Canteen System Assistance Notes

3. Increase support for the Far East Chinese battlefield, and support the army and navy's plan to use Red China-related facilities to attack the Japanese mainland, destroying Japan's ability to build subsequent warships.

Office of Naval Intelligence, U.S. Wartime Intelligence Agency

1942.3

Chapter 589: After all, the world is moving forward

"Harry, I heard the navy had a big fight in Colombo?"

"Yes, Mr. Morgenthau. From what I understand, the Japanese naval intelligence they shared at the conference was outdated and outdated, not only regarding battleships but also aircraft carriers."

Harry Lloyd Hopkins, a presidential advisor in his fifties who still spoke with a lively tone and a lively spirit, spread his hands in a helpless manner. "Our intelligence agents divided the Japanese Shokaku and Zuikaku aircraft carriers into two classes, not only underestimating their tonnage by almost half, but also giving them a sister ship named Takasago, building new aircraft carriers for the Japanese dwarfs for nothing."

"A Takasago and a Soryu-class Koryu."

"This is really weird. One more Japanese aircraft carrier will definitely make General Jin even angrier. Now there are two more, General Nimitz will definitely have a headache.

"So, the meeting became particularly lively. The Chinese were laughing quietly, and the British were laughing loudly. According to the Chinese, although the British's assessment of the Japanese aircraft carriers was wrong, their naming convention was correct - the names they gave to the Japanese aircraft carriers were very consistent with Japanese customs. For example, 'Huanglong' was more appropriate than 'Huliu'..."

"Gentlemen, I'm sorry to interrupt your pleasant chat, but now, it's time to start a meeting."

At this moment, a tall black manservant pushed a gentle-looking man in. The man sat in a wheelchair and entered the small conference room in the West Wing of the White House with Secretary of State Cordell Hull.

"Your Excellency the President."

Everyone stood up to greet the president, then moved from the sofas near the wall to the wooden chairs at the conference table. George, the president's valet, then placed a series of documents in front of the president, while Hull, the chairperson, distributed other documents to Vice President Wallace, Secretary of the Treasury Morgenthau, and Hopkins, the president's special advisor and the "executor" of the Lend-Lease Act.

Our topic today is primarily about China. Please turn to page three. Hull, the chairperson of today's meeting, quickly flipped through the files. "Please allow me to briefly describe the relevant information we have so far..."

—A closed-door meeting began.

After all, the world is moving forward stubbornly and materialistically.

After the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor incident gradually subsided, the world seemed to be gradually accustomed to the war that was about to break out. The United States, which had been slapped in the face, began to gradually mobilize its massive production capacity to prepare for participation in this world war.

Of course, China had already fought alone for 11 years before.

Based on the strategic interests of the United States, even if Japan is now a country that has direct hatred for the United States and is still conquering cities in the Western Pacific, the US military still needs to focus its strategic focus on Europe first and adhere to the principle of Europe first and Asia later to participate in the world war.

Therefore, whether it was the diplomatic actions of the Eighth Route Army or the preserved fruits, they ultimately produced progress.

The CCP was given the opportunity to join the Allied camp as an independent anti-fascist force. While still affiliated with the Chinese Theater, it enjoyed independent command and physical independence. Lend-Lease, modeled on the standards of France and the Soviet Union, was subject to the Lend-Lease Act and was no longer subject to the restrictions of the spot-and-carry principle. Furthermore, the CCP was granted membership in the Joint Munitions Allocation Committee and the Joint Raw Materials Committee, and was able to attend and speak at various meetings related to the war against Japan.

Guofu's threats finally worked. The US Army not only promised not to permanently station heavy bombers in the Eighth Route Army's liberated areas, but also planned to discuss with Guofu the construction of bomber airfields. Furthermore, the US Treasury and Congress proposed a $500 million line of credit to allow the Nationalist government to acquire military supplies under the "Concession Act" to fulfill its plan to arm 100 armies (the 29th year standard for the Nationalist Army). The Army would also dispatch personnel to assist the Nationalist Army in training troops for participation in domestic and international operations against Japan.

However, regarding the command of the expeditionary force's overseas operations, the expeditionary force's chief of staff, Lin Weiwen, who participated in the negotiations in India, insisted on "reporting all matters, big or small, to the president for a final decision." He had been wrangling with the British side for a long time, but there has been no result so far - it seems that the expeditionary force will have to stay on the border for several months.

It was against this backdrop that Secretary of State Hull, at this small White House civilian meeting, proposed a principle that would guide the formulation and implementation of U.S. policy toward China throughout the war:

"I propose that the United States should be impartial between the two forces in northern and southern China, neither supporting nor suppressing them, and provide material leasing and assistance to both northern and southern China in an equal manner." This is probably the strength and arrogance of the world's number one industrial country at that time.

However, the Eighth Route Army, which had basically achieved its goals on the diplomatic front, did not have it easy.

Although the Japanese army's conquest of cities in Southeast Asia objectively dispersed the reserve forces that could be mobilized into China, the initial success of the southward strategy created good conditions for Japan to plunder the Southeast Asia - even if the Japanese were only able to plunder three feet of land, the metals, oil, and food in Southeast Asia would objectively increase Japan's strategic strength and enhance its war capabilities in a short period of time.

For example, news came from the "Shirai Agency" in Southeast Asia that the Japanese had completely seized the Dutch oil fields and affiliated refineries in Borneo. The Dutch on the field only had time to destroy a small amount of equipment before being captured by the Japanese army; the oil fields in Palembang were also raided by the Japanese mobile forces. Based on the internal version of the Japanese war report, the Japanese Southern Army was making smooth progress and victory was in sight.

Intelligence also reached the Manchurian Railway system, indicating that the Japanese Imperial Headquarters, in coordination with the Korean Front, had begun preparing for a special exercise. Through participating institutions like the Tachikawa Army Aviation Technical Research Institute, the Eighth Route Army analyzed that the Japanese army might be using captured American bombers to simulate a heavy bombing of the mainland and to establish corresponding interception procedures. Any future attempts to bomb the Japanese mainland through Korea might not be as lucky as the first attempt, as they had been completely unintercepted.

However, these did not seem to be matters that made the Eighth Route Army extremely anxious.

"Mr. Zhu, so your assessment is that this year's drought, the '42nd year, may be even more severe than we anticipated?" Lin Zuhan, chairman of the Border Region Government, said with a serious expression and a tense tone. He stood up from behind the table and paced back and forth twice, his steps hurried. "This assessment involves so many things!"

"That's right, Chairman Lin."

Zhu Oufang said, standing up from his chair, "Ever since Zhejiang University settled in Chang'an with the assistance of the Science and Technology Commission, I have been working hard to compile climate and phenological data over the years in North China in accordance with the government's commission.

"Fortunately, the government has consistently prioritized meteorological data collection since arriving in the region. They've even gone to great lengths in their analysis, drawing on inland and ocean data from the Soviet Union, Britain, and the United States. This has given my students and me a foundation for long-term climate estimates for North China."

"Although precipitation in the past 41 years was slightly better than expected, since 42, overall precipitation in North China has been lower than in the past. Many meteorological observation points set up by our government in Henan Province have not even recorded a drop of precipitation, which is a serious deviation from the historical norm.

"Plus, the comrades from the Science and Technology Commission have previously reminded me to consider the possibility of less precipitation..." Zhu Oufang was silent for a few seconds. "Now, the precipitation in North China in 42 may not just be less, but severely less. Considering the current domestic situation, a large-scale drought may be brewing.

"If we don't do something... a lot of people are going to die!"

Chapter 590: Bad news? Bad news.

The Eighth Route Army had anticipated the drought. After all, the unprecedented drought of 1942, compounded by an even more unprecedented man-made disaster, had caused the Great Famine in Henan Province from August 1942 to the summer harvest of 1943. To make matters worse, Henan Province, facing extreme food shortages, was hit by a horrific locust plague, further exacerbating the losses. Ultimately, even the most crude estimates suggest over 3 million people were affected, and 3 million died.

Then, that year, Henan Province was confiscated 340 million kilograms of wheat for use as military rations.

Then Guosan wanted to put the blame on Henan-born councilor Guo Zhongwei.

 …

However, the slightly better rainfall data for 1941 in this time and space compared to the original 1941, and the fact that Tang Keqin, who had lost his main force in the Battle of Southern Henan due to excessive recklessness and was then dragged back to Chiang Kai-shek's side, was no longer in Henan Province (replaced by the newlywed Hu Qinzhai), initially led the Central Committee to harbor a small suspicion - would the situation not be so dire in this time and space?

Well, now it seems that it certainly won’t happen.

The Eighth Route Army, having been whipped, began to activate relevant emergency plans in advance, rehearsing relevant planning and organizational work, taking inventory of food stocks, and deploying manpower and material resources. They even had to formulate some "disaster relief menus" (depending on the existing material conditions and the canteen system...)

In the face of natural disasters and man-made disasters, saving one more life means one more hope.

But just like God always dislikes opening windows when doors are closed, but is good at covering windows with wooden boards, there seems to be much more bad news for the Eighth Route Army.

One day in February 1942, in Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, on the westernmost tip of Honshu Island, Japan, many Japanese people were smiling, while others were stern-faced. Those with stern faces might have been smiling just one moment, but the next, those smiling might be contorted, as if they had eaten a piece of leftover entrails.

Today, Japan conducted a large-scale aviation exercise here. Under the direct "care" of His Majesty the Emperor, the navy and the army have rarely "united" to carry out this exercise that "concerns the reputation of the Imperial State and the safety of His Majesty."

In short, the goal was to simulate a situation where the Imperial State was once again attacked by the shameless Americans who used the Chinese as a pretext to bully the enemy and sent four heavy bombs to launch extremely heinous incense bombs, intending to harm the precious life of His Majesty the Emperor and the countless people of Tokyo. Could the navy and army, the "arms and pillars of the Imperial State," intercept them and protect the Imperial State?

According to the pre-planned plan, the exercise would proceed as follows: First, the Army's Tachikawa Aircraft Technical Research Institute would fly newly captured and shipped to North Korea, Meter-made B-17 bombers, heading south to bomb Nagato Harbor in Nagato City. Then, the Army and Navy would split into two groups to intercept the B-17s. After the interception, the participating Army and Navy aircraft would deploy in pairs to conduct a simulated dogfight and demonstration for the viewing audience of the Army and even representatives of the Imperial Family. Only then would the exercise conclude.

However, what can we say about the result of this interception...It can't be said to be a complete failure, but it was probably completely useless.

In the first part of the "interception exercise," two captured B-17s were deployed, acting as the "American Beast Heavy Bombs." According to the original plan, they were to take off from the Japanese airfield in Busan Port, choose a random heading, and fly toward Nagato Port. Then, after the B-17s circled and climbed to cruising altitude, beginning their southward flight, the Navy and Army interceptors would take off from the ground and conduct an interception under their command.

The premise of this exercise is reasonable, but since all processes are carried out by humans, there are naturally some tricks that can be used.

The Army avoided the Navy's stationed personnel and secretly sent a telegram to Nagato City in a code unknown to the Navy, informing them of the B-17's route and flight altitude. At the same time, they manipulated the Tachikawa Army Aviation Technical Research Institute to cause the B-17 that was preparing to intercept the Navy to "malfunction" and "have to" be replaced with the Army's own "100-type reconnaissance aircraft."

But even with this cheating, the army's interception still failed.

The army participated in the interception with the Hien and Tulong heavy fighters. The Hien was a prototype with a German engine and no weapons installed. Even if the pilots of these two aircraft knew the B17's course in advance, the distance from Busan to Nagato was only more than 200 kilometers, which was still a short distance for the B17 on cruise. Even though the Hien fighter had a speed of nearly 600 kilometers per hour,

The pilot takes the time to take off from the ground, climb to a high altitude, and then turn to intercept.

Too much time was lost, and it failed to "shoot down" the B17 before it headed straight for the bombing point; and the "Dragon Slayer" was completely unable to catch up with the B17 and could only fall behind and eat the exhaust gas.

As for the navy, it was even more unfortunate.

Under the "care" of the army, they not only failed to know the opponent's route in advance, but also had to face the faster and smaller "hundred-type" reconnaissance aircraft.

After the takeoff order was issued, the new Zero fighter climbed up for a long time, but in vain.

After searching visually in the air for a long time, they didn't even find the Type 100 reconnaissance plane and had to return empty-handed.

After both sides suffered humiliation, with the Army having slightly less success in interception subjects, the Navy could no longer hold their faces at the scene.

While they could insist, "National air defense is the Army's responsibility," this would undoubtedly cost them their place in the budget war. Sensing the disapproving gaze of Prince Higashikuni, Commander of the Mainland Defense Force, Vice Admiral Sawamoto Yorio hurriedly dismissed the Chief of Aviation Headquarters, Eikichi Katagiri, who had come to observe the demonstration, and drove to the naval airfield several kilometers away.

There, elite pilots were transferred from the Marine Ground Force. Unlike the squadron assigned to the naval base for air defense, their aircraft were more advanced. Besides the Type 21 Zero fighter currently in service, they also had the recently launched Type 32 Zero fighter, modified based on experience in air combat against the Communists in China. This aircraft featured a modified exhaust system, enhanced engine output, and significantly strengthened skin and structural components, resulting in even better flight performance.

Now that they have lost face in the interception subject, and the army has brought out new and cutting-edge fighter jets, they can no longer hide their performance in the combat subject.

"Suzuki-kun! For the sake of the Navy's reputation, please board your fighter plane and fight bravely!"

He found the flight team leader Suzuki Minoru sitting in a chair at the airport and conveyed the deputy minister's and his instructions to him, "You can use the most advanced fighter planes.

I hope you can demonstrate your military prowess and defeat the army’s horse shit!”

Suzuki Minoru's gloomy expression remained unchanged. There seemed to be no light in his sunken eye sockets, and he didn't speak. He simply touched the huge crescent-shaped bald spot on his head, nodded, stood up from his chair, and walked towards his car.

He turned around and took out a medicine bottle from his pocket, poured out a piece of aspirin, and without caring about whether to take it with water, he just put it in his mouth and swallowed it dry.

"Minister Katagiri, with Captain Suzuki on board, there's no doubt we'll defeat the Army's new fighter." As the ground crew began to prepare the aircraft, the attendant beside him began to comfort Katagiri Eikichi. "Although you unfortunately crashed into a salt lake in China and sustained a head injury, Suzuki-kun has emerged from this battle like a reborn from the ashes, becoming the 'Golden Crescent Moon'."

Gold... probably refers to the piece of gold skull implanted under his scalp to compensate for the missing skull bone? And the crescent moon, does it refer to the inability to grow hair due to the scar on his head? "Is he supposed to be fine?" Katagiri Eikichi asked. "Will he run into trouble and embarrass the navy?"

"No, sir, Captain Suzuki was unmatched in the previous test flight. Moreover, considering his physical condition, he was not allowed to serve on the aircraft carrier again." "Oh..."

Seeing the Type 32 Zero fighter, its original aluminum color exposed, begin to spew black smoke, slowly sliding onto the runway and taking off together with the other two Type 32s, Sawamoto Yorio finally breathed a sigh of relief. He hoped that this surviving Sea Eagle would bring victory to the Navy.

"Based on the report, we're reconstructing the first battle. The Navy and Army aircraft climbed first, but then the Zero fighter gained the upper hand. Using continuous raids, they attrited the Army's new aircraft—from this description, I'm afraid it was the Flying Swallow, right?—and lured it into a tail-biting circle, ultimately establishing a stable pursuit, resulting in the Zero fighter's victory."

In the second round, the Japanese army pilots changed their tactics, climbing first and using their dive speed advantage to increase the distance. They engaged in a dogfight with the Zero fighters, who were trying to regain their altitude advantage, and gained the upper hand. The Zero fighters tried to dive away, but were caught up by the Flying Swallows and were deemed unsuccessful.

Liu Helian, clutching a French newspaper, explained the Japanese "exercise" to two soldiers holding up model airplanes, using a Russian translator. The author of this French report was a little-known Yugoslav-French journalist for the Havas News Agency, Branko Vulikechi.

Definitely not a member of the "Ramza" group.

Putting aside the Japanese Navy's aircraft, this newly produced Hibiki is likely an even more formidable opponent than the Hayabusa we've encountered before. Its performance characteristics are roughly... Later, I can fly the aircraft, simulate its state, and conduct combat drills for everyone."

Based on the historical information he knew, Liu Helian briefly recounted the performance characteristics of the Feiyan fighter.

Then he continued to explain the report.

"As for the third battle, there's not much to explain. The two pilots had barely closed in when they engaged in a fierce exchange of blows. They engaged in a continuous scissor maneuver and then collided. The Hiyari's fuselage was structurally sound, so it was fine and made a successful forced landing. The Zero's wing was broken, and it crashed. The pilot didn't have time to parachute and died. The report even said he was a member of the Japanese Navy's flying squadron...

"Everyone, please pay attention to safety during air combat training!"

Chapter 591 Mr. Okamura, please take responsibility

(Update)

Just as the navy and army argued and confronted each other at the exercise observation site in Nagato Port, a confrontation also occurred in the office of the commander-in-chief of the North China Front Army in Tieshizi Hutong, Sijiucheng, China. The reason for the confrontation was also simple.

Since January 1942, Okamura Yasuji, the "old acquaintance and big boss" of the Eighth Route Army, has received a stern order from Imperial Headquarters demanding the immediate deployment of the North China Front Army in a full-scale assault on the Communist base in Shandong Province. This offensive must be decisive and victorious, completely annihilating the Communist and Red Army guerrillas in the area, as well as all armed forces not affiliated with the "Peace and National Construction Army." This order also ensures that the Americans cannot use Shandong Province's airports to launch their heinous bombing raids against the Empire, thus guaranteeing the safety of His Majesty.

Okamura Yasuji: 6

Then he threw the telegram aside and ignored it.

He had received similar telegrams since August 1941. Sometimes the headquarters urged him to mobilize the army to recapture Suiyuan and regain lost territory for the troops stationed in Mongolia; sometimes it urged him to expel the Eighth Route Army, sweep through the base areas, and restore railroad traffic. There were even telegrams requesting assistance from North China to Central China to see if they could penetrate Yiling in one fell swoop and execute "Operation Number Five."

However, by then, Mr. Neiji Amamiura was as indifferent to the world as a dead pig fearing boiling water or a roast duck fearing slicing. He simply replied to all these telegrams with a "read" and did not execute them: "The situation in North China is like this, I am what I am, I have laid it out, I am lying down, if you have the guts, can you send someone to replace me from headquarters?"

But this time, things seemed different. After Okamura had been lying in bed for a month, another telegram arrived—this time no longer a simple directive from headquarters, but a formal "Continental Directive." The document reiterated the demand for the North China Front Army to attack the Eighth Route Army base in Shandong Province and strictly ordered Fengcun to quickly come up with a plan and prepare the troops for the attack. Furthermore, the document blatantly hinted that this directive was endorsed by His Majesty's oral instructions, a personal request from His Majesty.

Okamura Yasuji finally grew serious. This wasn't a problem that could be solved simply by "playing it badly." He personally drafted a telegram in reply to headquarters, emphasizing the extreme strain on the North China Front's forces, the potential for the Eighth Route Army in Shandong Province to rapidly strengthen, and the precarious situation in North China, which threatened complete collapse at any moment. He then bitterly expounded on the pros and cons, meticulously analyzing the folly of launching a full-scale attack on Shandong Province at this point.

He begged the headquarters to recover his life... Oh no, in Japan, such behavior is an unacceptable act of suicide.

In his reply, Okamura Yasuji stated that if the operation was to be carried out, he would request that the Imperial Headquarters provide him with five additional divisions, along with corresponding artillery units, search regiments, and mecha units. Okamura's reply was full of eloquence, as if he were the vanguard: "With just five divisions in place, not only would the possible airfield in Shandong Province be solved, but the Suiyuan issue would also be solved!"

But after receiving the reply, the headquarters remained quiet for only half a month. Then, a transport plane flew from the mainland to Korea, and then from Korea to Peking. The chief of staff, carrying Continental Order No. 570, personally arrived at Okamura Yasuji's command post.

More importantly, this Chief of Staff was the Chief of the First Department (Operations) of the General Staff Headquarters. His name was: Tanaka Shinichi.

"Mr. Okamura!"

Although the rank of lieutenant general was far lower than that of General Okamura, Tanaka Shinichi's tone did not lower at all. Not long after he entered the door, he slammed his hands on the table and started shouting loudly.

"Have you forgotten the fundamental spirit of us soldiers?!" He slammed the table. "The fundamental principles of the soldier's spirit are enshrined with deep trepidation in the Emperor's imperial edict bestowed upon the soldiers! Once the order is given, to gladly throw oneself into the face of death, to silently and sincerely offer one's selfless devotion, is the essence of our soldier's spirit!"

He watched Okamura Neiji calmly put aside the "Continental Order" personally signed by His Majesty the Emperor, then half-peeked out his head and asked nonchalantly, "Mr. Okamura, what are you waiting for?"

Headache... Looking at the aggressive guy in front of him, Neiji Kazemura couldn't help but wonder if he was pretending to be crazy or if he was really mentally retarded and lacked intelligence. Something like "Battle Training" could be just shouted at, but could the Emperor's decree really force the vicious Communist army to lay down their arms and surrender?

It would be fine if ordinary untouchables and soldiers believed it, but why did you believe it too?

"Your Excellency, Lieutenant General!" Even though the man on the other side was from headquarters and a Lieutenant General, we couldn't let him shit on the heads of the North China Front Army! Immediately, a staff officer present stood up and spoke loudly, "The situation in North China is complex and changeable. It's not that our army won't attack, but the current situation is not as you think..."

"What? Ridiculous! In just a few months, the Southern Army conquered the city and drove the British, the Japanese, and the Lan Kingdom into a state of panic! Are you saying that in the battle on the mainland,

Are those small communist armies more powerful than Yingmilan?"

"Tanaka-kun."

Okamura Yasuji raised his hand to stop the staff officer's objection. He pondered for a moment, "The North China Army's determination to win victory and honor for Your Majesty has never wavered. However, the Southern Army's conquests and loyalty to the country are the result of the coordinated efforts of the armies of mainland China, Kanto, Korea, and Central China. If the Southern Army is so successful, then the North China Army has not shed blood and sacrificed? Don't we need samurai to achieve the co-prosperity of East Asia right now?"

Translated, this means that if I can get the person I wanted before, I can fight. Okamura calmly beat around the bush, kicked the ball back to Tanaka Shinichi, and waited for his response.

"How could the North China Front Army be short of manpower? The First Army and the Thirteenth Army are strong and powerful, and there are six divisions of directly-controlled troops. Even if the Mongolian troops suffered a slight loss,

But can't we withdraw troops for offensive operations?

"Besides, what's wrong with recruiting locally?"

Tanaka Shinichi asked curiously, "There are over two million Japanese expatriates in China alone, not to mention the Imperial Army of the Manchurian and Mongolian governments and the (Wang Puppet) Republic of China government: how can there be a shortage of troops?"

? ? ?