The Sun Tzu wars

sebas379 said:

But now that you are in the Allies, you can't take Hongkong and Zhanjang back, but there are bigger concerns here, like dealing with Japan.

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I hesitated accepting the ally invitation so could take Hong Kong and Zhanjang, but in the end it is what I wanted so accepted. If I wanted to take Asia, I rather join Axis.... perhaps another times.

blklizard said:

I'm not entirely sure how you could be low on supplies. Is there a certain number of soldier that you can support before you put a strain on supplies? Or is the production of supplies inefficient in China making it difficult to meet the demands? As for the invasion of Korea, how is the supply routes going to work since you don't have control over the sea? You are landing behind enemy lines hoping to take the harbor but couldn't they just starve those men that landed by blockading?

What are the advantages of joining the Allies in your current conflict with Japan? It seems unlikely your new allies will be of any help.

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I think my supply problem is mainly low infrastructure/ supply throughput. Production is not the problem, that's for sure. I know I have no control over the sea, however, I am mass producing convoy's right now so it will help a bit. Also, I want Japan to be cut off from supplies on the Korean Peninsula and box them in so they can only surrender or fight to the death. Either way, they will loose a lot of troops.... I hope.

Allies will not help me in my conflict with Japan, or at least, I don't expect them to be. I have a few plans but it all depends on how my war with Japan goes. Especially invading Japan itself will be a challenge.

In February 1940 the situation initially did not change: divisions were still lacking supplies and the frontline still was moving back and forth, except for the northern part of Manchukuo, where still territory was gained. Chiang lost his patience with a few ministers and on February 10th he substituted some of them. Chen Guofu was removed from his office and Chen Lifu only from his post as Security Minister. Huang Chenzuo took office as Armamant Minister as he was more experienced in supplies, while Kong Xiangxi became Minister of Security. Being considered a man of the people, Chiang felt he would get more support from the intellectual populace. Chiang himself stepped down as Chief of Staff and appointed Jiang Baili, his senior advisor in military affairs, as the new Chief of Staff. He was a specialist in psychologie combined with military affairs and would have to make sure the infantry would keep morale and the organization high enough even when they are about to run out of supplies.


For a month new leadership created some sort of shock effect and especially the southern fronline advanced towards the Korean border. Though late March 1940 the supply problem returned and the advance came to yet another complete stop in the south. Luckily, the first transport ships entered the water and preparations were already made to make a landing in the southern part of Korea. Chiang kept his fingers crossed hoping his plan would succeed and Japan would be wiped off the mainland for once and for all. It would also mean China would be one step closer to invading Japan which would be the masterpiece of Chiang if he could pull it off. On April 1st 1940 the government of Manchukuo officially surrendered to China and the name was changed back to Manchuria. Japanese forces on Manchurian soil did not want to give up the fight eventhough they lost an ally in the battle. Meanwhile emperor Hirohito send more troops to the Korean peninsula to stop China from conquering it. Yet early spring 1940 the first divisions landed in Kunsan and secured the port of Mokp’o and controlling the Gulf of Tonkin.


By opening up a second front in the south, Japan had to redistribute their forces which resulted in more opportunities to advance once again in Manchuria. Allthough supplies remained a poblem and conquering territories was still slow, over the next few months China was able to grab more land and Japan had to move back. In the beginning of June, Japan was mainly active in the northern part of Korea, while the remaining forces active in Manchuria were about to be boxed in. Chiang expected the Japanese forces on the mainland to surrender in June or July at the latest.

Ok, now I am up to speed with my game, so I have some playing to do again YEY!

I've been looking into my supply problem and I found a few things that may be of influence:

The game has one principle supply network method used for transporting supplies on land and overseas:

1. All units draw supply by requesting it from the province they are located in.
2. If a province cannot supply a local unit, it will request supply from an adjacent province:

1. The first province asked will be the one located closest to the supply source.
2. Every other adjacent province will be asked if a previously asked province cannot provide supply.
3. If one adjacent province cannot meet the total supply need, multiple adjacent provinces may be used.
4. Each province between the requestor and a supply source will carry the request for supplies forward, aggregating other supply requests as appropriate.
5. Supply moves one province per day.

Since I have stacks of units in adjacent provinces, this could be 1 part of the problem. Another part resides probably in infra:

1. Infrastructure: The supply throughput a province can funnel depends on its infrastructure (see below for details).
2. Supply Tax: Moving supplies costs a base tax of 0.1 supplies (decreased by Supply Transportation techs) per province moved through.
3. Port Size: For overseas supply sources, the size of the port (each level equals 4 supplies) limits the amount of supplies that can be convoyed.
4. Air Base Size: Each level can support 4 supply units. Thus, a level 10 airbase can supply 40 air wings maximum.
5. Partisan Activity: Partisans will disrupt your supply in any province with partisan activity, decreasing your supply throughput.

So, I have my work cut out for me and I do need some testing if I understand it correctly .

EDIT: Sorry for my 3 times in a row postings :blink:

Don't worry, the IJN was there, but a minor dispatch fleet. I failed to make a screenshot when they attacked and especially when I won. No ships sunk. I do assume the majority of the fleet is patrolling the pacific.

The civil war is HPP specific and to answer your..... question you did not ask, Ikra: I haven't decided whether I am going to play HPP or BI. Both have their pros and cons.

Onwards to Nippon indeed, I've had a very busy week and did manage to play a little, now I have to put it into writing again . Hopefully tonight if work does not interfere :blink:

In the summer of 1940 Japan was struggling against the uprising Chinese forces. Fighting on two fronts proved to be much harder for Japan compared to China, who were rushing their way through Korea. In June the northern Imperial forces were cut off from their southern countrymen and the Soviet Union was not about to help them with supplies. Lucky for them, China still had problems supplying their own forces. As most Japanese forces were in the south, China supplied these divisions first and wiping Japan from the peninsula was main priority. Japan was still holding two ports and keeping them was imperative yet also important objectives for China. It was halfway through June when China took Pyongyang, the larger of the two remaining ports.


After loosing Pyongyang, Japan was mainly retreating though a few forces stood their ground. Or at least, tried to. In the second half of June, China had no problem winning battles from their Japanese counterparts. In the south Japan lost the second port in July and were completely surrounded and it was only a matter of time before they would surrender.


After the Japanese forces were captured or killed in Korea, China moved their forces into strategic positions. Far too late, Emperor Hirohito send forces to the mainland and they were easily driven back into the sea. On August 9th 1940, Japan had no more influence on Chinese soil. Only French Indo China was still under Japanese control, but hardly any forces were stationed there and also the jungle was a great defense for both China and Japan.

blklizard said:

Nice job driving almost all of Japanese presence out of the continent. It does appear that this might be the easy part since now you have to launch an actual attack on Japan. How's your shipbuilding industry going? When can we expect some action? Any other plans while you wait?

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Thank you and if this is the easy part, then I hesitate to get into Japan..... ok, not really. I do not consider it an easy victory though if you do not mind . Next will be the attack on Japan and I already played a bit, so I'll try to write the next update tonight, so action can be expected soon. Shipbuilding is going ok, light cruisers are ready and heavies are on the way. No other plans at this point, only planning what to and how to do it after defeating Japan (if I succeed that is).

August 1940 – Beiping. Chiang Kai-shek was visiting the Forbidden City during the summer together with his family and an escort of ministers and other important KMT members. Obivously the propaganda machine was thriving with the brilliant victory of Japan. China was celebrating the success with a week long festivities throughout the country, according to official statements. Unofficially not every part of the newly unified China was celebrating but were surpressed by their new rulers. After a short tour in the Forbidden City the entourage moved to Tiananmen Square where Chiang gave a victory speech. When the crowd finally, after 5 minutes, stopped cheering, Chiang promised the Chinese people revenge on Japan would be sweet. Chinese forces that battled in Manchuria and Korea were not offered an extensive rest, but were ordered to prepare for the next campaign.

September 1st 1940, Port of Hamhung, north Korea province. 3rd Corps of 3rd Army embarked on the awaiting transports. This time Chinese forces were less nervous as this time they would be escorted by new light cruisers. The ships lifted their anchors during the night and set sail to northern part of Honshu, the main island of Japan, destination south of Akita. Again for supply and reinforcement sake, it was imperative to capture the port of Akita very fast. About 24 hours later, Japanese shores were in sight, however, the IJN was waiting as well. China tried to disembark their forces as fast as they could while the light cruiser escorts tried to defend them. Twice the IJN attacked Chinese Naval forces and twice China won though they lost a few ships in the process. Luckily most of the land forces found their way ashore and moved out as soon as brigades were strong enough.


The rough northern lands were a challenge again. Movement was slow and also the rain proved to be a struggle for the Chinese forces. Additionally, the fearsome Japanese Marines entered the scene again. China had some major battle and lost some great soldiers to these fearless samurai’s. Eventhough it took China almost 3 months to secure the northern part of Honshu, phase one was complete.

sebas379 said:

Did I count correctly that you crushed 180k Japanese troops in those pockets? That will hurt them a lot. Love to see those hordes of Chinese infantry crush everything in their way
You could always go about it the Russian way. AKA throw enough men at it and some of them get through. In other words, build a whole bunch of transport fleets and try to invade in 2 or 3 different places. The IJN can't defend everywhere after all, and you can take the casualties (at least manpower wise, not sure about IC-wise).

Edit: Wow and just like that you stormed Japan. You took a few losses, but that was expected. Now that you have boots on their Isles, the Japanese empire's days are numbered!

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Roughly 180k yes, and I think that is about their main force. So I think Japan itself is not as well protected as I assumed upfront. The plan was to storm in 3 places as you can see in one of the previous updates (the one with the battleplans ), but I choose to have a few more transports than needed to spread the casualties (so to speak). Manpower is deffinately not a problem, I have 1.5k still and IC is ok. I would have to get back into the game to see the actual amount, but I have no problem so far .

Yes, Japan cannot escape the wrath of the Chinese Dragon hehe.

The initial plan was to invade 3 places simultaneously though the fleet was just not large enough. Plan B was to invade in the north first, within a month another invasion would take place in the south. On January 21st 1941 the second assault took place. Again the IJN attacked the Chinese fleet, this time three times of which the first two were repelled and the third one was lost. Two divisions made it to the island, the remaining 3 division drowned at sea. Allthough loosing 3 division, China was in luck as there were no land forces in Hiroshima and the port is theirs for the taking. After that it is waiting for reinforcments to make an actual impact and opening a southern front in Japan.


The northern front is advancing slow but steadily. Although the Japanese Marines offer good resistance, they cannot defend the island from everyone, especially the amount of soldiers China put into this invasion. Soon the capital of Tokio is in sight and even with the heavy defense put up by Japan behind the river, eventually they had to give up.


Halfway through February the 3rd planned front was opened, although not completely nescessary, it would speed up the process and proved to be utter humiliating for mainly the IJN. With the last battles in Korea and in overall the war on the mainland, Japanese army lost many soldiers. After the 3rd front was opened, resistance was broken and the roughly 250,000 Chinese soldiers that were used for the invasion marched throughout the lands. Even the last stronghold in Osaka had to give up as the troops were demoralized and undersupplied.


On the 22nd of March, 1941, Japan surrendered to the Chinese. China kept French Indo China and surprisingly did not give it back to France as long as Vichy France was still alive. Another inspiring speech from Chiang was to be expected as he was thrilled with the glorious victory over their hated enemies.

blklizard said:

In a way, this invasion seemed way too easy. I could understand the AI navy placement can be questionable at times but the lack of heavy resistance on their home soil seemed very odd. How many forces did you land initially and how many transports did you need? Are the weapons on both sides technologically the same or do the Japanese have a slight edge?

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Well, yes and no. This invasion I had light cruisers to support them and they were technological pretty much up to date. I do not have to spend tech on any other type of ships and also land tech is on infantry and artillery (including doctrines) mainly. I like to exploit the main feature of Nationalist China: men, men and even more men. I had one full corps invade the north first and after capturing the port, I added another 2 for this I used 10 transports to move 1 full corps so if 1 or 2 transports get sunk, I still have enough. The lack on land units is explainable, the amount they lost in Manchuria and Korea is immense. More than once I encircled a corps/ division(s) and destroyed them, the pockets in Korea were just the best ones thusfar .