Age of Conquest Reborn

At dawn on May 1st, the Kwantung Army began a sudden attack and continued until about nine o'clock in the morning. At the beginning, the Soviet Far East Army troops were busy evacuating and were caught off guard. They suffered a loss and the two sides engaged in a bloody battle.

After engaging in hand-to-hand combat and increasing their troop strength, the Soviet soldiers took out a new weapon - the engineer shovel, which made the Kwantung Army soldiers complain incessantly, and finally repelled the Kwantung Army's attack across the board.

Reports from various frontier units were reported to the Soviet Far Eastern Front Army Headquarters. The commander, General Zhukov, never believed it, and it’s no wonder he didn’t believe it. The purpose of the Kwantung Army was to entangle the Far Eastern Front Army and exhaust it without strength.

Under such circumstances, the Japanese would never give up. This was a conspiracy. He made his own judgment. However, subsequent reports overturned his judgment.

Lieutenant General Godayav, the chief of staff of the front army, rushed over to ask for instructions, "Comrade Commander, I have personally called to verify that the situation reported by the troops is true. At the same time, the commanders of the counterattacking troops asked for instructions to take advantage of the Kwantung Army troops being attacked.

Retreat, do you want to pursue a full-scale pursuit?"

"Pursuit?" General Zhukov asked back, "Why pursue, Comrade Chief of Staff, don't forget what our main task is? Immediately ask the frontline commander whether the Kwantung Army troops will evacuate far away or temporarily disengage?" He

Consider the problem from another perspective.

"Are you saying that the repulse of the Kwantung Army troops is just an illusion and that the Japanese will attack again?" Chief of Staff Godayav asked suspiciously.

General Zhukov said with certainty: "Yes, the Kwantung Army Commander will not give up the opportunity. After confirming the situation, report it to me immediately!"

After a while, Lieutenant General Godayav came back with an ugly face, "Comrade Commander. I personally checked all the frontline troop commanders. As you can judge, the Kwantung Army troops did not really retreat, they just retreated to the point where our firepower

Out of shooting range!"

Zhukov sighed silently. The Kwantung Army was preparing to fight with the Far East Front. It was obviously a magnetic tactic, and it was really a headache to follow him like a ghost. "Comrade Chief of Staff, order the two group armies to be put into the battlefield alternately."

Cover, evacuate the position, and don't get hung up on the Kwantung Army attacking again. Leave their defense to the troops responsible for covering. We can't afford to delay it!" Zhukov said a little lonely.

Just as Chief of Staff Godayav was about to deliver the order, Zhukov asked again: "The reconnaissance unit of the Front Intelligence Department. Is there any news?"

"No. Comrade Commander, according to the departure time of the reconnaissance force, they should be more than a hundred kilometers away from the battlefield now. So far, nothing has been discovered!" Chief of Staff Godayav replied.

Zhukov waved his hand wordlessly, signaling his chief of staff to leave. "Why is the uneasy feeling in my heart getting stronger and stronger? Where is that invisible hand?" he thought worriedly.

"Repulsed. All the attacking troops!" After listening to the report of Chief of Staff Kenjiro Matsuda, General Nanjiro asked tepidly, not surprisingly, "What are the casualties of our troops?" with a calm face.

Like a bowl of water, it is hard to figure out.

Chief of Staff Matsuda considered the answer and replied: "Your Excellency, Commander-in-Chief, the specific casualties of each attacking force have not yet been calculated. I called several commanders and found that the casualties are not too large and are less than expected.

The casualties of the Soviet army were roughly the same as those of the Imperial army, maybe slightly more!"

"After our troops retreated, did the Soviet army make the most in-depth pursuit?" General Nanjiro asked again.

Chief of Staff Matsuda's answer this time was very straightforward, "Your Excellency, Commander-in-Chief, no, none of the troops have been pursued by the Soviet army!"

"Zhukov is a smart guy!" General Nanjiro sighed. General Nanjiro was still full of awe and vigilance for this old opponent who had fought with him for two or three years. His commanding art and battlefield strategy should not be underestimated, "Order

All troops are preparing to attack again. Zhukov does not want to tangle with us, so we will do the opposite and firmly entangle the Soviet army!"

Chief of Staff Matsuda's expression was obviously dull for a moment. Hundreds of thousands of troops were fighting and retreating. What kind of trick was the commander-in-chief playing? The attack just now took advantage of surprise. According to his own estimation, the troops

There must be at least 70,000 to 80,000 casualties. Attacking again will not be the result of being repulsed. After several attempts like this, will the Kwantung Army's last bit of wealth really be defeated by Huo Guang?

"Commander-in-Chief, the staff has a suggestion. Should we change the entire offensive to a key direction assault, concentrate all our forces, and first severely damage the Soviet troops in front of our position, without paying attention to other directions. The Soviet troops preparing to evacuate, according to the headquarters

According to the telegram, the leading troops of the Far East Expeditionary Force and the North Korean garrison have arrived near the battlefield, and it is not a bad idea for them to handle the evacuated Soviet troops!"

"After all, our Kwantung Army has tried its best and succeeded in delaying the evacuation of the Soviet Far East Army in the first place. Of course, this is only my personal idea. The specific battle command is decided by you, the Commander-in-Chief!

"Chief of Staff Matsuda said euphemistically but firmly.

"Hmm -?" General Nanjiro's eyes flashed coldly, staring at his chief of staff. His face was calm, but his tone was cold and chilly, "What? Are Matsuda-kun questioning my command method?

"

Chief of Staff Matsuda was frightened and hurriedly bowed and said: "The Commander-in-Chief is serious. The staff dare not. I will go and convey your order immediately!" He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and left in a hurry.

Looking at the departing figure of Chief of Staff Matsuda, General Nanjiro suddenly felt a sense of loneliness as a master, "When will there be a smart enough person among my subordinates?" He waved his hand and called one over.

The staff officer ordered: "Immediately report the situation of the attack that started at dawn today, the Soviet army's reaction, and the measures that our Kwantung Army will take to the battle headquarters!"

Far East Khabarovsk, the Japanese Far East Campaign Headquarters, Prince Zain was beaming and looking at the telegram sent by General Nanjiro with great joy. Major General Yamada, the head of the General Staff Headquarters, stood by respectfully, looking at him from time to time.

Traveling back and forth on Prince Jae-in's face, trying to figure out his boss's thoughts.

"Nanji-kun is worthy of being a general of the Imperial Army. After a full-line offensive was met with a strong counterattack by the Soviet army, he immediately ordered all troops to retreat without breaking contact with the Soviet army. Among the current army generals, there is no such thing.

How many people can do it!" Putting down the telegram, Prince Zain said with great emotion, "This command can be included in the textbooks of the Imperial Army University, so that those young officers who only rely on blood and courage can have a good experience.

, what is the art of conducting!" He further deepened his evaluation.

Major General Yamada was shocked. With Prince Zain's current status and power, it was rare to give such high praise to a theater commander, especially when the other party was an important general of a hostile faction. Could it be that what His Highness the Prince meant?

.....?

"Commander-in-Chief, the staff considers that this is the highest praise for General Nanjiro himself and for all the officers and men of the Kwantung Army. It should be included in the reply, plus what you just said, and whether the headquarters has any praise for the Kwantung Army.

What is the next step to take and give appropriate guidance?" Major General Yamada keenly grasped the key. His Highness the Prince was embarrassed to say these words clearly. If these words were to reach the ears of General Nanjiro, he would have to handle them himself!

Prince Zai Ren raised his eyebrows and couldn't hide his admiration in his eyes, "He is indeed a considerate guy. With him by his side, many things of mine will be much easier to handle!" He secretly admired and thought, "No.

"Yamada-kun, there is no need for our headquarters to interfere with the specific campaign command of the Kwantung Army. General Nanjiro handled it better than we expected!" But he also rejected Major General Yamada's other proposal.

In Delen, southern Outer Mongolia, at the Temporary Headquarters of the Independent Division, Chief of Staff Major General Zhao Yuhe handed a piece of information to Tang Qiuli and said: "Commander, the information from the Intelligence Department is that at dawn today, the Kwantung Army is marching towards the Soviet Far East.

The front army launched a full-line offensive and the battle was very fierce. It is said that the two sides engaged in a long-term hand-to-hand battle!"

Tang Qiuli took the telegram, glanced at it briefly, and said: "Last time, the information provided by the intelligence office showed that the person commanding all the Japanese troops in the Far East was Prince Zai Ren, the chief of general staff of the Japanese base camp!"

Zhao Yuhe nodded and replied: "Yes, division commander. His latest title is Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Far East Campaign, unified command of the Kwantung Army, the Japanese Far East Expeditionary Force and the North Korean garrison troops!"

Tang Qiuli thought thoughtfully, "Zairen is a very strategic senior Japanese general. For example, this time, the big trap he designed for Zhukov's troops was perfect. Didn't he even take advantage of us?"

, Since the Kwantung Army dares to launch a full-line offensive, it means that Zai Ren is going to close the network. Tell the Intelligence Department to pay more attention to this person, he will be a strong opponent for us to regain the Northeast!"

After a pause, Tang Qiuli suddenly asked: "Yuhe, do you have any other information?" he asked.

"Yes, the East Point Reconnaissance Force discovered that the Japanese Far East Front Army and the Korean Garrison Army both dispatched light infantry units at the same time to take a shortcut to the Far East battlefield. The strength of the troops is about 500,000. Currently, the two vanguards of the Japanese army

The troops are all within 150 kilometers of the battlefield in the Far East!" Zhao Yuhe answered accurately.

Tang Qiuli sighed, "In this way, Zai Ren's big net is seamless. Zhukov is in trouble. The Eastern Army is entangled in the back, and there are light troops blocking it in front. It only needs to block the retreating Soviet army for a day or so.

The main force of the Japanese army's two-pronged outflank force will arrive soon. Zai Ren's move is very subtle, isn't it?"

However, while Tang Qiuli was admiring, he still asked himself doubtfully: "Did Zhukov not realize this huge danger with his rich command experience?"

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