My client Li Yunlong

"The first week of June."

Shimen.

North China Front Army Headquarters.

The combat staff is reporting this week's casualties to Neji Okamura:
"Our army suffered 10,000 casualties, including 3,500 dead."

Suddenly, Neji Okamura, who had been concentrating on reading, dropped the book in his hand to the ground, his expression stunned.

In one week, there were 10,000 casualties.

At this rate, more than 40,000 casualties can be expected in a month?

Thirty-five hundred casualties a week,

Fourteen thousand people can't be crushed in one month?

The supplements given to him by the base camp are not of this scale!
In June, the local plan to recruit him only 40,000 new soldiers, and although large-scale mobilization was organized domestically, it was too urgent and these new recruits were seriously lacking training.

The training level of the militiamen of the Eighth Route Army is far inferior.

Entering the battlefield and facing the tank attack on Tubal Road will inevitably cause greater casualties, and you must undergo training before entering the battlefield.

"Where are the supplies?"

Taking a deep breath, Okamura Neji continued to ask.

The casualties would be huge, as he had expected.

I just didn't expect it to be so huge.

But no matter how huge the casualties were, they could not change the plans of the base camp or the local decisions - the orders would not change, and the North China Front Army was still fighting against Tubal Road in a steady stream.

"It's plenty."

The staff officer replied:

"The warehouses are full, and stocks of ammunition, food, and fuel are all at their peak levels."

"Five thousand new Thorn Thunders have also been transported."

"Five thousand!"

Okamura Neji nodded.

Although the new weapon is not easy to use, it is at least much easier to use than explosive packs.

"How many enemy tanks were destroyed?"

Okamura Neji finally asked.

Good news, of course ask for last.

"Thirty-five cars!"

The staff officer immediately replied:

"Because it was the enemy who initiated the attack and almost no positions were lost, we captured all the enemy tanks that were destroyed."

"Total, thirty-five wrecks."

"Thirty-five cars!"

Okamura Neji frowned,

this number,

a lot of!

Thirty-five tanks a week, destroying five enemy tanks almost every day, which was a great victory.

But the price the Locust Army paid for this was that 3,500 people were broken into pieces.

Calculated, it would still take a hundred people to destroy one vehicle.

Same as last month.

Although the anti-tank tactics of the Locust Army have gradually matured, and they have better anti-tank weapons such as thorn mines, the enemy's tank-infantry coordination tactics are also gradually becoming more proficient.

In the case of joint improvement, both parties still maintained the same losses.

And the problem is.

It will become increasingly difficult to replenish the locust army by one hundred people.
But adding a tank to Tubal Road seems to be getting easier and easier.

In April, May, and June, after almost three months of fighting, Okamura Neji felt the rhythm of the Eighth Route Army's offensive. Although they did not hesitate to lose tanks, once they saw that the situation was not good, they would leave tanks behind to protect the effective forces. .

Highlight a bold and arrogant person.

It also shows that it is very easy to replenish tanks on Tubal Road.

as well as.

Based on the average weekly tank losses, the number of tanks can be perceived.

Last month, seventeen tanks were destroyed in the first week.

That doubled this month.

Isn't that...this month, there are twice as many tanks on Tubal Road as last month?
Two hundred tanks?
Gangcun thought about the news that he had just personally organized and signed about the Locust Army destroying two hundred enemy tanks in May. Although it was forged, it did greatly enhance the morale of the Imperial Locust Army.

Especially when the three Sherman tanks that were captured and repaired and still usable, plus the wreckage of dozens of destroyed tanks, were placed in front of them, they were ruins made of steel.

It was even more exciting. The eyes of the suicide squads were red. They wanted to go to the battlefield immediately and destroy an enemy tank to prove their glory.

Although, what is buried, laid, and supported under this jungle of steel ruins is the blood and minced flesh of the imperial warriors.

only··
The North China Front could really destroy two hundred enemy tanks. Although the enemy had many tanks, they seemed to lack the follow-up force, or for other reasons, were unable to launch a large-scale attack. They could only use tanks as units, small-scale infiltration, and comprehensive multi-angle attacks. Line of defense.

Relying on strong defenses, it is not difficult to block.

He can even concentrate his forces to attack some tanks, but this is very costly. Enemy tanks will also concentrate support, and subsequent tank units will also come to support.

It will eventually turn into an encounter.

Although the Locust Army's body-barrel guns have an absolute advantage, facing the advantages of clustered tanks, ground troops are vulnerable on such flat terrain in southern Hebei.

In the end it must end in his disastrous defeat.

The larger the battle, the greater his losses.

Therefore, Neji Okamura always divided the battlefield and destroyed the enemy tanks bit by bit.

Using such anti-tank tactics, it is actually very simple to destroy two hundred tanks, but for every tank destroyed, a hundred soldiers will still be killed.

Two hundred tanks require 20,000 soldiers to be destroyed.

Can the empire afford it?
If the enemy brings out 200 tanks every month, then the empire will have to pay the price of 20,000 soldiers every month. If the number of enemy tanks further increases...

A trace of gloom flashed across Okamura Neji's face.

It is easy for the empire to recruit 100 soldiers, but it is very difficult to recruit 20,000 soldiers.

It seems very simple for the enemy to replenish two hundred tanks, otherwise it would be impossible to abandon all kinds of tanks casually.

“Ask local.”

"When will the new anti-tank artillery be equipped?"

He looked at the chief of staff.

If there are no qualified anti-tank artillery, then...I am afraid that the number of casualties will not be acceptable even to the base camp.

"Hi!"

The chief of staff immediately went to execute it.

···
Wuxiang.

Inside the tank training camp.

Li Yunlong looked at the oil depot in front of him, looking thoughtful.

Boss Lu provided the fuel consumed by the tank troops and provided transportation to the base area. The base area is responsible for subsequent transportation.

Consider the convenience of transportation.

The fuel is carried in drums.

This part is given as much as the troops consume, and there is strict statistical data review, and there is no room for maneuver. Considering the strict discipline of the troops, the superiors are not willing to let the troops mess around.

But...

Li Yunlong lowered his head and looked at his feet. Here was an imported gasoline stove.

As the name suggests, a stove that burns gasoline.

The base area could not produce this kind of stove itself, so it imported it from the United States. He spent some money to buy this kind of gasoline stove.

After testing, the effect is really good. As long as you are willing to provide gasoline or diesel, the burning power is strong and the firepower is sufficient. Whether it is for heating or cooking, the hot water is very good.

More convenient than firewood.

When the wind blows, there will be no black smoke.

The only drawback is that it burns gasoline and diesel.

This thing really doesn't exist in the base area.

But... military supplies, Brother Lu has severe restrictions. Gasoline and diesel are considered military supplies.

But···
"Hey hey hey..."

Li Yunlong showed a sinister smile.

Gasoline, diesel, and civilian supplies can also be used.

What’s wrong with the fact that people use gasoline and diesel to heat their lives and make fires for cooking?
Isn't this to save trees and firewood?
For the sake of environmental protection.

Thinking about this, Li Yunlong filled in 200,000 diesel and gasoline stoves in the supplies imported this month, because of the need for heating and other facilities in farms, factories, military camps, etc.

then.

He looked down at the monthly fuel requisition indicator.

As of this month, the number of Taihang heavy-duty trucks has expanded to 700. Although these trucks have large transport capacity, they are also real fuel guzzlers. When fully loaded, they start at 100 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers.

If it is off-road and on rough roads, it will be five to six hundred liters per hundred kilometers. According to army statistics, at most, a Taihang heavy truck consumed six tons of diesel in a day.

But...

This is certainly not the maximum amount.

"Someone is coming."

Li Yunlong decided to find someone to try to find out how many tons of fuel a Taihang heavy truck can consume every day.

This thing is a multi-fuel engine!
It can be burned!
···
"How much diesel can a 750-horsepower Taihang heavy truck burn in a day?"

Taiyue base area.

car base.

Faced with this problem, Li Shiming fell into doubts.

Although the 750-horsepower diesel engine has high reliability, sufficient horsepower and high torque, it is also a real fuel guzzler.

Stealing oil is more ruthless than anything else.

Today, the biggest research purpose of the transportation force is how to save fuel while ensuring the quantity and speed of transportation. To this end, a competition among transportation force drivers has been organized.

"If you press the accelerator hard on this thing, regardless of engine loss, you can burn a liter of oil in one or two seconds."

Li Shiming thought for a while and said.

Although the Taihang heavy truck's engine is rated to have a maximum power of 750 horsepower, in fact, if the accelerator is pressed hard, he estimates that it can explode to around 800 horsepower.

Even manually unlocking the supercharger limit can increase it to eight hundred and fifty and beyond.

However, there is an optimal range for engine efficiency. Once this range is exceeded, fuel consumption will increase dramatically.

Take the Taihang truck engine as an example.

During long-term use, Li Shiming found that under 750 horsepower, an average of three horsepower consumes one liter of fuel per hour, and there will be fluctuations. The optimal power range is around 400 horsepower, which is the most fuel-efficient.

But after this range, for example, if you step on the accelerator deeply, one horsepower per hour may consume one liter of fuel. If you manually release the boost and open the fuel system restriction valve, one horsepower per hour may even consume two or three liters of fuel.

"Is it one liter of oil or two liters of oil?"

The staff officer of the independent regiment asked seriously.

It matters whether it's one liter of oil per second or two liters of oil.

"What's the highest it can be!"

"We need a concrete number, preferably with experimental records."

The staff officer said.

"it is good!"

After taking a look at the staff officer, who came from the Logistics Department of the Independent Regiment and was also the staff officer of the Taiyue Base Logistics Department, Li Shiming nodded.

"It takes some preparation time."

Li Shiming said.

Testing the maximum fuel consumption of Taihang trucks places a heavy load on the engine and requires a lot of preparation.

"Okay, just give it to me within June."

The staff officer replied.

···
"Empire!"

Second week of June.

Shimen.

North China Front Army Headquarters.

Okamura Neji looked at the casualty report in his hand and sighed deeply.

The casualties in the second week of June were almost the same as in the first week, 3,500 people were killed, and the total casualties were more than 12,000 people.

The results were similar.

Destroyed and captured thirty-five tanks of Cai Hai.

Things seem to be entering a spiral.

After the North China Front had the stabbing mines, it began to further develop anti-tank tactics, continuously improved them, and gathered the battlefield environment and other resources to provide cover, just to increase the destruction rate of tanks.

As for the Eighth Route Army, although its equipment has not been updated, its tanks alone give it an absolute advantage in equipment.

The North China Front of the Locust Army is making progress in tactics, and the Eighth Route Army is also making progress.

Under the spiral, a balance is still maintained.

A locust army of less than a hundred people destroyed a single tank.

The huge casualties made Neji Okamura begin to despair.

How long can the North China Front sustain this kind of consumption?
How long can the empire last with 70 million citizens?
····
"Oh?"

Jinan region.

Behind Ze County.

Inside the economic office.

In the Jinan base area, the economic director looked at the information in his hand and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows and smile.

"Have Americans finally lost their patience?"

Just today, the United States announced that it would suspend the exchange of silver bills, and the specific resumption date will be announced separately.

Although the words are very vague, anyone with a discerning eye can see that after continuously investing more than 1.5 billion US dollars, the US Treasury Department intends to give up the plan to increase silver to one dollar per ounce.

"Can't bear it anymore?"

The other officers in the office sounded disdainful.

How long has it been?

I can't bear it anymore.

Isn’t it the world’s first economic empire?
Why doesn't it work?
keep going!
"Today, the price of silver in the international market has depreciated to 45 cents per ounce, which is 30 cents lower than its peak."

"And forty-five cents?"

The head of the economics class touched his chin.

He went to the headquarters for a meeting yesterday and learned the news from the head of economic and construction in the base area.

Currently, the base's silver reserves are 500 million silver dollars, and are increasing by 350 million every month.

The gold reserves are 1,500 tons, increasing at a rate of 200 tons per month, and it is expected to increase to 300 tons per month next month.

Three hundred tons of gold per month.

That’s the equivalent of $400 million per month.

Even if you don’t count food, medicine and other commodities, it is still enough to maintain the stability of the Hebei Nan currency.

Moreover, Li Yunlong has a new statement - starting from next month, it is estimated that he can get more than 500,000 tons of fuel every month. These days, fuel is also a hard currency.

So silver is basically useless.

and so!
It's time to show your true strength.

"Execute it."

"Let banks in all base areas exchange Jinan coins and silver dollars at a ratio of five to one starting today."

The ratio is five to one, that is, five Jinan coins can be exchanged for one silver dollar.

"No limit."

"Yes!"

With the promotion of the economic department officers, the documents were delivered to every bank in the base area that night.

The next day.

Banks in Jinan, Taiyue, Taihang and border areas have posted a notice - five Jinan coins can be exchanged for one silver dollar, no limit! (End of chapter)