Age of Conquest Reborn

Just when Ren Zhaoquan's troops of the 11th Brigade of the Directly Affiliated Corps fell into a muddy pond and the whole brigade was forced to stop advancing. When the brigade commander Ren Zhaoquan was at his wits' end, Chen Zhaoquan of the 12th Brigade, who was less than 30 kilometers away from the 11th Brigade,

Han's troops also fell into the same situation.

The reason is the same. The 12th Brigade also has a very tight time schedule due to the order of the Corps Headquarters. There are two ways to go. One is to cross the meadow in front of us, which is only a dozen kilometers wide, with shallow water and green pastures.

, the other road is to follow a high hill winding to the northeast, but it is nearly fifty kilometers longer. The leading battalion asked the brigade headquarters for instructions on the marching route. The brigade commander Chen Han looked at the time and added

After looking at the map, we decided that our troops would take a shortcut.

Chen Han has his own plan. Taking a shortcut will save at least an hour or more. If the troops arrive at the designated position early, they can also have sufficient preparation time, fortifications and other defense systems, and they can also improve them as much as possible to fight an encirclement war.

, fortifications are very important.

Soon, Chen Han regretted his decision and almost turned green. The 12th Brigade fell into the same situation as the 11th Brigade. Chen Han's face was as gloomy as if it was going to rain. However, he

He didn't curse anyone, and he didn't want to shoot anyone. He just said to the brigade chief of staff Gong Xibin in a low tone: "Chief of staff, what do you say about the engineer battalion? Can you get through this place with less than half of the heavy equipment in an hour?"

A bloody swamp?”

Gong Xibin sighed and replied: "Brigadier Commander, I just came from the engineer battalion. According to the battalion commander's most optimistic estimate, there is no more than five hours, and heavy equipment will not be able to cross this swamp!"

"What the hell! What does the engineering camp do for food?" Chen Han, who has always been gentle and elegant, couldn't help but swore.

Gong Xibin explained: "Brigade commander, you can't blame the engineer battalion. Look at this place, there is not even a tree, no matter how to pave the road, the equipment carried by the engineer battalion is not enough to pave the swamp more than ten kilometers wide.

Let’s find another way!”

At the temporary location of the directly affiliated corps headquarters, Division Chief of Staff Zhao Yuhe stared at the watch on his wrist. In the tent, there were more than a dozen brigade commanders preparing to attack the troops head-on. Everyone looked anxious.

The troops have completed all preparations before the attack, and it has been more than two hours since they entered the starting point of the attack, but the chief of staff still has not issued the order to attack. What is he waiting for? Or is he worried about something?

Liu Hongzhang, commander of the 1st Brigade of the Directly Affiliated Corps, was the oldest brigade commander. He couldn't bear it any longer and stepped forward and said: "Chief of Staff, the troops have made all preparations for the attack. Why haven't you issued the order for the attack for so long?"

Order? In such a high temperature, the soldiers endured the high temperature in the trenches. It will affect physical strength and morale!"

Zhao Yuhe turned around and said with a livid face: "Commander Liu, are you questioning me? I might as well tell you and everyone else, because the 11th Brigade and the 12th Brigade have not reached the designated positions yet.

, our three-sided encirclement. There is a big gap on the left wing. The battle result required by the division commander is to completely annihilate the Kwantung Army border garrison on the spot. Under such circumstances, can I issue an order to attack? Yes!"

"Also, the Outer Mongolia Field Corps opposite, with more than 300,000 troops, entered the position earlier than the directly-affiliated corps. Why didn't they have any complaints? They didn't question me face to face, but did the brigade commanders of the directly-affiliated corps?

Waiting requires patience, we must wait. If we launch an attack rashly because the conditions for a joint attack are not mature, causing some Kwantung Army troops to escape, I will be sorry for the division commander, and it will be dereliction of duty!"

Because of his anxiety, Zhao Yuhe, who had always been calm and peaceful, also rarely showed a fiery temper. Liu Hongzhang was stunned for a moment, then understood, stood at attention with a snap, saluted and said: "I'm sorry, Chief of Staff, we misunderstood.

I sincerely apologize to you!”

"Forget it, I also know that everything is ready. We have not launched an attack for a long time. Everyone is very anxious!" Zhao Yuhe waved his hands and said in a gentle tone: "You all stay at the Corps Headquarters and solve the problem.

No problem, just go back to your respective units and wait for the attack order from the Corps Headquarters!"

More than a dozen brigade commanders all saluted and left in turn. Zhao Yuhe looked at the empty tent, then looked at his watch, sighed heavily, and walked outside the tent. The strong July sunshine on the Outer Mongolian grasslands was shining wantonly.

The Gobi Desert was scorching, making him feel quite irritable.

Such a problem arose when he led troops in battle for the first time. Zhao Yuhe blamed himself. More importantly, he was unable to issue the order to attack. The outflanking left wing direction of the 11th and 12th Brigades was related to the ability of the entire campaign.

Is it successfully completed?

If the three-sided encirclement cannot be perfectly closed, the Kwantung Army troops along the northeastern border will not be able to resist the overwhelming strength of the Outer Mongolian Field Corps and the Directly Affiliated Corps, and will inevitably flee towards Xixiagou Tu and Ulan Hada.

After crossing the horizontal bar of the Xing'an Mountains, it is the starting point of the Bai'a Line Railway at the northern end of the Greater Xing'an Mountains. Then, you will take the train to escape all the way south and appear behind the Western Manchurian blocking troops on the line from Siping to Shuangliao.

Liu Chun, the commander of the cavalry force, left the troops at various stations and strongholds on the Bai-A railway line. They could not stop the Kwantung Army troops at all. The Kwantung Army troops heading south could disrupt the blocking line of the Western Manchurian Blocking Corps, and perhaps change Western Manchuria.

The current battlefield situation may not be known?

Zhao Yuhe did not dare to think about it. If that situation really happened, he would have committed suicide. Therefore, even though he was extremely anxious, the direct-affiliated corps and the Outer Mongolia Field Corps, with an army of more than 700,000, were about to attack and could not order an attack.

order, even, if the eleventh

The Brigade and the 12th Brigade did not reach the designated position today and would rather postpone the attack. "Ren Zhaoquan, Chen Han, what are you doing? Don't you know that more than 700,000 troops are waiting for you two?" He

Looking up at the flaming sun, I muttered to myself.

Lieutenant Colonel Wu Zhengmin, deputy director of the Division Staff Office and acting chief of staff of the directly affiliated corps, came behind Zhao Yuhe and followed his old habit when he was at the division command and said: "Chief of Staff, the 11th Brigade and the 12th Brigade

The brigade did not arrive at the designated position on time. It must have encountered irresistible difficulties. It should be due to terrain conditions. Should we consider delaying the attack by one day? In order to prevent the troops of the two brigades from being too tired!"

Zhao Yuhe did not answer Wu Zhengmin's words, but asked: "Chief of Staff Wu, what are the latest trends in the Kwantung Army?"

Wu Zhengmin replied succinctly: "Be on full alert and prepare for battle. It is no secret that the directly affiliated corps appears behind the Kwantung Army border guard team. It is normal to be prepared, but what I find strange is that according to the frontline troops'

According to the report, the key defense direction of the Kwantung Army is placed on the Outer Mongolia Field Corps, while for the directly affiliated corps, only a small number of troops are on guard!"

"Huh?" Zhao Yuhe raised his eyebrows alertly, instinctively feeling that something was abnormal, "Is there any basis for this?" he asked.

Wu Zhengmin replied: "The density of troops deployed by the Kwantung Army, the depth of defense and the amount of heavy equipment all show that the directly affiliated corps is not the key defense direction!"

Zhao Yuhe frowned and thought rapidly, "Director Wu, what do you think?" He vaguely grasped something in his heart, but it was so vague that it was unreal, so he asked Wu Zhenmin.

After staying in the division command for many years, Wu Zhengmin has become accustomed to the command style of the division commander and chief of staff, that is, he is good at listening to various opinions, encouraging ordinary staff officers to express his views and opinions on the battle plan, and is not afraid that you will be wrong.

You dare not say that if you are wise and cautious in your words and deeds, you will not be able to stay in the division. Therefore, you said straight from the bottom of your heart: "I just thought of it. The problem lies in the main mission of the Outer Mongolia Field Corps!"

"Oh!" Zhao Yuhe's eyes sparkled, "Tell me more details!"

Wu Zhengmin continued: "The mission of the Outer Mongolia Field Corps is to attack the Kwantung Army border garrison in one blow without stopping on the battlefield. Then, it quickly takes a train south from Aershan to participate in the Battle of Western Manchuria. In this way,

In the southeastern direction of Outer Mongolia, our army has no troops, and the directly affiliated corps is surrounded on three sides. So, what about the north? Under the fierce attack of the directly affiliated corps, will the Kwantung Army troops along the northeastern border flee into Outer Mongolia?

"

"And our military strength in Outer Mongolia is very weak. It can be said that it is extremely empty. Even the four cavalry brigades stationed in Saiyinsanda were ordered to go south. With the current strength of the Outer Mongolia Garrison Area, there is no way to stop the ten

With tens of thousands of Kwantung Army troops, wouldn’t that make them feel like they’re in an uninhabited land?”

"Thinking more deeply, if hundreds of thousands of Kwantung Army troops pass through Chita and continue to flee to the northeast, they can reach the Far East. Don't forget, Deputy Commander Liu's East Point troops are fighting against the Japanese army.

The Far East Expeditionary Forces are fighting fiercely. There are hundreds of thousands of people. Even if we pursue them all the way, it is impossible to annihilate them all. If the remaining Kwantung Army troops appear behind the East Point troops, will it change the situation on the Far East battlefield?"

When Wu Zhengmin said this, Zhao Yuhe was shocked. He immediately grabbed something that had disappeared in his mind. There was a huge loophole in the campaign plan to completely annihilate the Kwantung Army's border garrison, and that was Outer Mongolia.

After the field corps left in one blow, there were no strong independent division troops in Outer Mongolia. After being violently attacked by the directly affiliated corps, since they were surrounded on three sides, there was only one way to go into Outer Mongolia.

In order to avoid the fate of the entire army being annihilated, the Kwantung Army will definitely move closer to the Far East. The deployment of troops directly under the corps also illustrates this point. Even the Outer Mongolia Field Corps did not go south. After being attacked, hundreds of thousands of

The key point of the Kwantung Army's breakout will also be in the direction of Outer Mongolia!

Because you can go to the Far East, where there is the Japanese Far East Expedition Force commanded by Prince Zain. In comparison, it is much more dangerous to withdraw to the hinterland of Northeast China. After all, the other two heavy troop groups of the Kwantung Army have already been encircled.

Among!

(To be continued)