You were tasked with guarding the Sihang Warehouse, and you ended up with a German-equipped division

Chapter 229: Japanese air force mobilizes, 5 air squadrons, several aircraft.

But all they had were makeshift foxholes; they didn't even have a proper trench defense system.

Faced with the onslaught of steel, all they had left to truly utilize were a few anti-tank guns.

It must be said that these anti-tank guns did cause considerable trouble for the Third Column, which was launching a frontal attack.

In just two hours of fighting, more than 30 armored vehicles were destroyed, and many motorcycles and assault vehicles were also damaged.

But such losses were nothing to Li Jianghe's third column.

After destroying dozens of armored vehicles, hundreds more tanks kept coming up to take their place.

However, the Japanese anti-tank guns could hardly survive on this battlefield.

Often, after firing just a few rounds, they would be locked onto and destroyed by the precise firepower of the enemy's third column.

Every enemy destroyed is one less to be found, with no room for replacements, and the gaps in the defense line are being torn wider and wider.

"Where are the Imperial Guard Division and the 13th Division? Haven't they arrived yet?!"

Tani Hisao abruptly put down his binoculars, his face ashen, and growled, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.

Ogisu Rippei slowly shook his head, his voice full of helplessness: "I've already sent several telegrams urging them to hurry up."

"They said they were also under heavy attack from the main force of the Third Column and could not spare any troops to support us in a short time."

Upon hearing this, Tani Hisao's eyes instantly turned red. He slammed his fist hard on the cold battlements and let out a suppressed growl.

"Damn it! How could the main force of the Third Column be attacking them?! The main force of the Third Column is right in front of us!"

The cannon fire below the city tower continued to roar. He knew better than anyone that without reinforcements, Huoqiu City could not be held for long.

In his view, the Imperial Guard Division and the 13th Division were not halted because they were tied up by the enemy's main force.

They were passively providing aid, afraid of becoming targets of the third column themselves, and thus became cowards.

This is the act of a coward, an act of utter stupidity, even more foolish than the staff officers at headquarters, and more short-sighted than those guys in the navy.

Ogisu Ritsubei, standing to the side, frowned as he watched his furious outburst and sighed softly.

He knew that Tani Hisao was holding back his anger, but losing his temper now wouldn't solve anything.

"Let's bring some people over from the rear first."

Ogisu Rippei lowered his voice and suggested, "Otherwise, how will we launch a frontal counterattack?"

The pale light on the horizon grew brighter and brighter, the night completely faded away, and the sky was fully bright.

Their air force units were finally able to launch bombing missions against the Third Column on the front.

Both of them knew that the only way to reverse the current downward trend was to rely on air power.

This is their only real advantage over the third column.

Tani Hisao also understood that this was the only way at the moment. After thinking for a moment, he gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

"Draw some troops from Madian Town and Longtan Town in the west."

"The main enemy forces to the south are all launching a fierce attack on the 13th Division and the Guards Division, so the number of troops they can spare to attack us is certainly limited."

Hisao Tani's tone carried a hint of suppressed irritation.

Upon hearing this, Ogishu Ritsuhei immediately turned to look at the western side of the map.

"We can't draw too many troops from the west!"

"The Nationalist army on the west bank of the Shi River is also launching a full-scale offensive. If we are not careful, the enemy may break through the west bank directly. — Your personal mobile library, accessible anytime."

"At that point, we'll be attacked from both sides, and the situation will only get worse!"

But Hisao Tani suddenly waved his hand, his tone full of disdain and stubbornness.

"Compared to those less threatening Nationalist troops, Li Jianghe's Third Column was the most deadly!"

As he spoke, he looked up at the gradually brightening sky, a final glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes.

"In any case, it's dawn, and the air force will be deployed soon."

"I want to see if Li Jianghe's Third Column can still be as arrogant as it is now when facing our fighter jets!"

Air superiority is his last hope and the only trump card he believes he can use to turn the tide.

Hundreds of kilometers away in Hefei, the lights at the headquarters of the Japanese Second Army were also on all night.

Nishio Toshizo stood by the window, looking at the sky outside, which was now completely bright. He hadn't slept all night, and his eyes were bloodshot.

The telegrams piled up on the table were like a small mountain, all urgent requests for help from the front lines, which made him feel very agitated.

He turned around and coldly asked the staff officer in the room, "How are the air force units' preparations going?"

Naosaburo Okabe immediately stepped forward, stood at attention, and reported to his superior:

"Reporting to the Commander, all three air squadrons have taken off!"

"In addition, General Hata Shunroku has also replied, offering to provide an additional air force squadron to support our counter-offensive operations in the Huoqiu area."

Upon hearing this, Nishio Toshizo's nerves, which had been tense all night, finally relaxed a little, and he let out a long sigh of relief.

"Great! That's wonderful!"

"In any case, now our army can finally launch a full-scale counter-offensive on the front lines!"

Meanwhile, at several Japanese field airfields on the outskirts of the battlefield, the roar of engines was deafening.

The propellers kicked up clouds of dust as reconnaissance planes were the first to taxi off the runway and soar into the morning sky.

Their mission was to conduct reconnaissance of the battlefield situation and pinpoint the location of the Third Column's armored forces.

Following closely behind were a large number of fighter jets and bombers that took off, quickly forming a massive air formation.

According to the operational plan, the fighter jets were responsible for suppressing and destroying the air defense positions of the third column first.

After the ground-based air defense forces are eliminated, the bomber group will follow up and launch a carpet bombing of the enemy's armored forces.

Several air force squadrons took off almost simultaneously, forming a formation of over a hundred fighter jets.

Furthermore, they will continue to operate intensively throughout the day, and will not simply carry out a single bombing mission.

It is conceivable that if their plan succeeds, the Third Column, and even the Nationalist troops on the west bank of the Shi River, will suffer a devastating blow.

This is also the biggest source of confidence that Nishio Juzo dared to order a full-scale counterattack.

Inside Huainan City, the atmosphere was equally tense in the temporary command post of the Third Column.

The reconnaissance unit that had infiltrated behind Japanese lines had sent an urgent telegram: a large number of Japanese aircraft were flying toward the Huainan and Huoqiu area.

On the wall of the command post hangs a huge air defense early warning map, and the location of each reconnaissance team is clearly marked with a small red flag.

Li Jianghe turned around and looked at Wang Chengzhu standing opposite him. The latter stood ramrod straight, his expression incredibly resolute.

"Zhu Zi, the Japanese have already deployed their warplanes, and there are quite a few of them."

Li Jianghe asked calmly, "Can the air defense force you're leading stop them?"