CHAPTER 1679: CHAPTER 1596: THE AIR FORCE’S PRESSURE

Actually, the Tang Army didn’t just receive reinforcements—they received a massive amount of support, but not on the ground.

Despite at least one-third of the main fleet of Tang Country’s navy having returned due to supply and maintenance issues, and half of the other naval warships also temporarily unable to participate for similar reasons, the Tang Army’s paper strength has been epically increased.

This is because the airport at Ben has been repaired, and the Tang Army has established a large-scale airbase on the front line.

This airbase is protected by anti-air missiles and has three advanced radar stations, which can monitor the sky hundreds of kilometers around.

Even more terrifying, this airport can accommodate a large number of aircraft and provide maintenance assurance services for various small aircraft bases around.

The rapid repair of this airport owes much to the engineering corps of the Tang Army and the assisting dwarves. The complete establishment of this airport has allowed the Tang Nation Air Force to finally gain a foothold on the Eastern Continent.

A total of 120 Yinglong fighter jets are deployed at this airport, and at the same time, the airport is also tasked with taking off and landing 90 Thunderbolt attack aircraft and 60 Intruder attack aircraft.

Having so many fighter jets is primarily because the Tang Army fears that the opponent might gather their air force for another crazy counterattack; hence, they must ensure a certain number of fighter jets on the front line to contest air superiority.

Moreover, some of the tasks of Thunderbolt attack aircraft can actually be accomplished by Hind armed helicopters—at the surrounding small field airports, the Tang Army has deployed more than 200 Hind helicopters and another 150 Black Hawk helicopters performing various tasks.

Of course, besides these aircraft, there are large transport aircraft like Hercules Transport Aircraftg and Il Transporter taking off and landing daily, making the entire airport hectic.

So many transport aircraft have brought a large amount of supplies and reinforcements. These well-trained new soldiers have kept the 1st and 9th Group Armies, which have been fighting on the front lines, in vigorous combat effectiveness.

Busy air transport has somewhat alleviated some sea transport pressure. Those floating docks that were almost torn apart by tides and sea winds are indeed nearing the end of their lifespan.

The initially constructed few floating docks can no longer unload goods and can only be used by small boats transporting soldiers; they are no longer stable, and heavy goods easily crush these not-so-sturdy temporary facilities.

Certainly, the Tang Army has wilder methods for delivering more goods directly ashore: they throw goods into the sea, letting the waves wash them onto the beach for soldiers to collect.

In the air force aspect, some transport cargo planes would directly air-drop goods into designated areas and leave without turning back—though this wastes return transport capacity, it alleviates airport transportation pressure.

In general, everyone uses all sorts of methods to ensure abundant weapons, ammunition, and other supplies reach the front-line troops.

Due to ample supply, the Tang Army unexpectedly achieved some victories: the massive resistance from local civilians initially expected seemed not to happen.

This saved a whole batch of troops previously planned to maintain rear area security: now, three divisions of the Navy Marine Corps, two divisions of airborne troops remaining on standby in the rear... currently have no specific tasks.

The troops of these five divisions initially planned for maintaining rear security now, besides resting, are just helping transport supplies from nearby beaches to designated locations, effectively in a vacation-rest mode.

If necessary, these five divisions can easily dispatch two or even three to reinforce the front lines, maintaining the Tang Army’s defense status.

In the Air Force command headquarters at Ben, Xiao Yun, serving as Air Force General Commander, is arranging a series of upcoming tasks with his combat staff.

The air force’s tasks are so overwhelming that only a third of the pre-battle planned targets have been destroyed.

In other words, there are two-thirds of strategic targets in the Dwarf-controlled zone that the Tang Nation Air Force has not been able to address. This is also why the troops of the Ice Cold Empire can still gather leisurely and advance to the front lines.

Though an effective bombing was conducted earlier, follow-up plans were all canceled. The air force allocated power to suppress the Dwarf 5th and 6th Group Armies on the front, and the effect was quite good.

"Our fuel isn’t abundant, if we continue high-intensity bombing tasks, we might face a fuel shortage." One staff officer complained to Xiao Yun, given that most transportation of supplies relies on the navy, their fuel and ammunition cannot be locally supplied and must be transported from thousands of kilometers away.

Another staff officer nodded, saying, "The reserve of precision-guided bombs is also running low, the transport ship will arrive tomorrow, estimating by tomorrow dinner time before they can be put into the warehouse..."

Their complaints were simple—they wanted to delay the pre-battle operations plan: "Pilots can rotate, but many aircraft are not in good condition, needing maintenance scheduling. The original plan requires changes, the task to bomb rail lines is estimated to be postponed."

Xiao Yun was almost amused by his subordinates; he glared at these staff officers, scoffing while asking, "Postpone again? As planned, we should have conducted the second bombing along the railway line three days ago."

"General, we are very sorry... But according to the plan, three days ago, we should have 30 more Intruders, and another 40 tons of ammunition," a staff officer quickly explained.

Xiao Yun wasted no words, pointed at the photos on the table, and loudly said, "Satellite images show that at least two-thirds of the Dwarf’s 6th Group Army have reached the front line, our delaying effect didn’t manifest."

"The current situation is that the Dwarves’ front-line troops have once again gained a numerical advantage, they might seize this opportunity to launch a large-scale counterattack! This opportunity is given by our Air Force." He said while looking at these staff officers, scaring them into silence.

"Sorry." "Apologies, General." Several staff officers lowered their heads to apologize, knowing that such a situation did have some responsibility on the air force’s part.

Xiao Yun leaned on the table and forcefully ordered, "Apologizing to me is useless! We need to find ways to throw the Dwarf’s troops into chaos, delay their counterattack timing as much as possible! Wait until the 11th Corps lands, and we fully occupy Eternal Winter Port—then the pressure will shift to the enemy! No matter what, let the planes take off... Bomb the transportation hubs!"