Okamura Neiji is worthy of being a commander with a background in intelligence. He has a good handle on the psychology of superiors and subordinates.
The captain of the 45th Flying Group is named Maruyama Kihara.
Maruyama Kihara graduated from the Hoda Army Flight School, which is mainly used to train the driving and combat of light bombers.
The so-called light bombers by the Japanese at this time mostly refer to land-based bombers used to cooperate with infantry operations. Because such bombers usually have the characteristics of short range and small bomb load, they are obviously not suitable for naval operations against enemy warships and aircraft carriers, especially "zero bombers".
"Type" fighter jets still have a combat radius of one thousand kilometers. If the combat radius difference between bombers is too large, the "Zero" combat radius will become redundant.
Although Maruyama Kihara was an outstanding graduate of Hoda Flight School, he always believed that he made the wrong choice.
He thought that aircraft that cooperated with the army would have more intense battles, such as enemy fighter planes, tanks, anti-aircraft guns, etc. This was indeed the case during World War I. There were no aircraft carriers during World War I, and aircraft had not yet been widely used in naval battles. That was
In the era of battleships, cannons and giant ships, aircraft were usually only used for reconnaissance in naval battles.
However, times have changed, and Maruyama Kihara did not expect that equipment development would change so drastically. However, in just a few short years, the entire air combat has undergone earth-shaking changes. After the emergence of aircraft carriers, most flight resources have been tilted towards naval combat.
And the Army Aviation, which was supposed to be "intense"... has become insignificant because China has almost no air defense equipment.
To be precise, it is not because China has no air defense equipment that the Army Aviation is insignificant, but the Eighth Route Army targeted by the imperial army is always scattered and hiding in the mountains or tunnels, making it difficult for the Army Aviation to play its role.
Then... Maruyama Kihara heard the news that his superiors were preparing to transfer them back to their country to form a coaching team.
Maruyama Kihara sighed, and then said to his subordinates: "So, we are going back to China to be coaches!"
All of his subordinates looked downcast and said nothing.
Such was the ethos of the Imperial Army at this time that they viewed returning home as a shame, and although it might keep them alive, it was not what they hoped for.
Just when everyone was depressed, the communications soldier handed a telegram to Maruyama Kihara and said: "Your Excellency, Major Okamura, a telegram from General Okamura!"
Maruyama Kihara received the telegram and read it, and he immediately became energetic. He stood up from the ground and said: "Everyone, we are needed in the North China battlefield. Although we are dealing with the Eighth Route Army, it is better than being a coach. What do you think?
"
The pilots raised their heads one after another, and Squadron Leader Hiraga asked doubtfully: "Is this a new order? If not, what will the superiors do?"
"No, this is not an order!" Maruyama Kihara replied: "General Okamura suggested that we jointly petition our superiors for a fight! So I need your consent..."
Before he finished speaking, the pilots stood up one after another:
"I agree!"
"As long as I can stay on the battlefield and fight, I can do anything!"
"I hope to do my last bit for the empire!"
…
So a joint petition was sent. At the end of the petition was a long list, and every name on the list was written in blood by the pilots.
After all this trouble and the fact that Okamura Neiji was indeed in need, the 45th Flying Group was smoothly transferred to China.
Moreover, the Japanese took this opportunity to spread propaganda against the 45th Flying Group. They even did not shy away from being informed by the Eighth Route Army... This also shows the arrogance of the Japanese pilots.
Wang Xuexin learned about this from the chief of staff.
That day, the chief of staff sent a telegram to Wang Xuexin: "The Japanese have transferred the bombers that attacked Hong Kong back to North China. The location of the airport is not yet clear! In other words, the Japanese are likely to launch an attack on Zhongtiao Mountain in the near future. You are prepared.
Is it okay?"
Wang Xuexin, who was holding the telegram, was stunned for a moment, and then replied with a few words: "Ready!"
To say "ready" is of course a lie. The total training for the mountain troops is only three and a half weeks, and they have just become familiar with the rock climbing equipment. Although the soldiers have basically mastered the climbing skills, they are not yet proficient enough to climb silently.
Climb and fight accordingly.
However……
The phrase "Ready" is an unwritten rule within the Eighth Route Army. You must answer this regardless of whether you are ready or not, otherwise you will have no confidence in the future battle.
But then again, what if you’re not ready?
Should you let the Japanese attack later to give you more time to prepare?
War never waits for anyone.
So, if you are ready, go on it, and if you are not, go on it!
"Very good!" the chief of staff responded: "As for the coordination of anti-aircraft guns and tanks, I think we need to communicate. We have a small number of anti-aircraft guns, only twenty. Plus the anti-aircraft guns assisted by Mao Xiong only have thirty.
Two of the doors malfunctioned during use and cannot be used..."
The equipment of Mao Xiong is like this. Problems occur at every turn. Even Mao Xiong's technicians are sometimes unable to solve these problems.
"I have seen the tactics you mentioned!" the chief of staff continued: "Use these anti-aircraft guns to aim at specific positions in advance and record the elements. This tactic may be feasible, but have you ever thought about it...the Japanese offensive line is too long?
, every one of the more than 100 and nearly 200 kilometers of Zhongtiao Mountain may become a breakthrough point for the Japanese. How can we know where enemy aircraft or tanks will appear?"
"No, Chief of Staff!" Wang Xuexin replied: "There is not more than a hundred kilometers, only the flank of Yuncheng, to be precise, the north side of Yuncheng!"
"You mean..." The chief of staff on the other end couldn't help being surprised when he saw the telegram: "The enemy will still target Yuncheng?"
"You can say that!" Wang Xuexin replied: "If the Japanese want a quick victory, they can only attack Yuncheng!"
After receiving the telegram, the chief of staff handed it to the chief and asked: "Chief, do you agree with Xiao Dongbei's judgment?"
The leader took the telegram, looked at it, nodded and said: "It is very possible that the Japanese troops and supplies are tight at this stage and cannot afford to fight a protracted war. If they want to fight, they should fight quickly. If they want to fight quickly, they can only attack from both front and rear.
, so Yuncheng can’t get around it no matter what, this little guy is thinking very far!”
When the chief of staff said this, the chief of staff understood.
Then the chief of staff breathed a sigh of relief and said: "If this is the case, the problem of anti-aircraft guns will be solved!"
What the chief of staff said is that there is a highway running from east to west on the north side of Yuncheng.
Although the Eighth Route Army could not predict where enemy aircraft would fly, tanks would travel on this road.
And Japanese planes are used to bomb tanks, so there is a high probability that planes will appear over the highway.
Therefore, the anti-aircraft artillery presets were all about targeting highways.