Age of Conquest Reborn

Commander Liu Hongzhang of the Selenge River Battle Headquarters, deputy commander Ouyang Yishan and the headquarters were the last to evacuate the position. Only the first regiment of Liu Hongzhang's brigade was evacuated with the headquarters, and that was this regiment.

In order to protect the safety of the headquarters, Liu Hongzhang had his own plans.

Sun Zhenbang has been operating the Selenge River defense line for a long time. He has well-equipped artillery holes, shelters, fortifications and communication trenches. He has adopted a posture of long-term persistence. As the commander of the East Route Attack Group in the Outer Mongolia Campaign, Liu Hongzhang understands the division commander.

According to the battle deployment, the troops of the Transcaucasus Military District in their hands will definitely withdraw along the same route after being attacked. The area where the independent division troops hold fast is also the only way for the Soviet army to pass.

Regarding these complete fortifications, Liu Hongzhang and Ouyang Yishan had the same idea. They could not use them themselves, nor would they leave them to the Soviet army to use against themselves. Therefore, the first regiment temporarily acted as an engineering unit, and was deployed in all anti-artillery units.

A large number of explosives and mines were laid in the cave, shelter and four communication trenches. The timed detonation device was set. The time of the explosion was set at 7 o'clock in the morning on September 27. By that time, the troops had already been walking for more than nine hours.

.

In Liu Hongzhang's words, "The more than one hundred tons of explosives and thousands of landmines we prepared are not just for blowing up these fortifications. They are also a big gift for Lao Maozi. I estimate that they can kill more than two regiments."

It would be even more ideal for the Soviet army to blow up that Kulykin!"

Regarding Liu Hongzhang's actions, Ouyang Yishan only gave a two-word evaluation: "Insidious!"

After ten o'clock on the night of September 26, on the south bank of the Selenge River, on the front line of more than 20 kilometers long, all the independent division troops had evacuated, and there was no one left. The entire evacuation process did not alarm the Soviet troops on the other side.

Cullen, at around nine o'clock at night, the Outer Mongolia Campaign Headquarters was brightly lit and there was a tense and busy atmosphere. Staff officers came in and out from time to time. In the radio room, the sound of the keys for sending and receiving reports kept ringing.

Order after order was issued to each unit.

In Tang Qiuli's office, Chief of Staff Zhao Yuhe and Deputy Chief of Staff Wang Jun kept signing telegrams sent by the staff, but Tang Qiuli seemed very leisurely, standing in front of a large map of Outer Mongolia,

It's been more than half an hour.

Zhao Yuhe took several telegrams and said: "Division commander, commander of the 8th brigade of the directly affiliated corps. Qiao Manshan, commander of the West Road Attack Group, called. The 8th, 9th, and 11th brigades of the group are already making reservations.

The arrival area is expanded, and only the Chen Han Department of the 12th Brigade will need more than three hours to reach the designated location!"

Tang Qiuli turned around, frowned, and said dissatisfied: "Ask Qiaomanshan, what's going on with the 12th Brigade? The brigades of the West Road Attack Group assembled at about the same time. Why did Chen Han's troops

Delay time?”

Zhao Yuhe explained with a smile: "Brigade Commander Qiao sent a telegram to explain the situation. The area where the 12th Brigade went is farther than other troops. As you know, the road conditions in Outer Mongolia are really bad, and our troops are

The mechanized march is still thirty-one hours away from the launch of the battle. If it is delayed by three or four hours, it will not affect the overall situation!"

"Brigade Commander Chen Han also called and explained that his brigade set off three hours earlier than the other troops of the West Route Attack Group! Our brigade commander knows this well, division commander, please stop being harsh!

"

Tang Qiuli thought about it and realized that what Zhao Yuhe said was the actual situation, so he did not go into details. However, he was still a little dissatisfied with Chen Hanlu's late arrival at the designated location. He originally wanted to send a telegram to investigate, but gave up the idea.

The troops of Liu Hongzhang and Ouyang Yishan have evacuated the Selenge River defense line. At dawn tomorrow, when the Soviet army attacks again, they will find that there is no one on the position. According to the Soviet army's marching speed, at the latest

On the evening of September 27, we will be able to reach the Hagengaol and Baiyinchagan areas. No matter which unit fails to arrive at the designated position on time, there will be a big hole in this net.

Although the occurrence of this situation was minimal, Tang Qiuli did not dare to be careless. He also carefully considered whether the Soviet commander General Kurekin could take the bait, cross the Selenge River, and continue southward to attack Kulun.

Considered it.

Judging from the normal situation, the independent division troops fought fiercely and tenaciously in the blocking battle on the south bank of the Selenge River. They were completely unwilling to give in. There must be something wrong with the sudden withdrawal.

If Kulykin was cautious enough, the Soviet army would not advance southward rashly after crossing the river, but would stay for a period of time, waiting for the troops of the Soviet Far East Front to arrive, and then continue to advance southward after rendezvous. This is a safe approach.

However, from another perspective, the Soviet army's attack on the defense line of the Selenga River appeared to be very urgent. Regardless of the losses in recent days, it continued to attack. It should be Stalin or the Soviet General Staff who gave Kulykin a death order.

Stalin absolutely did not want this battle to be protracted to capture Kulun within a limited time limit. Therefore, after crossing the Selenge River, it was absolutely possible for the Soviet army to advance south without stopping.

For this reason, Tang Qiuli also made two preparations. Once the Soviet army stayed on the south bank of the Selenge River, and the original plan to ambush and encircle the Soviet army from Hagengaol to Baiyinchagan north of Kulun failed, then,

Troops from all walks of life began to counterattack head-on.

, after several days of fierce fighting on the Selenge River battlefield, the exhausted Soviet army could never withstand the ten mechanized infantry brigades of the Directly Affiliated Corps and the three mechanized infantry brigades of the East Point, a total of thirteen brigades with more than 220,000 troops.

Human frontal assault.

In order to avoid being surrounded, Kulykin would order the troops to cross the river and return north to Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude. Liu Chun's cavalry troops, supplemented by Le Yiqin's aviation troops, would move Selenge

The north bank of the river has become a position to block the Soviet army. As long as the Soviet army is blocked for more than a day, the frontal counterattack troops will pounce on the south bank of the Selenge River to annihilate the Soviet army. No matter what, I do not intend to let the Soviet Union go.

of the troops of the Transcaucasian Military District.

If Kulykin, under pressure from Stalin, has to attack south as quickly as possible, but is afraid of falling into a trap, he sends a part of his troops to conduct a tentative attack, and his main force will follow up immediately after confirming that there is no danger.

The possibility is very high. After all, General Kulykin, the supreme commander of the Soviet army, is a veteran on the battlefield.

The troops on the Checherleg front line put up a blocking posture, and a head-on attack would make Kulykin mistakenly think that the independent division was blocking the troops. They suffered heavy casualties on the Selenge River defense line and had to retreat and organize the second

Line of defense.

What will follow is that the main force of the Soviet army will all come forward. Then, the purpose of the battle will be achieved. It is another way of luring the enemy deep. If this happens, the key is to Checheerle

How to defeat the front-line troops?

Beating them too hard and too fiercely will undoubtedly reveal their intentions. The right measure is very important. I don't know where Battelle and Yang Ketian will be when they get there. They should be given instructions face to face, so that it is safe.

Thinking of this, Tang Qiuli asked: "Chief of Staff Wang, you are responsible for contacting and supervising the march progress of various troops. The four tank brigades scheduled to be assembled on the Checheerleg front line, and the three mechanized infantry brigades directed by Yang Ketian in the east,

Have the 3rd, 4th and 5th brigades directly under the corps arrived at their designated positions? Order Battelle and Yang Ketian to rush to the battle headquarters as quickly as possible!"

Just as Wang Jung was about to answer, two voices came from outside the door, "Report to the division commander, Commander of the Armored Forces of the Independent Division, Battle, and Chief of Staff of the East Point Force of the Independent Division, Yang Ketian, to meet with the division commander and ask for instructions from the division commander!" The voice was full of energy,

It exudes a sense of masculinity!

This voice sounded extremely friendly to Tang Qiuli's ears. He walked quickly towards the door, laughing and saying as he walked: "The place in Culun is quite evil. If you talk about Cao Cao, Cao Cao will be here, and,

There are two at once, Battle, Ketian, come in quickly!"

The door opened, and Battelle and Yang Ketian, who were covered with dust but still had a heroic spirit, stood at the door. Their combat uniforms were splashed with mud, and the military boots under their feet were muddy. When they saw Tang Qiuli, the two of them stood at the door.

Everyone stood at attention, saluted, and shouted: "Hello, sir!"

Tang Qiuli held one hand by the other, looked at the two of them carefully, and said with satisfaction: "You look good, come in quickly! I just have something to do with you two!" while calling the orderly to bring him steaming milk tea.

After taking a few sips of the bowl of milk tea, Tang Qiuli said: "Time is very tight. The headquarters will go to Checheerleg soon. It just so happens that both of you commanders are here. There is only one issue to discuss, which is

On the front line of Checheerleg, the battle on the frontal battlefield is about how to fight. By the way, have Battle, Ketian, and the troops reached their predetermined positions?"

Battle looked at Yang Ketian and motioned for him to answer. Yang Ketian said: "Division Commander, in another hour and a half, all the troops will enter the designated position. By about five o'clock in the morning, they can be deployed. Commander Battle and I will hand over the troops.

To each brigade commander, I hurriedly came to you. To be honest, we really don’t know how to fight the battle. We are afraid that the attack will be too harsh and affect your overall plan. I want to hear your instructions!

"

Tang Qiuli was very satisfied and said: "Yes, without the help of more than a thousand tanks and six mechanized infantry brigades, I forgot about it. I have estimated in advance the possible actions of the Soviet army after crossing the Selenge River.

At what time, staff officer, spread out the map on the table!"

Looking at the map, Tang Qiuli carefully explained to Battelle and Yang Ketian the actions that the Soviet army might take and how to deal with it. Finally, he said: "The most likely situation is that the Soviet commander Kulykin

General, send some troops to conduct a tentative attack southward. The two of your troops must block the attack but not attack too hard. This scale must be grasped well!"

"Don't use tanks and artillery yet. In order to avoid excessive casualties of the troops, it is crucial to build fortifications, anti-gun holes, and shelters. Let the soldiers work harder and don't be afraid of sweating!"

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