Chapter 49 Bombing of Adelaide

  Two days later, Jiang Yunzhi sent back a message through the radio station. The second brigade of Saye, which had set out ahead of schedule, encountered the Australian Eighth Cavalry Division in the small town of Wumala on the shores of Lake Ailan one day later. The air force's bombers discovered the enemy cavalry unit ahead of time, so the Second Brigade got off the train 30 kilometers away and laid out a defensive position along the railway line to block the Eighth Cavalry Division. At the same time, the bomber squadron launched a full-scale attack, with 12 H-5 bombers dropping over 100 250-kilogram high-explosive aerial bombs on top of the cavalry division's head, causing chaos and destruction that cannot be described as the Eighth Division was defeated. The Second Brigade immediately launched a full-scale attack, with automatic firepower fully open, defeating the Eighth Cavalry Division and occupying Wumala railway station. Ten hours later, the 2nd Armored Regiment arrived in Wumala town, and the tanks and armored vehicles did not disembark, awaiting new orders from the commander.

  Qian Zhihao finished reading the telegram, Xiao Guoxing hurriedly went to find a map, while Hans shrugged his shoulders, "One hundred and sixty-two kilometers."

  Qian Zhihao didn't react in time and asked: "What? What one hundred sixty-two?"

  "Woomera is 162 kilometers from Port Augusta, and the Eighth Cavalry Regiment was defeated. Augusta has already become a deserted city."

  Zhong Yimeng suddenly lifted his head, staring at Hans, who smiled bitterly. "I guarantee it, Commander. My previous garrison was in Pili Port, and the 18th Brigade was stationed in Adelaide. Except for the 18th Brigade, there are no more troops in South Australia."

  "Zhihao, ordered Jiang Yunzhi not to get off the train, and the train went directly into Augusta Port; The Second Travel followed up, telling Se Ye to control the port and main departments in the city, pay attention to troop discipline, and do not disturb the people; Notify the Air Command, tomorrow morning, two bomber squadrons will take off, bombing Adelaide."

  Looking at the expressionless commander, Hans suddenly panicked and immediately regretted saying that intelligence. "Commander..."

  Zhong Yi waved his hand, interrupting the anxious Hans. "I am not a butcher, but this is war! Hans, you should understand that this is a life-and-death struggle between us and the federal government. Bombing Adelaide is to avoid bombing Melbourne and Sydney in the future!"

  Adelaide, the capital of South Australia and the fourth largest city in Australia, is a renowned centre for wine and art. The city has a population of over 6 million people. Unlike other Australian cities, Adelaide was not a convict settlement in the 19th century, but rather a free migrant city. Most migrants were Anglo-Saxons, and the indigenous Kaurna people who originally inhabited the area had been driven into the surrounding hills and now number only a few hundred people. As a result, the city's lifestyle and customs are similar to those of the British Isles, with many Victorian and Edwardian buildings visible in the city. For example, the St Peter's Cathedral, which is a prominent landmark in Adelaide, stands out among the low-rise buildings that dominate the cityscape.

  "Captain, map check confirmed, this is the target location, requesting permission to drop bombs."

  Gao Jian furrowed his brow, he didn't like this unchallenging bombing mission. He would rather be flying a fighter plane to engage in dogfights with enemy planes. Bombing defenseless ground personnel and buildings was nothing compared to the thrill of shooting down enemy planes. "This twin-spired church is mine, everyone else is free to act as they please. Remember, we only have twenty minutes for bombing, throw all the miscellaneous stuff you can at this place, then immediately form up and head back."

  "Don't worry, Captain, it's not just the church, but also the nuns inside it that are yours. Hahaha..."

  As soon as I heard the boisterous laughter on the squadron channel, I knew it was that kid Ge Chen Guang again. "Damn!" Gao Jian cursed, "The commander said we'll have a chance to return to China sooner or later. These Western women are too heavy for me, I'll wait till I get back and marry a Chinese woman!"

  "Captain, at that time are you going to stay in China or bring your wife back to Australia?"

  "Nonsense! Haven't you heard what the commander said? The name 'Australia' will be changed sooner or later, this place will eventually become our Han people's territory. Alright, stop talking nonsense, prepare to drop the bombs!"

  The deafening roar echoed again. This time, the citizens of Adelaide fell into hell, and the electronic sight on the Thunder-5 aircraft could make the missile's deviation within 50 meters in the air at an altitude of 3,000 meters, while Gao Jian could easily control it within 30 meters. Two 250-kilogram missiles accurately blasted a large hole in the twin towers of St Peter's Cathedral, which collapsed with a loud roar after two huge explosions. Within ten minutes, similar explosions echoed throughout Adelaide, Australia's most famous art capital, and elegant Adelaide became a sea of flames. Adelaide, which had never experienced war since its founding 100 years ago, finally tasted the flavor of gunfire.

  At the same time, two H-5 bombers from the Second Bomber Regiment also visited the camp of the 18th Australian Army Brigade stationed in Adelaide. They dropped not bombs but a large package of leaflets fluttering down inside the camp with an ultimatum: The 18th Brigade must unconditionally surrender to the Red Guard within 12 hours, otherwise the bombing of Adelaide will continue and the 18th Brigade will also face a full-scale attack by the Red Guard armored forces.

  The 2nd Armored Division, after receiving orders from the Uradi Command Center, continued to move by train, passing through the Aylan Lake area until it entered the empty Augusta Harbor railway station.

  Standing on the empty platform, Jiang Yunzhi ordered his deputy to send a telegram to the still silent 2nd Division in Wuhan, telling them to speed up their boarding and quickly come to receive Augusta Port; then he sent another telegram to the commander: My troops have occupied Augusta without Australian resistance, planning to continue advancing, approaching Adelaide.

  Two telegrams were received almost simultaneously, and Seier's telegram was: My troops have boarded the train and will advance at full speed. The telegram from Urdi's command made Jiang Yunzhi somewhat bewildered: Your troops abandon the combat mission in A City, take a train via Pili Port to the eastern main line to capture Brocken Hill. The occupation of A City will be carried out by other troops.

  Broken Hill? Where is that, to be honest, off the map, Jiang Yunzhi really can't understand these Australian place names, they're all small towns with tens of thousands or even hundreds of people, and the names are especially hard to pronounce, let's wait, when the commander says Australia will be re-divided into administrative regions it'll be better.

  Finally found Brokens Hill on the military map, the railway turns at Piri Port, a small town of 20,000 people in the northeast, six hundred kilometers away! Jiang Yunzhi couldn't help but curse, "What the hell is this still fighting, this is just taking a train to tour around Australia, I'm going to puke from sitting on the train! The order didn't say that we have to take our armored unit to that small place, what's the use?"

  "Captain, the Broken Hill claims to have a large amount of silver, lead, zinc and so on..."

  "Yin Du?" The deputy officer had not finished speaking, Jiang Yunzhi's eyes widened, "What's the delay? Get on the car quickly and set off!"