Age of Conquest Reborn

When the troops led by Tong Batu caught up with the main force of the brigade led by Chief of Staff Hexi Getu, it was already the evening of September 16th. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the gradually withering grassland, flowing with a sad and beautiful texture.

, where the evening wind blows, the grass waves are rolling, and the camp is like an island in the waves.

Seeing the dancing flames of the bonfire in the distance, Tong Batu suddenly felt a very close feeling. He had never left the army since he got on the horse. This time, it was the longest separation, more than ten hours.

It seemed like a very long time. A place with comrades and brothers was home. He had an urge to go home.

The brigade chief of staff, He Xigetu, who received the telegram, led a few guards and came over a few miles away. When they met Tong Batu, they hurriedly jumped off their horses, and two Mongolian men followed closely.

They hugged each other and beat each other on the back, making a "dong dong" sound. All the soldiers participating in the night attack reined in their horses, smiled, and looked at the unique way of meeting the two big guys of the second brigade.

.

He Xigetu wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and said: "Brigadier, I am worried to death. I am here, but my heart is on the battlefield. You don't know that the army won the battle and taught Lao Maozi a lesson."

After the news came back, the camp was in a state of excitement. Those warriors who did not participate in the battle are waiting for you at the camp, saying that they want to use the most solemn ceremony on the grassland to welcome the warriors who have returned triumphantly!"

Hexi Getu flew on his horse and shouted loudly: "Soldiers, fragrant milk tea and soft cooked meat are prepared in the camp. Our comrades who have not participated in the battle, in this way, welcome you back in triumph! However, no

Alcohol, our troops are not allowed to drink alcohol, this is the division commander’s rule. When we arrive in Culun, I will definitely ask the brigade commander to give everyone a day off and have a good drink!”

The soldiers cheered for a while, returning from the battlefield. The fragrant milk tea and meat can wash away the dust all over their bodies. What could be more desirable than this!

Tong Batu laughed in a low voice and said: "Old man, I usually don't notice that you are quite good at ideological work. I see that after arriving in Kulun, I reported to the division commander and asked you to serve as the chief of staff and chief of staff of our brigade.

Director of Political Training."

He Xigetu grinned and replied with some emotion: "It's better to rush the ducks. You left thousands of troops to me, and I was worried about you. The mood of the troops was still a little unstable. The second battalion was almost wiped out.

The shadow of it still remains in the hearts of the soldiers, but in just a dozen hours, I feel like half a lifetime has passed!"

The two looked at each other, laughed, and then rode together. Tong Batu told Hexi Getu in detail about the battle. When he heard that there were no Soviet pursuers behind him, Hexi Getu relaxed obviously.

One breath.

When they arrived at the camp, the scene in front of them made the soldiers who had returned from the battle feel a little shy. More than 4,000 cavalrymen were divided into two long columns. They held their sabers at chest level and saluted with attention.

The crowd was full of envy and dissatisfaction. This was the highest welcome courtesy for the cavalry troops. The swords were like a forest, and the afterglow of the setting sun reflected the bright blade of the sword, like waves of whitecaps rising on the golden grassland.

Tong Batu shouted, "All soldiers participating in the battle, return the salute!" Then, under the eager gazes of the soldiers, he was the first to ride his horse into the camp. Behind him were more than a thousand soldiers covered in dust.

Soldiers returning from a bloody battle!

After dinner, Tong Batu ordered the radio station to report the battle in the early hours of this morning, as well as the casualties of the troops and the results of annihilation of the enemy, to the division commander Tang Qiuli.

After the telegram was sent, Tong Batu was mentally prepared to accept the punishment from the division commander. After all, with the enemy outnumbered and the troops still retreating, a battle involving a brigade level was carried out without the approval of the division commander.

This in itself is a violation of the order. Reporting it after the fight is over is a bit like killing first and reporting later.

On the evening of September 16th, at the headquarters of the Outer Mongolia Border Defense Force in Kulun, Tang Qiuli's temporary headquarters, Colonel Wang Jun, Chief of Staff of the Outer Mongolia Border Defense Force, came in excitedly with a telegram and said: "Well done, Commander.

News, 2nd Cavalry Brigade

During the retreat, in order to get rid of the pursuit of the Soviet army, they attacked a Soviet armored brigade at night in the Habdol area. At the cost of 58 soldiers killed, more than 1,800 enemy soldiers were wiped out and armored vehicles were destroyed.

The results of the battle with more than a hundred trucks!"

This was Wang Jun, who was deliberately trying to excuse Tong Batu. He cleverly did not mention the number of casualties directly, but only mentioned the number of casualties to highlight the results of the battle. No matter how successful Tong Batu was in the battle, he would not ask for instructions.

Mobilizing troops without authorization and organizing a battle is in itself a violation of orders and is suspected of being unorganized and undisciplined. What the division commander resents the most and even hates deeply is when troops disobey orders and act without authorization.

Sure enough, Tang Qiuli frowned, looked at Wang Jun and said, "Oh! Tong Batu won a big victory quietly. Why don't I know who approved him to fight this battle? Why didn't he win in advance?

Please ask for instructions and not report?”

Wang Jun explained based on his own understanding: "Commander, I'm afraid that the Second Brigade fought this battle for a reason. It should be that the pursuing Soviet army was too tight. In order to retreat safely, Brigadier Tong had to take counterattack measures.

Judging from the effect, the purpose of the battle was fully achieved. According to the telegram from the Second Brigade, no pursuing Soviet troops were found during the eight-hour march."

Tang Qiuli didn't say anything. He took the telegram and read it. Then, he stared at Wang Jun for a while and said, "Isn't it good? The death ratio of one to twenty, Tong Batu's carbine, it's a big bargain. According to you

You mean, Tong Batu acted without authorization because he had no choice but to fight, and without fighting this battle, the second brigade would not be able to safely retreat to Cullen?"

Wang Jun answered honestly: "Commander, I think so. The second brigade is facing a special situation."

Tang Qiuli sighed and shook his head. He knew why Tong Batu fought this battle regardless of the danger of being entangled by the Soviet pursuing troops. Not only the second battalion suffered huge casualties, but Tong Batu couldn't swallow this breath.

, with Tong Batu’s character, if he suffered a loss and did not retaliate, it would be more uncomfortable than killing him. The fundamental reason for not asking for instructions or reporting was that he was afraid that he would not approve, so he would simply beat him.

Tang Qiuli thought for a while and said: "Chief of Staff Wang, record the order. First, the Second Cavalry Brigade of the Outer Mongolia Border Guard, during the retreat, was able to assess the situation and proactively search for fighters. At a slight cost, it severely damaged the Soviet army.

The Armored Brigade has achieved a record of wiping out more than 1,800 enemy troops. A special order is issued to commend the Second Cavalry Brigade for their bravery in combat. The relevant meritorious officers and soldiers will be awarded honorary titles."

"Second, Major General Tong Batu, commander of the Second Cavalry Brigade of the Outer Mongolia Border Guard, while executing the division's order to withdraw from Irkutsk, mobilized troops to participate in the battle without asking for instructions, causing casualties to his troops.

, dismissed Tong Batu as the commander of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade and acted as the commander of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade. The brigade chief of staff, Colonel Hexi Getu, failed to stop his risky actions in time and was given a written warning and two months of allowances were deducted.

, this order, ** Division Commander Tang Qiuli."

After recording the order, Wang Jun smiled bitterly and said: "Commander, you are really clear about rewards and punishments. However, I am afraid that Brigadier Tong will not be convinced! He won the battle and was dismissed from his post. It will not feel good to anyone. Commander,

Should the dismissal be changed to a serious warning?"

Tang Qiuli smiled coldly and said: "Chief of Staff Wang, since he knows that rewards and punishments are clear, then Tong Batu should accept this result. If he still acts without authorization, the word "agent" on his head will not be preserved. I

We are short of a cavalry policeman.

Staff Officer Wei, ask him if he is willing to come? Fighting a war cannot be based on luck. What's more, using a cavalry unit to fight against a Soviet armored brigade is a risk in itself. An unorganized and undisciplined unit will be defeated sooner or later.

You’ll suffer a big loss!”

Wang Jun grinned and thought to himself: "The words of the division commander are quite serious, especially the move of being transferred to the side as a staff officer, which made all the generals fear like tigers. In the whole army of the ** division, only

Major General Liu Hongzhang, commander of the 1st Brigade of the Directly Affiliated Corps, Major General Le Yiqin and Major General Liu Cuigang, commanders of the two major aviation groups in the north and south of the aviation force, have enjoyed this kind of treatment. It is said that none of the three major generals dared to do so in the division headquarters.

look up!"

When the telegram was sent to the headquarters of the Second Cavalry Brigade, it was already late at night, and Tong Batu had not rested yet. He was in the tent, illuminated by a dim oil lamp, carefully looking at the map of Outer Mongolia, using a pencil from time to time.

He drew various lines on the map, looking focused and serious.

Brigade Chief of Staff He Xigetu walked into the tent, pushed a telegram in front of him, and said: "The division commander has replied to the telegram. There will be rewards and punishments. Our second brigade has become famous in the entire army. You are commended by the general order."

I have been dismissed from my position as acting brigade commander. I have been given a written warning, and I have also been fined two months of allowances and several hundred dollars. Well, for the next two months, I am counting on you to make a living!"

Tong Batu read the telegram carefully under the oil lamp, slapped his thigh, and laughed loudly and said: "I didn't expect that the teacher's punishment to our old Tong would be so light. What kind of agent should not act as an agent? As long as he is still on the third

The second brigade is enough. But, old man, you can’t expect me to eat. I have used all my half-year allowances to make pensions for the fallen soldiers. Within half a year, I will be poorer than you. I’m not afraid of going hungry.

Follow me!"

He Xigetu felt helpless for a while and said mysteriously: "Brigadier Commander, do you know what Chief of Staff Wang said in the telegram he sent later?"

Tong Batu widened his eyes warily and said, "I didn't see it, so do you know what Chief of Staff Wang said? Stop being so secretive and tell me!"

He Xigetu said slowly: "Chief of Staff Wang reproduced the division commander's original words in the telegram verbatim. If Tong Batu still acts without authorization, the word "agent" on his head will not be preserved. I

We are lacking a cavalry guard staff officer. Ask him if he is willing to come?"

"Ah!" Tong Batu screamed and jumped up suddenly, almost knocking over the oil lamp.

(To be continued)