"It's time for reinforcements to arrive, right?" Meng Xiang was also a little anxious in his heart. He knew that if the third brigade fought more with less, the losses would inevitably be great. The loss of every pilot is like dropping a piece of gold. If it weren't for the support of the ground anti-aircraft artillery network, I am afraid that they would not be able to hold out and send reinforcements.

Reinforcements from the air had not yet arrived, but the anti-aircraft artillery units on the ground were gathering more and more. They did not get together, but said that their planes were constantly expanding the range of their flights, so they directly crashed into the anti-aircraft fire nets arranged in various places.

"Akime-kun, it's unbelievable. I dare say that they have more anti-aircraft artillery here than we have on the entire China Front. What a hell of a life! Kimura carefully observed his surroundings as he piloted the Zero Fighter over a cloud of gunsmoke. As far as the eye could see, the sky was full of such bursts of smoke, and then slowly spread out and drifted away like a dark cloud. But he knew how deadly that smoke ball was. He saw with his own eyes that their squadron leader was wrapped in a ball of smoke that burned directly in mid-air and scattered into countless fireballs.

"Akime-kun, Akime-kun! ......" Kimura didn't react when he heard his wingman for a long time, and there was no sign of him beside him, just a plane below that was plummeting with black smoke and was going down. The number on the side of the plane, which was still faintly visible in the smoke of dragging, was his wingman.

He didn't have time to grieve when he felt a shock from the plane, and a piece of shrapnel pierced the left wing of the plane, breaking a large hole.

"Fortunately, it didn't hit the fuselage!" He couldn't help but rejoice that this new aircraft could be great, but the protection was too poor. Seeing that the kind of stupid plane of the vanguard army was okay with dozens of bullets, his heart turned from disdain at the beginning to envy. There is only one life, and although he never spares his life for the empire, it is still a matter of good fortune to be alive to see the cherry blossoms in his hometown.

Those 7.7 machine gun bullets could only tickle the Vanguard aircraft, making only the Zero's 20 cannons a threat to them. But even if the 20 cannons didn't hit the vital point, they could still fly in the air and retreat to their positions. And the new planes on our side are easy to disintegrate and explode as soon as they are hit. So I only rely on the superb technology that I have been flying for five years.

Akime struggled to balance the fuselage, and quickly rushed up to dodge the clouds of black metallic smoke that erupted from beneath the plane.

"Finally out of danger!" He wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead, and the beads of sweat just now rolled into his eyes, and he didn't have time to wipe them off. At this time, it broke away from the anti-aircraft artillery positions and entered the area of entanglement between the two sides. There were also Vanguard planes, whose anti-aircraft guns wouldn't shoot in this direction, and those planes were entangled in more than twice as many Zeros. Now I can breathe a sigh of relief.

But at this time, more than a dozen fires flashed in the corners of his eyes.

"Nope! ......" Akime shouted unwillingly, and at some point, more than twenty planes of the vanguard army swooped down from high in the air, and the three planes flying in front of him opened fire on him at the same time.

"Boom!" Akime's Zero Type exploded and disintegrated directly in the air.

"Quick, the brothers of the third brigade are fighting hard!" Wan Hu drove the lightning through the side of the fireball that exploded from the Zero, and shouted loudly.

More than 20 planes broke through the clouds one after another and rushed towards the group of planes that were entangled.

"Our reinforcements have arrived." The pilots of the 3rd Brigade shouted excitedly.

"Reinforcements from Huaibei have arrived?" Meng Xiang asked again.

"The 172 Flying Squadron stationed in Linyi has arrived first." Rat II replied.

"Hmm!" Meng Xiang nodded and didn't say anything, and there was still no stretch between his eyebrows. That squadron in Linyi only had more than twenty fighters, and it still couldn't recover its inferiority. What worries him even more is that the air battle launched by him this time is not only Huaibei and Xuzhou, but also the news has already come from the Xinzheng defense line, where 200 planes are also attacking. At the same time, more than 200 planes were also attacking in the direction of Shanhaiguan and Qinhuangdao in the north.

"This time, I said that I was so generous!" Fan Chong also sighed. In this way, I can say that there are already seven or eight hundred planes that I have taken out, and although there are some old fighters mixed in with them, there are also four or five hundred Zero fighters. Aircraft operations on this scale have never been done before. Even the largest number of Spanish air battles on both sides was just over a hundred.

"I said that I have accumulated a maximum of 500 Zero aircraft." Meng Xiang affirmed that the information sent back by several spies in his homeland, after judging and analyzing, showed that the production capacity of his Zero fighter was limited, and the production of 500 fighters was already the limit at this time, both in terms of materials and engines.

"Other directions should not be the focus of the army's offensive. But you can't be on guard, maybe the devil is playing tricks, and there is still hidden strength that has not been revealed. But more than 200 fighters are enough to threaten. After Fan Chong finished speaking, he looked at Meng Xiang and said, "Do you really want to be vacant and let them come?" ”

"Hmm!" Meng Xiang nodded and said solemnly, "Only in this way can we gain greater initiative." ”

The air battle continued, and the world was shocked by this large-scale air battle in which more than 1,000 warplanes were put into use by both sides. All countries are paying attention to this air battle, especially the battle in the sky around Huaibei and Xuzhou, the battle has been going on, it has been three or four hours, and planes are constantly flying back to replenish fuel and ammunition, and planes are constantly joining.

Reinforcements from the vanguard army continued to join, and the number of combat aircraft gradually increased to 200. Relying on the cover of anti-aircraft artillery and the home battle, it was able to resist the attack of the Japanese army's planes.

The troops on the ground seemed to be attracted by this great battle in the air, and they did not make any rash moves. Only the anti-aircraft machine guns and anti-aircraft guns on the vanguard side chased the screeching that swept overhead from time to time.

The smoke of gunpowder is getting thicker and thicker, covering the sky, and the people below are almost unable to see the air battle overhead. Even the sound of machine guns and cannons on the planes was drowned out by the curtain of gunsmoke, and only the sound of the engines of countless planes could be heard from time to time in the air. From time to time, planes dragged a puff of black smoke and whined and whined and carried down.

In addition to the Thunderbolt planes, the vanguard came to support the F6F-5 Hellcat.

Due to secrecy, the F6F-5 rocket was not installed, but at this time two 20mm cannons and four 12.7mm machine guns were enough to smash the opposite Zero. Originally, Hellcat was produced for the characteristics of Zero. Unlike the high-altitude kills of the Thunderbolt, the F6F-5 can play a cat-and-mouse death game with the Zero at low altitudes.

Its cockpit armor and self-sealing fuel tank are both resistant to the Zero's 7.7 machine gun rounds, which only a 20mm cannon can threaten. But its firepower and speed are stronger than those of the Zero, and the flexible surname is not worse than the Zero, directly suppressing the Zero fighter.

According to the simulated battle with Zero in the Vanguard training, at more than 5,000 meters, Hellcat has an absolute advantage over Zero, whose movements are somewhat stiff. Below three thousand meters, the Type 5 and the Zero are on par. So in pursuit of the greatest victory, the Hellcats all ran high in the air, and the 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine guns and 20mm anti-aircraft guns below blocked the space, and even the large-caliber anti-aircraft guns lowered the altitude of the air explosion and drove the Zero aircraft to a high place.

Raiden and Hellcat take advantage of the opportunity to rush up and abuse Zero in the sky. High in the air like dumplings, from time to time there are planes carried and landed. There are vanguard troops, but more of them are their own. Most of the more than 200 planes of the Vanguard Army were composed of skilled pilots, although Fang Fang was also an elite pilot, but the difference in the surname of the aircraft, as well as the Pioneer Army's long-targeted training based on zero-type training, made the Vanguard Army begin to gain the upper hand. The battle losses of the two sides have also changed from 1 to 1 at the beginning to 1 to 2.

The pilots on both sides were exhausted to the extreme. They often fly back, refuel, reload their ammunition, rest for a while, and then hurry into the sky. He said that he even had a spare pilot, who could be replaced in turn. The Vanguard gave the pilots a respite through dense anti-aircraft artillery.

A group of qualified novices in the Vanguard Army also flew the fighter planes and waved their flags and shouted to deal with the old planes.

They can't grow up without being nurtured by war. Although many of them were shot down, they grew up quickly.

There are not umbrella flowers blooming in the sky, this is the territory of the vanguard army, and the pilots of the vanguard army have been best protected, and those devil pilots are unfortunately surrounded and have committed suicide.

With the arrival of reinforcements from the vanguard army of Jinan, Qidu and Weifang, the battle also came to an end. Never once an air battle went through so long, there were flights that lasted for hours, but that was not a battle. Fighting requires full concentration, and in an hour or two you will be tired. Both sides are tired and need to rest, and when there are the fewest planes in the air, there are less than 100. However, the battle continued until he gave the order to retreat, and the air battle, which lasted for more than five hours, ended.

46 to 95.

This was the final outcome of this long battle. It was also the largest number of casualties on both sides. The Vanguard lost 46 aircraft and lost twelve pilots. The Japanese army lost 89 people, and the losses of the bombers were particularly serious.

With the onset of dusk, air battles in other directions also ended.

In the direction of Shanhaiguan, there was the protection of Nanyuan's Second Brigade and Hainan Airlines, and the more than 200 planes there did not pose much of a threat. Moreover, there are only more than 50 Zeros with more than 100 old aircraft on a diversion mission.

On the contrary, in the air battle in the Xinzheng area, the Yue army seemed to have the advantage. There were a hundred Zeros and more than a hundred vintage planes there, and there were only seventy or so Thunderbolts on the other side. There were no reinforcements.

After only two hours of support, the aircraft of the vanguard army retreated, and the planes of the army in the rear pursued, and after raging for a while, they were forced back by the dense anti-aircraft artillery on the ground.

"The Vanguard Army has a limited number of aircraft and not many pilots. According to the intelligence of the Empire, they still have some planes in Suiyuan, and some planes in the Beijing-Tianjin area. And most of their forces on the southern front were concentrated in Huaibei, resulting in the emptiness of the Zhengzhou defense line. Itagaki Seishiro said with some hesitation, he always felt that something was wrong in his heart. But after analyzing it for most of the day, I felt that the air force strength of the vanguard army was already terrifying, and it was impossible to have more.

Airplanes are not so easy to build, and pilots are not so easy to train. He said that his intelligence department had the list of almost all the pilots in Huaxia, even if they had managed to get the list of some excellent flight cadets. In a short period of time, it is impossible for them to train so many pilots.

The Russians were helping the Central Army in the war. I already knew about this. But except for a mercenary flying team composed of international people called the Flying Tigers, there seems to be no extra foreign pilots in the Vanguard.

And how many of them can buy such advanced aircraft? Even if someone is willing to sell, they don't necessarily have more money to buy.

With limited planes and pilots, air supremacy over the Central Plains will be transferred to one's own hands.

"In this way, we can fight back against Zhengzhou." Tada Jun also nodded in approval.

"There may be a breakthrough in the direction of Zhengzhou, and the most important thing is to open up the channel with Shanxi first." Itagaki Seishiro is not so sure that he will be able to take Zhengzhou, but it is the most important thing to open up the passage on the Shanxi side and avoid the Shanxi army being trapped.

Shanxi's military industry and logistical supplies were constantly bombed by the vanguard army, which made Shanxi's ammunition and weapons even more strained. If it weren't for the exceptionally strong fortress built by Yan Xishan in Taiyuan at the beginning, I am afraid that Taiyuan would have fallen by this time.

However, the bombers there also took up a lot of pilots, so Itagaki Seishiro was a little sure that Zhengzhou's air force was insufficient. While containing in other directions, a large-scale attack can be launched in the direction of Zhengzhou to open up the passage to Shanxi. Let Shanxi's 100,000 troops be besieged and annihilated, and no one can afford this responsibility.

"This plan needs to be escalated to the base camp. Besides, we don't have enough manpower, so we need to increase it. Seishiro Itagaki said again. Since the Yue army was repeatedly defeated by the vanguard army, he was extra careful with the vanguard army. At this time, this little man in Henan could not deal with the vanguard army, and he needed to at least double it before he felt sure that he could attack the Yellow River.

"It's good!" Tada Jun also nodded in approval. This is the result of their repeated deliberations, although they are reluctant to admit it, but if the ratio is one to one, it is indeed difficult for them to win against the vanguard army on the opposite side.

Soon there was also a message from the base camp that recognized this method of combat. At the same time, it also recognized the way in which aircraft were concentrated to seize air supremacy. Although the losses of the Yue army were large, the losses of the vanguard army were also very large, and by concentrating on one attack, they could take the opportunity to tear apart the airspace in other directions. The emptiness of the Zhengzhou sky defense in front of him is a good opportunity.

"Not so fast, they need at least a little more time." Meng Xiang looked at the day's battle report and said a little tiredly.

"Yes, that's enough for us to prepare. However, during this period of time, I am afraid that the direction of Huaibei will be tossed for a while. Fan Chong said with a smile. Although the Zhengzhou area said that the army and air force had the advantage, they themselves would not destroy it much before launching a large-scale battle, and they were also worried that the vanguard army would mobilize personnel from other places to fill this hole.

On 6 June, this large-scale air battle caused a sensation in the world.

"More than a thousand planes? Said that I had a thousand planes dispatched together? "Summer has already arrived, but the cold of winter still lurks in the shadows near Red Square. Even the man sitting in the dark in the corner exuded the chill of winter.

"They only made a sortie of just over eight hundred and forty. It hasn't exceeded 1,000 yet. The person in front of him said respectfully, if Meng Xiang heard this, he would also be a little surprised, although the number is accurate to a single digit, but it is not very easy to detect the number of his own planes in such a fast time.

"My air force is also very strong. Their new fighter surname is not bad, why haven't they defeated the young general in Huaxia yet? The man in the corner muttered to himself.

The man standing in front of him just bowed, not daring to speak.

"That Huaxia general doesn't seem to have any intention of cooperating with us. However, with him entangled with him, our East can be much more stable. For the rest, we just have to deal with the Germans to the west. ”

...... "A thousand? Say, where did they get so many materials to produce a thousand new aircraft? You know, it's a new type of aluminum alloy! But don't worry, they don't have enough resources, and we have better planes. Moreover, no matter how many planes they have, they can't cross the Pacific Ocean. ”

"I'm not talking about that. Old George, what worries me is the Chinese general, who quickly amassed a large army by means of arms. At this time, they were able to resist the attack of nearly 1,000 planes of their own. Their strength should not be underestimated. I am afraid that the political situation in China will change in the future. ”

"Rest assured. We can't buy a strong army by buying arms, and they don't pose a threat to us. I just don't know who's supporting them? Is it just that copycat company, who buys and sells arms just to fill the big hole of the vanguard army? ”

"That's what I'm worried about, it's really unreassuring to have a huge organization hidden behind them, but it's not visible."

With the strong rise of the Vanguard Army, more and more people are paying attention to the supporters behind them. Although there are dealings with copycat companies, they have so many weapons and equipment that they can already drag down a country's finances. Where does all this money come from? In addition to copycat companies, there are other organizations that are providing financial resources to the Vanguard.

"I am also a little worried, our country only produced a total of 1,800 fighters last year, and it seems that production will be expanded." That George said.

...... "A thousand planes? Our empire has more aircraft. Goering said dismissively, but he was still surprised. Although the Germans produced about 38 fighters in 5235, the planes produced were not equal to those that flew into the sky. Every plane that flies into the air needs to involve more manpower and material resources to serve it. The scale of the battle of this thousand aircraft is also staggering.

"It seems that the strength of those dwarfs needs to be reconsidered, but it is surprising that the Huaxia general was able to hold on. He still has good things in his hands, and it seems that he still needs someone to go over and communicate. He pondered in his heart.

...... "We can promise that loan to that Huaxia general!" ”

"But that loan is a bit too big."

"Don't worry, that Huaxia general has the ability to protect himself. At the same time, his own strength is also terrifying, if they break free from the quagmire of China, our Malaya and other colonial areas will be a little dangerous. We need that Huaxia general to hold him back. We can do our best to deal with European affairs. ”

"But the powerful Huaxia is more terrifying than himself!"

"Whew, when will Huaxia become stronger? They can't rise. That Huaxia general is just a puppet, there is no good thing, who will throw a lot of money down to support them? The power that was sold was not strong. Besides, there is also the Chiang regime, and they will have to fight to determine the future road to China. How can China be strong after a civil war? Hehe! ”

The world is telling the story of this air battle. This air battle not only shocked the world, but also made Meng Xiang feel a crisis. It is said that the speed at which they produce aircraft is not slow, and more importantly, they have many skilled pilots, and they can send out more than 1,000 people in one go. And the skilled pilots of the vanguard army, although they have also increased, they are weak everywhere when they are dispersed.

There are too many places for the vanguard to defend. The area is large, and even if the plane flies, it will not be possible to arrive in a moment and a half. This is the division of the original brigade. It's okay to deal with ordinary battles, but I said that I used this trick to fight hard, and it was really hard to crack.

"If it really doesn't work, I'll use anti-aircraft artillery to build a great wall of firepower in the air!" Meng Xiang pondered for a long time, and finally decided. He said that more than 30 of the planes he lost were bombarded by anti-aircraft artillery. With the help of dense anti-aircraft artillery groups, it was possible to block the sky of a zone. Even if I came, I wouldn't make much money.

As for the missiles, they were ignored by Meng Xiang. The accuracy of that thing is not high, the price is relatively high, it can be used for research, and the actual combat is a little worse.

"But it's good to be deployed in some special areas to deal with bombers." A thought flashed through Meng Xiang's heart.

But at the end of the day, it's all about defense, not offense.

"The essence of the Air Force is to attack!" Meng Xiang muttered a sentence that Hu Wen said when he was in the book, but he was a little worried about the shortage of pilots in his heart.

"Bangbang!" There was a soft knock on the door, and Rat Er walked in.

He walked straight to Meng Xiang and handed over two copies of the Red Blood Script.

"Commander, the cadets of the two aviation schools have jointly handed over the letter of request!"