My client Li Yunlong

"prime minister."

At the happy moment, the secretary on the side suddenly said:

"The Chancellor wishes to see you."

"Let him in."

Mitsumasa Mineuchi waved his hand, signaling for the finance minister to come in.

Since he has received this good news, the Chancellor must have received it too.

"prime minister."

"Have you read the financial report from the economics class?"

When he arrived at the Prime Minister's Office, the Finance Minister got straight to the point without any nonsense.

"seen it already."

Mitsumasa Yoneuchi has always been light on his feet.

As long as the finances do not go bankrupt, the empire can continue to fight forever, the empire's industry can forever further expand, and the empire's industrial technology can slowly advance under the impetus of war.

"I have a suggestion."

"We need to split up the economics class."

The Chancellor continued to cut to the chase.

"Split the economics class?"

Mitsumasa Mineuchi's eyes flashed.

Last month, the Republic of China made a profit of 100 million U.S. dollars, allowing the empire to make up for its financial deficit for the first time. More than 50% of this achievement was due to the silver coins collected from the Republic of China in economics classes.

Now, the Chancellor of the Exchequer actually proposes splitting the economics class.

"why?"

Mitsumasa Mineuchi asked.

He single-handedly selected the Minister of Finance, and Mitsumasa Yoneuchi naturally knew the abilities of this Minister of Finance.

Economically, no one in the empire could surpass him.

"I have analyzed the funding source data of the Republic of China."

The finance minister spread out a document and said:

"Last month, 50% of the US$100 million profit came from silver dollar trading, which is the main business of the economics class managed by Major General Suzuki Hoji."

"There is also 30% from the exchange of Jinan coins from the male Shangchi Colonel."

"The remaining 20 percent comes from some banks directly controlled by the empire and companies controlled by the military. They obtain silver coins and Jinan coins and then hand them over to the economics class."

"Among them, the last 20 percent has a lot of losses."

"loss!"

Mitsumasa Mineuchi's eyes flashed.

The so-called losses refer to the financial and material losses caused by personnel corruption, etc.

It is said that corruption is rampant in preserved fruit, but the empire is not much better, especially in foreign garrisons, where there is a lot of corruption.

This is also the reason why he established a separate economics class.

Try to avoid artificial losses in order to obtain the most resources and funds for the empire.

"my suggestion is."

"Let Major General Suzuki Fanji be specifically responsible for silver trading."

"As for banks, military-controlled companies, etc., leave them to Ogami Chi."

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is trying to make a fool of himself.

"The wise man."

Mitsumasa Mineuchi's eyes flashed again.

Ogami is an incredible person.

It turned out that tens of millions of dollars could be exchanged for counterfeit Hebei Nan coins.

Moreover, it is equally unbelievable that with such a huge amount of US dollars, all of it was given to the empire or supported other departments of the empire, leaving almost none of it.

"it is good."

After thinking for a moment, Mitsumasa Mineai nodded.

With an income of almost 50 million US dollars per month, the Economic Section became more and more powerful, and even gradually began to control the empire's companies in the Republic of China, forming a huge interest group.

It is not conducive to the empire making money in the Republic of China.

A spin-off is also a good idea.

Compete more effectively.

And there's one more thing.

Ogami has no real power now, let alone any background.

By using a new department to win him over, you can easily win this person under his prime minister line. As long as the male superior intelligence continues to transfuse blood for the empire and strive for huge economic benefits, he can expand his voice, thus increasing his influence and promotion. the efficiency of his policies.

"Let's call it business department."

"Let Colonel Onochi serve as the section chief."

Mitsumasa Mineuchi continued.

"We can let Major General Suzuki Hoji's old rival, Colonel Matsuzaki Naoto, also join the commercial department. In this way, we can further promote competition and avoid their alliance."

The Chancellor further proposed.

"it is good!"

Mitsumasa Mineuchi continued to nod.

·
On the day.

at night.

After the finance minister returned home, his wife handed him a letter. Inside the letter was a check - a foreign exchange check from the Bank of Tokyo for one million US dollars.

"Yoshi."

The Chancellor nodded with satisfaction.

···
at the same time.

Shimen.

Inside the North China Front Army Headquarters.

"The military train transporting additional troops was attacked. Of the more than 600 recruits, only five survived."

"The Shota Line was cut off for a month."

"Why···"

After hearing the report, Okamura Neji was silent for a while, and then suddenly sighed deeply.

The development of the war situation in southern Hebei was beyond everyone's expectations, including him and the entire North China Front Army Staff.

None of the staff expected this.

The locust army couldn't even defeat the defense line in a small plain area.

But it is what it is.

Three elite divisions of the empire, including one Class A division and two Class B divisions, both field divisions, and two artillery brigades, totaling more than a hundred artillery pieces with a caliber of over 100 mm.

These include the Flower of Imperial Artillery, fifteen Type 105 150mm cannons and twelve mm artillery pieces.

But they still failed to conquer the defense lines deployed by Tubal Road in Ze County and other front lines.

Occasionally, superior artillery fire was concentrated to penetrate the defense line. Before the follow-up troops could break through, the position was quickly filled by Tubal Road.

The advantages of the Locust Army's body-barrel artillery are indeed obvious. Tubal Road has nothing to do against the Locust Army's long-range artillery. However, once the Locust Army infantry attempts to break through the defense line, it will be hit by Tubal Road's long-range mortar group.

Facing the highly maneuverable and dispersed heavy mortar groups, the Locust Army was unable to counterattack.

During the battle, the number of heavy mortars displayed by Tubal Road reached more than 300.

Shells were abundant.

This is why even if Tubal Road lacks light weapons, and even some troops use rifles made in Hanyang in the last century, they can still block the empire.

The battle lasted for half a month.

The sacrifice of more than 10,000 jade pieces and the casualties of 30,000 people made Gangcun realize one thing.

The attack cannot continue.

Fortunately, the empire's plan seems to have been achieved.

It seems that thanks to the failure of this attack, commercial negotiations between the empire and foreign countries have gone very smoothly. A large amount of scrap steel, fuel, machinery and equipment that the empire urgently needs have arrived in the empire by sea.

Promoted the development of imperial industry.

"Apply to the base camp."

Gangcun looked at the new chief of staff, Major General Shanquan, and said:
"Please stop the attack."

After the words fell, a staff officer jogged in and handed Gangcun a telegram:
"Telegram from Headquarters."

"Headquarters?"

Gangcun frowned.

It's been more than a month since the sweep began, but he still hasn't received a telegram from the base camp. Although he would report the war situation to the base camp every day, including the news that the Shota Line was cut off and the troop train was destroyed.

Opening the telegram and looking at the content, Neji Okamura's expression suddenly changed.

"Baga!" He couldn't help shouting angrily.

"Commander, what's going on?"

Major General Shanquan asked immediately.

"look by youself."

Gangcun threw the telegram in his hand to Shanquan.

After receiving the telegram, Shanquan looked at it and his expression suddenly changed.

The order from the Military Command ordered them to continue the offensive, put pressure on the Tubal Road base area, and conduct a traffic blockade.

"This bunch of trash!"

For a long time, Chief of Staff Shanquan gnashed his teeth and cursed such a sentence.

Anyone with a discerning eye knows that there is no point in continuing to carry out the current sweep in southern Hebei.

In just over a month, the North China Front had suffered more than 30,000 casualties.

Among the more than 30,000 casualties, excluding about 10,000 who were missing in Yusui, the remaining 10,000 were slightly injured and have returned to the team, and there are about 10,000 wounded who are still being treated in the hospital.

The hospital in the rear is already overcrowded.

As a last resort, three field hospitals were even opened to treat the wounded.

If this continues, the North China Front will not even be able to treat the wounded.

Not to mention, the Pinghan-Han Line has been cut off recently, and the North China Front's logistics supplies have become increasingly scarce.

The enemy's logistics supplies are sufficient. According to aerial photos taken by reconnaissance aircraft, the enemy has established a logistics supply center in Nanzhen, behind the Jinan base area. One truck after another, each truck carrying dozens of tons of supplies, is continuously transported to the base area.

What to use to continue the attack?
"Keep attacking."

Okamura Neji sighed.

The order to continue the attack came from the Military Command.

If he ordered to stop the attack, tomorrow a new commander of the North China Front would come and issue an order to continue the attack - an order from the base camp. He could protest, but he could not refuse.

And at this point, Gangcun also understood the reason why the higher-ups ordered to continue the attack.

Internationally, it did buy time for the empire and the goal was achieved.

But in the vast North China region of the Republic of China, this war unexpectedly yielded even more incredible gains - profits soared to more than 100 million US dollars per month.

One hundred million dollars!
The empire faced a financial deficit of hundreds of millions of yen every month.

If there is anywhere that can make up for these shortfalls, the empire will definitely not give up.

Continuing to launch attacks on the Eighth Route Army's base areas can further capture profits, thereby obtaining more foreign materials, machinery and equipment during the short window before the empire moves south.

Otherwise, once the southward movement begins, all foreign trade of the empire will inevitably be interrupted.

Even communication with the Germans would be interrupted.

As for the casualties, there were more than 30,000 people, and more than 10,000 jade pieces were broken.

The southern Hebei region is the best training battlefield. Most of those who died were actually new recruits. These people were actually unnecessary, and those who survived were all elite troops.

These surviving elites of the Locust Army will become the main force of the empire in Southeast Asia and the Pacific battlefield.

"Hi."

Chief of Staff Shanquan responded in a low voice.

"be careful."

After taking a look at his nominated chief of staff, Gangcun suddenly gave a warning.

More than a month.

It has been more than a month since Tada-kun's jade was broken.

He felt that Tubalu was about to start causing trouble.

"Hi!"

Major General Shanquan smiled bitterly.

The chief of staff of the North China Front is actually a prestigious position, and it is the best springboard for serving as division commander and being promoted to lieutenant general.

Commanding and organizing a force of more than 300,000 people is enough to prove ability and can quickly accumulate qualifications. If something goes wrong, the commander is responsible, but the chief of staff has little problem.

Therefore, in the past, they were competed by various major generals with backgrounds and abilities.

But with four consecutive chiefs of staff killed in action.

After serving four consecutive terms, he was publicly shot to death by the Eighth Route Army. From being a favorite, he became nobody's favorite.

After all, no one wants to die.

Therefore, he was mentally prepared when he took up the position of chief of staff.

Preparation of broken jade.

just,

After working here for more than a month, Shanquan felt a little regretful.

Not just starting to fear death.

Another reason is that the Chief of Staff of the North China Front is really not easy to do. The Tubal Road here is really difficult to deal with!
unfortunately,

Once you get on the pirate ship, it won't be that easy to get off.

···
The next day.

The battlefield south of Ze County.

"Continue the attack?"

Lieutenant Colonel Yamazaki was stunned when he heard the order from the wing headquarters.

"Continue the attack?"

He asked in disbelief.

After half a month of offensive, the Yamazaki Brigade had already suffered heavy losses.

There were over five hundred casualties.

More than half.

Among them, more than 200 people were killed, and the mortality rate was as high as 20%.

Although some supplements have been obtained, the total number of supplements is less than 300 people, and the actual shortage is still 200 people. In other words, the current Yamazaki Brigade only has 800 people.

The shortfall is as high as 20 percent.

of course,

Eight hundred people is quite a lot.

Within the empire's establishment, it can be considered a fully formed brigade.

but!

The artillery squadron of Yamazaki Battalion now only has twenty artillery shells.

Yes, the four Type 41 mountain guns only have twenty shells, and each gun only has five shells. This reminded Yamazaki of the description of Tubal Road in the high-level army documents a few years ago. Each gun has only twenty shells. The artillery only had five or six rounds.

The Locust Army has become like the Tuba Road back then.

Under such circumstances, let him launch an attack?
You know, the defense troops on Tubal Road opposite were changed three days ago.

Although I don't know what the formation of the troops coming this time is, and which army they are, the empire currently has poor intelligence on the Eighth Route Army. Unless prisoners are captured, it is difficult to know who is on the other side.

But through the feelings of being at war.

Today, those defending south of Ze County are definitely the main force and elite troops of the Eighth Route Army.

Extremely powerful in combat.

Last night, he led a team to launch a night attack. Not only did the opponent easily defend it, they even launched a countercharge and directly killed one of his team. This was the heaviest loss for the Yamazaki team since the attack.

An organized team and more than 40 locust troops were wiped out, leaving no one behind.

Continue the attack?

What?

Go to death!
"Hey, keep attacking."

The Japanese staff officer in charge of the report repeated loudly.

"What about the supplies?"

"What about additional troop support?"

In anger, Yamazaki Nakazoro's legs were stretched straight, as if he was about to break through the height limit of 1.6 meters.

Yamazaki is a die-hard samurai who has been brainwashed very thoroughly. He never cares about his own life, the lives of his soldiers, and naturally he doesn't care about the lives of others.

But at this moment, the old devil felt it.

Although it is honor to serve the empire and to break the jade of Tianlu, but to continue to attack now, this is not honor, it is to die.

It is to increase the record of Tubal Road.

"No."

The Japanese staff officer who reported the report lowered his head:
"It will take a few more days for supplies to arrive."

"It will take a few days for additional troops to arrive."

"How many days?"

Lieutenant Colonel Yamazaki's eyes widened.

The troops' urgently needed supplies and support are actually using the ambiguous quantifier "a few days"! (End of chapter)