My client Li Yunlong

"up to now."

December 1st.

Headquarters.

meeting room.

A military meeting is being held.

A headquarters staff officer is speaking:

"Excluding combat losses, losses, damage, etc., including the independent regiment, our entire army has a total of three hundred 120mm heavy mortars."

"Three hundred doors."

When he heard this number, the boss felt relieved both physically and mentally.

The 120 mortar shell weighs sixteen kilograms, but thanks to the low chamber pressure of the mortar shell and the high quality of the explosives loaded, its power far exceeds the Japanese 105 howitzer.

It is comparable to foreign 120mm howitzers of the same caliber.

The maximum range of 7,700 meters is still some distance away from heavy artillery. Heavy artillery requires not only power but also range, but this range is not too different and can be used.

Moreover, with a weight of more than two hundred kilograms, it can maneuver over short distances as an individual soldier and as a mule or horse in mountainous areas. It is very suitable for regional operations in base areas and can make up for the lack of range.

In terms of accuracy, it is not inferior to the old howitzers.

It's completely a heavy artillery.

Three hundred heavy guns.

This is the Dinghai Shenzhen.

It is the pinnacle of stability that drives away Japanese raids, defends the base area, protects the people in the base area, and maintains the development of the base area.

"The total reserve is 120 mortar shells, rounds."

The staff officer continued his report.

Although one hundred thousand additional rounds of artillery shells can be obtained every month, and the independent regiment has more than 20,000 rounds per month, the consumption of artillery shells in the Hundred Regiment War is very high, even counting the 100,000 new rounds of artillery shells that arrived in November.

At present, only 270,000 rounds of artillery shells remain.

"Two hundred and seventy thousand rounds."

"it is good."

However, this number is not many, even very large, and the boss is very satisfied.

An average of seven hundred rounds per artillery piece.

A little less.

There are less than ten bases per gun.

But it's enough.

"There are still more than 82 60-type mortars and more than -type mortars."

The staff officer continued:

"The 82nd mortar has a reserve of 60 rounds, and the th mortar has a reserve of rounds."

"A little less."

The boss is somewhat dissatisfied with the number of 82 and 60 mortars.

The independent regiment can reserve more than 82 60 and mortars every month, for the former and for the latter. By early December, the total had actually exceeded three thousand.

But unlike the 120 mortar, which requires at least the regiment-level artillery, the 82 and 60 are battalion and company-level artillery, and they suffered heavy losses in the battle with the Japanese.

Cannonballs also consume a lot.

"The entire army has more than 2,000 Czech-style rifles and 200,000 rifles, including 170,000 old-fashioned rifles."

The staff officer continued to report weapons data.

"Too little!"

The boss suddenly frowned.

If the number of 82 and 60 artillery pieces can only be said to be usable, then machine guns and rifles are seriously insufficient, especially rifles.

At present, the total strength of the four base areas, Taiyue, Taihang, Wutai Mountain, and Jinan, is as high as 400,000, not including the militia troops.

But the Independent Regiment can only produce 5,000 rifles and submachine guns and 600 Czech-style guns every month. The battle losses of rifles, machine guns, and submachine guns were so high that the number could not be increased at all.

Only part of the main force can be equipped in small quantities.

"The entire army is equipped with more than 10,000 radio stations."

The staff officer continued to report:

"Including 100 large-scale long-distance radio stations, 700 medium-distance shortwave radio stations, 5,000 regimental and battalion company walkie-talkies, and more than 4,000 squad walkie-talkies."

"it is good."

Hearing this, the boss breathed a sigh of relief.

Two levels of radio stations,

The former communicates for a thousand kilometers, mainly between divisions and base areas.

Different from the small radio stations used by espionage personnel to transmit confidential and brief information, the communication intensity between base areas and divisions is high and there is a lot of information, so dedicated high-power radio stations must be used.

Especially after the recent arrival of long-distance transport aircraft in the Taiyue base area.

The latter has a stable communication range of 100 kilometers and is mainly used for communication between the division headquarters and various brigades and regiments.

Two-level walkie-talkie system.

Backpack type, with a communication distance of about 40 to 10 kilometers, used for communication between regiments, battalions and companies.

Handheld, with a talking distance of about five to one kilometer, used for communication between shifts.

The two-level radio station and the two-level walkie-talkie system have perfectly created the current military communication system.

Coupled with three hundred heavy artillery and more than a thousand 82 and 60 mortars, there are sufficient artillery shells, and the defense is completely sufficient. But the offense is seriously lacking.

"There are also more than 12.7 75mm heavy machine guns and mm anti-tank artillery."

"Three hundred and fifty-seven, super large heavy-duty trucks, 50,000 military horses, 50,000 mules."

The staff officer continued his report.

However, the thoughts of the boss, deputy general staff and others have begun to drift towards the Jinan base industrial zone under construction, as well as the Taihang and Taiyue base industrial zones.

According to Li Yunlong’s words,
In the future, the purpose of the independent regiment will be to gradually reduce the number of ordinary weapons and equipment and instead increase the acquisition of more advanced weapons and equipment.

such as,

fighter.

tank.

Long-range barreled artillery.

For this reason, the establishment needs to be freed up, and even the number of 60, 82 and 120 mortars will be reduced.

Therefore, if the Eighth Route Army wants to improve its current lack of basic equipment, it still needs to be self-sufficient.

The hope lies in the next industrial zone.

After the devils destroy it, they will be reimbursed.

After that, the independent regiment mobilized its troops, reduced its establishment, and made every effort to obtain the number of super-advanced equipment. The large forces, on the other hand, are fully committed to developing industry and building and manufacturing a set of light weapons themselves.

···
at the same time.

Northern Review.

Inside the North China Front Army Headquarters.

"The 27th Division, the 28th Division, and the 33rd Division have been assembled."

Chief of Staff Takamatsu Koo is reporting to Okamura Neji on the preparations for large-scale raids:

"but."

"The 3rd and 7th Air Brigades are assembling."

"The fifth and sixth heavy artillery brigades are still being assembled."

"The assembly is expected to be completed by mid-December."

"But the required baggage and ammunition will take another month and a half to meet the minimum requirements."

Although the Japanese are trying their best, the foundation is there after all. The total industrial output value is only about 6 billion per year. It has increased a bit recently, but it is not much, about 5 to 6 billion.

The cumulative development of industrial capacity is not that fast.

Therefore, it takes a long time to stock up on ammunition and supplies.

"understood."

Okamura Neji nodded.

In other words, it will take another two months to launch a major sweep of the Tubal Road base area.

"General."

At this point, Takamatsu Xiaofu continued to ask:

"Our target this time is the Jinan base area?"

"Or, Taihang base?"

"Or, Taiyue base?"

"..." Okamura Neji suddenly fell silent.

This question really came to him,
Although it has assembled more than 100,000 locust troops and has two heavy artillery brigades, the strength of the Eighth Route Army today is also different from the past. This force can only attack and destroy a base area in one go.

Spreading the attack is unrealistic.

But Tubal Road has three core base areas.

Taiyue,

Too good,

Jinan.

Taiyue is the place where materials flow out. It is where the mysterious independent regiment is located. Every month, more than 300,000 tons of grain, tens of millions of silver dollars, a large amount of advanced medicines, and a brigade's weapons and equipment flow out.

Jinan is the most prosperous base area of ​​Tuba Road, with a large number of factories and equipment and a population of more than 10 million.

As for Taihang, although the population is not as good as that of southern Hebei, and the industry is not as good, the Eighth Route Army here has the largest number of main troops, the largest number of elite regiments, and the largest number of militia troops. It is also where the Tubal Road headquarters is located.

Rationally, Gangcun most wanted to attack the Taiyue base area.

There is no doubt that this is the most important base area of ​​Tubal Road.

But here's the thing.

At present, the Zhengtai Line and surrounding roads are cut off by the Taihang Base Area. Although the Locust Army has resumed traffic, if they want to attack the Taiyue Base Area, they must supply supplies through the Zhengtai Line.

The main force of the Tubal Road in the Taihang area can cut off the locust army's logistics supply route at any time.

As a result, the attacking troops lost their logistical supplies.

Moreover, the Taiyue base area is also the base area where the independent regiment is located. There is also the 386th Brigade here, which is so powerful that it once repelled the frontal attack of the 27th Imperial Regiment, annihilated the Sakata Regiment, and captured the regiment flag.

With the logistical supply lines under threat, attacking such a powerful Tubal base area would probably...

As for attacking the Taihang base area.

The terrain here is too dangerous, and Tubal Road has been operating here for several years. The locals are enthusiastic about Tubal Road, no less than the elites of the Imperial Bushido.

I'm afraid it's hard to please.

Moreover, there are no strategic goals worth destroying here.

The so-called planned industrial zone is nothing more than a large piece of reclaimed land.

As for the southern Hebei region.

There are the most industrial facilities on Tubal Road here. The machinery and equipment recently purchased by Tubal Road are all concentrated here, so it is the best position to attack.

only··
Okamura Neiji always felt strange.

It seems that the Jinan base area was deliberately released by Tubal Road to allow the locust army to attack.

So, I have been very confused.

"That's right, the Jinan base area."

In the end, Okamura Neji made a decision.

The Jinan base area is a plain terrain.

Suitable for large mobile corps operations of the Locust Army.

Tubal Road does not have long-range body-barrel suppression artillery, only some mortars, which are not suitable for use in plain areas.

In this way, he could capture the Jinan base area at a relatively small cost, then attack the Taihang base area along the road built on Tubal Road, and finally reach the Taiyue base area.

And completely occupied.

Destroy the source of weapons on Tubal Road.

In this way, we can wait for reinforcements from two divisions of the Southern Army and two divisions from the mainland, and the strength will be more abundant.

···
Independent regiment.

"The application was actually successful?"

Zhao Gang looked at the supply form for December and couldn't help but his eyes twitching.

So far, the independent group can obtain 150,000 tons of imported fine grains and 50 tons of bulk sorghum every month.

Although the food production in the base areas has also increased significantly recently, the problem is that the large number of disaster victims pouring into the base areas has increased sharply, and the base area's own consumption has also increased.

Food is somewhat beyond our means.

According to Zhang Wanhe, grain storage decreased by 20,000 tons last month.

For this reason, in December's material application, Li Yunlong not only requested radar and radio stations, but also applied for an increase of 500,000 tons of grain per month on the grounds of disaster victims.

Although not all were approved in the end.

However, the monthly grain quota has also been increased to 600,000 tons.

The 600,000 tons here are all fine grains.

In fact, taking into account the needs of breeding and the needs of disaster victims, the independent group receives 500,000 tons of fine grains and 1 million tons of sorghum every month.

In addition to meeting the huge needs of the army, the agriculture, animal husbandry, transportation industry in the base area, and disaster victims, it can also store 100,000 tons of fine grain every month.

"Hey hey hey..."

Li Yunlong chuckled and sounded proud.

“How much steel and concrete is there?”

Zhao Gang asked.

Although the weapons, ammunition and food supported by Boss Lu are very well packaged, they are very suitable for long-term storage.

However, considering the destruction caused by the Japanese and the conditions of preservation, the main warehouses in the base area were built with reinforced concrete.

At present, the base area naturally does not have the ability to produce reinforced concrete.

Therefore, we can only rely on Boss Lu to provide it.

"Twenty thousand tons of steel bars and three hundred thousand tons of cement."

Li Yunlong chuckled, his tone becoming more and more proud.

"Twenty thousand tons of steel bars and three hundred thousand tons of cement."

Zhao Gang's eyes widened.

This quantity, combined with sand and gravel, can not only meet the consumption of important buildings such as grain and ammunition warehouses in the base area, but also use a large part to build reinforced concrete bridges. Defense facilities.

With reinforced concrete bunkers, it is not that easy for the Japanese to attack.

The Japanese's Type 92 infantry artillery can't even scratch the skin of reinforced concrete bunkers.

"Ha ha·"

Zhao Gang suddenly laughed happily.

With reinforced concrete, the defense of the base area has been improved to a higher level.

It can also be used to build airports.

"correct."

Li Yunlong continued:
"This month, we can get 100 million silver dollars and five tons of gold."

After killing the Japanese, the new Chief of Staff of the North China Front received another 30 million silver dollars per month and five tons of gold per month.

"it is good!"

Zhao Gang continued to cheer.

Nowadays, in the international market, the gap seems to be so bad.

The price of silver, even though the U.S. government is still purchasing it on a large scale, has begun to slowly fall.

“I don’t know if Americans will continue to acquire silver.”

Zhao Gang was a little curious.

···
at the same time.

America.

"what happened?"

The Minister of Finance looked at the price of domestic silver dollars in his hand and felt that something was still wrong.

He spent $300 million on it.

Why hasn’t the price of silver dollars in the domestic market increased significantly?
"Minister, do you want to continue the acquisition?"

the secretary asked.

The plan is to acquire $500 million in silver, and currently has $200 million in funding.

But here's the thing.

Congress approved the $500 million with the goal of controlling the rise in the price of silver on the international market to reach 72 cents an ounce.

But now, the price of silver in the domestic market has fallen instead of rising, from the original seventy cents to sixty-eight cents.

As for the international market, it is even lower, only sixty-five cents per ounce.

Once the last 200 million is spent and the goal is still not achieved, then the minister will be in big trouble and may be blamed and resign.

And if he stops now, although he will be criticized, at least he can keep his position as minister.

"Acquisition."

Gritting his teeth, the Finance Minister decided to stud. (End of chapter)