more than half of them can be used in the Shandong direction.

Tokugawa had just finished talking about the Air Corps' situation in fear, but after being slapped by the Temple, the Temple felt unhappy and returned to his hands again. On the left and right, ten finger marks quickly rose on Tokugawa's face.

"There is only one-third of the air force left in the eight-ge. You are seriously dereliction of duty." The fingers in the temple almost poked the bridge of Tokugawa's nose and roared again.

"The commander, it's not that the soldiers of the Aviation Corps are not trying their best. The performance gap between the enemy and us is too big." Tokugawa didn't want to be forced to have a caesarean section. Facing the devouring eyes of the temple, he said with a voice, "The enemy's fighter planes fly fast and high, and often they are about to shoot down the enemy planes, but they can always escape by their speed advantage. Even if we want to hit, we can't hit the enemy planes. The enemy planes are equipped with 4 machine guns, and they are all heavy machine guns with 12.7 caliber. However, our fighter planes are only equipped with two 7.7 caliber machine guns facing the enemy's advanced performance. The soldiers of our Aviation Corps cannot catch up, catch them, or hit them. In addition, the firepower is obviously weak. It is difficult to suppress the enemy with current fighter planes. If we want to ensure our air superiority, the Aviation Corps needs fighter planes with faster speed, higher flights and stronger firepower."

Tokugawa also made up his mind, poured beans on the bamboo tube, and shook everything he had considered during these days. Then he stood there, waiting for the temple to fall.

Templeui had previously learned about the differences in the performance of the fighter jets between the two sides. The losses cannot be blamed on Tokugawa's head. After slapping him twice, he stopped when he saw the improvement. After thinking for a moment, Templeui said that the Empire has begun mass-producing new Type 97 fighter jets and will be equipped with the troops in one or two months. I hope you don't disappoint me anymore."

Although a horse was placed in the temple, Tokugawa passed the level before him, he did not feel much relaxed. Considering the future prospects, Tokugawa gritted his teeth and said, "According to the results observed ahead, the enemy's fighter jet has a speed of more than 600 kilometers per hour and an altitude of nearly 10,000 meters. With the performance of the Type 97 fighter jet, it is not enough to compete with the enemy air force."

Although the ultimate height of the Type 97 fighter is 10,000 meters, its altitude performance is unsatisfactory. The maximum speed of 460 kilometers is also achieved at an altitude of 5 kilometers, and the maximum range is only 800 kilometers. Moreover, the equipment of this type of aircraft is still two 7.7 mm caliber machine guns. It can be said that the Type 97 fighter has lagged behind the Northwest fighter before it has been equipped with the Japanese front-line troops.

The temple did not expect that the performance of the fighter jets between the two sides was so big. Originally, he thought that the 97-type assembly would change the embarrassment of the North China Front Army, but now it seems that it is still a situation of being beaten. After sighing, the temple frowned and instructed you to list the parameters of the enemy aircraft that you have obtained in detail, and I will negotiate with the military headquarters."

Tokugawa quickly responded. Through the comparison of the performance of the fighter jets between the two sides, the Temple was able to predict the results of the future air battle in advance, and Tokugawa became really relaxed. With the Temple, as long as the performance of the Japanese aircraft was still unsatisfactory, Tokugawa could find an excuse to escape from the crime even if the North China Aviation Corps was not fighting in the future. As for the Shandong direction that was about to start, due to the dilemma of the North China Aviation Corps, Tokugawa decided to remain silent.

"How many fighter planes do you think we need to control the enemy's transition planes in the Shandong war?" But Teraen didn't want to let him go, and asked another question that gave Tokugawa a headache.

"Your Excellency, there are at least 100 fighter jets in the enemy's transition. If our army wants to restrain it, it is impossible to do without more than 200 fighter jets." Although this answer is displeasing, Tokugawa decided to say it early, so as not to be slapped in the face after the failure of air battles in the future.

"Two hundred..." After pondering for a moment, the temple sighed again, "It seems that only the navy can get more planes."

The North China Aviation Corps has called many fighter jets from the Kwantung Army, and the Kwantung Army is responsible for combat missions against the Soviet Union, so it is impossible to transfer unlimited consumption to North China. Although the Japanese military and the Navy have never been dealt with, and even the two companies have each set in developing aircraft, due to reality, the Temple still decided to use the military headquarters to make the navy work more.

"Your Excellency, the performance of the Type 96 carrier-based fighter aircraft equipped by the Navy is not much different from that of the Type 97 fighter aircraft that has not yet been equipped. If the Navy can dispatch more aircraft to participate in the war, we can also have an estimate of the Type 97 combat effectiveness in advance." Tokugawa reminded, "If the Navy also suffers losses, it just means that the previous losses of our front army were not that the soldiers of the Aviation Corps were not that the combat effectiveness of the Air Force should also consider developing new fighter jets."

Although Tokugawa's reminder was a lie to excuse himself, the Templeui wanted to use this as an excuse for the successive losses of the North China Front Army, so he nodded understandingly. He put the headache-inducing problem of air power between the enemy and us aside. The Templeui then ordered the 5th Division and the 9th Division to step up their advance towards Shandong, and at the same time, he also urged the Central China Front Army to return the North China troops as soon as possible.

Templeuchi and Tokugawa were trying hard to make the Northwest Air Force transition, and they were busy dispatching troops, but the guards were in full swing.

"You guys, the sky above our heads is supported." Gu Haichuan smiled and shook hands with the three leaders Su Lei, Gao Lingfeng and Miao Dezheng one by one.

In order to strengthen the air force of the guards to deal with the air enemies from both the Japanese land and the sea, in addition to sending an air regiment and a fourth air regiment, the Northwest also drew 48 H-1 bombers to form a bomber regiment to Yimeng. With these three regiments, 144 fighter jets, plus ground air defense forces equipped with radar, anti-aircraft guns, and anti-aircraft machine guns, Japanese fighter jets entered the guard defense zone again, which was a life-and-death adventure

"We also need the cooperation of the ground air defense forces. With the support of the clairvoyance, we can better attack the enemy's air force." Su Lei smiled, "According to the instructions of Commander He Zhou, from now on, our three regiments will be included in the escort army and obey Commander Gu's orders."

"Let me know, this is the commander of the air defense force on our side, Lei Mingyuan." Gu Haichuan pulled a strong man of about 30 and introduced to Su Lei, "Your name is Lei, his surname is Lei. You two must cooperate well in the future to let the Japanese see the power of our Thunder God."

"Commander Gu, we have already made the Japanese awesome on our way," Gao Lingfeng, the commander of the Kong 4th regiment, couldn't help but smile, "When we passed by Shijiazhuang, we took the initiative to destroy all the planes on the airport and the airport. The Japanese wanted to send a plane to Shandong, so we could only rely on Tianjin."

Thinking of taking advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness, turning Shijiazhuang Airport into ruins and turning the 40 enemy planes parked on the airport into debris and "lighters", Gao Lingfeng and Miao Dezheng on the side couldn't help but feel the feeling of ravaging the enemy by chance. It's really memorable.

"Haha, this is so satisfying," Du Yishan laughed, "In order to annihilate the 118th Brigade, the brothers in front of them were really angry with the Japanese plane a few days ago. You guys have not yet given me a big gift, but this gift is good."

"Did you have instructions from Mingyuan and others?" Although Gu Haichuan was also happy about the Air Force's record, he calmed down as soon as possible and asked.

"Before we left, we met with Commander Zhou and others and gave clear instructions on our mission to Yimeng." Su Lei said, "Our three regiments are here to contribute to the development and growth of our party and army in Shandong. Specifically, we not only have to deal with enemy aircraft from the North China Front Air Corps entering Shandong, but also undertake the task of attacking Japanese naval and air forces and even fighting against Japanese offshore. Many aspects are inseparable from everyone's cooperation. In addition, we also told Commander Zhou that after our army completes its recent combat goals, the Jinan War Zone will be established to unify the command of our army's operations in Shandong and surrounding areas. As for the specific content, I don't know."

The Jinan War Zone was established when Gu Haichuan, Du Yishan and others were in the northwest. Several main leaders of the Guard Command also had a clear understanding of the tasks after controlling most of Shandong's headquarters, so there is no need to say Su Leido.

"How sure is it to deal with the Japanese and sea air forces, and to strike enemy maritime targets at once?" Gu Haichuan was not familiar with the air force operations, but he heard Su Lei say that he would use the power of three regiments to deal with the enemies in all aspects, and he was still a little worried.

"If Teraenaka and Tokugawa do not transfer aircraft from other aspects, it will be difficult to pose a threat to our Shandong troops based on the remaining aircraft of the North China Front Air Corps. As for the Japanese's maritime power, although we cannot annihilate the enemy from afar, we can still do it if the enemy cannot reach the shore." Su Lei smiled confidently, "Besides, Japanese's sea and air power is not too strong now."

In history, the Japanese Navy had a total of about 20 aircraft carriers during World War II. It was precisely with this huge naval and air force that the Japanese dared to challenge the two naval powers of Britain and the United States at the same time.

However, in the early 1938, the only five aircraft carriers in service in the Japanese Navy were Ryukao, Fengxiang, Kaga, Tiancheng and Aolong. According to the records before the Pearl Harbor incident in history, in December 1941, the five aircraft carriers had a total of 328 fighters, including the spare aircraft carriers. Among them, there were about 104 carrier-based fighters, about 196 carrier-based bombers and torpedo attack aircraft, and there were also reconnaissance aircraft and 28 seaplanes.

It can carry 328 fighter jets, which is already the result of the modification of Longxiang, Fengxiang, Kaga, Tiancheng and Canglong. At the beginning of 1938, this number would be discounted. Moreover, these five aircraft carriers are the current Japanese air force and will not all sail to the coast of Shandong at once. The Japanese army is now gathering the 4th Fleet to prepare for the landing in Qingdao, but only the Longxiang aircraft carrier has appeared.

The commander of the Japanese 4th Fleet, Deputy Takeshi Toyota, completed the marshalling of the fleet used to attack Qingdao in late December, and began to assemble at Piziwo on the Liaodong Peninsula and the Lichangshan Islands base in the southern part of the Chengzituan on January 2.

In addition to calling the Ryugao aircraft carrier this time, Toyota also dispatched a mixed fleet of light and heavy cruisers, 1 medical ship, 15 destroyers, 24 minesweepers, 3 gunboats, and 4 submarines.

At the request of the temple, the Japanese base camp decided to operate two days in advance and began to remove torpedoes arranged by Chen Honglie and others outside Qingdao on January 6 to launch an attack on Qingdao. In order to strengthen the landing combat force, the 5th Division, Kurasaki Detachment, sent to the Central China Front Army to perform combat missions, will also set off from Shanghai and join the ranks of the 4th Fleet to attack Qingdao. As for the suggestion of increasing sea and air forces in the temple, the navy has been scattered in several places and it is difficult to transfer it to Qingdao immediately, and it is arguing with the army, and there is no clear result.

The Japanese army only dispatched a USS Longxiang aircraft carrier with only 48 aircraft, including backup fighter jets. Even if the North China Aviation Corps can be used for 65 fighters in Shandong, it does not exceed the number of 144 fighters in Su Lei's three regiments. However, Su Lei and others can get the cooperation of radar and ground air defense forces, and the Japanese can be said to have no chance of winning.

In fact, even if the five Japanese Navy aircraft carriers are now loaded with 328 aircraft, Su Lei and others are not afraid of it.

The Japanese Navy is now equipped with the maximum speed of the Type 96 carrier-based fighter jets, with a ceiling of 9,800 meters, and the weapons are still equipped with two 7.7mm machine guns. The weapons of the Type 96 carrier-based bomber have 5 7.7mm machine guns and a 20mm cannon, and the load capacity is 1 ton, but the maximum speed of this type of aircraft is only 362 kilometers per hour, with a ceiling of 8,530 meters.

In the case of ground radar early enemy aircraft, these two types of Japanese Navy aircraft can only be slow and live targets in the air in front of the F-1 fighter aircraft equipped by Su Lei and others. As for torpedo aircraft, the fixed pendants they are equipped with are for sea attacks, if they want to mount bombs to attack land, they have to be modified first.

The situation of the Japanese naval and air force will basically not improve greatly in the first half of 2018, and this is the opportunity for Su Lei and others. Before arriving in Yimeng, Zhao Zhenzhong and Zhou Mingyuan had clearly instructed that the Air Force would only fight over the area controlled by the guards in the early stage with the cooperation of ground air defense forces. As for the Japanese naval forces that appeared near the coast of Shandong, Su Lei and others could perform sea combat missions after destroying the fighter jets on their aircraft carriers, but they could not escape the radar's effect.

As for the airports used by the three flight regiments, in addition to the large airports built by the Guards in Laiwu and Xintai, which can accommodate 200 fighter jets, the two airports in Qingdao and Weixian can also be used by Su Lei and others. Zhou Mingyuan had already achieved mass production of bombs, mines, torpedoes and other weapons when he was in Shandong, which can fully meet the needs of sea combat.

After listening to Su Lei carefully recounting the situation of the North China Aviation Corps and the Japanese naval and air forces introduced by Zhou Mingyuan before his trip, Gu Haichuan became more and more confident. He said with great enthusiasm that with the arrival of the Air Force, coupled with hundreds of thousands of troops, we can completely sweep the Japanese devils south of the Yellow River."

The iron must be hit while it is hot. Since the guards have already deployed troops on the south bank of the Yellow River, occupied Jiaodong, east of Gaoxu Highway, and controlled the east bank of the canal south of Zou County. The troops have been fully launched, and the Air Force has arrived in time. It is time for Akisuke Isoya to see Masatsuki

Chapter 19: Water-rafting stone (2)

Chapter 19: Water-rafting stone (2)


Chapter completed!