Age of Conquest Reborn

General Kulykin lowered his head and mourned for his failure. He was filled with resentment for being unable to seize air supremacy. Many complicated emotions stirred up a burning pain in his heart.

A soft sound of footsteps woke up General Kulykin from his loss. It was Lieutenant General Zernenko, the Chief of Staff, who had returned. The two looked at each other and could see the complicated emotions in each other's hearts.

The commander, Comrade Kulykin, felt bitter, while the chief of staff, Lieutenant General Zernenko, felt deeply worried.

General Kulykin said: "Comrade Zernenko, tell me about the situation. I am mentally prepared for this!"

Lieutenant General Zernenko took out a few pages and said: "The statistics of the losses of each unit are here. The follow-up units of the second attack wave were severely damaged. Three infantry regiments lost more than 90% of their strength.

Two tank brigades, with more than 300 tanks, were blown up by ** division bombers, with a battle loss rate of more than half. The third echelon that was being assembled was also bombed, with little loss, but according to the original plan

If we launch an attack, I'm afraid it will be difficult to complete."

Looking at the dull face of General Kulykin, Lieutenant General Zernenko continued: "The troops we boarded on the south bank of the Selenge River have a total of fifteen regiments, with a strength of more than 50,000 Zuoyou. The current

The loss was not big. I asked Major General Wadkin who was commanding on the south bank in detail. The organization of each unit was relatively complete. However, Major General Wadkin emphasized that without reinforcements from follow-up troops, it would be difficult to break through the ** Division with the current strength.

position."

"Moreover, Major General Wadkin also raised a question: Will the Chinese take large-scale counterattacks when we do not have tank fire to suppress the firepower of the ** Division troops? If such a thing happens, what will happen to the troops on the south bank?

Said. The situation will be quite unfavorable. After losing the foothold on the beach, the troops will be forced to retreat, and getting tens of thousands of soldiers to cross the river will also be a problem."

General Kulykin sneered and said: "Retreat? How could Vadkin think of this stupid question? After two consecutive days of fierce fighting, the ** division troops have been greatly exhausted. They are unable to launch a counterattack. What they have already achieved

A foothold. How could we give up so easily? Joke, the Chief of Staff, ordered the third echelon to immediately start a cross-river attack. The bombers of the ** Division have returned, and we just have to seize this opportunity!"

"It is now 4:25 in the afternoon. Tell the troops that an attack must be launched in an hour. Order the troops on the south bank to provide fire cover. The engineering troops will continue to build bridges and continue operations. Don't stop at night. Tell him to the engineering headquarters

"If I don't see a pontoon bridge for the two tank brigades before six o'clock tomorrow morning, their commanders, including the political commissars, will be shot!"

Chief of Staff Zernenko was shocked. He had just returned from the third echelon preparing to assemble. He knew how badly the troops had been bombed by the ** division bombers. Within an hour, it was too late to rescue the wounded and reorganize the troops. What's more,

How about an attack across the river? It is now 4:30 in the afternoon, and an hour later, at 5:30, it is already the late autumn season, and it gets dark early. Doesn’t it mean that the troops are still crossing the river, so they have to fight in the dark?

Night attacks have never happened before for the troops of the Transcaucasus Military District. It is difficult to attack during the day, let alone fighting at night, and it is even more impossible for engineers to build bridges overnight.

The surging river water is very difficult to operate even during the day. At night, I am afraid that the pontoon bridge will not be built, and the equipment will be washed away by the river water. Moreover, without the suppression of tank fire, the ** Division can allow engineers to build the pontoon bridge? In the morning

The mortar bombardment was still vivid in his mind. Has Comrade Commander considered these questions?

Chief of Staff Zernenko said hurriedly: "Comrade Commander, I understand your mood, but campaign deployment should also be based on actual conditions. As Chief of Staff, I reserve my personal opinion and do not agree with your decision."

Then, Lieutenant General Zernenko made a detailed statement of the reasons for his opposition, with a sincere and resolute attitude.

How could General Kurekin not think of this? However, the attitude of his chief of staff was a bit unexpected, but he knew that these were actual difficulties, but did he have any other choice?

General Kulykin smiled wryly and said in a gentle tone: "Comrade Zernenko, I agree with you, but it does not mean that I accept your suggestion. Today's battle would have been fought without the sudden appearance of the ** bomber group."

, we have already set foot on the land on the south bank, so not having air superiority is our biggest passive force. The troops on the south bank, being held tightly by the ** Division troops, are suppressed on the river beach and are extremely passive."

"If we don't take advantage of the situation to launch continuous attacks, what if the ** Division defenders launch a counterattack that night? After a melee, will the troops on the south bank still be able to shoulder the task of covering the follow-up troops crossing the river? What if we still have to wait for tank artillery fire

Cover, the bomber group of the ** Division will still come to bomb. We cannot bear such heavy losses again. Without the armored assault force, it will become very difficult to conquer the Battle of Coulomb."

"Perhaps, before we reach the outskirts of Kulun, the cavalry troops of the Outer Mongolian Border Guards of the ** Division will drag us down. Sergeyev's Third Army is an obvious example. Therefore, we must launch a campaign no matter what.

Continuous attacks!"

Having said this, General Kulykin suddenly sighed and continued a little lonely: "Comrade Zernenko, we have no time. The Selenge River has blocked us for more than two days. According to Comrade Stalin's instructions,

, the comrades in Outer Mongolia will stage a riot and demand that we

The military air force bombed Coulomb to create opportunities for them. You also know that the current air force, after two large-scale air battles, has been severely weakened. The combat-capable troops have basically been exhausted and have no ability to organize an organization.

A capable force of night-flying bombers went to bomb Cullen."

"The prescribed deadline is tomorrow night. Comrade Zernenko, the military air force cannot count on it. We can only break through the defense line of the ** division troops as quickly as possible. Otherwise, there will be no external support. Comrades in Outer Mongolia,

They will inevitably be massacred on a large scale by Tang Qiuli's men, leading to the failure of the uprising. This responsibility is more serious than the loss of tens of thousands of troops, and it is not something that you and I, or even the entire Transcaucasus Military Region, can bear!"

"I want to gain air superiority before launching an offensive. Will the General Staff agree that we stay on the north bank of the Selenga River for too long? Comrade Stalin can accept that our nearly 30 mechanized troops cannot break through the second-rate division of 50,000 to 60,000 people.

Troops, a solid defense line? Neither can. Therefore, Comrade Chief of Staff, I have no choice. I must launch a continuous offensive today. No matter how heavy the troop losses are, I must do this! I hope you can support my work!

"

Chief of Staff Zernenko sighed deeply. He saw the helplessness in the eyes of Comrade Commander. He was silent for a moment and said: "Comrade Commander, I understand. I will rush to the offensive troops immediately and personally command the third party."

Echelon and engineering unit, since you have no choice, I can only do my best to do my job as chief of staff! I hope to achieve your wish."

However, when Chief of Staff Zernenko said the last words, he had no confidence in his own hands. Of course, General Kulykin also heard it. He smiled and shook the Chief of Staff's hand tightly.

Holding your hand, you watched him leave in a hurry.

On the south bank of the Selenge River, at the Battle Headquarters of the Outer Mongolia Border Guards, at around five o'clock in the afternoon on September 21, Sun Zhenbang's condition was getting better and his face was less pale. Although he was still very weak, he could think normally.

He closed his eyes slightly and was listening to the report by Meng Chaoxu, the chief of the combat section.

Meng Zhaoxu finished his concise report. After a long time, Sun Zhenbang opened his eyes and asked: "Chaoxu, according to your judgment, after the bombing by our bomber group, will the Soviet offensive today end here?"

Meng Zhaoxu replied cautiously: "Commander, according to my judgment, the Soviet army is unable to launch another attack, at least today. The reason is very simple. The Soviet tanks have been severely damaged. The follow-up troops crossing the river have

More than half of the army was almost wiped out. They then gathered their troops and prepared to cross the river to attack. They couldn't do it within two or three hours. The sun was about to set. Fighting across the river would be extremely detrimental to the attacking side."

Sun Zhenbang did not express any opinion. He asked another question, "Chaoxu, what are the casualties of the troops?"

Meng Zhaoxu replied in a heavy tone: "Commander, the casualties of the troops are very large, and the reduction has reached one-third zuoyou, especially the headquarters of Brigade Commander Wang Qingshan of the 1st Brigade. Because it is guarding the main assault area of ​​the Soviet army, the casualties will be more than

More than one-third, especially the mortar units, lost

It has reached more than half. Our two artillery brigades have less than two regiments of artillery that can continue to be used. Now, the number of combat troops is more than 34,000. In two days of fierce fighting, the casualties of the troops exceeded 20,000.

, Moreover, we have no reserves, all troops have gone into battle."

Sun Zhenbang closed his eyes and did not speak for a long time. Meng Zhaoxu saw that there was a trace of tears in the corners of the commander's eyes, and the muscles in his cheeks were twitching uncontrollably.

After a long time, Sun Zhenbang said in a weak tone: "Zhaoxu, my judgment is that the Soviet army will never give up. It has already gained a foothold on the beach, which is their biggest support. Inform several brigade commanders that they must be on guard tonight."

, I always have a feeling that the Soviet army will launch an attack again and take out all their possessions. As long as they survive tonight, reinforcements will arrive, as well as artillery, and all the artillery shells will be used for the forward positions.

Provide fire support."

"It's time to go all out. Also, report the battle situation to the division commander!" After saying these words, Sun Zhenbang fell asleep from exhaustion.

Meng Zhaoxu quietly exited Sun Zhenbang's ward and looked at his watch. It had just arrived at 5:20, and the sun was still hanging in the sky. The night was so far away. He had never felt that today was so long, so long.

Crazy.

(To be continued)(To be continued...)