Age of Rebirth

Mussolini said to the generals in a lesson-oriented tone: "Anything, there will be a solution, it depends on whether you think about it or not. This is the difference between leaders and ordinary people! It lies in the different perspectives of thinking!"

Mussolini’s solution to the Japanese’s time-consuming and large-scale arms orders was crazy and unbelievable. He said to the generals in charge of offensive production: “Two ways, one is, all domestic military enterprises, all open Full horsepower production, second, the missing parts can be taken from the active equipment of the troops in various places to supplement the shortage, and the problem will be solved!"

Is that all right?The generals were stunned and almost petrified. Mussolini said impatiently, "Don't look forward and backward, just do as I say!" Then, shaking his fat body, he walked away. %,

The generals discussed it and thought that there was really no other feasible strategy other than the prime minister's method, so they split up. In fact, Mussolini was not confused. The current Italian army, except for part of the North American battlefield, In addition, domestic troops basically have nothing to do, no battles to fight, and no large tracts of land to conquer.

Moreover, the countries in the world that are against Italy are against Germany. Basically, Hitler was wiped out. The invincible countries outside Italy are worried, and the German boss is covering them. Armaments are not so urgent. Also, the current Italian army The equipment is all used. Wouldn’t it be very cost-effective to sell new ones to the Japanese? After the Japanese orders are completed, they can re-produce equipment for troops, and take the opportunity to eliminate some outdated equipment.Kill two birds with one stone!

The whole country of Italy is in full swing to complete the Japanese arms orders.The speed of production even exceeded the expectations of the Japanese.Some of the equipment drawn from the active equipment of the Italian army went around in the military factory and became brand new artillery, tanks and combat aircraft. They began to be loaded on ships and shipped to Australia via the Atlantic and Pacific sea routes. Lieutenant General Cang Xinwu's telegram had already flown back to China before that.

Mussolini was very loyal.In addition to the ordered weapons and equipment, it also came with more than a dozen basic ammunition, so that these equipment can be used immediately in the hands of Japanese soldiers. Of course, the price is not less than a penny. Anyway, these Shells and bombs are piled up in the warehouse and almost expired.Come to a clearance sale, and the price is not low, it is quite a pleasant thing!

The good man Mussolini did it to the end, and he sold many production lines of the ammunition needed for these equipment to the Japanese.It is a package sale, and the price is still very cheap, which moved Takakura Nobutake.Tears were rushing, and he almost took Mussolini's hand.Shout out hooray, though.These munitions production lines are almost all second-hand products eliminated by Italian military enterprises, and they were originally intended to be sold as scrap products.

The Japanese purchased large sums of arms in Italy, and the fact that the Italians were busy doing big business is not a secret. Moreover, Italian Prime Minister Mussolini did not intend to hide it. Perhaps Hitler was afraid of offending Tang Qiuli, but But I am not afraid, and I have no friendship with that Chinese, no matter how powerful, can I go to Europe to beat myself?

Similarly, if Tang Qiuli also purchased arms from Italy, he would still take the order himself, and the more profitable the business, the better, would he be afraid of biting his hand?

The overseas intelligence network of the Intelligence Department of the Independent Division has collected detailed relevant information. At the same time, Hitler also disclosed this situation to Tang Qiuli through the German General Staff for the purpose of showing good intentions. Tang Qiuli from Adelaide, South Australia, had two pieces of information with similar content on his desk.

Tang Qiuli was not very worried about this, but it was not that he looked down on Italian weapons and equipment. Although the Italian army became the laughing stock of various military forces during World War II in history, they had never fought brilliant battles. There are many, but the weapons and equipment produced in Italy are very good in performance and quality.

For example, the 1940-type 41mm caliber cannon was a relatively good suppressive firepower for the army at that time. In addition, the m[-] medium tank, the Air Force's Centaur series fighter jets, and the Mistral series bombers, etc., were all comparable to the Western industrial countries at that time. Comparable weapons and equipment, but the poor battlefield performance of the Italian army buried these excellent weapons and equipment!

These weapons and equipment will be more effective in the hands of the Japanese army, but Tang Qiuli is obviously not worried. On the contrary, he hopes that the Japanese will buy them in large quantities. After several years of war, until now, what is the status of the Japanese family? Tang Qiuli, who has been a man for two generations, is very clear in his heart, saying that basically his family is almost bankrupt.

On the Australian battlefield, further consumption of Japan's war potential is also to accelerate the collapse of the Japanese economy. Therefore, it seems that the Japanese army has obtained weapons and equipment as soon as possible, but the production of supporting ammunition is another problem. What Japan lacks is resources. The traditional equipment and the equipment currently installed by the Japanese army cannot be shared at all. The ammunition supply alone can exhaust the Japanese to death.

Even if Mussolini sold the ammunition production line to the Japanese at the same time, there must be raw materials for production. If Ito Genzaburo does not take the initiative to attack, Tang Qiuli even has such a long-term plan to spend with the Japanese. The southern part of Australia is the region with the most developed and complete industrial base in the whole of Australia. Compared with the northern part of Australia occupied by the Japanese army, it is like the difference between cities and then villages.

The independent division can do it by using the resources in southern Australia to feed the war. At least, it can solve the needs of about one-third of the troops, but the Japanese can't. The barren land in northern Australia needs all the battlefield materials. It takes less than two years to transport from the mainland, and the consumption alone can consume Japan to the brink of death!

But Chief of Staff Zhao Yuhe didn't think so. He said worriedly: "Master, the Japanese are now purchasing a large number of weapons and equipment. It takes time to install them. We can't wait for the Japanese to have heavy equipment before we launch an offensive." , I suggest that the troops begin their northward attack immediately!"

"Now, there are still those troops that haven't all gathered in southern Australia?" Tang Qiuli ignored Zhao Yuhe's suggestion, but asked another question.

Seeing that the division commander did not respond, Zhao Yuhe could only let go of his own thoughts and replied: "All the Marine Corps, all the No.20 Ninth Corps, have landed in southern Australia, most of the Niangziguan Garrison Corps and the Southeast Mobile Corps, It has landed, and the rest of the troops are being transported!"

"How long will it take for the remaining troops to reach southern Australia?" Tang Qiuli asked again.

"It will be the end of August at the earliest, and the troop can be fully mobilized!" Zhao Yuhe replied, "However, Commander Feng Jiwu and Commander Ma Chaoyang have led their respective corps headquarters to South Australia in advance!"

"They're all impatient!" Tang Qiuli said with a smile: "Yuhe, send a telegram, ordering Liu Cuigang to immediately form a capable command team to go south and take up the post of commander of the Australian battlefield air force. His position is temporarily assigned to the chief of staff of the Northern Aviation Group Dong Ningxuan's agent!"

"In addition, Liu Cuigang was ordered to transfer ten fighter regiments from the Northern Flying Group, and eight bomber regiments to go south at the same time. In the name of the division commander, he issued an order to appoint Wu Zhenjiang as the chief of staff of the Australian Battlefield Aviation Command. The Japanese purchased A large number of preparations have been made, and there will certainly be no shortage of combat aircraft, so the aviation force on the Australian battlefield must be strengthened!"

"Issued an order to the commanders of each corps. On September [-], the division commanded a military meeting in Adelaide. The participants were the commanders of each corps, the chief of staff, and the brigade commanders, members of the armored forces headquarters, and the two North and South Members of the Flying Group Command, the commander and chief of staff of the two major naval fleets, the division refers to the members of the Artillery Command, and the division refers to the heads of various departments!"

"Yuhe, your staff department has worked hard recently. Before the military meeting is held, come up with a basic combat plan for the Australian campaign. There are still more than ten days. It is enough for you to work. Don't make the plan too detailed. The framework can!"

Zhao Yuhe swallowed. Such a large-scale military meeting is rare in the history of independent divisions. There were hundreds of generals who participated in the meeting. "Master, no problem. Before that, the staff The battle plan for the Australian campaign has already been made, and according to the actual situation on the battlefield, it can be modified appropriately!"

The first batch of weapons sold by Italy to the Japanese arrived in Australia ten days later, enough to equip ten heavy artillery brigades, eight tank brigades, and combat aircraft from five air teams. Ito Yansaburo got these After the much-needed heavy equipment, he suddenly felt confident, patted the thick cannon barrel, laughed, and immediately ordered the artillery and tank units of the front army to change their equipment immediately, train quickly, and become familiar with the performance of Italian equipment as soon as possible.

At the same time, General Ito ordered the more than [-] troops that arrived in northern Australia to go to the battlefield in central Australia to form a basically complete line of defense with the previous troops, waiting for the troops in the North American battlefield to be assembled. The second batch After the Italian equipment arrived, he immediately started to counterattack across the board. He was gearing up for a big fight!

On September [-]th, the senior officers of the various regiments of the Independent Division all gathered at the headquarters of the Adelaide division. For a time, on the streets of Adelaide, there was an endless stream of military jeeps, and the generals with gold stars on their shoulders, Roaring by in a car, it seems that the streets are full of Chinese generals. The local residents who were stunned by the British and Japanese troops stared wide-eyed. However, the local residents who have seen the big world also realize that , It's time to fight again!

Because it was not the day for the meeting, the officers of the various corps naturally gathered around their commanders to inquire about the content of the military meeting, and the brigade commanders directly under the corps all went to the division commander's office to find out the news.

(to be continued) (to be continued...)