You were tasked with guarding the Sihang Warehouse, and you brought out a Tiger tank?

News of the Japanese army's large-scale aircraft deployment was quickly transmitted directly to the Fifth War Zone Commander's Headquarters in Pengcheng via the Military Intelligence Bureau's internal radio network.

"What?! More than thirty planes?!"

In the operations hall, Commander Li looked at the telegram he had just translated, and his face instantly turned ashen.

"Sir, the Japanese have deployed such a large fleet of aircraft, and many of them are new models of heavy bombers. This is definitely not as simple as just bombing a few infantry positions on the front line."

A senior staff officer, sweating profusely, analyzed:

"Their target is most likely our Pengcheng Command Headquarters."

They want to launch a decapitation strike against us and cripple the theater command center.

Commander Li nodded in deep agreement.

Pengcheng, as the core of the Fifth War Zone, was home to a large number of command organs and logistics warehouses, making it the most valuable strategic target in the eyes of the Japanese.

"Immediately sound the air raid sirens throughout the city."

Commander Li's decisive order demonstrated the resolve of a high-ranking official:

"Order all units within the city to immediately cease all non-essential activities and take precautions against air raids and other threats."

Two squadrons took off immediately.

Climb above the clouds, gain altitude advantage, and intercept them.

One squadron will remain on standby on the ground as an emergency reserve.

Lin Feng looked at the gloomy sky outside the window:

"Now that the Japanese planes have arrived, they're not going anywhere."

"Let's use these Japanese planes as a sacrificial offering to our flag, and fire the first shot of our 33rd Army Air Force!"

-----

High in the sky, the wind howled.

Two Mitsubishi "Venus" radial engines roared deafeningly, propelling the heavy Type 97 bomber aircraft as it struggled to navigate beneath the clouds.

The space inside the cabin is much narrower than it appears from the outside.

The pungent smell of high-octane aviation fuel and the strong smell of engine oil, mixed with the sweat odor of the seven crew members, swirled and churned within the sealed aluminum alloy skin.

As it was an early model, this new bomber, on which the Japanese had placed high hopes, was neither equipped with advanced cockpit pressurization equipment nor provided with additional oxygen masks or cabin heating functions.

The cold wind from high above poured in through the gaps in the machine gun firing ports, chilling people to the bone.

To prevent the crew members from losing consciousness due to lack of oxygen or freezing to death, Major Kato dared not order the climb to the maximum altitude.

The entire massive bomber formation could only awkwardly maintain its position in the low to medium altitude range of about two to three thousand meters, like a flock of clumsy gray geese, slowly flying forward.

"Major, please take a look!"

The navigator, huddled in a narrow folding chair, held a cardboard drawing board and sketched the flight path on it with red and blue pencils. Then, he excitedly pointed downwards and shouted:

"Look! The Huai River is right below! We've entered the heart of the Fifth War Zone in China!"

Upon hearing this, Major Kato unbuckled his seatbelt and left the swaying command seat.

He bent over and carefully passed through the cockpit, crawling into the completely transparent "garden-style" glass nose at the very front of the aircraft.

Through the large glass windows beneath his feet and all around him, Major Kato looked down at the earth from his elevated position.

Although the Central Plains in early spring still carry a touch of desolation, the vast plains and the Huai River, which meanders like a jade belt, still display a breathtakingly magnificent beauty.

"It's so beautiful..."

Major Kato stared greedily at the ground beneath his feet, his eyes gleaming with undisguised desire.

The other Japanese crew members in the cabin also gathered around the porthole, pointing excitedly and letting out wild howls.

In their eyes, the rich and beautiful land of Great Xia was already a spoil of war that was within their grasp for these imperial conquerors.

As long as we drop the bombs and turn those Chinese troops who dare to resist into mincemeat, this land will forever belong to His Majesty the Emperor.

"Alright, warriors, shut your mouths and get ready to work."

Major Kato stepped out of the nose of the aircraft, grabbed the radio communicator hanging on the bulkhead, pressed the transmit button, and loudly commanded through the formation channel:

"All aircraft should maintain tight formation, and escorting fighters should increase their vigilance."

We're continuing north, target Jiawang. Get your bombs ready!

"Hai!" came the unified reply from all the pilots over the channel.

Everything seemed to be going so smoothly, so perfectly.

However, just as Major Kato was about to put down the communicator and sit back down to rest, he closed his eyes.

"Sizzle... sizzle..."

Suddenly, a piercing electrical interference sound came from the radio channel.

Immediately afterwards, a bloodcurdling scream, so piercing it was almost distorted, suddenly rang out in the headsets of all the Japanese pilots.

"Enemy aircraft! Enemy aircraft spotted! Enemy aircraft ascending! Make a rapid descent!"